• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find differences in the demographics of toxic exposed patients and substance between call based poison information data and hospital based poison information data. Methods: Seoul 1339 call-response data were used as call based poison data and toxic related injury surveillance data of the Korean center for disease control and prevention (KCDC) were used as hospital based poison data. Age, sex, the kind of exposed substance, reasons for exposure, and exposure routes were compared between two data sets. We analyzed the presence or not of documentation on the name and amount of exposed substance, symptoms after exposure in call based poison data. Results: Seoul1339 poison data included a total of 2260 information related to toxic exposure and KCDC poison data included 5650 poison cases. There was no difference in sexual distribution. Pediatric exposure and accidental exposure were more common in call based poison data. The most common exposed substances were household products in call based poison data and medicines in hospital based poison data, respectively. Documents regarding amount and time of toxic exposure and symptoms after toxic exposure were not recorded exactly in call based poison data. Conclusion: There were significant differences in age, reasons for toxic exposure, and the kinds of exposed substances. Poison information data from both pre-hospital and hospital must be considered.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.175-179
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• 2006

Welders are exposed to a number of hazards including metal fumes, toxic gases, electricity, heat, noise, and radiation such as ultraviolet and infrared light. We encountered a patient who developed non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema within a day after cutting copper pipe with an oxyethylene torch. The patient was a 26-year-old welder. He complained of dyspnea, generalized myalgia, and febrile sensation the following morning. The patient's chest X-ray and chest CT scan showed extensively distributed and ill-defined centrilobular nodules. Both his symptoms and chest X-ray abnormalities improved spontaneously. We attributed the patient's symptoms to non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema due to nitrogen dioxide, reasoning that: 1) the pipe consisted only of copper, according to material safety data sheet (MSDS); 2) a previous report in the literature demonstrated increased nitrogen dioxide levels under similar conditions; 3) the patient's clinical course and radiologic findings were very reminiscent of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema following accidental exposure to nitrogen dioxide.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicity of hematoporphyrin-coated magnetic ferrofluid (HP-MF) through intravenous administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Each group was treated with either saline, or the HP-MF at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 4 ml/kg body weight (b.w.) for the observation of survival rate, clinical symptoms, laboratory values and histopathological findings. In this study, HP-MF was evaluated for the survival rates, symptoms, laboratory values and histopathological examination after treatments. The result revealed that the animals in the group of HP-MF at 2 and 4 ml/kg b.w. showed some lethality. In serum biochemistry, the levels of AST, ALT and ALP were increased in the MF and HP-MF treated groups. However, histopathological examination for the suspected organs showed no evidence of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of typical iron poisoning. Though the toxicity of HP-MF was higher than that of HP, long retention of hematoporphyrin via HP-MF provides additional benefit over conventional hematoporphyrin. HP-MF could be utilized as a potential photodynamic agent in cancer therapy. It is suggested to develop an efficient external magnetic device to attract hematoporphyrin in the target site, thereby enabling to administering a small amount of HP-MF.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2013

Purpose: Glyphosate is widely used and its toxic exposures are not rare. Occasionally, glyphosate intoxication can lead to death. The aim of this study is to analyze clinical findings and fatality in glyphosate intoxication. Methods: Clinical data on acute glyphosate intoxication were prospectively collected at 28 hospitals nationwide between August 2005 and July 2006. The patients' clinical symptoms and characteristics of fatalities were investigated and statistical analysis was performed. Results: Among 105 patients who were finally included, gastrointestinal symptoms(59%) were the most common. A significant difference in the amount ingested was observed between patients with higher systolic blood pressure and those with systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 80 mmHg (p<0.001). The more the patients ingested, the more aggravated their mental status became (p=0.004). Seven patients(6.7%) died, and all of them had ingested greater than or equal to 200 ml. Patients who died had ingested greater amounts than the survivors (p<0.001), and their mental status was worse (p<0.001), and systolic blood pressure was lower (p<0.001). According to the result of logistic regression analysis, relative risk was 24.1-fold higher in the 'poor' mental status group compared with 'good'. Conclusion: Patients who ingested large amounts of glyphosate showed poor mental status and lower blood pressure. Statistical difference in amount ingested, mental status, and systolic blood pressure was observed between survivors and patients who died. Ingested amounts and mental status were the most important factor of the prognosis of glyphosate intoxication.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2002

We arrived at the following conclusions after we have studied esophagitis through the literatures of oriental and western medicine. 1. The western medical causes of acute esophagitis are corrosiveness chemical material, esophageal or gastric disease, trauma, blister stomatitis, filamentous fungus infection and uremia of chronic patient etc, and the oriental medical causes are qi and blood stagnation, blood stasis and stagnation, stagnant phlegm by coldness, heating, dyspepsia and food poisoning etc. 2. The western medical causes of chronic esophagitis are malfunction of lower esophageal sphincter, esophageal tom chink and hernia, increase of gastric pressure by overeating, fatness, pregnancy and ascites etc, and the oriental medical causes are asthenic cardiac qi, hepatic qi attacking stomach by seven kinds of depression, cold-damp stagnation and insufficiency of gastric qi by overeating, excessive drinking and sexual indulgence etc. 3. The main symptoms of acute esophagitis are severe chest pain, instantly vomiting, swallowing pain etc, and chronic esophagitis are occasionally light chest pain, heart bum, anorexia, dysphagia, dizziness, general body weakness etc. These symptoms are come under thoracic obstruction, acid regurgitation, vomiting and chest pain of oriental medicine. 4. The western medical diagnoses of acute and chronic esophagitis have used radiation test, esophageal endoscopy, esophageal pressure test and biopsy etc, and the oriental medical diagnoses have used syndrome differentiation by four examination of inspection, listening and smelling examination, inquiring, pulse-taking and palpitation. 5. The western medical treatments of acute esophagitis have regarded preservation stability of esophagus as a principle, and the oriental medical treatments mainly have used expelling pathogen of expelling cold and regulating qi, cooling and removing stasis, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, eliminating phlegm and regulating qi. 6. The western medical treatments of chronic esophagitis have regarded decrease flowing backward of gastric juice as a purpose, and the oriental medical treatments mainly have used strengthening body resistance of replenishing and strengthening cardioqi, dispersing stagnated hepatoqi, expelling cold and dehygrosis, invigorating stomach and nourishing qi.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.91-95
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was carried out to evaluate whether the water extract from cause the cellular damage in HepG2 cell line. It was reported that Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz(DDT) intake induce poisoning symptoms in human population. These symptoms was closely related to liver toxicity, however, mechanisms for liver toxicity caused by DDT have not been elucidated exactly. Here, hepatotoxicity caused by DDT was evaluated using HepG2 cell line. Methods : Water extract of DDT was treated into HepG2 cell with various doses such as 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and $5.0mg/m{\ell}$. In order to cell viability, both MTT and LDH assay were carried out. Also, apoptosis array kit was used to identify whether cell death caused by DDT is due to apoptosis or not. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured after treatment of water extract. Results : We found out significant changes in the apoptosis related factors of hepatocyte. The cell viability of HepG2 treated with DDT water extract was decreased in dose-dependent. Also most of the apoptosis related factors were significantly increased. We found out that Caspase 3, Cytochrome C and ROS had increased in dose-dependent. In addition, other apoptosis related factors Bcl 2 and Bax, which were also constant changes. However, there was no significance. Conclusions : These results suggest that water soluble extract of DDT is expected to have oral toxicity, including hepatocellular damage Therefore, it is suggested that DDT could cause various side effects and toxicity of clinical conditions.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 2004

The following are the conclusions obtained by the philological study of the prescriptions introduced in Dongeuybogam such as Pyungwuisan, Pyungwuisan-added prescriptions, Pyungwuisan blended prescriptions: 1. Pyungwuisan and drugs based on Pyungwuisan were prescribed for stomach diseases, food poisoning, indigestion, impaired spleen, symptoms developed by dampness, diseases caused by changing water, diarrhea, edema, malignant malaria, an intestinal convulsion, blood in excrement, malaria, abortion, sparrow eye. 2. Dual prescriptions using Pyungwuisan and other independent prescriptions were applied to internal diseases concerning digestion, diarrhea and dysentery, abscess, intestinal swelling jaundice, symptoms developed by dampness, malaria, vomit, etc. 3. Etiological factors and diseases for which Pyungwuisan and medicines based on Pyungwuisan, dual prescriptions using Pyungwuisan were prescribed, were surveyed to include indigestion, weak spleen and stomach, drying dampness of spleen and stomach, dysfunctioning gall bladder, infection, damaged internals, external sensitiveness and internal damage, hypochondria, chilliness due to lack of chi. 4. A prescription for each disease needed specially added medicines to Pyungwuisan as the following: 1) For indigestion and dyspepsia, Pyungwuisan were prescribed with optional addition of Hoisaengsan, Sagunjatang, Ryukgunjatang, Ijintang, Sosihotang, etc., according to the symptoms, and were most frequently used with aromatic and digestive medicines such as mawwa medivata fermentata, malt, natgrass galingale rhizome, vilous amomum fruit, aucklandia root, round cardamom seed etc. 2) For diseases originated from damage by coldness, Pyungwuisan was taken with suitable amount of Jichulhwan, Hyangsosan, Hyangyusan, according to the symptoms. 3) For diarrhea and dysentery, Pyungwuisan were prescribed with the recipes of Oryeongsan, Sambaektang, Ijintang. 4) For jaundice, prescriptions always included natgrass galingale rhizome in the recipe of Pyungwuisan. 5) For malaria, mostly added prescriptions to Pyungwuisan were Sagunjatang, Ryukgunjatang, Ijintang, with usual addition of antifebrile dichroa root, tsaoko, green tangerine orange peel. 6) Pyungwuisan was prescribed with Hoisaengsan for vomit, with Oryeongsan for edema, and with kinds of Ueolgukhwan for hypochondria.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2004

With a recent well-being boom, our interest in chemical-free vegetables is also increasing. So, some people are trying to take in wild plants chosen by themselves. However, others often come to their rescue in an emergency department after eating them, caused by their misunderstanding poisonous herbs as edible vegetables. We have ever seen two persons carried into the emergency department with bradycardia and shock incurred by his intake by confusion between Caltha palustris and Ligularia fischeri lately. There were symptoms such as epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and so on in their cases, and the symptoms of bradycardia and hypotension continued. Owing to sustained bradycardia and hypotension states, we applied a dopamine to a patient, and then the in-patient left the hospital two days later. We presumed the cause of the two symptoms appeared in two cases to be a saponin in Caltha palustris. For that reason, if someone has the bradycardia and hypotension symptoms from an unknown cause after taking in wild plants, they have to consider a toxication by the Caltha palustris. Therefore, this paper focused on the issue that unexpected poisoning would have to be prevented by studying about wild plants much more and informing the toxic risk from the plants.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.157-172
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• 1999

This treatise, after review recent data on Oriental Medical toxicity, gets a conclusion on toxic concept of Oriental Medicine. 1. In the oriental medicine, the concept of toxic character contains propensity which disposition is inclined, and general meaning covered with the effect of a medicine, a side effect, formation of a medicine Besides, the concept diversely is used in the cause of a disease, names, symptoms, how to treat, medicines, prevention name, etc. 2. Every herbal drugs has toxic character. Levels of toxicity are nonexistence(無毒), existence(有毒), a little(小毒), always(常毒), serious(大毒), fatal toxic(劇毒), whose concepts in the Oriental Medicine are divided relative and absolute at the same time. 3. The examples of the fatal events by poisoning up to now are more than 400 cases(in China). 4. The factors of toxicity are the amount used unsuitably, the combination, directions, and interactions between western and oriental medicine, etc. The reduction of toxicity and how to detoxicate is several methods. The toxic science in Oriental Medicine based on the formation of oriental medicine present principles which use herbal drugs safely and availablely, utilizing th dispositions and efficiencies. It has positive, learning spirits which prevent abuse of oriental medicine, and which exactly diagnose and use the herbal drugs in the treatment with absolute toxic medicine. However, I think that scientific, positive experimental research is necessary to setup dose-response relation, be in relative quantity of toxic character, operate on the reactive mechanism exactly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2012

Honey is produced by bees from nectar collected from nearby flowers. Sometimes, honey produced from the Rhododendron species is contaminated by Grayanotoxin (GTX) in Nepal and other countries. There have been reports of GTX intoxication, also known as 'mad honey disease', from honey produced in countries other than Korea. The importation of wild honey has been prohibited by the Korean Food and Drug Administration since 2005, yet it is still distributed within Korea by the occasional tourist. We report a case of GTX intoxication from contaminated honey which included the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, general weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, hypotension and sinus bradycardia. By means of infusion with normal saline and atropine sulfate, the patient's condition fully recovered within 8 hours of hospital admission, and she was discharged without any complications.