• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

환경오염의 조기 경보 시스템으로 생체지표를 이용한 생태독성 모니터링이 최근 널리 연구되고 있다. 환경내의 생물종에서 측정한 생체지표를 이용한 환경 모니터링은 생태계 수준의 영향에 대한 예측 정보를 제공해 줄 수도 있다. 이를 위해서는 생체지표와 개체군 수준에서의 반응과의 인과관계가 밝혀져야 한다. 오염물질에 대한 생체의 반응은 분자, 세포, 생화학, 생리적, 개체, 개체군, 군집 수준에서 나타나게 되며, 이러한 각 단계별 반응은 반응 시간의 규모와 독성학적, 생태적 관련성에 따라 구분 지어 볼 수 있다. 각 개별 수준에서의 반응을 종합하면 오염물질에 노출된 생체의 전제적인 영향을 이해할 수 있으며, 이러한 이해를 바탕으로 개체군에서 나타나는 영향에 대한 인과관계를 추론할 수 있다. 생체지표와 개체군 수준의 반응과의 인과관계 정립은 효율적인 환경오염 예방기능 수행에 필수적인 과정이며, 다단계 생체 지표는 각 단계별 반응의 인과관계를 밝히기 위해 가장 적절한 접근 방법이다. 수서 무척추 생물인 Chironomus의 유충은 이러한 다단계 바이오마커 연구에 매우 적절한 생물학적 모델이다. 이 논문의 첫 번째 부분은 생체지표를 이용한 환경 모니터링을, 두 번째 부분은 Chironomus의 유충에서 생체지표의 적용에 대해서 다룬다.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.307-318
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to identify multi-level stressors from blood biomarkers to community-level bioindicators and diagnose the stream ecosystem health in polluted streams. Blood chemistry such as total protein ($T_{Pro}$), blood urea nitrogen ($B_{UN}$), total cholesterol ($T_{Cho}$) and $A_{lb}$umin ($A_{lb}$) were analyzed from sentinel fish tissues; the functions of kidney, gill and liver were significantly decreased in the impacted zone ($I_z$), compared to the control zone ($C_z$). Histopathological analysis showed that fish liver tissues were normal in the $C_z$. Fish liver tissues in the $I_z$, however, showed large cell necrosis and degeneration and also had moderate lobular inflammation and inflammatory cell infiltration of lymphocytic histocytes. Species biotic index (SBI) at species level and stream health assessment (SHA) at community level indicated that chemical impacts were evident in the $I_z$ (ecological health; poor - very poor), and this was matched with the blood tissue analysis and histopathological analysis. The impairments of the streams were supported by water chemistry analysis (nitrogen, phosphorus). Tolerance guild analysis and trophic guild analysis of fish were showed significant differences (P < 0.01) between $C_z$ and $I_z$. Overall, multiple parameter analysis from biomarker level (blood tissues) to bioindicator level (community health) showed significantly greater impacts in the $I_z$ than $C_z$. This approach may be effective as a monitoring tool in identifying the multilateral and forthcoming problems related to chemical pollution and habitat degradation of stream ecosystems.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5073-5076
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• 2013

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the miR-198 expression level is related to clinicopathological factors and prognosis of esophageal cancer. Methods: MicroRNA was extracted from esophageal cancer patients who underwent surgery for assessment using the Taqman@ MicroRNA assay. The correlation between miR-198 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed, and the significance of miR-198 as a prognostic factor and its relationship with survival was determined. Results: MicroRNA-198 (miR-198) expression was higher in patients with poor prognosis than those with good prognosis (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis results showed that the miR-198 expression level had a significant correlation with survival time (P=0.030) and that patients with a higher expression of miR-198 had a shorter survival time. Cox multi-factor model analysis showed that patient prognosis (P=0.014), tumor length (P=0.040) and expression (P=0.012), and survival time had a significant correlation; the corresponding risks were 7.268, 1.246, and 3.524, respectively. Conclusion: miR-198 overexpression is involved in the poor prognosis of esophageal cancer and can be used as a biomarker for selection of cases requiring especial attention.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.329-336
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• 2012

This study evaluated ecological health, using various biomarkers and bioindicators, of pale chub (Zacco platypus) as a sentinel species, in Daejeon Stream, South Korea, during AprilMay 2011. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared among three sites of control: Reference ($C_z$), transition ($T_z$), and the urban zones ($U_z$); and the 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were more significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. Also, physiological markers such as condition factor, liver somatic index, visceral somatic index, and gonad somatic index were significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. For the health assessments, three categorized parameters of blood chemistry, molecular biomarkers, and physiological bioindicators were standardized and calculated as a star-plot, representing values of Integrated Health Response (IHR). Values of IHR had more significant (P<0.05) increases in the $U_z$ than any other zones, indicating an impairment of ecological health by organic matter, nutrients (N, P), and toxic chemicals. This study is based on low levels of biological organization approach of molecular and physiological biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study of high-levels of biological organization approach such as community and population is required for overall range of health assessments. The approach of IHR values, however, may be useful in providing early warning of future impacts on ecological health.