• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.399-408
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• 2021

Natural soil was artificially contaminated with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn), and the movement of earthworm was characterized in real time using the ViSSET system composed of vibration sensor and the other components. The manifestation mechanism of ecological toxicity of heavy metals was interpreted based on the accumulative frequency of earthworm movement obtained from the real-time monitoring as well as the conventional indices of earthworm behavior, such as the change in body weight before and after tests and biocumulative concentrations of each contaminant. The results showed the difference in the earthworm movement according to the species of heavy metal contaminants. In the case of Cd, the earthworm movement was decreased with increasing its concentration and then tended to be increased. The activity of earthworm was severely increased with increasing Pb concentration, but the movement of earthworm was gradually decreased with increasing Zn concentration. The body weight of earthworm was proved to be greatly decreased in the Zn-contaminated soil, but it was similarly decreased in Cd- and Pb-contaminated soils. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was higher in the sequence of Cd > Zn > Pb, and particularly the biocumulative concentration of Pb did not show a clear tendency according to the Pb concentrations in soil. It was speculated that Cd is accumulated as a metallothionein-bound form in the interior of earthworm for a long time. In particular, Cd has a bad influence on the earthworm through the critical effect at its higher concentrations. Pb was likely to reveal its ecotoxicity via skin irritation or injury of sensory organs rather than ingestion pathway. The ecotoxicity of Zn seemed to be manifested by damaging the cell membranes of digestive organs or inordinately activating metabolism. Based on the results of real-time monitoring of earthworm movement, the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of Pb was estimated to be 751.2 mg/kg, and it was similar to previously-reported ones. The study confirmed that if the conventional indices of earthworm behavior are combined with the results of newly-proposed method, the mechanism of toxicity manifestation of heavy metal contaminants in soils is more clearly interpreted.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.88-97
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the antitoxic effects of Pine Leaf extracts against cadmium toxicity. The experimental rats were divided into 5 groups, such as control group cadmium alone treatment group and simultaneous treatment groups of cadmium and three doses of Pine Leaf extracts. Each group was administered with different dose of Pine Leaf extracts such as 0.5 mg, 2.5 mg, 5.0 mg/kg wet weight in pallets for 12 weeks. Cadmium Chloride($CdCl_2$) was administered by 4 mg/kg body weight. The results were summarized as follows: The simultaneous administration of cadmium and Pine Leaf significantly more decreased cadmium concentration in liver tissues compared to the administration of cadmium only. When blood were measured, no significantly difference in haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte values compared to the administration of cadmium only, but RBC significantly more increased. The simultaneous administration of cadmium and Pine Leaf more no sigmificantly difference metallothionein concentration in liver than the administration of cadmium only. There were showed the histopathological slight changes in the liver and kidney tissues of rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the antitoxic effects of Radix Menispermi extracts against cadmium toxicity. The experimental rats were divided into 5 groups such as control group, cadmium alone treatment group and simultaneous treatment groups of cadmium and three doses of Radix Menispermi extracts. Each group was administered with different dose of Radix Menispermi extracts such as 0.55 mg, 1.10 mg, 1.65 mg/kg wet weight in pallets for 12 weeks. Cadmium Chloride $(CdCl_2)$ was administered by 4 mg/kg body weight. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The simultaneous administration of cadmium and Radix Menispermi significantly more decreased cadmium concentration in liver tissues compared to the administration of cadmium only (P < 0.05). 2. When blood were measured, no significantly difference in haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte values compared to the administration of cadmium only. 3. The simultaneous administration of cadmium and Radix Menispermi more increased metallothionein concentration in liver than the administration of cadmium only (P < 0.05). 4. There were the histopathological slight changes in the liver and kidney tissues of rats.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2011

MuSI, a gene that corresponds to a domain that contains the rubber elongation factor (REF), is highly homologous to many stress-related proteins in plants. Since MuSI is up-regulated in the roots of plants treated with cadmium or copper, the involvement of MuSI in cadmium tolerance was investigated in this study. Escherichia coli cells overexpressing MuSI were more resistant to Cd than wild-type cells transfected with vector alone. MuSI transgenic plants were also more resistant to Cd. MuSI transgenic tobacco plants absorbed less Cd than wild-type plants. Cd translocation from roots to shoots was reduced in the transgenic plants, thereby avoiding Cd toxicity. The number of short trichomes in the leaves of wild-type tobacco plants was increased by Cd treatment, while this was unchanged in MuSI transgenic tobacco. These results suggest that MuSI transgenic tobacco plants have enhanced tolerance to Cd via reduced Cd uptake and/or increased Cd immobilization in the roots, resulting in less Cd translocation to the shoots.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.53-54
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• 1999

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of cyclodextrins (CDs) and different acids on the solubility of fluconazole, and o formulate its more concentrated parenteral aqueous solution. Solubility studies of fluconazole with 7-CD, 2-hydroxypropyl-$\beta$-CD (HPCD), sulfobutyl ether $\beta$-CD (SBCD) and dimethyl-$\beta$-CD(DMCD) were performed. The aqueous solubility of fluconazole was measured in different concentrations of different acids with or without addition of CDs. Solubility of fluconazole increased in the rank order of $\beta$-CD$^1$H-NMR studies confirmed the formation of an inclusion complex of fluconazole with HPCD. It was also shown by the NMR studies that the complex formed was a 1:1 complex. Among the different acids used, maleic acid and phosphoric acid increased solubility of fluconazole. The lower the pH of solution is, the more fluconazole dissolved, regardless of acids. Addition of HPCD (50 mM) to acid solutions increased the solubility about two times. New fluconazole injections at a dose of 10 mg/ml could be prepared in aqueous solutions containing 10% HPCD or 15% SBCD. These parenteral solutions did not form any precipitates at 4$^{\circ}C$ and was very stable at elevated temperatures. These results demonstrate that it is possible to develop a parenteral aqueous solution of fluconazole with a smaller injection volume using HPCD or SBCD.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.22 no.1_2
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• pp.15-20
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• 1979

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of cadmium(Cd), mercury(Hg) and lead(Pb) on the respiration of the germinating seeds. Two kinds of seeds namely, mungbean (Paseolus radiatus L.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M ench) were used for the plant materials. The concentrations of Cd, Hg, and Pb applied for the treatment were 0.1, 1, 10, 100 and 1,000ppm. The germination test was carried out in the dark at 27$^{\circ}C$. Regardless of the kinds of heavy metals, the respiration of the germinating seeds was greatly increased for 24hrs absorbing the heavy metals, and subsequently the respiration was increased average 0.69mg/g.hr.CO2 for mungbean and 0.7mg/g.hr.CO2 for buckwheat. In the lower concentrations of cadmium and lead than 10ppm the germinating rates, seedling concentraitons. The germinating rates, the seedling growth and the respiration were not increased in ay concentrations of mercury, but were decreased with increase of the mercury concenration. The inhibition of seeds respiration by mercury was 3 times higher than by cadmium, and 5 times higher than that by lead. The toxicity of three heavy metals on the respiration was showed from the highest to the lowest in the order of Hg, Cd, and Pb.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.321-335
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• 2014

Eight trace metals, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, were measured in the urban soil of Guwahati City, Assam, India from 31 sites representing five different types of land use, residential, commercial, industrial, public utilities, and roadside. Cd and Co occurred in very low concentrations (Cd << Co) in all types of land use without any significant variation from one type of land use to another. Ni concentrations were more than those of Co, and the concentrations depended on land use pattern. Average Cr and Cu concentrations were ${\geq}100mg/kg$, but Cr had a significantly higher presence in industrial land use. Pb concentrations showed similar trends. The two metals, Mn and Zn, were present in much larger amounts compared to the others with values ${\geq}300mg/kg$. Industrial and roadside soil contained much more Mn while commercial soil was enriched with Zn. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) was used for elucidating the mobility characteristics of the eight heavy metals. Mn suffered the highest leaching from commercial land (9.9 mg/kg on average) and also from other types of land. Co, Cu and Pb showed higher leachability from commercial soils but the leached concentrations were less than those of Mn. The two metals, Zn and Ni, were leached from residential land in considerable amounts. The TCLP showed Mn to be the most leachable metal and Cr the least.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.577-585
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• 1998

Cadmium is an important industrial and environmental pollutant and has adverse effects on cell growth and metabolism, although the mechanisms of its cellular toxicity are still unclear. This study was performed to elucidate the cytotoxic mechanism of cadmium in the viewpoint of oxidative stress and cytoskeleton alterations in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. 200 $\mu\textrm{M}$ $CdCl_2$ caused a severe disassembling of microtubule and micro filament and an apparent cell retraction under an observation with fluorescence micoscope. (equation omitted)-tubulin and F-actin protein were highly thiolated at 20 min and then disappeared from 1 hour after the treatment of 200 $\mu$M CdCl$_2$in the immunoblot analysis. Intracellular GSH was decreased from 1hr to 24 hrs by 66.6 or 200 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of $CdCl_2$. Intracellular protein thiol was also decreased by 22.2, 66.6 and 200 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of $CdCl_2$ at 1 hour after its treatment. The product of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) was increased from 4 hrs by 66.6 and 200$\mu\textrm{M}$ of $CdCl_2$. These data indicate that cadmium induces oxidative stress involving disassembling of microtubule and micro filament, thiolation of (equation omitted)-tubulin and actin protein, depletion of GSH and protein thiol, and increase of lipid peroxidation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU ($10mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.p), or AHCC ($360mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, $CD^{8+}$, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of $CD^{4+}$/$CD^{8+}$ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.