• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.336-344
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• 2015

The capacity for liver regeneration involves a variety of nutritional factors. Vitamin C has multiple metabolic and antioxidant functions. In this study, we investigated the role of vitamin C in liver regeneration following hepatectomy in senescence marker protein (SMP)-30 knockout (KO) mice. Partial hepatectomy was performed by resecting the median and left lateral lobes of mice. Vitamin C accelerated liver recovery in SMP30 KO mice treated with vitamin C (KV). The livers of the KV mice exhibited lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase and lower injury than those of the KO mice. Increased type II transforming growth factor-β receptor (TGF-βRII)-mediated regeneration signaling was accompanied by HGF and cMet in the KV but not the KO mice. Consistent with this, the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, including cyclin D1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), increased rapidly in the KV mice. Enhanced activation of ERK and GSK-3β proteins and a significantly increased number of binuclear hepatocytes were also detected in the livers of the KV mice. Moreover, the KV mice synthesized the highest levels of albumin. These data suggest that treating SMP30 knockout mice with vitamin C resulted in earlier recovery and liver regeneration by activation of the regeneration system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.423-429
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pine (Pinus densiflora) needle extracts on hepatic antioxidative system in rats fed high-cholesterol diet. Eight-week old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups; normal diet group (CON), 0.5% cholesterol diet group (0.5% CHOL), 0.5% cholesterol diet and pine needle extracts prepared by using hot water group (HOT water), and 0.5% cholesterol diet and pine needle extracts prepared by using sub-supercritical $CO_2$ group (Sub-supercritical). The serum ALP, AST, and ALT activities were increased by 0.5% cholesterol diet supplementation, but treatment with pine needle extracts showed decrease compared with 0.5% CHOL group. The SOD activity in liver at 0.5% cholesterol diet group was more decreased than control group while Sub-supercritical group had significantly higher SOD activity than 0.5% CHOL group. Moreover, groups with pine needle extracts supplementation had higher level of GPx in liver than 0.5% cholesterol diet group. These results suggest that pine needle extracts increased antioxidative activities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.249-256
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• 2003

Pyroligneous liquid(PL) is produced by carbonizing Oak in 350-40$0^{\circ}C$. It is traditionally used for treating stress-related disorder, hepatic disease, immune disorder, G-I disorder and inflammatory disease. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-stress effects of PL. The experiments were performed with the use of young(9 weeks of age) male rats of SD strain and the male ICR mice (20-25 g). Animals of the normal group were not exposed to any stress and the control group were exposed to stress. The rats of the Ginseng, diazepam(BZ) and PL supplementary group were orally administered once a day 100 g of Ginseng extract-kg body weight, 5 mg of BZ/kg body weight and 1 ml of PL100 g body weight and then exposed to stress. The mice of the Ginseng, BZ and PL supplementary group were given water containing 100 g of Ginseng extract/100 ml potable water, 5 mg of BZ/kg 100 ml of drinking water and 10 ml of PL/100 ml of drinking water and exposed to stress. Animals were given materials for 7 days after stabilizing them, and then were given supplementary materials for 5 days with stress. They were stressed by immobilization for 30 minutes and then the animals were exposed to electroshocks for 5 minutes. We recorded stress-related behavioral changes of experimental animals by stressing them using the Etho-vision system and measured the levels of corticosterone in blood While stress suppressed locomotor activity of animals, PL-supplementation partially blocked the stress effect of locomotion in rats and mice, and also partially blocked stress-induced behavioral changes such as freezing, burrowing, smelling and rearing activity in rats and freezing, grooming, tailing and rearing in mice. The staying time of stressed rats and mice in open area decreased and in closed area it increased relatively in elevated plus maze test. However, these changes also partially were blocked by PL-supplementation. PL-supplementation decreased levels of blood corticosterone increased by stress in rats. These results suggest that PL protects partially the living organism from stress attack in some cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1134-1139
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of four kinds of tea (Camellia sinensis) extracts on the antioxidant defense systems as well as the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in ethanol administered ICR mice. According to the results, treatment with puerh tea significantly increased the superoxide dismutase activity and glutathion reductase activity in liver. In addition, the group treated with oolong tea exhibited higher superoxide dismutase activity and glutathion reductase activity in serum than those of puerh tea, green tea and black tea treated groups. The oolong tea and puerh tea also reduced malondealdehyde contents in both liver and serum. These results suggested that puerh tea and oolong tea were the most effective against alcohol-induced oxidative damage among the Camellia sinensis teas. On the other hand, in the measurement of alcohol break-down enzyme activities, the group treated with green tea exhibited the highest hepatic ADH and ALDH activities, suggesting that the group treated with green tea might be useful for alcohol down-regulation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.455-469
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• 2021

Purpose: The rs641738 C>T in membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing protein 7 (MBOAT7) is implicated, along with the rs738409 C>G polymorphism in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The association of these polymorphisms and NAFLD are investigated in Hispanic children with obesity. Methods: Obese children with and without NAFLD were enrolled at a pediatric tertiary care health system and genotyped for MBOAT7 rs641738 C>T and PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G. NAFLD was characterized by the ultrasonographic presence of hepatic steatosis along with persistently elevated liver enzymes. Genetic variants and demographic and biochemical data were analyzed for the effects on NAFLD. Results: Among 126 enrolled subjects, 84 in the case group had NAFLD and 42 in the control group did not. The two groups had similar demographic distribution. NAFLD was associated with abnormal liver enzymes and elevated triglycerides and cholesterol (p<0.05). Children with NAFLD had higher percentage of PNPLA3 GG genotype at 70.2% versus 31.0% in non-NAFLD, and lower MBOAT7 TT genotype at 4.8% versus 16.7% in non-NAFLD (p<0.05). PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G had an additive effect in NAFLD; however, MBOAT7 rs641738 C>T had no effects alone or synergistically with PNPLA3 polymorphism. NAFLD risk increased 3.7-fold in subjects carrying PNPLA3 GG genotype and decreased in MBOAT7 TT genotype. Conclusion: In Hispanic children with obesity, PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G polymorphism increased the risk for NAFLD. The role of MBOAT7 rs641738 variant in NAFLD is less evident.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.123-129
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in imaging quality and dose difference between intra-venous (IV) and intra-arterial (IA) liver dynamic computed tomography (CT). Herein, retrospective, blinded analysis was conducted to analyze signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios in cases of patients who underwent IV or IA liver dynamic CT for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), an interventional procedure for hepatocellular carcinoma. The dose length product (DLP) value stored in Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) was used to calculate the effective dose and thereby compare differences in the dose between the two methods. The mean liver and spleen signal to noise ratio (SNR) was greater in IV-liver dynamic CT than in IA-liver dynamic CT; however, contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was higher in IA-liver dynamic CT than in IV-liver dynamic CT. However, there were no differences in DLP and effective dose between the two methods. In conclusion, our findings showed that IA-liver dynamic CT showed a similar effective dose and superior CNR compared with IV-liver dynamic CT. Further studies must analyze 3D angiography CT of the hepatic artery to clearly distinguish the feeding artery, which is the essential step in interventional procedures for hepatocellular carcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.482-497
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• 2023

Sonazoid, a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent, was introduced for the diagnosis of hepatic nodules. To clarify the issues with Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the Korean Society of Radiology and Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology collaborated on the guidelines. The guidelines are de novo, evidence-based, and selected using an electronic voting system for consensus. These include imaging protocols, diagnostic criteria for HCC, diagnostic value for lesions that are inconclusive on other imaging results, differentiation from non-HCC malignancies, surveillance of HCC, and treatment response after locoregional and systemic treatment for HCC.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1628-1639
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• 2021

Objective: Based on the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2018 (LI-RADS, v2018), this study aimed to analyze LR-5 diagnostic performance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when threshold growth as a major feature is replaced by a more HCC-specific ancillary feature, as well as the frequency of threshold growth in HCC and non-HCC malignancies and its association with tumor size. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included treatment-naive patients who underwent gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRIs for focal hepatic lesions and surgery between January 2009 and December 2016. The frequency of major and ancillary features was evaluated for HCC and non-HCC malignancies, and the LR-category was assessed. Ancillary features that were significantly more prevalent in HCC were then used to either replace threshold growth or were added as additional major features, and the diagnostic performance of the readjusted LR category was compared to the LI-RADS v2018. Results: A total of 1013 observations were analyzed. Unlike arterial phase hyperenhancement, washout, or enhancing capsule which were more prevalent in HCCs than in non-HCC malignancies (521/616 vs. 18/58, 489/616 vs. 19/58, and 181/616 vs. 5/58, respectively; p < 0.001), threshold growth was more prevalent in non-HCC malignancies than in HCCs (11/23 vs. 17/119; p < 0.001). The mean size of non-HCC malignancies showing threshold growth was significantly smaller than that of non-HCC malignancies without threshold growth (22.2 mm vs. 42.9 mm, p = 0.040). Similar results were found for HCCs; however, the difference was not significant (26.8 mm vs. 33.1 mm, p = 0.184). Additionally, Fat-in-nodule was more frequent in HCCs than in non-HCC malignancies (99/616 vs. 2/58, p = 0.010). When threshold growth and fat-in-nodule were considered as ancillary and major features, respectively, LR-5 sensitivity (73.2% vs. 73.9%, p = 0.289) and specificity (98.2% vs. 98.5%, p > 0.999) were comparable to the LI-RADS v2018. Conclusion: Threshold growth is not a significant diagnostic indicator of HCC and is more common in non-HCC malignancies. The diagnostic performance of LR-5 was comparable when threshold growth was recategorized as an ancillary feature and replaced by a more HCC-specific ancillary feature.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1066-1076
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the 2018 Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) Practice Guidelines (hereafter, PG) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI, compared to the Liver Imaging-Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) version 2018 (hereafter, v2018). Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to October 2015, treatment-naïve hepatic lesions (≥ 1 cm) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis were retrospectively evaluated. For each lesion, three radiologists independently analyzed the imaging features and classified the lesions into categories according to the 2018 KLCA-NCC PG and LI-RADS v2018. The imaging features and categories were determined by consensus. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to compare the per-lesion diagnostic performance of the 2018 KLCA-NCC PG and LI-RADS v2018 using the consensus data. Results: In total, 422 lesions (234 HCCs, 45 non-HCC malignancies, and 143 benign lesions) from 387 patients (79% male; mean age, 59 years) were included. In all lesions, the definite HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a higher sensitivity and lower specificity than LR-5 (LI-RADS v2018) (87.2% [204/234] vs. 80.8% [189/234], p < 0.001; 86.2% [162/188] vs. 91.0% [171/188], p = 0.002). However, in lesions of size ≥ 2 cm, the definite HCC had a higher sensitivity than the LR-5 (86.8% [164/189] vs. 82.0 (155/189), p = 0.002) without a reduction in the specificity (80.0% [48/60] vs. 83.3% [50/60], p = 0.15). In all lesions, the sensitivity and specificity of the definite/probable HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) and LR-5/4 did not differ significantly (89.7% [210/234] vs. 91.5% [214/234], p = 0.204; 83.5% [157/188] vs. 79.3% [149/188], p = 0.071). Conclusion: For the diagnosis of HCC of size ≥ 2 cm, the definite HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a higher sensitivity than LR-5, without a reduction in specificity. The definite/probable HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a similar sensitivity and specificity to that those of the LR-5/4.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2010

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of water extracts from Phellinus linteus on lipid composition and antioxidative system in rats fed high fat high cholesterol diet. Rats were divided into four experimental groups which are composed of normal diet group, high fat high cholesterol diet group, high fat high cholesterol diet with 50 mg/kg b.w water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented group (PA group), high fat high cholesterol diet with 100 mg/kg b.w water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented group (PB group). The serum TG and cholesterol contents of the water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups (PA and PB groups) were decreased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. The serum HDL-cholesterol contents of the water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups were increased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. The serum LDL-cholesterol and AI of the water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups were significantly decreased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. Supplementation of water extracts from Phellinus linteus groups (PA and PB groups) resulted in increased activities of superoxide dismutase. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) were increased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. TBARS values in liver and plasma were reduced in water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups. These result suggest that supplementation of water extracts from Phellinus linteus may have a pronounced impact on lipid composition and antioxidative system in the rats fed high fat high cholesterol diet.