• 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.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.801-806
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• 2005

This study was designed to examine the effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on plasma glucose and lipid levels in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabolic rats. sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups. fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. The food intake and body weight were monitored and plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) , free fatty acid (FFA) , and aminotransferase activity were analyzed. A significant lowering effects of plasma glucose levels were observed in the chloroform fraction and $H_2O$ fraction group compared to STZ-control group at 14 days. Administrations of each of the three fractions decreased plasma TG and FFA levels in diabetic rats. Activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in $CHCl_3$ fraction and $H_2O$ fraction groups and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in $H_2O$ fraction group significantly lower than STZ-control group. The results show that $CHCl_3$ fraction of Benincasa hispida could be effective to control the STZ-induced diabetic rats. (Korean J Nutrition 38(10): 801$\sim$806,2005)

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.752-755
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of ash tree leaf extract (ALE) on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Hepatoprotective effects were detected by biochemical analysis of hepatic enzymes and histopathological examination of the liver. BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: 'normal' control mice, APAP-treated control mice, and mice pretreated with ALE and treated with APAP. A single dose of APAP markedly increased levels of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Light micrographs of liver cells stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed that APAP induced severe centrilobular necrosis, degeneration, and infiltration by inflammatory cells. Moreover, APAP caused the numbers of TUNEL-positive hepatocytes to increase and caused glycogen content to decrease as observed by Periodic acid-Schiff stain. However, pretreatment with ALE for 7 days prior to the administration of APAP significantly decreased plasma levels of AST and ALT. Histological findings demonstrated that ALE pretreatment alleviated APAP-induced liver damage, and induced the regeneration of liver tissue and restoration of glycogen. These results indicate that ash tree leaf extract exerts a protective effect against APAP-hepatotoxicity induced injury.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2012

This study was undertaken to know the effect of fat diet (for eight weeks) on changes of inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$)] and blood coagulation system [platelet aggregation function (PAF), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)] in rats. Serum TNF-${\alpha}$, $PGE_2$, biochemical markers, PAF, PT, aPTT, and body weight were measured and compared between the control (normal diet-rats) and the fat group (fat diet-rats). The weights in the fat group were higher than those of the control group. TNF-${\alpha}$, $PGE_2$, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine levels were greater in the fat group compared with the control group. The degree of platelet aggregation was lower, whereas PT and aPTT levels were longer in the fat group than in the control group. These findings have shown that fat diet may cause inflammatory response, diabetes, liver and renal dysfunction, and disturbances of fibrinolysis and coagulation system.

• 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 Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 1997

The effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii Max. subfractions, which has long been used as a wild vegetable and folk medicine, on insulin activity and acute toxicity were investigated. Diabetes melitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by the injection of streptozotocin(STZ) into the tail vein at a dose of 45mg/kg. The hexane fraction of the plant was subfractioned by silica gel column chromatography and were administered orally for 14 days and the normal and STZ-control group were orally administered with tween 80. The body weight gain was monitored and plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid HDL-cholesterol were determined. The plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were analysed. The subjraction A of hexane fraction lowered plasma glucose levels significantly and increased insulin activity compared to that of STZ-control. The activities of AST and ALT were decreased by administration of subfractions A and C of hexane fraction. The intakes of the hexane fraction of Trichosanthes kirilowii Max. did not showed the acute toxicity. It is suggested from the results that the subfraction A of the hexane fraction of Trichosanthes kirilowii Max. showed a hypoglycemic effect on diabetic rats and that the subfraction may be beneficial for insulin secreation.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of vibration on primary (e.g. plasma cortisol), secondary (e.g. plasma glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $Cl^-$) and tertiary (e.g. mortality) stress responses in cultured catfish, Silurus asotus. For this purpose, three groups (one control group and two stress groups) were set up. The control group was exposed to vibration corresponding to 48 decibel (dB) volt (V) (produced using electric vibrators) for 15 minutes per hour every day, and the two stress groups were exposed to vibrations corresponding to 58 and 68 dB (V) (produced using the same electric vibrators), equally, for 15 minutes per hour every day. Blood was sampled at day 0 (before starting vibration stress tests), and at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (after starting vibration stress tests). According to the results, the catfish physiologically showed ''typical'' stress responses when they were exposed to chronic vibration. This indicates that such chronic vibration caused substantial stress to catfish; especially, persistently elevated plasma AST and ALT levels observed caused adverse effects to them. In conclusion, chronic vibration could significantly affect hematological characteristics in catfish.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2001

The expediency of promoting rabbit production on underutilized by-product feedstuffs prompted the current investigation of caecal fermentation pattern, blood biochemical profile and histopathological changes of vital organs in 48 broiler rabbits fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% level of neem seed kernal cake (NSKC) for 6 weeks and subsequently sacrificed. The NSKC incorporation in the diet did not exert any adverse effect on caecal fermentation although the weight of caecum and its contents was significantly (p<0.01; p<0.05) lower in rabbits fed the diet containing 20% NSKC. Except for blood glucose concentration, none of the blood biochemical constituents (serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, haemoglobin) and the activities of different enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, asparatate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase) varied significantly due to NSKC feeding. A histopathological examination of the vital organs (liver, kidney, heart, spleen, lungs, intestine and stomach) revealed a variable degree of villus atrophy in the intestine and degenerative changes in the liver and tubular epithelium of kidney in some rabbits when NSKC was fed at levels above 10%.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2005

The hepatoprotective effects of chalcone derivatives were evaluated in D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (D-GaIN/LPS)-induced fulminant hepatic failure in mouse. Thirteen chalcone derivatives were synthesized for study and their hepatoprotective effects were evaluated by assessing aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in serum. Chalcone preparations were injected into mice at 12 hand 1 h before intraperitoneal injection of D-GaIN/LPS. After abdominal administration, changes in AST and ALT between the control and treated groups were observed. Ten of the synthesized chalcone derivatives exhibited inhibitory effects on D-GaIN/LPS-induced levels of AST and ALT in mice. Compounds 2, 3, 8, 9, and 12 markedly reduced serum AST and ALT at 8 h, inhibited hepatocyte necrosis and showed significant hepatoprotective activities. The activity of compound 3 was compared with the bifendate (DDB) through oral administration. Compound 3 showed much higher inhibitory effects than bifendate for decreasing AST and ALT activity. The results indicate that compound 3 has strong hepatoprotective activity through suppression of tumor necrosis factor­alpha (TNF-alpha) preduction, reduction of the histological change in the liver, and attenuated of hepatocyte apoptosis confirmed by DNA fragmentation assay.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.738-745
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• 2016

Aquaculture production of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli has been continuously increased from 2000s and the fish has become the second most important mariculture fish in Korea. However, there are some environmental problems in aquaculture of Korean rockfish recently. In this regards, stress responses to high water temperature was examined via oxygen consumption, blood physiological parameter and endocrinological method. Oxygen consumption of Korean rockfish had significantly increased with rising water temperature. And oxygen consumption during the light time was no different with the dark time. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed no difference until $27^{\circ}C$, but it had rapidly increased at $30^{\circ}C$. Moreover high water temperature affected to increase in plasma glucose and cortisol levels.