• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.322-334
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• 2013

Objectives: This study describes the results of a mass screening and secondary questionnaire conducted among sampled residents around Camp Carroll. Methods: The subjects were sampled based on Waegwan groundwater ingestion history via a primary health questionnaire survey. However, the study population included voluntary participants and there were no grounds for disqualification. Among the 1,033 residents, excluding people living outside Waegwan, 844 subjects age 30 and over were analyzed. History of physician-diagnosed disease (including detailed history of cancer), eating habits, drinking and smoking histories were queried through questionnaires. Health screening consisted of a blood pressure check and blood test (complete blood cell, liver enzyme, lipid, blood sugar test, etc.). Results: The proportion of abnormal gamma-glutamyltransferase levels was higher in the groundwater ingesting female group than the non-ingesting female group. The odds ratios of the ingested '1 to 9 years' and '10 years and over' groups were 3.09 and 0.87, respectively. Proportions of hypertension in males, abnormal serum triglyceride levels in all and in females, and abnormal serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in males were higher in the '10 to 29-year' resident group than in the '1 to 9 year' group. However, there were no significant trends according to length of residence. Conclusions: Physician-diagnosed prevalence and laboratory test results are not different by histories of Waegwan groundwater ingestion and by length of residence. Even if there are partially significant differences, they do not tend to follow increases of exposure amount and trends.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.6
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• pp.836-842
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• 2010

Hovenia dulcis var. koreana Nakai has been reported to liver function improvement effect as functional materials for food and medicine. On these facts, biological activity and safety test were conducted to evaluate biological activities of the fruit petiole and root extracts of H. dulcis as a potential cosmeceutical ingredient. Cosmeceutica activities of different extracts were examined by l.l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical generation, the ABTS+ cation decolorization, tyrosinase activity, collagenase activity and elastase activity compared with the properties of the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and L-ascorbic acid (AA). The antioxidant activities HDFW, HDFE, HDRW and HDRE were 83.6%, 39.6%, 85.9% and 74.5% in DPPH assay, 99.5%, 13.7%, 96.4% and 88.6% in ABTS assay. Tyrosinase inhibitiory activities HDFW were 56.0% at 1,000 ppm. Measured the inhibition effect of the H. dulcis about collagenase and elastase where break the peptide bonds in collagen and enzyme from the class of proteases where exists in the dermis. The H. dulcis was inhibition the two kind enzymesm, collagenase activities being on a high scale inhibition, was same concentration. Uses the anti oxidation effect and a anti-wrinkle effect of this resultant H. dulcis and with the functional cosmetics use is thought with the fact that will be possible.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1718-1723
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• 2009

This study was to investigate the protection of the extracts from four parts of deer antler in an anemia model induced by intravenous injection of phenylhydrazine·HCl (PHZ) at 10 mg/kg for 4 days. After PHZ injection, female Sprague-Dawley rats were administrated partial deer antler extract (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) daily for 1 week. Results showed that sever hemolysis was induced by PHZ. For antler extract-treated groups, the concentration of hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cells number increased much more significantly than PHZ-treated group. Upper antler extract-treated group was more remarkable than other parts in suppressing the increase of reticulocyte in whole blood. Moreover, antler extract administration significantly improved serum erythropoietin concentration. The activity of $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid dehydrates (ALAD) in liver homogenate was increased in antler extract-treated groups, especially middle and base extract-treated groups showed statistical significance. These results could be concluded that the deer antler extract improved anemia induced by PHZ injection through improving hematological values, serum EPO value, ALAD enzyme activity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2007

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common food borne mycotoxin and occurs predominantly in grains such as wheat, barley, oats, etc. DON induces systemic health problems such as loss of appetite, emesis and diarrhea in both human and farm animals. Reliable diagnostic parameters for DON intoxication are needed to prevent deep health impact. In order to establish useful diagnostic parameters, we investigated clinical signs, hematological values, serum biochemical values, gross-, histo- and toxico-pathological findings in B6C3F1 male mice after oral administration of DON (0.83, 2.5 and 7.5 mg/kg) for 8 days. Body weight gain was significantly decreased at the highest dose of DON. Anorexia, ataxia, for crudness and lack of vigor were observed at the highest dose DON group. In hematological values, the numbers of WBC and platelets and hemoglobin content were reduced with decreased neutrophil and monocytes by 7.5 mg/kg DON. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were prolonged in a dose-dependent manner and the content of fibrinogen was elevated at high dose of DON. Of serum biochemical values, total protein, globulin, BUN, cholesterol and test-osterone were reduced but total bilirubin and albumin/globulin ratio increased. The enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase was decreased while that of alanine aminotransferase was elevated. Relative organ weights of thymus, seminal vesicle/prostate and testes were dose-dependently reduced but those of liver and left adrenal gland increased with dose dependency. As for pathological findings, atrophy of thymus, seminal vesicle/prostate and testes and submucosal edema and ulceration in stomach and depletion of lymphocytes in thymus cortex were observed. In conclusion, these clinical, hematological, blood biochemical and patholgical parameters obtained in the present studies can be used for diagnosis of DON-mycotoxicosis, especially, low WBC, platelets, protein, BUN and testosterone and delayed prothrombin time can be available as for reliable diagnostic parameters.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2008

Recently we reported that 2-bromopropane (2-BP) has maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity, and teratogenicity in Sprague-Dawley rats. The aims of this study are to examine the potential effects of 2-BP administration on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development, and to investigate the effects of metabolic activation induced by phenobarbital (PB) on developmental toxicities of 2-BP. Pregnant rats received 1000 mg/kg/day subcutaneous 2-BP injections on gestational days (GD) 6 through 10 (Group II and Group IIII) or 11 through 15 (Group IV). Pregnant rats in Group III received an intraperitoneal PB injection once daily at 80 mg/kg/day on GD 3 through 5 for induction of the liver metabolic enzyme system. Control rats received vehicle injections only on GD 6 through 15. All dams underwent caesarean sections on GD 20 and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities. Significant adverse effects on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development were observed in all the treatment groups, and the maternal and embryo-fetal effects of 2-BP observed in Group II were higher than those seen in Group IV. Conversely, maternal and embryo-fetal developmental toxicities observed in Group III were comparable to those seen in Group II. These results suggest that the potential effects of 2-BP on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development are more likely in the first half of organogenesis (days $6{\sim}10$ of pregnancy) than in the second half and that the metabolic activation induced by PB pre-treatment did not modify the developmental toxic effects of 2-BP in rats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.678-683
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• 2004

An experiment was carried out to study the effects of exogenous enzymes (cellulases and proteases), yeast culture and effective micro-organism (EM) culture on feed digestibility and the performance of rabbits fed rice bran rich diets over a period of ten weeks. Twenty four, 8 to 9 weeks old male and female New Zealand White rabbits were allotted to 4 dietary treatments; a basal (control) feed containing 43% rice bran, basal feed supplemented with either enzymes, yeast culture or EM. Individual feed intake, body weight gain, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and feed cost were studied. Sex of the rabbits had no significant (p<0.05) influence on the parameters studied. The control group showed the lowest daily feed intake (104.8 g), body weight gain (12.8 g) and the highest feed/gain ratio (8.20 g/g). The highest daily feed intake (114.3 g), body weight gain (20.42 g) and the lowest feed/gain ratio (5.60) were observed with enzymes. Compared to the control, yeast significantly (p<0.05) improved the feed intake, body weight gain and feed/gain ratio by 4.9, 34.4 and 22.0%, respectively, while EM improved (p<0.05) them by 4.0, 32.6 and 21.6%, respectively. All the additives improved (p<0.05) the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and energy by 4.9-8.7, 3.6-10.7, 5.9-8.3 and 4.3-6.4%, respectively. Higher weights of pancreas (by 38.5-56.4%) and caecum (by 13.1-26.8%, compared to the control) were recorded with all additives but liver weight was increased only by yeast (24.5%) and enzymes (26.7%). Significantly (p<0.05) higher carcass recovery percentages were observed with enzymes (60.55), yeast (60.47) and EM (56.60) as compared to the control (48.52). Enzymes, yeast and EM reduced (p<0.05) the feed cost per kg live weight by 23.8, 15.9 and 15.5%, respectively. Results revealed that enzymes, yeast culture and EM can be used to improve the feeding value of agro-industrial by-products for rabbits in Sri Lanka and thereby to reduce the feed cost. Under the present feeding system, enzyme supplement was the best.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1657-1663
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• 2015

Background: Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most important step in successful treatment. However, it is usually rare due to the lack of a highly sensitive specific biomarker so that the HCC is usually fatal within few months after diagnosis. The aim of this work was to study the role of plasma nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and serum peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) as diagnostic biomarkers for early detection of HCC in a high-risk population. Materials and Methods: Plasma nuclear factor kappa B level (NF-${\kappa}B$) and serum peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in addition to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in 72 cirrhotic patients, 64 patients with HCC and 29 healthy controls. Results: NF-${\kappa}B$ and PRDX3 were significantly elevated in the HCC group in relation to the others. Higher area under curve (AUC) of 0.854 (for PRDX3) and 0.825 (for NF-${\kappa}B$) with sensitivity of 86.3% and 84.4% and specificity of 75.8% and 75.4% respectively, were found compared to AUC of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (0.65) with sensitivity of 72.4% and specificity of 64.3%. Conclusions: NF-${\kappa}B$ and PRDX3 may serve as early and sensitive biomarkers for early detection of HCC facilitating improved management. The role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) as a target for treatment of liver fibrosis and HCC must be widely evaluated.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2017

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT; Huanglianjiedu-tang, Orengedoku-to), a traditional herbal formula, is used for treating inflammation, hypertension, gastritis, liver dysfunction, cerebrovascular diseases, dermatitis and dementia. The objective of this study was to assess the sub-acute toxicity of HHT in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and its effect on the activities of human microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Methods: Male and female SD rats were orally administered HHT once daily at doses of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg for 4 weeks. We analyzed mortality, clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, organ weights, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology. The activities of major human CYP450s (CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1) and UGTs (UGT1A1, UGT1A4, and UGT2B7) were assessed using in vitro fluorescence- and luminescence-based enzyme assays, respectively. Results: No toxicologically significant changes related to the repeated administration of HHT were observed in both male and female SD rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) value was more than 2000 mg/kg/day for both sexes. HHT inhibited the activities of human microsomal CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1, whereas it weakly inhibited the activities of CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and UGT1A1. In addition, HHT negligibly inhibited the activities of human microsomal UGT1A4 and UGT2B7 with $IC_{50}$ values in excess of $1000{\mu}g/mL$. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that HHT may be safe for repeated administration up to 4 weeks. In addition, these findings provide information on the safety and effectiveness of HHT when co-administered with conventional drugs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.484-489
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• 1992

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary coenzyme $Q_{10}$ and vitamin E on hepatic lipid metabolism changes in adriamy cin(ADR)-treated rats. ADR treatment significantly increased the plasma levels of lipid peroxide in rats. But this increase was reduced by dietary supplementation of coenzyme $Q_{10}$ or vitamin E. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were not greatly changed by ADR treatment, but the activities were significantly increased by dietary coenzyme $Q_{10}$. There was a tendency of lower superoxide dismutase activity in ADR-treated rats. However, coenzyme $Q_{10}$ administration induced this enzyme activity. The contents of cholesterol and phospholipid in liver were elevated by ADR-treated. Dietary coenzyme $Q_{10}$ reduced the increased hepatic cholesterol content in ADR-treated rat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.782-789
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• 2012

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-metabolic syndrome effects of capsule-filled cheonggukjang (CGJ) added with arrowroot (Pueraria thunbergiana) extracts on body weight, adiposity and lipid metabolism in ob/ob mice. Experimental groups were normal control group (NC: basal diet), positive control group (PC: 2% CGJ), CGJ added with arrowroot extracts group (AR: 2% arrowroot in CGJ), and capsule-filled CGJ added with arrowroot extracts group (ARC: 2% arrowroot CGJ capsule). Each group was fed experimental diet for 10 weeks. Final body weight gain and atherogenic index were significantly lower in the ARC than NC group. Serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, blood glucose and atherogenic index were significantly lower in the ARC than NC group. Furthermore, fatty liver and regional lipid accumultion in ob/ob mice were inhibited in the ARC group. The hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly higher in the ARC than NC group. Therefore, the anti-matabolic syndrome effects of the ARC group were higher than the AR group. In conclusion, these results indicated that CGJ added with arrowroot mediates its anti-obesity effects in ob/ob mice by improving lipid metabolism and antioxidant enzyme.