• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.92-105
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• 2014

Objectives : Cisplatin is a widely used cancer therapy drug. However, nephrotoxicity resulting in increased oxidative stress is a major side effect of cisplatin chemotherapy, thereby limiting its chemotherapeutic use. Lycium chinense Miller (LCM) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in various febrile and inflammatory diseases such as night sweat, cough, nosebleed, bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, etc. In this study we investigated the protective and antioxidative potential of LCM against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Methods : Twenty-four 8-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normal untreated; cisplatin treatment only; LCM 10 mg/kg plus cisplatin treatment; and LCM 30 mg/kg plus cisplatin treatment. Twenty-four hours after the last cisplatin injection, all the rats were sacrificed, and serological changes were evaluated. The levels of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity and NOX-4, $p47^{phox}$, $p22^{phox}$, COX-2, iNOS, SOD, catalase expressions were analyzed in Western blot analysis. Results : Cisplatin injection caused an increase in the BUN level, which is a reliable indicator of renal toxicity. The levels of BUN, renal ROS, and renal TBARS were significantly reduced in the LCM groups compared with the cisplatin-only groups. The levels of $p47^{phox}$ and $p22^{phox}$, which are NADPH oxidase subunits, were increased in the cisplatin-only groups, whereas they were decreased in the LCM groups. The levels of renal NF-${\kappa}B$ activity and COX-2, iNOS expressions were increased significantly in the cisplatin-only groups compared with the normal groups, whereas they were decreased in the LCM groups. Compared with the cisplatin-only groups, renal GSH and GSH/GSSG increased in the LCM groups. Also, the administration of LCM increased levels of SOD and catalase as compared with the cisplatin-only groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that LCM protects cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity via a mechanism that may involves the inhibition of oxidative stress by the activation of antioxidants.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.8-19
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• 2008

The physicochemical properties of soils having high uranium content, located around Duckpyungri in Korea, were investigated and the lab scale soil washing experiments to remove uranium from the soil were preformed with several washing solutions and on various washing conditions. SPLP (Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure), TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure), and SEP (Sequential Extraction Procedure) for the soil were conducted and the uranium concentration of the extracted solution in SPLP was higher than Drinking Water Limit of USEPA (30 ${\mu}g$/L), suggesting that the continuous dissolution of uranium from soil by the weak acid rain may generate the environmental pollution around the research area. For the soil washing experiments, the uranium removal efficiency of pH 1 solution for S2 soil was about 80 %, but dramatically decreased as pH of solution was > 2, suggesting that strong acidic solutions are available to remove uranium from the soil. For solutions with 0.1M of HCl and 0.05 M of ${H_2}{SO_4}$, their removal efficiencies at 1 : 1 of soil vs. washing solution ratio were higher than 70%, but the removal efficiencies of acetic acid, and EDTA were below 30%. At 1 : 3 of soil vs. solution, the uranium removal efficiencies of 0.1M HCl, 0.05 M ${H_2}{SO_4}$, and 0.5M citric acid solution increased to 88%, 100%, and 61% respectively. On appropriate washing conditions for S2 soil such as 1 : 3 ratio for the soil vs. solution ratio, 30 minute for washing time, and 2 times continuous washing, TOC (Total Organic Contents) and CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) for S2 soil were measured before/after soil washing and their XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) results were also compared to investigate the change of soil properties after soil washing. TOC and CEC decreased by 55% and 66%, compared to those initial values of S2 soil, suggesting that the soil reclaimant may need to improve the washed soils for the cultivated plants. Results of XRF and XRD showed that the structural change of soil after soil washing was insignificant and the washed soil will be partially used for the further purpose.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

Specific protocols to increase the differentiation of neuronal cells from embryonic stem (ES) cells have been well established, such as retinoic acid induction and lineage selection of neuronal cells. For the neuropathological studies, ES-derived neurons (ES neurons) must show normal physiological characteristics related to cell death and survival and should be maintained in vitro for a sufficient time to show insults-specific cell death without spontaneous death. When mouse ES cells were plated onto astrocytes monolayer after retinoic acid induction, most ES cells differentiated into neuronal cells, which were confirmed by the presence of specific neuronal markers, and the cultures were viable for at least four weeks. When these cultures were examined for vulnerability to glutamate excitotoxicity, ES neurons were vulnerable to excitotoxic insults mediated by agonist-specific receptors. The vulnerability to excitotoxic death increased with developmental age of ES neurons in vitro. Specific receptors for Neurotrophin and GDNF family ligands were present in ES neurons. GDNF and NT-3 could modulate the survival and excitotoxic vulnerability of ES neurons. The vulnerability and resistance to toxic insults, which are essential requirements of model culture systems for neuropathological studies, make ES neurons to a useful model culture system. Especially ES cell are highly amenable to genetic modification unlikely to primary neuronal cells, which will give us a chance to answer more complicated neurophysiological questions. Recently there was an outstanding attempt to explore the cellular toxicity using human ES cells (Schrattenholz & Klemm, 2007) and it suggested that ES cells could be a new model system for neurophysiological studies soon and go further a large-scale screening system for pharmacological compounds in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.393-400
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• 2008

1,4-Dioxane($C_4H_8O_2$), which is used as a solvent stabilizer, could make harmful effects on ecosystem because of its higher solubility, toxicity and carcinogenic by US EPA. From 2011, its discharge limit to waterbody will be regulated at 5 mg/L by Ministry of Environment Republic of Korea. It was thus to investigate that the currently operating activated sludge in polyester manufacturing processes in Gumi can properly treat it to meet with the regulation standard. For that purpose, the removal rate of 1,4-dioxane and its microbial properties were assessed for a few companies(i.e. K, H and T). Its removal efficiency was the most highly recorded in H as 98% and then 77% for K, which met with the regulation standard. However, concentration of 1,4-dioxane of T was 23 mg/L in the effluent, which is more than the regulation standard. Aside from, microbial degradation test was done for 100 ppm of 1,4-dioxane in BSM (Basal salt medium) inoculated with each of activated sludge. After 7 days, 1,4-dioxane was completely removed in the test bottle inoculated with H sludge, 67% in T and 52% in K, which could confirm that the given activated sludge might have different biodegradability against the amount of 1,4-dioxane. Therefore, microbial diversity in each company was investigated by 16s rDNA cloning methods where a species, e.g. Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1, was the greatest observed from H and in lesser from K, but it was not detected from T. Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1 is known to efficiently degrade ether like methyl tertiary-butyl ether(MTBE). It is concluded that the activated sludge in H can be most effectively adopted for a biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane in the concern of industrial sector.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2008

The purpose of the HLW deep geological disposal is to isolate and to delay the radioactive material release to human beings and the environment for a long time so that the toxicity does not affect to the environment. The main requirements for the HLW repository design is to keep the buffer temperature below $100\;^{\circ}C$ in order to maintain its integrity. So the cooling time of spent fuels discharged from the nuclear power plant is the key consideration factors for efficiency and economic feasibility of the repository. The disposal tunnel/disposal hole spacing, the disposal area and thermal capacity required for the deep geological repository layout which satisfies the temperature requirement of the disposal system is analyzed to set the optimized spent fuels cooling time. To do this, based on the reference disposal concept, thermal stability analyses of the disposal system have been performed and the derived results have been compared by setting the spent fuels cooling time and the disposal tunnel/disposal hole spacing in various ways. From these results, desirable spent fuels cooling time in view of disposal area is derived. The results shows that the time reaching the maximum temperature within the design limit of the temperature in the disposal site is likely shortened as the cooling time of spent fuels becomes short. Also it seems that the temperature-rising and-dropping patterns in the disposal site are of smoothly varying form as the cooling time of spent fuels becomes long. In addition, it is revealed that a desirable cooling time of spent fuels is approximately 40-50 years when spent fuels are supposedly disposed in the deep geological disposal site with its structural scale under consideration in this study.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2018

This study was conducted to establish optimized ${\beta}-glucan$ extraction method through enzymatic hydrolysis from Phellinus baumii and investigate ${\beta}-glucan$ contents and physicochemical properties. The optimal condition was obtained with the enzyme concentration of 0.66% (v/v), reaction time of 6.08 h ($R^2=0.9245$) and the ${\beta}-glucan$ contents from the Phellinus baumii extracts under the optimized condition was 1.9594 g/100 g. ${\beta}-Glucan$ yield (0.76-16.40%) of enzyme beta-glucan extract (EBE) was three fold higher than that of non-enzyme beta-glucan extract (NEBE). ${\beta}-Glucan$ purity (11.15-59.05%) of non-enzyme beta-glucan (NEB) and that of enzyme beta-glucan (EB) were higher than that of NEBE and that of EBE. ${\beta}-Glucan$ purity of EB (59.05%) and ${\beta}-glucan$ contents of EB (3.38 g/100 g) showed higher than those of others. Total sugar contents (0.61-1.17 mg/mL) showed that NEB and EB were higher than that of NEBE and EBE, EB had the highest total sugar content as 1.17 mg/mL, respectively. Protein contents (0.44-11.73 mg/mL) of NEBE and that of EBE were higher than that of NEB, that of EB. In FT-IR spectrum, the band at $890cm^{-1}$ of microcapsule was attributed to a ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$. The toxicities of ${\beta}-glucan$ from Phellinus baumii in both melanoma cell lines was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoli um bromide assay and ${\beta}-glucan$ from Phellinus baumii has no toxicity until $30{\mu}g/mL$. The effects of ${\beta}-glucan$ from Phellinus baumii on inhibition of cancer cell proliferation were detected by using a wound healing assay. The effect of NEB and EB were higher than NEBE and EBE, especially $30{\mu}g/mL$ of EB had the highest in both melanoma cell lines.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2005

The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of onion extracts on mercuryinduced cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in primary monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated for 6 hr in the presence of various concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 30 or 50 ppm) of $HgCl_2$. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined by measuring glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) value. Lipid peroxidation w as evaluated using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Effects of onion extract on antioxidant system were determined by measuring catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd) activities as well as DPPH free radical scavenging activity. $HgCl_2$ at the concentration of 10 ppm increased GOT activity and TBARS concentration but decreased %MTT reduction, whereas $HgCl_2$ at the concentration of 30 ppm increased LDH activity, representing that $HgCl_2$ caused cytotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in dose-dependent manner, $HgCl_2$ at the concentration of 30 ppm significantly decreased catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd activities. When primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated with various concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 or 0.3 mg/ml) of onion extract for 6 hr in the presence of 30 ppm of $HgCl_2$, onion extracts at the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml decreased GOT activity, but increased %MTT reduction by 30 ppm of $HgCl_2$. $HgCl_2-induced$ LDH activity and TBARS concentration were decreased by onion extract at the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml. Taken together, onion extract prevented H$HgCl_2-induced$ hepatocyte injury and lipid peroxidation. Onion extracts at the concentration of 0.1 mg/ml almost or completely inhibited $HgCl_2-induced$ catalase and GSB-Px activities. GSH-Rd activity, however, was not affected by onion extract. Free radical scavengjing activity was increased as concentration of onion extract increased. Onion extract at the concentrion of 5 mg/ml possesed mote than 93% scavenging activity comparing to 100% radical scavenging activity by pyrogallol solution as a reference. These results demonstrate that onion extracts suppressed mercury-induced cytoctoxicity and lipid peroxidation by scavenging free radical and increasing catalase and GSH-Px activities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: Since bottom ash (BA) contains considerable amounts of CaO and MgO, it could be a useful amendment to increase soil pH and to immobilize cadmium (Cd). This study was conducted to evaluate effect of BA application in reducing Cd phytoavailability.METHODS AND RESULTS: Bottom ash was applied at the rate of 0, 20, 40, and 80 Mg/ha to Cd contaminated soil, and then lettuce was cultivated under field condition. soil pH and net negative charge increased slightly with increasing BA application; however, there was no statistical difference among the rates. Water soluble, exchangeable+acidic, reducible, and oxidizable fraction of Cd decreased with increasing bottom ash application rate, whereas residual fraction of Cd increased with increasing bottom ash application rate. Lettuce yield increased with rate of bottom ash up to 40 kg/ha. Visual evidences of cadmium toxicity and growth inhibition were not found during lettuce cultivation.CONCLUSION: Bottom ash was effective to reduce phytoextractability of Cd and to increase lettuce yield. Conclusively, BA could be a good soil amendment to reduce Cd phytoavailability in contaminated arable soil.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.372-379
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• 2019

We evaluated the toxic effects of phenanthrene (PHE) and zinc undecylenate (ZU) on the population growth rate (r) of the marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum. The r of S. costatum was determined after 96 hrs of exposure to PHE (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg L^-1) and ZU (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg L^-1). The results showed that r in the control (the absence of PHE and ZU) was greater than 0.04, while r in the treatment groups decreased with increasing PHE and ZU concentrations. PHE and ZU were shown to reduce r in a dose-dependent manner, with significant decreases occurring at concentrations above 50 and 10 mg L^-1, respectively. The EC₅₀ values of r in PHE and ZU exposure were 136.13 and 16.95 mg L^-1, respectively. The no observed effect concentrations (NOEC) were 25 and 5 mg L^-1, and the lowest observed effect concentrations (LOEC) were 50 and 10 mg L^-1. These results indicated that concentrations of greater than 50 mg L^-1 of PHE and 10 mg L^-1 of ZU in marine ecosystems induced a toxic effect on the r of S. costatum. These results can serve as useful baseline data for the establishment of safety concentrations of PHE and ZU in marine ecosystems.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 2014

Methods of establishment of AOEL (Acceptable Operator Exposure Level), application of oral absorption by country, and calculation of exposure dose for operator risk assessment in USA, EU and Korea were investigated. Oral absorption of 141 active substances for pesticides was also investigated, then operator risk assessment was conducted with AOEL including oral absorption and Korean AOEL. Internal dose converted to external dose with oral or dermal absorption in USA and EU, but external dose to which oral absorption was not applied was used for establishment of AOEL in Korea. Oral absorption of 50 active substances among 141 were below 80%. In case of application of oral absorption as a correction factor in below 80%, AOELs of about 36% active substances were considered to be lower than the current Korean AOELs. Operator risk assessment of 28 active substances among 50 active substances with oral absorption below 80% was conducted with EU AOELs. TER (Toxicity Exposure Ratio) of 12 plant protection products including chlorothalonil WG (Water-dispersible Granule) was less than 1 and the risk was high. Operator risk assessment of 24 active substances among 50 active substances with oral absorption below 80% was conducted with Korean AOELs. TER of 6 plant protection products including chlorothalonil WG were less than 1 and the risk was high. Operator risk assessment of 4 plant protection products not having Korean AOEL was conducted with converted EU AOEL into AOEL not including oral absorption. The results indicated TER of 4 products including daminozide WP (Wettable Powder) was over 1 and risk was low. 22 products except 6 products such as oxadiagyl SC (Suspension Concentration) were shown the same results of risk assessment between EU AOELs and Korean AOELs. As a result, it was considered that AOELs including oral absorption was possible to be used for operator risk assessment. It was considered operator risk assessment with AOEL including oral absorption was more like real assessment method, and improvement of assessment was needed for application to evaluate pesticides in registration.