• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.15-22
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• 2018

The main objective of this study was to analyse heavy metals in sediments obtained from Gwangan bridge and to evaluate pollution intensity of the sites. To evaluate pollution intensity of the sites, we used enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index, potential ecological risk factor (PERF), and mean PEL quotient. Pollution intensities of these sites were evaluated by above methods, and we found most dangerous heavy metal and polluted sites. All sites showed non polluted or low risk for the heavy metals such as Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, but all sites were categorized as minor enrichment for Cd. G4 was evaluated as moderately polluted by Cd ($I_{geo}$) but other sites were unpolluted by heavy metals. In summary, Cd was found to be higher concentrations for all sites. For G4 and G5 sites, Pb and Zn in addition to Cd were higher than other sites.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.18-24
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• 2011

Objective: Leejung-tang (Rechu-to in Japanese) is a traditional Korean herbal formula used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as vomiting, stomach pain, chronic gastritis and gastrointestinal ulceration. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of Leejung-tang water extract (LJT) by a single oral dose in Crl:CD (SD) rats in compliance with current guidelines. Methods: In the preliminary study, there were no adverse effects such as death, clinical signs, and body weight changes at dose levels of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day body weight. Based on the results, a dose of 2000 mg/kg was selected as the toxicological limited dose. LJT was administered once by gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0 and 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. During the study period, mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight changes were observed for 14 days following the administration. On day 14 after the treatment, the animals were sacrificed by carbon dioxide overdose and complete gross postmortem examinations were performed. Results: In present study, no treatment-related deaths were observed. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs and body weight changes. In addition, there were no observed gross findings in all groups except for a kidney cyst in the 2000 mg/kg/day female group. Conclusion: The results indicated that LJT did not induce toxic effects at a dose level up to 2000 mg/kg in rats and its median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) was considered to be over 2000 mg/kg/day body weight for both genders.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.310-315
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• 1997

In oreder to know the effect of the oocyte maturation with several heavy metal ions(Cd$^{2+}$, Hg$^{2+}$, Cu$^{2+}$, Pb$^{2+}$) on frog(Rana dybowskii) by FPH(Frog pituitary homogenate: 0.1 p.e./ml) in vitro, oocytes were cultured for 20 hours and exanimed the maturation rates with exposure of various comcentrations of those ions. The results showed that Cd$^{2+}$ at concentration of 0.1 ppm suppressed the maturation of the oocytes, while Hg$^{2+}$, Cu$^{2+}$ and Pb$^{2+}$ suppressed them significantly at 1 and 5 ppm respectively. To examine the reversibility of the inhibitory effects, the oocutes were exposed to the metal ions only for 3 hours and transferred to plain medium and cultured further for 17 hours. The oocytes were recovered from the toxic effect of the ions when they were exposed to 1 ppm of Cd$^{2+}$ for 3 hours and not available to 2.5 ppm. The effect of 2.5 ppm of Hg$^{2+}$, Cu$^{2+}$, Pb$^{2+}$ were also reversible and not available to 5 ppm for 3 hours exposure. From the abave results, it reveal that heavy metal ions in this study suppressed the maturation of oocytes at relatively low concentration. Therefore the oocyte culture system can be used as a useful tool to evaluate the toxicity of the pollutants in envirment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2005

A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature on the survival, growth and sensitivity of the benthic amphipods, Mandibuluphoxus mai and Monocnrophium acherusicum, which have been recently developed as new sediment toxicity testing species in Korea. The biological performance for each amphipod species was determined by the survival and growth rates at different water temperatures. The influence of temperature on the sensitivity to reference toxicant, Cd, was determined by the comparison of survival rates of amphipods exposed to control and Cd-spiked seawater at different temperatures. Temperature significantly influenced on the survival, growth and Cd sensitivity of both amphipods. Tolerable ranges of temperature for the >80％ individuals of both M. mai and M. acherusicum with sediment substrates were mostly overlapped (13 to 22℃). The daily growth rates of M. mai and M. acherkisicum increased proportionally with temperature up to 20℃ and 25℃. respectively. Similarly, the sensitivities of M. mai and M. acheyusicum to Cd increased with temperature up to 20℃ and 15℃, respectively. Overall results showed that temperature is a substantially important factor potentially influencing the results of lethal and sublethal bioassays using the amphipods. Therefore, defining the adequate ranges of experimental temperature for the toxicity testing species is the pre-requisite for the development of standardized bioassay protocols.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.623-631
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• 2015

Microarray technology provides a unique tool for the determination of gene expression at the level of messenger RNA (mRNA). This study, the mRNA expression profiles provide insight into the mechanism of action of cadmium in Fleshy shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis). The ability of genomic technologies was contributed decisively to development of new molecular biomarkers and to the determination of new possible gene targets. Also, it can be approach for monitoring of trace metal using oligo-chip microarray-based in potential model marine user level organisms. 15K oligo-chip for F. chinensis that include mostly unique sets of genes from cDNA sequences was developed. A total of 13,971 spots (1,181 mRNAs up- regulated and 996 down regulated) were identified to be significantly expressed on microarray by hierarchical clustering of genes after exposure to cadmium for different conditions (Cd24-5000 and Cd48-1000). Most of the changes of mRNA expression were observed at the long time and low concentration exposure of Cd48-1000. But, gene ontology analysis (GO annotation) were no significant different between experiments groups. It was observed that mRNA expression of main genes involved in metabolism, cell component, molecular binding and catalytic function. It was suggested that cadmium inhibited metabolism and growth of F. chinensis.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.281-299
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• 2017

Single (0.005 M DTPA), sequential (six-step) and kinetic (0.05 M EDTA) extractions were performed to assess Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn mobilization and their potential ecological risks in Abuja (Nigeria) water (WTS) and wastewater (WWTS) treatment sludges. Total metal levels (mg/kg) in WTS and WWTS, respectively were: Cd(3.67 and 5.03), Cr(5.70 and 9.03), Cu(183.59 and 231.53), Ni(1.33 and 3.23), Pb(13.43 and 17.87), Zn(243.45 and 421.29). DTPA furnished metal extraction yields (%) in WTS and WWTS, respectively as: Cd(11 and 6), Cr (15 and 7), Cu(17 and 13), Ni(23 and 3), Pb(11 and 12), and Zn(37 and 33). The metals were associated with the soluble/exchangeable, carbonate, Mn/Fe-oxide, organic matter and residual forms to varying degrees. Kinetic extractions cumulatively leached metal concentrations akin to the mobilizable fractions extracted sequentially and the leaching data fitted well into the Elovich model. Metal mobilities were concordant for the three leaching procedures and varied in the order:WTS>WWTS. Calculated ecological risk indices suggested moderate and considerable metal toxicity in WTS and WWTS, respectively with Cd as the worst culprit. The findings may be useful in predicting heavy metals bioavailability and risks in the sludges to guide their disposal and use in land applications.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.519-527
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• 1996

To examine the possibility of biomonitoring of heavy metal removal ability and soil, a study was performed to investigate the heavy metal removal ability and metal-binding protein (MBP) as detoxification process using Oenanthe stolonifera. After O. stolonifera was exposed to individuals (cadmium, zinc) and mixture (cadmium+zinc)for 4 days, removal rate of heavy metal and pH in the treatment medium was measured. MBP was assayed by means of ion exchange column chromatography. The exposure to mixture (Cd:76.8%, Zn:75%) rather than individuals (Cd:82.9%, Zn:90.4%) showed a synergism raising the toxic effect. Initial removal rate was different for each heavy metal : in case of exposure to cadmium it was over 60% on day 1, while for zinc it was 75~90% on day 4. Throughout the experimental period, pH value of treatment medium continuously decreased, since cortex in the roots may secret organic acid to adjust and prevent toxicity of metals. The existence or MBP in the 70~80 fraction and the presence of Zn-enzyme pool was ascertained with the column chromatography. This study demonstrated a possibility that heavy utilized as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.87-95
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• 1995

The concentrations of cadmium, metallothionein(MT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were investigated in liver and kidney of rats which were fed the water containing 100 ppm cadmium chloride with basal diet and 5% Agaricus bisporus diet during 16 weeks. Cadmium concentrations in liver and kidney increased during 16 weeks, and there were significantly higher accumulation of cadmium in the kidney than in the liver. The concentrations of MTs in liver and kidney decreased linearly during 16 weeks, but there was no significant difference between control and experimental group. MT concentrations of liver were significantly higher than those of kidney. The superoxide dismutase activities and lactate dehydrogenase activities were not affected by the diet, but there was a significant difference by the duration of administration. These data indicate that the kidney is a major target organ of chronic cadmium poisoning, and suggest that Cd-induced hepatic injury, via release of Cd-MT, may play an important role in the nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, induction of MT occurs in both the liver and the kidney after administration of $CdCl_2$. However, the kidney is less responsive than the liver to the induction of MT by cadmium, which may contribute to making the kidney the target organ of toxicity during chronic Cd exposure.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2002

This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Acanthopanacis cortex on Cytokine-inducing and and immune response in Mice. In order to investigate the effect of Acanthopanacis cortex, the following was performed; Cytotoxicity, in vitro, the fraction of $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $B220^+$ in splenic cell, gene expression of IL-12(p35), IL-12(p40), IFN-${\gamma}$, and splenic cell proliferation by Acanthopanacis cortex. Analysis of cytokine gene expression was carried out by RT-PCR amplification. Amplified PCR products were electrophoresed on 1.2% agarose gel, and the analysis (Ht) was used to 1D-density program. The results were obtained as follows. Acanthpanacis cortex showed didn't have cell toxicity under $12{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group on mouse lung fibroblast cells. In an in vitro model using mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), extract of Acanthpanacis cortex induced multiple cytokine, including interleukin-12 (p35), interleukin-12 (p40), interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$). The extract also enhanced the percentages of the $CD4^+$, and $CD8^+$ in the untreated control were $22.1{\pm}3.3$ to $38.4{\pm}2.1$, and $5.0{\pm}0.4$ to $10.7{\pm}0.3%$, respectively. From above findings, it is suggested that Acanthopanacis cortex is able to anti-cancer and activate immune response system.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cadmium chloride ($CdCl_2$), toxicant, and the protective effect of Chelidonium majus (CM) extract on $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity in cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Cell viability, the effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) against $CdCl_2$, and the antioxidative effects including DPPH-free radical scavenging activity, superoxide anion-radical scavenging activity (SSA), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were assessed. $CdCl_2$ caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, and $XTT_{50}$ value was determined at 38.7uM of $CdCl_2$. It was determined as highly-toxic by Borenfreund and Puerner' toxic criteria. BHT of antioxidant significantly increased cell viability severely damaged by $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity in these cultures. In the protective effect of CM extract on $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity, CM extract significantly increased cell viability, DPPH-free radical scavenging activity, SSA and inhibitory activity of LDH. From these results, it is suggested that oxidative stress is involved in the cytotoxicity of $CdCl_2$, and CM extract showed protective efficacy on $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity via antioxidative effects. Conclusively, natural resources like CM extract may be a putative antioxidative agent for the detoxification or diminution of toxicity correlated with oxidative stress.