• Toxicological Research
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.267-275
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• 2003

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the toxicity of the thimerosal in embryos and neonates. Thimerosal (also known as mercurothiolate) is a mercury-containing compound used in trace amounts to prevent bacteria and other organisms from contaminating vaccines, especially in opened multi-dose vials. The toxicity of mercury is well known and those most at risk occurrs in unborn babies and newborn babies. Test methods included in vitro whole embryo culture (WEC) system and in vivo test of neonatal toxicity in Wistar rats. Ethylmercury and methylmercury were used as positive controls for the evaluating of toxic effects of mercury. In WEC assay, treated concentrations of thimerosal, ethylmercury and methylmercury were up to 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$, respectively. All compounds didn't show any morphological abnormalities, but showed retardation of growth and development in dose dependent manner (> 0.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$). These data indicated that thimerosal showed developmental toxicity in vitro. In vivo neonatal toxicity, Wistar rats were administered subcutaneously with thimerosal, ethyl mercury, or methylmercury (5, 25, 50, 250, and 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) during from postnatal day (PND) 4 to 25. Significant effects of these compounds on relative organ weights and organ morphology were not observed in this experiment. However, accumulation of mercury was detected in the kidney and testis when treated with thimerosal, ethylmercury, or methylmercury. These results suggest that thimerosal may be a harmful compound to embryo and neonate, but used concentration of thimerosal in these experiments is much higher than that of clinical application. Further investigation is needed on the safety of vaccine components, i.e. a thimerosal using in vitro and in vivo tests in the future.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.215-220
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• 2007

One of the important functions of skin is protection from harmful environments. Many studies have explored how to prevent skin from wrinkling and the occurrence of pigmentation changes. Skin wrinkling and pigmentation changes could be caused by unusual disruption of connective tissue, the formation of free radicals and ultraviolet radiation. In this study, extracts obtained from 254 different kinds of Jeju medicinal plants were screened for inhibitory effects on tyrosinase and elastase, and for free radical scavenging effects. Four herbs, Phormium tenax, Morus bombycis, Morus alba, and Cudrania tricuspidata, were potent inhibitors of tyrosinase ($IC_{50}$ values 4.62, 5.46, 8.17, and 64.17 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively). Aleurites fordii [$IC_{50}$: 5.29 ${\mu}g$/mL, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)], Distylium racemosum ($IC_{50}$: 6.14 ${\mu}g$/mL), Acer palmatum ($IC_{50}$: 5.44 ${\mu}g$/mL), and Spiraea salicifolia ($IC_{50}$: 5.25 ${\mu}g$/mL) showed good antioxidative effects. Furthermore, Distylium racemosum ($IC_{50}$: 7.51 ${\mu}g$/mL), Diospyros kaki ($IC_{50}$: 15.1 ${\mu}g$/mL), Cornus macrophylla ($IC_{50}:$ 16.59 ${\mu}g$/mL), and Psidium guajava ($IC_{50}$: 40.25 ${\mu}g$/mL) exhibited potent inhibitory effects on elastase. These results suggest that medicinal plants possessing several biological activities may be potent inhibitors of the processes involved in pigmentation increases and aging. Further investigations will focus on in vivo assays and on the chemical identification of the major active components responsible for whitening and anti-aging activity in the screened efficacious extracts.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제62권4호
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• pp.347-353
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• 2019

Stings of jellyfish, which frequently occur in a warm season, cause severe pain, inflammation and sometimes irreversible results such as the death. Harmful venoms from jellyfish, therefore, have been studied for finding the therapeutic agents to relieve pain or to neutralize toxic components. However, it is still unclear if and how jellyfish venom reveal neuronal toxicity even though pain induction seems to result from the activation of nociceptors such as nerve endings. In this study, using HT-22 cell line, we investigated neurotoxic effects of the venom of Chrysaora pacifica (CpV) which appears in South-East ocean of Korea. In 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, CpV significantly reduced the viability of HT-22 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, in 2',7'-Dichlorofluorescin diacetate fluorescence test under the culture condition lacking dominant inflammatory factors, CpV remarkably increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Reduced responsive fluorescence to Rhodamine123 and increased expression of intracellular cytochrome c were also observed in HT-22 cells treated with CpV. These indicate that CpV-reduced viability of HT-22 cells may be due to the activation of apoptotic signalings mediated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, removing Ca²⁺ ion or adding N-acetyl-Lcystein remarkably blocked the CpV effect to reduce the viability of HT-22 cells. The findings in this study clearly demonstrate that CpV may activate Ca²⁺-mediated ROS signalings and mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in neuronal damage or death, and suggest that blocking Ca²⁺ pathway is a therapeutic approach to possibly block toxic effects of jellyfish venoms.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.119-127
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was done to identify whether mass produced wild ginseng culture broth prepared from cultivated wild ginseng roots could have an application in enhancing the agricultural utility value of leafy vegetables. Methods and Results: Leafy vegetables Lactuca sativa and Brassica juncea were treated with wild ginseng culture broth. Plants were examined and treatment (100 ㎖) applied twice a week over an eight week period. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of treated plants was then measured. Wild ginseng culture broth treatment resulted in phenolic and flavonoid content of 0.40 mg·GAE/㎖ and 0.36 mg·QE/㎖, respectively in L. sativa. When treated with wild ginseng culture broth, free radical scavenging ability was found to be higher in both L. sativa and B. juncea whereas antimicrobial activity was found to be higher in B. juncea (625 ㎍/㎖) than in L. sativa. Inorganic element analysis of L. sativa and B. juncea showed that Ca and Mg were higher in the wild ginseng broth treatment group, whereas harmful elements such as As were reduced. Conclusions: Rather than discarding the wild ginseng culture broth, it can be used as a fresh biomaterial by reprocessing it as agricultural products that can promote growth and improve functionality in plants.

• 한국농공학회논문집
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.39-50
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• 2008

A study on fugitive dust dispersion was conducted at Saemanguem reclaimed area located at the west coastal area of Jeon-buk Province Total reclaimed area is 40,100ha developed by building a 33km long sea dike through Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan. (Land: 28,300ha, Fresh Water Lake: 11,800ha) After this area was completely reclaimed in 2006, there has been high possibility of dust generation and dispersion to the neighboring area. The dust generated at the reclaimed land was composed mainly of minerals with high salinity, and it could make harmful effect on crop production as well on to human's health such as eye irritation and respiratory disease. Especially, when those aerosol particles are reached on the leaves of farm crops, the photosynthesis and respiration of the plants can be under restraint resulting in the decrease of agricultural productivity of the nearby farm areas. Furthermore, highly concentrated salty particles can directly damage the leaf cells. In this study, field experiment has been conducted to regularly measure the locally suspended dust particles and analyze how they were dispersed to the neighboring areas. The collected dust particles were analyzed to examine theirs sizes, concentrations, and components. The SPSS statistical program was also used to separate the dust concentration generated by the reclaimed land from the total dust concentration measured at the measuring locations.

• 수산해양교육연구
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.1662-1672
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• 2016

To address physicochemical factors of yellow clay for removing Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms, the correlation of removal efficiency with mineralogical characteristics of yellow clay collected from various areas was surveyed. Yellow clay from different localities showed the wide range of chemical compositions $SiO_2$ : 43~71%, $Al_2O_3$ : 13~26%, $Fe_2O_3$ : 5~14%, MgO : 0.4~1.8%, $K_2O$ : 0.6~3.3%, L.O.I.(Loss of Ignition) : 4.5~15%. The mineral compositions of yellow clay were mainly consisted of quartz and feldspar including small amounts of kaolinite, chlorite, and Fe-oxides. The result of size analysis showed that $6{\Phi}(31{\sim}16{\mu}m)$ and $7{\Phi}(16{\sim}8{\mu}m)$ were dominated sizes. The zeta-potential were in the range of -4.1~-20.7mV(average -13.7). As increasing removal efficiency of C. polykrikoides, contents of $Al_2O_3$, $Fe_2O_3$ and L.O.I. in yellow clay increased, whereas $SiO_2$ content decreased. Furthermore, the amounts of silt mineral and small particle were high when the removal efficiency was high. According to factor analysis using principle component analysis, two components of factor 1 and factor 2 showed 79% of the total variance, which is related to cohesion and adsorption. Inducing cell lysis of C. polykrikoides by cohension and adsorption between C. polykrikoides and yellow clay.

• 한국잠사곤충학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.86-88
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• 1993

요소를 뽕잎에 살포한 후 경과일 수가 누에 생육 및 견질에 영향을 주는가를 알기 위해 0.5% 요소수용액을 6회 살포하고 살포 1, 2, 3일 후에 수확하여 뽕잎의 화학성분을 분석하고 늦가을누에를 사육한 결과 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 요소 엽면시비를 대조에 비해 뽕잎의 수분함량을 0.4%~0.7%, 전 질소함량을 0.19~0.51% 더 높였으나, 다른 무기성분함량에는 영향이 없었다. 2. 뽕잎중의 NO3-N 함량은 요소엽면시비구가 대조에 비해 503~1,107 ppm 높았으며, 살포 후 시일이 경과함에 따라 함량이 감소하였다. 3. 누에 사육결과 대조구보다 시비구에서 전견종은 0.02~0.14g, 견층중은 0.5~3.1cg 높았으나 통계적인 유의차는 인정되지 않았다. 4. 요소엽면시비에 의해 뽕잎중의 NO3-N 함량은 증가하였지만, 생물 검정 결과 살포후 1일 경과한 뽕잎을 따먹여도 누에에는 전혀 해가 없는 것으로 판단되었다.

• 대한치과보철학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.577-608
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the stress distribution in the bone around dental implants supporting mandibular overdenture according to the number of implant and the type of attachment. Two or four implants were placed in an edentulous mandibular model and three dimensional photoelastic stress analysis was carried out to measure the fringe order around the implant supporting structure and also to calculate principal stress components at cervical area of each implant. The attachments tested were rigid and resilient type of Dolder bar, Round bar, Hader bar and Dal-Ro attchment. The results were as follows ; 1. In 2-implant supported overdenture using Round bar, Hader bar, and Dal-Ro attachment, compressive stress pattern was observed on the supporting structure of implant on loaded side, while tensile stress pattern in unloaded side. 2. In 2-implant supported overdenture using Dolder bar, the rigid Dolder bar shared the occlusal loads between 2 implants in a more favorable manner than was exhibited by the resilient type, while the resilient type placed a more stress on the distocervical area of the implant on the loaded side. But compressive stress pattern was observed in both the loaded and unloaded sides in either case. 3. In 2-implant supported overdenture, rigid and resilient type of Dolder bar exhibited more cross arch involvement than the Round bar, Hader bar, or Dal-Ro attachment. 4. In 4-implant supported overdenture using resilient Dolder bar and Hader bar, stress turned out to be distributed evenly among the implants between loaded and unloaded side, but thor was no reduction in the magnitude of the stress in the surrounding structure of implant contratry to 2-implant supported overdenture. 5. The stress pattern at cervical area of implant was different with the number of implant or the type of attachment but the overload, harmful to surrounding structure of implant, was not observed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.19-25
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cadmium is a toxic metal that is an occupational and environmental concern especially because of its human carcinogenicity; it induces serious adverse effects in various organs and tissues. Even low levels of exposure to cadmium could be harmful owing to its extremely long half-life in the body. Cadmium intoxication may be prevented by the consumption of dietary components that potentially reduce its accumulation in the body. Dietary chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from animal sources; it has been known for its ability to bind to divalent cations including cadmium, in addition to other beneficial effects including hypocholesterolemic and anticancer effects. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of dietary chitosan in reducing cadmium accumulation using an in vivo system. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cadmium was administered orally at 2 mg (three times per week) to three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats: control, low-dose, and high-dose (0, 3, and 5%, respectively) chitosan diet groups for eight weeks. Cadmium accumulation, as well as tissue functional and histological changes, was determined. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, rats fed the chitosan diet showed significantly lower levels of cadmium in blood and tissues including the kidneys, liver, and femur. Biochemical analysis of liver function including the determination of aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels showed that dietary chitosan reduced hepatic tissue damage caused by cadmium intoxication and prevented the associated bone disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dietary chitosan has the potential to reduce cadmium accumulation in the body as well as protect liver function and bone health against cadmium intoxication.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.570-576
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• 2019

Particulate matter (PM), which refers to the mixture of particles present in the air, can have harmful effects. Damage to cells by PM, including disruption of organelles and proteins, can trigger autophagy, and the relationship between autophagy and PM has been well studied. However, the cellular regulators of PM-induced autophagy have not been well characterized, especially in keratinocytes. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) is expressed in the epidermis and is activated by PM. In this study, we investigated the role of the AhR in PM-induced autophagy in HaCaT cells. Our results showed that PM led to AhR activation in keratinocytes. Activation of the AhR-target gene CYP1A1 by PM was reduced by co-treatment with ${\alpha}$-naphthoflavone (${\alpha}-NF$), an AhR inhibitor. We also evaluated activation of the autophagy pathway in PM-treated keratinocytes. In HaCaT cells, treatment with PM treatment led to the induction of microtubules-associated proteins light chain 3 (LC3) and p62/SQSTM1, which are essential components of the autophagy pathway. To study the role of the AhR in mediating PM-induced autophagy, we treated cells with ${\alpha}-NF$ or used an siRNA against AhR. Expression of LC3-II induced by PM was decreased in a dose dependent manner by ${\alpha}-NF$. Furthermore, knockdown of AhR with siAhR diminished PM-induced expression of LC3-II and p62. Together, these results suggest that inhibition of the AhR decreases PM-induced autophagy. We confirmed these results using the autophagy-inhibitors BAF and 3-MA. Taken together, our results indicate that exposure to PM induces autophagy via the AhR in HaCaT keratinocytes.