• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of increased aminotransferase levels and to identify associated factors in children admitted to hospital with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods: The study included children with a diagnosis of UTI who were admitted to the Konyang University Hospital from January 2007 to May 2011. The total number of patients was 249 and the mean age was $15.88{\pm}28.21$ months. UTI was defined as a positive urine culture (> $10^5$/colony forming unit [CFU]) with pyrexia. Patients were treated by intravenous antibiotics, such as ampicillin/sulbactam, aminoglycoside, cephalosporins or vancomycin. Patients with neonatal jaundice or other liver disease were excluded. We investigated the relationship of aminotransferase levels with the type of antibiotic, degree of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and causative organisms. Results: Children with increased aminotransferase levels were younger than those with normal levels (p=0.001), but white blood cell count, platelet count, causative organisms, type of antibiotics and presence of VUR were not associated with aminotransferase levels. Aminotransferase levels became normal within 1 month after discharge without special measures, except in 1 case. Conclusion: We found that many children with UTI have abnormal aminotransferase levels. In most cases, this change is mild and self-limiting. We conclude that increased aminotransferase level increase during UTI do not require unnecessary tests and excessive treatment.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.121-136
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• 2005

Background/Aims The liver funtion tests(LFTs), such as aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine amino-transferase(ALT), r -glutamyl transferase( r -GT), have been widely used for screening tests but their low positive predictive value can cause many false positive results. To evaluate the clinical usefulness of these tests, we analyzed serial LFT results of single factory workers and compared the risk factor's in groups divided by the serial LFT results. Methods From June 2001 to October 2001, 1223 consecutive healthy workers in a single factory were enrolled and questionnaire, LFT and liver ultrasonography were performed. Previous LFT results were collected from Annual Health Examination Survey. According to the abnormalities in serial LFT, participants were classified into three groups (abnormal-in-both, alternating normal-in-both) and the risk factors were compared among these groups using multiple logistic regression Results The prevalence of LFT abnormality in a single test was 16.8% but, in serial LFT, only 5% of participants showed consistent abnormality. The risk factors for abnormal-in-both group, compared with alternating group, were liver ultrasonography abnormality such as fatty liver(odds ratio, 2.2; p=0.026) and heavy alcohol intake (more than 210g/week) (odds ratio, 7.2;P=0.064). HBsAg was not significant risk factor for any of the three groups. ConclusionIn factory workers with serial LFT abnormality, alcoholic liver disease could be the principal cause of abnormal LFT. Even if HBsAg were positive in patients with abnormal LFT, there is a possibility of another causes for LFT abnormalities such as alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic steatosis or steatohepatitis

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2010

To examine the effect of Codium fragile on blood cholesterol and lipid metabolism, hyperlipidemia was induced in experimental animal rats through the administration of a hypercholesterolemic diet. Codium fragile powder was then administered to the rats for 5 weeks, after which, blood biochemical changes such as blood cholesterol, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST: serum SGOT) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT: serum SGPT) enzyme activity, etc. were determined. And histological changes in liver cells were examined using an electron microscope. Codium fragile treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the levels of total cholesterol, blood triglyceride and low-density cholesterol (LDL. Chol) compared to the control rats. In contrast the expression levels of high-density cholesterol (HDL. chol.) were increased. The AST value of the Codium fragile administration group was significantly reduced and the blood ALT value of the Codium fragile group showed a significant decrease in comparison to the negative control group. In summary, this study demonstrated the beneficial possibilities of Codium fragile in improving the abnormality of lipid metabolism caused by liver cell damage and hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.329-339
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• 1988

The study is carried out to investigate the effect of drinking and smoking for the activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST, or GOT) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT or GPT), from December 25, 1986 to April 30, 1987. The male physical examinees for employment, 900 who had visited to the Taegu Medical Center were subjected. And the positive cases of HBs-Ag, Anti-HBs and skin test for Clonorchis sinensis were excluded. The general characters of drinking and smoking pattern were introduced by interview with questionnaire provided for. In drinking cases, the longer duration was significantly effected the higher rate of abnormality in AST and ALT level. But the amount and the frequency were not. It was not appeared effects by mackgulri which is a Korean traditional wine and small amount of beers. In smoking cases, also same pattern. The age was related in all cases. By the way, when the effect is related the positive results with other factors: HBs-Ag, Anti-HBs, skin test for Clonorchiasis and harmful occupational history, it is higher abnormal rate of AST and ALT in the duplicated cases with two factors or more. Particularly in HBs-Ag positive cases, those who had smoking was the highest in rate of abnormality, and drinking was the follows. In correlation matrix among seven factors; HBs-Ag, age, drinking amount, drinking period, drinking frequency, smoking amount and smoking period, correlation coefficient was significant between the abnormal rate and to with age, drinking period, smoking period, and smoking amount.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.61-69
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• 2018

Objective: In this study, the effects of saffron stigma against subacute diazinon (DZN) toxicity on enzymes levels, biochemical, hematological, histopathological and genotoxicity indices were studied in rats. Methods: Vitamin E (200 IU/kg) and the aqueous extract of saffron (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally three times per week alone or with DZN (20 mg/kg/day, orally) for 4 weeks. The hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated at the end of 4 weeks. Results: Reticulocytes counts, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase, CPK-MB, gama glutamyl transferase (GGT), uric acid and micronucleus indices were increased significantly but total protein and RBC cholinesterase activity were decreased in the DZN-treated group. Saffron prevented the effect of DZN on GGT (50 mg/kg), LDH, CPK and CPK-MB (100 and 200 mg/kg) levels. An increased uric acid and reduced protein levels by DZN were prevented by vitamin E and some doses of saffron. A significant reduction was observed in platelets, RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit indices in the DZN group. Saffron and vitamin E prevented this reduction. Vitamin E and saffron did not reduce the effect of DZN on RBC cholinesterase activity. The extract and vitamin E could not prevent DZN genotoxicity in the micronucleus assay. Other biochemical parameters and pathological evaluation did not show any abnormality in tissues of all groups. Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin E and saffron reduce DZN induced hematological and biochemical toxicity. However, they do not prevent the genotoxicity induced by DZN.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.47-66
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bone healing effect of Dohongsamul-tang (Taohongsiwu-tang; DH) on femur fractured mice. Methods Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (naive, control, positive control and DH). All groups except naive group were subjected to bone fracture on both hind limb femurs. Naive group received no treatment at all. Control group was fed with normal saline, and positive control group was orally medicated with tramadol. DH-treated group was orally medicated with DH. We analysed the levels of BMP2, COX2, Col2a1, Sox9, Runx2, and Osterix genes on 3, 7 and 14 days after fracture. Alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured for safety assessment. Results In morphological, histological analysis, callus formation process of DH-treated group was faster than the control group. BMP2, Sox9 gene expression were significantly increased at 7 days after fracture compared to the control group. COX2, Col2a1 gene expression were significantly increased at 14 days after fracture compared to the control group. Total cholesterol was significantly increased by DH at 3 days. Triglyceride was significantly decreased by DH at 3, 7 days after fracture compared to the control group. Conclusions Dohongsamul-tang promoted bone healing process after fracture by stimulating the bone regeneration factors. And DH shows no hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and serum lipid abnormality. In conclusion, it seems that DH helps to promote fracture regeneration after bone fracture by regulating gene expressions related to bone repair.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2003

TO evaluate an effect of cyclohexane treatment on the degree of liver damage, rats were induced liver damage with 10 or 17 times $CCl_4$ injection (0.1 m1/100 g body wt., 50% $CCl_4$ dis-solved in olive oil) at intervals of every other day. Cyclohexane (1.56 g/kg body wt., i.p.) was administrated to the animals at 48 hours after the last pretreatment of $CCl_4$ . Rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after injection of cyclohexane. On the basis of histopathological findings, liver weight/body weight (LW/ BW, %), activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), xanthine oxidase (XO) and akaline phosphatase (ALP), and contents of liver protein and manlondialdehyde (MDA), $CCl_4$ -pretreatment induced liver damage. And $CCl_4$ 17 times treated group showed more severe liver damage than $CCl_4$ 10 times treated group. Administration of one dose of cyclohexane to $CCl_4$ 10 times treated animals resulted in the enhanced liver damage; liver necrosis with proliferation of fibroblast and bile duct abnormality, and increase in hepatic MDA content and the activities of serum ALP and ALT, But the enhanced liver damage was not found in $CCl_4$ 17 times treated animals. Serum cyclohexanone concentrations at 4 or 8 hours after injection of cyclohexane were higher in all liver damaged groups than normal group and were somewhat higher In $CCl_4$ 17 times treated animals than $CCl_4$ 10 times treated ones. Among the oxygen free radical metabolizing enzymes, hepatic cytochrome P45O dependent aniline hydroxylase (CYPdAH) activity in cyclohexane metabolizing enzyme system was meaningfully increased by the injection of cyclohexane to the liver damaged rats, with increased Vmax and high affinity to aniline. LW/BW (%) and activities of serum XO and ALT were more significantly increased in liver damaged groups than normal group by administration of cyclohexanone. In conclusion, it is assumed that an enhancement of liver damage by injection of one dose of cyclohexane to liver damaged animals might be caused by oxygen free radicals and cyclohexanone.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.341-349
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify independent predictors of mortality and functional recovery in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) and to improve functional outcome in these patients. Methods : Data were collected retrospectively on 585 patients with supratentorial PICH admitted to the Stroke Unit at our hospital between 1st January 2004 and the 31st July 2008. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, the associations between all selected variables and 30-day mortality and 90-day functional recoveries after PICH was evaluated. Results : Ninety-day functional recovery was achieved in 29.1% of the 585 patients and 30-day mortality in 15.9%. Age (OR=7.384, p=0.000), limb weakness (OR=6.927, p=0.000), and hematoma volume (OR=5.293, p=0.000) were found to be powerful predictors of 90-day functional recovery. Furthermore, initial consciousness (OR=3.013, p=0.014) hematoma location (lobar, OR=2.653, p=0.003), ventricular extension of blood (OR=2.077, p=0.013), leukocytosis (OR=2.048, p=0.008), alcohol intake (drinker, OR=1.927, p=0.023), and increased serum aminotransferase (OR=1.892, p=0.035) were found to be independent predictors of 90-day functional recovery after PICH. On the other hand, a pupillary abnormality (OR=4.532, p=0.000) and initial unconsciousness (OR=3.362, p=0.000) were found to be independent predictors of 30-day mortality after PICH. Conclusion : The predictors of mortality and functional recovery after PICH identified during this analysis may assist during clinical decision-making, when advising patients or family members about the prognosis of PICH and when planning intervention trials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of antler velvet (EAV) on common serum chemistry panels and histopathological change in rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Administration of TCDD ($50{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) induced significant decrease in platelet count (p<0.01), creatine phosphokinase (CPK, p<0.01), lactatate dehydrogenase (LDH, p<0.05) and glucose (p<0.05) levels and increase in hemoglobin (p<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p<0.01), alanine amino transferase (ALT, p<0.05) and lipase activities (p<0.05), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN, p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.01) and low density lipoptotein cholesterol (LDL-C, p<0.05) levels. However, pretreatment of EAV at daily dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. from 1 wk before TCDD exposure for 5 wks attenuated the abnormality of the overall serum chemistry panels but statistical difference between TE and TA groups was observed only in testicular weight (p<0.01), LDH activity (p<0.05), glucose (p<0.05) and lipase activity (p<0.01). In addition, TCDD induced significant histopathological changes including swelling, fatty metamorphosis, and vacuolar degeneration in liver; edema in proximal and distal convoluted tubules, and glomerulus in kidney; severe atrophy of red purple and appearance of significant number of macrophage in spleen; prominent atrophy and decrease in immune cells in thymus. On the other hand, administration of EAV attenuated histopathological damage induced by TCDD. These results further suggest that administration of EAV attenuates TCDD induced testicular, liver, pancreatic, hematopoietic and nephrotic toxicities in rats.