• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is finding optimum contrast medium quantity during abdominal CT using dual energy technique. The study subjects are 30 patients who had received general single energy abdominal CT and received double energy technique follow-up abdominal CT. dual energy technique abdominal CT images were obtained after setting contrast medium quantities at 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% of contrast medium quantity at the time of single energy technique. Then the contrast enhancement (Hounsfield Unit; HU) was estimated by setting-up the regions of interest at aorta, inferior vena cava, hepatic portal vein and hepatic parenchymal. The obtained values were compared to the values of the same parts measured during single energy technique abdominal CT. The results of the study were as following. The 60% set up group had HU in aorta : $210.80{\pm}13.609$, IVC : $190.40{\pm}25.215$, hepatic portal vein : $198.40{\pm}21.232$ and hepatic parenchymal : $119.20{\pm}7.98$, The single energy abdomianl CT images had HU in aorta : $205.40{\pm}16.426$, IVC : $188.20{\pm}21.476$, hepatic portal vein : $195.40{\pm}22.744$ and hepatic parenchymal : $121.00{\pm}6.595$. Therefore, it is possible to obtain contrast enhancement by dual energy technique abdominal CT similar to the same by single energy technique abdominal CT by setting-up the quantity of contrast medium at 60% of contrast medium at the time of single energy technique abdominal CT. Based on the result of this study, it is possible to decrease existing quantity of contrast medium by _% and the injection velocity can be also decreased. Accordingly, it is believed that the result of study would be quite useful for patients who have renal function disorder, weak vein or side effect of contrast medium in the past.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2011

Transdermal drug delivery(TDS) offers many important advantages. For instance, it is easy and painless, it protects the active compound from gastric enzymes, and it avoids the hepatic first-pass effect. Also, it is simple to terminate the therapy if any adverse or undesired effect occurs. But skin is a natural barrier, and only a few drugs can penetrate the skin easily and in sufficient quantities to be effective. Therefore, in recent years, numerous studies have been conducted in the area of penetration enhancement. The most commonly used transdermal system is the skin patch using various types of technologies. Compared with other method of dosage, it is possible to use for a long term. It is also possible to stop the drug dosage are stopped if the drug dosage lead to side effect. Polysaccharide, such as xanthan gum and algin were selected as base materials of TDS. Also, these polymers were characterized in terms of enhancers and drug contents. Among these polysaccharide, the permeation rate of Paroxetine such as lipophilic drug was the fastest in xanthan gum matrix in vitro. We used glycerin, PEG400 and PEG800 as enhancers. Since dermis has more water content(hydration) than the stratum corneum, skin permeation rate at steady state was highly influenced when PEG400 was more effective for lipophilic drug. Proper selection of the polymeric materials which resemble and enhance properties of the delivering drug was found to be important in controlling the skin permeation rate.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.150-155
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• 2001

This study examined effects of the active ingredients from ginseng on paraquat(PQ) toxitity. Mice were given PQ(25mg/kg, ip) and then they were given total saponins (TS; 5mg/kg, orally), protopanaxadiol (PD; 5mg/kg, orally) and protopanaxatriol(PT; 5mg/kg, orally) per day for periods of 1,3 & 7 days. We measured the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), electrophoretic isozyme band, catalase (CAT) were compared in the liver of mouse that dose with PQ and/or TS, PD and PT. The activities of SOD, CAT were generally higher in PQ+PD group than others groups. Especially the activity of SOD was the highest in PQ+PD group than others groups. SOD isozyme separated into three bands by electrophoresis. One band was located to near the anode side and two bands were cathode side. As the results of treated with KCN, we were confiremed that the Cu, Zn-SOD was located to near the anode side but the Mn-SOD were cathode side. Our results suggested that an antioxidant effect of ginseng saponins elevated a protection ability to an oxidative damage by direct action of SOD, CAT and reinforced the synthetic ability of endogenous antioxidant material in living organism. Particularly, PD was a effective antioxidant compared with others.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10413-10420
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• 2015

Side effects are an unavoidable consequence of chemotherapy drugs, during which liver injury often takes place. The current study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) against the hepatotoxicity induced by frequently-used chemical therapy agents, cyclophosphamide (CTX), docetaxel (DTX) and epirubicin (EPI)) in mice. Mice were divided into five groups, controls, low or high dose groups ($DTX_L$, $CTX_L$, $EPI_L$ or $DTX_H$, $CTX_H$, $EPI_H$), and low or high dose chemotherapeutics+APS groups ($DTX_L$+APS, $CTX_L$+APS, $EPI_L$+APS or $DTX_H$+APS, $CTX_H$+APS, $EPI_H$+APS). Controls were treated with equivalent normal saline for 28 days every other day; low or high dose group were intraperitoneal (i.p) injected with low or high doses of CTX, DTX and EPI for 28 days every other day; low or high dose chemotherapeutics+APS group were separately intraperitoneal (i.p) injected with chemotherapeutics for 28 days every other day and i.p with APS (100 mg/kg) for 7 days continually from the 22th to the 28th days. The body weight, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), histopathological features, and ultrastructure morphological change of liver tissues, protein expression level of caspase-3 were estimated at different time points. With high dose treatment of DTX, CTX and EPI, weight gain was inhibited and serum levels of ALT and AST were significantly increased. Sections of liver tissue showed massive hepatotoxicity in $CTX_H$ group compared to the control group, including hepatic lobule disorder, granular and vacuolar degeneration and necrosis in hepatic cells. These changes were confirmed at ultrastructural level, including obvious pyknosis, heterochromatin aggregation, nuclear membrane resolution, and chondrosome crystal decrease. Western blotting revealed that the protein levels of caspase-3 increased in $CTX_H$ group. The low dose groups exhibited trivial hepatotoxicity. More interestingly, after 100 mg/kg APS, liver injury was redecued not only regarding serum transaminase activities (low or high dose chemotherapeutics+APS group), but also from pathological and ultrastructural changes and the protein levels of caspase-3 ($CTX_H$+APS group). In conclusion, DTX, CTX and EPI induce liver damage in a dose dependent manner, whereas APS exerted protective effects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.212-220
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• 2004

A 36 year-old female patient with acute hepatitis B was treated with modified Chunggangunbi-tang. The patient complained of right arm and numbness, chest pain and discomfort, pain in the right chest, fever, athalpia, indigestion, fatigue, pruritus, jaundice and other minor problems. Two weeks later, symptoms has gone from severe to mild and transaminase level was lower. The medicine was prescribed for four more weeks and symptoms disappeared. The transaminase level fell to within normal range with no side effect. The Chunggangunbi-tang showed desirable effect on indigestion and more rapid recovery of liver function than previous reports on treatment for hepatitis. Finally results from clinicopathological examinations(about AST, ALT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, etc.) were promising. o we hope that this clinical study is helpful in treating patients with hepatic disease. Result suggests that oriental medical therapy is useful in treating acute hepatitis type B. More study and development of approach and application of this treatment for acute hepatitis type B are necessary.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.967-974
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• 2007

The present work is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of glutathione-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 strain on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. The activities of liver markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase), lipid peroxidative index (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), and the antioxidant status (reduced glutathione) were used to monitor those protective roles of FF-8 strain. The liver marker enzymes in plasma and the lipid peroxidation in the liver were increased when $CCl_4$ was treated but these were significantly decreased by FF-8 strain treatment. The hepatic concentration of glutathione in the current glutathione-enriched FF-8 strain fed animal was approximately twice as high as the normal, but this was slightly increased in response to $CCl_4$ plus glutathione-enriched FF-8 strain. The increased liver triglyceride concentration due to the $CCl_4$ treatment was significantly decreased by FF-8 strain and the reduced level reached to that of normal group. Administration of FF-8 strain in normal rat did not show any signs of harmful effects. Therefore, the current findings suggest that FF-8 strain could be an effective antioxidant with no or negligible side-effects and it might be useful for the purpose of protection treatment of hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in $CCl_4$-treatment in rat.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2019

Although there has been many studies about the co-administration of herb formula and western medicine, there is none about obesity. The aim of this study was to report the effects of co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin on two obese patients for about 2~4 months. During the treatment, we checked body weight and body composition, and collected blood samples to evaluate liver, kidney, thyroid function and lipid profile. This treatment not only decreased body weight but also improved body composition and lipid profile in both patients. There was no hepatic or renal toxicity, nor any serious side effects of treatment. This study demonstrated that co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin is a safe and effective therapy to lose weight and improve metabolic parameters for obese patients. Further large-scale clinical trials are needed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of the combination of herbal and western medicines.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.449-453
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• 2007

Trigeminal neuralgia is defined as "a sudden, usually unilateral, brief stabbing recurrent pain in the distribution of one or more branches of the fifth cranial nerve" by the International Association for the Study of Pain(IASP). Trigeminal neuralgia is classified as an idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia with no apparent cause and a symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia which is caused by a structural lesion such as brain tumor. Over 80% of the tumors are meningioma, acoustic neuroma, and epidermoid tumors. Symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia can not be excluded even if old-aged patient does not have abnormal neurologic sign and symptom, and good response to pharmacotherapy. Therefore, initial examinations such as MRI or CT are essential to exclude symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia. When compared with CT, MRI, especially gadolinium enhanced MRI, has an increased sensitivity in the detection of intracranial lesions. The most effective medical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is carbamazepine. The most common side effects of carbamazepine include drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, nausea, anorexia. Hepatotoxicity, bone marrow depression are the most feared side effect of carbamazepine therapy but occurs rarely. It require periodic complete blood cell counts as well as hepatic and renal function tests. It has been recommended that complete blood cell counts is done every 2 weeks for the first 2months and then quaterly thereafter. Oxcarbazepine can be used if neutropenia occurs.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2003

Purpose: Hepatic allografts from donors with hepatitis B core antibody have been demonstrated to transmit hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to recipients after liver transplantation (LT). The efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) to prevent de novo hepatitis B was investigated by comparing active immunization in the early phase to HBIg monotherapy in the late phase of pediatric liver transplants at Samsung Medical Center. Methods: Among pediatric liver transplants, from May, 1996 to June, 2002, 15 recipients who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (-) received an allograft from a donor with hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) (+). Except two who died from unrelated causes, eleven of 13 recipients were HBsAb (+), and 2 were naive (HBsAb(-), HBcAb(-)). All patients were vaccinated for HBV before LT. In the early phase (January, 1997~November, 1997, 3 patients), HBsAb (+) recipients received booster vaccination after LT. In the late phase (December, 1997~, 10 patients), all recipients were given booster vaccination and received HBIg therapy in order to maintain HBsAb titer greater than 200 IU/L. Lamivudine was given in one case because of severe side effect of HBIg. We retrospectively analyzed the effect of the preventive therapy for de novo hepatitis B through medical records. Results: De novo hepatitis B developed in three of 13 recipients (23.1%). All of 3 patients who received active immunization in the early phase became HBsAg (+) at 7~19 months after transplantation. One of them was naive before LT and the other two were HBsAb (+). All of 10 recipients who were given HBIg in the late phase remained HBsAg (-) at 7~55 months' follow-up. Conclusion: Passive immunization with HBIg was effective for prevention of de novo hepatitis B in HBsAg (-) recipients of hepatic allografts from HBcAb (+) donors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2008

Purpose: To assess the toxicity and tumor response induced by $DCVac/IR^{(R)}$ dendritic cell(DC) immunotherapy combined with irradiation for refractory colorectal cancer patients with multiple liver metastases. Materials and Methods: Between May 2004 and November 2006, applicants from a pool of refractory colorectal cancer patients with multiple liver metastases were enrolled. The patients were registered after having signed the informed consent form, which had been approved by the Institutional Review Board from the Dong-A University and Busan National University Hospital. DCs were obtained from peripheral blood of each patient, and then cultured in vitro. A total of $6{\times}10^6$ DCs were packed into a vial($DCVac/IR^{(R)}$, 0.5 ml) at the convenience of each patient's schedule. On the day before and on the day of each vaccination, each patient received a 4 Gy radiation dose to the target tumor. On the day of vaccination, the indicated dose of autologous DCs was injected into the irradiated tumor using ultrasound-guided needle injection procedures. A total of four vaccinations were scheduled at three 2-week intervals and one 4 week interval at the Dong-A University and Busan National University Hospital. If the tumor status was deemed to be stable or responding to therapy, an additional vaccination dose or two was approved at 4 week intervals beyond the fourth immunization. A tolerance test for DCs was conducted by injecting a range of doses($3{\times}10^6\;to\;12{\times}10^6$ DCs) after the 3rd injection. Moreover, the maximal tolerable dose was applied to additional patients. Treatment safety was evaluated in all patients who had at least one injection. Treatment feasibility was evaluated by the 10th week by assessing the response of patients having at least 4 injections. For systemic toxicities, the evaluation was performed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, whereas adverse effects were recorded using common WHO toxicity criteria. Results: Of the 24 registered patients, 22 received the DCs injections. Moreover, of the 14 patients that applied for the tolerance test, only 11 patients completed it because 3 patients withdrew their testing agreement. A grade 3 or more side effect, which was possibly related to the DC injection, did not occur in additional patients. The $12{\times}10^6$ DC injection was identified as the maximum tolerable dose, and was then injected in an additional 8 patients. Patients tolerated the injection fairly well, with no fatal side effects. In order to assess the feasibility of DC immunotherapy, the response was evaluated in other hepatic lesions outside of the targeted hepatic lesion. The response evaluation was performed in 15 of the 17 patients who received at least 4 injections. Stable and progressive disease was found in 4 and 11 patients, respectively. Conclusion: The DC-based immunotherapy and radiotherapy is theoretically synergistic for the local control and systemic control. The $DCVac/IR^{(R)}$ immunotherapy combined with irradiation was tolerable and safe in the evaluated cases of refractory colorectal cancer with multiple liver metastases. Future work should include well designed a phase II clinical trials.