Update on implementation of GHS in Korea and revision of Industrial Safety and Health Act in relation to GHS

To implement the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) in Korea, an inter-ministerial GHS committee, involving 8 ministries and an expert working group composed of 9 experts from relevant organizations and one private consultant, have made some progress towards implementation by 2008. As such, the first revision of the official Korean translated version of the GHS in accordance with the GHS purple book revision 1 in 2005, including annexes, started in August, 2006, was completed in December, 2006. The Ministry of Labor also finally revised the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) relating to the GHS and the detailed notification was announced on Dec 12, 2006 and became effective immediately. The revised ISHA will allow continued use of the existing hazard communication system until Jun 30, 2008. Other revisions of chemical-related regulations will follow soon to facilitate the implementation of the GHS by 2008. Besides, inter-ministerial collaborative efforts on harmonizing regulations and disseminating the GHS in Korea will continue to avoid any confusion or duplication and for the effective use of resources.     

Risk Factors of Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients in Korea: Focus on Early Symptoms

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the globe, and it is important to determine the risk factors of death in the general population. Our study aimed to determine the risk factors of death and severe illness requiring supplemental oxygen therapy based on the demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Korea.MethodsIn this study, we used data provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and analyzed a total of 5,068 patients with COVID-19, excluding 19 pregnant women and 544 individuals with missing data. We performed logistic regression analysis to determine the impact of early symptoms on survival and severe disease. Logistic regression models included sex, age, number of comorbidities, symptoms on admission, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature as explanatory variables, and death and oxygen therapy as outcome variables.ResultsLogistic regression analyses revealed that the male sex, older age (≥ 60 years), higher number of comorbidities, presence of symptoms on admission, heart rate ≥ 120 bpm, and body temperature ≥ 37.5°C presented with higher risk of in-hospital death and oxygen therapy requirement. Conversely, rhinorrhea and headache were associated with a low risk of death and oxygen therapy requirement. The findings showed that cough, sputum, and fever were the most common symptoms on admission, while 25.3% of patients with COVID-19 were asymptomatic.ConclusionCOVID-19 patients with high-risk early symptoms on admission, such as dyspnea and altered mental status, and those without low-risk symptoms of rhinorrhea and headache should be included in priority treatment groups.     

Use of Bacteria to Activate Ground-Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBFS) as Cementless Binder

Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) can be used as a cementless binder after activation. Recent approaches to activate GGBFS have focused on chemical methods that use NaOH, KOH, and CaO. This study introduces the use of bacteria to activate GGBFS as a biological approach. The presence of bacteria (volumetric ratio), curing temperature (23 °C and 60 °C), and number of curing days (3, 7, and 28 d) are investigated. The use of urea is considered owing to the possibility of calcium carbonate formation. The activated GGBFS is evaluated in the form of a cube (5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm) for its strength, mineral identification, and pore size distribution. A brick (19 cm × 9 cm × 5.7 cm) is prefabricated to see the feasibility of commercializing bacteria-activated GGBFS based on water absorption and strength measurements. All results are compared with those of water-activated GGBFS. The results indicate that the use of urea inhibits the strength improvement of bacteria-activated GGBFS. Bacterial suspension enhances the GGBFS strength at a curing temperature of 60 °C. Mineral identification tests show that the strength increase is primarily due to the formation of calcite. The compressive strength satisfies the commercial standard of concrete bricks; however, the water absorption rate must be resolved.     

Toxicity of sodium pentafluorostannite. A new anticariogenic agent. III. 30-Day toxicity study in rats.

For 30 days, groups of 12–19 Wistar rats (divided according to sex) were dosed daily by gavage with distilled water or with 20, 100, or 175 mg/kg sodium pentafluorostannite. On Days 14 and 29, blood was collected from five rats in each group to determine hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume. On Days 15 and 30, rats were sacrificed, blood collected, and serum urea nitrogen (BUN), direct and total bilirubin, SGOT activity, inorganic phosphorus, calcium and glucose concentrations were determined. A necropsy was performed on each rat, its organs weighed, and sections prepared for microscopic examination. After 15 and 30 days, growth was depressed in a dose-related manner. Serum glucose concentration was also lowered. Microscopic findings in organs were generally unremarkable except for degenerative changes of the proximal tubular epithelium of the kidneys in 15–20% of the animals in the 175-mg/kg groups. Animals that died spontaneously displayed signs suggestive of cardiac failure, including congestion of the liver, spleen, lungs and/or kidneys. In addition, most had moderate to severe renal tubular necrosis.     

Juxtaglomerular cells in renal angiomyolipoma. Ultrastructural observation

We have studied a case of renal angiomyolipoma by electron microscopy and found juxtaglomerular cells with typical rhomboid and spherical granules, in addition to smooth muscle cells, fat cells, and abnormal blood vessels. To our knowledge, this is the first ultrastructural demonstration of juxtaglomerular cells in renal angiomyolipoma.     

Effect of Prostaglandins on Immune Complex Interaction With Glomerular Cells in Vitro

Previous studies demonstrated that prostaglandins of the E₁ (PGE₁) series reduced immune complex (IC) accumulation and inflammation in murine glomeruli in IC glomerulonephritis (GN). This study examines the effect of PGE₁ on IC interaction with cultured rabbit glomerular cells and heparan sulfate synthesis by the cells. IC were formed with antigen chemically modified to produce a cationic (CAT) charge or left unmodified (UM). CAT IC binding to cells was greater than UM IC in the absence of PGE₁. CAT IC binding to cells was increased by PGE₁ while UM IC interaction was not affected. Prolonged exposure of cells to PGE₁ enhanced CAT IC binding. Heparan sulfate synthesis by the cells was not affected by the concentrations of PGE₁ employed. The findings suggest the benefit provided by PGE₁ in murine IC GN may not be due to a direct effect on glomerular cells which reduces glomerular IC accumulation.     

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the clitoris: a case report with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings.

A 30-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of a small nodule of the clitoris. This was subsequently diagnosed as epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. This rare vascular tumor of intermediate malignancy has not been previously described in the vulva. The patient underwent a modified radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection, and subsequently received photon therapy. She is alive with no evidence of disease 27 months after diagnosis.     

Identification of glutathione conjugates of 2,3-dibromopropene in male ICR mice

Hepatotoxic potential of 2, 3-dibromopropene (2, 3-DBPE) and its conjugation with glutathione (GSH) were investigated in male ICR mice. Treatment of mice with 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg of 2, 3-DBPE for 24 h caused elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. The hepatic content of GSH was not changed by 2, 3-DBPE. Meanwhile, the GSH content was slightly reduced when mice were treated with 2, 3-DBPE for 6 h and significantly increased 12 h after the treatment. Subsequently, a possible formation of GSH conjugate of 2, 3-DBPE was investigated in vivo. After the animals were treated orally with 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg of 2, 3-DBPE, the animals were subjected to necropsy 6, 12, and 24 h later. A conjugate of S-2-bromopropenyl GSH was identified in liver and serum treated with 100 mg/kg of 2, 3-DBPE by using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The protonated molecular ions [M+H]+ of S-2-bromopropenyl GSH were observed at m/z 425.9 and 428.1 in the positive ESI spectrum with a retention time of 6.35 and 6.39 min, respectively. In a time-course study in livers following an oral treatment of mice with 100 mg/kg of 2, 3-DBPE for 6, 12, and 24 h, the 2, 3-DBPE GSH conjugate was detected maximally 6 h after the treatment. The present results suggested that 2, 3-DBPE-induced hepatotoxicity might be related with the production of its GSH conjugate.     

Validation of the rat model of cryptogenic infantile spasms

Purpose: To determine whether a new model of cryptogenic infantile spasms consisting of prenatal priming with betamethasone and postnatal trigger of spasms by N‐methyl‐d ‐aspartate (NMDA) responds to chronic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) treatment, and has electroencephalography (EEG) signature, efficacy of treatments, and behavioral impairments similar to those in human infantile spasms. Methods: Rats prenatally primed with betamethasone on gestational day 15 were used. Spasms were triggered with NMDA between postnatal days (P) 10 and 15 in a single session or in multiple sessions in one subject. The expression of spasms was compared to prenatally saline‐injected controls. Effects of relevant treatments (ACTH, vigabatrin, methylprednisolone, rapamycin) were determined in betamethasone‐primed rats. In the rats after spasms, behavioral evaluation was performed in the open field and elevated plus maze on P20–22. Key Findings: NMDA at P10–15 (the rat “infant” period) triggers the spasms significantly earlier and in greater numbers in the prenatal betamethasone‐exposed brain compared to controls. Similar to human condition, the spasms occur in clusters. Repeated trigger of spasms is associated with ictal EEG electrodecrements and interictal large‐amplitude waves, a possible rat variant of hypsarrhythmia. Chronic ACTH treatment in a randomized experiment, and chronic pretreatment with methylprednisolone significantly suppress the number of spasms similar to the human condition. Pretreatment with vigabatrin, but not rapamycin, suppressed the spasms. Significant behavioral changes occurred following multiple bouts of spasms. Significance: The model of infantile spasms has remarkable similarities with the human condition in semiology, EEG, pharmacologic response, and long‐term outcome. Therefore, the model can be used to search for novel and more effective treatments for infantile spasms.