• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2000

We hypothesized that the extent of hypoxic injury would be involved in reduction of oxygen delivery to the tissue. Livers isolated from 18 hr-fasted rats were subjected to $N_2$-induced hypoxia or low flow hypoxia. Livers were perfused with nitrogen/carbon dioxide gas for 45min or perfused with normoxic Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHBB) at low flow rates around 1 ml/g liver/min far 45min, which caused cells to become hypoxic because of insufficient delivery of oxygen. When normal flow rates(4 ml/g liver/min) of KHBB (pH 7.4, 37$^{\circ}C$, oxygen/carbon dioxide gas) were restored for 30min reoxygenation injury occurred. Lactate dehydrogenase release gradually increased in $N_2$-induced hypoxia, whereas it rapidly increased in low flow hypoxia. Total glutathione in liver tissue was not changed but oxidized glutathione markedly increased after hypoxia and reoxygenation, expecially in $N_2$-induced hypoxia. Similarly, lipid peroxidation in liver tissue significantly increased after hypoxia and reoxygenation in low flow hypoxia. Hepatic drug metabolizing functions (phase I, II) were suppressed during hypoxia, especially in $N_2$-induced hypoxia but improved by reoxygenation in both models. Our findings suggest that hypoxia results in abnormalities in drug metabolizing function caused by oxidative stress and that this injury is dependent on hypoxic conditions.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.214-218
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• 2003

Alcohol consumption causes numerous consequences on the health of the human body. Heavy drinking on a daily base has caused liver diseases. Furthermore, some products such as acetaldehyde produced from alcohol metabolism are more toxic than alcohol itself. This study was carried out to evaluate the role of Lactobacillus casei on alcohol metabolism, especially, the removal of the toxic effect of alcohol. The maximum alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities from L. casei were observed at 4 hr of culture. L. casei was confirmed to produce the ADH and ALDH by the SDS-PAGE. From in vivo test using SD rats with 22% alcoholic drink, blood alcohol concentration (BAC), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) of the rats feeding the medium containing L. casei were lower than those of the rats feeding the medium containing an alcoholic drink only This demonstrates that the ADH and ALDH produced by L. casei have virtual functions to detoxicate the alcohol in vivo and the fermentation broth of L. casei can be used as an alcohol detoxification drink.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.48-59
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• 1994

This study has been carried out to investigate the influences that Chiljung(七情) exert upon the liver system, and Spleen-Stomach functions. In oriental medicine regard stress as Chiljung(七情). No(怒), among the Chiljungs(七情) is a Shinji(神志) that the primary factors to develop the Kan(肝)s pathological process. The stress stimulates Hypothalamic Corticotpopin Releasing Center. This is why gastrin is more released than normal limit. It is caused disfunction of stomach. In result of No(怒), KanJuSoSeol(肝主疏泄)cannot do it's function. It results that KanKiBeomYi(肝氣犯胃) and KanKiSuingBi(肝氣乘脾) KanKiBeomYi caused to AiKi(曖氣), TanSan(呑酸), KanKiSuingBi caused to abdominal pain, diarrhea. In this point of view, It is important to take emotional stability, and escape from all this stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.205-211
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• 1999

Effects of Houttuynia cordata ethanol extracts on lipid metabolism and antioxidant enzymes in Sprague Dawley male rats were investigated. High fat used in the diet mixture included 10% of lard, 1% of cholesterol and 0.25% of sodium cholate. Total serum cholesterol contents of the rats fed Houttuynia cordata extracts were decreased compared to the control. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol contents were increased along with the decrease of athrogenic index. When high fat diet was fed, total serum cholesterol contents were significantly increased(p<0.01) with the athrogenic index increase of four times of the control. With the administration of Houttuynia cordata extract HDL cholesterol was increased by 53% in the high fat diet group. Antioxidant enzymes including GST and catalase activities were increased comparing the control. On the otherhand, the extracts lowered phospholipid(p<0.01), GOT, GPT, Cu,Zn SOD and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities in the serum which are related to the liver functions. Therefore, the above results suggest that Houttuynia cordata ethanol extracts can help to maintain normal liver functions and help to protect from peroxidative damages caused by excess dietary fat intake.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.273-286
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• 2013

Objectives: The present study was conducted in order to investigate the reproductive toxicity in rats exposed to 1,4-dichlorobutane. Methods: The test chemical was administered orally at 0, 8.3, 50 and 300 mg/kg/day. Males were administered daily for 10 weeks prior to the mating period. Females were administered from between two weeks before mating to the 21stday of lactation. Results: In both sexes, a decrease in body weight and an increase in the weights of the liver and kidneys were observed. In males, discoloration of the liver, hepatocyte hypertrophy and mineralization in the kidneys were observed. In females, animal deaths, dystocia and pup deaths due to maternal dysfunction were observed. In F1 animals of both sexes, a decrease in body weight was observed at 300 mg/kg/day. An increase in the weights of the liver in both sexes, mineralization in the kidneys of males, animal deaths, hepatocyte hypertrophy and pup deaths due to maternal dysfunction were observed at 50 mg/kg/day. Mineralization in the kidneys of males was observed at 8.3 mg/kg/day. Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) of 1,4- dichlorobutane were considered to be under 8.3 mg/kg/day for males, 8.3 mg/kg/day for females, more than 300 mg/kg/day for fertility in both sexes, 8.3 mg/kg/day for maternal functions and 50 mg/kg/day for F1 offspring. The absolute toxic dose was believed to be 8.3 mg/kg/day for males, 50 mg/kg/day for females, 50 mg/kg/day for maternal functions and 300 mg/kg/day for F1 offspring. However NOAEL for fertility could not be determined since there were no treatment-related changes. Conclusions: Under the present experimental conditions, 1,4-dichlorobutane is a Category 1B Reproductive Toxicant (presumed human reproductive or developmental toxicant).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.448-458
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• 2009

It has been well documented from animal and human studies that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has numerous beneficial effects on health. In chickens, CLA exerts many effects on performance ranging from egg quality and yolk lipids to meat quality. Although there are several CLA isomers available, not all CLA isomers have the same incorporation rates into egg yolk: cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA isomers are more favorably deposited into egg yolk than other isomers investigated, but of the two isomers, the former has a higher incorporation rate than the latter. CLA alters the amounts and profiles of lipids in plasma, muscles and liver. Furthermore, increased liver weight was reported in chickens fed dietary CLA. As observed in egg yolk, marked reduction in intramuscular lipids as well as increased protein content was observed in different studies, leading to elevation in protein-to-fat ratio. Inconsistency exists for parameters such as body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production rate and mortality, depending upon experimental conditions. One setback is that hard-cooked yolks from CLA-consuming hens have higher firmness as refrigeration time and CLA are increased, perhaps owing to alterations in physico-chemistry of yolk. Another is that CLA can be detrimental to hatchability when provided to breeders: eggs from these breeders have impaired development in embryonic and neonatal stages, and have increased and decreased amounts of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), respectively. Thus, both problems can be fully resolved if dietary sources rich in MUFAs are provided together with CLA. Emerging evidence suggests that CLA exerts a critical impact on stress and immune functions as it can completely nullify some of the adverse effects produced by immune challenges and reduce mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, CLA is a key regulator of genes that may be responsible for lipid metabolism in chickens. CLA down-regulates both expression of the gene encoding stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 and its protein activity in the chicken liver while up-regulating mRNA of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-l.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.26-36
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• 2015

Objectives In this study, effect of Geumsuyukgunjeon (GYJ) on the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances of rats with acute bronchitis and EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production from human airway epithelial cells were investigated. Materials and Methods Hypersecretion of airway mucus was induced by exposure of rats to SO2 during 3 weeks. Effect of orally-administered GYJ during 2 weeks on increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats was assesed using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with PAS-alcian blue. Possible cytotoxicity of GYJ was assessed by examining the potential damage of kidney and liver functions by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN and creatinine concentrations of rats and the body weight gain during experiment, after administering GYJ orally. Effect of GYJ on EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production from human airway epithelial cells (A549) was investigated. Confluent A549 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of GYJ and treated with EGF (25 ng/ml) for 24 hrs, to assess the effect of GYJ on EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results (1) GYJ decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of trachea of rats. (2) GYJ did not show kidney and liver toxicities and did not affect body weight gain of rats during experiment. (3) GYJ significantly inhibited EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production from A549 cells. Conclusions The result from the present study suggests that GYJ might control both the mucus hypersecretion in vivo and do not show in vivo toxicity to liver and kidney functions after oral administration and the production of pulmonary mucin.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 2014

The purpose of this report is to discuss the obtained findings gathered from ultrasound screenings of the liver. After running diagnostic tests health, screens were then conducted to analyze and compare the gained results. This data was then charted and used to strengthen our theorized hypothesis. From January 2013 to June 2013 a recorded 2906 people over the age of 20 visited Health Promotion Centers in various areas throughout Daejeon. Of those 2906 participants 1789 underwent screenings for abdominal ultrasonography; these participants as well as their ultrasound results were used as the bases of our study. For the establishment of our baseline and the comparison of our results, we gathered case-controlled studies from various reputable sources. Both the control and the experimental groups were tested to measure the following liver enzymes (AST, ALT, r-GTP, ALP, and etc.). Kidney functions were measured as well enzymes such as BUN, Creatinine, and Uric Acids levels were analyzed and recorded to see if any relationships existed between the levels documented in the liver and those in the kidneys. It was shown that the two primary causes of fat build up within the liver were significantly connected to obesity BMI(OR=4.14) and waist circumference(OR=3.88).

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.266-275
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• 2015

Exposure to cadmium (Cd) has harmful effects on the liver and kidney. Resveratrol (RES) is an herbal substance that functions as a protective mediator. This study aimed to investigate the effects of RES on the histology of liver and kidney in Cd-exposed mice. Male mice were divided into 4 groups daily receiving normal saline (1 mL normal saline/d), Cd (1 mg/kg/d), RES (20 mg/kg/d), and Cd plus RES, respectively. After 4 weeks, the liver and kidney components were evaluated using stereological methods. The total volume and number of hepatocytes, and volume of fibrous tissue were respectively increased by 34%, 58%, and a 3-fold in the Cd-exposed mice in comparison to the control animals (P<0.03). On the other hand, the volume of the main vasculature (sinusoids and central veins) was decreased by 36% in the Cd group compared to the control mice (P<0.03). Considering the kidney, the results showed a 3-fold increase in the total glomeruli volume and a 7-fold increase in fibrous tissue in the Cd-treated group compared to the control mice (P<0.03). After Cd treatment, a 32% reduction was observed in the volume and length of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules. RES-treatment alone did not induce any structural changes. In comparison to the Cd group, an increase in the normal components of the liver and kidney and a decrease in the formation of the fibrous and degenerated tissues were observed in the Cd+RES-treated mice (P<0.03).

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.324-333
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the changes in the levels of liver enzymes after providing health education to workers. Methods: Among 909 electronics-manufacturing workers, 96 (10.6%) workers had abnormal liver functions. Of these, male workers were randomly assigned into either the health education experimental group (48 [52.2%]) or the control group (44 [47.8%]). Depending on the level of participation in the health education, workers in the experimental group were classified into the participation (32 [34.8%]) and non-participation groups (16 [17.4%]). Changes in the levels of liver enzymes were compared among three groups. Results: The changes in the levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase (r-GTP) in the participation, non-participation, and control groups were $-25.3{\pm}54.5$ IU/L, $-4.4{\pm}24.1$ IU/L, and $-5.3{\pm}38.8$ IU/L, respectively (p=.036). Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, waist circumference, body mass index, daily alcohol consumption, weekly exercise, and changes in smoking habits in the 3 groups did not differ significantly. In the multiple linear regression analysis, the variable of education participation revealed a significant regression coefficient of -25.10 when the change in r-GTP levels was the dependent variable. Conclusion: A brief health education targeted towards the management of liver disease among workers improved r-GTP levels.