IRB review points for studies utilizing paraffin blocks archived in the pathology laboratory.

In the personalized medicine era, utilizing paraffin blocks in pathology archives for investigating human diseases has come into the limelight. This archived material with clinical data will reduce the research time and could prevent new patient recruitment to obtain tissue for research. However, the clause indicating the necessity of consent from human material providers in the Korean Bioethics and Safety Act has made the Institutional Review Board (IRB) deny permission to use paraffin blocks for research without consent, and alternatively to get the same before starting an experiment.

Let Archived Paraffin Blocks Be Utilized for Research with Waiver of Informed Consent.

Advances in biomedical and genetic research have contributed to more effective public health improvement via bench-to-bed research and the emergence of personalized medicine. This has certainly showcased the importance of archived human tissues, especially paraffin-embedded blocks in pathology. Currently in Korea, undue legislative regulations of the Bioethics and Safety Act suspend and at times discourage studies from taking place.

Influence of amendments and aided phytostabilization on metal availability and mobility in Pb/Zn mine tailings.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of four different amendments, bone mill, bottom ash, furnace slag, and red mud, as immobilizing agents and the plant species Miscanthus sinensis and Pteridium aquilinum in aided phytostabilization of Pb/Zn mine tailings. The effects of amendments and plants on the availability and mobility of heavy metals were evaluated using single extraction, sequential extraction, pore-water analysis, and determination of heavy metal concentrations in plants. The application of Fe-rich amendments significantly reduced the amount of soluble and extractable heavy metals in the tailings (p < 0.

Immobilizer-assisted management of metal-contaminated agricultural soils for safer food production.

Production of food crops on metal contaminated agricultural soils is of concern because consumers are potentially exposed to hazardous metals via dietary intake of such crops or crop derived products. Therefore, the current study was conducted to develop management protocols for crop cultivation to allow safer food production. Metal uptake, as influenced by pH change-induced immobilizing agents (dolomite, steel slag, and agricultural lime) and sorption agents (zeolite and compost), was monitored in three common plants representative of leafy (Chinese cabbage), root (spring onion) and fruit (red pepper) vegetables, in a field experiment.

Analysis of the Chemical Constituents of Agaricus brasiliensis.

This study examined the chemical composition of A. blasiliensis and the chemical structural properties of an immuno-stimulating polysaccharide. The amino acids, free sugars, and organic acids by HPLC and fatty acids by GC were analyzed.

Isolation and characterization of a novel platelet aggregation inhibitory peptide from the medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus.

This study describes the extraction and characterization of a platelet aggregation inhibitory peptide from Inonotus obliquus. Ethanol extract from I. obliquus ASI 74006 mycelia showed the highest platelet aggregation inhibitory activity (81.

Changes of Enzyme Activities and Compositions of Abnormal Fruiting Bodies Grown under Artificial Environmental Conditions in Pleurotus ostreatus.

This study investigated the biochemical changes of abnormal fruiting bodies grown under artificial environmental conditions in P. ostreatus. Abnormal mushroom growth during cultivation damages the production of good quality mushroom.

Plasma CRP, apolipoprotein A-1, apolipoprotein B and Lpa levels according to thyroid function status.

Background: Altered lipid profile is a well-known manifestation of thyroid dysfunction. Recently, serum Lp(a) and C-reactive protein (CRP) have emerged as new cardiovascular risk factors, but studies on changes of these markers with respect to thyroid function status have produced variable results. To better understand the effects of thyroid dysfunction on the development of atherosclerosis, we investigated plasma CRP and lipid profiles such as apoA1, apoB, and Lp(a) in cases with differing severities of thyroid dysfunction.

Effects of smoking, alcohol, exercise, education, and family history on the metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III.

Introduction: Although several environmental factors are known to have diverse effects on the development of the metabolic syndrome, few studies have examined their relevance to Asians.

Methods: We gathered data from 4341 subjects on smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise, family history and education level by a self-administered questionnaire. The components of the metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III report were examined.

C-reactive protein concentrations are related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III report.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP), very sensitive acute phase reactant, is an important marker of coronary artery disease. However, the relationship between insulin resistance and CRP has not been thoroughly studied. We observed the association between CRP, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III report, and thus identified the role of CRP in the relation to insulin resistance.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among 40,698 Korean metropolitan subjects.

Introduction: No published study has reported the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Asians using Adults Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria, comparing results with that using the obesity criteria of the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: We evaluated the components of the metabolic syndrome among 40,698 participants aged 20-82 years (26,528 men; 14,170 women) who underwent a medical checkup at a University hospital in Seoul during 2001.

Results: Using ATP III criteria, the age-adjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome for Koreans was 6.

Isolation and characterization of a novel angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide derived from the edible mushroom Tricholoma giganteum.

The fruiting body of Tricholoma giganteum has many pharmaceutical uses and has long been utilized as a home remedy in Asia. This study describes the extraction and characterization of the first angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide from T. giganteum.