• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.666-675
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• 2023

Purpose This study aimed to determine whether the attenuation coefficient (AC) from attenuation imaging (ATI) was correlated with visual US assessment in patients with hepatic steatosis. Moreover, it aimed to assess whether the patient's blood chemistry results and CT attenuation were correlated with AC. Materials and Methods Patients who underwent abdominal US with ATI between April 2018 and December 2018 were included in this study. Patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis were excluded. The correlation between AC and other parameters, such as visual US assessment, blood chemistry results, liver attenuation, and liver-to-spleen (L/S) ratio, were analyzed. AC values according to visual US assessment grades were compared using analysis of variance. Results A total of 161 patients were included in this study. The correlation coefficient between US assessment and AC was 0.814 (p < 0.001). The mean AC values for the normal, mild, moderate, and severe grades were 0.56, 0.66, 0.74, and 0.85, respectively (p < 0.001). Alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly correlated with AC (r = 0.317, p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients between liver attenuation and AC and between L/S ratio and AC were -0.702 and -0.626, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion Visual US assessment and AC showed a strong positive correlation with the discriminative value between the groups. Computed tomography attenuation and AC showed a strong negative correlation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.659-670
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• 2017

Oxidative stress and inflammation are key factors responsible for progression of liver injury. A variety of functions of oyster hydrolysate (OH) are affected by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known regarding the effects of OH on a liver injury model. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of OH on acute liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine (LPS/D-GalN) in mice. Experimental groups were divided into six groups as follows (each group, n=10): control (saline), LPS/D-GalN, LPS/D-GalN+OH (100 mg/kg), LPS/D-GalN+OH (200 mg/kg), LPS/D-GalN+OH (400 mg/kg), and LPS/D-GalN+silymarin (25 mg/kg, positive control). The experimental acute liver injury model was induced with LPS ($1{\mu}g/kg$) and D-GalN (400 mg/kg). We first analyzed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in OH. OH showed high DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reduced ROS generation in Chang cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, OH showed anti-inflammatory activities, such as inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipooxygenase. Treatment with OH down-regulated tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and $IL-1{\alpha}$ expression levels in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OH significantly reduced LPS/D-GalN-induced increases in the concentrations of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase in serum. In the LPS/D-GalN group, liver tissues exhibited apoptosis of hepatocytes with hemorrhages. These pathological alterations were ameliorated by OH treatment. Consistently, hepatic catalase activity was low in the LPS/D-GalN group compared to the control group, and catalase activity was significantly restored by OH treatment (P<0.05). Furthermore, OH markedly reduced the LPS/D-GalN-induced increase in $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 levels in liver tissue. Taken together, these results show that OH has hepatoprotective effects on LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver injury via inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting that OH could be used as a health functional food and potential therapeutic agent for acute liver injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.657-663
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• 2015

Ionizing radiation induces cell damage through formation of reactive oxygen species. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of post-treatment with hesperetin against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced cellular damage and oxidative stress in BALB/c mice. Healthy female BALB/c mice were exposed to ${\gamma}$-irradiation and administered hesperetin (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, b.w., orally) for 7 days after 6 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation. Exposure to ${\gamma}$-irradiation resulted in hematopoietic system damage manifested as decreases in spleen indexes and WBC count. In addition, hepatocellular damage characterized by increased levels of aspartate aminoransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in plasma. However, post-irradiation treatment with hesperetin provided significant protection against hematopoietic system damage and decreased AST and ALT levels in plasma. The results indicate that ${\gamma}$-irradiation induced increases in lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase (XO) as well as decreases in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and glutathione (GSH) in the liver. These effects were also attenuated by post-treatment with hesperetin, which decreased lipid peroxidation and XO as well as increased antioxidant enzymes and GSH. These results show that post-treatment with hesperetin offers protection against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced tissue damage and oxidative stress and can be developed as an effective radioprotector during radiotherapy.

• 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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2006

Study objectives: To determine the factors associated with mortality after an in-hospital diagnosis of tuberculosis in a region with low levels of HIV coinfection. Methods: From January 2003 to December 2004, all subjects who were > 15 years of age and had received a diagnosis of tuberculosis were registered. The clinical, radiological and laboratory aspects of the patients who died (n=27) were compared with those of an age and gender matched control population(n=54). Logistic regression analyses were carried out, which included age, gender, hospital admission source, initial site of admission, dyspnea, general weakness and initial laboratory data. Results: The mean age of the patients was $60{\pm}16$ years and male patients outnumbered female patients. Univariate analysis identified hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), C-reactive protein and the risk factors for tuberculosis to be significantly associated with mortality. Among the characteristics of disease presentation and treatment, emergency department admission, intensive care unit, disease severity, general weakness and dyspnea at the time of admission were associated with mortality. Multiple regression analysis revealed the initial management in the intensive care unit and lower serum albumin to be independently associated with mortality. Conclusion: The markers of disease chronicity and severity appear to be associated with in-hospital mortality. Identifying potentially reversible factors such as malnutrition and respiratory failure suggests specific intervention that might lead to an improvement in the patients' outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.603-607
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• 2003

To investigate the alcohol metabolizing system in liver of rats drunken 10% ethanol with Monascus pigment extract (MPE), Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing about 250 g have been drunken 10% ethanol containing 1, 2.5 and 5% Monascus pigment extract for a month. Three groups of rats drunken 10% ethanol with MPE gained somewhat less body weight than normal group, but the changes of body weight was not significantly different among the former groups. All groups drunken MPE supplemented alcohol had no remarkable changes in liver function on the basis of liver weight/body weight, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and xanthine oxidase activity. 10% alcohol drunken animals (control group) showed significantly increased activity of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) by 87% compared with normal group and the animals drunken 1%, 2.5% and 5% MPE showed respectively 34%, 29% and 21% increased activity of hepatic ADH, whileas Km value of ADH in 1, 2.5 and 5% MPE group decreased by 40%, 30% and 19% respectively compared with the control, but Vmax showed no significant changes among MPE groups. In case of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), 1% MPE group showed significantly increased activity by 32% and 2.5% or 5% MPE group showed increasing tendency compared with control, and Km value in three experimental groups declined by 27% and no particular changes were found among those. Furthermore, Vmax value in 1, 2.5 and 5% MEP group increased by 88,56 and 22% respectively with the control. In the aspect of the area under the curve of a ethanol concentration versus time (AUC) profile obtained after administration of 10% alcohol with 1 or 5% MPE, the decreasing rate of AUC to the control was 18% in 1% MPE treated rats whereas 10% in 5% MPE group.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 1997

Purpose : Recently a shift in hepatitis A incidence from children to adults has been well noted. We experienced under 15-years old 31 patients who presented hepatitis A infection. In order to prepare for the prevention on hepatitis A outbreak in the future, we studied the clinical and epidemiologic manifestations of these patients. Methods : We enrolled patients from July to December in 1996 (6 months) and evaluated the monthly incidence, geographical distribution, age and sex, and clinical manfestations, including laboratory fadings. Results : Many cases of hepatitis A occured in the summer months, especially August (16/31 cases). Most of patients (87%) were living in the Seo-Ku area (northwest district of the city). In age distribution, there were no cases under 3 years of age, 3 cases from 4~5 years, 13 cases from 6~10 years, 15 cases from 11~15 years. Clinical profiles showed that dark urine, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue were the common presenting symptoms. The initial presenting laboratory tests included total bilirubin 3.3mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase of 856units/L, and serum asparate aminotransferase and alanine aminolransferase levels of 910IU/L and 1239IU/L, respectively. No patient presented atypical clinical courses or complications. Conclusions : Hepatitis A in children shows benign clinical features. This study showed that the possibility of another outbreak of Hepatitis A in the TaeJon area or elsewhere in the near future Korea will be possible. To prevent an outbreak we will be concerned about the anti-HAV IgG prevalance rate in children and preventive modalities including vaccination against hepatitis A.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.696-702
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the antihyperglycemic effect of green tea extracts (GTE) in diabetic rats. Experimental animals used were alloxan-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats; as a model of type 1 diabetes mellitus and Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, and as a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Animals were randomly assigned either to continue the ad libitum diet or begin a green tea extracts (GTE) contained diet. GTE extracted from green tea was supplemented in the diet (2%). Body weight, food intake, and blood glucose concentration were recorded for 4 weeks. Animals were killed and glucose, triglyceride, and asparate aminotransferase (AST) were analysed in blood. Food intake was not affected by GTE in both alloxan.induced diabetic and OLETF rats but body weight was slightly decreased by GTE in OLETF rats. The blood glucose concentration was markedly decreased by GTE supplementation in both alloxan-induced diabetic and OLETF rats; however, triglyceride and AST levels in serum of GTE treated animals were not changed. This study shows that GTE beneficially modulate blood glucose concentration in diabetic animals. Dietary supplementation with GTE could potentially contribute to nutritional strategies for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine arterial stiffness levels as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and to identify the association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers, in healthy adults over 50 years old. Methods: The study population consisted of 4617 persons over the age of 50 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Dong-gu Study, which was conducted in 2007 and 2008. Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV. A multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between conventional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers, including white blood cell (WBC) counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Results: After adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors including sex, age, smoking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, hypertension or diabetic medication, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and alanine aminotransferase, baPWV was significantly associated with WBC counts (${\beta}$=0.158, p<0.0001), hs-CRP (${\beta}$=0.244, p=0.026), and GGT (${\beta}$=0.003, p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that arterial stiffness correlates with inflammatory markers. Arterial stiffness may be used as a composite risk factor to identify persons with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, arterial stiffness may be a marker for future cardiovascular disease and a target for prevention.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.133-142
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether enzyme-hydrolyzed poultry by-product meal (EHPBM) is more effective as a protein source than poultry by-product meal (PBM) and soybean meal (SBM) for broiler chickens. A group of 300 one-day-old broiler chicks was randomly allocated to three treatments with five replicates (20 birds/replicate) for five weeks. The treatments consisted of basal diets containing 1) SBM, 2) PBM, and 3) EHPBM. The EHPBM-fed group (1,853 g±125.60) showed the highest final body weight (P<0.05) when compared to the PBM-fed group (1,723 g±76.81) and SBM-fed group (1,545 g±62.31). The feed conversion ratio of the EHPBM treatment group (1.740±0.104) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the SBM (1.653±0.056) and PBM groups (1.674±0.072). It can be speculated that the increased feed intake in the EHPBM group led to higher body weight gain and FCR. There was no significant effect of treatments on internal organ weight except for the bursa of Fabricius. Blood biochemical characteristic analysis showed that aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels were higher in the EHPBM and PBM groups (P<0.05), probably due to the strained liver caused by the rapid growth of birds. In conclusion, EHPBM may partly replace conventional dietary protein sources such as soybean meal or poultry by-product meal and can be used to improve the productivity of broilers.