Certine heavy metals which may lead peoples to poisonous status are widely used in industry and their used have been increasing along with rapid industrialization of this country. Such an increasement of metal uses aggravates the status of environmental pollution affecting foodstuffs which are the most important life supporting factor of animal and human being. Concerning the safety measures to minimize food-borne transmission of such hazardous metals, surveillance is the backbone of them and probably more so with a potential problem such as intoxication. Theoretically, this surveillance should include the determination of levels of heavy metal toxicants in foods, the determination of food consumption patterns and typical total diet, and the estimation of total load the metal contaminant from all sources of exposure including air, water, and occupational sources. In recent year, actually, such estimates on the total daily intake of some heavy metals from foods have been made in several developed countries and a wide variation of date by season, locality, and research method was recognized. Also in this country, this kind of research data is vitally needed to make up for the serious shortage or lack of references to estimate the total amount of heavy metal intake of the people. In this study, a modification model for estimation of the total daily intake of cadmium copper, nickel, zinc, and lead through foods was applied and concentrations of the above metals in crops cultivated in this country were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer to get the following results. 1.Level of heavy metal concentration in crops. Generally, the levels of such metals in essential crops such as rice, cucumber, radish, chinese cabbage, apple, pear, grape, and orange are similar or lower than those in Japan and other developed countries. By the way, a striking result on cadmium concentration was increasement of its concentration in rice from 0-0.035ppm in 1970 to 0.11ppm in this study. However, the value is still far below the Japanese Permissible Level of 1.0ppm. 2. Estimation of total daily intake per from foods. A new model for estimation was devised utilizing levels of metal concentration in food, amount of food consumed, and other food factors. Based on the above method, the daily intake of cadmium was estimate to be 70.53 microgram/man/day in average which was as high as the Limit Value of ILO/WHO(up to 71.4 microgram/man/day). Also, 3.89mg of Zinc, 1.65mg of cuppor, 0.32mg of lead were given as the total daily intake per capita by this research. 3. Efficacy of washing or skinning to decrease the amount of metals in crops. After washing the crops sufficiently with commercial linear alkylate sulfonate, the concentration of heavy metals could bae reduced to 50-80% showing decreasement rate of 20-50%. Also, after skinning the fruits, decreasement rate of the heavy metal concentration showed 0-50%.
Absorption ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Brassica ; Cadmium ; Citrus sinensis ; Copper ; Developed Countries ; Diet ; Environmental Pollution ; Fruit ; Humans ; Japan ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy ; Nickel ; Pyrus ; Raphanus ; Seasons ; Skin ; Strikes, Employee ; Vitis ; Water ; Zinc

PURPOSE: Three-dimensional(3D) magnetic resonance(MR) projection imaging was evaluated as a noninvasive alternative to direct cholangiography for the assessment of its reliability in patients with obsructive jaundice. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A heavily T2-weighted gradient-echo sequence(PSIF) was used for 3D MR projecion imaging of the biliary system in five healthy volunteers and 25 patients with obstructive jaundice. The 3D images of the bile ducts were formed by stacking consecutive coronal MR images obtained with a fast imaging method to a maximum-intensity projection algorithm. RESULTS: In the volunteers, MR cholangiography could demonstrate the anatomy of the biliary tract in only two subjects. The extrahepatic and intraheparic bile ducts were well visualized in 23 patients with obstructive jaundice. The leve of obstruction and the grade of dilatation were dipicted with MR cholangiography in all cases. And the cause of obstruction could be determined with MR cholangiography in 18 cases, MR cholangiography was successful in two patients in whom ERCP failed. The gallbladder or dilated pancreatic duct not demonstrated by means of direct cholangiography was demonstrated with MR cholangiography in six cases.
Bile Ducts ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiography* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Dilatation ; Gallbladder ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Volunteers

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been known to be associated with a wide variety of neoplastic conditions including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Recent studies reveal the presence of EBV in certain subtypes of gastric carcinoma in which EBV appears to be pathogenetically related. To evaluate the relationship between EBV and gastric adenocarcinoma, we examined EBV DNA using direct in situ polymerase chain reaction, and expression of p53 protein and bcl-2 protein using immunohistochemical staining method on paraffin embedded tissues. The materials consisted of one hundred twenty-eight gastric adenocarcinomas and twenty benign peptic ulcers. EBV DNA was detected in 14 of 128 gastric adenocarcinomas (10.9%). p53 protein was positive in 10 of 14 EBV positive adenocarcinomas (71.4%) and in 61 of 114 EBV negative adenocarcinomas (53.5%). Bcl-2 protein was positive in 2 of 14 EBV positive adenocarcinomas (14.3%) and in 19 of 114 EBV negative adenocarcinomas (16.7%). The above results indicate that EBV is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma, and p53 protein may play a role in carcinogenesis of EBV in gastric adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinogenesis ; DNA ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Hodgkin Disease ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Paraffin ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

The effects of a fermentation filtrate of Ganoderma lucidum (FGL) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis were investigated in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with FGL (20 or 100 mg/kg) for 33 days, and orally administered with CCl4 (1.0 mL/kg; 2 mL/kg of 50% in corn oil) at 3-day intervals 1 h after FGL treatment. Body and liver weights, blood and histopathological findings in accordance with hydroxyproline concentrations were analyzed. Chronic exposure to CCl4 reduced the body weight gain, but increased liver weights and fibrosis, resulting in 3.35-fold increase in hydroxyproline level. Although FGL did not significantly reduce the CCl4-induced body and liver weight changes, it attenuated the increases in the hepatic fibrosis and hydroxyproline contents. Taken together, it is suggested that FGL might prevent hepatic fibrosis, and that FGL or its ingredient could be a potential candidate for the prevention of chronic hepatic disorders.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Fermentation ; Fibrosis ; Ganoderma ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline ; Liver ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reishi ; Weights and Measures ; Zea mays

Antioxidative and aldose reductase (AR)-inhibitory effects of a fermentation filtrate of Rubus coreanus (FRC) were investigated using corneal/retinal homogenate and lens cytosol, respectively. Rat corneal/retinal homogenate was treated with 50 microM FeCl3 in the presence of FRC (3.2-100 microg/mL) for 30 min at 37degrees C, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was quantified as a lipid peroxidation parameter. FRC markedly suppressed the TBARS production in a concentration-dependent manner, leading to 50% (IC50) and 100% (IC100) inhibitory concentrations of 20 and 95 microg/mL, respectively, which was similar to the effect of butylated hydroxyanisole. Activity of AR from rat lens was assayed in the presence of FRC (1-31.6 microg/mL) at 25degrees C using glyceraldehyde as a substrate. FRC inhibited lens AR by 50% (IC50) and 90% (IC90) at approximately 2 and 31.6 microg/mL, respectively, comparable to the effect of quercetin. The results indicate that ERC could be a promising candidate for the improvement of eye injury and visual dysfunction of dry eye and diabetic patients.
Aldehyde Reductase ; Animals ; Butylated Hydroxyanisole ; Cytosol ; Eye ; Eye Injuries ; Fermentation ; Glyceraldehyde ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Quercetin ; Rats ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Influenza virus are the most common pathogen for causing severe upper respiratory infection in all age groups. A multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been developed to detect and subtype influenza A (H3N2 and H1N1), B virus and RSV simultaneously in one tube reaction. Amplification with primers derived from conserved sequences within the nucleocapsid for RSV and hemagglutinin subunit for Influenza A (H3N2 and H1N1) and B viruses yielded a 384 bp, a 300 bp, a 236 bp and a 151 bp, respectively. Assay specificity was confirmed by pulse field gel electrophoresis and autosequencing method. Assay sensitivity was 3 PFU/ml of RSV, 22 PFU/ml, 45 PFU/ml of Influenza type A (H3N2 and H1N1) and 6.6 PFU/ml of Influenza B virus by plaque assay. A rapid and sensitive detection method of a one-tube with multiplex RT-PCR capable of identifying more than one viral template as well as synchronizing reverse transcription and PCR had the potential to produce considerable savings of time and cost effectiveness in the diagnostic laboratory.
Conserved Sequence ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Electrophoresis ; Hemagglutinins ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans* ; Income ; Influenza B virus ; Influenza, Human* ; Nucleocapsid ; Orthomyxoviridae* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Reverse Transcription* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Maligant melanomas of the oral or nasal cavity, and the vulvovaginal area are relatively common among the melanomas of non-ocular mucosa. But, primary malignant melanoma arising in the mucosa of the palatine tonsil is rare. We present a case of primary malignant melanoma arising in the mucosa of the palatine tonsil. A 36-year-old male was admitted for evaluation of a recurrent sore throat. Tonsillectomy was performed on the basis of clinical suspicion of chronic tonsillitis. Grossly, the left tonsil was focally dark. Microscopically, the tonsillar mucosa was diffusely infiltrated with tumor cells. Tumor cells revealed numerous melanin pigments. Intraepithelial nests of tumor cells were noted, but pagetoid spread of tumor cells was not found. Tumor cells were positive for S-100 protein and HMB45 stain. There was no evidence of melanoma in the skin or eye.
Male ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: A field investigation was done to identify the level of epidemic and to evaluate the infection route of Salmonellosis occurred in a baby's first birthday banquet in Jeju Island. METHODS: Among participants in the banquet given on a baby's first birthday, persons showing gastrointestinal symptoms were conducted by the structured questionnaire and stool culture. The symptomless persons were also surveyed by self-responded structured questionnaire. The causal relationship between food items and gastrointestinal symptoms was proved by odds ratio and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: Salmonella london was identified in the stools of 12 subjects among 20 participants showing gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as in the boiled pork hock. CONCLUSIONS: This outbreak event is thought to happen after participants took the boiled pork hock that contaminated with S almonella london during the storage process.
Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Food Poisoning ; Salmonella Infections* ; Tarsus, Animal ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The fine structure of cells in the trigeminal mesencephalic (Me5) nucleus in the rat was studied by transmission electron microscopy. This nucleus located in the mid-brain and the rostral portion of the pons, most neurons in the caudal part of Me5 nucleus were sufficiently large (40~50micrometer) and appeared as round-shaped unipolar cells. The Me5 neurons had a large, round, centrally located nucleus, and their cytoplasm contained numerous mitochondria, dense granular endoplasmic reticulum, abundant Golgi apparatus, groups of free ribosomes, some heterogeneous particles and neurofilaments. Cell surfaces were studded irregularly with small spinouts processes, and they contained a few fine irregularly arranged neurofilaments and some granular endoplasmic reticulum. Boutons contacting the soma of Me5 neurons were defined as axosomatic synapses and bostons contacting dendrites located between the Me5 neurons were defined as axodendritic synapses. Based on differences in bouton and vesicle morphology, the four synaptic bouton types were identified. 1. Asymmetrical as well as symmetrical synapses with small round vesicles. 2. Asymmetrical synapses with pleomorphic admixture contained predominantlyspherical vesicles. 3. Symmetrical synapses with pleomorphic vesicles of flattened, spherical and dense-core vesicles. 4. Asymmetrical as well as symmetrical synapses with heterogeneous and large dense-core vesicles. Synaptic boutons containing round vesicles and large dense-core vesicles were most frequently observed.
Animals ; Carisoprodol ; Cytoplasm ; Dendrites ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Golgi Apparatus ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; Neurons ; Pons ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Rats* ; Ribosomes ; Synapses

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate success and perforation rates of pneumatic reduction and to find the predictors of reduction failure. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed 224 cases of pediatric intussusception diagnosed by air-enema between July, 1989 and June, 1992. The mean age was 9.8 months(range, 1 month to 3 years). Logistic regression analysis was used to find predictors of reduction failure. RESULTS: Successful reduction was achieved in 197 cases(87.9% of success rate). Bowel perforation occurred in two cases(0.9% of perforation rate). There were two statistically significant predictors of failure;(1) ileoileocolic intussusception(p<.001), (2) long duration of symptom(p<.001). Surgery was performed in 26 cases (11.6%), of which seven required bowel resection. CONCLUSION: Pneumatic reduction is a useful means in the management of pediatric intussusception with a high success rate and no mortality.
Child* ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Intussusception* ; Logistic Models ; Mortality