• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.235-242
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• 1998

Objectives : Alcohol-induced oxidative stress has been known to injure various tissues or organs. This stress is related with free radicals which are produced as the result of long-term alcohol consumption. Malonyldialdehyde(MDA) is produced by the interaction of free radicals and cell membrane lipids, and indicates the degree of lipid peroxidation indirectly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between red blood cell(RBC) membrane lipid peroxidation by free radicals, and associated hepatic injuries and hematologic changes. Methods : Thirty-three subjects diagnosed as alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were evaluated within 72 hours after discontinuing alcohol drinking. Clinical characteristics were evaluated by CAGE questionnaire and Korean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST). RBC membrane MDA level was measured as the marker of RBC membrane lipid peroxidation. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) were used as the biochemical markers of liver damage due to alcohol ingestion. The alcohol-induced hematologic change was assessed by mean corpuscular volume(MCV). Results : The results were as follows. Clinical characteristics were not different between two groups having normal and abnormal levels of AST, ALT, GGT or MCV. The levels of MDA were not correlated with the clinical characteristics and serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT. However, there was a significant correlation between the levels of MDA and the value of MCV(p=0.017). Conclusions : These findings suggest that oxidative stress in alcohol dependence may not be reflected in liver enzyme markers such as AST, ALT and GGT, but may be reflected in MCV.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.416-418
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• 2009

The hepatoprotective effect of Cordyceps militaris culture broth was determined using HaM/ICR strain mice. Compared to control, the intra-peritoneal injection of benzo($\alpha$)pyrene (B($\alpha$)P) remarkably increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the serum and the level of lipid peroxide (LPO) in liver tissue, which mean the liver was damaged by B($\alpha$)P. However, compared to B($\alpha$)P, oral administration of C. militaris culture broth showed decrement of AST, ALT, and LPO activities and increment GST activity and GSH level in liver tissue. These suggest that C. militaris culture broth recovered hepatic damage induced by B($\alpha$)P.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.197-200
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• 2006

We analyzed total protein (TP), albumin (AL), aspartic aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (CRE) and serum protein electrophoretic fractions in sera of rural elderly patients to evaluate the health status in rural elderly patients. We observed that the frequencies of patients showed lower level of total protein, albumin, and both total protein and albumin than them of reference range were 20.3%, 22.8% and 19.0%, respectively. The rates of patients showed higher level of AST, ALT, both of AST and ALT, UN, creatinine and both of UN and creatinine than them of reference range were 33.8%, 40.0%, 30.0%, 17.7%, 15.2% and 7.9%, respectively. Comparison of protein fractions of each patient to reference range showed that 77.2% of patients showed normal in all of patterns. Few of patients showed abnormal pattern in albumin (13.6%), ${\alpha}1-globulin (0.0%),\;{\alpha}_2-g10bulin(1.1%),\;{\beta}-globulin(1.9%)\;and\;{\gamma}-globulin(6.2%)$. These data suggest that many of rural elderly patients may suffer from heart, liver and kidney diseases. The serum protein fractions are not typical criterion to evaluate the disease, but production of proteins in rural elderly patients may be affected by liver disease and kidney disease.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 1996

To evaluate an effect of acute ethanol pretreatment on the liver injury in toluene-treated rats, toluene(50% in olive oil) was intraperitoneally given four times at 0.3ml/100g body weight at interval of one day to the ethanol-pretreated rats(0.3ml of 50%/100g body weight). The increasing rate of liver weitht per body weight(%), serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, liver lipid peroxide content was higher in toluene treated rats pretreated with ehtanol than those treated with toluene alone. Concomitantly the hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity was increased whereas glutathione content was decreased by ehtanol pretreatment before toluene administration in rats. In case of direct administration of acetaldhyde or benzaldehyde to the rats, the liver weitht per body weight(%) and serum levels of ALT activity were almost higher than the control group. There results indicate that the toluene treated rats showed the reversible injury of liver and intensified. however, by the ethanol treatment.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2009

Purpose: To investigate the physical and biochemical parameters related with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in obese children. Methods: One hundred forty-two obese or overweight children who visited the out-patient clinics of Chungnam National University Hospital between January 2006 and August 2008 were enrolled. Physical measures and biochemical tests were performed in all patients. Liver sonography was performed in 43 patients. They were divided into the following 2 groups based on ALT levels: group I, normal ALT levels (n=65); and group II, elevated ALT levels (n=77). We compared the physical measures, biochemical results, and ultrasonographic findings of the livers in both groups. Other causes of elevated serum ALT levels were ruled out. Results: The male-to-female ratios were 1.6:1 in group I and 7.6:1 in group II. Among physical parameters, the waist circumference-to-height ratio and hip circumference-to-height ratio were significantly higher in group II (p=0.001 and 0.046, respectively). Among biochemical parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase (${\gamma}$-GT), and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in group II (p<0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). The AST/ALT ratio was <1 (mean, 0.55) and statistically lower in group II. There was a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and ${\gamma}$-GT (p<0.001, r=0.750), and a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and the waist circumference-to-height ratio in group II (p<0.001, r=0.401). Conclusion: The results suggest that the waist circumference-to-height ratio and ${\gamma}$-GT may be associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase activity in obese children.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.338-346
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• 2005

Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatic glutathione, glutathione S-transferase(GST), cytochrome P450 and cytochrome P450 reductase activity were measured to investigate the effects of hepatic detoxication system and metabolic activities of carbendazim in Sprague Dawley(S.D.) male rat at dose levels of 375, 750 or 1,500 mg/kg body weight. Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activities were slightly increased in all test groups after 120 minutes of administration. Glutathione was increased about 20% at high and medium dose level within 120 minutes after administration, while activity of glutathione S-transferase was decreased $36{\sim}50%$. However, the enzyme activity was recovered from all test groups after 240 minutes of administration. Cytochrome P450 and activity of cytochrome P450 reductase were decreased $25{\sim}50%$ until 120 minutes after administration, but recovered after 240 minutes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2002

Hepatoprotective activity of methanol extract of Angelica tenuissima Nakai on the $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated. To elucidate the hepatoprotective activity and free radical scavenging effect, we examined alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, total protein, cholesterol, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) in hepatic tissue as compared with those of carbon tetrachloride-induced rats. The action mechanism also has been estimated by quantative analysis of cytochrome P450 (CYP), NADPH-CYP reductase for phase I metabolism and glutathion (GSH), glutathion S-transferase (GST) level for phase II metabolsim. Treatment of Angelica tenuissima methanol extract significantly lowered the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. In addition, the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA, CAT were decreased, and SOD was activated. This result indicates that the hepatoprotective effect of Angelica tenuissima methanol extract on the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity would be originated from reduction of the NADPH-CYP reductase, GSH and the enhancement of the activities of GST, CYP.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 1996

The antilipidperoxidative and hepatopreventive effects of Aloe water extract (30 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg) were investigated at the levels of liver-total homogenates and the sera of SDrats intoxicated with CCl4 (0.5 cc/100g) and 50% ethanol. We measured MDA (Malondialdehyde) in the liver homogenate, AST (L-Aspartate-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase) and ALT(L-Alanine-2-oxo-glutraate aminotransferase) in the serum. The analysis of the measurement indicated that Aloe water extract reduced MDA, ALT and AST significantly and their reduction was in relation to dose dependence. In rat liver homogenate intoxicated with ethanol and CCl4, Aloe treatment group markedly inhibited lipidperoxidation by 30%∼70%. In rat serum intoxicated with ethanol and CCl4, Aloe treatment group inhibited AST, ALT by 40%∼90%. In these data Aloe may be used to inhibit or prevent the hapatic toxicity with results from the environmental and alcohlic factors through the further study of its exact antihepatotoxic mechanism.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.177-182
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• 2002

It is considered that herbal medicine may also have hepatotoxicity and Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata is thought to be the most poisonous. We investigated the changes of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ${\gamma}-glutamyltranspeptidase{\;}({\gamma}-GT$)$ in 6 cases administrated herbal medicine containing Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata and tried to evaluate its influence on liver enzymes. Before administration, the mean values of AST and ALT were $30.5{\pm}12.4${\;}U/L{\;}and{\;}30.7{\pm}22.5{\;}U/L$. After administration, those of AST, ALT and ${\gamma}-GT{\;}were{\;}25.7{\pm}8.7 {\;}U/L,{\;}28{\pm}14.8{\;}U/L{\;}and{\;}34.3{\pm}19.4{\;}U/L$ respectively. Therefore, it is indirectly assured that herbal medicine containing Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata didn't influence liver enzymes such as AST, ALT, ${\gamma}-GT$.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2018

Purpose: We aimed to study the pattern of liver-injury in children with dengue fever (DF) and validate serum aminotransferase ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ as a marker of severe DF. Methods: Children admitted with DF were included. DF was defined by presence of clinical criteria and positive serological or antigen tests in absence of other etiology. DF severity was graded as dengue without or with warning signs and severe dengue. Liver-injury was defined as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) more than twice the upper limit of normal (boys, 30 IU/L; girls, 21 IU/L). Results: Of 372 children with DF, 144 (38.7%) had liver-injury. Risk of liver-injury and aminotransferase levels increased with DF severity (p<0.001). Recommended ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) cut-off at ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ had sensitivity 4.8% (5/105), specificity 99.3% (265/267) for detection of severe DF. In children with ALT and AST <1,000 IU/L (n=365), the area under receiver operating curves for prediction for severe DF, were 0.651 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.588-0.714; p<0.001) for ALT and 0.647 (95% CI, 0.582-0.712; p<0.001) for AST. Serum ALT at 376 IU/L and AST at 635 IU/L had sensitivity and specificity comparable to ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ for defining severe DF. Conclusion: Liver-injury is common in DF. The ALT and AST levels increase with DF severity. ALT and AST levels of ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ could be lowered to 376 IU/L and 635 IU/L respectively for defining severe DF.