• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.227-233
• /
• 2014

Background: The aims of this study were to determine hippuric acid levels in urine samples, airborne toluene levels, acute and chronic neurological symptoms, and to describe any correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene. Methods: The hippuric acid concentration in the urine of 87 paint workers exposed to toluene at work (exposed group), and 87 nonexposed people (control group) was studied. Study participants were selected from similar factories in the same region. Urine samples were collected at the end of a shift and analyzed for hippuric acid by high performance liquid chromatography. Air samples for the estimation of toluene exposure were collected with diffusive personal samplers and the toluene quantified using gas-liquid chromatography. The two groups were also interviewed and observed about their work practices and health. Results: The median of the 87 airborne toluene levels was 55 ppm (range, 12-198 ppm). The median urinary hippuric acid level was 800 mg/g creatinine (range, 90-2547 mg/g creatinine). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between airborne toluene exposure and urine hippuric acid levels (r = 0.548, p < 0.01). Workers with acute symptoms had significantly higher hippuric acid levels than those who did not (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there was a significant correlation between toluene exposure, hippuric acid levels, and health (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There appears to be a significant correlation between workers exposure to toluene at work, their urine hippuric acid levels, and resulting symptoms of poor health. Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required at these workplaces. There was good correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene levels.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.24 no.1 s.33
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 1991

This study was carried out in order to examine the urinary excretion of electrolytes (Na, K) and their relationship with blood pressure, and to estimate the amount of daily salt intake in a rural community. From January to March in 1987, a mobile screeing team visited 40 villages, and carried out health screening of 537 adult volunteers whose age were over 30 years and collected 12-hours overnight urine. To determine the completeness of collection, the urinary creatinine was measured. If the creatinine excretion was beyond the range given to the age group, the sample was excluded from the analysis as an incomplete collection : 345 samples were remained for analysis. This study revealed the following results. 1. The mean excretion amounts of urinary electrolytes for 12 hours were Na 193.5 mEq, K 20.8 mEq, creatinine 1.0 g. The mean ratio of electrolytes were Na/K 9.84, Na/creatinine 0.44, K/creatinine 0.046. 2. Both the mean excretion amount of K and the mean ratio of K/creatinine were less in hypertensives than in normotensives. K excretion also showed a tendency towards a decrease in inverse proportion to systolic blood pressure when it exceeded 120 mmHg. There was no significant difference between the hypertensives and normotensives in Na excretion. The sodium to potassium ratio increased in poportion to systolic blood pressure. 3. The mean daily salt excretion amount was 22.4 g. Assuming that 90% of the intake was excreted, the estimated amount of daily salt intake was 24.9 g.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2013

Purpose: In children, 24-hour urine collections are unreliable for evaluating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) because of the difficulty of regulating voiding and the daily variation of urinary creatinine up to 25%. Additionally, creatinine clearance (Ccr) based on urinary creatinine is considered inaccurate. The purpose of this study was to compare estimated GFR determined using Ccr, formulas with serum cystatin C and creatinine, and $^{99m}Tc$-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) dynamic renal scintigraphy. Methods: This retrospective study included 101 patients (age, <18 years) who visited Chung-Ang University Hospital between July 2011 and August 2012. GFR was estimated using 24-hour urinary creatinine, five formulas with serum creatinine and cystatin C, and $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan. Results: Of the 101 patients, glomerular renal diseases were present in 60 patients (59.4%) and non-glomerular diseases were present in 41 patients (40.6%). There was a significant correlation between estimated GFR determined using $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan and Ccr (r=0.389, P <0.001). The correlation values between estimated GFR determined using $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan and each formula of Schwartz, Counahan-Barratt, Cockcroft-Gault, Filler and Lepage, and Bokencamp were 0.265 (P=0.007), 0.128 (P=0.044), 0.230 (P=0.021), 0.356 (P<0.001), and 0.355 (P <0.001), respectively. $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan was correlated with estimated-GFR by all formulas in decreased renal function. Conclusion: Estimated GFRs determined using serum creatinine and cystatin C, and $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan correlated well with estimated GFR determined using Ccr. $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan may be replaced for evaluation of renal function with convenience in patients with renal disease and decreased renal function in childhood.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.63 no.1
• /
• pp.20-24
• /
• 2020

Background: Predicting the prognosis of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is very important in determining further management and resource allocation. The prognostication of critically ill children can be challenging; hence, accurate methods for predicting outcomes are needed. Purpose: To evaluate the role of microalbuminuria at admission as a prognostic marker in comparison to standard Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) mortality scores in children admitted to the PICU. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2015 to October 2016. Eighty-four patients aged 1 month to 18 years admitted to the PICU of teaching hospitals for more than 24 hours were enrolled by convenience sampling method. Microalbuminuria was estimated by spot urinary albumin-creatinine ratio. PRISM and PELOD scores were calculated using an online calculator. Outcome measures were PICU length of stay, inotrope usage, multiorgan dysfunction, and survival. ACR was compared with mortality scores for predicting survival. Results: Microalbuminuria was present in 79.8% with a median value of 85 mg/g (interquartile range, 41.5-254 mg/g). A positive correlation was found between albumin-creatinine ratio and PICU length of stay (P=0.013, r=0.271). Albumin-creatinine ratio was significantly associated with organ dysfunction (P=0.004) and need for inotropes (P=0.006). Eight deaths were observed in the PICU. The area under the curve for mortality for albumin-creatinine ratio (0.822) was comparable to that for PRISM (0.928) and PELOD (0.877). Albumin-creatinine ratio >109 mg/g predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 63.2%. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is a good predictor of PICU outcomes comparable with mortality scores.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 1995

The aim of this study was to investigate the interrelationship among urinary excretion dietary habit of Na, Ca intake and hormonal factors in 22 hypertensive and 30 normotensive hospitalized patients. The results were summarized as follows : 1. Urinary excretion of Na in normotensive patients was not significantly different from that of hypertensive patients, while Ca excretion(as expressed on the basis of mg of creatinine) was significantly higher in hypertensive patients. 2. Habitual dietary intake of Na, Ca in hypertensive patients were not significantly different from those of normotensive patients. 3. There were no significant differences in mean plasma renin activity, aldosterone and parathyroid hormone(PTH) level between two groups. However, systolic pressure significantly correlated with PTH(r=0.2597) and aldosterone level(r=0.24648)(P<0.05). In this study blood pressure did not show any significant relationship between urinary Na excretion and habitual dietary Na intake of Na. It is speculated that individual difference of Na sensitivity might result in heterogenous blood pressure response to dietary Na intake. Higher Ca excretion in hypertensive subjects suggested a future study on the interrelationship between Ca metabolism and aldosterone system in hypertension.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.50-57
• /
• 1993

This study characterized the effect of liver injury produced by hepatotoxicants on the biliary and urinary excretion of acetaminophen(AA) metabolites. Liver damage was produced in male S.-D. rats, 24 hr after dosing with carbon tetrachloride(4CCl_4,$ 0.75 mι/kg, ip) or thioacetamide(TA, 200 mg/kg, ip), or 16 hr after administration of cadmium chloride(4CdCl_2,$ 3.9 mg/kg, iv). Liver damage without renal injury was confirmed by measuring serum enzymes, creatinine and BUN levels as well as by histopathological examination. AA and its metabolites were measured for 3 hr by HPLC in rats injected iv with 1 mmo1/kg of AA. The excreted amounts of AA-glucuronide into bile were reduced to 60~70% of control rats by hepatotoxicants, but did not change urinary excretion of AA-glucuronide and AA-sulfate. Treatments with $CCl_4,\; CdCl_2$ and TA decreased the total (biliary plus urinary) excretion of thioethers of AA(30~50% of control), suggesting that these toxicants decrease cytochrome P-450-mediated toxification of AA. However, treatments of $CdCl_2$and TA markedly enhanced the excretion of AA-mercapturate into urine. Thus, 4CdCl_2$ and TA not only influence the formation of AA-glutathione, but may also alter the excretory routes (i.e. bile and urine) for the elimination of AA-metabolite.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on the xylene metabolism. Methods : Among 247 workers, 116 were occupationally exposed to xylene and 131 were not. Workers exposed to xylene had different work such as spray, touch-up, mix & assist, and pre-treat. Questionnaire variables were age, sex, use of personal protective equipment, smoking, previous night's drinking and work duration. The urinary methylhippuric acid was measured in the urine collected in the afternoon and corrected by urinary creatinine concentration. The genotypes of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 were investigated by using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. Results : 1. The urinary concentrations of o-, m-, and p-methylhippuric acid and total methylhippuric acid in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the non-exposed group (p<0.001). 2. In multiple regression analysis, the urinary methylhippuric acid concentration was significantly influenced by exposure grade (Job-exposure matrixes), smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment (p<0.1). 3. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not affect urinary methylhippuric acid level in the exposed group (p>0.05). Conclusions : Exposure grade, smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment affected urinary methylhippuric acid level, whereas genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not. However, further investigation for the effect of genetic polymorphism on the metabolism of xylene with a larger sample size is needed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 2013

To evaluate the effect of the saponin of heat-processed ginseng (Sun ginseng, SG), we investigated the protective effect of SG total saponin fraction against adenine-induced chronic renal failure in rats. SG saponin significantly decreased the levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine in the serum, but increased the urinary excretion of urea nitrogen and creatinine, indicating an improvement of renal function. SG saponin also inhibited adenine-induced kidney hypertrophy and edema. SG saponin reduced serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities increased by adenine. Based on these findings, the ameliorating effect of SG on chronic renal failure may result from its saponin.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.113-120
• /
• 1985

The pharmacokinetics of lithium carbonate were investigated in rabbits with folate-induced renal failure. The blood level, the area under the blood concentration curve (AUC) and the biological half·life were increased significantly, and the urinary excretion was decreased significantly compared with those of normal rabbits. Correlation of serum creatinine concentration and AUC, biological half-life, and correlation of creatinine clearance and renal clearance of lithium carbonate have linear relationship respectively. In short, dosage regimen of lithium carbonate is considered to be adjusted in the dose size and the dosing interval by degree of experimental renal failure.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.215-226
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess calcium and sodium intakes and urinary excretion of adults in Busan and to evaluate the relationship between urinary calcium excretion (UCa) and the status of anthropometric, blood pressure, urine analysis, and nutrient intake of subjects. Nutrient intake by 24 hr recall, 24 hr urinary calcium and sodium excretion (UNa) were measured with 87 adults aged 20-59 yrs (42 men and 45 women). The mean calcium intake was 88.0% for men and 103.0% for women of Recommended Intake. The mean sodium intake was 283.4% for men and 250.5% for women of Adequate Intake (AI). The mean 24hr UCa was 127.4 mg in men and 107.3 mg in women. The mean 24 hr UNa was 3650.6mg in men and 3276.4mg in women. The intake and urinary excretion of calcium and sodium were not significantly different by gender. UCa showed significantly positive correlations with sodium intake and UNa in men (p < 0.001, p < 0.05) and women (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and with age, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and sodium density in women (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p<0.01). The UCa/creatinine showed significantly positive correlations with age, sodium intake, sodium density, and UNa in women (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01). When UCa was stratified into quartile (Q1-Q4), age, SBP, UCa, UNa, sodium intake, and AI percentage of sodium (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in Q4. The mean intake and AI percentage of sodium in Q4 were 4768.8mg and 329.0. Based on the results, UCa was related to age, SBP, UNa, and sodium intake. Therefore, nutritional education of decreasing sodium intake for decreasing UCa is needed.