BACKGROUND: Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is extremely toxic, causing multiple organ failure in humans. Paraquat especially leads to irreversible progressive pulmonary fibrosis, which is related to oxygen free radicals. However, its biochemical mechanism is not clear. Natural mechanisms that prevent damage from oxygen free radicals include changes in glutathione level, G6PDH, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The authors think catalase is closely related to paraquat toxicity in the lungs METHOD: The effects of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole(aminotriazole), a catalase inhibitor, on mice administered with paraquat were investigated. We studied the effects of aminotriazole on the survival of mice administered with paraquat, by comparing life spans between the group to which paraquat had been administered and the group to which a combination of paraquat and aminotriazole had been administered. We measured glutathion level, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue of 4 groups of mice: the control grouts, group A(aminouiazole injected), group B(paraquat administered), group C(Paraquat and aminotriazole administered). RESULTS: The mortality of mice administered with paraquat which were treated with aminotriazole was significantly increased compared with those of mice not treated with aminotriazole. Glutathione level in group B was decreased by 20%, a significant decrease compared with the control group. However, this level was not changed by the administration of aminotriazole(group C). The activity of G6PDH in all groups was not significantly changed compared with the control group. The activities of SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue were significantly decreased by paraquat administration(group B); catalase showed the largest decrease. Catalase and GPX were significantly decreased by aminotriazole treatment in mice administered with paraquat but change in SOD activity was not significant.(group C). CONCLUSION: Decrease in catalase activity by paraquat suggests that paraquat toxicity in the lungs is closely related to catalase activity. Paraquat toxicity in mice is enhanced by aminotriazole administration, and its result is related to the decrease of catalase activity rather than glutathione level in the lungs. Production of hydroxyl radicals, the most reactive oxygen metabolite, is accelerated due to increased hydrogen peroxide by catalase inhibition and the lung damage probably results from nonspecific tissue injury of hydroxyl radicals.
Amitrole* ; Animals ; Catalase ; Free Radicals ; Glucose ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lung* ; Mice* ; Mortality ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Oxygen ; Paraquat* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Superoxides

The purposes of this study were to analyze the consumer inclination to convenience towards HMR in order to verify the structural correlation of the actual state of consumption, and to analyze consequently, the direct or indirect effects among 'frequency of using,' 'preference', 'satisfaction', and 'intention to repurchase'. The subjects were adults in their twenties or older who had used HMRs and lived in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in Korea. Random sampling of 550 subjects, who were distributed a questionnaire from March 12 to 30, 2005. A total of 451 questionnaires were returned (the return rates were 82%). The main results of this study were as follows : Regarding the types of HMR, 'Ready to eat' had higher preference (3.31), satisfaction (3.33) and 'intention to purchase it again' (3.38) than those of 'Ready to heat' and 'Ready to end-cook.' Consumer inclination to convenience towards HMR was analyzed in order to verify the structural correlation of the actual state of consumption, and consequently, the direct or indirect effects among 'frequency of using,' 'preference', 'satisfaction', and 'intention to repurchase' were analyzed. The gross effect of 'frequency of using' on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.435, the gross effect of preference on 'intention to purchase it again' was 0.659, and the gross effect of satisfaction on 'intention to purchase it again' was 0.772 for 'Ready to eat.' The gross effect of 'frequency of using' on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.448, the gross effect of preference on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.556, and the gross effect of satisfaction on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.654 for 'Ready to heat.' The gross effect of 'frequency of using' on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.432, the gross effect of preference on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.494, and the gross effect of satisfaction on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.608 for 'Ready to end-cook.' To summerize the above results, there was a difference of the structural correlation among component concepts of the actual state of consuming according to the criteria of HMR. Thus, it implied that differentiated sales strategies were needed according to the criteria of HMR.
Adult ; Commerce ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Intention* ; Korea ; Meals* ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To evaluate the influence of 5-thio-D-glucose on irradiation effect after hyperthermia, an experimental study was carried out using a total of 72 mice. A single dose of 3000 rads was delivered on skin of mouse tail after hyperthermia with or without intraperitoneal injection of 5-thio-D-glucose 2 hours before irradiation. The hyperthermia was carried out at 43degrees C for 40 minutes just before the irradiation. The skin changes of their radiatied mouse tail were observed from 7th to 31st post-irradiation days, and the scores were anlayzed. Theresults are as follows; 1. Radiation damage on mouse skin increased significantly when radiation was combined withhyperthermia. 2. In the group of 5-thio-D-glucose and irradiation after hyperthermia, radiation damage on mouseskin significantly decreased than in the group without 5-thio-D-glucose. 3. 5-thio-D-glucose appears to be apotential radioprotective agent in clinical radiotherapy with hyperthermia.
Animals ; Fever ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Mice ; Radiation Injuries ; Radiotherapy ; Skin ; Tail

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Renal Veins* ; Renin* ; Veins*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Renal Veins* ; Renin* ; Veins*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant*

No abstract available.
Weaning*

PURPOSE: To determine the reference values of hematologic and biochemical parameters of nutrition around the weaning period. METHODS: From February 1996 to March 1997, several nutritional laboratory values were evaluated in 130 healthy babies and 120 inpatients in the recovery stage of acute illness at six general hospitals. RESULTS: Reference values in 9-month-old healthy babies(range : 6-12 months) were hemoglobin 11.8+/-0.9g/dL, hematocrit 30.9+/-0.7%, serum ferritin 25.7+/-15.4ng/mL, total protein(TP) 6.5+/-0.5g/ dL, albumin 4.6+/-0.5g/dL, prealbumin 15.6+/-3.9mg/L, cholesterol 154.7+/-22.4mg/dL, calcium 10.1+/-0.5mg/dL, phosphorus 6.1+/-0.9mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) 235.1+/-66.4U/L. Reference values in 15-month-old healthy babies(range : 13-18 months) were hemoglobin 12.3+/-1.0g/dL, hematocrit 30.9+/-0.4%, serum ferritin 20.4+/-11.2ng/mL, TP 6.8+/-0.6g/dL, albumin 4.7+/-0.5g/dL, prealbumin 18.1+/-4.6mg/L, cholesterol 163.1+/-24.2mg/dL, calcium 9.3+/-1.0mg/dL, phosphorus 6.0+/-0.8mg/dL and ALP 254.5+/-64.0U/L. Most reference values were significantly lower in inpatients than the healthy babies, except for serum ferritin level which was the opposite. There were no significant differences in reference values according to feeding and weaning practices. Incidence of anemia(hemoglobin<10.5g/dL) and iron deficiency(serum ferritin<10ng/mL) were 5%(3/60), 11.7%(7/60) in 9-month-old healthy babies and 2.9%(2/70), 18.6%(18/70) in 15-month-old healthy babies, respectively. The incidence of hypercholesterolemia(serum cholesterol>200mg/dL) was 8.6% in 15-month-old healthy babies. CONCLUSION: This study presented the reference values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, total protein, albumin, prealbumin, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase around the weaining period. The current nutritional status of Korean babies around the weaning period was appropriate except for borderline iron deficiency.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Inpatients ; Iron ; Nutritional Status ; Phosphorus ; Prealbumin ; Reference Values* ; Weaning*

PURPOSE: To determine the reference values of hematologic and biochemical parameters of nutrition around the weaning period. METHODS: From February 1996 to March 1997, several nutritional laboratory values were evaluated in 130 healthy babies and 120 inpatients in the recovery stage of acute illness at six general hospitals. RESULTS: Reference values in 9-month-old healthy babies(range : 6-12 months) were hemoglobin 11.8+/-0.9g/dL, hematocrit 30.9+/-0.7%, serum ferritin 25.7+/-15.4ng/mL, total protein(TP) 6.5+/-0.5g/ dL, albumin 4.6+/-0.5g/dL, prealbumin 15.6+/-3.9mg/L, cholesterol 154.7+/-22.4mg/dL, calcium 10.1+/-0.5mg/dL, phosphorus 6.1+/-0.9mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) 235.1+/-66.4U/L. Reference values in 15-month-old healthy babies(range : 13-18 months) were hemoglobin 12.3+/-1.0g/dL, hematocrit 30.9+/-0.4%, serum ferritin 20.4+/-11.2ng/mL, TP 6.8+/-0.6g/dL, albumin 4.7+/-0.5g/dL, prealbumin 18.1+/-4.6mg/L, cholesterol 163.1+/-24.2mg/dL, calcium 9.3+/-1.0mg/dL, phosphorus 6.0+/-0.8mg/dL and ALP 254.5+/-64.0U/L. Most reference values were significantly lower in inpatients than the healthy babies, except for serum ferritin level which was the opposite. There were no significant differences in reference values according to feeding and weaning practices. Incidence of anemia(hemoglobin<10.5g/dL) and iron deficiency(serum ferritin<10ng/mL) were 5%(3/60), 11.7%(7/60) in 9-month-old healthy babies and 2.9%(2/70), 18.6%(18/70) in 15-month-old healthy babies, respectively. The incidence of hypercholesterolemia(serum cholesterol>200mg/dL) was 8.6% in 15-month-old healthy babies. CONCLUSION: This study presented the reference values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, total protein, albumin, prealbumin, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase around the weaining period. The current nutritional status of Korean babies around the weaning period was appropriate except for borderline iron deficiency.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Inpatients ; Iron ; Nutritional Status ; Phosphorus ; Prealbumin ; Reference Values* ; Weaning*

The taxonomy of Acanthamoeba spp., an amphizoic amoeba which causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and chronic amoebic keratitis, has been revised many times. The taxonomic validity of some species has yet to be assessed. In this paper, we analyzed the morphological characteristics, nuclear 18s rDNA and mitochondrial 16s rDNA sequences and the Mt DNA RFLP of the type strains of four Acanthamoeba species, which had been previously designated as A. divionensis, A. parasidionensis, A. mauritaniensis, and A. rhysodes. The four isolates revealed characteristic group II morphology. They exhibited 18S rDNA sequence differences of 0.2-1.1% with each other, but more than 2% difference from the other compared reference strains. Four isolates formed a different clade from that of A. castellanii Castellani and the other strains in morphological group II on the phylogenetic tree. In light of these results, A. paradivionensis, A. divionensis, and A. mauritaniensis should be regarded as synonyms for A. rhysodes.
Acanthamoeba/*classification/*genetics ; Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics