• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.442-451
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• 2021

Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic with a size less than 5 mm. Ocean pollution by microplastics is now a worldwide concern in relation to marine ecosystems and human health. The widespread contamination by microplastics means that they can be ingested by and accumulated in diverse species of wildlife, such as fish, mussels, oysters, clams, and scallops. Once ingested, the microplastics can be observed in the intestines, liver, and kidney, and even in the brain. Seafood is one of the major sources of protein intake in humans; therefore, seafood consumption could be pathway for human microplastics exposure. Accumulating evidence indicates that repeated oral exposure to microplastics induces pathologic and functional changes in the reproductive, cardiac, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and even nervous systems of rodents. Maternal exposure to microplastics during gestation and lactation alters metabolic homeostasis in the offspring. Given that seafood provides more than 20% of the total protein intake by over 310 million people worldwide, a reasonable assumption is that microplastics could be substantially accumulated in the human body and impair physiological function. In this review, we have summarized the current status of microplastics contamination in the ocean, their accumulation and toxicities in marine animals and rodents, their exposure to humans, and their potential impacts on human health.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2016

Schisandrae fructus (SF) and Mori folium (MF) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SF and MF have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenesis effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SF and MF, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SF, MF and MHMIX. SF, MF and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SF, MF and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SF, MF and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SF, MF and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.397-402
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of alendronate and pamidronate on proliferation and the alkaline phosphatase activity of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and to relate the results with bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw(BRONJ). With the consent of patients with no systemic disease and undergoing iliac bone graft, cancellous bone was collected to obtain human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells through cell culture. 96 well plate were prepared with a concentration of $10^4$cell/ well. Alendronate and pamidronate were added to each well with the concentration of $10^{-6}M$, $10^{-8}M$ and $10^{-10}M$, respectively. Then proliferation capacity of each well was evaluated with the cell counting kit. 24 well plates were prepared with a concentration of $10^5$cell/ml/well and with the bone supplement, alendronate and pamidronate were added with the concentration of $10^{-6}M$, $10^{-8}M$ and $10^{-10}M$, respectively on each plate. The plates were cultured for either 24 or 72 hours. Then the cells were sonicated to measure the alkaline phosphatase activity and protein assay was done to standardize the data for analysis. As the concentration of alendronate or pamidronate added to the culture increased, the proliferation capacity of the cells decreased. However, no statistical significance was found between the group with $10^{-10}M$ of bisphophonate and the control group. Pamidronate was not capable of increasing the alkaline phosphatase activity in all trials. However, alkaline phosphatase activity increased with 24 hours of $10^{-8}M$ of alendronate treatment and with 48 hours of $10^{-10}M$ of alendronate treatment. Cell toxicity increased as the bisphosphonate concentration increased. This seems to be associated with the long half life of bisphosphonate, resulting in high concentration of bisphosphonate in the jaw and thus displaying delayed healing after surgical procedures. Alendronate has shown to increase the alkaline phophatase activity of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. However, this data is insufficient to conclude that alendronate facilitates the differentiation of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. Further studies on DNA level and animal studies are required to support these results.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.204-219
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• 1997

The use of fluoride is one of the most effective methods for caries prevention. Fluoridation of public water supply has been recognized, for many years, as an effective way to reduce dental caries. The fluoride supplement has been recommended when the natural fluoride was unavailable or below the optimal range. However the mechanism of caries prevention by fluoride has not yet been clarified and it is well known that an overdose of fluoride results inacute and chronic toxicity, especially dental fluorosis. Fluoride mouthrinsing solution is widely used in dentistry due to its effectiveness in carrying anticariogenic action. Understanding the effects of fluoride mouthrinsing solution on human gingival fibroblasts will provide the safety rationale for its use during the caries preventive therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of fluoride mouthrinsing solution on the human gingival fibroblast in vitro. The human gingival fibroblasts were cultured from healthy gingiva on the extracted deciduous teeth of children. Cells were inoculated into a 24-well plate with $1{\times}10^4cells/well$ of medium at $37^{\circ}C$, 100% humidity, 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 24 hours. And the cells were counted by using the hemocytometer at each designed study. Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured in growth medium after one minute application range of 0.02%-0.2% NaF solution and 0.1% $SnF_2$ solution. The cells used in this study were between fifth to eighth passage number. The cell morphology was examined by inverted microscope and cell proliferation was measured by incorporating $[^3H]$-thymidine into DNA. DNA synthesis by human gingival fibroblasts was assessed by $[^3H]$-thymidine uptake assays while the cell activity was measured by MTT assay. Each concentrated fluoride mouthrinsing solution was estimated for its biocompatability with fibroblasts by the tissue culture technique. The results of this study were as follows : 1. It was observed that at 0.05%, 0.2% NaF mouthrinsing solution the cytoplasmic processes became globular. When 0.1% $SnF_2$ mouthrinsing solution was applied, the cytoplasmic process and cell morphology were disappeared. 2. DNA synthetic activity was reduced regardless of the concentration of the fluoride mouthrinsing solution. However, the result is statistically insignificant except 0.1% $SnF_2$ mouthrinsing solution(p<0.05). 3. Our results indicate that 0.02%, 0.05% concentrations of NaF mouthrinsing solution caused minimal cytotoxicity. But 0.2% NaF and 0.1% $SnF_2$ concentration were a significant difference between the cell activity in the experimental group and control group (p<0.05). 4. After appling 0.05% & 0.02% NaF fluoride mouthrinsing solution, cell activity was restored to the control groups level according to incubating time. The results suggest that direct exposure to fluoride solution inhibits gingival fibroblast activity. Therefore, for the most effective use of fluoride use, lowering the concentration of fluoride mouthrinsing is advisable because it maintains biocompatability and free ion in the oral fluid.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

Purpose: Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) is widely used as an herbicide for weed control in rural areas. It is also readily available for suicide attempts. Glyphosate has high toxicity and negatively affects the human body. The aim of this investigation was to study the genotoxicity of a low-concentration of glyphosate through sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in human blood lymphocytes in vitro. Methods: Primary lymphocyte cultures were obtained from blood samples of 11 males and seven females who had been exposed to glyphosate (0, 100, 200, and 300 ng/mL). The frequency of SCEs was examined and statistical analysis was performed. Results: All doses of glyphosate induced a significant dose-dependent increase in SCE frequency compared with the control group (P<0.001). In particular, the SCE frequency for exposure to low-dose glyphosate was significantly higher in females than in males. Conclusion: According to the result of this study, even a low-dose of glyphosate may damage DNA and females are more vulnerable to glyphosate.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.447-456
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• 2008

Limonene, pinene, and isoprene are abundant and ubiquitous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are found in various natural products and also produced from various manufacture processes. Limonene and pinene are major components of food additives and household products for enrichment of good flavors and elimination of malodors, and isoprene is a basal motif of monoterpenes such as limonene and pinene. They have shown many beneficial effects such as chemopreventive, chemotherapeutic, and antioxidant activities. Upon certain conditions, however, adverse effects of these compounds on human health have also been reported. Although they do not seem to have acute and severe toxicity to human, they can easily generate secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) when they react with oxygen and/or ozone, which have shown certain toxic effects on experimental animal models as well as on humans. Numerous household and scented products containing limonene, pinene, and isoprene are widely used in these days. However, biological consequences upon exposure to these products are largely unknown. The aim of this review is to summarize and analyze the current understanding on the biological effects of VOCs, in particular limonene, pinene, and isoprene, as well as their SOAs.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2013

Even a small amount of hazardous air pollutants could have a harmful influence upon human beings, animals and plants. Hazardous air pollutants have the properties of toxicity, canceration and organism accumulation. They include heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin, etc. The Clean Air Conservation Act has defined specific hazardous air pollutants and designated 35 pollutants, distinguishing them from common air pollutants for special control. This study investigates the history of the controls of specific hazardous air pollutants with reference to some relevant laws and regulations in Korea. It investigates the regulations at the permission stage, such as the restrictions on installation of emission facilities, the permission and reporting of installation of emission facilities, and the regulations at the operation stage, such as maintaining permissible emission levels, installation of measuring devices, dues for emission, self-measurement and securing environmental engineers. The current regulatory management is not so satisfactory in regards to the serious effects of specific hazardous air pollutants upon the human body. An advanced new concept, like the maximum available control technology in US, the facilities management standards, which will soon take effect, will be able to lessen the emissions of fugitive hazardous air pollutants. In addition, this study discusses some possible stricter controls on the emission facilities of specific hazardous air pollutants and proposes some measures to maintain and supplement the current systems.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 1999

Euonymus alatus(Thunb.) Sieb has been used for cancer theraphy such as Liver cancer, esophagus cancer, stomach cancer, and uterine cancer in folk. Eupolyphaga simemsis(ES) extracted from Euonymus alatus(Thunb.) Sieb increases HDL-C/TC ratio and LCAT activity. TGF-${\beta}$ and Insulin has been Knoen as factors to induce the supression of proliferation of Hep3B, Human hepatoblastoma cell. Plasma HDL3-C involved in carbohydrate methabolism in the liver was maintained in low level by Euonymus alatus(Thunb.) Sieb. The low level of plasma HDL3-C suppresses the transition from normal liver to Fat liver. Finally, this resuly in suppression of cancer in liver. In this study, Euonymus alatus(Thunb.) Sieb showed higher cell toxicity in hepatoblastoma cell(Hep3B) compared to the uterine cancer cell(HeLa). This means Euonymus alatus(Thunb.) Sieb seems not to affect in the all kinds of cancer. In future, we will study whether Euonymus alatus(Thunb.) Sleb have an effect on the liver cancer induced by virus and hepatocellular carcinoma. Also, the mechanims of suppression of cell proliferation in HCC need to investigated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8337-8343
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• 2014

Paclitaxel is one of the best anticancer agents that has been isolated from plants, but its major disadvantage is its dose-limiting toxicity. In this study, we obtained evidence that the active mutant IPP5 ($8-60hIPP5^m$), the latest member of the inhibitory molecules for protein phosphatase 1, sensitizes human cervix carcinoma cells HeLa more efficiently to the therapeutic effects of paclitaxel. The combination of $8-60hIPP5^m$ with paclitaxel augmented anticancer effects as compared to paclitaxel alone as evidenced by reduced DNA synthesis and increased cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. Furthermore, our results revealed that $8-60hIPP5^m$ enhances paclitaxel-induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis, and augments paclitaxel-induced activation of caspases and release of cytochrome C. Evaluation of signaling pathways indicated that this synergism was in part related to downregulation of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and serine/threonine kinase Akt pathways. We noted that $8-60hIPP5^m$ downregulated the paclitaxel-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, PI3-K activity and phosphorylation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt, a survival signal which in many instances is regulated by NF-${\kappa}B$. Together, our observations indicate that paclitaxel in combination with $8-60hIPP5^m$ may provide a therapeutic advantage for the treatment of human cervical carcinoma.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.166-177
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• 2018

Plant essential oils are defined as fragrant volatile oils extracted from leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, and roots of a plant. Such oils are composed of multiple components and multiple functions. By accumulation of inductive information, various plant essential oils have been studied for using in therapeutic medicine for various diseases. Despite of the apparent advantages of essential oils as a source of therapeutic medicines, plant essential oils have many limitations, including cytotoxic side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicity and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of such oils. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity to human-derived cell lines of 10 plant essential oils provided by National Institute of Forest Science (i.e., Larix kaempferi; Abies holophylla; Zanthoxylum ailanthoides; Pinus parviflora; Tsuga sieboldti; Chamaecyparis pisifera; Cryptomeria japonica; Pinus densiflora; Illicium anisatum; Pinus thunbergii). Cytotoxicity evaluations were accomplished by using CCK-assays and PCR-based cytotoxicity-related marker gene analyses with A549 cell line, and the Detroit551 cell line which are lung and skin cell line. The genes were analyzed included caspase-3 has a role in cell apoptosis, and the other cyclinA, cyclinB, cyclinD, and cyclinE regulated cell cycling for the cell proliferation. By examining the five cytotoxicity-related marker genes by performing real-time PCR and examined the cytostatic gene regulation associated with the various essential oils. The results of this study showed that the degree of cytotoxicity and the cytostatic gene regulation which could give precious information for using the plant essential oil for the clinical usages.