• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.641-648
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• 2003

Changes of plasma DNA contents and serum biochemical values were measured in rats administered with $HgCl_2$ to investigate the in vivo cytotoxic effects of mercury and examine the usefulness of these changes as indicators of mercury exposure and diagnosis of mercury poisoning. Rats were given once intraperitonealy $HgCl_2$(0.13. 0.32. 0.8 and 2 mg/kg b.w) and the changes of plasma DNA contents and serum biochemical values were measured at the time of 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the administration of $HgCl_2$. Plasma DNA contents began to increase from 2 hours after the administration of $HgCl_2$ in all the treatment groups significantly compared to control with dose-dependent pattern. The levels of plasma DNA reached to peak at 48 hours as 2.77, 7.60, 15.46 and 16.51 times higher than control in each treatment group of 0.13, 0.32, 0.8 and 2 mg/kgb.w, respectively and remained to be higher until 72 hours after the administration. The values of creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen and glucose of serum were increased, however the values of alkaline phosphatase, total protein and triglyceride were decreased. These changes of increase and decrease showed dose-dependent pattern but the starting time, maintenance and magnitude of change were various and characteristic according to serum biochemical indices. Among the changes of serum biochemical values, those of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and blood urea nitrogen were apparently and significantly increased compared to control from 2 to 72 hours by the administration of 2 mg/kg $HgCl_2$. This study demonstrates that plasma DNA and serum biochemical values such as aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen and etc. are valuable as biomarkers for mercury exposure assessment and diagnosis of mercury poisoning.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.675-683
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• 2017

Total mercury (T-Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) were determined in marine fisheries (41 species, n=87) commonly consumed in Korea, using a gold amalgamation method and gas chromatography-cold vapor atomic fluorescent spectroscopy, respectively. Concentrations of T-Hg and MeHg in all samples (31 fish, 4 crustaceans, 4 cephalopods, and 2 gastropod species) were in the range of 0.016-0.495 (mean, 0.093) mg/kg-wet and not detected-0.338 (mean, 0.067) mg/kg-wet, respectively. The concentrations of MeHg in marine fisheries were significantly correlated with T-Hg concentrations (P<0.001). The highest mean concentrations of T-Hg and MeHg were found in fish species, followed by crustaceans. The contribution of MeHg to T-Hg was in the range of 64-95% (mean, 83%) in cephalopods, 28-98% (mean, 69%) in fish, and 26-88% (mean, 57%) in crustaceans. The weekly intakes of T-Hg and MeHg by fisheries consumption for the Korean general population were estimated to be 0.463 and $0.338{\mu}g/kg$ body weight/week, respectively. The concentrations and intakes of T-Hg and MeHg were less than the allowable residue levels and in the range of 12 to 17% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) applied in Korea.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.13-20
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• 2009

Objectives: To compare the contents of hazardous substances before/after a decoction. Methods : The heavy metal contents before/after a decoction were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES) and mercury analyzer. In order to analyze pesticides in 6 samples we used simultaneous multi-residue analysis of pesticides by GC/ECD, which was followed by GC/MSD analysis to confirm the identity of the detected pesticide in each sample. In addition, the contents of sulfur dioxide (S02) were performed by Monier-Williams distillation method. Results : 1. The mean values of heavy metal contents (mg/kg) for the samples were as follows: Socheongryong-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.115, Cd; 0.179, As; 0.069 and Hg; 0.028, after decoction - Pb; 0.110, Cd; 0.011, As; 0.005 and Hg; 0.002), Insampaedok-san (before decoction - Pb; 1.207, Cd; 0.148, As; 0.171 and Hg; 0.026, after decoction - Pb; 0.075, Cd; 0.006, As; not detected and Hg; O.OOD, Oryung-san (before decoction - Pb; 1.955, Cd; 0.430, As; 0.063 and Hg; 0.027, after decoction - Pb; 0.083, Cd; 0.013, As; 0.006 and Hg; 0.002), Hwangryunhaedok-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.825, Cd; 0.210, As; 0.050 and Hg; 0.009, after decoction - Pb; 0.107, Cd; 0.010, As; 0.005 and Hg; O.OOD, Bangpungtongseong-san (before decoction - Pb; 1.740, Cd; 0.162, As; 0.585 and Hg; 0.018, after decoction - Pb; 0.041, Cd; 0.006, As; 0.022 and Hg; not detected) and Oyaksungi-san (before decoction - Pb; 1.199, Cd; 0.183, As; 0.321 and Hg; 0.031, after decoction - Pb; 0.096, Cd; 0.008, As; 0.021 and Hg; 0.0004). 2. Contents (mg/kg) of sulfur dioxide (S0$_2$) before a decoction in Socheongryong-tang, Insampaedok-san, Oryung-san, Hwangryunhaedok-tang, Bangpungtongseong-san and Oyaksungi-san exhibited 3.2, 5.7, 4.5, 49.8, 7.8 and 22.4, respectively. However, contents of sulfur dioxide after a decoction in all samples were not detected. 3. Contents (mg/kg) of residual pesticides before/after a decoction in all samples were not detected. Conclusions : These results will be used to establish a criterion of heavy metals, residual pesticides and sulfur dioxide.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.5660-5667
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to assess the association of metabolic syndrome, metabolic syndrome score (MSS) and pulse pressure (PP) in Korean adults. The study subjects were Korean adults 20 years or older (n=5,889) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012. After adjusting for factors, such as year and gender and BMI, the mean PP increased with increasing MSS (MSS 0, $41.30{\pm}0.34mmHg$ and MSS 1, $42.16{\pm}0.31mmHg$ and MSS 2, $44.73{\pm}0.34mmHg$ and MSS, 3, $46.46{\pm}0.42mmHg$ and MSS 4, $48.62{\pm}0.58mmHg$ and MSS 5, $53.50{\pm}1.05mmHg$), and the mean PP for metabolic syndrome($47.25{\pm}0.34mmHg$) increased in comparison to Non-Metabolic syndrome ($42.77{\pm}0.19mmHg$). When logistic regression analysis was performed, the odds ratio (OR) of Hyper-PP (61> PP) for MSS 0 was 4.49 in MSS 1 (95% confidence interval[CI], 2.68-7.57) and 8.01 in MSS 2 (95% CI, 4.77-13.47) and 11.37 in MSS 3 (95% CI, 6.67-19.35) and 19.69 in MSS 4 (95% CI, 11.20-34.60) and 34.07 in MSS 5 (95% CI, 17.44-66.52), metabolic syndrome was associated with an increased Hyper-PP(OR 4.6, 95% CI, 2.0-10.4). Conclusion. These results suggest that an increase in MSS or metabolic syndrome might increase the pulse pressure.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.216-219
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• 2013

A total of 75 soybean cultivars developed in Korea was screened against soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines HG type 2.5. Cysts developed on soybean cultivars ranged from 104 to 624 cysts per pot. There was no resistant cultivar but 'Jangyeopkong', 'Saealkong', 'Miryangkong', and 'Mansukong' were moderately resistant; 33 cultivars were moderately susceptible and the other cultivars were susceptible. 'Jangyeopkong', 'Saealkong', 'Miryangkong', and 'Mansukong' could be recommended for soybean fields infested with SCN until developing SCN resistant soybean.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.451-459
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• 2010

The fluorescence detection of intracellular metal ions are high interest in the fields of organic molecular chemistry and cellular biology. This study was purposed to detection for mercury and zinc in the cell using fluorescent chemosensor (FS). FS exhibits a weak fluorescence, but emits strong fluorescence upon Zn$^{2+}$ complexation. The increased fluorescence of the 2FS/Zn$^{2+}$ can be quenched completely by addition of only 1 equiv of Hg$^{2+}$ with the formation of complex FS-Hg$^{2+}$. Four cell lines (LLC-MK2, Hela, HT29 and AMC-HN3) were used for fluorescence imaging by confocal microscope. The cell viability MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was evaluated after cell treatment of FS, Zn$^{2+}$, FS-Zn$^{2+}$, Hg$^{2+}$ on LLC-MK2 cell line. The cytotoxicity of FS was showed to viability over 80%. This study has shown that FS can be detected for selective imaging of Zn$^{2+}$ and Hg$^{2+}$ in living cells.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.81-98
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• 2013

Mercury (Hg) dynamics in the boreal environment have been a subject of concern in recent decades, due to the exposure of local populations to the contaminant. Land use, because of its impact on mercury inputs, has been highlighted as a key player in the sources and eventual concentrations of the heavy metal. In order to evaluate the impact of watershed disturbances on Hg dynamics in frequently fished, large boreal lakes, we studied sediment cores retrieved at the focal point of eight large lakes of Qu$\acute{e}$bec (Canada), six with watersheds affected by land uses such as logging and/or mining, and two with pristine watersheds, considered as reference lakes. Using a Geographical Information System (GIS), we correlated the recent evolution of land uses (e.g., logging and mining activities) and morphological characteristics of the watershed (e.g., mean slope of the drainage area, vegetation cover) to total Hg concentrations (THg) in sedimentary records. In each core, THg gradually increased over recent years with maximum values between 70 and 370 ng/g, the lowest mercury concentrations corresponding to the pristine lake cores. The Hg Anthropogenic Sedimentary Enrichment Factor (ASEF) values range from 2 to 15. Surprisingly, we noticed that the presence of intense land uses in the watershed does not necessarily correspond to noticeable increases of THg in lake sediments, beyond the normal increment that can be attributed to Hg atmospheric deposition since the beginning of the industrial era. Rather, the terrestrial Hg inputs of boreal lakes appear to be influenced by watershed characteristics such as mean slopes and vegetation cover.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2001

This study was carried out to elucidate the protective effect of zinc chloride(ZnCl$_2$) and its mechanism against the immuno-cytotoxicity of methylmercury chloide($CH_3$HgCl). This study was observed in the culture of EMT-6 cells which are originated from mammary adenocarcinoma of Balb/c mouse. Cytotoxicity of metals was measured by cell viability and NO$_2$$^{[-10]}$ , and mitochondrial function was evaluated by adenosine triphosohate (ATP) production. $CH_3$HgCl significantly decreased the sythesis of nitric oxide(NO), ATP and glutathione(GSH) in a dose-dependent manner. ZnCl$_2$ significantly increased the synthesis of GSH in a dose-dependent manner, but synthesis of NO and ATP were not changed. The immuno-cytotoxicity of $CH_3$HgCl was not fully protected when combined addition of ZnCl$_2$, whereas ZnCl$_2$ prior to addition of $CH_3$HgCl completly protected the Hg-induced immuno-cytotoxicity. Similarly, intracellular accumulation of mercury significantly decreased by ZnCl$_2$. Degree of diminution of intracellular mercury was larger in ZnCl$_2$ prior to addition of $CH_3$HgCl than in combined addition of ZnCl$_2$ and $CH_3$HgCl.. Dithiothreitol(DTT) or buthionine sulfoximine(BSO) addition at 50$\mu$M or less, which was not toxic to the cells, did not affect synthesis of NO and ATP. DTT increased intracellular GSH level and DTT pretreatment protected toxicity induced by $CH_3$HgCl as shown complete recover in the NO and ATP values. BSO decreased intracellular GSH level and BSO pretreatment exaggerated toxicity induced by $CH_3$HgCl as shown synergistic reduction in the NO and ATP values. These results indicated that the protective effects of zinc against immuno-cytotoxicity of methylmercury associated with increasing cellular level of GSH. Increased intracellular GSH transports methylmercury to out of cells. In accordance with intracellular level of mercury decreased, immuno-cytotoxicity of methylmercury decreased. These result also suggest that the protective mechanism of zinc against the mercury toxicity would be exerted in the immune system in vivo.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 1999

Background: Ischemia reperfusion injury is known to contribute to the major causes of the early graft failure in lung transplantation. Triiodothyronine (T3) has been suggested to ameliorate ischemia reperfusion injury from both in vivo and in vitro experiments of various organs. Prospecting its beneficial effect for pulmonary allograft preservation, we made a new solution by adding T3 into the extracellular type dextran solution. Material and Method: Twelve adult mongrel dogs underwent left lung allotransplantation. Six donor dogs were flushed with the new solution(Group 1, n=6), and the remaining six were flushed with Euro-Collins solution to serve as controls(Group 2, n=6). Allografts were stored in each preservation solution for 20 hours at 4$^{\circ}C$. Left single lung transplantations were performed. The right pulmonary artery and the right main bronchus were clamped at 15 minutes after the reperfusion and maintained throughout the experiment to evaluate the transplanted left lung function. Result: Arterial carbon dioxide tension was better in group 1 than in group 2 throughout the experiment period and the difference was statistically significant at 2 hours after reperfusion(28.0${\pm}$3.0 mmHg and 53.1${\pm}$17.4 mmHg, p<0.05). The differences of arterial oxygen partial pressure, peak airway pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance showed no statistical significance. The malondialdehyde(MDA) level, measured from tissue obtained at 120 minutes after reperfusion showed no statistically significant difference. The tissue wet/dry ratio of group 1(649${\pm}$27 %) was significantly lower than that of group 2(686${\pm}$71 %, p<0.05). The microscopic examination revealed varying degrees of injury represented mainly by findings such as perivascular neutrophil infiltration, capillary hemorrhage and interstitial congestion. These findings were less severe in group 1 than those in group 2. Conclusion: The new solution demonstrated superior allograft preservation after 20 hour ischemia compared to Euro-Collins solution in canine single left lung transplantation model, these results suggest that T3 might be a promising agent for pulmonary allograft preservation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

The purpose of this paper was to concisely review the practical changes in MeHg concentrations in fetus and offspring throughout gestation and suckling from our recent animal and human studies. In the animal study, adult female rats were given a diet containing 5ug/g Hg (as MeHg) for 8 weeks. Then they were mated and subsequently given the same diet throughout gestation and suckling. On embryonic days 18, 20, 22 and at parturition, the concentrations of Hg in the brains of fetus were approximately 1.5-2.0 times higher than those in the mothers. However, during the suckling period Hg concentrations in the brain rapidly declined to about 1/10 of that during late pregnancy. Hg concentrations in blood also decreased rapidly after birth. In human study, Hg concentrations in red blood cells (RBC-Hg) in 16 pairs of maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were compared at birth and 3 months of age after parturition. RBC-Hg in the umbilical cords was about 1.6 times higher than those in the mothers at parturition. However, all the infants showed declines in Hg concentrations throughout the breast-feeding period. RBC-Hg at 3 months of age was about half that at birth. Both the animal and human studies indicated that MeHg exposure to the fetus might be especially high but it dramatically decreases during the suckling period. Therefore, close attention should be paid to the gestation rather than the breast-feeding period to avoid the risk of MeHg to human infants.