• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.145-166
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• 1975

The calcium balance study was carried out to determine the availability of calcium in different sources for chicks and laying hens. The sources of calcium were calcium carbonate (CC), dicalcium phosphate-dihydrate (DCPH), and dicalcium phosphate-anhydride (DCPA) for chicks and calcium carbonate (CC) and oyster shell (OS) for laying hens. The radioisotope dilution method was employed to measure the endogenous excreta calcium during the period of balance study following preliminary feeding. A. Experimental results with chicks: No significant difference was found among feed consumption of chicks fed diets containing different sources of calcium. Body weight gain of chicks was dependent upon the source of calcium. The gain decreased in the order of DCPH, DCPA and CC (P<0.01). The feed conversion efficiency in chicks fed DCPH was better than those in chicks fed CC or DCPA. The average tibia ash contents for chicks fed different sources of calcium were similar. The DCPH was superior to CC or DCPA regarding the calcium content in tibia ash. There were no significant differences among the average calcium contents in plasma trichloracetic acid filtrate in chicks irrespective of calcium sources. The mean apparent retention of calcium by chicks fed DCPH, CC and DCPA were 65.9, 64.0 and 59.9% respectively. The calcium to phosphorus ratios in tibia ash and plasma trichloracetic acid filtrate for chicks fed different sources of calcium were similar. The chicks fed DCPH showed the partition of endogenous excreta calcium in total excreta calcium as 35.6% which was higher than 31.0 or 31.4% for chicks fed CC or DCPA. The endogenous excreta calcium per day per chick in group fed DCPH, DCPA or CC were 17.2, 16.1 and 14.6mg respectively. The true retained calcium per day per chick in group fed DCPH were 109.9 mg which was higher than those observed with CC or DCPA group (P<0.01). The true retention of calcium by the birds fed diets containing DCPH, CC or DCPA were 78.1, 75.1 or 72.6% respectively. B. Experimental results with laying hens: The feed consumption, egg production and feed converion efficiency of laying hens fed diets containing different sources of calcium were similar. Calcium concentration in plasma trichloracetic acid filtrate in laying birds fed CC was equivalent to the value obtained by feeding OS. The apparent calcium retention by laying birds fed CC was 61.6% and it was significantly more than that of hens fed OS of 51.6% (P<0.05). The partition of endogenous excreta calcium in total excreta calcium of laying hens fed CC was 23.5% and this was higher than that of birds fed OS of 15.6%. The laying hens fed CC showed 310 mg of endogenous excreta calcium per day per bird while birds fed OS showed 261mg. The true retention of calcium by layers fed CC was 70.7% against 59.2% for birds fed OS (P<0.05).

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2013

With increasing environmental issues from synthetic chemical herbicides, microbe-originated herbicides could be a fascinating alternative in current agriculture. We isolated Streptomyces strains that produced herbicidal active metabolite(s) against a grass weed Digitaria sanguinalis. According to the result from 16S rDNA sequence comparison with the close strains, the best isolate (Code name MS-80673) was identified as Streptomyces scopuliridis KR-001. The closest type strain was Streptomyces scopuliridis RB72 which was previously reported as a bacteriocin producer. The optimal culture condition of S. scopuliridis KR-001 was $28^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0 and culture period 4 to7 days. Both of soil and foliar application of the crude culture broth concentrate was effective on several troublesome or noxious weed species such as a Sciyos angulatus in a greenhouse and field condition. Phytotoxic symptoms of the culture broth concentrate of S. scopuliridis KR-001 by foliar application were wilting and burndown of leaves, and stems followed by discoloration and finally plant death. In crops such as rice, wheat, barley, hot pepper and tomato, growth inhibition was observed. These results suggest that the new S. scopuliridis KR-001 strain producing herbicidal metabolites may be a new bio-herbicide candidate and/or may provide a new lead molecule for a more efficient herbicide.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2008

Background: Acinetobacter infections are difficult to treat as they often exhibit multiple resistance to the antibiotics that are currently available for the treatment of pneumonia. Colistin is active against gram-negative bacteria, including the multiple drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter species. However, intravenous administration of colistin was abandoned because of its nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. The aims of this study were to examine the efficacy and safety of colistin administered by aerosol in the treatment of pneumonia caused by MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from Dec. 2006 to Aug. 2007 who had been diagnosed as suffering from pneumonia due to MDR Acinetobacter baumannii and had been treated with nebulized colistin. Results: 31 patients received aerosolized colistin. The average duration of the treatment was $14{\pm}7$ days and the daily dose of ranged from 225 mg to 300 mg. All patients received concomitant intravenous antimicrobial agents. The average length of the stay in the ICU was $34{\pm}21$ days and in the hospital $58{\pm}52$ days. The overall microbiological eradication was observed in 25 patients (80.6%). 14 of these (56%) were cured, and 11 (44%) were infected with other microorganisms. The overall crude mortality of the ICU was 48%. Nephrotoxicity and significant bronchial constriction did not occur in any patient during neublized colistin treatment. Conclusion: Nebulized colistin may be a safe and effective option in the treatment of pneumonia due to MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. Its role in therapy warrants further investigation in comparative studies.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.133-148
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• 2014

In order to investigate community formation ability, herbaceous perennials such as Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne, Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. and Arundinella hirta Tanaka were planted in April 2009 at the levee slope of Gwangju Stream in South Korea. Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne and Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. which grew in pots for two years and divided rhizomes of Arundinella hirta Tanaka gathered from fields were employed. Weeds growing on the experiment sites were removed twice a year until 2011 when the plant species were formed into community. Weeds were not eradicated during 2012 and 2013 to observe community sustainability of the species. T-tests on stem numbers and heights in May, July and September were conducted between 2011 and 2012, and between 2012 and 2013. Stem numbers of the five species in 2012 were significantly reduced(p<0.001) compared with those in 2011, which were attributed to weed growth in 2012. Heights of Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne, Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. and Arundinella hirta Tanaka in 2012 were significantly lower than those in 2011(p<0.001), which resulted from weed invasion. Heights of Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham in May and July 2012 were significantly decreased compared with those in 2011(p<0.001), however, heights of Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham in September 2012 were almost the same as those in 2011(p>0.05). Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham was able to compete against weeds in September 2012. Stem numbers and heights of Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne and Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. in 2013 were similar to those in 2012(p>0.05). However, stem numbers and heights of Arundinella hirta Tanaka in 2013 were significantly decreased compared with those in 2012(p<0.001). After community formation, Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne and Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. were able to maintain its community without weed removal. However, Arundinella hirta Tanaka was unable to establish its community due to the weed growth. Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne are more suitable to stream levee slope environment in terms of community formation and maintenance, stream landscape enhancement and slope erosion control.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.275-282
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• 1993

Liver microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) is active in the detoxification of epoxide-containing reactive intermediate. Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that thiazole and pyrazine are efficacious inducers of mEH in rats with large increases in mEH mRNA levels (Carcinogensis, Kim et al, 1993). mEH was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from thiazole-induced rat hepatic microsomes using DEAE-cellulose column chromatography whereas another protein $({\sim}43\;kDa)$ was co-purified with mEH from pyrazine-induced rat hepatic micrsomes (200 mg/kg body weight/day, ip, 3d). The antibody raised from a rabbit against mEH protein purified from thiazole-induced rat hepatic microsomes appeared to specifically recognize mEH protein in rat hepatic microsomes, as assessed by immunoblotting analysis. Immunoblotting analyses revealed a 10- and 7-fold increase in mEH levels in the hepatic microsomes isolated from thiazole- and pyrazine-treated rats, respectively. Moreover, immunoblotting analysis showed cross-reactivity of the mEH antibody with a 43 kDa protein in pyrazine-induced rat hepatic microsomes and with co-purified 43 kDa protein in purified fractions. The ratio between the 43 kDa protein and mEH in pyrazine-induced rat microsomes or in purified fractions was ${\sim}1$ to 15. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of both purified rat mEH and 43 kDa protein revealed that 10 out of 12 amino acids in N-terminus of the 43 kDa protein were identical with the mEH sequence with two amino acid residues of the 43 kDa protein undetermined. Either thiazole or pyrazine treatment, however, failed to increase the levels of mEH protein in rabbits while pyrazine caused elevation of the 43 kDa protein in this species, as determined by irnrnunoblotting analysis. These results demonstrated that treatment of rats with either thiazole or pyrazine causes elevation in hepatic mEH expiession whereas pyrazine treatment results in induction of another mEH-related 43 kDa protein and that a distinct species difference exists between rats and rabbits in the induction of mEH by these xenobiotics.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.314-320
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• 2006

Background : The overall response (20-30%) to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is quite poor. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the rate-limiting enzyme in heme degradation. There is increasing evidence suggesting that the induction of HO-1 might have an important protective effect against oxidative stress including cisplatin containing chemotherapy. This study retrospectively investigated the relationship between HO-1 expression and the response to chemotherapy containing cisplatinin advanced NSCLC patients. Material and Methods : The medical records including the responses to chemotherapy of fifty nine cases were evaluated retrospectively, and the tissue samples of these patients were immunohistochemically stained for HO-1. Results : Forty three of the fifty nine patients(72.8%) showed positive staining for HO-1 in their cancer tissues. There was no significant difference according to the cell type, stage and tumor size. In addition, there was no correlation between HO-1 expression and the responses to chemotherapy. Conclusion : HO-1 expression in tumor tissue dose not predict the response to cisplatin containing chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC. Further prospective studies with a larger number of patients will be needed to confirm these results.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2009

Human skin is constantly exposed to environmental irritants such as smoke, chemicals and ultraviolet (UV). Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by these environmental irritants play critical roles in cellular damage. In this study, to investigate the skin cell protective effect of Ophioglossum vulgatum extract, we investigated its effects on intercellular antioxidative activity and UVA-induced MMP expression in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The dried O. vulgatum was extracted in a mixture of ethanol and water (1 : 1) for 24 h at room temperature. The extract was filtered and concentrated in vacuo and lyophilized. For testing intracellular ROS scavenging activity the cultured HDFs were analyzed by increase in DCF fluorescence upon exposure to UVB $20\;mJ/cm^2$. After treatment of O. vulgatum extracts, intracellular ROS levels were measured by luminescence spectrophotometer. Enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), and RT-PCR techniques were used for evaluating the effects of O. vulgatumon on MMP protein and mRNA expression in UVA irradiated HDFs. O. vulgatum extract was found to have ROS scavenging activity with the $IC_{50}$ values of $18.2\;{\mu}g/mL$ against superoxide radicals in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. After treatment of O. vulgatum extracts, the oxidation of CM-DCFDA was inhibited effectively and O. vulgatum extracts showed a potent free radical scavenging activity by 30.4 % at $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ in UVB-irradiated HDFs. UVA induced MMP protein expression was reduced 37.7 % by treatment with O. vulgatum extract, and MMP-1 mRNA expression was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that O. vulgatum extract prevents the skin cell damage induced by UV irradiation, and implies that O. vulgatum extract may be useful as a new ingredient for anti-aging cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.206-211
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• 2006

This study was performed to examine antitumor activities of Rubus coreanus Miquel and Angelica gigas Nakai extracts against sarcoma-180 and anti-stress activities in ICR mice. The variation of body weights of the 20 days of Rubus coreanus extracts-administrated mice group was very low. The survival rate (T/C %) of Rubus coreanus extract administrated group was 161% after 50 days from the inoculation of sarcoma-180 and the increment of their body weights was suppressed. Anti-stress effect of the extracts of R. coreanus and A. gigas were estimated by maeasuring blood chemical value and internal organs weight in ICR mice. The extracts of R. coreanus reduced the cholesterol and glucose to the normal level in the all stress animal models. The extracts of R. coreanus reduced the hypertrophy of the internal organs such as adrenal, spleen and liver to the regular level.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.286-290
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• 2009

The transcription of mRNA of avian influenza virus is regulated temporally during infection. Therefore, the measurement of transcript level in host cells should be performed before viral release from host cells because errors can occur in the analysis of the transcript levels if the viruses released from the infected cells re-infect cells. In this study, the timing of viral release was determined by measuring the level of viral RNA from viruses released from H9N2-infected chicken fibroblast cell line UMNSAH/DF-1 by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The viral genomic RNA was isolated together with mouse total RNA which was added to the collected medium as carrier to monitor the viral RNA recovery and to use its GAPDH as an internal control for normalizing reverse transcription reaction as well as PCR reaction. It was found that viral release of H9N2 in the chicken fibroblast cell line UMNSAH/DF-1 took between 16 and 20 h after infection. We measured all 8 viral mRNA levels. Of the 8 transcripts, 7 species of viral mRNAs (each encoding HA, NA, PB1, PB2, NP, M, NS, respectively) except PA mRNA showed robust amplification, indicating these mRNA can be used as targets for amplification to measure transcript levels. These results altogether suggest that the method in this study can be used for screening antiviral materials against viral RNA polymerase as a therapeutic target.