• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2005

Formaldehyde (FA) is an important industrial chemical, but it can cause allergic reactions, sick building syndrome and so on. It has also been observed to cause cancer in scientific studies using laboratory animals, and it even causes cancer in humans. Natural products such as ginseng and pine needle containing complicated mixtures of organic chemicals are widely used in the world, because their effective components are responsible for some pharmacological activities including antioxidative effect, anticancer effect. We investigate the effect of Korean ginseng (GE), pine needle extract (PE) and combined GE and PE (cNPE) on mouse lung injury by FA exposure. GE, PE and cNPE was directly transported to pulmonary cells through respiratory organ by nebulizer inhalation. In the case of FA exposure, the pulmonary structure was damaged and its function became abnormal. However, cNPE-FA, GE-FA, and PE-FA treated groups showed similar with the control group compared with FA group. Among them, GE was proved to be more effective than any other extracts. These results demonstrate that natural product extracts could protect pulmonary structure and function against FA exposure.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2017

A review study was conducted to examine the adverse effects of styrene, styrene mixtures, or styrene and/or styrene mixtures and noise on the auditory system in humans employed in occupational settings. The search included peer-reviewed articles published in English language involving human volunteers spanning a 25-year period (1990-2015). Studies included peer review journals, caseecontrol studies, and case reports. Animal studies were excluded. An initial search identified 40 studies. After screening for inclusion, 13 studies were retrieved for full journal detail examination and review. As a whole, the results range from no to mild associations between styrene exposure and auditory dysfunction, noting relatively small sample sizes. However, four studies investigating styrene with other organic solvent mixtures and noise suggested combined exposures to both styrene organic solvent mixtures may be more ototoxic than exposure to noise alone. There is little literature examining the effect of styrene on auditory functioning in humans. Nonetheless, findings suggest public health professionals and policy makers should be made aware of the future research needs pertaining to hearing impairment and ototoxicity from styrene. It is recommended that chronic styrene-exposed individuals be routinely evaluated with a comprehensive audiological test battery to detect early signs of auditory dysfunction.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2006

Electrical treatment has been widely used for porcine oocytes activation. However, developmental rates following electrical activation of porcine oocytes is relatively inefficient compared to other domestic animals. To investigate the effects of porcine oocytes on combined activation by both chemical and electrical treatment, in-vitro matured oocytes were activated by combined cycloheximide and electrical pulses treatment. Cumulus-free oocytes were exposed with NCSU-23 medium containing cycloheximide $(10{\mu}g/ml)$ for 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 min and then activated by electrical pulse treatment and cultured in PZM-3 for 8 days. Also effects of exposure to $6.25{\mu}M$ calcium ionophore for 2 min for cumulus-free oocytes were tested. The percentage of blastocyst formation in 10 min exposure to $10{\mu}g/ml$ cycloheximide and electrical pulse treatment was significantly increased (P<0.05) than in the control group. And exposure to $6.25{\mu}M$ calcium ionophore for 2 min with $10{\mu}g/ml$ cycloheximide for 10min and electrical pulse treatment significantly increased (P<0.05) the percentage of blastocyst developmental rates than the control group. In conclusion, activation by combined cycloheximide and electrical stimulation treatment promoted the subsequent development of porcine oocytes and improved the subsequence blastocyst development.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 1992

The effect of various supplies of lead singly and in combination with aluminium on growth and chlorophyll biosynthesis was investigated in 7-day-old Vigna anguluris seedlings. Expose to 50 $\mu$N Pb or more drastically reduced root elongation rate. Significant depressions in root growth was observed within 1 day and no recovery of growth was seen over the duration of treatment period. Root elongation decreased depending on the Pb concentrations. Root growth inhibition was stronger than shoot growth inhibition. The initiation of lateral roots appeared to be more sensitive to Pb than the growth of main roots. Inhibition of root and shoot elongation by Pb was lessened by combined exposure of Pb and Al, suggesting that the presence of AA reverse the inhibitory effect of Pb alone. With the histochemical sodium rhodizonate method the rate of Pb uptake was dependent on the Pb concentration and exposure time of the roots to Pb salts. Pb was first deposited on the root surface and then translocated radially in the root cap cells. During a longer Pb administration (up to 72 h) Pb penetration was nonuniform, with accumulation within the cortex or endodermis. There was drastic reduction in chlorophyll content by Pb. The Pb inhibition of chlorophyll synthesis was concentration dependent. 5-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity exhibited distinct inhibition from control. Reduction in chlorophyll content was accompanied by proportional changes in ALAD activity. Chlorophyll content and ALAD activity were less affected by combined exposure of Pb and Al, suggesting that Al has a protective effect against the inhibiting action of Pb on photosynthetic activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2017

Hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. It has been demonstrated that chronic exposure to high glucose impaired endothelial functions. However, specific effects of short-term exposure to high glucose on vascular reactivity are controversial. Moreover, the combined effects of other metabolic substrates such as free fatty acids (FFA) on vascular reactivity remain poorly understood. Here we investigate the effects of short-term exposure to high glucose with or without other metabolic substrates including FFAs termed "nutrition full" (NF) solution, on mesenteric (MA) and deep femoral arteries (DFA) of rats. Arterial ring segments were mounted in a double-wire myograph. Contraction in response to phenylephrine (PhE) was determined in control (5 mM) and high glucose (23 mM, HG) environments over a 30 min period. In both arteries, PhE-inducedvasocontraction was enhanced by pre-incubation of HG solution. A combined incubation with HG and palmitic acid ($100{\mu}M$) induced similar sensitization of PhE-contractions in both arteries. In contrast, high $K^+$-induced contractions were not affected by HG. Interestingly, pre-incubation with NF solution decreased PhE-induced contraction in MA but increased the contraction in DFA. In NF solution, the HG-induced facilitation of PhE-contraction was not observed in MA. Furthermore, the PhE-induced contraction of DFA was attenuated by HG in NF solution. Our results demonstrate that the sensitization of PhE-induced arterial contraction by HG is differentially affected by other metabolic substrates. The conversation of skeletal arterial contractility by HG in NF solution requires careful interpretation of the previous in vitro studies where only glucose is included in physiological salt solutions. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism underlying the inconsistent effect of NF solution on MA and DFA.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 1997

The effect of various supplies of lead singly and in combination with aluminium on growth and chlorophyll biosynthesis was investigated in 7-day-old Vigna angularis seedlings. Expose to 50 uM Pb or more drastically reduced root elongation rate. Significant depressions in root growth was observed within 1 day and no recovery of growth was seen over the duration of treatment period. Root elongation decreased depending on the Pb concentrations. Root growth inhibition was stronger than shoot growth inhibition. The initiation of lateral roots appeared to be more sensitive to Pb than the growth of main roots. Inhibition of root and shoot elongation by Pb was lessened by combined exposure of Pb and Al, suggesting that the presence of Al reverse the inhibitory effect of Pb alone. With the histochemical sodium rhodizonate method the rate of Pb uptake was dependent on the Pb concentration and exposure time of the roots to Pb salts. Pb was first deposited on the root surface and then translocated radially in the root cap cells. During a longer Pb administration (up to 72 h) Pb penetration was nonuniform, with accumulation within the cortex or endodermis. There was drastic reduction in chlorophyll content by Pb. The Pb inhibition of chlorophyll synthesis was concentration dependent. $\delta-Aminolevulinic$ acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity exhibited distinct inhibition from control. Reduction in chlorophyll content was accompanied by proportional changes in ALAD activity. Chlorophyll content and ALAD activity were less affected by combined exposure of Pb and Al, suggesting that Al has a protective effect against the inhibiting action of Pb on photosynthetic activity.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.493-499
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to construct a job-exposure matrix for lead that accounts for industry and work processes within industries using a nationwide exposure database. Methods: We used the work environment measurement data (WEMD) of lead monitored nationwide from 2015 to 2016. Industrial hygienists standardized the work process codes in the database to 37 standard process and extracted key index words for each process. A total of 37 standardized process codes were allocated to each measurement based on an automated key word search based on the degree of agreement between the measurement information and the standard process index. Summary statistics, including the arithmetic mean, geometric mean, and 95th percentile level (X95), was calculated according to industry, process, and industry process. Using statistical parameters of contrast and precision, we compared the similarity of exposure groups by industry, process, and industry process. Results: The exposure intensity of lead was estimated for 583 exposure groups combined with 128 industry and 35 process. The X95 value of the "casting" process of the "manufacture of basic precious and non-ferrous metals" industry was 53.29 ㎍/m³, exceeding the occupational exposure limit of 50 ㎍/m³. Regardless of the limitation of the minimum number of samples in the exposure group, higher contrast was observed when the exposure groups were by industry process than by industry or process. Conclusion: We evaluated the exposure intensities of lead by combination of industry and process. The results will be helpful in determining more accurate information regarding exposure in lead-related epidemiological studies.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1093-1101
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• 2006

In the present study we studied the growth, photosynthetic traits and protective mechanisms against oxidative stress in the primary loaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings with or without UV-B treatment. Cucumber seedings were irradiated with UV-B for 10 days in environment-controlled growth chambers. The primary leaves irradiated with UV-B showed reduction in leaf length and decreased biomass production. The reduced biomass production seemed to be due to a negative effect of UV-B radiation on the photosynthetic process. Changes in chemical properties of leaf, such as chi a/b ratio affected photosynthesis. UV-B significantly affected chl b content compared with chi a in the light harvesting complex resulting reduced photosynthetic activity Fv/Fm decreased with an UV-B stress, suggesting that the photosynthetic apparatus, and particularly, PS II was damaged under UV-B stress. Malondialdehyde(MDA) concentration which represents the state of membrane lipid peroxidation Increased significantly under UV-B stress confirming an oxidative stress. UV-B exposure with SA solution(0.1-1.0 mM) can partially ameliorated some of the detrimental effects of UV-B stress. Leaf injuries including loss of chlorophyll and decreased ratio of Fv/Fm were reduced with combined application of UV-B and SA. ABA and JA showed similar mode of action in physiological effects on photosynthetic activities though the levels were lower than those from SA treated plants. Chloroplast ultrastructure was also affected by UV-B exposure. The thickness of leaf tissue components decreased and the number of grana and thylakoids was reduced in chloroplast applied UV-B or SA alone. At combined stress granal and stromal thylakoids were less affected. The leaves under combined stress acquired a significant tolerance to oxidative stress. From these results, it can be suggested that SA may have involved a protective role against UV-B induced oxidative damage.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2017

The role of fly ash in concrete become impotent with finding the characteristics of fly ash in which it is used as cement replacement material. In this paper, corrosion test results obtained by two test methods such as the long-term exposure corrosion test and the accelerated corrosion test method, were compared to investigated the corrosion resistance between fly ash concrete and normal concrete. Corrosion initiation time was measured in two types of concrete, i.e., one mixed with fly ash(FA) and the other without admixture(OPC). The accelerated corrosion test was carried out by four case, i.e., two samples is a cyclic drying-wetting method combined without carbonation(case 1) and combined with carbonation(case 2), and the other two samples is a artificial seawater ponding test method combined without carbonation(case 3) and combined with carbonation(case 4). Whether corrosion occurs, it was measures using half-cell potential method. The ponding test combined without carbonation was most effective in accelerating corrosion time of steel bars. The results indicated that the corrosion of rebar embedded in concrete occurred according to the order of OPC, FA. The delay relative ratio of corrosion obtained by corrosion initiation time between FA and OPC is 1.04 to 1.27. Consequently, fly ash concrete as the age increases its corrosion resistance was improved compared with OPC concrete.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2014

Melamine-induced nephrotoxicity is closely associated with crystal formation in the kidney caused by combined exposure to melamine (Mel) and cyanuric acid (CA). However, there are few dosage-finding studies for toxicological evaluation of chronic co-exposure to Mel and CA. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism by which a Mel and CA mixture lead to renal toxicity in rats. Mel and CA were co-administered to rats via oral gavage for 50 days. Nephrotoxicity was determined by measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr) levels. Relative kidney weights were significantly increased in rats after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) mixtures. BUN and sCr levels were significantly increased after Mel and CA co-exposure. Taken together, significant increase in KIM-1, NGAL, and calbindin levels were observed in the urine of rats exposed to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) compared with the corresponding control group. Histological analysis revealed epithelial degeneration and necrotic cell death in the proximal tubules of the kidney after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg). Our data suggest that Mel-mediated renal toxicity may be influenced by CA concentrations in Mel-contaminated milk or foods.