• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.450-455
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• 2017

Chronic liver disease, one of the most common diseases, typically arises from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, there is a pressing need for improved treatment strategies. Korean Red Ginseng has been known to have positive effects on liver disease and liver function. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the beneficial effects of Korean Red Ginseng on chronic liver disease, a condition encompassing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, as supported by experimental evaluation and clinical investigation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.184-194
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effect on lipoapoptosis of Alisma orientale extract against free fatty acid-induced cellular injury. Methods : HepG2 cells were used in an vitro model. HepG2 cells were treated with free fatty acids to generate a cellular model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Using this cellular model, the anti-apoptotic effect and reducing steatosis of Alisma orientale extract against free fatty acid-induced cellular injury was evaluated by measuring steatosis and apoptosis. Results : Alisma orientale extract significantly attenuated free fatty acid-induced intracellular steatosis. Alisma orientale extract inhibited free fatty acid-mediated activation of pJNK, PUMA, BAX, caspase-3, and -9, and apoptotic kinases that are correlated with NAFLD. Alisma orientale extract also promoted Bcl-2, a anti-apoptotic protein. Conclusions : From the above, the Alisma orientale extract decreased the hepatocyte steatosis and showed the hepatocelluar protective effect by the regulation of apoptosis-related protein. It proposes the possibility of Alisma orientale extract to the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in clinics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.943-952
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• 2022

As a test for diagnosing fatty liver, recently, ultrasound and blood exam are being performed simultaneously. In particular, in the case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in blood exam, it is used as an index indicating the level of inflammation in various parts of the body as well as cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to analyze the association between metabolic syndrome components, liver function, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels according to the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver, and use it as a clinical indicator for fatty liver diagnosis. Metabolic syndrome components, liver function and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein blood test values analyzed from 1,139 men and women over 20 years of age with nonalcoholic fatty liver in abdominal ultrasonography from March 2021 to August 2021 at the Korea Association of Health Promotion, Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch. Analyzed for all men and women, the blood test values for subjects with mild fatty liver were AST 30 U/L, ALT 32.1 U/L, γ-GTP 41.2 IU/L, and hs-CRP 0.14 mg/dL. These values were lower than the blood test values of subjects with moderate fatty liver (AST 38 U/L, ALT 47.6 U/L, γ-GTP 54.9 IU/L, hs-CRP 0.22 mg/dL) and was statistically significant (p<0.001). In this case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test, it is statistically significant, showing higher values in Subjects with moderate fatty liver than Subjects with mild fatty liver. thus, it is considered that hs-CRP can be used as clinical data for the prevention and management of fatty liver.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.365-374
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Gamisaenggan-tang on high fat diet induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups. The Normal group was fed a solid diet containing 10% fat. The Gamisaenggan-tang (GS) group was fed a solid diet containing 10% fat and Gamisaenggan-tang (90mg/100g body weight). The Control group was fed a solid diet containing 60% fat. The HFD-Gamisaenggan-tang (HFD-GS) group was fed a solid diet containing 60% fat and Gamisaenggan-tang (90mg/100g body weight). Six weeks later, rats body weight, liver weight, serum ALT, GGT, ALP levels were measured. Histological findings (Oil red O staining), hepatic triglyceride, TNF-${\alpha}$, and TGF-${\beta}$ levels in the liver tissue were studied. Results: Average body weight of the HFD-GS group was significantly less than that of the Control group. There were no significant liver weight differences among each group. The GGT levels of the HFD-GS group were significantly less than those of the Control group. However, there were no significant differences in the ALT or ALP levels among the groups. TNF-${\alpha}$ protein production assessed by western blot analysis was reduced by Gamisaenggan-tang. Greater fat accumulation was observed in the liver tissue of the Control group than in the HFD-GS group, which means the Gamisaenggan-tang has an inhibitory effect on the accumulation of fat in the liver. Conclusion : The results suggest that Gamisaenggan-tang can be potential candidate for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in clinics.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.343-352
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• 2022

The advent of the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) has shown great potential as a leading method for analyzing the genome-wide profiling of chromatin accessibility. A comprehensive reference to the ATAC-seq dataset for disease progression is important for understanding the regulatory specificity caused by genetic or epigenetic changes. In this study, we present a genome-wide chromatin accessibility profile of 44 liver samples spanning the full histological spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We analyzed the ATAC-seq signal enrichment, fragment size distribution, and correlation coefficients according to the histological severity of NAFLD (healthy control vs steatosis vs fibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), demonstrating the high quality of the dataset. Consequently, 112,303 merged regions (genomic regions containing one or multiple overlapping peak regions) were identified. Additionally, we found differentially accessible regions (DARs) and performed transcription factor binding motif enrichment analysis and de novo motif analysis to determine new biomarker candidates. These data revealed the gene-regulatory interactions and noncoding factors that can affect NAFLD progression. In summary, our study provides a valuable resource for the human epigenome by applying an advanced approach to facilitate diagnosis and treatment by understanding the non-coding genome of NAFLD.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.147-158
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• 2016

The liver lies at the intersection of multiple metabolic pathways and consequently plays a central role in lipid metabolism. Pathological disturbances in hepatic lipid metabolism are characteristic of chronic metabolic diseases, such as obesity-mediated insulin resistance, which can result in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Tissue damage induced in NAFLD activates and recruits liver-resident and non-resident immune cells, resulting in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Importantly, NASH is associated with an increased risk of significant clinical sequelae such as cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases, and malignancies. In this review, we describe the immunopathogenesis of NASH by defining the known functions of immune cells in the progression and resolution of disease.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.501-510
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• 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. The global prevalence of pediatric NAFLD from general populations is 7.6%. In obese children, the prevalence is higher in Asia. NAFLD has a strong heritable component based on ethnic difference in the prevalence and clustering within families. Genetic polymorphisms of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2, and glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) are associated with the risk of NAFLD in children. Variants of PNPLA3 and GCKR are more common in Asians. Alterations of the gut microbiome might contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. High fructose intake increases the risk of NAFLD. Liver fibrosis is a poor prognostic factor for disease progression to cirrhosis. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance proton density fat fraction are more accurate for steatosis quantification than ultrasound. Noninvasive imaging methods to assess liver fibrosis, such as transient elastography, shear-wave elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography are useful in predicting advanced fibrosis, but they need further validation. Longitudinal follow-up studies into adulthood are needed to better understand the natural history of pediatric NAFLD.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.577-588
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• 2003

Severe protein-calorie malnutrition, common in patients with advanced liver disease, can seriously undermine the capacity for regeneration and functional restoration of liver. Nutritional supplementation for these patients can improve biochemical and hormonal abnormalities. However, these effects were not identified in patient with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis. To determine effects of nutritional supplementation in patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, 77 subjects aged 29 to 69 years participated in this study for 12 weeks and were subdivided into three groups; normal diet group (Control group, n ＝ 16), branched-chain amino acid supplementation group (BCAA group, n ＝ 31), nutritional supplementation group (NS group, n ＝ 30). Anthropometric parameters, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood cell counts, serum levels of lipids, vitamins, minerals and fatty acid composition, and plasma amino acids were examined. The mean values of age and height, and the initial values of weight and body mass index (BMI) were not different among all groups. After 12 weeks, there were no significant changes in these values in Control group. Only NS group showed significant increases in weight, lean body mass, midarm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness. Serum transferrins were increased both in BCAA and NS groups. Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids, urea amino acids and glutamic acid were also significantly increased in these groups, but plasma levels of ammonia, serum LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index were decreased. However, there were no significant changes in serum levels of vitamin and mineral and composition of fatty acids in phospholipids in these groups. These results showed that the nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis can more improve nutritional status in these people together with increases of weight, body fat and lean body mass, compared to only BCAA supplementation. To ascertain and investigate the appropriate nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, further studies are necessary.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.680-719
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the trends in research on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using Korean traditional medicine. Methods: This review included studies related to the treatment of NAFLD, irrespective of the year of publication. The search terms were "nonalcoholic fatty liver disease", "non-alcoholic fatty liver", "nonalcoholic hepatitis", "herb", "herbal medicine", "acupuncture", and "traditional medicine". The studies were analyzed according to the type of research. Results: After screening, 179 studies were selected from the 592 identified by the search. The types of studies were 151 in vivo or in vitro studies, 5 randomized controlled trials, 12 case reports, 2 unspecified clinical studies, 8 review articles, and 1 article that was difficult to classify. Conclusion: Analysis of the trends in Korean traditional medicine treatment by reviewing the studies on NAFLD revealed a focus on experimental studies rather than clinical studies. Therefore, multifaceted and well-designed studies are needed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.331-345
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Saenggantanggami-bang (SG) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods : HepG2 cells were used in an in vitro model. HepG2 cells were divided into three groups. The Normal group was incubated with no fatty acid. The Control group was incubated with 1mM palmitic acid to introduce fat overloading. The PA-SG group was incubated with 1mM palmitic acid and various concentrations of Saenggantanggami-bang (SG). Cell viability and cytotoxicity were analyzed by MTT assay and LDH assay. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, ATP amount, and GST activity were measured. Cell death pattern and protective effect of SG on cell death were studied by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 intensity (western blot). Results : Compared with the Control group, cell viability of the PA-SG group significantly increased (P<0.01), cytotoxicity of the PA-SG group decreased (P<0.01), and intracellular TG levels and ROS levels of the PA-SG group decreased (P<0.05). In DNA fragmentation assay, necrotic pattern was observed and DNA fragment decreased in the PA-SG group. In western blot, apoptotic pattern was observed, caspase-3 intensity of the PA-SG group was reduced significantly, but there were no significant differences in intracellular ATP amount and GST activity between the control group and the PA-SG group. Conclusion : The results suggest that Saenggantanggami-bang can be a potential candidate for the clinical treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.