• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.577-598
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• 1996

This study was conducted to identify the effects of caffeine or combinations of caffeine and iron or vitamin E on the lipid and protein components or blood chemistry levels of the serum as well as the total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the rat(Sprague-Dawley, female) liver. Chronic test were conducted to determine those effects. The chronic test was conducted by dividing rats into 5 groups according to the type of drugs and dosages administrated as follows; the control(group A), and group B was given 25mg/kg caffeine orally once daily for 30 days, group C was given 50mg/kg caffeine orally once daily for 30 days, group D was given 25mg/kg caffeine and orally ferric chloride once daily for 30 days and group E was given 25mg/kg caffeine and 25mg/kg vitamin E once daily for 30 days. The concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, A/G ratio, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, free fatty acid, phospholipid as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were measured in the serum of each experimental groups. The concentrations of the carbonyl group and malondiaidehyde(MDA) and the patterns of the SDS-PAGE(Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) and fatty acid compositions in free fatty acids and phospholipids were analyzed to determine the oxidative damages and metabolic changes on the lipid and protein components in the serum, and total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of the rat liver. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows; 1. Body weights of groups B, C, D and E were significantly decreased(p < 0.01) in comparison with that of the control in the chronic test. 2. The concentrations of serum glucose in groups B(124.5mg/dl), C(130.1mg/dl), D(122.1mg/dl), E(119.3mg/dl) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(101.5mg/dl). But, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin and A/G ratio in comparison to that of the control. 3. The concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in serum of groups B(69.6, 53.4mg/dl), C(73.0, 56.3mg/dl), D(68.9, 51.1mg/dl) and E(68.2, 51.3mg/dl) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(52.6, 38.8mg/dl). On the other hand, the concentrations of triglyceride in serum of groups B(45.0mg/dl), C(40.4mg/dl), D(33.8mg/dl) and E(47.2mg/dl) were significantly lower(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(66.2mg/dl). There were no significant differences in the activities of ALT, AST and ALP in comparison to that of the control. 4. The concentrations of free fatty acid and phospholipid in serum of groups B(45.7, 154.4mg/dl), C(50.0, 167.2mg/dl), D(52.5, 148.4mg/dl) and E(41.1, 159.2mg/dl) were higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(35.2, 125.3mg/dl). And the concentrations of the carbonyl group and malondialdehyde in serum of group D(1.82, 0.52nM/mg protein) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(1.53nM/mg protein). 5. The concentrations of carbonyl group in total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of group D(1.45, 0.94, 1.67nM/mg protein) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(1.16, 0.66, 1.27nM/mg protein). And the concentrations of malondialdehyde in the total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of group D(6.70, 6.10, 1.36nM/mg protein) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(5.17, 3.64, 0.68nM/mg protein). 6. As the analytical results of the fatty acid compositions of free fatty acid in serum, the proportions of stearic acid and arachidonic acid of groups B(16.52, 12.62%), C(17.52, 15.18%), D(19.73, 13.47%) and E(17.62, 13.28%) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(14.75, 7.88%), but the proportions of oleic acid and linoleic acid of groups B(12.97, 32.59%), C(10.88, 31.23%), D(12.37, 30.66%) and E(11.95, 32.41%) were significantly lower(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(16.44, 35.12%). Otherwise, as the results of the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid in serum, the proportions of stearic acid and arachidonic acid of groups B(39.37, 16.39%), C(40.63, 17.83%), D(42.73, 15.39%) and E(39.16, 15.70%) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(37.74, 14.24%), but the proportions of oleic acid and linoleic acid of groups B(4.03, 14.38%), C(3.54, 12.38%), D(4.52, 11.68%) and E(4.29, 13.64%) were significantly lower(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(5.53, 16.14%). 7. As the analytical results of the fatty acid compositions of free fatty acid in total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of liver, the proportions of oleic acid of groups B(7.8**, 8.73**, 6.88%) and C(6.89**, 7.75**, 6.58%) were lower(**:p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(8.67, 10.08, 7.81%), but the proportions of arachidonic acid of group C(22.62, 19.79, 23.71%) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(20.93, 18.47, 22.24%). And the proportions of palmitic acid of group D(25.95**, 26.16, 26.34**%) were significantly higher(**:p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(24.43, 25.42, 23.34%). In addition, the proportions of linoleic acid of group D(23.43, 25.02, 23.95%) were also significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(22.17, 23.75, 21.26%). The proportions of stearic acid of group D(19.87, 19.76**%) in mitochondrial and microsomal fraction were lower(**:p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(21.01, 24.18%), and the proportions of stearic acid of group E(16.71*, 19.65**%) in mitochondrial and microsomal fraction were significantly lower(**:p < 0.01, *:p < 0.05) in comparison to the control(21.01, 24.18%), and the proportions of linoleic acid of group E(25.04, 29.20, 26.48%) in total homogenate, mitochondria and microsome were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(22.17, 23.75, 21.26%). 8. As the results of the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid in total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of liver, the proportions of palmitic acid of group D(17.58**, 18.78*, 18.23%**) were significantly higher(**:p < 0.01, *:p < 0.05) in comparison to the control(16.28, 17.22, 16.38%), and the proportions of stearic acid of group D(36.41, 37.23, 39.53%) were also significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(34.18, 34.16, 36.04%). But the proportions of oleic acid(3.41*, 3.11**, 3.12**%) and linoleic acid (18.03**, 15.79**, 14.74**%) of group D were significantly lower(**:p < 0.01, *:p < 0.05) in comparison to the control(oleic : 3.63, 3.72, 3.79%, linoleic : 20.03, 18.71, 18.48%). 9. In order to determine the oxidative damages to the protein in serum, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the rat liver, the patterns of the SDS-PAGE were identified, but the results of SDS-PAGE were not significantly different between the control and experimental groups.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.140-151
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• 2003

Purpose: We tried to evaluate the long term efficacy and positive predictive factors of interferon-alpha treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: The study population included 113 children who received interferon therapy between May 1982 and July 2002 (20 years) for chronic hepatitis B in Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Male to female ratio was 2.3 : 1 and the mean age at diagnosis was $11.1{\pm}4.1$ years old. Response to treatment was defined as normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), disappearance of HBeAg and HBV-DNA Eighty two children responded while 32 did not. Interferon-alpha was given intramuscularly for 6 months at a dosage of $3{\times}10^6$ unit, 3 times weekly. In relapsed cases, lamivudine or interferon retreatment was done. Results: Seroconversion rate was 77.0% in terms of HBeAg, 74.3% in terms of HBV-DNA, and 80.5% in terms of ALT normalization after treatment. Seroconversion rate of both HBeAg and HBV-DNA was 72.6%. Analyzed by life table method, the effect of the treatment had been maintained over 10 years after cessation of therapy. Pre-treatment ALT level was the only significant positive predictive factor of response. Eleven cases (13.4%) relapsed, and 2 out of 3 showed response when treated with lamivudine and 1 out of 3 with interferon retreatment. Conclusion: Interferon-alpha showed significant efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in our study. Further studies about the effect of interferon therapy on complications of hepatitis such as hepatocarcinoma, cirrhosis are warranted.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 1999

Purpose: The purpose of our study is to provide useful information for diagnostic methods of fatty liver by childhood simple obesity and to provide correlation between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for screening test and abdominal computerized tomography (CT) and liver biopsy for confirmative diagnostic methods of fatty liver. Methods: Among 78 obese childrens who visited our hospital, CT was carried out in 26 childrens. Of these, liver biopsy was carried out in 15 childrens who had high obesity index or severe elevated ALT. Based on the level of serum ALT, 26 cases were classified into 3 groups, and compared with physical measurements and degree of fatty infiltration on CT and liver biopsy. Results: 1) Correlation between ALT and physical measurements: Of 26 obese children, ALT was abnormally elevated (>30 IU/L) in 17 cases (67.4%) but there was no significant correlation between ALT and physical measurements (p>0.05). 2) Correlation between degree of fatty infiltration on CT and ALT: Of 26 cases, 13 cases (50%) revealed fatty liver on CT. The degree of fatty liver on CT had significant correlation with elevation of ALT (p<0.05). 3) Correlation between the degree of fatty infiltration on liver biopsy and ALT: Liver biopsy was performed in 15 cases of which 14 cases revealed fatty liver. But one case had normal hepatic histology with severe obesity and normal ALT. Fourteen fatty liver cases on liver biopsy were classified into 3 groups by the degree of fatty infiltration and analysed with obesity index and ALT. The histologic hepatic steatosis had no significant correlation with obesity index (p>0.05), but significant correlation with ALT (p<0.05). 4) Correlation between CT and liver biopsy finding: Both CT and liver biopsy were performed in 15 cases of which 6 cases revealed normal finding on CT and 9 cases manifested fatty liver. There was significant correlation between CT and liver biopsy findings (r=0.6094). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that abdominal CT and liver biopsy are useful and accurate methods of estimating fatty liver in the childhood obesity. But biochemical abnormalities of routine liver function tests dot not correlate well with severity of the fatty liver and liver injury.