• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.168-174
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• 1998

This study was conducted to determine whether Mildronate, an analogue of carnitine, influences blood alcohol concentration and hang-over syndrome in rabbits and healthy college male students. In the animal study, ten rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. One hundred mg per 1kg body weight of Mildronate was injected twice into five rabbits before injecting 50% ethanol; the rest of rabbits were injected with saline. The human study was performed with two sections. Each section of the study was conducted by a two-phase cross-over design with a four day wash-out period. All volunteers took Mildronate in one phase, and took a placebo in the next phase. The difference between the two sections was related to the time of taking the Mildronate pill and the amount of alcohol consumed. Blood alcohol concentrations were not significantly different between in those taking Mildronate and in those taking the placebo in both the human and the animal study. However, the concentration of serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST, GOT), the indicator of liver cell damage, was lowered in those taking Mildronate, compared to those taking the placebo. Also, headache and heartburn among hang-over syndrome patients were less severe with Mildronate. In conclusion, taking Mildronate prior to drinking alcohol can somewhat reduce liver cell damage and hang-over syndrome without stimulating alcohol metabolism.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2005

The present investigation was undertaken in vivo to determine whether the functional alterations of hepatic mitochondria induced by ethanol might be prevented by taurine. We examined the effects of supplementation of taurine on hepatic mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the chronic ethanol-administered rats. Isolated hepatic mitochondria from three groups of rats were functionally tested by an analysis of $\beta-hydroxbutyrate-supported$ respiration and the coupling of this process to ATP synthesis in the presence of ADP. The three groups were control group(CO), ethanol(60g/L) administered group (AL), and ethanol (60g/L) + taurine (5g/L) supplemented group (AT). Ethanol and/or taurine were given in drinking water for 10 weeks. The mitochondria from AL group had lower state 4 respiratory rate, respiratory control (RC) ratio and ADP : O(P/O) ratio than those from CO and AT group. It showed that the ethanol administered rats were less coupled and thus less efficient with respect to mitochondrial ATP synthesis than both control rats and ethanol + taurine supplemented rats. It suggests that taurine supplementation might improve the impaired oxidative phosphorylation efficiency in mitochondrial dysfunction that is recognized as a cause of liver diseases in chronic ethanol consumption.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2014

An attempt was made to assess metal ionic toxicity levels of different fishes in the polluted rivers viz., Buriganga and Turag. Fish samples collected from two polluted rivers were analyzed for the levels of metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn in order to elucidate the status of these contaminants in fish meant for human consumption. The detected concentrations of Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn ions in fish species collected from the polluted rivers were below the toxic levels and did not appear to pose a threat. Among the analyzed metals, Cd and Pb ions were detected above the permissible levels in liver and muscle tissues of stinging catfish (Heteropneustesfossilis), spotted snakehead (Channapunctata) and wallago (Wallagoattu) collected from the polluted rivers causing toxicity for human consumption. Stinging catfish (Heteropneustesfossilis) was the species found to highly bioaccumulate these metals. Fish species bioconcentrated appreciable amounts of Cd and Pb as toxic metals in the liver as compared to the muscle. Levels of these toxic metals varied depending on different tissues in fish species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2010

Echinococcus granulosus, an intestinal tapeworm of dogs and other canids, infects humans in its larval stage and causes human echinococcosis or hydatid disease. In the Republic of Korea, 31 parasite-proven human echinococcosis cases have been reported, most of which were imported from the Middle East. We recently examined a 61-year-old Korean man who had a large cystic mass in his liver. ELISA was negative for tissue parasitic infections, including echinococcosis, cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, and sparganosis. The patient underwent surgery to remove the cyst, and the resected cyst was processed histopathologically for microscopic examinations. In sectioned cyst tissue, necrotizing protoscolices with disintegrated hooklets of E. granulosus were found. In some areas, only freed, fragmented hooklets were detected. The patient had traveled to western and central Europe in 1996, and had no other history of overseas travel. We report our patient as a hepatic echinococcosis case which was probably imported from Europe.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Different fatty acids exert different health benefits. This study investigated the potential protective effects of perilla, olive, and safflower oils on high-fat diet-induced obesity and colon inflammation. MATERIALS/METHODS: Five-week old, C57BL/6J mice were assigned to 5 groups: low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD) and high-fat diet supplemented with-perilla oil (HPO), olive oil (HOO), and safflower oil (HSO). After 16 weeks of the experimental period, the mice were sacrificed, and blood and tissues were collected. The serum was analyzed for obesity- and inflammation-related biomarkers. Gene expression of the biomarkers in the liver, adipose tissue, and colon tissue was analyzed. Micro-computed tomography (CT) analysis was performed one week before sacrifice. RESULTS: Treatment with all the three oils significantly improved obesity-induced increases in body weight, liver weight, and epididymal fat weight as well as serum triglyceride and leptin levels. Treatment with perilla oil (PO) and safflower oil (SO) increased adiponectin levels. The micro-CT analysis revealed that PO and SO reduced abdominal fat volume considerably. The mRNA expression of lipogenic genes was reduced in all the three oilsupplemented groups and PO upregulated lipid oxidation in the liver. Supplementation of oils improved macroscopic score, increased colon length, and decreased serum endotoxin and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the colon. The abundance of Bifidobacteria was increased and that of Enterobacteriaceae was reduced in the PO-supplemented group. All three oils reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels, as indicated by the mRNA expression. In addition, PO increased the expression of tight junction proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data indicate that the three oils exert similar anti-obesity effects. Interestingly, compared with olive oil and SO, PO provides better protection against high-fat diet-induced colon inflammation, suggesting that PO consumption helps manage inflammation-related diseases and provides omega-3 fatty acids needed by the body.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1235-1240
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• 2012

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public-health problem in Southeast Asia. It is associated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases and the evidence strongly indicates that liver fluke infection is the etiology of cholangiocarcinoma. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate Opisthorchis viverrini metacercarial infection in cyprinoid fish collected from 32 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Northeastern Thailand during one year period from February 2010 to February 2011. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, data being collected with pepsin-HCl digestion and stereomicroscope, respectively. Analysis was performed using SPSS Windows Version 12.0. Results: A total of 640 Cyprinidae family fish including 5 species were collected from different study sites, and investigated for O. viverrini metacercariae. The infection rate was 12.3% (79/640), predominantly in Cyclocheilichthys armatus, C. repasson, Puntioplites proctzysron, Hampala macrolepitota and Hampala dispar, respectively. The prevalence of O. viverrini metaceria in Nakhon Ratchasima area was 78.1%, predominantly in Sida and KiaKham Thale So. Conclusion: This findings stress that natural fish species in rural communities are still a source of O viverrini infection and put local people at risk, therefore public awareness and prevention campaigns are urgently required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7785-7792
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• 2014

Background: Valproic acid (VPA) is a potent anticancer and antiangiogenic agent. However, design and synthesis of chemical derivatives with improved antiangiogenic and anticancer activities are still necessary. In this study a library of novel derivatives of VPA was synthesized and tested. Methods: A human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and a human normal embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293) were exposed to various concentrations of VPA derivatives for 24 hours and cell viability was checked by MTT colorimetric assay. Anti-angiogenic properties were evaluated in transgenic zebrafish embryos. Results: N-valproylglycine derivatives suppressed survival almost 70% (p value 0.001) in HepG2 cells but only 10-12% in HEK 293 cells (p value 0.133). They also suppressed angiogenic blood vessel formation by 80% when used between $2-20{\mu}M$ in zebrafish embryos. Valproic acid hydrazides showed moderate level of anticancer activity by affecting 30-50% (p value 0.001) of cell viability in HepG2 cells and 8-10% in HEK293 cells (p value 0.034). Conclusion: The majority of compounds in this study showed potent and stronger antiangiogenic and anticancer activity than VPA. They proved selectively toxic to cancer cells and safer for normal cells. Moreover, these compounds inhibited developmental angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos. Based on the fact that liver is a highly vascularized organ, in case of liver carcinoma these compounds have the potential to target the pathological angiogenesis and could be an effective strategy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.701-707
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• 2013

The present study was carried out to investigate the antiobesity and hypocholesterolemic effects of Bifidobacteria animalis DY-64 (B. animalis DY-64), a lactic acid bacterium isolated from the human intestine, in rats fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed either a normal (N) or high-fat/high-cholesterol (HFC) diet without or with oral administration of B. animalis DY-64 (N-BA, HFC-BA). The gain in body weight, and liver and adipose tissue weights of the HFC group were heavier than that of the HFC-BA group. Serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol, and leptin levels of the HFC group, which were significantly elevated compared to those of the N group, dropped by 19, 18, 21, and 13% in the HFC-BA group, respectively, whereas the serum HDL-cholesterol level markedly increased. However, serum TG, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and leptin levels were not significantly different among the N groups (N, N-BA) with or without B. animalis DY-64 administration. TC and TG levels of the liver as well as the TG level of the adipose tissue were significantly reduced in the HFC-BA group. In addition, HR-LPL activity in adipose tissue was also lower in the HFC-BA group than in the HFC group. These results suggest that B. animalis DY-64 isolated from the human intestine exerts hypocholesterolemic effects by reducing serum and liver cholesterol levels and plays a role in the prevention of obesity induced by HFC diet.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2041-2047
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• 2016

Background: Liver cancer (LC) is the sixth world most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. Due to the importance and necessity of awareness about the incidence and mortality of diseases to perform prevention programs, this study focused on data for LC and its relationship with the human development index (HDI) and its components in Asia in 2012. Materials and Methods: This ecological study was based on GLOBOCAN data for Asian countries. We assessed correlations between standardized incidence rates (SIR) and standardized mortality rates (SMR) of LC with HDI and its components using of SPSS18. Results: A total of 582,420 incident cases and 557,097 deaths were recorded in Asian countries in 2012. The five with the highest SIR were Mongolia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Republic of Korea and Thailand and those with the highest SMR were Mongolia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. A negative relation was observed between HDI and LC for SIR of 0.049 (P=0.748) and for SMR of 0.07 (P=0.645), with life expectancy at birth a positive relation for SIR of 0.061 (P=0.687) and a negative relation for SMR of 0.079 (P=0.603), with the average years of education a negative relation fo SIR of 0.476 (p=0.952) and for SMR of 0.032 (P=0.832), and with the country income level per person a negative relation for SMI of 0.11 (p=0.465) and for SMR of 0.113 (P=0.455). Conclusions: The incidence of LC is more in less developed and developing countries but statistically significant correlations were not found between standardized incidence and mortality rates of LC, and HDI and its dimensions.