• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2004

This study investigated the effects of carnitine and/or ${\gamma}$ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation on lipid profiles and some immune related nutrient in mice. Balb/c male mice were orally treated with either an AIN-76 diet (Con), a control diet plus carnitine (CS, 0.5 g/kg bw), a control diet plus GABA (GS, 0.5 g/kg bw) or a control diet plus carnitine plus GABA (CGS, 0.25 g/kg bw, respectively) for 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in feed consumption, energy intake, body weight gain or feed efficiency ratio among the groups during the experimental period. However, abdominal fat deposits were smaller in CS, GS and CGS groups compared with the Con group. Serum and liver triglycerides also were lower in CS, GS and CGS and serum total cholesterol was significantly lower in the CGS group compared with the Con group. Serum LDL cholesterol was lower in the CGS group and liver HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in the CS group compared with Con group. In serum, stearic acid and selecholeic acid were lower, but arachidic acid was higher in the CS group. Liver stearic acid was higher but oleic acid lower in CGS group compared with Con group. In carnitine supplemented groups, serum and liver nonesterified carnitine (NEC), acidsoluble acylcarnitine (ASAC), total carnitine (TCNE) concentrations were higher in only the CS group, not CGS group. Serum vitamin A and E concentrations were not different among the groups. These results may suggest that carnitine and/or GABA supplementation improves lipid profiles in mice, but did not affect the immune-related nutrients that we measured under the experimental conditions of this study.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.269-275
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• 2007

The toxicity of two species of puffer fish, Takifugu pardalis and T. niphobles, collected from the coastal regions of Korea was determined using a mouse bioassay. In T. pardalis collected at Tongyeong, the proportion of toxic specimens containing ${\geq}10MU/g$ exceeded 90% for the skin, fins, liver, intestine, ovary, and gallbladder, 11.1% for the testis, and 6.9% for the muscle. In each of the organs, the highest toxin levels were several tens (14-39) of mouse units (MU) per gram in the muscle, testis, and eyeball, but thousands (1,444-5,755) of MU per gram in the skin, liver, intestine, ovary, and gallbladder. The organs of T. pardalis exhibited remarkable variation in toxicity. In T. niphobles, the proportion of toxic specimens exceeded 90% for the ovary and skin, 60-80% for the fins, liver, intestine, and gallbladder, and 4.5% for the muscle; no toxicity was detected in the testis or eyeball using the mouse bioassay. The highest toxin levels were thousands (2,291-7,777) of MU per gram in the liver, intestine, ovary, and gallbladder, hundreds(146-328) of MU per gram in the skin and fins, and 18 MU/g in the muscle. Takifugu niphobles toxicity also exhibited remarkable regional variation. The toxicity in the edible muscle of T. pardalis and T. niphobles was at acceptable levels for human consumption, while the toxicity of the skin of both species of puffer fish was very high, so that care must be taken when used for human consumption.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.400-405
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg (HDT) and HDTmix extracts on the biochemical analysis, histopathology and histomorphometry of liver and kidney in carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ administrated rats. Extract was prepared by autoclave ($121^{\circ}C$, 15 psi, 3 hours) and filtered with nylon cloth and filter paper then freezing dried. In blood chemistry analysis, HDTmix group, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were significantly (p<0.01) decreased compared to the $CCl_4$ group, on 3rd day, respectively. In histologic and histomorphometry analysis, the $CCl_4-related$ hepatopathies and nephropathies were dramatically decreased (3rd, 5th day), and well corresponded to the histopathological changes significantly (p<0.01) decreases of degenerative regions, degenerative cells and glomeruli were detected in liver and kidney with significantly decreases of $CCl_4$ group. HDTmix group, quite similar effects on the liver and kidney were observed compared to that of HDT extracts group but more favorable efficacies were detected especially HDTmix also inhibit the hepatopathies (1 day), in which HDT extract does not showed any inhibit effects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

Some of the edible plants like apricot kernel, flaxseed, and cassava generate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) when cyanogenic glycosides are hydrolyzed. Rhodanese (thiosulfate: cyanide sulfurtransferases of TSTs; EC: 2.8.1.1) is a sulfide-detoxifying enzymes that converts cyanides into thiocyanate and sulfite. This enzyme exists in a liver and kidneys in abundance. The present study is to evaluate the conversion of apricot cyanogenic glycosides into thiocyanate by human hepatic (HepG2) and colonal (HT-29) cells, and the induction of the enzymes in the rat. The effects of short term exposure of amygdalin to rats have also been investigated. Cytosolic, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions from HepG2 and HT-29 cells and normal male Spraque-Dawley rats were used. When apricot kernel extract was used as substrate, the rhodanese activity in liver cells was higher than the activity in colon cells, both from established human cell line or animal tissue. The cytosolic fractions showed the highest rhodanese activity in all of the cells, exhibiting two to three times that of microsomal fractions. Moreover, the cell homogenates could metabolize apricot extract to thiocyanate suggesting cellular hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycoside to cyanide ion, followed by a sulfur transfer to thiocyanate. After the consumption of amygdalin for 14 days, growth of rats began to decrease relative to that of the control group though a significant change in thyroid has not been observed. The resulting data support the conversion to thiocyanate, which relate to the thyroid dysfunction caused by the chronic dietary intake of cyanide. Because Korean eats a lot of Brassicaceae vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and radish, the results of this study might indicate the involvement of rhodanese in prolonged exposure of cyanogenic glycosides.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.165-171
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• 1990

Human Fasciola hepatica infection is a rare entity involving infestation of the liver and biliary tree with adult flukes. which can result in hepatitis. cirrhos is and biliary tract inflammation. obstruction and lithiasis. The patient had the typical diagnostic tetrad of fever. eosinophilic leukocytos is. tender hepatomegaly and fluke ova in the stools. Theatment consistes of Emetine hydrochloride administration for hepatic involvement and common bile duct exploration for removal of flukes. with cholecystectomy for associated cholelithiasis. The combination of medical and surgical therapy cal be expected to produce an arrest of this infection. The removed liver revealed eggs of the fasciols species in the intrahepatic bile duct. The clinical history. pathological findings and treatment of this case were described.

• Korean Journal of Korean Medical Institute of Dermatology and Aesthetics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.53-90
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• 2005

Purpose: Contents of astragaloside I, II and IV, cytotoxicity, anticancer activity, immunomodulatory activity and antioxidant capacity were to be compared as a function of the cultivated years as one, three, five and seven years. Method: Major components of Astragali membranacei Radix were separated as astragaloside I, astragaloside II, astragaloside IV by HPLC analysis. Cytotoxicity and anticancer activities were measured by MTT and SRB assay. For immunomodulatory activity, the secretion of IL -6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$, NK cell activation and macrophage activation were observed as well as kinetics of responding to human T cells by a microphysiometer. In vitro antioxidant activities were measured by several radical scavenging activities of superoxide anion radican, DPPH, LDL and linoleic acid. For in vivo activity, the activation of SOD, GSH-px, catalase, ALDH and ADH was measured as well the relative weight of liver. Result : 1. For HPLC analysis, the contents of all of astragaloside I, astragaloside II, astragaloside IV were in order of three, five, one and seven years. 2. The cytotoxicity of normal human lung cell line, HEL299 showed lower than 18% in adding 0.25 mg/ml, and 28.9% in adding 1.0 mg/ml of water extract of seven year root. For methanol extracts, three year root showed highest cytotoxicity as 35.2 % and there was no difference between the cultivated years. 3. For anticancer activities, methanol extracts of one and three year roots showed relatively high inhibition of human stomach cancer cells, AGS, breast cancer cells, MCF-7, lung cancer cells, A549 and liver cancer cell, Hep3B as well as high selectivities. 4. The water extract of seven year root could yield high secretion of IL-6 from both human Band T cells while the methanol extracts of three and five year roots secreted high amounts of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ from both Band T cells. 5. As a result of in vitro antioxidant activities, both water and methanol extracts from five and seven year roots showed high activities for superoxide anion radical scavenging activity, inhibiting linoleic acid peroxide and contents of total phenols. 6. For in vivo tests, Mn-SOD and GSH-px activities and weight of liver were better in adding seven year root. For ALDH activity one year root was better and for ADH activity five year root. Overall speaking, seven year root showed relatively better antioxidant activities. Conclusion:There was difference of the contents of astragaloside I, astragaloside II, astragaloside IV according to cultivation year. Methanol extract showed better activities of anticancer and immune activation rather than water extract Interestingly enough, for methanol extracts, overall activities were improved as the cultivation year increased. There might be further investigation required for the clinical uses of the results as several biological activities varied according to the cultivated year of Astragali membranacei Radix.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 2011

T cells play a key role in viral infection. However, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HCV-specific T cells are dysfunctional and impaired in the liver, which is the primary site for HCV replication. There are multiple potential mechanisms for HCV-specific T cell dysfunction including induction of immune inhibitory pathways (program death-1; PD-1, cytotoxic t lymphocyte associated antigen-4; CTLA-4) and immune tolerance induced specific for the liver. However, the interaction between hepatocytes and HCV-specific CD8 T cells has not clearly established. In this study, we confirmed huh (human hepatoma) 7.5 cells expressing HLA (human leukocyte antigen) A2 presented antigen to activate HCV-specific CD8 T cells in HLA A2-restricted manner and expression of PD-L (program death ligand) 1 on huh7.5 cells reduced HCV-specific CD8 T cell activation, suggesting an immune modulatory activity. Loss of HCV-specific tetramer responses following antigenic stimulation correlated with increased caspase-3 activity. In addition, PD-L1 on huh7.5 cells rescued HCV-specific CD8 T cells from apoptosis. Our results suggest that the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1 can recover the function of HCV-specific CD8 T cells in the liver, which could be applied in therapy of HCV chronic infection.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2009

The five viscera[五藏], one of the key concepts from Traditional Oriental Medicine in understanding the nature of human body, endows the characteristic of five phases[五行] on the five representative organs, based on the five phases theory[五行論]. Although the theory from "Geummun-Sangseo(今文尙書)" which states the order of 'liver-mok[肝木] heart-hwa[心火] pancreas-to[脾土] lung-geum[肺金] kidney-su[腎水]' is now widely approved by present-day academics concerning arrangement of five changes and the five viscera, there are some other less-known theories of arrangement. "Gomun-Sangseo[古文尙書]" had suggested the order of 'pancreas-mok[脾木] lung-hwa[肺火] heart-to[心土] liver-geum[肝金] kidney-su[腎水]', which was never practiced, and "Dong-uisusebowon(東醫壽世保元)" of Ijema(李濟馬) expressed the theory of 'lung-mok[肺木] pancreas-hwa[脾火] heart-to[心土] liver-geum[肝金] kidney-su[腎水]'.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.53-59
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• 2023

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has no effect on normal cells, but selectively can induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Gartanin, a xanthone compound in mangosteen, has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth by arresting the cell cycle and inducing autophage. In this study, we revealed that gartanin can sensitize TRAIL-induced human liver cancer cell death. We also found that gartanin enhances DR5 expression, a death receptor for TRAIL. This effect appears to be related to CHOP activation associated with the response of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Gartanin treatment also inhibited p62 protein expression and cleaved LC3 to activate autophagy flux, which is related with TRAIL-induced cell death. Pretreatment with autophagy flux inhibitor, LY294002, inhibited gartanin-induced DR5 expression. In summary, our results reveal that the combined treatment of gartanin and TRAIL can be a valuable tool for cancer treatment.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.103-111
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• 2020

Liver cancer is the most fatal cancer that occurs worldwide. In order to diagnose liver cancer, the patient's physical condition was checked by using a CT technique using radiation. Segmentation was needed to diagnose the liver on the patient's abdominal CT scan, which the radiologists had to do manually, which caused tremendous time and human mistakes. In order to automate, researchers attempted segmentation using image segmentation algorithms in computer vision field, but it was still time-consuming because of the interactive based and the setting value. To reduce time and to get more accurate segmentation, researchers have begun to attempt to segment the liver in CT images using CNNs, which show significant performance in various computer vision fields. The pixel value, or numerical value, of the CT image is called the Hounsfield Unit (HU) value, which is a relative representation of the transmittance of radiation, and usually ranges from about -2000 to 2000. In general, deep learning researchers reduce or limit this range and use it for training to remove noise and focus on the target organ. Here, we observed that the range of HU values was limited in many studies but different in various liver segmentation studies, and assumed that performance could vary depending on the HU range. In this paper, we propose the possibility of considering HU value range as a hyper parameter. U-Net and ResUNet were used to compare and experiment with different HU range limit preprocessing of CHAOS dataset under limited conditions. As a result, it was confirmed that the results are different depending on the HU range. This proves that the range limiting the HU value itself can be a hyper parameter, which means that there are HU ranges that can provide optimal performance for various models.