• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.181-183
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• 2004

Hepatic mass was aspirated under the guidance with ultrasound in 9-year old female maltese with signs of anorexia, hematochezia, vomiting, depression, and abdominal distension. Radiographic and abdominal ultrasonographic examinations were performed, which revealed enlarged tubular shaped uterine mass and solitary, small round hyperechoic hepatic mass dorsal to gall bladder as an incidental finding. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was completed, but histologic confirmation should be made for definitive diagnosis by tissue core or wedge biopsy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.53-56
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• 2018

Computed tomography (CT) findings of hepatic adenoma in veterinary medicine are variable and unlike in human medicine, not defined clearly. A 12-year-old neutered male Shih Tzu presented after a seizure, with weight loss, salivation, and cachexia. An abdominal mass was identified on radiography, and ultrasonographic images showed a mixed echo pattern with marked vascularity. CT showed that the mass originated from caudate lobe, was heterogeneously hypoattenuated compared with the hepatic parenchyma, and had irregular margins. Contrast enhanced CT showed that the mass enhanced like the surrounding liver parenchyma. However, it contained unenhanced areas and enhanced vessels were observed in the arterial phase at the periphery of the mass. The margins of mass were more enhanced in the venous phase than the arterial phase and the hypoattenuating regions within the mass were not enhanced. Greater enhancing in the venous phase is seen with adenomas; however, the heterogeneous enhancement pattern, especially the marginal vascular enhancement and internal hypoattenuating regions, is seen with malignancy. Although this is a single case of hepatic adenoma, the atypical enhanced pattern of this case can provide useful information to predict the malignancy of primary liver tumor.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.295-298
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• 2021

A 1-year-old spayed female Scottish Fold cat presented with a 1.5-month history of vomiting, intermittent dyspnea, and abdominal distention. Radiographic, ultrasonographic, and computed tomographic examinations suggested a tentative diagnosis of a fluid-containing cystic mass with an internal septum. The mass was surgically removed. Histological examinations revealed that the mass was a non-neoplastic hepatic cyst. The patient had no recurrence of the cystic structure but died of acute renal failure 5 years after the surgery. This report describes the unusual case of a giant hepatic cyst with clinical signs that resolved after mass removal.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.474-482
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• 2010

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary hepatic neoplasms in dogs. Three types of HCC such as massive, nodular and diffuse form were reported. Massive HCC is most common and has relatively better prognosis than other forms because this type of HCC can be removed surgically and has low frequency of relapse or metastasis. Diagnostic image can provide useful information for shape and internal structure of the hepatic mass as well as the location and adhesion or invasiveness of the mass to establish surgical plan to remove the mass safely. In this study, we investigated diagnostic features of massive HCC in 5 dogs. Radiography showed soft tissue mass in cranial abdomen in 3 dogs. On ultrasonography, all dogs had a solitary hepatic mass with mixed echo pattern with anechoic cysts, which represented necrosis and hemorrhage. The radiographic and ultrasonographic findings of affected hepatic lobe were compared with the macroscopic findings through laparotomy. Computed tomography was performed to check metastasis and figure out the origin of the mass in two dogs. Ultrasonography is useful and relatively sensitive examination for diagnosis and planning for surgery in canine massive HCC.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.435-447
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• 2021

Purpose: Body adiposity is negatively correlated with hepatic iron status, and Korean pine nut oil (PNO) has been reported to reduce adiposity. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of PNO on adiposity, hepatic mineral status, and the expression of genes and proteins involved in iron absorption. Methods: Five-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet containing 10% kcal from PNO (PC) or soybean oil (SBO; SC), or a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 35% kcal from lard and 10% kcal from PNO (PHFD) or SBO (SHFD). Hepatic iron, copper, and zinc content; and expression of genes and proteins related to iron absorption were measured. Results: HFD-fed mice had a higher white fat mass (2-fold; p < 0.001), lower hepatic iron content (25% lower; p < 0.001), and lower hepatic Hamp (p = 0.028) and duodenal Dcytb mRNA levels (p = 0.037) compared to the control diet-fed mice. Hepatic iron status was negatively correlated with body weight (r = -0.607, p < 0.001) and white fat mass (r = -0.745, p < 0.001). Although the PHFD group gained less body weight (18% less; p < 0.05) and white fat mass (18% less; p < 0.05) than the SHFD group, the hepatic iron status impaired by the HFD feeding did not improve. The expression of hepatic and duodenal ferroportin protein was not affected by the fat amount or the oil type. PNO-fed mice had significantly lower Slc11a2 (p = 0.022) and Slc40a1 expression (p = 0.027) compared to SBO-fed mice. However, the PC group had a higher Heph expression than the SC group (p < 0.05). The hepatic copper and zinc content did not differ between the four diet groups, but hepatic copper content adjusted by body weight was significantly lower in the HFD-fed mice compared to the control diet-fed mice. Conclusion: HFD-induced obesity decreased hepatic iron storage by affecting the regulation of genes related to iron absorption; however, the 18% less white fat mass in the PHFD group was not enough to improve the iron status compared to the SHFD group. The hepatic copper and zinc status was not altered by the fat amount or the oil type.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2007

Obesity is defined as increased mass of adipose tissue, conferring a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and coronary heart disease. To get a better understanding of the role of a male sex hormone testosterone on obesity, we thus measured the effects of testosterone on white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, adipocyte histology and hepatic lipid accumulation in male castrated (CAST) C57BL/6J mice. Compared to male CAST control mice, testosterone-treated mice had the decreased WAT mass and the increased the number of adipocytes. Especially, histological data showed that the adipocyte size was reduced in a dose-dependent manner and was most effective at dose 150 $\mu$g per mouse for testosterone. In addition, the administration of testosterone resulted in the inhibition of hepatic lipid accumulation compared with control mice. Our results suggest that testosterone regulates adipocytes development and hepatic lipid metabolism, resulting in the prevention of obesity in male CAST mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

Brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone that exerts cardiovascular and renal effects and regulates metabolic processes. In the current study, to determine the hepatic effects of BNP, we investigated whether it improves high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic IR and characterized its possible mechanism. No significant differences in body weight, fat mass, or lean mass were observed between the saline- and BNP-treated groups of normal diet-and HFD-fed mice. During the clamp test, the BNP infusion into HFD-fed mice led to lower blood glucose levels and increased glucose infusion rates versus that into saline-treated HFD-fed mice. The BNP infusion also inhibited hepatic glucose production and decreased hepatic triglyceride levels concomitant with decreased expression of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis-related genes, resulting in reduced levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. BNP increased the phosphorylation of Akt and AMP-acti- vated protein kinase (AMPK) in the livers of HFD-fed mice compared to saline-fed HFD mice. The incubation of AML12 murine hepatocytes with BNP increased the basal levels of phosphorylated Akt and AMPK and recovered the phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated AMPK levels reduced by palmitate treatment. Furthermore, BNP incubation prevented palmitate-induced increases in lipo- genesis gene expressions. Taken together, the current study's findings indicated that BNP ameliorates hepatic IR, resulting in reduced hepatic glucose production and hepatic steatosis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.144-153
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• 2017

It was demonstrated that Gangjihwan (DF), which is the herbal composition composed of Ephedra intermedia, Lithospermum erythrorhizon, and Rheum palmatum, inhibits obesity and hepatic steatosis in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of DF on visceral obesity, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and the mechanism of actions involved in this process using in vivo and in vitro approaches. DF was extracted with water (DF-FW), 30% grain alcohol (DF-GA30), and 70% grain alcohol (DF-GA70). Administration of DF to HFD-fed control mice decreased visceral tissue mass and visceral adipocyte size without adverse effects. Visceral fat mass was decreased by DF-GA30 and DF-GA70, and visceral adipocyte size by all three DF extracts compared with obese control mice. Histological analysis revealed that three kinds of DF extracts reduced toluidine blue-stained mast cells and collagen accumulation in the liver, the extents of which were most eminent in DF-GA70-treated mice. DF-GA70 decreased the mRNA levels of the inflammation ($TNF{\alpha}$ and VCAM-1), fibrosis (${\alpha}-SMA$), and apoptosis (caspase 3) genes, but increasing the anti-apoptosis gene (Bcl-2) mRNA levels in the liver of obese control mice. Consistent with the in vivo data, GA-70 also altered the expression of inflammation genes ($TNF{\alpha}$ and MCP-1) in HepG2 cells. These results indicate that DF not only inhibits visceral obesity, but also ameliorates visceral obesity-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and that this process may be mediated by regulating the hepatic expression of inflammatory and fibrogenic genes.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2011

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$ ($PPAR{\alpha}$) is a nuclear transcription factor that plays a central role in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. To investigate whether swim training improves obesity and lipid metabolism through $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation in female sham-operated (Sham) and ovariectomized (OVX) mice, we measured body weight, visceral adipose tissue mass, serum free fatty acid at 6 weeks as well as the expression of hepatic $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes involved in fatty acid oxidation. Swim-trained mice had decreased body weight, visceral adipose tissue mass and serum free fatty acid levels compared to high fat diet fed control mice in both female Sham and OVX mice. These reductions were more prominent in OVX than in Sham mice. Swim training significantly increased hepatic mRNA levels of $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes responsible for mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, such as carnitine palmitoyltransgerase-1 (CPT-1), very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) in OVX mice. However, swim trained female Sham mice did not increase hepatic mRNA levels of $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes responsible for mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation compared to Sham control mice. These results indicate that swim training differentially regulates body weight and adipose tissue mass between OVX and Sham mice, at least in part due to differences in liver $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2011

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a hepatic disorder that resembles liver cancer, is a highly aggressive and lethal zoonotic infection caused by the larval stage of the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis. E. multilocularis is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere; the disease-endemic area stretches from north America through Europe to central and east Asia, including northern parts of Japan, but it has not been reported in Korea. Herein, we represent a first case of AE in Korea. A 41-year-old woman was found to have a large liver mass on routine medical examination. The excised mass showed multinodular, necrotic, and spongiform appearance with small irregular pseudocystic spaces. Microscopically, the mass was composed of chronic granulomatous inflammation with extensive coagulation necrosis and parasite-like structure, which was revealed as parasitic vesicles and laminated layer delineated by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. Clinical and histologic features were consistent with AE. After 8 years, a new liver mass and multiple metastatic pulmonary nodules were found and the recurred mass showed similar histologic features to the initial mass. She had never visited endemic areas of AE, and thus the exact infection route is unclear.