• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2007

[ $TiO_2$ ] is widely used because it is non-toxic. Recently, however, nanometer size $TiO_2$ particles (P-25) have been produced and used to increase the photo catalysis efficiency. Nanometer-sized $TiO_2$ is efficient, but due to its small size ($20{\sim}30\;nm$), it can flow into ecosystems and into cells. Thus, it may affect human health. Additionally, $TiO_2$ can produce a second contaminant, OH-radical, which is a health risk for all living organisms during photo degradation reaction. Hence, when nanometer-sized $TiO_2$ flows into natural streams and attaches to living organisms, it will create health risks. We investigated the biological toxicity of this condition in zebrafish embryos. We observed abnormal morphology, hatching rate, and measured the catalase activity to determine anti-oxidation at 100 post fertilization hours. Zebrafish were somewhat affected by $TiO_2$ nanometer sized particles under UV-A (a condition similar to sunlight). Powdered $TiO_2$ is toxic to the zebrafish fly. Even without light, $TiO_2$ particles attached to embryos and flies, having an effect on both.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.56-65
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• 2014

Contamination of explosive compounds in the soils of military shooting range may pose risks to human and ecosystems. As shooting ranges are located at remote places, active remediation processes with hardwares and equipments are less practical to implement than natural solutions such as bioremediaton. In this study, a series of experiments was conducted to select a suitable carbon source and to optimize dosing rate for the enhanced bioremediation of explosive compounds in surface soils and sediments of shooting ranges with indigenous microorganisms activated by external carbon source. Treatability study using slurry phase reactors showed that the presence of indigenous microbial community capable of explosive compounds degradation in the shooting range soils, and starch was a more effective carbon source than glucose and acetic acid in the removal of TNT. However, at higher starch/soil ratio, i.e., 2.0, the acute toxicity of the liquid phase increased possibly due to transformation products of TNT. RDX degradation by indigenous microorganisms was also stimulated by the addition of starch but the acute toxicity of the liquid phase decreased with the increase of starch/soil ratio. Taken together, the optimum range of starch/soil ratio for the degradation of explosive compounds without significant increase in acute toxicity was found to be 0.2 of starch/soil.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.309-318
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the subacute intravenous toxicity of rHu-EPO in Sprague-Dawley rats. rHu-EPO was daily administered to male and female rats for 30 days with different dose levels(100, 500, 2,500 unit/ kg). After the administration period of 30 days, 5 males and 5females rats per each dose group were assigned for recovery period of additional 30 days. There were no clinical signs compared with control group but slight decrease in spontaneous motor activities and locomotions were observed at high dose groups of males and females. In males, feed consumption was reduced at 500 unit/kg and body weight gain was retarded. In the administration sites of tail, focal congestion was observed in a few animals treated with rHu-EPO. No deaths were occurred during the course of study. In hematological examination. a significant increase of hemoglobin and hematocrit was observed in the males and females rats receiving high dose of rHu-EPO. rHu-EPO administration for 30 days showed a marked decrease in glucose concentration. At the highest dose groups, there was a significant incerase in the weights of spleens in both sexes. but this was considered to be related to its pharmacological activity. These results indicate that rHu-EPO does not induce any significant toxic effect on Sprague-Dawley rats for 30 days.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.74-74
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• 2019

The aim of the study was to determine the antioxidant activities of the plants with origin of the Far East. The Carlemannia tetragona Hook f., which is a species of plant in the family Carlemanniaceae and Celastrus virens which is a species of plant in the family Celastraceae were tested for antioxidant activities. Samples were prepared using 95% ethanol using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate free radical) assay for assessing the antioxidant activity. Ascorbic acid was used for positive control for DPPH assay. DPPH assay experiment showed that extracts of the Carlemannia tetragona Hook. f., and Celastrus virens might have anti-oxidant activity 54.5% and 258% higher, respectively, compared to control. To determine the cell toxicity of these plant extracts, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used. MTT assay experiment showed that Carlemannia tetragona Hook. f., and Celastrus virens might have less toxicity 23.3% and 27.5%, respectively, compared to control. Taken together, these experiments showed that Celastrus virens extracts might have much higher antioxidant activities than Carlemannia tetragona Hook. f., with relatively lower toxicity. This implies that this study might provide a basis to develop a new powerful antioxidant candidate for human diseases therapeutics.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.5
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• 2021

A three-month-old, intact male Maltese dog was presented to the hospital with lethargy after taking a human medication, Motilitone. Physical examination, including a neurological examination, revealed no remarkable findings, but cholinergic crisis symptoms appeared gradually. Blood and radiological examinations showed no remarkable findings. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with a cholinergic crisis associated with Motilitone intake. Treatment included intravenous administration of atropine (0.02 mg/kg) every 30 minutes and supportive fluid therapy. After 12 hours of treatment, the patient's clinical signs were resolved. This is the first case report describing Motilitone toxicity in a dog.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2024

Recent amendments to regulatory frameworks have placed a greater emphasis on the utilization of in vitro testing platforms for preclinical drug evaluations and toxicity assessments. This requires advanced tissue models capable of accurately replicating liver functions for drug efficacy and toxicity predictions. Liver organoids, derived from human cell sources, offer promise as a reliable platform for drug evaluation. However, there is a lack of standardized quality evaluation methods, which hinders their regulatory acceptance. This paper proposes comprehensive quality standards tailored for liver organoids, addressing cell source validation, organoid generation, and functional assessment. These guidelines aim to enhance reproducibility and accuracy in toxicity testing, thereby accelerating the adoption of organoids as a reliable alternative or complementary tool to animal testing in drug development. The quality standards include criteria for size, cellular composition, gene expression, and functional assays, thus ensuring a robust hepatotoxicity testing platform.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.301-313
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• 2010

Growth promoters including hormonal substances and antibiotics are used legally and illegally in food producing animals for the growth promotion of livestock animals. Hormonal substances still under debate in terms of their human health impacts are estradiol-$17\beta$, progesterone, testosterone, zeranol, trenbolone, and melengestrol acetate (MGA). Many of the risk assessment results of natural steroid hormones have presented negligible impacts when they are used under good veterinary practices. For synthetic hormonelike substances, ADIs and MRLs have been established for food safety along with the approval of animal treatment. Small amounts of antibiotics added to feedstuff present growth promotion effects via the prevention of infectious diseases at doses lower than therapeutic dose. The induction of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and the disruption of normal human intestinal flora are major concerns in terms of human health impact. Regulatory guidance such as ADIs and MRLs fully reflect the impact on human gastrointestinal microflora. However, before deciding on any risk management options, risk assessments of antimicrobial resistance require large-scale evidence regarding the relationship between antimicrobial use in food-producing animals and the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in human pathogens. In this article, the risk profiles of hormonal and antibacterial growth promoters are provided based on recent toxicity and human exposure information, and recommendations for risk management to prevent human health impacts by the use of growth promoters are also presented.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.5 no.1_2
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• pp.37-44
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• 1990

Synthetic detergents and surfactants are in widespread usage as household and industrial detergents. Potential human toxic hazard arises following percutaneous absorption or oral ingestion of solution residues from kitchen and feeding utensils, fruits, and vegetables and contaminated water supplies. A toxicological investigations was performed with the synthetic detergents and surfactants [linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS), ${\alpha}$-olefin sulfonate (AOS), sodium lauryl sulfonate (SLS), sodium lauryl ester sulfonate (SLES)］, In acute toxicity, agents were administered subcutaneously into ICR mice. In acute study, after lowering of spontaneous motility, respiratory failure, death appeared, vomitting was often associated with salivation and or retching. No sex difference was observed in LD$\sub$50/ of mice. In subacute toxicity, agents were administered orally into SD rats. Body weight increase was suppressed and there was no adverse effect on food and water consumption. The weight of organs were not changed by agents as compared with control group. No specific change was observed in biochemical and hematologicalor data.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.351-355
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• 2014

In recent years, biochar has received much attention as soil amendment, enhancing soil fertility and reducing toxicity of heavy metals with its large specific surface area and high pH. Biochar has also the effect of alleviating global warming by carbon sequestration from recycling organic wastes by pyrolysis. However, scattering of fine particles of biochar is a hindrance to expand its use from human health point-of-view. Alginate, a natural polymer without toxicity, has been used for capsulation and hydrogel fabrication due to its cross-linking nature with calcium ion. In this study, the method of cross-linkage between alginate and calcium ion was employed for making dust-free biochar bead. Then an equilibrium adsorption experiment was performed for verifying the adsorption effect of biochar bead on heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead, arsenic, and zinc). Results showed that biochar bead had effects on adsorbing heavy metals, especially lead, except arsenic.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.206-208
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• 2002

Methylmercury (MeHg; $CH_{3}HgCl$) is, second only to cadmium as being, the most toxic on the earth. Inorganic mercury from various waste sources can be easily methylated by bacteria in water and subsequently ingested by fishes and then highly accumulated in human. Although toxicity from mercury exposure occurs with both organic and inorganic forms, organic mercury is more potently toxic to central nervous system. Minamata disease is an example of organic mercury toxicity. (omitted)