• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2019

Hydrogen sulfide is well-known to exhibit anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activities, and also has protective effects in the liver. This study aimed to examine the protective effect of hydrogen sulfide in rats with hepatic encephalopathy, which was induced by mild bile duct ligation. In this rat model, bile ducts were mildly ligated for 26 days. Rats were treated for the final 5 days with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). NaHS ($25{\mu}mol/kg$), 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, or silymarin (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally once per day for 5 consecutive days. Mild bile duct ligation caused hepatotoxicity and inflammation in rats. Intraperitoneal NaHS administration reduced levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, which are indicators of liver disease, compared to levels in the control mild bile duct ligation group. Levels of ammonia, a major causative factor of hepatic encephalopathy, were also significantly decreased. Malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, catalase, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ levels were measured to confirm antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors with neurotoxic activity were assessed for subunit NMDA receptor subtype 2B. Based on these data, NaHS is suggested to exhibit hepatoprotective effects and guard against neurotoxicity through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.473-479
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• 2005

Possible mechanism of decreased catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in cholestatic rat liver was studied. Hepatic and serum COMT activities were determined from the experimental rats with common bile duct ligation (CBDL). The Michaelis-Menten constants in this hepatic enzyme were also measured. The activities of cytosolic, mitochondrial and mircosomal COMT as well as their Vmax values were found to be decreased significantly in CBDL plus taurocholic acid (TCA) injected group than in the control group, such as CBDL alone groups. However, their Km values in the experimental groups did not vary. Serum COMT activity increased slightly in the CBDL plus TCA injected group than in the control group. The above results suggest that TCA represses biosynthesis of the COMT in the liver. The elevated activity of the serum COMT is believed to be caused by the increment of membrane permeability of hepatocytes upon TCA mediated liver cell necrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.191-195
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• 1988

Chylothorax in the neonatal period is a rare cause of respiratory distress. Surgical ligation of the thoracic duct is rarely necessary in congenital chylothorax. A 3 day-old newborn delivered by the cesarean section showed signs of respiratory distress suddenly and diagnosed as chylothorax on the right hemithorax. Conservative management such as multiple thoracenteses and tube thoracostomy drainage with nutritional support failed to close the leakage. At age of 60 days, we performed a supradiaphragmatic mass ligature of the thoracic duct visualized after injection of methylene blue into the thigh subcutaneously. Postoperatively, chylous effusion occurred in the left hemithorax and successfully treated with chest tube drainage for several days.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2004

Liver and serum rhodanese activities were determined in acute ethanol intoxicated rats with extrahepatic cholestasis induced by common bile duct ligation (CBD) to manifest the biochemical background of alcohol drinking hazard under the hepatobiliary disease. Liver cytosolic and microsomal rhodanese activities and these Vmax values in CBD ligated rats with acute ethanol intoxication were found to be decreased much more than that in CBD ligation alone. However, the difference of Km value on above hepatic enzyme was not found between the experimental groups. On the other hand, serum rhodanese activity in CBD ligated rats with acute ethanol intoxication was greater increased more than that in CBD ligation alone. These results indicate that the biosynthesis of the hepatic rhodanese decreases and the serum rhodanese activity increases in cholestasis combined with acute ethanol intoxication, reflecting damage of aggravated hapatocytic membrane. Accordingly, the resulting data supported the fact that alcoholic drinks were enzymologically harmful to the hepatobiliary disease.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2004

Liver and serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activities were determined in ethanol intoxicated rats with extrahepatic cholestasis induced by common bile duct ligation (CBD) to manifest the biochemical background of alcohol drinking hazard under the hepatobiliary disease. Liver $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity and its Vmax value in CBD ligated rats with chronic ethanol intoxication were found to be significantly decreased than that in CBD ligation alone. However, the difference of Km value on above hepatic enzyme was not found between the experimental groups. On the other hand, serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity in CBD ligated rats with chronic ethanol intoxication was increased more than that in CBD ligation alone. These results indicate that the biosynthesis of the hepatic $\beta$-D-mannosidase decreases and the serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity increases in cholestasis combined with chronic ehtanol intoxication, reflecting damage of aggravated hapatocytic membrane. Accordingly, the resulting data supported the fact that alcoholic drinks were enzymologically harmful to the hepatobiliary disease.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.15-29
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• 1992

The gallbladder is known to have the function of the storage and the concentration of the bile produced by the liver. This function is carried out by the removal of water and inorganic electrolytes. Extrahepatic cholestasis or the impairment of excretion of the bile leads to the distension and loss of the function of the gallbladder. The purpose of this study was to examine the ultrastructural characteristics of the normal gallbladder epithelial cells, and their structural changes induced by the ligation of common bile duct of the rabbit. Common bile duct ligation was performed under ether anesthesia. The rabbits were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 14th day, respectively after operations. The tissue blocks of the gallbladder were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde prior to fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide, and embedded in the araldite mixture, and observed with JEM 100 CX-II electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. The normal gallbladder epithelium of adult rabbit demonstrated two cell types, the ordinary epthelial cell and the dark cell. The dark cells have electron dense cytoplasm, and were found much infrequently, whereas ordinary epthelial cells were found quite numerous. 2. The ordinary epthelial cells of normal gallbladder were provided with the regular microvilli at the free surface and the images of pinocytotic activities in the apical cytoplasm, and exhibit highly convoluted lateral surfaces with elaborated microfolds. These figures of the cells suggest that they are resorptive in functional activity. 3. In the early stages (1st, 3rd, 5th day groups) following the ligation, the apical cytoplasm of some cells is protruding from the free surface and lost their microvilli. Numerous mucous granules filled in the apical and supranuclear cytoplasm compactly. 4. In the late stages (7th, 14th day groups) following the ligation, many light cells containing mumerous mucous granules are seen, between the ordinary epthelial cells. Mucous granules are fused each other, and are discharged into the lumen from the apical cytoplasm. The lateral membranes are straight or undulating without any interdigitations. From the above results, it was concluded that in the cholestasis induced by the common bile duct ligation, there is a tendency for the mucosal epithelium of the rabbit gallbladder to have secretory rather than an absorptive function.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 1999

Ethanol catabolism is thought to produce metabolic disorders resulting in alcoholic liver disease. To investigate the mutual effects of ethanol catabolism and cholestasis induced by common bile duct ligation on the activities of carboxylesterase, we have determined the enzyme activities in rat hepatic (cytosolic, mitochondrial, and microsomal) preparations as well as in rat serum using ten animal models: normal rats (group 1), sham-operated rats (group 2), common bile duct-ligated rats (group 3), ethanol-intoxicated rats (group 4), sham-operation plus chronic ethanol-intoxicated rats (group 5), common bile duct-ligated plus chronic ethanol-intoxicated rats at 1.5h and 24h (groups 7A and 7B), and duct-ligated and acute ethanol intoxicated rats at 1.5 h and 24 h (groups 8A and 8B). The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values of carboxylesterase from these hepatic preparations of cholestatic rat liver combined with chronic ethanol intoxication were also measured by using ethyl valerate as the substrate from the 14th day post-ligation. Carboxylesterase activities of all hepatic preparations and rat serum (group 3) showed significant decreases compared to the activities from the sham-operated control (group 2). Enzyme kinetic parameters indicated that $V_{max}$ of carboxylesterase from all the hepatic preparations in cholestatic rats (group 3) decreased significantly, although the $K_m$ values were about the same as in the sham-operated control (group 2). When cholestasis was combined with chronic ethanol intoxication (group 6), carboxylesterase activities showed further decrease in all the hepatic preparations and serum compared to the control activity (group 5). The $V_{max}$ also decreased significantly, although $K_m$ values did not change. When common bile duct ligation was combined with acute ethanol intoxication (group 8), the enzyme activities in the rat liver and serum showed significant decrease compared to the activity from acute ethanol-intoxicated rats (group 7). However, quite contrary to this, the activities of serum from acute ethanol intoxication 1.5 h (group 7A) increased significantly compared to the activities in the normal control (group 1). These results, therefore, suggest that the biosynthesis of hepatic carboxyl-esterase seems to decrease when cholestasis is combined with chronic and acute ethanol intoxication, and the decrease in activity is more significant than from cholestasis alone.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2003

Cholestatic liver injury results from the accumulation of toxic bile salts within the liver. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the changes in expression and cellular localization of apoptosis related proteins in the liver of bile duct-ligated (BDL) rat. Extrahepatic cholestasis was induced by double ligation of the common bile duct and cut between the ligatures. Animals were sacrificed at day 3 and at week 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 after BDL. The number of TUNEL positive cells was increased significantly after 3 days of BDL, decreased over 2 weeks and remained constant thereafter. Fas expression was not changed and activation of caspase 8 did not occur. Fas immunoreactivity was exclusively observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, indicating that Fas expressed in rat hepatocytes is a soluble form. Hepatocyte apoptosis was associated with Bax expression, which showed a peak at day 3 and decreased over time gradually. Immnunostaining of Bax was observed in hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells (BEC) of control and BDL rats. Bcl-2 was increased over time in BDL rats. These results suggest that apoptosis of hepatocytes in BDL rats is independent of Fas and controlled by Bax expression.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.423-426
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• 2014

A 67-year-old male patient came to the hospital due to lung cancer and mediastinal cystic mass which was suspected to be esophageal duplication cyst. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed and intra-operative finding suggested it as a cystic mass along the thoracic duct. Thoracic duct was ligated and the cyst was completely resected. A 48-year-old female patient visited the hospital for dysphagia. Mediastinal cystic mass was suspected to be an esophageal duplication cyst. Intraoperative finding suggest a thoracic duct lymphangioma. After thoracic duct ligation, the mass was completely resected with VATS. Postoperative chylothorax did not develop in both cases.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.503-508
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• 2005

Possible mechanisms of increased serum aryl sulfotransferase (AST) isozyme activities in cholestatic rats were studied. Serum AST-I, II and -III, IV isozymes activities were determined from the experimental rats with common bile duct ligation (CBDL) or choledocho-caval shunt (CCS). The activities of serum AST-I, II and -III, IV isozymes were found to be increased significantly in both the CCS plus taurocholic acid (TCA) injected group, and the CBDL plus TCA group than those in each control group, such as CCS or CBDL alone groups. The above results suggest that the elevated serum AST most likely due to increased hepatocyte membrane permeability caused by TCA mediated liver cell necrosis.