• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2013

Introduction: ALT/AST enzymes are present inside the cells. AST is found in cardiac and skeletal muscle and red blood cells but the ALT is checked mainly in the liver. In general, the rise of these two indicators shows liver damage. The usual measurements of these enzymes are used in liver function tests, but the levels of AST and ALT do not always reflect liver function. Method and Cases: 17 cases of liver dysfunction transiently were evaluated clinically, biochemically, and imaging study of sonogram in pediatric in-patients for 3 years. Result: Most common causes of transient liver dysfunction were infection, especially viral gastroenteritis, and bacterial infection interfering oral food intake. More often occurred in the children who have infant hyperbilirubinemia, positive history of mitochondrial dysfunction or hypoglycemia. Fasting study in one case of hypoglycemia patient showed reversible liver dysfunction during fasting over 20 hours fasting. Discussion: A significant increase in AST and ALT with normal bilirubin can be observed in clinically healthy people during blunt trauma, viral infection, severe pain, metabolic syndrome, fasting or accidental health screening.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.97-117
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• 2002

Chiropractic is very similar to Oriental Medicine in philosophy on the cause of diseases and in utilization of spinal articulations for diagnosis and treatment. In this paper the spinal area used to treat liver dysfunction in S.O.T. technique, one of chiropractic techniques, was compared to the acupncture points used to cure the same conditions. Because both Oriental medicine and Chiropractic are dealing with autonomic nervous system in regulating abnormal conditions, also the innervation of spinal nerves to those areas was checked. The spinal area that S.O.T. technique utilizes to correct liver dysfunction is transverse processes of T8, which corresponds to B16. Acupncture points from this level down to T12/L1, which are B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B45, B46, B47, B48, B49, B50, GV6, GV7, GV8 and GV9, all have been applied to control liver function. Apparent discrepency exists in therapeutic areas for liver malfunction between the two natural healing arts. According to the neurology texts, liver is innervated by sympathetic fibers from the 7th-10th thoracic segments and by parasympathetic fibers from vagus nerve. Sympathetic afferent nerves from the liver reach the 7th-12th thoracic spinal cord segments. It can be said all the 7th-12th thoracic spinal cord segments are related to liver function. Therefore the areas used for liver dysfunction in both natural medicine are appropriately selected. However, B16, the Oriental medical equivalent of the main spinal area which is used for lowered liver function in C.M.R.T. Technique, is not utilized as frequent as in Oriental medicine.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.263-268
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• 2005

Erythropoietic protoporphyria is a genetic disorder due to a deficiency of ferrochelatase resulting in excessive accumulation and excretion of protoporphyrin. The predominant clinical feature is photosensitivity. Severe hepatic failure occurs in a small percentage of patients, and neurological symptoms are very rare. We report a case of erythropoietic protoporphyria associated with severe hepatic dysfunction and neurological symptoms. A 9-year-old girl presented with severe abdominal pain, nausea, weakness and pain of extremities, and urinary retention. Ultrasonogram and abdominal CT scanning revealed a diffuse infiltrated and enlarged liver. Liver biopsy showed deposition of dense dark brown pigment within the bile, hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. Plus, dense dark brown deposits gave a red birefringent under polarize light. Porphyrin studies demonstrated markedly elevated serum free erythrocyte protoporphyrin. This girl was diagnosed as erythropoietic protoporphyria with severe liver dysfunction and neurological symptoms.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.100010.1-100010.12
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• 2024

Recently, the incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing due to the high prevalence of metabolic conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Steatotic liver is a hotspot for cancer metastasis in MASLD. Altered lipid metabolism, a hallmark of MASLD, remodels the tissue microenvironment, making it conducive to the growth of metastatic liver cancer. Tumors exacerbate the dysregulation of hepatic metabolism by releasing extracellular vesicles and particles into the liver. Altered lipid metabolism influences the proliferation, differentiation, and functions of immune cells, contributing to the formation of an immunosuppressive and metastasis-prone liver microenvironment in MASLD. This review discusses the mechanisms by which the steatotic liver promotes liver metastasis progression, focusing on its role in fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment in MASLD. Furthermore, this review highlights lipid metabolism manipulation strategies for the therapeutic management of metastatic liver cancer.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2014

Degradation of glucose is aberrantly increased in hyperglycemia, which causes various harmful effects on the liver. Methylglyoxal is produced during glucose degradation and the levels of methylglyoxal are increased in diabetes patients. In this study we investigated whether methylglyoxal induces mitochondrial impairment and apoptosis in HepG2 cells and induces liver toxicity in vivo. Methylglyoxal caused apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells. Moreover, methylglyoxal significantly promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depleted glutathione (GSH) content. Pretreatment with antioxidants caused a marked decrease in methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis, indicating that oxidant species are involved in the apoptotic process. Methylglyoxal treatment induced mitochondrial permeability transition, which represents mitochondrial impairment. However, pretreatment with cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the formation of the permeability transition pore, partially inhibited methylglyoxal-induced cell death. Furthermore, acute treatment of mice with methylglyoxal increased the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), indicating liver toxicity. Collectively, our results showed that methylglyoxal increases cell death and induces liver toxicity, which results from ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.372-373
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• 2018

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2017

Objective: A general prejudice exists that all herbal medicines are not good for liver. We report that herbal medicine can have positive effects on the liver, based on the improved liver function test levels observed in one patient. We also suggest the effectiveness of co-administration of herbal and western medicines. Methods: We checked the liver function test levels of one patient measured on 12 July at another hospital. We identified worse levels on 7 August, when he was first admitted to Semyung University Hospital. We measured liver function test levels of the same patient after treatment with Korean herbal medicine on 14 and 21 August during hospitalization at Semyung Hospital. We compared the figures and evaluated the effectiveness of 'Saenggangeonbi-tang' herbal medicine in the liver. Results: The patient's liver function test levels were normal on 12 July, but had become abnormal by 7 August, when he was admitted to Semyung Hospital. The cause of liver dysfunction was suggested as Atorvastatin, one of the western drugs he had started to take. Continuous treatment with Korean herbal medicine resulted in a definite improvement in liver function. Conclusion: Korean herbal medicine can provide positive improvements in liver function test levels.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2020

Alcoholic fatty liver disorder has become a frequent health concern worldwide. To investigate the effects of Brassica oleracea (B. oleracea) sprout extract (BOE), the present study was designed with alcoholic fatty liver in the rat. Initially, the effects of BOE on liver parameters were examined. Male rats were divided into five groups. The normal control group was fed the normal diet, and the BOE group was fed the high fat diet and ethanol with/without BOE for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks feeding period, rats were sacrificed and their livers and blood were used for fatty liver-related biomarkers analyses. As a result, BOE ameliorated fatty liver-related enzymes profiles in liver tissues and also reduced blood alcohol concentration in rat model. We demonstrated that BOE protected the high fat diet and alcohol-induced fatty liver in rat model. Furthermore, BOE increased detoxificative abilities against alcohol.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.4 s.48
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• pp.747-761
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• 1994

Workers' periodic health examination is the main tools used to manage the health problems of most workers in Korea. The most common health problem found in workers' periodic health examination is liver disorder. Liver disorder is also one of the most common health problems in general population and one of the leading causes of mortality in adult population. Regulation proposed by government (No. 207, Ministry of Labor, 1992) defines the criteria for selection of workers with the liver dysfunction for further evaluative examination and the examination items used for diagnosis of the workers with liver dysfunction. This study was designed to evaluate the proficiency of each examination items presently defined in Regulation and propose the optimal examination items for detection of the liver disorders found by workers' periodic health examination. Study subjects are 186 workers with abnormal liver function tests in screening examination of workers' periodic health examination. Questionnaire survey including past history of liver disorder, drinking history, height and weight was done. Physical examination by physician, routine test items defined by Regulation (SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, $\alpha$-feto protein, HBsAg and anti-HBs), anti-HCV antibody test and liver ultrasonography were done. Results are as follows; 1. Result of evaluative examination utilizing only the items defined in Regulation was; There were 75 workers with suspected live. disorder(40.3%), 63 with no liver dysfunction (33.9%), 13 with suspected hepatitis B(7.0%), 10 workers with hepatitis B(5.4%), 10 workers with hepatitis B carrier state(5.4%), 10 with alcoholic liver disorders(5.4%), 5 with fatty liver(2.7%). When alternative diagnostic criteria applying additional examination items (drinking history, body mass index, anti-HCV antibody and ultrasonography) diagnosability of liver disorder was increased. When all four items were included, final results were; 23 workers (17.8%) with hepatitis B (10 carriers, 13 suspects and 10 hepatitis B), 10 (5.4%) with hepatitis C(4 carriers, 5 suspects and 1 hepatitis C), 13(7.0%) with alcoholic liver disorder, 45(24.2%) with fatty liver (40 suspects, 5 fatty liver), 410%) with suspected liver disorders and 44 (23.7%) with normal liver. 2. Of examination items defined by Regulation, only SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP and HBsAg were significantly different in abnormal rate and mean value, and all other laboratory findings did not showed significant difference between two groups. Drinking history, body mass index and anti-HCV antibody test which are the items that authors included in this study, also showed significant difference between two groups. Utilization of body mass index (BMI) for abnormal liver function group in diagnosis of fatty liver had high specificity (97.6%) but sensitivity (22.3%) was low. Therefore we suggest that SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, HBsAg, alcohol drinking history, BMI and anti-HCV Ab were useful for diagnosis of liver disorders among worker's periodic health examination.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.207-218
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• 2013

Long term outcomes after liver transplantation are major determinants of quality of life and of the value of this heroic treatment. As short term outcomes are excellent, our community is turning to take a harder look at long term outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to review these outcomes, and highlight proposed treatments, as well as pressing topics needing to be studied. A systemic review of the English literature was carried in PubMed, covering all papers addressing long term outcomes in pediatric liver transplant from 2000-2013. Late outcomes after pediatric liver transplant affect the liver graft in the form of chronic liver dysfunction. The causes include rejection particularly humoral rejection, but also de novo autoimmune hepatitis, and recurrent disease. The metabolic syndrome is a major factor in long term cardiovascular complication risk. Secondary infections, kidney dysfunction and malignancy remain a reality of those patients. There is growing evidence of late cognitive and executive function delays affecting daily life productivity as well as likely adherence. Finally, despite a good health status, quality of life measures are comparable to those of children with chronic diseases. Long term outcomes are the new frontier in pediatric liver transplantation. Much is needed to improve graft survival, but also to avoid systemic morbidities from long term immunosuppression. Quality of life is a new inclusive measure that will require interventions and innovative approaches respectful not only on the patients but also of their social circle.