This study was carried out to investigate the heavy metal contents and their correlations between paddy soil and brown rice near the Kum-River area. In this study, eighty soil samples and forty brown rice samples were taken from the paddy soil. The contents of heavy metals were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were as follows: 1. The average contents of soluble heavy metals in surface soil were Cd 0.19, Cu 15.31, Zn 18.10 and Pb 9.08 ppm. The average contents of soluble heavy metals in subsurface soil were Cd 0.19, Cu 14.52, Zn 17.75 and Pb8.11 ppm. There wan no statistically significant difference between the two layers. 2. The contents of Cu, Zn and Pb of Taejeon(S6) and Cd of Sinbyung(S5) in surface soil were higher than those of other areas. The contents of Cd and Cu of Taejeon(S6) and Zn and Pb of Kumnam(S3) in brown rice were higher than those of other areas and four heavy metals in soil and brown rice of Simchon(S7) were lower than those of other areas. 3. The ratio of soluble contents(Cd : Cu : Zn : Pb) in surface soil was 1 : 79 : 93 : 47, that of soluble contents in subsurface soil was 1 : 79 : 94 : 43, and that of total contents in brown rice was 1 : 84 : 294 : 12. 4. The correlations of the content between soluble heavy metals in surface(0-15 cm depth) soil total heavy metals in brown rice was found to be order of Cd>Cu>Zn>Pb. The correlations of the content between soluble heavy metals in subsurface(20-30 cm depth) soil and total heavy metals in brown rice was found to be order of Cu>Cd>Zn>Pb.
Metals, Heavy ; Rivers* ; Soil* ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) observed by means of bromodeoxyuridine substitution and fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) technique were proposed as a sensitive and quantitative assay for mutagenicity and cytotoxicity in short-term cultures of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human lymphocytes. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the relation between anticancer agents and cytotoxic effects. Chromosomal analysis was performed on metaphase cells that had divided one, two, or three or more times after treatment for SCEs, mitotic indices (MI) and cell cycle kinetics by FPG technique. The results indicate that anticancer agents led to a dose dependent increase in SCE frequency except methotrexate. But, highly inhibited mitotic indices and delayed cell cycle kinetics were observed except for cyclophosphamide. The author suggest that the difference of SCE frequency is due to the differences in the cytotoxic action of anticancer agents, but although the induction of SCEs has a correlation with cell cycle delay, in some cases the induction of SCEs is not always related to cell cycle delay because of different cytotoxic action of anticancer agents.
Antineoplastic Agents* ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Cycle* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Humans* ; Kinetics* ; Lymphocytes* ; Metaphase ; Methotrexate ; Mitotic Index ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange*

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the usefulness of the modified lateral pillar classification as a prognostic factor in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD). METHODS: Thirty nine patients diagnosed with lateral pillar C in LCPD from May, 1977, to October, 2001 were reviewed, and their skeletal maturity was followed. The mean follow up duration was 12 years and 7 months (4 years, 6 months to 24 years, 9 months). Lateral pillar C classification was divided into C1 (50-75% collapse of the lateral pillar) and C2 (> 75%). All radiological and clinical prognostic factors were evaluated. The final results were evaluated according to the Stulberg classification. RESULTS: Twenty one and 18 of the affected hips were in groups C1 and C2, respectively. According to the Stulberg classification, the final results of group C1 were better than those of C2 (p = 0.002). Patients with more head-at-risk signs had significantly poorer outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The modified lateral pillar classification has significant value for predicting the prognosis of LCPD.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Femur Head/*pathology/radiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Joint/*pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Legg-Perthes Disease/*classification/*pathology/radiography/therapy ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Sister chromatid exchanges(SCEs) and cell cycle kinetics were proposed as a sensitive and quantitative assay for mutagenicity and cytotoxicity in short-term cultures of phytohemagglutinin(PHA)-stimulated human lymphocytes. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the relation between the cytotoxic effects and sister chromatid exchanges. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The frequency of SCEs per cell are 13.1+/-2.8 in the lower concentration of 6.25x10(-9) M and 75.8+/-8.2 in the highest concentration of 1.00+/-10(-7) M. Mitotic index is decreased in the higher concentration of mitomycin C. The result indicates that mitomycin C led to a dose dependent increase in SCE frequency, but decrease in mitotic index. 2) Chromosomal analysis was performed on metaphase cells that have divided one, two, and three or more times for cell cycle kinetics by fluorescence-plus-Giemsa(FPG) technique. According to the increased but the cells of third division are greatly decreased. 3) The frequency of SCEs per chromosome by chromocomal group are decreased gradually from A group to G group. But relationships between specific chromosomal group and SCEs frequency are not found.
Cell Cycle ; Chromatids ; Humans ; Humans* ; Kinetics ; Lymphocytes ; Metaphase ; Mitomycin* ; Mitotic Index ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange*

The expression of two intermediate filaments, nestin and vimentin, was studied in spinal cord injury (SCI) to elucidate their roles in the formation of glial scars. Rats were sacrificed 1, 4, and 7 days after induction of compression injury of the spinal cord using an aneurysm clip. The affected spinal cords were studied using antibodies against nestin and vimentin intermediate filaments. One day after spinal cord injury, some clusters of nestin-positive vessels were detected in the center of the injury, but few were seen in other cell types. Vimentin immunostaining was detected in some glial cells in the center and its level of immunoreactivity was enhanced in the ependymal cells of the central canal. On days 4 and 7 after spinal cord injury, astrocytes and some ependymal cells in the central canal were stained positively for nestin and increased expression of nestin was observed in vessels. Vimentin was detected in some macrophages and astrocytes in the lesions. Nestin was co-localized with glial fibrillary acidic protein in some glial cells in SCI. These findings imply that spinal cord cells in adult animals have embryonic capacity, and these cells are activated after injury, which in turn contributes to repair of spinal cord injury through formation of a glial scar.
Animals ; Cicatrix/pathology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/analysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intermediate Filament Proteins/analysis ; Intermediate Filaments/*physiology ; *Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Neuroglia/*pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries/*pathology ; Vimentin/analysis

PURPOSE: Nocturia has been one of the most bothersome symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Therefore, the authors evaluated the effect of tolterodine and oxybutyninin on nocturia in BPH patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2006 to March 2007, 82 patients who presented over than 2 in nocturnal bladder capacity index (NCBI) in spite of having alpha blockers for 6 months were enrolled. Group I (n=38) took alpha blocker with tolterodine, group II (n=44) took alpha blocker with oxybutynin. The number of their nocturia episodes was separately evaluated by the time before and after the medication. The complications were assessed using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The number of nocturia episodes decreased by at least 1 in 68.4% (26/38), 84.1% (37/44) of patients in group I, II, respectively, and decreased by 2 or more, 1 and were unchanged or increased were 36.8, 31.6, 31.6% in group I patients and 45.5, 38.6, 15.9% in group II patients, respectively. In baseline nocturia > or =6 group, the nocturia decreased by 1 or more in 66.7%, 77.8% in group I, II, respectively. Adverse events, including dry mouth, dizziness, headache, etc, occurred in 21.1% (8/38) in group I and 27.3% (12/44) in group II patients. The complications between two groups showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha blockers with tolterodine or oxybutynin can be effectively combined as a treatment option for patients with BPH complaining of unresolved nocturia.
Dizziness ; Headache ; Humans ; Mouth ; Nocturia* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Bladder ; Tolterodine Tartrate

No abstract available.
Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Mesangial Cells* ; Rats*

Tolerance to several toxic effects of cadmium, including lethality has been shown following pretreatment with cadmium and zinc. This study was designed to determine if tolerance also develops to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity. Three groups of rats (A, B, C), each consisting of 16 rats, were studied and each group was divided into four subgroups (1, 2, 3, 4), 4 rats for each subgroup. Rats were subcutaneously pretreated with saline (A), CdCl2(0.5 mg/kg, B), and ZnCl2 (13.0 mg/kg, C) during time periods of 1~6 weeks. At the end of the period, rats were challenged with CdCl2 (3.0, 6.0 and 9.0 mg/kg, ip). After giving the challenge dose, cadmium and metallothionein (MT) concentrations were determined and also observed the histologic change in liver and kidney. The concentration of cadmium in liver and also observed the increased dose-dependently to the challenge dosage. These data indicate the kidney is a major target organ of chronic cadmium poisoning, and suggest that cadmium induced hepatic injury, via release of Cd-MT, may play and important role in the nephrotoxicity observed in response to long-term exposure to cadmium. In addition, histologic examination of group A2, A3 and A4 revealed moderate to severe cadmium toxicity, evidenced by infiltration of inflammatory cells, cell swelling, pyknosis, enlarged sinusoids and necrosis in liver, and tubule cell necrosis and degeneration in kidney. However, MT concentrations in liver and kidney were increased by the pretreatment of CdCl2 and ZnCl2 and their morphological findings were not significantly changed, comparing with control group. Higher MT concentration in liver and kidney observed in the pretreated groups constitutes a plausible explanation of the protective effects of pretreatment against the cadmium toxicity after challenge dosing.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride* ; Cadmium Poisoning ; Cadmium* ; Kidney* ; Liver* ; Metallothionein* ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Zinc

In this study the population data at seven STR loci on the Y chromosome, DYS19, DYS388, DYS389, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393 are described for 1054 Koreans. In each locus, 6-22 alleles were noted, and allelic distribution patterns were found to be different from those of other populations. The PD was 0.28-0.886 and no interallele was noted. In 388 father-son pairs, 9 cases of mutation, one in DYS19 locus, one in DYS388, two in DYS389, three in DYS391, one in DYS392 and one in DYS393 locus were noted. In total 563 different haplotypes were noted. 630 cases shared the same haplotype with someone among 1054 object studied. Even in case which showed different haplotypes, many cases showed differences only in one locus and genotypes in the remaining seven loci were the same. The discrimination between mutation and different haplotypes seems to be problematic in these situations. Experiences for the large scale haplotype data base in Koreans were described.
Alleles ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Genotype ; Haplotypes* ; Y Chromosome*

In this study the population data at seven STR loci on the Y chromosome, DYS19, DYS388, DYS389, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393 are described for 1054 Koreans. In each locus, 6-22 alleles were noted, and allelic distribution patterns were found to be different from those of other populations. The PD was 0.28-0.886 and no interallele was noted. In 388 father-son pairs, 9 cases of mutation, one in DYS19 locus, one in DYS388, two in DYS389, three in DYS391, one in DYS392 and one in DYS393 locus were noted. In total 563 different haplotypes were noted. 630 cases shared the same haplotype with someone among 1054 object studied. Even in case which showed different haplotypes, many cases showed differences only in one locus and genotypes in the remaining seven loci were the same. The discrimination between mutation and different haplotypes seems to be problematic in these situations. Experiences for the large scale haplotype data base in Koreans were described.
Alleles ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Genotype ; Haplotypes* ; Y Chromosome*