• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제20권3호
• /
• pp.263-272
• /
• 2004

This study was to investigate single and repeated-dose toxicities of DFA IV, a new candidate of nutraceutical which has preventive effect on anemia and osteoporosis. In single-dose oral toxicity study, the test article were administered once by gavage to rats at dose level of 0, 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg. No dead animal, abnormal sign and abnormal necropsy finding was found in control and treated groups. Thus the approximate lethal dose of DFA IV was considered to be higher than 5,000 mg/kg in rats. In four week repeated dose oral toxicity study, the test article was administered once daily by gavage to rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg. No abnormality was observed in mortality, clinical findings, body weight changes, food and water consumptions, opthalmoscopic findings, hematological findings, necropsy findings, organ weights and histopathological findings. In urinalysis, specific gravity was increased in 2,000 mg/kg groups of male rats. In serum biochemical analysis, creatine phosphokinase was increased in all treatment groups of male rats. These increases in urine specific gravity and serum creatine phosphokinase activity were not accompanied with related signs such as histopathological changes or clinical findings. In conclusion, four week repeated oral dose of DFA IV to rats did not cause apparent toxicological change at the dose of 500, 1,000 or 2000 mg/kg body weight. Thus it is suggested that no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of DFA IV in rats would be 2,000 mg/kg/day body weight.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2014

Melamine-induced nephrotoxicity is closely associated with crystal formation in the kidney caused by combined exposure to melamine (Mel) and cyanuric acid (CA). However, there are few dosage-finding studies for toxicological evaluation of chronic co-exposure to Mel and CA. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism by which a Mel and CA mixture lead to renal toxicity in rats. Mel and CA were co-administered to rats via oral gavage for 50 days. Nephrotoxicity was determined by measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr) levels. Relative kidney weights were significantly increased in rats after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) mixtures. BUN and sCr levels were significantly increased after Mel and CA co-exposure. Taken together, significant increase in KIM-1, NGAL, and calbindin levels were observed in the urine of rats exposed to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) compared with the corresponding control group. Histological analysis revealed epithelial degeneration and necrotic cell death in the proximal tubules of the kidney after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg). Our data suggest that Mel-mediated renal toxicity may be influenced by CA concentrations in Mel-contaminated milk or foods.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• 제2권2호
• /
• pp.141-149
• /
• 2006

Tamoxifen (TAM), a non-steroidal anti estrogen anticancer drug and chemopreventive agent for breast cancer, have caused cholestasis in liver. The potent hepatocarcinogenicity of this drug has been reported. Methotrexate (MTX) is dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor which interfaces with the synthesis for urine nucleotide and dTMP. And it may cause atrophy, necrosis and steatosis in liver. These two anticancer drug have well-known hepatotoxicity. So, in this study we compare the gene expression pattern of antitumor agent TAM and MTX, using the cDNA microarray. We have used 4.8 K cDNA microarray to identify hepatotoxicity-related genes in 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Confirm the pattern of gene expression, we have used Real time PCR for targeted gene. In the case of MTX, Protease related gene (Ctse, Ctsk) and Protein kinase (Pctk 1) have shown specific expression pattern. And in the case of TAM, apoptosis related gene (Pdcd 8) and signal transduction related gene (kdr) have significantly up regulated during treatment time. Gene related with growth factor, lipid synthesis, chemokins were significantly changed. From the result of this study, the information about influence of TAM and MTX to hepatoxicity will provide.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권12호
• /
• pp.6501-6504
• /
• 2012

Background: Multiple myeloma is the most common malignant plasma cell dyscrasia and ranks second among primary haematological malignancies. This study describes the epidemiologic, clinical and pathologic profile of monoclonal gammopathies seen in the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), a tertiary care referral centre. Materials and Method: A retrospective analysis of 85 cases diagnosed at UHWI over the 5-year period 2003-2007 was conducted. The cases were identified from the bone marrow records as well as the computerized database of the Medical Records Department. Clinical presentation, family and personal history and demographic data were retrieved. Haematological and biochemical results were also analyzed. Results: There were 85 patients diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathies. The M:F ratio was 1.2:1 and the mean age was $65.7{\pm}1.3$ years. Eighty percent of the patients had skeletal pain and 40% experienced weight loss. Of the patients experiencing bone pain 56.7% had multiple lytic lesions, 26.7% had pathological fractures and 26.7% had compression fractures. Seventy-four patients (87.1%) had a haemoglobin level <12.0 g/dL with 52.9% having values <8.0 g/dL. Renal impairment was evident at diagnosis in 36.5%. Hypercalcemia was seen in 26.5% and hyperuricemia in 45.9%. Of the 79 patients who had serum protein electrophoresis performed, 77.2% had at least one monoclonal band and of these 24.6% had a monoclonal protein also present on urine protein electrophoresis. Conclusions: The demographic profile in this group of patients is largely similar to other studies in predominantly Caucasian populations; however there was a notable increase in prevalence of severe disease at presentation, with the majority of patients presenting at the most advanced stage. It is probable that these differences reflect socioeconomic factors and not merely inherent ethnic variation in disease biology.

• 호스피스학술지
• /
• 제2권1호
• /
• pp.75-86
• /
• 2002

Prupose: The purpose of this study was to identify signs and symptoms of hospice patients during their dying processes. Method: The subjects of this study were 76 patients who received hospice care services in 2 different hospice care programs in Seoul area. Data was obtained from January, 1999 to June, 2001 by hospice nurse's observation, interviews with patient's primary caregiver and hospice volunteers, patient's self report, nursing records and questionnaires which had been developed by selecting from various references and refining them based on the result of preliminay studies. The collected data were analyzed with the SPSS PC+ program and content analysis. Results: Mean lengths of hospice patient's dying process were 3.6 days. Physical signs and symptoms of hospice patients during their dying processes were 'increased sleep'(89.5%), 'decreased oral intake of food'(88.2%) and 'liquids'(86.8%), 'change of respiration'(82.9%), 'decreased urine output'(80.3%), 'cold extremities'(69.7%), 'death rattle'(67.1%), 'cyanosis'(57.9%), 'restlessness'(55.3%), etc. And psychological, spiritual and social signs and symptoms were 'decreased interpersonal relationships'(61.8%), 'panorama of memories from childhood'(60.5%), 'experiences as like hallucination'(56.5%), 'saying bye with family'(69.7%), 'forgiveness', 'make a will', etc. Experiences as like hallucination were seemed not as dream but reality were shown by 43 dying patients. They had experienced to see and to talk with their deceased mother(18.6%) and/or relatives(30.2%), angels(20.9%), heaven(11.6%), old house in which they had lived, someone from the world beyond with black clothes, etc. Conclusion: The above results indicate that death of hospice patients is ongoing process with dying signs and symptoms during several days contains not only in physical aspects but also among psychological, spiritual and social aspects including family dynamics.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제31권9호
• /
• pp.2493-2496
• /
• 2010

Erythropoietin (EPO) is mainly produced in kidney and stimulates erythropoiesis. The use of recombinant EPOs for doping is prohibited because of its performance enhancing effect. This study investigated whether biosimilar EPOs could be differentiated from endogenous one by iso-electro-focusing plus double blotting and SDS-PAGE for antidoping analysis. The established method was validated with positive control urine. The band patterns were reproducible and meet the criteria, which was made by world anti doping agency (WADA). Isoelectric focusing was conducted in pH range 2 to 6. Recormon (La Roche), Aropotin (Kunwha), Epokine (CJ Pharm Co.), Eporon (Dong-A), Espogen (LG Life Sciences), and Dynepo (Shire Pharmaceuticals) were detected in basic region. All biosimilars showed discriminative isoelectric profiles from endogenous EPO profiles, but they showed different band patterns with the reference one except Epokine (CJ Pharm Co.). Next, SDS-PAGE of biosimilar EPOs resulted in different molecular weight patterns which were distributed higher than endogenous EPO. Commercial immune assay kit as an immune affinity purification tool and immobilized antibody coated magnetic bead were tested for the purification and concentration of EPO from urinary matrix. The antibody-coated magnetic bead gave better purification yield. The IEF plus double blotting and SDS-PAGE with immunoaffinity purification method established can be used to discriminate biosimilar EPOs from endogenous EPO.

• 대한임상독성학회지
• /
• 제4권1호
• /
• pp.69-72
• /
• 2006

Dicamba is a benzoic acid and classified as a chemically related chlorophenoxy herbicide which is widely used for the control of broad-leaved weeds. While the chlorophenoxy herbicide poisoning is known to be uncommon, its ingestion can result in serious or sometimes fatal outcome. A 65-year-old man ingested about 300 ml of dicamba in a suicidal attempt and three hours later he was admitted hospital, complaining abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. On admission his vital signs were normal and laboratory findings were not remarkable except metabolic acidosis in arterial blood gas analysis. Shortly after the admission endotracheal tube was inserted due to altered mental state and activated charcoal was given after performing gastric lavage. However, his vital signs became unstable 6hrs after the ingestion and mechanical ventilation was started with administration of inotropic agents. In spite of urine alkalization for rapid elimination of the absorbed dicamba, the metabolic acidosis was aggravated with concomitant rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure, and he died 24 hrs after the ingestion.

• 대한유전성대사질환학회지
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.98-100
• /
• 2015

경쇄 acyl-CoA 탈수소효소 결핍증(short chain acyl-CoA dehydrongenase deficiency, SCAD)은 미토콘드리아에 존재하는 효소 중 하나인 경쇄 acyl-CoA 탈수소효소(short chain acyl-CoA dehydrongenase, SCAD)의 결핍으로 인하여 지방산 산화의 장애를 초래하는 대사질환이다. 이 질환의 임상증상은 성장 부전, 대사성 산증, 저혈당, 발달 지연, 발작 및 신경 근육 증상, 근력 저하 등 매우 다양하다. 저자들은 무증상 신생아에서 신생아 선별검사를 통해 혈청 C4-butyrylcarnitine이 증가하고 소변의 ethylmalonic acid가 증가된 소견이 관찰되어 경쇄 acyl-CoA 탈수소효소 결핍증을 진단하였다. 생후 8개월까지 특이 증상 없이 추적관찰 중으로 정상적인 성장과 발달을 보였기에 이에 증례를 보고하는 바이다.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.331-339
• /
• 1997

With increases in senior citizens and changes in family structure, the need for long-term care system for elderly is increasing, however, the capacity and environment of Korean facilities are very limited. Health and nutritional status of long-term care residents are worse than free-living elderly. In this study, general food service management and health care practices in long-term care systems were investigated. Questionnaire were sent to the directors of all 162 long-term care facilities in Korea and 81 returned the complete answers. The results showed 1) There are slow but steady increase in long-term care systems in Korea, however, the capacity is far from adequate. Less than 10,000 elderly were resided in the facilities. Most of the systems were free-nursing homes and supported by the goverment. Staffing structure revealed that most of the facilities had a director, a secretary, nurses, but only 21% of the systerm hired a dietitian. It showed the shortage of nurses, physical therapists, and dietitians. Therefore, food purchasing, menu planning, food delivery, and the other food service management processes are handled by non-professionals, such as director, secretary, or cooks. Modified fool frequency questionnaire were used to get the frequencies of each food items used in menu and a menu-analysis was made on the one-day menu provided by the facilities. The results showed relatively satisfactory in nutrients content and food frequencies., however, this was about what was used in menu, not what was eaten by the residents. Therefore this results did not tell that the food intake status of individuals. In most facilities general health checkup was done on a regular basis, and had residents with various chronic degenerative diseases, such as hypertension, neuralgia, stroke, arthritis, diabetes. But the items checked on health checkup included weight, height, blood and urine tests, X-ray test, which suggested that the checkup lists should be revised to accomodate the health problem of the aged today.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제24권4호
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2008

Toxicology screening following treatment with astemizole, a histamine receptor antagonist, at oral doses of 0, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg was carried out in male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). No dose-related changes in mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, food consumption, or urine analysis occurred in any animal compared to the vehicle control. However, the high-dose group showed a decrease in BUN and ALP compared to vehicle control group. In addition, the levels of TG, AST, ALP and CK increased. Although astemizole did not produce significant toxicological changes at any dose tested, we predict that it can cause toxicological changes of the liver and heart based on the changes in the serum parameters related to the heart and liver. The Action Potential Duration (APD) was prolonged in the heart of 60 mg/kg treatment group compared to the control group. The APD increase in 60 mg/kg treatment group along the other related changes in toxicological parameters imply that astemizole has major cardiotoxic effects in the cynomolgus monkey. This study is a valuable assessment for predicting the general toxicity and cardiotoxic effects of antihistamine drugs using nonhuman primates.