OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to find the protective effects of garlic on the halogenated hydrocarbon induced hepatotoxicities, and the possible protection mechanisms involved. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received garlic (0.5 %) or regular diet, for 4 weeks. This was followed by a single dose of corn oil (the controls), carbon tetrachloride (400mg/kg body weight) and trichloroethylene (2,000mg/kg body weight) being administered to each diet group. Blood samples were collected 24 hours following the administration, and the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities measured. The liver samples were studied for their cytochrome P450 and CYP2E1 contents, lipid peroxidation and histopathology. RESULTS: The results for the group receiving the 0.5 % garlic diet showed a slight decrease of CYP2E1 expression compared with the regular diet group. Carbon tetrachloride was significantly decreased the CYP2E1 contents in both the regular and garlic diet groups, but the trichloroethylene remained unchanged. Garlic did not decrease the lipid peroxidation of the liver in the control group, but attenuated the increase of lipid peroxidation caused by carbon tetrachloride. Garlic attenuated the increase of both the serum AST and ALT activities caused by carbon tetrachloride. The histopathological observations also showed that garlic attenuated centrilobular necrosis and vacuolar degenerative changes significantly in the carbon tetrachloride treated group. Conclusions : The results indicate that garlic attenuates the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity, through the prevention of the metabolic activation and lipid peroxidation.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biotransformation ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon* ; Corn Oil ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Diet ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Male ; Necrosis ; Protective Agents ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trichloroethylene

Thirty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with cadmium chloride solution ranging from 0.2 to 3.2mg CdCl2/kg by intravenous single injection. At 48 hours after administration of cadmium, total cadmium, MT bound cadmium and histopathologic finding in liver, kidney, lung, heart, testis, metallothionein in liver, kidney and total cadmium in blood were examined. Tissue cadmium concentration was highest in liver, followed by in kidney, heart, lung and testis. Cadmium bound to metallothionein(MT-Cd) and ratio of MT-Cd to total cadmium were increased in liver and kidney dependently of cadmium exposure dose, but not significantly changed in other organs. On histopathologic finding, the most susceptible organ was heart in considering cadmium exposed dose, but testis in considering cadmium concentration. Blood cadmium concentration was increased with dose-dependent pattern, and significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration, so that we may estimate tissue cadmium concentration by measurement of blood cadmium concentration. Metallothionein in liver and kidney was increased with dose-dependent pattern, higher in liver than in kidney, and was significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration. However, metallothionein induction efficiency of tissue cadmium(microgram MT/microgram Cd) was greater in liver than in kidney, and reverse to tissue concentration or exposed dose of cadmium.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Metallothionein* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis

We present a case of childhood systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) with renal disease in a 10-year-old girl with multiple, scattered, erythema multiforme-like eruptions on the face, trunk, forearms and lower legs. Serologic abnormalities included hypocomplementemia, high ANA & anti DNA titers, and LE cell test was positive. The histologic finding of the lesion showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis and direct immunofluorescent test revealed linear deposit of IgM at the dermoepiderrnal junction. Electron microscopy showed glomerular subepithelial depasition of eletron dense material in the kidney.
Child ; DNA ; Erythema* ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Kidney ; Leg ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Neutrophils ; Vasculitis

OBJECTIVES: Cadmium (Cd), a toxic and non-essential metal, is recognized as a human carcinogen, which has a tendency to accumulate in the human body. The levels of Cd in renal cortex and liver are good indicators as an index of Cd exposure in the general population. In this study, we present an estimation of reference Cd levels in tissue (renal cortex and liver) and total body burden in the general population of Korea. MEDTHODS: Cd and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in renal cortex and liver from 254 autopsies (male : 188 cases, female : 66 cases) aged 0 to 87 years. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 27.4 and 3.1 ua/g wet weight in renal cortex and liver, respectively. The level of Zn in renal cortex and liver was 35.4 and 42. 6 v/g wet weight, respectively. The result suggests that kidney is the target organ for Cd accumulation. The accumulation of Cd in renal cortex was age-dependent with a biphasic pattern. The level of Cd in renal cortex increased with age up to the fifties, and then leveled off thereafter. Based on the data, the regression model for Cd accumulation in renal cortex by age is predicted by : Log KCd = 0. 2325 + 0. 0553 Age 0. 0005 Age. The highest Cd accumulation in renal cortex of Koreans was estimated at 43. 3 ua/g wet weight at 50. 8 years old. In addition, the total Cd body burden by age was estimated by the following equation: Total Cd Body Burden = -4. 5948 + l. 2278 Age - 0. 0121 Age. The highest body burden of Cd was estimated at 26. 5 mg at age 50. 7 years in the Korean general population. The positive correlation between Zn and Cd was observed in renal cortex and liver. CONCLUSIONS: The level of Cd exposure in Korean was found to be lower than in Japanese, but same as or higher than in American and Europeans.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autopsy ; Body Burden ; Cadmium* ; Child ; Female ; Human Body ; Humans ; Kidney Cortex ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Liver* ; Reference Values* ; Zinc

No abstract available.
Leiomyoma*

During a period from February 1st to November 30th in 1983, measurements were made twice a month on dustfalls and concentrations of various cations and anions in their filtrates in an urban (Heuksuk-dong, Seoul) and in a rural (Ansung) districts. Standard British Deposit Gauge method was applied for collection of dustfalls and ion chromatographic method using Ion Chromatograph 10 (Dionex, U.S.A.) for determination of cation and anion concentrations. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Annual mean values of dustfalls were 8.30+/-5.09 tons/km2/month in an urban and 6.20+/-0.82 tons/km2/month in a rural districts. And annual mean values of pH of filtrates of the collected samples were 5.3+/-0.76 in an urban and 6.0+/-0.82 in a rural districts. 2. Annual mean concentrations of common cations and anions in their filtrates were as follows: Some of anions such as Br-, PO4-3 and NO2 were scarcely detected and F was measured at very low concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 ppm in Feb., Oct. and Nov. in an urban and in Feb. in a rural districts. 3. By two-way analysis of variance with 4 replications for dustfalls, pH and concentrations of various ion by district and month of a year, statistically significant differences were noted in dustfalls (p<0.01), pH (p<0.01) and concentrations of various ion (p<0.01) by month of a year, and in dustfalls (p<0.05) and concentrations of various ion such as NH4, Ca, NO3 and SO4 (p<0.01) by district. 4. There were statistically significant differences pH in Spring (Feb., Mar. and Apr.) (p<0.01) and in SO4 in Autumn (Aug., Sept., Oct. and Nov.) (p<0.05) between the two districts.
Anions ; Cations ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration

We report a case of giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath involving the foot, in a 21-year-old female patient, who presented with an asymptomatic tumor on the dorsum of her right foot. Histopathologically the tumor is surrounded by thin fibrous connective tissue. The characteristic findings of the excised specimen revealed a typical mixture of abundunt round or polygonal histocyte-like cells with varying portions of spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells and multinucleated giant cells. Variable amounts of hyalinized fibrous stromal tissue were also present. After excision, local recurrence has not been observed for 3 months.
Connective Tissue ; Female ; Foot* ; Giant Cell Tumors* ; Giant Cells* ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Recurrence ; Tendons* ; Young Adult

Vulva syringomas are rare in reviewing literature. In our case, a 29-year-old had multiple papular lesions involving both sides of the vulva. Microscopically the lesion showed dilated cystic sweat ducts some of which have small comma like tails resembling tadpoles. It is the purpose of this report to present a rare case of syringoma which was limited to the vulva without involvement of other sites.
Adult ; Humans ; Larva ; Sweat ; Syringoma* ; Vulva*

An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture that alters the function of the endocrine system and causes adverse health effects in the population and progeny. Estrogen is an important hormone during puberty and menopause of reproductive life. An endocrine disruptor mainly effects the homeostasis of sex steroids. The present study focused on plant-derived dietary components with estrogenic activity (phytoestrogen), soy, and other endocrine disruptors. This article will review the current issues involved in understanding endocrine disruptors in the postmenopause.
Endocrine Disruptors ; Endocrine System ; Estrogens ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Menopause ; Phytoestrogens ; Postmenopause ; Puberty ; Steroids

An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture that alters the function of the endocrine system and causes adverse health effects in the population and progeny. Estrogen is an important hormone during puberty and menopause of reproductive life. An endocrine disruptor mainly effects the homeostasis of sex steroids. The present study focused on plant-derived dietary components with estrogenic activity (phytoestrogen), soy, and other endocrine disruptors. This article will review the current issues involved in understanding endocrine disruptors in the postmenopause.
Endocrine Disruptors ; Endocrine System ; Estrogens ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Menopause ; Phytoestrogens ; Postmenopause ; Puberty ; Steroids