• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1940-1948
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• 2013

This study is conducted to investigate the antioxidative effect of oyster hydrolysates in the serum and liver of SD-rats through the determination of lipid content, production of free radicals and antioxidant enzyme activities. Two different hydrolysates, Protamex-treated and Neutrase-treated hydrolysate with the cross-linking of protein by transglutaminase (TGPN group) and without (PN group), were fed for 6 weeks. TGPN hydrolysate in serum and liver significantly decreased the total cholesterol in the range of 26.1% to 28.9%, and triglyceride in the liver of up to 6.3%. Superoxide radical in the serum and lipid peroxide radical in the liver were significantly decreased in SD-rats fed 200 mg TGPN hydrolysate. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased in the liver of SD-rats. These results indicate that TGPN hydrolysate could scavenge the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and reduce the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The TGPN is also protected the oxidation of protein by the free radicals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.492-496
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• 2001

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein(MTP) activity and mRNA level were investigated in the liver and small intestine of rats fed on di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP) and orotic acid(OA) as serum triglyceride-reducing agents. The concentration of liver triglyceride was significantly increased in the OA group, but that was not increased in the DEHP group compared with the control group. The concentration of serum triglyceride was significantly decreased in the OA and DEHP groups compared with the control group, but this reduction was more pronounced in the OA group. MTP activity and mRNA level in liver were decreased in the OA group compared with the control group, while MTP activity in the small intestine was increased in the OA group compared with the control group. MTP activities and MTP mRNA levels in both liver and small intestine had no influence by the DEHP dietary feeding, despite the triglyceride-lowering action, compared with the control dietary feeding. The activity of liver microsomal phosphatidate phosphohydrolase(PAP), the rate-limiting enzyme in triglyceride synthesis, was increased in the OA group compared with the control group, but that of cytosolic PAP was decreased in the DEHP group compared with the control group. The result suggest that MTP activity and MTP mRNA level are involved in the triglyceride-lowering action of OA, but those are not involved in that of DEHP.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.367-370
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• 2009

A 5-year-old, intact female Shih-Tzu dog was presented with 1 year history of icterus, ascites and anorexia. The serum biochemistry revealed elevated liver enzyme levels. Microhepatica and decreased serosal detail were detected in abdominal radiography. Abdominal ultrasonographic findings included irregular liver margins, multifocal hypoechoic nodules in the liver parenchyma, and ascites. Computed tomography (CT) showed multifocal hypodense nodules with ring-like contrast enhancement. Cytologic and histopathologic examination by liver core biopsy revealed fibrosis. Cirrhosis was diagnosed based on above results. This report focuses on the imaging characteristics of ultrasonography and CT for liver cirrhosis in a dog.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 1996

Polyclonal antiserum R101 against aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) was raised in New Zealand white rabbits after injection of bovine serum albumin-$AFB_1$ conjugate. Competitive ELISA (enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay) demonstrated that antiserum R101 has the highest binding for $AFB_1$ (50% inhibition at 170 fmol) and aflatoxicol II (50% inhibition at 112 fmol). It also reacts with other aflatoxins such as $AFB_2$, $AFG_1$, $AFG_2$, and aflatoxin metabolites ($AFM_1$, $AFM_2$, $AFP_1$, and $AFQ_1$), but it does not cross-react with $AFG_2a$. Using this antiserum, aflatoxins were quantitated in 100 urine samples of undergraduate students at the College of Pharmacy, Sung Kyun Kwan University, Republic of Korea. By ELISA, $AFB_1$ and its metabolites were detected in human urine samples (N=100, male=89, female=11, ages=20~31 yrs) with a range of 1.4~200.6 ng/kg/day (mean$\pm$SD=$18.11{\pm}33.01\;ng\;AFB_1/kg/day$ in males, $3.82{\pm}2.65\;ng/kg/day$ in females). Assuming that urinary excretion is about 7.6% of $AFB_1$ intake (Groopman et al., 1992), we estimated that Koreans were daily exposed to a total dietary $AFB_1$ of $240.20{\pm}438.67\;ng/kg/day$ in males and $50.35{\pm}29.88\;ng/kg/day$ in females, respectively. When the human monitoring data was applied to a linear regression model of Y=21.67X-10.04 {Y=liver cancer incidence per 100,000, X=Log $AFB_1$ intake (ng/kg/day), r=0.99} developed from previously reported epidemiological data, calculated liver cancer incidences attributed to $AFB_1$ exposure were 41.56/100,000 in males and 26.84/100,000 in females. The incidences were similarly correlated with liver cancer mortality rates of 43.43/100,000 in males and 11.23/100,000 in females in Korea. These results suggest that aflatoxin exposure may be an important risk factor for the high incidence of liver cancer in Korea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.414-420
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• 1998

We studied the difference effects of dietary ${\alpha}-linolenic\;acid\;({\alpha}-LA,\;18:3\;n-3)$, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) on the lowering of triacylglycerol in the liver and serum on lipid metabolism in rats. Rats were fed semipurified diets containing 10% fat with constant polyunsaturated/monounsaturated/saturated fatty acids (1:1:1) and n-6/n-3 ratio (1:2). EPA (98%) and DHA (98%) were added in diets as the ethyl esters. The concentration of liver triacylglycerol was significantly lower in rats fed both EPA and DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$. The concentration of liver phospholipid was significantly higher in rats fed DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$ and EPA. Both EPA and DHA reduced serum triacylglycerol concentration compared with ${\alpha}-LA$, but this effect was more pronounced in the EPA diet. The activity of phophatidate phosphohydrolase in the liver microsome was significantly lower in rats fed both EPA and DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$. but, there was no significant difference on the activities of diacylglycerol acyltransferase among the three groups. The concentration of liver triacylglycerol were correlated with changes in the microsomal phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity (r=0.84). Hepatic NADPH generating enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was more effective to reduce the activity in rats fed both EPA and DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$. In conclusion, EPA or DHA reduced the hepatic triacylglycerol concentration by inhibiting microsomal phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, thereby inhibiting synthesis of triacylglycerol in the liver.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.356-365
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• 1991

$L-Triiodothyronine(T_3)$ binding to purified plasma membrane and to isolated nuclei from the same liver in obese(ob/ob) mice and their lean littermates was examined. The maximal binding capacity(Bmax) for $T_3$ receptor of liver nuclei, as compared to lean control, was significantly lower in the obese mouse$(obese 527{\pm}80fmol/mg\;DNA ; lean 883{\pm}62fmol/mg\;DNA)$, without an apparent difference in dissociation constant(Kd). The finding that obese mice have fewer liver nuclear $T_3$ receptors confirms previous reports. The Bmax and Kd of liver plasma membrane $T_3$ receptor were not significantly different between obese and lean mouse, which suggests no defect to be occurring in the function of the plasma membrane $T_3$ receptor and reinforces the view that the peripherally impaired thyroid hormone action in obese mice is a post plasma membrane receptor event. These results further support the hypothesis that the major defect of the thyroid hormone metabolism in genetic obesity occurs at the level of the nuclear receptor.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2016

Objectives : Liver is one of the largest organs in the human, and has a function of detoxification and energy sensing to prevent severe disease. Paeoniae radix has been used to treat a variety of liver diseases such as hepatitis and chronic hepatic failure. Although P. radix has been used as an medicinal herb for a long time, the effects of P. radix on severe oxidative stress and its action mechanism on the liver was not clearly verified.Methods : This study investigated the protective effects of P. radix extract (PRE), and the underlying mechanism of its action in the liver. tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and carbon tetrachlroride (CCl₄) were used to induce oxidative stress in the HepG2 hepatocyte cell line and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively.Results : t-BHP significantly induced cell death and ROS production in HepG2 cell, as indicated by MTT and FACS analysis. However, pretreatment of PRE inhibited a decrease in cell viability and H₂O₂ production in the HepG2 cells. PRE also blocked the ability of t-BHP to damage in mitochondrial membrane transition. More importantly, PRE induced Nrf2 activation and antioxidant Phase II enzyme, which may have a role in the effects of PRE. In mice, PRE inhibited the liver damage induced by CCl₄.Conclusions : PRE inhibited oxidative stress and hepatic damages as mediated with Nrf2 activation. This study unveil, in part, the effect and mechanism of old medicinal herb, P. radix.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotecive effect of silk protein hydrolysates (SDH), which was prepared by acid hydrolysis, in rats. SDH itself did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on hepatic tissues. SDH showed a protective effect on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity and liver damage. SDH effectively reduced AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase), which are biomarkers for liver damage, in a dose-dependent manner. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation product, was significantly reduced by SDH. A high dose of SDH (2 g/kg) reduced t-BHP-induced MDA production by 40%. Glutathione (GSH), which is an endogenous antioxidant molecule, was effectively increased by SDH treatment. GSH content was enhanced by around 2.5-fold, compared with t-BHP control, upon SDH (2 g/kg) treatment. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is an enzyme released by cell cytotoxicity, was greatly increased by t-BHP, but significantly decreased by SDH treatment. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed that SDH suppressed t-BHP-induced lesions in liver tissue. Taken together, SDH might be used as a protective agent against liver damage.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.27.1-27.12
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• 2023

Background: Environmental exposure is characterized by low concentration, chronic, and complex exposure. Traditional epidemiological studies show limitations in reflecting these characteristics since they usually focus on a single or very limited number of exposure factors at a time. In this study, we adopted the methodology of environment-wide association study (EWAS) to figure out the association of human liver function with various environmentally hazardous substances. Methods: We analyzed 2,961 participants from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 4 (2018-2020). Using generalized linear model (GLM) analysis, we analyzed the association of 72 variables with 3 liver function indices (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT]). Finally, we visualized our results with Manhattan plot. Results: In GLM analysis, perfluorooctanesulfonate were positively associated with ALT (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-3.46; p_adjusted = 0.0147) and perfluorodecanoic acid showed positive association with GGT (OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.36-5.5; p_adjusted = 0.0256). Plasma mercury showed positive association with GGT (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14-1.84; p_adjusted = 0.0315). Using a plastic container while keeping food in the refrigerator was associated with elevated GGT compared to using a glass container (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.16-1.95; p_adjusted = 0.0153). 2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate, showed a negative trend with all 3 indices, with AST (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.39-0.73; p_adjusted = 0.00357), ALT (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.34-0.75; p_adjusted = 0.036), GGT (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.4-0.76; p_adjusted = 0.00697). Bisphenol S and frequent use of sunblock cream showed negative association with ALT (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.66-0.89), and GGT (OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11-0.55), respectively. Conclusions: We conducted an exploratory study on environmental exposure and human liver function. By using EWAS methodology, we identified 7 factors that could have potential association with liver function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2001

The cDNA encoding human NeuAc ${\alpha}$2,3Gal$\beta$ 1,3GalNAc GalNac ${\alpha}$2,6-Sialyltransferase (hST6GalNac IV) was isolated by screening of human fetal liver cDNA library with a DNA probe generated from the cDNA sequence of mouse ST6Gal NAc IV (mkST6GalNAc IV). The cDNA sequence included an open reading frame coding for 302 amino acids, and comparative analysis of this cDNA with mST6GalNAc IV showed that each sequence of the predicted coding region contains 88% and 85% identifies in nucleotide and amino acid levels, respecively. The primary structure of this enzyme suggested a putative domain structure, like that in other glycosyltransferases, consisting of a short N-terminal cytoplamic domain, a transmembrane domain and a large C-terminal active domain. This enzyme expressed in COS-7 cells echibited transferase activity toward NeuAc ${\alpha}$2,3Gal$\beta$ 1,3GalNAc, fetuin and GM1b, although the activity toward the later is very low, no significant activity being detected toward Gal${\beta}$ 1,3Gal NAc or asialofetuin, the other glycoprotein substrates tested. The $^{14}$ C-sialylated residue of fetuin sialylated by this enzyem with CMP-[$^{14}$C]NeuAc was sensitive to treatment with ${\alpha}$2,8-specific sialidase of Vibrio cholerae but resistant to treatment with ${\alpha}$2,3-specific sialidase (NaNase I), and ${\alpha}$2,3- and ${\alpha}$2,8-specific sialidase of Newcastle disease virus. These results clearly indicated that the expressed enzyme is a type of GalNAc ${\alpha}$2,6-sialyltransferase like mST6GalNAc IV, which requires sialic acid residues linked to Gal${\beta}$1,3GalNAc-residues for its activity.