• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.138-138
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• 2002

In recent years, the safety of sunscreens has been challenged based on the reports of its adverse effect on users; dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, photoallergic contact dermatitis. To investigate a correlation between sun protection factor (SPF) and the safety of sunscreens, we measured in vitro SPF index using homosalate as a standard and examined the toxicity tests on cosmetics; primary and cumulative skin irritation tests, ocular irritation test, and skin sensitization test.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.195-195
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.195-195
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• 2002

In recent years, the safety of sunscreens has been challenged based on the reports of its adverse effect on users; dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, photoallergic contact dermatitis. To investigate a correlation between sun protection factor (SPF) and the safety of sunscreens, we measured in vitro SPF index using homosalate as a standard and examined the toxicity tests on cosmetics; primary skin irritation tests, ocular irritation test, and skin sensitization test.(omitted)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.4458-4461
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• 2011

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.659-664
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• 2017

Although lisdexamfetamine is used as a recreational drug, little research exists regarding its potential for dependence or its precise mechanisms of action. This study aims to evaluate the psychoactivity and dependence profile of lisdexamfetamine using conditioned place preference and self-administration paradigms in rodents. Additionally, biochemical techniques are used to assess alterations in the dopamine levels in striatal synaptosomes following administration of lisdexamfetamine. Lisdexamfetamine increased both conditioned place preference and self-administration. Moreover, after administration of the lisdexamfetamine, dopamine levels in the striatal synaptosomes were significantly increased. Although some modifications should be made to the analytical methods, performing high performance liquid chromatography studies on synaptosomes can aid in predicting dependence liability when studying new psychoactive substances in the future. Collectively, lisdexamfetamine has potential for dependence possible via dopaminergic pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.214-223
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• 2003

Methamphetamine (METH) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) have become popular recreational drugs of abuse in many countries. Although the neurotoxic damage caused by METH and MDMA is characterized by degeneration of the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in brain, the molecular and cellular mechanisms remain to be clarified. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to confirm the capability of METH and MDMA to induce apoptosis and to clarify the action of its molecular mechanism by using serotonergic JAR cells and dopaminergic SK-N-SH cells. METH and MDMA were dose-dependently cytotoxic to human serotonergic JAR cells and dopaminergic SK-N-SH cells. The morphological change of apoptosis was found in Giemsa staining and TUNEL and further verified in DNA fragmentation analysis. Immunoblotting analysis revealed proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3 and -9 and change of bcl-2 and bax proteins. These results suggest that METH and MDMA may induce caspase-dependent apoptosis via the mitochondrial cell death pathway and METH and MDMA-induced neurotoxicity may happen to broadly and independently of both dopaminergic and serotonergic systems.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.558-562
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• 2014

Tramadol is an opioid analgesic agent that has been the subject of a series of case reports suggesting potential for misuse or abuse. However, it is not a controlled substance and is not generally considered addictive in Korea. In this study, we examined the dependence potential and abuse liability of tramadol as well as its effect on the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in rodents. In animal behavioral tests, tramadol did not show any positive effects on the experimental animals in climbing, jumping, and head twitch tests. However, in the conditioned place preference and self-administration tests, the experimental animals showed significant positive responses. Taken together, tramadol affected the neurological systems related to abuse liability and has the potential to lead psychological dependence.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been identified in multiple types of tissue and exhibit characteristic self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation abilities. However, the possibility of oncogenic transformation after transplantation is concerning. In this study, we investigated the tumorigenic potential of umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) relative to MRC-5 and HeLa cells (negative and positive controls, respectively) both in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate tumorigenicity in vitro, anchorage-independent growth was assessed using the soft agar colony formation assay. hUCB-MSCs and MRC-5 cells formed few colonies, while HeLa cells formed a greater number of larger colonies, indicating that hUCB-MSCs and MRC-5 cells do not have anchorage-independent proliferation potential. To detect tumorigenicity in vivo, hUCB-MSCs were implanted as a single subcutaneous injection into BALB/c-nu mice. No tumor formation was observed in mice transplanted with hUCB-MSCs or MRC-5 cells based on macro- and microscopic examinations; however, all mice transplanted with HeLa cells developed tumors that stained positive for a human gene according to immunohistochemical analysis. In conclusion, hUCB-MSCs do not exhibit tumorigenic potential based on in vitro and in vivo assays under our experimental conditions, providing further evidence of their safety for clinical applications.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to characterize a toxicity of Epimedii Herba (EH) in F344 rats and to find a dose levels for the 13 weeks toxicity study. EH is well known as medicinal herb in many Asian countries for traditional medicines of antibacterial and antiviral effects, estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects, and for treatment of osteoporosis, hypotensives, fatigue, kidney disorders, and related complications. However, the indispensable and basic information of toxicological evaluation of EH extract is insufficient to support its safe use. Therefore, we conducted toxicological evaluation of this drug in compliance with OECD and MFDS guideline in this study. The extract of EH was administered orally to F344 rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 3500, and 5000 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Each group was composed of 5 male and female rats. In this study, there were no treatment of EH-related adverse changes in clinical observations, mortality, body weights, food consumption, urinalysis, gross finding at necropsy, and organ weight examination. Total red blood cell count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total cholesterol, and phospholipid were decreased in males and females at 5000 mg/kg/day compared to the control animals. Mean corpuscular volume and reticulocyte counts were increased in males and females at 5000 mg/kg/day compared to control animals. Therefore, we recommend that dose level of 5000 mg/kg/day is a highest treatment group in 13-week EH extract exposure study for further toxicity assessment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.597-603
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• 2015

Synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and JWH-250 in 'herbal incense' also called 'spice' were first introduced in many countries. Numerous synthetic cannabinoids with similar chemical structures emerged simultaneously and suddenly. Currently there are not sufficient data on their adverse effects including neurotoxicity. There are only anecdotal reports that suggest their toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the neurotoxicity of two synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-081 and JWH-210) through observation of various behavioral changes and analysis of histopathological changes using experimental mice with various doses (0.1, 1, 5 mg/kg). In functional observation battery (FOB) test, animals treated with 5 mg/kg of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed traction and tremor. Their locomotor activities and rotarod retention time were significantly (p<0.05) decreased. However, no significant change was observed in learning or memory function. In histopathological analysis, neural cells of the animals treated with the high dose (5 mg/kg) of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed distorted nuclei and nucleus membranes in the core shell of nucleus accumbens, suggesting neurotoxicity. Our results suggest that JWH-081 and JWH-210 may be neurotoxic substances through changing neuronal cell damages, especially in the core shell part of nucleus accumbens. To confirm our findings, further studies are needed in the future.