• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.273-279
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• 2012

Silica hybrid silver nanoparticles showing the strong antimicrobial activity, in which nano-silver is bound to silica molecules, has been synthesized using ${\gamma}-irradiation$ at room temperature. The present study relates to an antimicrobial composition for coating fiber products comprising silica hybrid silver nanoparticles. In this study, we describe antimicrobial fiber products coated with the silica hybrid silver nanoparticles and a method of antimicrobially treating fiber products by coating the fiber products with the silica hybrid silver nanoparticles. The antimicrobial fiber products exhibited excellent antimicrobial effects. In detailed practice, when the present composition comprising nanosized silica-silver was applied to a cloth (fabric) in a concentration of $6.4mg\;yard^{-1}$, the viable cell number decreased to less than 10 cells before and after laundering, resulting in a reduction of 99.9% or greater in the viable cell number. The present composition displays long-lasting potent disinfecting effects on bacteria. Also, we investigated the toxicity of silica hybrid silver nanoparticles in rats. The skin of rats was treated with a 30 ppm nanoparticles solution ($2ml\;Kg^{-1}$) for 8 days. No toxicity was detected in the treatment. These results suggest that the fiber products coated with the silica hybrid silver nanoparticles can be used to inhibit the growth of various microorganisms.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2002

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential subacute toxicity of plant sterol esters by a 4-week repeated oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test article was administered once daily by gavage to rats at dose levels of 0, 1000, 3000, and 9000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. During the test period, clinical sign, mortality, body weights, food and water consumption, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross finding, organ weight, and histopathology were evaluated. A reduction in the body weight was observed in females of the 9000 mg/kg group on day 27 after the initiation of treatment, but not in males of the group. There were no treatment-related effects on mortality, clinical sign, food and water consumption, ophthalmoscopy, urinarlysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, and histopathology in any treatment group. Based on these results, it was concluded that the 4-week repeated oral dose of plant sterol esters resulted in suppressed body weight in female rats at a dose level of 9000 mg/kg/day. In the condition of this study, target organ was not observed and the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be 9000 mg/kg/day for males and 5000 mg/kg/day for females.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2004

A detailed evaluation of relative toxicity of fluoride to die 5th instar larvae of PM and NB$_4$D$_2$ races of silkworm and the effects of lethal, sublethal and prevailing levels of fluoride in groundwater on the growth, economic characters and fecundity of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) were studied. The feeding of mulberry, Morus alba leaves treated with lethal and sublethal doses of fluoride to PM and NB$_4$D$_2$ races of silkworms from the beginning of the 5th instar to the end of the feeding period resulted in significant reduction in growth, single cocoon weight, single shell weight, silk index, average filament length, and fecundity when compared to controls. These manges were more pronounced on exposure to lethal dose than sublethal dose and in general, the changes induced by fluoride were more striking in NB$_4$D$_2$ than PM, indicating the greater resistance of PM to higher fluoride levels. Groundwater quality in sericulturally important villages of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh States has been studied with special reference to the presence of fluoride. On exposure to dose of prevailing levels in the waters of sericulturally important areas, die changes observed on growth, economic characters and fecundity were slightly lower when compared to controls and the decrease was found to be insignificant (P$\geq$0.05). It was concluded that, though minute dose (4.0 ppm) of fluoride did not have any toxic impact, it is toxic at higher concentrations to silkworms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.172-177
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• 2020

Influenza viruses cause respiratory diseases in humans and animals with high morbidity and mortality rates. Conventional anti-influenza drugs are reported to exert side effects and newly emerging viral strains tend to develop resistance to these commonly used agents. Fritillaria thunbergii (FT) is traditionally used as an expectorant for controlling airway inflammatory disorders. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of FT extracts against influenza virus type A (H1N1) infection in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. In the post-treatment assay, FT extracts showed high CC50 (7,500 ㎍/ml), indicating low toxicity, and exerted moderate antiviral effects compared to oseltamivir (SI 50.6 vs. 222) in vitro. Antiviral activity tests in ovo revealed strong inhibitory effects of both FT extract and oseltamivir against H1N1 replication in embryonated eggs. Notably, at a treatment concentration of 150 mg/kg, only half the group administered oseltamivir survived whereas the FT group showed 100% survival, clearly demonstrating the low toxicity of FT extracts. Consistent with these findings, FT-administered mice showed a higher survival rate with lower body weight reduction relative to the oseltamivir group upon treatment 24 h after viral infection. Our collective results suggest that FT extracts exert antiviral effects against influenza H1N1 virus without inducing toxicity in vitro, in ovo or in vivo, thereby supporting the potential utility of FT extract as a novel candidate therapeutic drug or supplement against influenza.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.131-143
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• 2010

We performed the tests of acute and subchronic inhalation toxicity of methyl formate, which has limited toxicological data in spite of its widespread use and enhanced hazard consequent on its high volatility. The median lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) was evaluated to be above 5,000ppm(12.27 mg/L). In the test with subchronic inhalation, there are no deaths, but with reduction of body weight, food intake, organ weight by exposure to 400 (0.98 mg/L) and 1,600 (3.92 mg/L) ppm, dose-dependently. There were statistical differences in some hematological and blood biochemical parameters as compared to control (e.g. neutrophile and lymphocyte in the 1,600 ppm group, calcium and A/G in 1,600 ppm group). Methyl formate under the exposure of 1,600 ppm showed the respiratory findings with nasal, it was confirmed that the chemical has respiratory hazard with 1,600 ppm inhalation exposure, induces nasal epithelial atrophy, olfactory cell degeneration/regeneration and the contraction of olfactory cells, etc. According to the notification with Ministry of Labor (No. 2009-68) for classification, labeling and MSDS of chemicals, it is suggested for methyl formate to be classified as category 4 in acute (10.0$4\leq20.0$ mg/L), category 2 (0.2$\leq$1.0 mg/L/6h, 90 days) in specific target organ-repeated exposure.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.657-666
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• 2003

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential adverse effects of 2-BP on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development after maternal exposure during the gestational days (GD) 6 through 19 in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test chemical was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rats at dose levels of 0, 375, 750 and 1250 mg/kg/day. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights and food consumption were examined. All dams were subjected to caesarean section on GD 20 and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities. At above 750 mg/kg, toxic effects including signs of toxicity, suppressed body weight, decreased gravid uterine weight and reduced food intake were observed in pregnant dams. An increase in the fetal deaths, a decrease in the litter size, a reduction in the fetal body weight and an increase in the incidence of fetal morphological alterations were also found. There were no adverse effects on either pregnant dams or embryo-fetal development at a dose level of 375 mg/kg. These results suggest that a 14-day subcutaneous dose of 2-BP is embryolethal and teratogenic at above 750 mg/kg/day in pregnant rats. In the present experimental condition, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of 2-BP is considered to be 375 mg/kg/day for dams and embryo-fetuses, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.65-71
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• 2010

In this study, we have evaluated biodegradability of diesel-oxygenates including DBM and gasoline-oxygenates having similar physio-chemical properties using indigenous aerobic microorganisms from a diesel-contaminated soil. Toluene and Ethanol have shown higher biological activity and the first-order degradation rate constants ranged around $0.11{\sim}0.3day^{-1}$. However, MTBE, gasoline-oxygenate has shown as a limited substrate. Moreover, As increased initial concentrations of DBM and TGME, degradation rates of those were decreased relatively. As a strategy to evaluate biodegradability of DBM and TGME, reduction of diesel-oxygenates, $CO_2$ production and toxicity by algae were monitored. This results indicated possible mineralization of diesel-oxygenates, But we could predict that residual byproduct produced even though complete consumption of diesel-oxygenates were observed if algal toxicity variation considered. In conclusion, it is the first report that diesel-oxygenates including DBM could be biodegraded effectively by indigenous soil microorganisms and this result increased the possibility of bioremediation technology to apply into oil-contaminated sites.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Objectives: Ephedrae herba, also known as Ma-huang, is a traditional Korean medicinal herb. It has been used to treat asthma, nose and lung congestion, and fever with anhidrosis for centuries. Recently, Ma-huang was used as a source of ephedrine in many dietary supplements for weight reduction in the United States. The objective of this study was to investigate the subacute toxicity of ephedrae herba extract in rats. Methods: SPF Sprague-Dawley male rats were administered orally with ephedrae herba extract for 4 weeks as several doses(0, 125, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg). We examined number of deaths, clinical signs, body weights and gross findings for experimental period. Results: No dead animals were found during the experimental period. In addition, no differences were found between control and treated groups in clinical signs, hematology, serum biochemistry, and other findings. Conclusions: In conclusion, above data suggest that no observed adverse effect level of ephedrae herba extract in SD rats might be over 2,000 mg/kg/day in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.794-800
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to propose a method of controlling freshwater algae which grows abundantly and forms water bloom in the eutrophic water body with $H_2O_2$. Both laboratory and field methodologies were used. For the laboratory test $H_2O_2$ was injected into the different growth phases of incubated Microcystis aeruginosa and the resulting algae growth control rate was examined. For the field test, $H_2O_2$ was dispersed into a lake. Lake water quality was evaluated using a pre-test and post-test analysis of chlorophyll-a, luminance, transmittance, etc., which allowed a comparative evaluation of water quality change. From the experimental results, the growth of algae can be controlled with the small amount of 1mg/L of $H_2O_2$ at the lag phase of growth. The field test results show that the green colour of lake water was removed completely by the reduction of chlorophyll-a and improved transmittance, luminance, TKN, TP, TOC and SS. These indicators of water quality were improved significantly after $H_2O_2$ injection. Toxicity test results using the lake fish show no evidence of detrimental effect of $H_2O_2$ up to 15mg/L. The results of $EC_{50}$ with P. phosphoreum show that the toxicity of $H_2O_2$ was negligible compared to copper which was commonly used for algae control.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

The success of stabilization treatment in heavy metal contaminated sediment depends on the heavy metal bioavailability reduction through the sequestration of the heavy metals. This study was performed to assess the changes in the bioavailability of Pb or Cd in the Pb or Cd contaminated sediments by using birnessite and hydroxyapatite as stabilizing agents. The toxicity tests were carried out using a microorganism (Vibrio fischeri), an amphipod (Hyalella azteca) and an earthworm (Eisenia foetida). With Vibrio fischeri, the toxicities of both Pb and Cd were reduced by more than ten times in the presence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite compared to that of in the absence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in the contaminated sediments were lethal to Hyalella azteca, however, in the presence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite more than 90%, on average, of Hyalella azteca survived. With Eisenia foetida, the bioaccumulated concentrations of both Pb and Cd were reduced by more than 75%, on average, lower with the addition of birnessite and hydroxyapatite to the contaminated sediments. These results show that the addition of birnessite and hydroxyapatite can reduce the bioavailability of Pb and Cd in contaminated sediments. In addition, the in situ and ex situ performance of birnessite and hydroxyapatite as stabilizing agents can be verified using the toxicity tests with Hyalella azteca and Eisenia foetida, respectively.