• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 2010

Alginates are polysaccharides isolated from brown algae with gel-forming properties composed of 1,4-linked beta-D-mannuronic acid (M), alpha-L-guluronic acid (G), and alternating (MG) blocks. In this study, we have examined the toxic effects of high M-alginate to activate HepG2 human liver cells. Alginate enhanced the NO production and iNOS protein expression in HepG2 cells. In addition, alginates stimulated the HepG2 to induce IL-1 release and expression of TGF-beta1, which could influence the liver inflammation and chirrhosis. These findings suggest that high M-alginate form brown algae may have toxic effects on liver cells.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.69-73
• /
• 1999

Toxic shock syndrome is an acute disease involving multiple organs. I described here a case of TSS associated with intranasal packing. Four major criteria, which are involvement of multiple organ systems, fever, hypotension or shock, and rash with subsequent desquamation should be fulfilled for the diagnosis. The exact pathogenesis is not well understood, however it is thought to be due to the effects of an enterotoxin produced by certain strains of staphylococcus aureus.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.439-443
• /
• 2007

The effects of the methanol extract of the leaves of Brassica juncea and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$, major compound isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of this plant on hepatic lipid peroxidation and drug-metabolizing enzymes, were evaluated in rats treated with bromobenzene. The extract and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ of oral administration did not show any significant effects on activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, enzymes forming toxic epoxide by bromobenzene as well as on glutathione content. However, both methanol extract and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ significantly recovered the decreased activities of glutathione s-transferase and epoxide hydrolase, and also reduced the lipid peroxide level in rats treated with bromobenzene. From the results, the protections of this plant against bromobenzene-induced hepatotoxicity are thought to be via enhancing the activities of epoxide hydrolase and glutathione s-transferase, enzymes removing toxic epoxide, and reducing the lipid peroxide level.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.74-83
• /
• 2014

Mercury exists naturally and as a man-made contaminant. The release of processed mercury can lead to a progressive increase in the amount of atmospheric mercury, which enters the atmospheric-soil-water distribution cycles where it can remain in circulation for years. Mercury poisoning is the result of exposure to mercury or mercury compounds resulting in various toxic effects depend on its chemical form and route of exposure. The major route of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) is largely through eating contaminated fish, seafood, and wildlife which have been exposed to mercury through ingestion of contaminated lower organisms. MeHg toxicity is associated with nervous system damage in adults and impaired neurological development in infants and children. Ingested mercury may undergo bioaccumulation leading to progressive increases in body burdens. This review addresses the systemic pathophysiology of individual organ systems associated with mercury poisoning. Mercury has profound cellular, cardiovascular, hematological, pulmonary, renal, immunological, neurological, endocrine, reproductive, and embryonic toxicological effects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.81-84
• /
• 1999

The aqueous geochemical characteristics of Cr(III) and Cr(Ⅵ) in environmental systems are very different from one another: Cr(Ⅵ) is highly soluble, mobile and toxic relative to Cr(III) Reduction of Cr(Ⅵ) to Cr(III) are beneficial in aquatic systems because of the transformation of a highly mobile and toxic species to one having a low solubility in water, thus simultaneously decreasing chromium mobility and toxicity. Fe(II) species are excellent reductants for transforming Cr(Ⅵ) to Cr(III), and in addition, keeping Cr(III) concentrations below the drinking water standard of 52 ppb at pH values between 5 and 11. Investigations of the effects of NOM on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction are for examining the feasibility of using ferrous iron to reduce hexavalent chromium in subsurface environments. Experiments in the presence of soils, however, showed that the solid phase consumes some of the reducing capacity of Fe(II) and makes the overall reduction kinetics slower. The soil components bring about consumption of the ferrous iron reductant. Particular attention is devoted to the complexation of Fe(II) by NOM and the subsequent effect on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction. Cr(Ⅵ) reduction rate by Fe(II) was affected by the presence of NOM (humic acid), The effects of humic acid was different from the solution pH values and the concentration of humic acid. It was probably due to the reactions between humic acid and Cr(Ⅵ), humic acid and Fe(II), and between Cr(Ⅵ) and Fe(II), at each pH.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.7 no.1 s.12
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2004

Objective : This study was aimed to validate the Herbal Acupuncture Therapies(HAT) for cancer patients. Patients and methods : This retrospective study was performed on 8 patients who were diagnosed as cancer in Korea and treated with HAT in the oriental hospital of Daejeon University, from January 2003 to January 2004. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 8 patients for improvement of symptoms, toxic effects of liver and kidney, myelosupression and changes of Quality of Life(QOL). Results : Analysis of change of chief complaints showed that 75% patients replied moderate relief and 25% replied complete relief in Likert scale. Analysis of Liver Function Test(LFT), Renal Function Test(RFT) level showed that HAT does not have toxic effects on liver and kidney. Analysis of Complete Blood Count(CBC) level showed that HAT does not have myelosuppression effects on bone marrow. Analysis of QOL showed that 100% patients replied improvement in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status(ECOG) status. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that HAT offer potential benefits for cancer patients.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.263-270
• /
• 1983

Effective BuOH fraction was extracted from Puerariae radix (Pueraria thunbergiana), and several pharmacological activities were examined. From several pharmacological examinations, it was found that BuOH fraction has an antipyretic activity against typhoid vaccine pyrexia in rabbit, a papaverine-like antispasmodic activity on isolated ileum and jejunum of rat, an analgesic effects on mice treated by 0.7% HAc, and an anti-inflammatory activity of carrageenin edema in rat. It was found that BuOH fraction has detoxication effects on acute and subacute toxic rat induced by alcohol in consequence of biochemical tests of serum. Therefore it was considered that BuOH fraction has preventive and therapeutic effects in alcohol intoxication.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.85 no.3
• /
• pp.237-248
• /
• 2022

Background: We evaluated the effect of particulate matter (PM) and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on bronchial epithelial cell survival, as well as oxidative stress and autophagy levels. Moreover, we aimed to assess the effect of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the adverse effects of PM and CSE exposure. Methods: Normal human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells) were exposed to urban PM with or without CSE, after which cytotoxic effects, including oxidative stress and autophagy levels, were measured. After identifying the toxic effects of urban PM and CSE exposure, the effects of NAC treatment on cell damage were evaluated. Results: Urban PM significantly decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, which was further aggravated by simultaneous treatment with CSE. Notably, pretreatment with NAC at 10 mM for 1 hour reversed the cytotoxic effects of PM and CSE co-exposure. Treatment with 1, 5, and 10 mM NAC was shown to decrease reactive oxygen species levels induced by exposure to both PM and CSE. Additionally, the autophagy response assessed via LC3B expression was increased by PM and CSE exposure, and this also attenuated by NAC treatment. Conclusion: The toxic effects of PM and CSE co-exposure on human bronchial epithelial cells, including decreased cell viability and increased oxidative stress and autophagy levels, could be partly prevented by NAC treatment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.116-123
• /
• 2016

The ecotoxicity tests for metal plating wastewater were conducted using Daphnia magna (D. magna) and Euglena agilis (E. agilis). Evaluation for sources of toxicity was performed by 1) Correlation analysis between the concentration of individual metals in the metal plating wastewater and the toxic effects on D. magna, 2) Toxicant identification evaluation methods including graduated pH method, EDTA procedure and sodium thiosulfate procedure, 3) Comparison of toxic effect value ($EC_{50}$ or $LC_{50}$) of individual metal on D. magna and it's concentration in the metal plating wastewater. To evaluate the possibility of E. agilis, a Korean domestic organism, as a test model organism for metal plating waste water, E. agilis toxicity test was also assessed using on-line euglena ecotoxicity system (E-Tox system). Based on toxicant characterization test using D. magna, it was expected that SS, oxidants and heavy metals are responsible for toxicity of metal plating waste water. Especially Cu, Hg, and Ag were the major cationic metals that caused toxicity. E. agilis is less sensitive than D. magna based on the $EC_{50}$ value however it shows prompt response to toxic test substances. E. agilis shows even a significant effect on the cell swimming velocity within 2 min to toxic metal plating wastewater. Our study demonstrates that E. agilis test can be a putative ecotoxicity test for assessing the quality of metal plating waste water.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.95-108
• /
• 2020

Silver nanoparticles were loaded onto g-C₃N₄ (CN) with a nanoroll-type morphology (Ag/CN) synthesized using a co-polymerization method for highly selective conversion of toxic nitrobenzene to industrially-valuable aminobenzene. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images of Ag/CN revealed the generation of the nanoroll-type morphology of CN. Additionally, HRTEM analysis provided direct evidence of the generation of a Schottky barrier between Ag and CN in the Ag/CN nanohybrid. Photoluminescence analysis and photocurrent measurements suggested that the introduction of Ag into CN could minimize charge recombination rates, enhancing the mobility of electrons and holes to the surface of the photocatalyst. Compared to pristine CN, Ag/CN displayed much higher ability in the photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to aminobenzene, underscoring the importance of Ag deposition on CN. The enhanced photocatalytic performance and photocurrent generation were primarily ascribed to the Schottky junction formed at the Ag/CN interface, greater visible-light absorption efficiency, and improved charge separation associated with the nanoroll morphology of CN. Ag would act as an electron sink/trapping center, enhancing the charge separation, and also serve as a good co-catalyst. Overall, the synergistic effects of these features of Ag/CN improved the photocatalytic conversion of nitrobenzene to aminobenzene.