Copper sulfate ingestion is a rare cause of corrosive gastrointestinal injury in the Republic of Korea. In developing countries, copper sulfate is chiefly used for agricultural purposes as a pesticide and in the leather industry. It is also used in school science classes in the form of bright blue crystals. Copper sulfate is a powerful oxidizing agent that is corrosive to mucous membranes. Concentrated solutions are acidic, with a pH of 4. We report a case of corrosive gastritis and esophagitis due to accidental copper sulfate ingestion in a 12-year-old boy.
Burns ; Child ; Copper ; Copper Sulfate ; Developing Countries ; Eating ; Esophagitis ; Gastritis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mucous Membrane ; Republic of Korea

Regulation of alkaline-resistant laccase from Perenniporia tephropora KU-Alk4 was proved to be controlled by several factors. One important factor was the initial pH, which drove the fungus to produce different kinds of ligninolytic enzymes. P. tephropora KU-Alk4 could grow at pH 4.5, 7.0, and 8.0. The fungus produced laccase and MnP at pH 7.0, but only laccase at pH 8.0. The specific activity of laccase in the pH 8.0 culture was higher than that in the pH 7.0 culture. At pH 8.0, glucose was the best carbon source for laccase production but growth was better with lactose. Low concentrations of glucose at 0.1% to 1.0% enhanced laccase production, while concentrations over 1% gave contradictory results. Veratryl alcohol induced the production of laccase. A trace concentration of copper ions was required for laccase production. Biomass increased with an increasing rate of aeration of shaking flasks from 100 to 140 rpm; however, shaking at over 120 rpm decreased laccase quantity. Highest amount of laccase produced by KU-Alk4, 360 U/mL, was at pH 8.0 with 1% glucose and 0.2 mM copper sulfate, unshaken for the first 3 days, followed by addition of 0.85 mM veratryl alcohol and shaking at 120 rpm. The crude enzyme was significantly stable in alkaline pH 8.0~10.0 for 24 hr. After treating the pulp mill effluent with the KU-Alk4 system for 3 days, pH decreased from 9.6 to 6.8, with reduction of color and chemical oxygen demand at 83.2% and 81%, respectively. Laccase was detectable during the biotreatment process.
Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Biomass ; Carbon ; Copper ; Copper Sulfate ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ions ; Laccase* ; Lactose ; Physiology

BACKGROUND: Modified lipoproteins may be involved in nephro- and glomerulosclerosis. Diabetic nephropathy-like lesions have also been induced in a rat model by glycated and glycoxidized albumin. In cultured rat or human mesangial cells, enhanced cell proliferation and production of mesangial matrix in response to lipoproteins and their modified forms have been demonstrated by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell counting assays. But these methods are relatively complex and most of them have used only one or two of the lipoprotein, albumin and their modified forms. METHODS: We investigated the effects of native and modifed lipoproteins, and albumin on cultured human mesangial cell proliferation using non-radioactive colorimetric method by MTS/PMS assay. Lipoproteins added were low density lipoprotein(LDL), high density lipoprotein(HDL), very low density lipoprotein(VLDL), oxidized LDL(oxidation with copper sulfate in vitro) and glycated LDL and we also used albumin, glycated albumin, and interleukin-1beta as a positive control. RESULTS: Interleukin-1beta promoted the proliferation of cultured human mesangial cells up to concentration 20 ng/mL. LDL induced the proliferation of mesangial cells in a concentration-dependent manner up to concentration 100 microgram/mL. HDL and VLDL had no significant proliferative effect. Oxidized LDL caused the proliferation of mesangial cells at low concentration up to concentration 25 microgram/mL. Addition of glycated LDL resulted in a concentration- dependent inhibition of mesangial cells. Albumin and glycated albumin inhibited the proliferation of mesangial cells at low concentration of 100 microgram/mL, but cell growth was increased at higher concentrations. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the effects of the single and modified proteins on the proliferation of cultured human mesangial cell by relatively simple colorimetric method. Results were almostly identical to those of previous studies obtained by radioactive method or cell counting assay.
Animals ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Copper Sulfate ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1beta ; Lipoproteins* ; Mesangial Cells* ; Models, Animal ; Rats

Clonorchiasis for which no specific therapy is available has been recognized as one of the serious public health problems in terms of waste of human productivity in Korea today and an urgent consideration must be given to its prevention and control. For past several years, the author has been finding that the infection rate of liver fluke in fish from the Kum-Ho river which has long been recognized as the world's notorious prevalent area of the disease, has been decreasing gradually. Here the author formulated the hypothesis that the decreasing of infection rate might be influenced by the common use of pesticide in plants along the river. Basing this hypothesis, the effective use of pesticide may contribute to the control of the disease by cutting the life cycle of liver fluke. To test above hypothesis, molluscicidal effect on Parafossarulus manchouricus and cercariacidal effect of various pesticides in liver fluke have been determined and the following results were obtained. In molluscicidal effect, the most potent agent in low concentration was Bayer 73 which is 3 to 70 times stronger than other pesticides. When compared with NaPCP which has been widely used for the eradication of Onchomelania, Bayer 73 shows 5 to 10 times stronger effect. The order of pesticide in molluscicidal effect was: Bayer 73, Nicotin, NaPCP, Sevin, Parathion, Copper sulfate and Lindane. In cercariacidal effect, the most potent agent was Parathion which had 2 to 5 times stronger effect than Bayer 73 or NaPCP. The order of pesticide in the cercariacidal effect was: Parathion, Bayer73, NaPCP, Lindane, Nicotin,Sevin, and Copper sulfate. By applying the common used concentration of pesticides considering the toxicity to plants, Bayer 73 is most potent in molluscicidal effect and then Nicotin, NaPCP, Copper sulfate, Sevin, Parathion and Lindane in order. In cercariacidal effect, Parathion is the most potent and NaPCP, Bayer 73, Lindane, and Copper sulfate are followed. Considering with the toxicity to human body the most safe and effective pesticides were Bayer 73, Seven, NaPCP, and Copper sulfate but among those agents, Bayer 73 and NaPCP show relatively stronger effect in both Parafossarulus manchouricus and cercaria of liver fluke.
parasitology ; helminth ; trematode ; Clonorhcis sinensis ; chemotherapy ; Parafossarulus manchouricus ; Onchomelania ; cercaria ; toxicology ; Bayer 73 ; Nicotin ; NaPCP ; Sevin ; Parathion ; Copper sulfate ; Lindane

OBJECTIVES: As one of the studies for the contribution of hyperlipidemia to the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of low density lipoprotein(LDL) and oxidized LDL on mesangial cell proliferation and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. METHODS: Oxidized-LDL and cell-treated LDL were prepared from LDL by incubation with copper sulfate and mesangial cells, respectively. They were each co-incubated with human mesangial cells. The effects of LDL, oxidized-LDL and cell-treated LDL on mesangial cell proliferation were estimated by measuring the uptake of [3H]-thymidine and counting the cell numbers under phase contrast microscopy. The expression of ICAM-1 on mesangial cells was examined by indirect immunofluorescence method. RESULTS: LDL increased the uptake of [3H]-thymidine by mesangial cells at 10 g/mL returning to control levels at 50 g/mL, and decreased [3H]-thymidine uptake at 100 g/mL of LDL concentration. Also, mesangial cell numbers decreased at 100 g/mL of LDL concentration. In contrast, oxidized LDL decreased [3H]-thymidine uptake starting at 1 g/mL, and decreased mesangial cell numbers starting at 10 g/mL of oxidized-LDL concentration, in a concentration-dependent manner. Cell-treated LDL above the concentration of 10 g/mL caused a concentration- dependent increase in [3H]-thymidine uptake. LDL at certain concentrations increased mesangial cell ICAM-1 expression. CONCLUSION: These results that low concentration of LDL stimulate and high concentration of LDL and oxidized LDL inhibit human mesangial cell proliferation may be the in vitro evidence of lipid mediated glomerulosclerotic injury.
Cell Count ; Copper Sulfate ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Mesangial Cells* ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize new Flammulina velutipes laccases from its whole-genome sequence. Of the 15 putative laccase genes detected in the F. velutipes genome, four new laccase genes (fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4) were found to contain four complete copper-binding regions (ten histidine residues and one cysteine residue) and four cysteine residues involved in forming disulfide bridges, fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4, encoding proteins consisting of 516, 518, 515, and 533 amino acid residues, respectively. Potential N-glycosylation sites (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) were identified in the cDNA sequence of fvLac-1 (Asn-454), fvLac-2 (Asn-437 and Asn-455), fvLac-3 (Asn-111 and Asn-237), and fvLac4 (Asn-402 and Asn-457). In addition, the first 19~20 amino acid residues of these proteins were predicted to comprise signal peptides. Laccase activity assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses clearly reveal that CuSO4 affects the induction and the transcription level of these laccase genes.
Copper Sulfate ; Cysteine ; DNA, Complementary ; Flammulina* ; Fungi* ; Genome ; Histidine ; Laccase* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Reverse Transcription

Culture medium and fermentation conditions for lipid production by Rhodosporidium toruloides were optimized with single factor and uniform design experiment. The best medium recipe was found with 70 g/L glucose, 0.1 g/L (NH4)2SO4, 0.75 g/L yeast extract, 1.5 g/L MgSO4. 7H2O, 0.4g/L KH2PO4, sterilized at 121 degrees C for 15 min, and then supplemented with ZnSO4 1.91 x 10(-6) mmol/L, CaCl2 1.50 mmol/L, MnCl2 1.22 x 10(-4) mmol/L and CuSO4 1.00 x 10(-4) mmol/L. The optimal fermentation conditions were as follows: 50 mL of medium (pH 6.0) in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask with 10% inoculum (28h) under orbital shaking at 200 r/min for 120h at 30 degrees C. Under these conditions, yeast biomass accumulated lipids up to 76.1%.
Basidiomycota ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Copper ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Fermentation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lipids ; biosynthesis ; Magnesium Sulfate ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; pharmacology

This study was undertaken to identify the effect of pentobarbital on the traumatic brain edema in the rabbit by measuring the regional specific gravity with modified serial copper sulfate method. After delivery of brain injury on the frontal area, the animals were sacrificed at 30 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours and 6 hours. And the regional specific gravity was taken in the frontal lobe, occipital lobe, basal ganglia, cerebellum, pons and medulla. The specific gravity after administration of pentobarbital(40mg/kg) in the head-injured rabbit was also taken with the same method and compared with the specific gravity in the absence of pentobarbital to identify the effect of pentobarbital on the brain edema. The results were summarized as follows: 1) The brain edema was peak at 4 hours after head trauma. 2) Significant increase of specific gravity was noted in all regions at 30 minutes, 2 hours and 4 hours after administration of pentobarbital. The findings were similar to both contused and uncontused sides. But all specific gravity data were decreased in all regions at 6 hours. 3) The decrease in brain water content was peak at 30 minutes after administration of pentobarbital, but almost brain water content was reversely increased at 6 hours. These results suggest that the pentobarbital was effective in decreasing the brain edema.
Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Edema* ; Brain Injuries ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Copper Sulfate ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Frontal Lobe ; Occipital Lobe ; Pentobarbital* ; Pons ; Specific Gravity

OBJECTIVETo assess various antioxidative activities of Satureja khozestanica essential oil (SKE) and its effect on oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) induced by CuSO4 in vitro by monitoring the formation of conjugated dienes and malondialdehyde (MDA).

METHODSThe formation of conjugated dienes, lag time and MDA were measured. Inhibition of this Cu-induced oxidation was studied in the presence of several concentrations of SKE. Also total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging of SKE were determinated.

RESULTSIt was demonstrated that SKE was able to inhibit LDL oxidation and decrease the resistance of LDL against oxidation. The inhibitory effects of SKE on LDL oxidation were dose-dependent at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 µg/mL. Total antioxidant capacity of SKE was (3.20±0.40) nmol of ascorbic acid equivalents/g SKE. The SKE showed remarkable scavenging activity on 2, 2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl, IC50 (5.30±0.11) ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONSThis study shows that SKE is a source of potent antioxidants and prevents the oxidation of LDL in vitro and it may be suitable for use in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Copper Sulfate ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Satureja ; chemistry

AIMTo establish a new, reliable vomiting model in minks.

METHODSAdult male minks (Mustela vison) were randomly divided into groups (n = 6). Cisplatin, apomorphine, copper sulfate and X-radiation were used to establish vomiting model. Retching and vomiting were observed after the vomiting models were given anti-vomiting agents. After the behavioral experiment, assay of 5-HT in the ileum was performed by immunohistologic method.

RESULTSCisplatin 7.5 mg.kg-1 i.p., apomorphine 1.6 mg.kg-1 s.c. and copper sulfate 40 mg.kg-1 ig were shown to evoke vomiting. Retching and vomiting were significantly inhibited in ondansetron and metoclopramide pretreated minks (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAs a new vomiting model, minks may be of great value in studying vomiting mechanism and screening new antiemetic drugs.

Animals ; Antiemetics ; therapeutic use ; Apomorphine ; Cisplatin ; Copper Sulfate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Metoclopramide ; therapeutic use ; Mink ; Ondansetron ; therapeutic use ; Vomiting ; chemically induced ; drug therapy