• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.225-230
• /
• 2010

This study was proposed to investigate the effects of water extract of aged black garlic on ethanol induced hangovers in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $180{\pm}10\;g$ were divided into the following three groups; control, 130 mg/kg, and 260 mg/kg of aged black garlic extract. Aged black garlic was administered orally 30 min before and 30 min after ingestion of 40% ethanol (5 g/kg, B.W.). The rats were killed 24 hr after ethanol treatment, and blood was taken from the caudal artery at 1, 3, and 5 hr to test for ethanol or acetaldehyde in the serum. Groups that were administered aged black garlic extract pre- and post-alcohol consumption showed a significant decrease in ethanol levels in the blood at 1, 3, and 5 hr. The acetaldehyde concentrations decreased in both 130 mg/kg and 260 mg/kg groups that were administered aged black garlic extract pre- and post-alcohol consumption. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase seemed to be unaffected, although the aged black garlic showed slightly higher activities of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in pre- or post-alcohol consumption. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity in the serum, elevated by ethanol, was decreased by administering a high dosage of aged black garlic extract, but resulted in no significant change in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. These results concluded that aged black garlic extract can reduce hangover syndrome through the elevation of ALDH.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.291-297
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the hepatic detoxification effect of microcluster-water (McW). Animal experiments were divided into 4 groups: distilled water intake group (DC), distilled water intake-bromobenzene treated group (DB), McW intake group (MC), and McW intake-bromobenzene treated group (MB). There were no significant differences in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities between DC and MC groups, but the activities in MB group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those in DB group. No apparent changes of aniline hydrolase activity were shown in all experimental groups, while glutathione S-transferase activity in MC and MB groups was higher than that in DC and DB, respectively. The content of hepatic lipid peroxide in DC group was similar to that of MC group. In addition, the contents in DB and MB groups were significantly (p<0.05) increased than that of DC group. The increasing rate in MB group was lower than that of DB group. Also, the electron donating activity of McW was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of distilled water. From these results, it could be suggested that McW has the possibility of having detoxification effect of bromobenzene induced hepatic injury by increasing glutathione S-transferase, which is known as a kind of hepatiic detoxification enzyme.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.10
• /
• pp.1458-1467
• /
• 2010

The present study was retrospectively designed to define whether preoperative levels of leukocytes and D-dimer are potentially useful factors in predicting perioperative outcomes of coronary heart disease (CHD). There was no relationship between preoperative leukocyte counts (Pre-OP leukocyte) and preoperative D-dimer levels (Pre-OP D-dimer). Pre-OP leukocyte counts each had positive correlation with cardiac troponin-I, creatine kinase-MB or C-reactive protein (cardiac markers) levels at preoperative and postoperative periods. Pre-OP D-dimer levels were positively associated with each cardiac marker at the same periods. Pre-OP leukocyte counts positively related with aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (liver markers), whereas Pre-OP D-dimer level positively or negatively correlated with bilirubin (liver marker), creatinine (renal marker) or glucose levels at preoperative and/or postoperative periods. Pre-OP leukocyte and Pre-OP D-dimer were inversely associated with Pre-OP high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels or left ventricular ejection fraction. Pre-OP leukocyte counts each had positive correlation operation duration and postoperative mechanical ventilation-time (PMVT), whereas Pre-OP D-dimer levels had positive relationship with PMVT, intensive care unit-staying period and hospitalization. The retrospective data suggest that Pre-OP leukocyte and Pre-OP D-dimer levels may be clinically useful factors for predicting perioperative outcomes in patients with CHD.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2014

Purpose: Since most terminally ill cancer patients die of multiple organ failure, plasma endotoxin concentration levels may be used to predict the life expectancy. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of endotoxin level in plasma as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with terminal cancer. Methods: This study was conducted with 56 terminally ill cancer patients, above 20 years old, from April 2009 through October 2009. Demographic characteristics, Karnofsky performance status, and survival time were evaluated. We analyzed blood levels of white blood cell hemoglobin, hematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, c-reactive protein, total bilirubin and endotoxin in each patient. Results: We considered following variable for univariate analysis: plasma endotoxin level, sex, age, WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, CRP and severity of pain. Univariate analysis did not show a significant association between plasma endotoxin level and survival time. However, in a multivariate analysis with factors that were found to be significantly associated with survival sex, WBC count and total bilirubin level in univariate analysis, high levels of plasma endotoxin and short survival time were significantly related. Conclusion: Plasma endotoxin level could be used as a prognostic factor to predict the life expectancy of terminally ill cancer patients.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.179-189
• /
• 2011

Objectives : Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix(fuzi, 附子) and its class herbs(chaunwu, caowu etc.) are necessary for some clinical conditions, such as cold pain, chilling etc,. But, they has some poison component. And, they have been known to cause liver and kidney injury, and dangerous in the patients who has abnormal range of LFT and RFT. This study shows the consequences for aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), blood urea nitrate(BUN), and Creatinine were analyzed using samples from patients who took the decoction containing fuzi. Methods : Blood samples for Experiment Group(E) were collected from 63 patients, who took the decoction containing fuzi, admitted into the 6th internal medicine department of Dong Eui Oriental Medical Hospital between from January 2007 to March 2011. In compared to those of experiment group, blood samples as Control Group(C) were collected from 64 patients, who took the decoction not containing fuzi, admitted into the same hospital from January 2009 to April 2011. Results and Conclusions : 1. AST No changed : E 4.17%, C 2.63%, Increased : E 12.5%, C 28.95%, Decreased : E 80.33%, C 68.42% 2. ALT No changed : E2.94%, C5.13%, Increased : E 8.82%, C 20.51%, Decreased : E 88.24%, C 74.36% 3. BUN No changed : E 0%, CG 7.14%, Increased : E 32.25%, CG 14.29% Decreased : EG 67.65%, CG 78.57% 4. Creatinine No changed : EG 5.00%, CG 0%, Increased : EG 35.00%, CG 54.55% Decreased : EG 60.00%, CG 45.45% 5. The results suggest that the decoction containing fuzi isn't harmful AST, ALT, BUN, Cr of the patients who has high range of them.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2000

Objectives : It is the objective of this study to compare hepatotoxicity of nickel chloride and cadmium chloride with each other through IPRL(Isolated Perfused Rat Liver) method. Methods : Biochemical indicator of hepatic function such as AST(aspartate aminotransferase), ALT(alanine aminotransferase), LDH(lactate dehydrogenase) and perfusion flow rate were used as the indicator of hepatotoxicity. Oxygen consumption rate were used as vability indicator. $300({\pm}50)g$ - weighted rats were allocated randomly to each group($0{\mu}M,\;50{\mu}M,\;200{\mu}M\;NiCl_2\;and\;CdCl_2$ exposure) by 5, totally 25. After Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate butler solution flowed into the penal vein and passed the liver cell, it flowed out of vena cava. Liver was administered with each $NiCl_2\;and\;CdCl_2$ of each concentration and observed with buffer solution sampling time. Butler which got out of liver was sampled and then biochemical indicator of hepatotoxicity was measured. Results : AST, ALT, and LDH in buffer increased with sampling time much more in $CdCl_2$ exposure group than $NiCl_2$ exposure group in both 50 and $200{\mu}M$ and statistical significance w3s verified with 2-way repeated ANOVA. Viability was decreased more and more in all substances during passed time. Conclusions : It is inferred that $CdCl_2$ has stronger hepatotoxicity than $NiCl_2$. IPRL method would be used widely for acute hepatotoxicity when considerating the benefit of it.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.136-143
• /
• 2002

Jaboyangyeong-hwan (IAE) has been known as a traditional medicine for the treatment of debility, fatigue, and liver diseases. The hepatoprotective effect of the water extract of Jaboyangyeong-hwan was investigated against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatic damage. A single intraperitoneal injection of $CCl_4$produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant rise of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum as compared to those of untreated normal group. Pretreatments of rats with the JAE extract (300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg for 7 days) were significantly reduced AST, ALT, and ALP levels compared with $CCl_4$-treated control group. Treatment of rats with $CCl_4$led to significantly increase in lipid peroxidation and significantly decrease in cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase. The oral administration of the JAE extract significantly inhibited the accumulation of microsomal thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and increased the cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase activity. All these biochemical alterations resulting from $CCl_4$administration were inhibited by the pretreatment with JAE extract. These results suggest that JAE water extract can be useful as a hepatoprotective agent.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.767-772
• /
• 2006

This study was to investigate the effect of betaine on the hypoglycemia and hepatoprotection of streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing around 280 g were randomly assigned to the three experimental groups: a healthy normal group and two groups with STZ-induced diabetes and fed either control diet or betaine diet. Betaine given to the STZ-diabetic rats had significant effect in lowering the serum glucose concentrations compared to the STZ-diabetic rats. The alanine aminotransferase (AST) and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) activities and triglyceride contents in serum were dramatically higher in the STZ-diabetic rats, but these increases in relation to diabetes also decreased in the STZ-diabetic rats fed betaine. However, the total-cholesterol concentration in the STZ-diabetic rats was even increased by betaine. The morphology of the pancreatic islets in the normal rats showed a typical round form, but most of the islets in the STZ-diabetic rats showed severe morphological alterations by being markedly destroyed. However, the islet morphology of STZ-diabetic rats given betaine mostly maintained a normal rounded appearance. The present study strongly suggests that the administration of betaine showed a moderate hypoglycemic effect by protecting the pancreatic beta-cells by morphological examination from STZ-induced destruction.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.374-381
• /
• 2017

The LAP (lipid accumulation product) index is an indicator of excessive fat accumulation in combination with the fasting triglyceride concentration and waist circumference. This study examined the relationship between the LAP index and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) level and the effect of the LAP index on the ALT level. Cross-sectional studies were conducted on healthy adult males without a history of liver disease. From January 2015 to June 2017, 13,854 adults between 20 and 70 years of age, who underwent health screening at a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do, were enrolled in this study. The LAP index was calculated as [waist circumference (cm)-65]${\times}$[triglyceride (mmol/L)] for males. Serum ALT abnormalities were set at 40 IU/L or more in males. All subjects underwent measurements of the anthropometric indicators and physiological examinations. A significant increase in ALT with increasing LAP quintiles was observed (p<0.001). The LAP index correlated with ALT (r=0.238, p<0.001). Insulin (r=0.449, p<0.001) and HDL-cholesterol (r=-0.369, p<0.001) were strongly correlated with LAP. In addition, the LAP index is a factor affecting the ALT level (p<0.001). As the LAP index increased, the risk of an elevated ALT was higher (p<0.001). In conclusion, the LAP index was a predictor of an ALT elevation in Korean men.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.325-329
• /
• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of porphyran on enzyme activity in rats and immunity in mice. Animals were divided into 5 groups, and were given porphyran diet for 4 weeks. Porphyran was extracted from Porphyra yezoensis: Diet groups were normal diet, control diet fed high fat, cholesterol and sodium cholate, control and 1% porphyran diet (1% PD), control and 5% porphyran diet (5% PD), control and 10% of porphyran diet (10% PD). Also Balb/c female mouse were injected i.p. with porphyran extract every other day for 20 days at levels of 1%, 2% and 5%. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were lower in the porphyran diet group than those in control group. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in liver homogenates were reduced in porphyran diet group compared to those of control group. Also, the level of liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) was lower in porphyran group than that of control group. Porphyran increased IL-1 production in a dose-dependent manner, however, interleukine-2 production was reduced as the amount of porphyran increases. These results showed that supplementation of porphyran lowered antioxidant enzyme activities and has possibility of modulating immunological function.