• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.418-421
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of liver function test before and after treatment in patients admitted to Korean medicine hospital. We checked liver function test level (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin) of 147 patient who admitted in Korean medicine hospital from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. The subjects were selected those who took herbal medicine continuously during the admission period and who performed liver function test on admission and before discharge. And the subjects were excluded those who had a history of liver and biliary disease at the time of admission or who took hepatoprotectants. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased compared with the values of admission(p<0.05), but total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were not significantly changed(p>0.05). On admission 31 patients(21.1%) had abnormal liver function and 6 patients(4.1%) had liver injury while 19 patients(12.9%) had abnormal liver function and 6 patients(4.1%) showed liver injury before discharge. This study suggests that herbal medicine may not injure liver function.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.74-82
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Silbi-um (SBU) extract on the alcoholic fatty liver induced by EtOH administration for 8 weeks. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were used. All animals were randomly divided into 3 groups; Normal, EtOH and EtOH+SBU. The rats of EtOH group were daily treated with ethanol of 25% (v/v) for 8 weeks (n=10). EtOH+SBU group was orally treated with SBU water extract after ethanol administration (n=10). The rats of Normal group were treated with saline (n=10). After 8 weeks, the mean body weight, liver weight, and liver-body weight ratio were calculated. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of all groups were measured. The morphological alterations were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Oil Red O staining. Moreover, the alteration of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) levels were analyzed immunohistochemistrically. Results: The histological data showed that liver sections from EtOH group displayed severe steatosis. SBU extract significantly inhibited the progression of the alcoholic liver injury. The increased serum level of ALT and AST induced by ethanol administration were decreased by SBU extract. Furthermore, SBU extract significantly decreased the liver concentrations of $TNF-{\alpha}$. Conclusions: SBU water extract attenuated the alcohol induced fatty liver by improving hepatic lipid metabolism via suppression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ protein. SBU could be effective in protecting the liver from alcoholic fatty liver.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.240-250
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the advantages and usefulness of transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) in diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in children and adolescents compared to those of abdominal computed tomography and liver ultrasonography. Methods: Forty-six children and adolescent participants aged between 6 and 16 years who underwent transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) as well as liver ultrasonography or abdominal computed tomography were included. Thirty-nine participants underwent liver ultrasonography and 11 underwent computed tomography. The physical measurements, blood test results, presence of metabolic syndrome, and the degree of liver steatosis and liver fibrosis were analyzed, and their correlations with transient elastography (Fibroscan^®), abdominal computed tomography, and liver ultrasonography, as well as the correlations between examinations, were analyzed. Results: Thirty-six participants (78.3%) were boys, and the mean age was 12.29±2.57 years, with a mean body mass index of 27.88±4.28. In the 46 participants, the mean values for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were 89.87±118.69 IU/L, 138.54±141.79 IU/L, and 0.77±0.61 mg/dL, respectively. Although transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) and abdominal computed tomography grading had a statistically significant positive correlation with aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase values, the correlations between the results of grading performed by transient elastography (Fibroscan^®), abdominal computed tomography, and liver ultrasonography were not statistically. Conclusion: We confirmed that each examination was correlated with the results of some blood tests, suggesting the usefulness and possibility of diagnosis and treatment of steatohepatitis mediated by transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) in the department of pediatrics.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2017

This study investigated physiological and hematological changes, expression of stress protein Hsp70 mRNA and oxygen consumption in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) after exposing the fish at different temperature conditions (9, 12, 15, 18 and 21℃) for 24 and 48 hours. Hematological parameters including hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb), cortisol and glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), NH₃, osmolality and total protein (TP) mostly exhibited significant changes at 9 and 12℃. The expression of Hsp70 mRNA was also higher at 9 and 12℃ than at other temperatures. The measured oxygen consumptions were also lower at 9 and 12℃ than at 21℃. It is expected that the study results could be utilized as baseline data to control water temperature during long-distance transportation, e.g. for exporting olive flounder juveniles to overseas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.326-332
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• 1998

The effect of mushroom extracts from Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus edodes on carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated. Rats were administered orally each mushroom extract at the dose of 150mg/kg, foolwed by treatment with CCl4. Liver damage was produced in male Sprague-Dawley rats, after 21hrs from dosing with CCl4(0.25ml/kg) which were given intraperitoneally. Liver damage without renal injury was confirmed by measuring plasma enzyme, creatinine and blood analysis and liver analysis. Plasma aminotransferase activity, and levels of cholesterol and triglyceride were analyzed. Plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities were decreased by 34% and 61.5% in pretreatment group of Lentinus edodes compared with CCl4 treated group, respectively. The adminstration of all mushroom extracts led the plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels decrease more than the CCl4-treated rats. These results suggest that Lentinus edodes extract protect liver from damage induced by CCl4.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.943-950
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to probe the influences of NaF oral administration on a dose-effect relationship between fluoride levels of serum enzyme activity such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in rats fed experimental diets for 5 weeks. All groups increased the activity of serum ALP, AST, ALT, and LDH levels with increasing NaF. In addition the fluoride levels of serum and organ tissues (liver, brain, heart, lung, kidney) in oral NaF groups (NF3~NF50) were significantly increased by adding sodium fluoride in comparison with normal diet group (ND) (p<0.05). These results, a high concentration of sodium fluoride was determined that the toxicity to various organ tissues.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2006

Purpose: With remarkable increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased, The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of the increase liver enzymes, lipid levels and fasting blood glucose level in normal and obese children. Methods: A total of 2206 elementary students were grouped according to obesity index; normal group and obesity group(mild, moderate, severe). Aspartate aminotransferase(AST, SGOT) and alanine aminotrausferase(ALT, SGPT) were measured with tota1 cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose. Results: Compared with the 2.7% of ALT > 50 IU/L in normal group, obese groups showed significantly higher prevalence; 6.7% in mild obesity group, 11.8% in moderate group and 15.0% in severe group. The prevalence of hypertriglyceremia was 12,4% in normal weight group, which is significantly lower than obesity group(mild obesity group 24.8%, moderate and severe 32.1% each). Conclusion: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver increased along with severity of obesity. Of Nutritional assessment, intervention, and preferably prevention are necessary for health promotion elementary students.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.188-192
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• 2021

The persistent increase of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) due to the presence of a macro-AST can confuse diagnostic or therapeutic decisions in many clinical situations. In this study, we report a case of isolated and persistent AST-elevation without any clinical sign of dysfunction in organs such as the liver, skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, etc. Despite various investigations, no definite cause for the elevation of AST could be found. With the help of polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, we showed that macro-AST formation was responsible for the elevation of the AST titer in this case. Early recognition of macro-AST by PEG precipitation can prevent diagnostic confusion and unnecessary and even invasive tests.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1996

One mechanism of free-radical production by ethanol is suggested to be through the intracellular conversion of XDH to XO by increased ratio of NADH to NAD. The major mechanism for physiological compensation of cytosolic NADH/NAD balance is the malate/aspartate shutfie. Therefore, it is important to develop the method to improve the efficiency of malate/aspartate shuttle in ethanol metabolism. In the present study, various amino acids and organic acid involved in the shuttle were tested for their functional efficiency in modulating shuttle in the ethanol-perfused rat liver. The rate of ethanol oxidation in the liver perfused with aspartate alone or aspartate in combination with pyruvate, respectively, was increased by about 10% compared to control liver, but not in the tissues perfused with glummate, cysteine or pyruvate alone. Though glummate, cysteine and pyravate did not affect the ethanol oxidation significanfiy, they showed some suppresive effect on the ethanol-induced radical generation monitored by protein carbonylation analysis. Among the tested components, aspartate is confirmed to be the most efficient as a metabolic regulator for both ethanol oxidation and ethanol-induced oxidative stress in our perfusion system. These effects of aspartate would result from NAD recycling by its supplementation through the coupled aspartate aminotransferase/malate dehydrogenase reactions and the malate-aspartate shuttle.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.12
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• pp.526-532
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• 2014

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in atherosclerosis, and therefore, are considered risk factors for metabolic dysfunction in adults. However, there is little data on circulating levels of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) with regard to obesity-related biomarkers in the general adolescent population. In the present study, we determined the associations of MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 levels and MMP-8/TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios with obesity-related biomarkers in apparently healthy adolescent boys. Methods: We measured MMP and TIMP concentrations in plasma samples using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed their associations with obesity-related biomarkers, such as liver enzymes and lipid profiles, in a sample of 91 Korean boys aged 13-14 years who participated in a general health check-up. Results: The mean age of the boys was $13.8{\pm}0.3years$; 72 boys were normal weight and 19 were overweight/obese. The Pearson correlation coefficients revealed a significant correlation between MMP-8 and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.217, P=0.039) and alanine aminotransferase (r=0.250, P=0.017) and between TIMP-1 and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.267, P=0.011). In a multivariate linear regression analysis, serum alanine aminotransferase was positively associated with the MMP-8 level. There were no significant differences in the MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 levels or MMP-8/TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios between control and overweight/obese subjects. Conclusion: We found a significant association between the MMP-8 level and alanine aminotransferase in the apparently healthy adolescent boys. These findings indicate that there may be a pathophysiological mechanism underlying the relationship between MMP-8 and liver enzymes in young adolescents.