• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1490-1497
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• 2010

The present study aimed to investigate the level of accumulated heavy metal in various tissues of Carassius auratus after exposure to Cadmium (Cd), histologically and physiologically. After treating C. auratus with Cd, the accumulated Cd in gill tissues was detected to be of the highest content, and showed the lowest content in integument tissues. Also, Cd content increased in a time dependent manner and showed the highest accumulation in the tissues exposed for 20 days. Antioxidant enzyme activities showedhigher activity in the gill and integument than in the kidney and liver tissues. In the case of SOD, antioxidation activity of SOD in all Cd exposed tissues was higher than in unexposed tissues. The activities of SOD and CAT also became higher after Cd exposure. Gill tissues exposed to Cd showed an increased number of mucous cells between lamella in a time dependent manner. In addition, the gills showed morphological changes such as edema, exfoliation of epithelial cells, and fusion of the secondary lamellae. Also, exposure to Cd for 20 days had an effect on gill tissues, causing membrane damage in the mitochondria and nucleus. In kidney tissues, atrophied glomerulus was observed, and the empty space in Bowman's capsule was wider.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2004

Because cleaning products are part of our everyday lives, it is essential that they should not present significant risks to health. However, many petrochemicals in most soaps and detergents can be absorbed through the scalp and skin and, over time, accumulate in the organs and tissues. This accumulation may result in brain, nerve, and liver damage. Therefore, it is interested in developing non-harmful detergent. According to Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, GC-100X may be non-harmful and non-corrosive alkaline ionic water (pH 12). It is composed of hydroxyl radicals and supplemented with xylitol. To evaluate influence of GC-100X on rats and beagles, GC-100X was diluted with distilled water (25%, 50%, and 100% solution respectively). Each of diluted GC-100X was daily treated per oral. In body weight analysis, urinary analysis, ophthalmological test and autopsy, we did not find any significance, but in serum biochemical analysis and hematological analysis, we found some significances in middle dose group compared with control group. These significances in serum biochemical analysis and hematological analysis may be not induced by GC-100X, because it was not found to be significant from control group in histopathological examination. Thus, it is concluded that NOEL(No Observed Effect Level) of GC-100X may be higher than all treatment doses used in this study, and GC-100X may be a non-toxic detergent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.637-642
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• 2014

The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to habitual betel quid (BQ) chewing is unclear. Risk of HCCis increased with adverse hepatic fibrosis. This study aimed to assess the impact of chronic viral hepatitis on adverse hepatic fibrosis in HCC related to BQ chewing. This hospital-based case-control study enrolled 200 pairs of age- and gender-matched patients with HCC and unrelated healthy controls. Serologic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein (AFP), and surrogate markers for significant hepatic fibrosis were measured. Information on substance-use habits was obtained with a questionnaire. By analysis of surrogate markers for hepatic fibrosis, the prevalence of significant hepatic fibrosis in patients chewing BQ was between 45.8% and 91.7%, whereas that for patients without BQ chewing was between 18.4% and 57.9%. The difference was significant (P <0.05 for each surrogate marker). Multivariate analysis indicated that cirrhosis with Child-Pugh C (odds ratio (OR) = 3.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29-8.37), thrombocytopenia (OR = 3.92, 95% CI, 1.77-8.68), AFP >400 mg/L (OR = 2.21, 95% CI, 1.05-4.66) and male gender (OR = 4.06, 95% CI, 1.29-12.77) were independent factors associated with habitual BQ chewing. In conclusion, adverse hepatic fibrosis and severe liver damage play important roles in the pathogenesis of BQ-related HCC, which could be aggravated by chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C. BQ-cessation programs and prevention of chronic HBV/HCV infection are needed to prevent HCC related to BQ chewing.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.161-168
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• 2002

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (Huang-lian-jie-du-tang, HRHDT, 黃連解毒湯) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is formulated with Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, Scutellariae Radix and Gardeniae Fructus. HRHDT is cold (寒) and bitter (苦) in nature and has general properties of clearing heat and detoxifying (淸熱解毒), strengthening the stomach and settling the liver (健胃平肝), and reducing inflammation, fever and swelling. This formula can prevent and treat artherosclerosis, hyperplasia of the endothelium, cerebral fluid circulation, cerebral vascular deterioration through aging, impairment of neurotransmitters, or disruption of the functioning of the cerebral cortex following infection or trauma. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the neuroprotective effect of HRHDT on global ischemia induced by 4-vessel occlusion in Wistar rats. Methods: HRHDT extract was lyophilized after extraction with 85% methanol and 100% water. Rats were induced to 10 minutes of forebrain ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) and reperfused again. HRHDT was administered with a dose of 100 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg of 85% methanol extracts and 100 mg/kg of 100% water extracts, respectively, at 0 min and 90 min after 4-VO. Rats were killed at 7 days after ischemia and the number of CA1 pyramidal neurons was counted in hippocampal sections stained with cresyl violet. Results: Body temperature of animals showed no significant difference between saline-treated groups and HRHDT extracts-treated groups until 5 hours of reperfusion. This result indicated that neuroprotective effects of HRHDT extracts were not due to hypothermic effects. The administration of HRHDT showed a significant neuroprotective effect on hippocampal CA1 neurons at 7 days after ischemia compared to the saline-treated group (P<0.001). HRHDT methanol extracts of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and HRHDT water extracts of 100 mg/kg showed 88.5%, 98.3% and 95.1 % neuroprotection, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that administration of HRHDT is highly effective in reducing neuronal damage in response to transient global cerebral ischemia. HRHDT may involve many mechanisms that might account for its high degree of efficacy. A number of factors including free radicals, glutamate, calcium overload, NO, and various cytokines have been proposed to have an important role in causing neuronal death after short periods of global ischemia. Further studies are needed to know the neuroprotective mechanisms of HRHDT.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.124-133
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• 2000

This study evaluated the effects of chronic ethanol consumption and/or taurine supplementation on hepatic total, phospholipid fatty acid composition and the metabolism of rats fed one of three purified liquid diets for 8 weeks. the rats followed either the control diet (CD, ethanol-free and taurine-free diet); ethanol diet (ED, CD+ 50g ethanol/L) or ethanol-taurine diet (ETD, ED+3.75g taurne/L). Chronic ethanol consumption and/or dietary taurine supplementation were associated with altered hepatic total and phospholipid fatty acid composition. compared to the values for the control rats, ED or ETD significantly decreased the percentage of total monounsaturated fatty acids ($\Sigma$MUFA), and increased the percentage of total polyunsaturated fatty acids ($\Sigma$PUFA) of hepatic total lipids(p〈0.01). Percentages of 14:0(P〈0.01) and 16:0(p〈0.001) were sigificantly lower, and those of 18:0(p〈0.01), 20:0(p〈0.001), 20:3$\omega$6(p〈0.01) and 22:4$\omega$6(p〈0.01) in hepatic total fatty acid compositions were oserved in rats fed ETD versus those fed ED or ETD. No significant differences in hepatic total fatty acid compositions were observed in rats fed ETD versus those fed ED. Percentages of 24:0(p〈0.01), 16:1(p〈0.05), 20:1(p〈0.01), 18:2$\omega$6(p〈0.01) and 18:3$\omega$3(p〈0.05) in hepati phospholipids were significantly higher, and those of 14:0(p〈0.01), 16:0(p〈0.001), 20:3$\omega$3(p〈0.05) in hepatic phospholipids were significantly higher, and those of 14:0(p〈0.01), 16:0(p〈0.001), 20:3$\omega$3(p〈0.001), 22:6$\omega$3(p〈0.001) and $\Sigma$$\omega$3(P〈0.001) were significantly lower in rats fed ED or ETD compared to the values for the control rats. The Δ5 desaturation index(20:3$\omega$6⇒20:4$\omega$6) and elongation index (20:5$\omega$3⇒22:5$\omega$3) of hepatic phospholipid index (20:3$\omega$6⇒20:4$\omega$6) and decreased Δ4 desaturation index (22:5$\omega$3⇒22:6$\omega$3) compared to the values for the ED rats. These changes in hepatic fatty acid composition induced by chronic ethanol consumption and/or taurine supplementation might be associated with the modulations of physical properties of the hepatic cell membrane and its sensitivity to peroxidation damage.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.115-121
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• 2012

Purpose: Severe pancreaticoduodenal injuries are relatively uncommon, but may result in high morbidity and mortality, especially when management is not optimal, and determining the appropriate treatment is often difficult. The objective of this study was to review our experience and to evaluate the role of a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in treatment of pancreaticoduodenal injuries. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 16 patients who underwent an emergency PD at our hospital for severe pancreaticoduodenal injury from 1990 to 2011. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, mechanism and severity of the injury, associated injuries, postoperative complications and outcomes were reviewed. Results: The mean age of the 16 patients was $45{\pm}12years$ ($mean{\pm}standard$ deviation), and 15(93.8%) patients were male. All patients underwent an explorative laparotomy after a diagnosis using abdominal computed tomography. Almost all patients were classified as AAST grade higher than III. Thirteen(83.3%) of the 16 patients presented with blunt injuries; none presented with a penetrating injury. Only one(6.3%) patients had a combined major vascular injury. Fifteen patients underwent a standard Whipple's operation, and 1 patient underwent a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Two of the 16 patients required an initial damage-control procedure; then, a PD was performed. The most common associated injured organs were the small bowel mesentery(12, 75%) and the liver(7, 43.8%). Complications were intraabdominal abscess(50%), delayed gastric emptying(37.5%), postoperative pancreatic fistula(31.5%), and postoperative hemorrhage (12.5%). No mortalities occurred after the PD. Conclusion: Although the postoperative morbidity rate is relatively higher, an emergency PD can be perform safely without mortality for severe pancreaticoduodenal injuries. Therefore, an emergency PD should be considered as a life-saving procedure applicable to patients with unreconstructable pancreaticoduodenal injuries, provided that is performed by an experienced hepatobiliary surgeon and the patient is hemodynamically stable.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.257-279
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• 2016

Recently, the Well-dying Act was legislated in Korea, and it will come into effect in August 4, 2017. This Act allows to withdraw the life sustaining treatment from impending death patients and also provide the hospice and palliative treatment to terminal patients. In the Supreme Court's case so called "Madam Kim", medical condition of Madam Kim was a persistent vegetative status owing to brain damage and her family members wanted to remove the artificial ventilation. In 2009, the Supreme Court allowed to withdraw the artificial ventilation under the specific conditions. We applied this new Well-dying Act to the Madam Kim's case hypothetically in order to know this Act can reasonably solve the problem of life sustaining treatment for dying or terminal patients. For the impending patients, the Well-dying Act has the problem not to withdraw the futile treatment due to the advance directives of patients. Vice versa, the terminal patients have no chance to withdraw the life sustaining treatment due to the this Act impose the duty to provide the hospice and palliative treatment despite of advance directives. We need to ruke out the persistent vegetative patients from the terminal patients caused by the cancer, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, chronic obstructive lung disease and chronic liver cirrhosis, In addition, we have to discuss the effect of the advance directives of terminal patients in view of self determination right.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

In late December 2013, the Ebola virus emerged from West Africa. The outbreak started in Guinea and rapidly spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Initially, the virus is spread to the human population after contact with infected wildlife and then spread person-to-person through direct contact with body fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, semen, and breast milk. The Ebola virus infects endothelial cells, mononuclear phagocytes and hepatocytes. It causes massive damage to internal tissues and organs, such as blood vessels and the liver, and ultimately death. Most tests for the virus RNA rely on a technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While this method is highly sensitive, it is also expensive, requiring skilled scientists, and delicate power supplies. The strip analytical technique (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA) detects antigens or antibodies to the Ebola virus. This test is cheap and does not require electricity or refrigeration. Despite ongoing efforts directed at experimental treatments and vaccine development, current medical work on the Ebola viral disease is largely limited to supportive therapy. Thus, rapid and reliable diagnoses of the Ebola virus are critically important for patient management, infections, prevention, and control measures.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.171-187
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• 1998

Garlic occupies a special position among the many foods of vegetable origin because it is the sole food for Koreans during the their lives. And vitamin A has been ingested by forms of food or additives. Cadmium has been described as one of the most dangerous trace elements in the food and environment of man and livestocks. Since the de novo synthesis of stress proteins can be detected early after exposure to some agents, analysis of cadmium-induced changes in gene expression , ie. alterations in patterns of protein synthesis, may be useful to develop as biomarkers of exposure and damage for food hygiene. He acute and chronic combine effects of cadmium (Cd, CdCl2 20mg/kg), garlic oil(Dds: diallyl disulfide 50mg/kg, 3 times a week) and vitamin A(Ra: retinol acetate 50,000 IU/kg, 3 times a week) on Wistar male rats were evaluated concerning cadmium contents, tissues enzyme activity, HSP expression histopathological and electron microscopical examinations. The results of the study are as follows ; 1. Less cadmium was absorbed through the digestive tracts, but the ratio of contents in tissue were not changed by the simultaneous adminstration of diallyl disufide or retinol acetate. 2. ALT(alanine aminotransferase) , AST(aspartate aminotransferase), glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, the key indices of the clinical changes in hepatic and renal function were significantly hanged by the cadmium treatment after 1 week in liver, after 4 weeks in kidney. 3. Histopathological changes in cadmium treated rats were appeared at 8 weeks age treatment in kidneys. Homogenous eosinophilic material was accumulated in cortical and collecting tubular lumens at 16 weeks. Degenerated or necrotized tubular cells were observed in cortex and medulla. Degenerated seminiferous tubules and homogeneous eosinophilic material was seen in interstitial tissue of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Calcium deposits were seen in degenerated seminiferous tubules and the tubules showed severe calcification of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Electron microscope changes in kidney were observed in rats treated with CdCl2 20 mg/kg. Proximal convoluted tubule cells showed selling of cytoplasm and narrow lumen. Capillary endothelial cells showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and swelling. Degenerated epithelial cells were accumulated in tubular lumen of kidney. 4. Enhanced synthesis of 70 KDa relateve molecular mass proteins were detected in 2 hours after cadmium, exposure, with maximum activity occurring at 8~48 hours. Induction of HSP 70 was evident at proximal tubules and glomeruli in kidney. Testicular cells produced enough HSP to be detected normally. From the above results, it could be concluded that HSP70 induction by the cadmium treatment was a rapid reaction to indicated the exposure of xenobiotics, and retinol acetate reduced the cadmium induced nephrotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.694-700
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• 2007

Acanthopanax senticosus is a common Asian herb also known as "Siberian Ginseng". It is often used as a traditional herbal medicine for reducing damage in the liver, kidney, bone and muscle. In the present study we investigated the ferric reducing/antioxidant power and total phenolic contents of the ethanol-/water-extracts obtained from the stems and leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus. Osteoblast cellular proliferation was evaluated using the MTT and alkaline phosphatase activity assays in the human osteoblast-like MG-63 cell line. Acanthopanax senticosus extracts exerted remarkable ferric reducing/antioxidant power and contained high amount of phenolics. Among the extracts the stem-/ethanol-extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and total phenol content. Interestingly a highly positive correlation was found between antioxidant activity and total phenol content (p < 0.01). Proliferation of MG-63 osteoblast cells was highest in the stem-/ethanol-extract and alkaline phosphatase activity significantly increased in the water-extract of the stems (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that Acanthopanax senticosus extracts have antioxidant activity for preventing oxidative stress-related diseases and may have beneficial effects on bone health through the proliferation of osteoblast cells.