• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 2007

The present study was designed to estimate the protective effect of (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. Chronic ethanol administration (6 g/kg/day ${\times}$ 60 days) caused liver damage that was manifested by the elevation of markers of liver dysfunction - aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase in plasma and reduction in liver glycogen. The activities of alcohol metabolizing enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase were found to be altered in alcohol-treated group. Ethanol administration resulted in the induction of cytochrome p450 and cytochrome-$b_{5}$ activities and reduction of cytochrome-c reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, a phase II drug metabolizing enzyme. Further, ethanol reduced the viability of isolated hepatocytes (ex vivo) as assessed by trypan blue exclusion test and induced hepatocyte apoptosis as assessed by propidium iodide staining. Treatment of alcoholic rats with EGCG restored the levels of markers of liver injury and mitigated the alterations in alcohol metabolizing and drug metabolizing enzymes and cyt-c-reductase. Increased hepatocyte viability and reduced apoptotic nuclei were observed in alcohol + EGCG-treated rats. These findings suggest that EGCG acts as a hepatoprotective agent against alcoholic liver injury.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.252-260
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• 2002

Introduction Urticaria is widely spread disease. About 15-20 $\%$ of population has experienced at least once in a life time. The etiology of urticaria is uncertain till now, and the affcting factors are various chemical material, physical factors, alcohol, fever, exercise, and hormone, etc. The symptoms of urticaria are small or large wheal-erythema reaction and itching or tingling sense. Cause there is no probe to detect the urticaria clearly, the treatment of urticaria is symptomatic. And mostly urticaria can be chronic and very hard to treat it fundamentally. Nowadays, many trials to treat the urticaria in oriental medical way show good curability. In this paper I'd like to report the treatment rate and degree of urticaria patients mostly using anti-histamine medication. Subjects From the outpatients who visited Korean Hospital of Kyunghee Kangnam during 2000-4 and 2002-1, the 36 chronic urticaria patients, at least more than 4 weeks from onset and 2weeks of treatment period, were chosen. Methods I evaluated the results of treatment with the following scale. Very Good: The all symptoms are clearly disappeared or one third of symptoms remain and sometimes eruption is appeared. Good: Half of the symptoms are improved but most of symptoms remain. No Change: No change appears before and after treatment. Worse: The degree and duration of eruption get worse than pre-treatment state. Results For Acupuncture treatment, I chose the several Acu points like Hapgok(합곡), Taichung(대충), Gokji(곡지), Yanggok(양곡), Yanggea(양계), and lmeup(족임읍), and usually lasted it 15 minutes. With the acupuncture treatment and herb medicine, 2-3 times a week, the patients whose treatment period was 2 to 4 weeks were 17(47.2$\%$), 4 to 8 weeks were 11(30.5$\%$), 8 to 12 weeks were 3(8.3$\%$), 12 to 16 weeks were 3(8.3$\%$), longer than 16 weeks were 2(5.5$\%$) Collecting the statistics of the frequency of prescripted herb medicine, Hyangsosan(향소산) was prescripted 21 times(58.3$\%$), Hyangsapyungwisan(향사평위산) was 15 times(41.6$\%$), Hwapisan(화피산) was 9 times(25$\%$), Yangwitang(양위탕) was 6 times(16.6$\%$), Bojungikkitang(보중익기탕가미) was 4 times(11.1$\%$), Yongdamsagantang (용담사간탕가미) was 4 times(11.1$\%$). The result of the treatments, evaluating with mentioned rate scale, was 11 cases(30.5$\%$) were Very Good degree, 19 cases(52.7$\%$) were Good , 6 cases(16.6$\%$) were No Change. No cases were Worse degree. Conclusion According to this research, we could say that chronic urticaria can be treated with Oriental medical methods. But more precise probes in both Oriental and Western medicine to diagnose the chronic urticaria should be established and we need to make standards for testing and diagnosing the chronic urticaria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1342-1347
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• 2008

The purpose of present study was to investigate the protective effect of silkworm excrement powder (SEP) on alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Semisynthetic diet supplemented with SEP (3%, w/w) given to alcohol-feeding rats for 30 days, then blood and tissues were collected, processed and used for alcohol concentration mensuration, various biochemical estimations and histopathological examination. Chronic alcohol administration resulted in significantly increase in the activities of the clinically important liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Also, a highly significant increase in the blood alcohol level by alcohol treatment was observed. But alcohol-induced elevation of ALT and LDH levels markedly prevented and the level of blood alcohol decreased in SEP treated rats as compared to alcohol-administered control rats. SEP supplementation showed highly decreased the concentrations of total lipid, triglyceride and cholesterol in serum, as compared with alcohol treated control rats. Alcohol treatment induced the marked accumulation of large lipid droplets, hepatocytes necrosis and inflammation in the liver, but SEP administration attenuated to alcohol-induced accumulation of lipid droplets and hepatocyte necrosis. The results indicated that SEP may exert a protective effect against alcoholic hepatotoxicity through decreasing the activity of hepatic marker enzymes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.320-327
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• 2020

In current study, we aimed to investigate whether the gentiopicroside (GPS) derived from Gentiana manshurica Kitagawa could block the progression of alcoholic hepatic steatosis to fibrosis induced by chronic ethanol intake. C57BL/6 mice were fed an ethanol-containing Lieber-DeCarli diet for 4 weeks. LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells were treated with GPS 1 h prior to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) stimulation, and murine hepatocyte AML12 cells were pretreated by GPS 1 h prior to ethanol treatment. GPS inhibited the expression of type I collagen (collagen I), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and tissue inhibitor of metal protease 1 in ethanol-fed mouse livers with mild fibrosis. In addition, the imbalanced lipid metabolism induced by chronic ethanol-feeding was ameliorated by GPS pretreatment, characterized by the modulation of lipid accumulation. Consistently, GPS inhibited the expression of collagen I and α-SMA in LX-2 cells stimulated by TGF-β. Inhibition of lipid synthesis and promotion of oxidation by GPS were also confirmed in ethanol-treated AML12 cells. GPS could prevent hepatic steatosis advancing to the inception of a mild fibrosis caused by chronic alcohol exposure, suggesting GPS might be a promising therapy for targeting the early stage of alcoholic liver disease.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-30
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• 2013

A 66-year-old male with chronic alcoholism presented with tremor, gait disturbance, memory impairment, insomnia, decreased appetite, and confusion. The patient had been taking lithium daily for treatment of bipolar disorder. Brain CT showed no specific abnormality, and serum lithium and ammonia levels were 3.63 mEq/L (therapeutic range, 0.6~1.2 mEq/L) and $85{\mu}g/dL$ (reference range: $19{\sim}54{\mu}g/dL$), respectively. Therefore, the initial differential diagnosis included chronic lithium intoxication, hepatic encephalopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy, or alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Even with the provision of adequate hydration, the patient's neurologic status did not show improvement, so that lactulose enema, thiamine replacement, and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were started on the third admission day. By the fifth admission day he had made a rapid neurologic recovery, and was discharged on the 20th admission day. Therefore, CVVHDF might be a treatment for patients with chronic lithium intoxication, because, even if serum lithium concentration is normal, lithium concentration in the brain may be different from that of the serum.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2004

Disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulphid) is used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism since it causes an unpleasant aversive reaction to alcohol. It works by inactivating hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to pronounced rise in the acetaldehyde concentration when ethanol is metabolized. Acetaldehyde causes alcohol sensitivity, which involve vasodilation associated with feeling of hotness and facial flushing, increased heart rate and respiration rates, lowered blood pressure, nausea, headache. One of its metabolites, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) can inhibit the enzyme dopamine $\beta$-hydroxylase (DBH), this may account for the profound refractory hypotension and hypothermia seen with the disulfiram-ethanol reaction (DER), resulting from norepinephrine depletion. This report is presents the case of a patient we met, who presented with hypothermia caused by the disulfiram-ethanol reaction, and along with a brief review of the subject.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1 s.34
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• pp.13-21
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• 1984

The present study was undertaken to investigate an effect of ginseng butanol fraction(total saponin) on the hepatic ethanol metabolism, we used experimental animals for the subject of study. When, in case of ADH and MEOS, ginseng butanol fraction was added, enzyme activity was increased in a small dose, and on the contrary, in a large dose, showed inhibitory effect. in catalase, the activity showed no significant effect by adding ginseng butanol fraction. In the light of kinetic aspect, when, in reaction mixture, ethanol and ginseng butanol fraction were concurrently added and reacted, Km value of ADH and MEOS was decreased. After pretreated with ginseng butanol fraction and inducement of acute toxic state by ethanol, the activities of ADH and MEOS were increased to an extent of about 25% compared to controls. But catalase activity was not significantly affected. In case that ginseng butanol fraction was given to mice fed with 5% ethanol instead of water for 60 days, the activities of ADH and MEOS were increased about 20% to 50% compared to ethanol-treated group. On the contrary, catalase activity was not affected. But blood concentrations of ethanol were decreased due to ginseng butanol fraction treatment. All these observations suggested that reduction of ethanol blood concentration should be dependent upon increased activities of ADH and MEOS. Thereby it suggests the recovery from alcohol intoxication can be prompted by treatment with ginseng.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.123-129
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• 2022

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common pathology in daily neurosurgical practice and incidence increases with age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and surgical outcome of CSDH in patients aging over 90 years compared with a control group of patients aging under 90 years. Methods : This study reviewed 25 patients with CSDH aged over 90 years of age treated in our department. This group was compared with a younger group of 25 patients aged below their eighties. At admission past medical history was recorded concerning comorbidities (hypertension, dementia, ictus cerebri, diabetes, and heart failure or attack). History of alcohol abuse, anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy, head trauma and seizures were analyzed. Standard neurological examination and Markwalder score at admission, 48 hours after surgery and 1-6 months follow-up, radiologic data including location and CSDH maximum thickness were also evaluated. Results : Their mean age was 92.8 years and the median was 92.4 years (range, 90-100 years). In older group, the Markwalder evaluation at one month documented the complete recovery of 24 patients out of 25 without statistical difference with the younger group. This data was confirmed at 6-month follow-up. One patient died from cardiovascular failure 20 days after surgery. The presence of comorbidities, risk factors (antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulant therapy, history of alcohol abuse, and head trauma), preoperative symptoms, mono or bilateral CSDH, maximum thickness of hematoma, surgical time and recurrence were similar and statistically not significant in both groups. Conclusion : In this study, we demonstrate that surgery for very old patients above 90 years of age affected by CSDH is safe and allows complete recovery. Comparing two groups of patients above and under 90 years old we found that complication rate and recovery were similar in both groups.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.241-249
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• 2007

Health education aims at behavior change rather than just delivering health knowledge to people. In Korea health education activities in public sector began in 1960 and they were included in the primary prevention program in communities. This article reviewed current health education programs in healthy living practice programs provided by local public health centers in Korea and drew implications for the future role of health education in community setting. Health education has been a core function of the National Health Promotion programs in the nation since the enactment of the National Health Promotion Law in 1995. The National Health Promotion programs are funded by the National Health Promotion Fund which are drawn from tobacco tax. The National Health Promotion programs include healthy living practice programs (smoking prevention and cessation programs, moderate alcohol use programs, physical activity promotion programs, and nutrition programs), chronic disease prevention programs, oral health programs and public hygiene programs. Methods of the National Health Promotion programs include health education, health counseling, health class, health information management, survey and research. Smoking prevention and cessation programs include smoking cessation clinic, smoking cessation education, non-smoking environment program, and non-smoking campaign. Moderate alcohol use programs include alcohol use education, moderate alcohol use campaign, alcohol use counseling, and alcohol free environment programs. Physical activity promotion programs include obesity control, targeted exercise program, and exercise civic group programs. Nutrition programs include nutrition management, obesity management, nutrition education, breakfast eating program, and nutrition counseling and treatment programs. The health education programs in community are not efficient today because there are many overlapping contents and short term goals. Community health education programs needs to be more comprehensive. Workforce development is another big issue at the moment because the National credential program will begin in 2009. Variety of community health education programs should be developed and funded by the national health promotion fund.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.469-474
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• 2014

DWP208 is a sodium succinate form of ZYM-201 which is a triterpenoid glycoside isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis, a medicinal plant prescribed for various diseases, such as duodenal ulcers and bleeding in East Asian counties. We demonstrated that this compound is able to normalize the altered lipid metabolism induced by hyperglycemia and a high fat diet. In this study, we determined whether hyperlipidemic conditions induced with chronically treated alcohol can also be restored by DWP208. Similar to our previous results, orally administered DWP208 (1 to 10 mg/kg) also ameliorated the hyperlipidemia that was induced by alcohol. This compound reversed the alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia including (i) up-regulated hyperlipidemic parameters such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), atherosclerotic index (AI), triglyceride, and total cholesterol, and (ii) down-regulated hyperlipidemic parameters such as absolute body weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in serum and liver. According to our data, the ameliorative activity of DWP208 is due to its indirect anti-oxidative activity as a result of which lipid peroxide and hydroxyl radical levels were reduced and the activity of SOD was enhanced. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that DWP208 can be used as a remedy against alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia.