• Development and Reproduction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2023

Acetaminophen [Paracetamol, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP)] is a common over-the-counter analgesic agent as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The high doses or the long-term treatment of acetaminophen via usual gavage feeding resulted in damage of testicles that presented recoverable impairment, as well as liver and kidney. The influence of acetaminophen was examined in male golden hamsters treated with acetaminophen-containing diet feeding. They were divided into 5 groups and subjected to this experiment for 4 weeks: animals housed in long photoperiod (LP) as LP control, animals housed in short photoperiod (SP) for 4 weeks as SP control (SP4), and groups of animals treated with low, middle, and high concentrations of acetaminophen (Low, Middle, High groups). Also animals housed in SP for 8 weeks were included (SP8) to contrast testicular activities, if necessary. As results, spermatozoa filled the seminiferous tubules of the testicles of animals in LP control and SP4 groups. The aspects were seen in the animals taken diets of low and middle doses of acetaminophen. The animals who fed high dose of acetaminophen showed large or small testicles. The large testicles displayed all germ cells at the steps of spermatogenesis. The small testicles presented no sperm as the animals housed in SP for 8 weeks. Thus these results indicate that acetaminophen invokes the antigonadal effects and accelerates the regressing process of the testicles in the animals compared to the animals exposed to SP.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2023

Objectives : Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen (BCL), a traditional herbal medicine, is a distilled product of condensation from the burning of fresh bamboo stems. We previously identified the anti-oxidant capacity of BCL in hepatocytes and suggested that BCL is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating oxidative stress-induced hepatocellular damage. Despite the importance of the role played by Kupffer cells in liver disease, the efficacy of BCL on Kupffer cells is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether BCL could suppress LPS-induced inflammation and LPS+ATP-induced inflammasomes in Kupffer cells. Methods : We used ImKCs, a murine immortalized Kupffer cell line to examined whether BCL inhibited LPS-induced inflammation response and oxidave stress. And, we prepared a total of 18 L of BCL, purchased from Bamboo Forest Foods Co., Ltd. (648 Samdari, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea), was concentrated using a decompression concentrator. Result : The LPS-induced release of inflammatory cytokines was abolished by BCL treatment. Also, BCL treatment suppressed the LPS+ATP-induced expression of inflammasome proteins (NLRP3, IL-1, and IL-18), and inhib β ited the release of IL-1 . BCL decreased LPS-or LPS+ATP-induc β ed reactive oxygen species production. In addition, BCL increased nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and the expression of HO-1 in a time-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest the efficacy of BCL with respect to its anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammasome effects mediated by Nrf2 in Kupffer cells.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-281
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• 2023

Objectives : Ukgan-san plus Citri Pericarpium and Pinelliae Rhizoma (UCP) is used as a traditional herbal formula in Korea and Japan for treatment of fever, fever-induced convulsions, and liver dysfunction and so on. In this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effect and underlying mechanism of UCP against oxidative stress induced by cotreatment of arachidonic acid (AA) and iron. Methods : To evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of UCP against AA + iron-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cell, cell viability and changes on apoptosis-related proteins were assessed by MTT and immunoblot analyses. The changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) were investigated against to the oxidative stress. Furthermore, to verify underlying molecular mechanism, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream target genes were examined by immunoblot analysis. Results : Treatment of UCP increased the cell viability and altered the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins such as PARP, caspase-9, caspase-3, Bcl-2. UCP also inhibited the GSH depletion, excessive ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA + iron. In addition, the Nrf2 and the Nrf2 target genes activation were increased by UCP. Conclusions : These results indicated that UCP has the ability to protect against oxidative stress-induced hepatocyte damage, which may be mediated with Nrf2 pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.586-595
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• 2023

An umbilical venous catheter (UVC) is commonly placed for central venous access in preterm or critically ill full-term neonates to provide total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and medication. However, UVCs can result in complications, including infection, portal vein thrombosis, and hepatic tissue injury. The inadvertent administration of hypertonic fluid through a malpositioned UVC can also cause hepatic parenchymal damage with mass-like fluid collection that simulates a tumorous condition during imaging. Ultrasonography and radiographic examinations play an essential role in detecting UVC-related complications. This pictorial essay aims to present the imaging findings of UVC-related hepatic complications in neonates.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.464-478
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic alcohol consumption causes oxidative stress in the body, which may accumulate excessively and cause a decline in memory; problem-solving, learning, and exercise abilities; and permanent damage to brain structure and function. Consequently, chronic alcohol consumption can cause alcohol-related diseases. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this study, the protective effects of Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz (PE) against alcohol-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment were evaluated using a mouse model. Alcohol (16%, 5 g/kg/day for 6 weeks) and PE (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day for 21 days) were administered intragastrically to mice. RESULTS: PE showed a protective effect against memory deficits and cognitive dysfunction caused by alcohol consumption, confirmed through behavioral tests such as the T-maze, object recognition, and Morris water maze tests. Additionally, PE attenuated oxidative stress by reducing lipid oxidation, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species levels in the mice's brains, livers, and kidneys. Improvement of neurotrophic factors and downregulation of apoptosis-related proteins were confirmed in the brains of mice fed low and medium concentrations of PE. Additionally, expression of antioxidant enzyme-related proteins GPx-1 and SOD-1 was enhanced in the liver of PE-treated mice, related to their inhibitory effect on oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: This suggests that PE has both neuroregenerative and antioxidant effects. Collectively, these behavioral and histological results confirmed that PE could improve alcohol-induced cognitive deficits through brain neurotrophic and apoptosis protection and modulation of oxidative stress.

• Oncology Reports
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.2045-2052
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• 2020

Although the effects of stem cells expressing anticancer genes on tumor growth have been demonstrated by many researchers in various types of cancer, relatively few studies have investigated their inhibitory effects on cancer metastasis. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effects of cytosine deaminase (CD)/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) and interferon-β (IFN-β) using genetically engineered neural stem cells (hNSCs) in a cellular and metastasis model of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The CD/5-FC method has the advantage of minimizing damage to normal tissues since it selectively targets cancer cells by the CD gene, which converts prodrug 5-FC to the drug 5-fluorouracil. Moreover, we used hNSCs as a tool to effectively deliver the anticancer genes to the tumor site. These stem cells are known to possess tumor-tropism because of chemoattractant factors expressed in cancer cells. Therefore, we ascertained the expression of these factors in A498 cells, a cell line of RCC, and identified the A498-specific migration ability of hNSCs. We also confirmed that the proliferation of A498 cells was significantly reduced by therapeutic hNSCs in the presence of 5-FC. Furthermore, we established an A498 metastasis model. In the animal experiment, the weight of the lungs increased in response to cancer metastasis, but was normalized by hNSCs expressing CD and/or IFN-β genes, while the incidence of liver metastasis was suppressed by the hNSCs. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that stem cells expressing anticancer genes have the potential for use as an alternative to conventional therapy for metastatic cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1161-1166
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• 2009

The purpose of the present study was to effect of red pepper seeds powder on antioxidative defense system and oxidative damage in rats fed high fat high cholesterol diet. Rats were divided into five experimental groups which are composed of normal diet group, high fat high cholesterol diet group, high fat high cholesterol diet with 5% red pepper seeds powder supplemented group (SA group), high fat high cholesterol diet with 10% red pepper seeds powder supplemented group (SB group), and high fat.high cholesterol diet with 15% red pepper seeds powder supplemented group (SC group). Supplementation of red seed pepper groups (SA, SB, and SC groups) resulted in increased activities of hepatic glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. However, there was no significant difference in the activity of hepatic catalase among all experimental groups. Hepatic superoxide radical contents in microsome and mitochondria were significantly reduced in red pepper seeds powder supplemented groups. Hepatic hydrogen peroxide contents in mitochondria were significantly reduced 15% red pepper seeds powder supplemented group. Hepatic carbonyl values in microsome were significantly reduced in 10% and 15% red pepper seeds powder supplemented groups. Thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBARS) values in liver and plasma were reduced in red pepper seeds powder supplemented groups. These result suggest that red pepper seeds powder may reduce oxidative damage by the activation of antioxidative defense system in rats high fat.high cholesterol diets.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.570-576
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of turmeric on antioxidative systems and oxidative damage in rats fed a high fat and cholesterol diet. A total 40 rats were divided into four experimental groups: a normal diet group (N), a high fat and cholesterol diet group (HF), a high fat and cholesterol diet group supplemented with 2.5% turmeric powder (TPA group) and a high fat and cholesterol diet group supplemented with 5% turmeric powder (TPB group). The serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activity of the turmeric supplemented groups were decreased compared to the HF group. The GPT activity of the TPB group was especially and significantly decreased compared to the HF group. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the TPB group was significantly increased compared to the HF group. However, there were no significant differences in the activities of hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and catalase (CAT) among all experimental groups. Hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in the TPA and TPB groups were increased compared to the HF group. Hepatic superoxide radical content in mitochondria of the 5% turmeric supplemented group was significantly decreased compared to the HF group. Hepatic hydrogen peroxide content in the cytosol and mitochondria of the turmeric-supplemented groups were decreased compared to the HF group. Hepatic carbonyl values in the mitochondria of the turmeric supplemented groups were significantly decreased compared to the HF group. Thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBARS) values in the liver were significantly reduced in turmeric supplemented groups compared to the HF group. These result suggest that turmeric powder may reduce oxidative damage through the activation of antioxidative defense systems in rats fed high fat and cholesterol diets.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1271-1278
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• 2007

In this study, the ability of Styela clava or Styela plicata to reduce ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and hepatic and leucocytic DNA damages was evaluated. Twenty four male SD rats were given 25% ethanol containing water (ad lib, p.o.) and divided into 3 groups; ethanol treated control group (EtOH), ethano1+3% S. clava (EtOH+SC), and ethano1+3% S. plicata (EtOH+SP). After 6 weeks, the supplementation of S. clava reduced the plasma ALT, ALP and LDH activities significantly (p<0.05), while S. plicata induced significant decrease in the plasma LDH activity only. The comet assay was employed to quantify the alcohol-induced DNA damage in rat hepatocytes and leucocytes. A significant protective effect on hepatic and leucocytic DNA damages was observed in S. clava or S. plicata supplemented groups compared to the EtOH control group. The hepatic DNA damage was correlated positively with plasma ALP and LDH activities. These results demonstrated that S. clava or S. plicata supplementation protected alcohol-induced hepatic and leucocytic DNA damage.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.388-395
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• 2019

The object of the present study was to examine the effect of selenium-treated Spinacia oleracea L. on antioxidative defense system and oxidative damage in rats fed high-fat and high-cholesterol diets. Experimental rats were divided into six groups which were composed of normal diet group (N), high-fat and high-cholesterol diet group (HF), high-fat and high-cholesterol diet with 5% or 10% non-treated spinach supplemented group (SPA or SPB) and high-fat and high-cholesterol diet with 5% or 10% selenium-treated spinach-supplemented group (SSA or SSB). In the antioxidant enzyme activities of hepatic glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, activities increased in supplementation of non-treated or selenium-treated spinach groups compared to HF group. However, there was no significant difference in the activity of hepatic catalase among all experimental groups. The microsomal superoxide radical content of the SSB group was significantly reduced compared to the HF group. The mitochondrial carbonyl values of the SSB group were significantly reduced compared to the HF group. Thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBARS) values in RBC and liver were also reduced in non-treated or selenium-treated spinach-supplemented groups compared to the HF group. The hepatic TBARS values of the supplementation of selenium-treated spinach groups significantly decreased compared to the supplementation of non-treated spinach groups. These results suggest that selenium-treated spinach may reduce oxidative damage by the activation of antioxidative defense system in rats fed high-fat and high-cholesterol diets.