• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.539-546
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• 2019

Liver biopsy is invasive and it is a risk of complications. Nevertheless, liver biopsy is gold standard for predicting liver fibrosis. To compensate for these shortcomings, in this study, the liver fibrosis stage was divided using Fibroscan(R) in 200 chronic hepatitis C patients. And, the usefulness and cut-off values of fibrosis index based on four factors(FIB-4), AST to platelet ratio index(APRI) and AST/ALT ratio(AAR) calculated as serum tests were investigated by analyzing ROC curve. As a result, using FIB-4 and APRI rather than AAR is appropriate for evaluation of liver fibrosis. And using APRI to predict significant Fibrosis(F2) and FIB-4 is considered useful for predicting cirrhosis(F4). By applying the advantages of the serum based liver fibrosis marker, which are convenient and repeatable, liver fibrosis follow-up term can be reduced, and furthermore, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) can be reduced.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.435-440
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• 2012

This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Rhubarb extracts ($Rubenal^{(R)}$) in dogs with chronic renal failure (CRF). Client-owned 40 dogs with CRF graded International renal interest Society (IRIS) II-III were enrolled in this study. The dogs were equally allocated and blindly administered with $Rubenal^{(R)}$ or placebo. The following items were evaluated at day 0, 30, 90 and 180: body condition score (BCS), clinical score (appetite, polydipsia/polyuria, quality of life score), hemogram (WBC, RBC, PCV), serum biochemistry (ALT/AST, ALP, Creatinine/BUN, total protein, albumin), serum electrolyte (Na, K, Cl, Ca, P), systolic blood pressure, urinalysis (UPC, USG) and IRIS stage. In this study, we found that the $Rubenal^{(R)}$ preparation was well tolerated by dogs and induced no adverse effects. Statistically significant improvements were observed in clinical score (quality of life score by vet and clients), serum BUN and creatinine levels, serum phosphorus concentration, level of proteinuria, and the IRIS score of CRF in dogs after 6 month of treatment of $Rubenal^{(R)}$. Those findings suggested that the Rhubarb extracts can improve the clinical signs of CRF (i.e. azotemia, hypertension, proteinuria, hyperphosphoremia) and the quality of life (i.e. BCS, clinical score) and can retard the progression of CRF in dogs. Therefore the Rhubarb extracts can be a good supplementary drug for treating dogs with subclinical and clinical renal diseases. However, care should be taken for interpreting our result, because this study is not double-blinded controlled study but pilot study.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.134-151
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• 2024

Salmonella spp. is among the most important water-borne and food-borne pathogens and is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis and diarrheal diseases globally. In this study, Salmonella spp. isolated from food, environmental samples, and patients with food poisoning or diarrhea were investigated Salmonella serovars, antibiotic resistance using Vitek2, and genetic characteristics through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Salmonella spp. of 339 strains, including 26 strains from food or environmental samples and 313 strains from patients, were isolated from Jeju Island of South Korea between 2020 and 2023. The monthly number of isolated Salmonella spp. gradually increased from March, with the highest number being in August. No significant differences in Salmonella spp. isolated from patients according to gender was observed. However, Salmonella spp. was most frequently isolated from people aged 70 years or older and least frequently isolated from those between ages 10 and 19 years. Salmonella spp. isolated from food or environmental samples were distributed among eight different serovars and the main serovars were identified in the order of S. Bareilly (26.9%), S. Rissen (23.1%), and S. Thompson (19.3%). Salmonella spp. isolated from patients were distributed among 27 different serovars and the main serovars were identified in the order of S. Bareilly (31.0%), S. Typhimurium (24.6%), and S. Enteritidis (11.5%). The main cause serovars of Salmonella spp. outbreaks are S. Bareilly, S. Enteritidis, S. Thompson. Antibiotic resistance tests indicated resistance to various antibiotics and some Salmonella spp. exhibited multidrug resistance. Salmonella spp. showed various genetic correlations among the 17 serovars. These results indicate that they can be used as basic data for epidemiological investigations by predicting the appearance of Salmonella spp. and providing a scientific basis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1057-1065
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• 2023

Non-invasive liver fibrosis diagnosis is crucial for patients with chronic liver diseases. Many patients cannot undergo liver tissue biopsy, so predicting the degree of liver fibrosis early through meaningful methods can reduce complications related to chronic liver diseases, such as liver cell carcinoma and cirrhosis. This study compared and analyzed the quantitative measurement of liver fibrosis using shear wave elastography in conjunction with liver ultrasound findings and their associations with serum biomarkers (p<0.05). The results showed that the shear wave elastography measurement in the normal group was 4.55 ± 0.69 kPa, while the abnormal contrast group with echogenic patterns had a measurement of 8.27 ± 1.83 kPa. The hepatitis B carrier group exhibited higher shear wave elastography measurements, and among serum biomarkers, AST, ALT, GGT, and PT showed statistically significant positive correlations with fibrosis severity according to SWE categories (p<0.05), while ALP and TB did not demonstrate statistically significant differences (p=0.163, p=0.567). Conversely, Albumin and PLT showed significant negative correlations (p<0.05). Clinically, utilizing shear wave elastography measurements through liver ultrasound in the tracking and repeat testing of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients without cirrhosis can assist in achieving more objective diagnoses among healthcare providers.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1989

Serodiagnosis of parasitic infections is widely used, since parasites or their eggs are not always detected by ordinary methods. The sensitive tests such as ELISA are highly dependent on the purity of antigens used. To solve this problem. many workers have tried to find species-specific components of antigens, The present study was performed to determine the antigenic profile of crude saline extracts of 3, 5, 8 and 12-week old p. westermani worms, which were collected from experimentally infected cats, based on SDS-PAGE and immunoblot technique. The results were as follows: 1. The SDS-PAGE showed at least 30 Protein bands ranging from 229 kDa to 10 kDa molecular weight. The protein components of p. wsstermani changed chronologically during its developmental period. The 229 kDa band was recognized only in 12-week old worms ($$SEP_{l2}$). 2. Analysis by ELISA showed a significant increase in antibody levels at 3 weeks in infected cats using crude saline extract antigens ($SEP_3,{\;}SEP_5,{\;}SEP_8,{\;}SEP_{l2}$). 3. By EITB using $SEP_3$ and $SEP_5$ infected cats recognisea major protein bands with molecular weight of 60, 35, 28, 25 or 21 kDa at 3~12 weeks of infection, and 3 additional antigens, 19, 13 and 10 kDa, were detected at 8~12 weeks of infections. 4. Using $SEP_8$ 5 antigens, 91, 85, 31, 25 and 21 kDa, were consistently detected by all infected sera tested. In addition, 3 antigens of lg. 13 and 10 kDa were detected at 8~12 weeks of infection. Using $SEP_12$, similar results were obtained with that by using $SEP_8$ and 1 additional antigen of 229 kDa, specifically reacting with the sera from 12 weeks of in(traction, was recognized.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2006

Purpose: The estimation of fluid deficit is crucial to the proper management of dehydrated children. Without well-documented serial weights on the same scale, the estimation of any given child's fluid deficit is imprecise and dependent largely on subjective clinical criteria. Despite the abundance of literature on clinical and laboratory evaluation of dehydration, few studies have focused on serum uric acid. So, we examined the usefulness of scrum uric acid in gastroenteritis patients with dehydration. Methods: Medical records of 90 gastroenteritis patients were retrospectively reviewed. By the body weight loss, we classified patients with mild, moderate, and severe dehydration groups. We studied the relevance of laboratory data (BUN, creatinine, serum bicarbonate, glucose, urine specific gravity, and uric acid) with dehydration. Results: 54 children (60%) were dehydrated mildly, 24 (26%) dehydrated and moderately, and 12 (14%) dehydrated severely. Statistically significant differences in BUN, creatinine, serum bicarbonate, glucose, and urine specific gravity could not be observed. But there was significant relationship between uric acid and the degree of dehydration. Data analysis suggested that the level of 7.0 mg/dL is the best cut-off value for predicting the development of moderate or severe dehydration. At this cut-off value, the sensitivity and specificity were 66.6% and 87.1%. Conclusion: Our study supports that the measurement of serum uric acid with traditional scale is useful for predicting the development of dehydration. But, in order 10 be used as the indicator for proper treatment at an earlier stage, further validation about serum uric acid is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2020

Purpose: Brown tumor is a tumor-like disease that can occur as a linked disease of hyperparathyroidism which can causes osteoporosis, osteitis fibrosa cystica, pathologic fractures. Brown tumor has been reported as a case report, but there is no comprehensive report on the exact diagnosis and principle of management for osseous lesion. The purpose of this study is to report the treatment and results of osseous lesions through 5 cases. Materials and Methods: From February 2004 to May 2015, five cases of Brown tumor were diagnosed in Chosun University Hospital and Chonnam National University Hospital orthopedic department. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed retrospectively. Parathyroid tumors were surgically removed, and surgical treatment and observation were performed for orthopedic osseous lesions. Results: The mean length of the long axis of the symptomatic osseous lesion was 6.2 cm (4.5-9.0 cm). An average of 7.6 (range, 3 to 14) of high uptake osseous lesion showed in whole body bone scan. The absolute value, T-score and Z-score of the vertebrae and proximal femur were adequate for diagnosis of osteoporosis using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry bone mineral density at diagnosis and recovered to normal at the last follow-up. In laboratory tests, serum concentrations of total calcium, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus, serum alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone were helpful to diagnosis and normalized upon successful removal of parathyroid adenoma or cancer. Conclusion: For accurate diagnosis of Brown tumor, it should be accompanied by systemic examination as well as clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and radiologic examination for osseous lesions. And a good prognosis can be expected if the hyperparathyroidism is treated together with the comprehensive treatment of osseous lesions.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 1994

The study was taken to analyze the laboratory findings of the 161 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis treated at Kyungpook University Hospital from January 1992 to July 1993. They were all female and mean age was 33 years ranging from 10 to 73 years. Mean radioactive iodine uptake(RAIU) of the thyroid was $30.90{\pm}21.80(mean{\pm}SD)%$ at 6 hours and $37.97{\pm}23.25%$ at 24 hours. Mean serum levels of thyroid hormones were $1.41{\pm}0.48$(ng/ml) of T3, $7.26{\pm}3.23$(ug/dl) of T4, and $1.11{\pm}0.66$(ng/dl) of free T4, while mean serum level of TSH was $17.99{\pm}30.72$(uIU/ml). Mean levels of serum autoantibodies were 24. $43{\pm}31.91$(U/ml) of antithyroglobulin antibody and $55.32{\pm}41.97$(U/ml) of antimicrosomal antibody. The correlation between RAIU and serum thyroid hormone levels was significantly negative, but the positive correlation between RAIU and serum TSH was noted. The correlation between thyroid hormones and TSH was significantly negative, but the positive correlation between RAIU and serum TSH was noted. The correlation between thyroid hormones and TSH was significantly negative, while antimicrosomal antibody titer revealed significantly positive correlation with TSH. The RAIU and free T4 showed negatively correlated with the increasing age. The Initial clinical findings of the patients with autoimmune thyroiditis revealed euthyroidism in 83.2%, hypothyroidism in 14.9%, and hyperthyroidism in 1.9%. The incidence of abnormally increased serum thyroglobulin, antithyroglobulin antibody, and antimicrosomal antibody were 21.3%, 97.5%, and 87.6%, respectively and these abnormalities were more frequent in the patients with documented clinical thyroid functional disturbances.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2010

This study was demonstrate a repeated oral dose toxicity of detoxication sulphur in 8-weeks-old female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The rats were treated with dose of 0.2%, 1%, 5% detoxication sulphur and 1% sulphur of feed consumption administered for 13 weeks. To evaluate the safety of detoxication sulfur, we examined the body weight, the feed intake, the clinical signs, the ophthalmological test, the hematological and the serum biochemical analysis. We also observed the histopathological changes of liver and kidney in rats. As a result, no significant differences in body weight, feed intake, hematological examination and histopathological between control and detoxication sulphur treatment group were found. Serum biochemical results were not shown significant differences in 0.2% and 1% the treated groups compared with control group. But glucose level were decrease, also ALT and ALP level were increase in 5% treated group. All of these results indicate that 1% detoxication sulphur of feed consumption may be safety in SD rat.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.555-559
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• 2020

In order to examine the toxicity of palatinose-L (Pal-L) bioconverted from sucrose, we performed a 14-consecutive day toxicity study with male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. We recorded clinical signs of toxicity, body weight, organ weights, hematology, blood biochemical, urinalysis, histological changes in organs, such as the liver and kidneys, and clinical chemistry analysis data for all SD rats. There were no significant changes in food/water consumption, body weight, and organ weights during the experimental period. Although there were some hematologic and urinalysis alterations, these changes were not considered toxicologically significant. In addition, histopathological examination of the liver and kidneys revealed no abnormal or toxicological changes between the control and Pal-L-treated rats of both sexes. Collectively, these results suggest that Pal-L was not indicated to have any toxicity in the SD rats when it was orally administered up to a dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day for 14 days.