• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.394-402
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• 2015

To evaluate the benefits of Hyangsayangyi-tang aqueous extracts (HSYYT) on the propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced Rat hypothyroidism. 6 groups, each consisting 8 Rats were used in the present study - Intact vehicle control, PTU control, LT₄, HSYYT 500, 250 and 125 ㎎/㎏ treated groups. HSYYT was given, once day for 42 days from 2 weeks before start of PTU treatment as an oral dose of 500, 250 and 125 ㎎/㎏(body weight), and for 28 days while the PTU 10 ㎎/㎏ by daily subcutaneous treatment induced hypothyroidism. Compared the results with LT₄ 0.5 ㎎/㎏ intraperitoneally treated rats in this experiment. Results of the PTU treatment included; decreases of body weight, increase in thyroid weight, decrease in liver weight, in serum T₃, and T₄ level decrease with increase of serum TSH levels, in serum HDL increase and in TG content decrease, decrease in liver antioxidants defense system, increase of serum AST levels were observed. However, these PTU induced hypothyroidism and related hepatic damages were dose-dependently inhibited by treatment of HSYYT 500 and 250 ㎎/㎏, and they also effectively regulated the PTU-induced abnormal antioxidant defense system changes in liver. Therefore, in comparison with the PTU control group, it was effective and advantageous changes were not observed in HSYYT 125 ㎎/㎏ treated rats on the PTU induced hypothyroidism and related hepatic damages. In this experiment, HSYYT 500 and 250 ㎎/㎏ dose-dependently inhibited PTU-induced hypothyroidism and related liver damage in rats but not in HSYYT 125 ㎎/㎏.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.9-18
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• 2010

Integrins are transmembrane receptor proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion. The deregulation of cell-ECM adhesion and the abnormal expression of beta1 (${\beta}1$) integrins (ITGB1s) are involved in tumor development and metastasis. In the liver, the expression of integrins and ECM proteins can be a cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. We performed direct DNA sequencing of 24 individuals, and identified 23 sequence variants of ITGB1 polymorphisms. Among these 23 variants, 7 common variants were selected based on frequencies and linkage disequilibrium, and then genotyped in a larger-scale group of subjects (n=1,103). The genetic associations of ITGB1 polymorphisms with the clearance of HBV and HCC outcome of HBV patients were analyzed using logistic regression models and Cox relative hazard models. Although there was no significant association observed between the polymorphisms and the HCC outcome of HBV patients, the second most common haplotype (ITGB1 haplotype-2 [C-C-C-C-T-C-T]) was putatively associated with HBV clearance (OR=0.75, p=0.008 and $P^{corr}=0.05$). The minor allele frequency (MAF) of ITGB1 haplotype -2 of the spontaneously recovered (SR) group was significantly higher than that of the chronic carrier group (CC) (freq. = 0.248 vs. 0.199). The information derived from this study could be valuable for understanding the genetic factors involved in the clearance of HBV.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.51-58
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effect of Panax ginseng water extract (PG-WE) on the toxicity induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), one of the most notorious toxic environmental pollutants belonging to the group of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Normal control (NC) group guinea pigs (180~200 g) received vehicle and saline, and TCDD-treated (TT) group was given TCDD and saline. P100 and P200 group animals received PG-WE for 28 days since 1 week before TCDD exposure at daily doses of 100 mg/kg b.w. and/or 200 mg/kg b.w., respectively. C100 and C200 group received PG-WE for 14 days starting 1 week after TCDD-exposure. Toxicity was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of TCDD (1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg b.w.). Abnormal increase in AST and ALT activities in TT group was significantly improved by the administration of PC-WE. Microscopically, there were mild to moderate swelling of hepatocytes, hyperchromatism of individual cells, acidophilic cytoplasm and cytoplasm vacuolation of some hepatocytes, slight to moderate variations of staining density, occasional single cell necrosis, variable size and shape of some hepatocytes, small groups of degenerating hepatocytes surrounded by mononuclear cells, dilated sinusoids of centrilobular zone and some loss of lobular architecture in TT group liver. From these results, we could find the protective and therapeutic role of PG-WE in TCDD-induced liver toxicity by examining the blood chemical parameters and histopathological observation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.1-2
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• 2017

Acquiring a selective growth advantage by breaking the proliferation barrier established by gatekeeper genes is a centrally important event in tumor formation. Removal of the mammalian Hippo kinase Mst1 and Mst2 in hepatocytes leads to rapid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation, indicating that the Hippo signaling pathway is a critical gatekeeper that restrains abnormal growth in hepatocytes. By rigorous genetic approaches, we identified an interacting network of the Hippo, Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin and Notch signaling pathways that control organ size and HCC development. We found that in hepatocytes, the loss of Mst1/2 leads to the activation of Notch signaling, which forms a positive feedback loop with Yap/Taz (transcription factors controlled by Mst1/2). This positive feedback loop results in severe liver enlargement and rapid HCC formation. Blocking the Yap/Taz-Notch positive feedback loop by Notch inhibition in vivo significantly reduced the Yap/Taz activities, hepatocyte proliferation and tumor formation. Furthermore, we uncovered a surprising inhibitory role of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling to Yap/Taz activities, which are important in tumor initiation. Genetic removal of ${\beta}$-catenin in the liver of the Mst1/2 mutants significantly accelerates tumoriogenesis. Therefore, Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling, known for its oncogenic property, exerts an unexpected function in restricting Yap/Taz and Notch activities in HCC initiation. The molecular interplay between the three signaling pathways identified in our study provides new insights in developing novel therapeutic strategies to treat liver tumors.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 2014

Objectives: The present study investigated the protective effect of Wattakaka (W.) volubilis leaf extract against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (with six rats in each group) and were fed ad libitum. The rats were fasted for sixteen hours before diabetes was induced by injecting a single dose of 90 mg/kg body weight of STZ in 0.9-percent normal saline through an intraperitoneal route. The five groups were as follows: Group 1: normal control (saline-treated), Group 2: untreated diabetic rats, Groups 3 and 4: diabetic rats treated orally with petroleum ether cold maceration extract (PEME) of W. volubilis (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight), and Group 5: diabetic rats treated orally with metformin (250 mg/kg body weight). All rats received treatment for 21 days. For the STZ-induced diabetic rats, the blood-glucose, ${\alpha}$-amylase, total protein and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were measured on days 7, 14 and 21 of the treatment with PEME of W. volubilis and the treatment with metformin. Histopathological changes in the liver were examined with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Morphological changes in the liver were also examined with glutaraldehyde fixation. Results: The treatments with PEME of W. volubilis and with metformin in experimental rats by oral injections for 21 days produced reductions in the levels of serum biochemical markers. Histopathology and scanning electron microscopy results showed that the administrations of PEME of W. volubilis and of metformin suppressed the generation of abnormal liver cells in the STZ-treated rats. Conclusion: These results suggest that both PEME of W. volubilis and metformin have a protective effect against STZ-induced diabetes.

• 한국수의병리학회지
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.73-84
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate on the serum chemistry and the DNA ploidy changes in carcinogenesis of the rat liver and kidney. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Group I was non-treated control. Group II was given initiators (2,2'-dihydroxy- di-N-propylnitrosamine, 0.1% in drinking water(d.w.) for 1 week and N-ethyl-N-hydroxy-ethylnitrosamine; 0.15% in d.w. for 1 week) and promoters (3'methyl-cholanthrene; 3'MC, l0mg/kg, intraperitoneally(i.p.) twice a week and DL-serine; 0.05% in d.w. for 5 weeks, from 3 to 8 weeks). All examinations were performed at 12 and 20 weeks RBC, HGBCp＜0.05) and PCVCp＜0.01) significantly decreased in Group II at 20 weeks. Activities of ALT, AST(p＜0.05) and GGT(p＜0.01) were significantly increased in Group II at 20 weeks. Flow cytometric analysis showed hepatocyte nuclei from normal livers were predominantly tetraploid(66~67%) and then diploid(28~30%). Most of hepatocyte nuclei from carcinogen-treated rats were diploid (52~68%) and less were tetraploid(28~42%). Neoplastic liver nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma contained almost exclusively diploid nuclei. Renal cell nuclei from normal kidney were predominantly diploid(88~93%), those from carcinogen-treated rats had an abnormal DNA-content peak(aneuploidy, 6-7%), near the tetraploidy area. These results suggest that diploidy may be an effective screening marker of the liver carcinogenesis. Aneuploidy may be an useful marker in assessment of the experimental renal carcinogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.275-281
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• 2021

Objectives : This study reports changes in liver function test (LFT) after Korean Medicine treatment in patients admitted to Korean Medicine hospital with abnormal LFT. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the Korean medicine treatment and abonormal LFT to verify safety of Korean medicine treatment by analyzing index of LFT. Methods : From Oct. 2015 to Sep. 2020, the result was analyzed for 91 patients admitted to the Pohang Korean Medicine Hospital and received Korean Medicine treatment. Asparate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TB) were compared at admission and discharge. Results : Comparison between admission and discharge LFT showend AST decreased from 52.72±25.08 to 43.2±19.20, ALT from 70.85±32.40 to 62.13±29.40, and TB from 1.33±0.37 to 0.81±0.29. Conclusions : After Korean medicine treatment, AST, ALT, and TB decreased compared with the values at admission. Further studies on safety of Korean Medicine treatment are warranted.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.434-442
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• 2020

본 연구에서는 밀웜으로 잘 알려진 갈색거저리 유충(Tenebrio molitor larvae)분말을 Saccharomyces cerevisiae M1(KACC 93023)으로 발효하였다. 그 후 발효물을 orotic acid에 의해 비 알코올성 지방간이 유발된 흰쥐에 급여하여 개선 여부를 판단해보았다. Orotic acid로 인해 지질 대사에 이상이 생긴 대조군의 경우 장기 무게 및 체중이 증가한 것에 반해 발효 갈색거저리 유충 분말을 급여한 군에서는 정상군과 흡사한 중량을 나타냈다. 그리고 간 건강의 지표로 알려진 AST, ALT, ALP 및 LDH 활성 역시 가장 낮았으며, 각종 지질 관련 지표들도 긍정적으로 나타나 개선 효과가 있는 것으로 판단된다. 또한 간 조직 및 혈청 내 과산화지질, glutathione 함량 역시 정상군과 흡사하거나 더 뛰어난 수치를 띄었다. 마지막으로 H&E 염색, Oil red O 염색을 통한 간 조직의 형태학적 관찰 결과, 발효 갈색거저리를 급여한 군에서 정상군과 흡사한 간세포의 형태 및 배열과 함께 염색된 지방이 눈에 띄게 감소된 모습을 나타내었다. 위 결과를 종합해본다면, 일반 갈색거저리를 급여하였을 때 일부 실험에서 수치가 개선됨을 확인할 수 있었고, 이를 효모로 발효시켰을 경우 대부분의 지표에서 정상치에 가까울 만큼 더욱 긍정적인 개선효과를 나타내었다. 이를 통해 발효물이 비 알코올성 지방간의 개선에 도움을 주는 것으로 판단, 향후 다양한 제품의 소재로 활용될 가능성을 시사하였다.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.27-41
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to understand melanin with both Korean and Western medicine.Methods : We investigated the comprehension of melanin in both western and Korean medicine through literature review and studied relationships between melanin and five viscera(五臟), especially liver(肝), spleen(脾), kidney(腎). We Also studied representative pigmentary disorders(melasma, vitiligo) in western and Korean medicine to figure out how to understand pigmentary disorders in oriental medicine.Results : The results are as follows. 1. Melanin is associate with liver, because free coursing(疎泄) function of liver is the origin of transport melanin to keratinocyte from melanocyte. Also, melanogenesis factors like MITF and CREB are closely associated with liver and pigmentary disorders occur frequently after stress conditions or women. 2. Melanin is absorbed and scattered in keratinocytes by the function of spleen. Pigmentary disorders result from failure of spleen and formation of phlegm-retained fluid(痰飮). 3. Kidney essence(腎精) is the origin of melanin formation. In addition, corticosteroid, the major hormone of melanogenesis is secreted by adrenalin and adrenalin belongs to kidney(腎) in Korean medicine. 4. Melasma is created by disorder of melanin transport and absorbtion, so melasma is associated liver (肝) and spleen(脾). Therefore the treatment for melasma may focus on improvement function of liver and spleen. 5. The destruction of melanocyte or abnormal melanogenesis by disorder of the immune system, metabolic and affective disorders can make vitiligo, so vitiligo is associated with liver and kidney which are major part of melanin formation. Therefore the treatment of vitiligo can focus on improvement function of liver(肝) and kidney(腎).Conclusion : We compared Korean and western medicine to understand melanin. We also interpreted the mechanism of melanin and pigmantary disorders in western medicine and considered the relationship with visceral manifestation theory(臟象論) in traditional Korean medicine. Further studies are needed to apply comprehension of melanin to clinical stage.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.45-53
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• 1999

Since Radix Stemonae was recorded hypothennal and a little toxic in the 'Myngyubelrok (名醫別錄)', it has been recorded as having the same nature in many herbal books. However, the security of Radix Stemonae when used to treat respiratory disease over a long term has not been studied until now. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the effects of Radix Stemonae on the main organs if Radix Stemonae is administrated over a long term. In order to investigate the histological changes of the liver and kidneys of rats after oral administration of Radix Stemonae extract, the experimental rats were subdivided into control, 1, 3, 5, 7, 21, 28 and 35 days after administration groups, and 10 rats per group were used in this study. The control group was sufficiently supplied with water and solid forage. The other groups were administrated the reagent at 5mg/kg once a day by oral injection. Several times each day, the experimental groups were carefully observed for any changes of general condition, toxic symptoms, activity, appearance and the number of dead rats. The experimental groups were weighed and narcotized. For the histological observation, the tissues of liver and kidneys of the experimental groups were collected, stained by hematoxylin-eosin stain, and evaluated by observing the changes of gross appearance and by observing microscopic findings. 1. This drug, during the experimental term, did not induce any toxicological effect in mortality, abnormal symptoms or changes of body weight except for the 1 day after administration groups whose body weights were decreased, compared to the control group. 2. No gross changes of the liver and kidneys were observed in this study. 3. No histological changes of the liver were detected in 1 day after administration groups. However, dilation of the central vein was observed in 3, 5 and 7 days after administration groups and chronic passive congestion of the liver was demonstrated in the 21 days after administration groups. In the 28 and 35 days after administration groups, a centrolobular disposition of fatty tissue (adipose cell) was observed. 4. No histological changes of the kidneys were observed in this study. It is evaluated that if Radix Stemonae is administrated for a long term, it induces toxicity in the liver. So, to examine the toxicity of Radix Stemonae on the liver and kidney, it is necessary that the studies of biochemistry and electron microscopic findings about Radix Stemonae be systematically performed.