Systematic Review of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Fish and Shellfish in Korea / 이화의대지

OBJECTIVES: Heavy metals ingested through the consumption of aquatic products can accumulate in the human body over the long-term and cause various health problems. This study aims to present comprehensive data on the amount of heavy metals found in fish and shellfish in Korea using a systematic review of studies that report on that issue. METHODS: The study used the following databases: PubMed, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Research Information Sharing Service. The search terms for PubMed included fish OR shellfish OR seafood AND mercury OR cadmium OR lead OR heavy metal AND Korea. The search terms for Korean Studies Information Service System and Research Information Sharing Service included eoryu sueun, eoryu kadeumyum, eoryu nab, eoryu jung-geumsog, paeryu sueun, paeryu kadeumyum, paeryu nab, paeryu jung-geumsog, eopaeryu sueun, eopaeryu kadeumyum, eopaeryu nab, and eopaeryu jung-geumsog. RESULTS: A total of 32 articles were selected for review. The total mercury, lead, and cadmium concentrations in fish and shellfish reported in each of the articles are summarized, as are the species of fish and shellfish with relatively high concentrations of heavy metals. Total mercury concentrations tended to be higher in predatory fish species, such as sharks, billfishes, and tuna, while lead and cadmium concentrations tended to be higher in shellfish. CONCLUSION: This paper is the first to report a comprehensive summary of the concentrations of heavy metals in fish and shellfish. This data could be used as evidence to protect Koreans from exposure to heavy metals due to the consumption of highly polluted aquatic products.

A 10 Year Follow-up of Childhood Asthma: Potential Risk Factors on Persistence of Nonspecific Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: We studied the change of bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR) from childhood to early adulthood and to know the risk factors which influence on the persistence of BHR. METHODS: Seventy two atopic asthma children with nonspecific BHR to methacholine were observed for about 10 years, longitudinally. They were divided into 3 groups depend on the degree of BHR; no BHR group(A group), asymptomatic BHR group(B group), symptomatic BHR group(C group) and compared clinical and atopic findings, inflammation degree of airway, and environmental factors between the groups. RESULTS: In the group A, B, C, the number of subjects were, respectively, 15(20.8%), 19 (26.4%), 38(52.8%). The frequency of group C was higher in the subjects with more severe asthma symptoms and higher BHR at diagnosis. The positive rates of skin prick test to Dp, Df, and pets, serum total IgE, sputum eosinophils, sputum ECP at the time of follow-up were significantly higher in group C. The frequency of subjects with carpets/sofa/bed, pets at home and smokers at the time of follow-up were higher in group B, C. CONCLUSION: Significant number of childhood asthma showed persistent nonspecific BHR in early adulthood. The persistence of nonspecific BHR in early adulthood was related with severity of asthma at diagnosis, laboratory findings and environmental factors at follow up.

IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-5, IL-12 Production by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Moderate Atopic Asthma and Its Relation with Clinical Findings / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Activation of T helper(Th) cells and secretion of cytokines play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Th2 cells secrete IL-4 and IL-5. IL-4 stimulates IgE production and IL-5 is related with hematopoiesis, chemotaxis and activation of eosinophils. IFN-gamma produced by Th1 cells and IL-12 produced by antigen presenting cells have an inhibitory action on IgE production. We examined the cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) of atopic asthmatic children and its relation with clinical findings. METHODS: We measured IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-5, IL-12 in serum and supernatants of stimulated PBMCs cultures in 32 children with moderate stable asthma and 17 healthy controls. They were compared with number of skin test positive allergens, serum total IgE, peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR), methacholine PD20, sputum eosinophils and eosinophil cationic protein(ECP). RESULTS: No difference in serum cytokines was found between patients and controls, except IL-5. In supernatants of stimulated PBMCs cultures, the concentration of IL-4, IL-5 was significantly increased and IFN-gamma, IL-12 was significantly decreased in patients compared with controls. IL-4 was related with total serum IgE and numbers of skin test positive allergens. IL-5 was related with sputum eosinophils and ECP. The serum total IgE was inversely and PEFR was directly related with IFN-gamma. CONCLUSION: In atopic asthmatics, Th1 cytokines were increased and Th2 were decreased in stimulated PBMCs cultures. IL-4 was related with atopy, IFN-gamma with lung function and IL-5 with airway inflammation.

Freezing and Thawing Conditions of Rat Hepatocytes / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: During cryopreservation of hepatocytes, a dramatic loss in cell number, viability and differentiated cell function is usually inevitable because hepatocytes are very sensitive to stress during freezing and thawing. We tried to investigate the optimal cryopreservation conditions of hepatocytes including the constituents of the freezing medium and freezing rate. METHODS: Isolated hepatocytes were cryopreserved in media containing 10% glycerol or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) of variable concentration. Different freezing procedures (stepwise, rapid, and programmed with or without shock cooling) were used and they were stored in a liquid nitrogen tank. After rapid thawing at 39degrees C, followed by dilution and removal of the cryopreservative, the ability of the hepatocytes to exclude trypan blue dye (TB) was evaluated. Hepatocytes were fractionated through a Nycodenz density gradient centrifugation (DGC) to eliminate dead cells. Cells were plated on dishes coated with type I collagen. RESULTS: Cell viability of hepatocytes recovered from cryopreservation was maintained better using 10, 15, and 20% DMSO as a cryopreservative and programmed cell freezer with shock cooling. After Nycodenz DGC a hepatocyte fraction highly enriched in viable cells could be taken between 11% and 30%. In culture, cryopreserved hepatocytes exhibited a morphology with epithelial characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rate-adjusted programmed freezing with shock cooling and 10, 15 and 20% DMSO increased the viability of cryopreserved hepatocytes. The hepatocyte fraction highly enriched in viable cells could be taken using Nycodenz DGC. In order to establish a bank of hepatocytes for hepatocyte transplantations and artificial livers a more improved method is nevertheless necessary to increase the viability of hepatocytes after cryopreservation.

Hysterosalpingographic evaluation in infertility

H.S.G. has been proven to be an important diagnsotic method in clinical gyencology for under 50 yrs. It isvaluable in the investigation of the uterine and tubal factors of female infertility. Hysterosalpingograms of 81 patients with infertility were analysed and following brief results were obtained. 1. Ratio between primary andsecondary infertility was 3:5, 2ndary infertility was more frequent. 2. Age distribution was more frequnet under 30 years of age than over 30 years of age. 3. Abnormal uterine finding was only seen in 18 cases, abnormal tubalfinding was only seen in 25 cases and combined uterine and abnormalities were seen in 14 cases. 4. Abnormaluterine findings were malposition (12 cases), filling defect (5), spastic uterus(5), irregular contour (3),arcuate uterus(3), dideplphia(1), in order of frequency. 5. Abnormal tubal findings were hydrosalpinx (21 cases), occlusion(19), intravasation (6), beaded appearance(3), & diverticula(2) , in order of frequency. 6. Negativefinding in both uterus and tube was seen in 23 cases. 7. In 2 cases, pregnancy after the H.S.G. examination wasconfirmed.

An analysis of splenoportographic findings in portal hypertension

Splenoportography has been proved as a useful method for the evaluation of circulatory distrubances in portalhypertension. Authors analyzed the various aspects of these disturbances on splenoportography in 22 cases thatwere performed under the clinical suspicion of portal hypertension during recent 6 years, from May, 1976 to July,1982 at the Department of Radiology, National Medical Center. The results were as follows; 1. Liver cirrhosis wasthe most frequent cause of intrahepatic obstruction type in portal hypertenstion (86%). 2. The portal pressure wasmore than 400 mmH2O in 67% of the cases (range; 300-540 mmH2O). 3. In the majority of the cses, the higher theportal pressure was, the more dilated splenic and portal veins were. The diameter of portal vein was more than15mm in 79%, more than 21 mm in 47% of the cases (range; 10-26mm). The diameter of splenic vein was more than 15mmin 48% of the cases (range; 7-23mm). Especially the diameter of splenic vein was larger than that of portal veinin 20% of the cases. 4. There was no definite correlation between the development of collateral circulation andthe diameter of splenic and portal veins. 5. The filling of collateral circulation was definite sign of portalhypertenstion, though not regular. In portal hypertension, the collateral circulation was formed via coronary vein(91%), short gastric vein (64%), inferior mesenteric vein(36%). 6. Splenic-hilum time was delayed in 64% of thecases. Intrahepatic portal vein emptying time was more than 6 seconds in all the cases. 7. Most of the cases (91%)could be diagnosed as portal hypertension with vasculogram and hepatogram.