• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.99-104
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• 2016

Purpose: There are many patients visited to ED in an alcohol intoxicated state. For these patients, it is difficult to predict by only clinical examination whether he/she would have brain lesion. The purpose of this study is to research whether it is possible to predict brain lesion by only clinical examination findings, with comparing patients with/without actual brain lesions. Methods: A retrospective study was performed at a university hospital for the period 11 months with the medical records. As for the inclusion group, head trauma patients with objectively proved drunk, judging by their blood ethanol concentration, and performed the brain CT were selected. In terms of medical record, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), the presence of neurologic abnormalities, the presence of lesion on brain CT of the patients, were examined. From laboratory results, blood ethanol concentration, platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and glucose concentration were identified. Results: For this study, there were total 80 patients of inclusion group. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of GCS score and neurological examination abnormalities, between the group with brain lesion and the group without brain lesion on brain CT. Conclusion: Alcohol intoxicated patient with head trauma visits the ED, it is not possible to distinguish or determine whether brain lesion exists or not by only clinical findings. In order to check the lesion existence, the image examination, therefore, should be considered and performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.1139-1147
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• 2014

We investigated whether or not Schisandra chinensis (SC), a traditional herbal medicine, has protective effects against alcohol-induced fatty liver and blood alcohol clearance. Two tests focused on acute intoxication and chronic ethanol treatment were carried out. For the chronic ethanol treatment test, rats were fed ethanol by intragastric administration everyday for 8 weeks to induce alcoholic fatty liver. Ethanol treatment significantly increased blood alcohol concentration at 90 min after acute ethanol intoxication. Compared with the two ethanol-treated groups, rats administered ethanol along with SC extracts showed an approximately 13% increased blood alcohol clearance rate at 360 min. Chronic ethanol treatment significantly increased serum and hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels, and caused fatty degeneration of liver. Ethanol treatment also elevated the serum total-cholesterol (TC) level. However, after feeding of ethanol plus SC extracts, ethanol-induced elevation of hepatic TG levels reversed, whereas elevation of serum TG and TC levels was not observed after treatment with SC extracts. Ethanol treatment significantly increased ${\gamma}$-GT, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities after 8 weeks. Compared with the ethanol-fed group, rats administered ethanol plus SC extracts for 4 weeks showed attenuated fatty degeneration as well as decreased hepatic function test values. SC administration also significantly increased intracellular lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and reduced steatosis score and hepatic TG levels, as measured by biochemical and histolopathological analyses. Our results indicate that the protective effects of SC are accompanied by a significant decrease in hepatic TG levels, thereby suggesting SC has the ability to prevent ethanol-induced fatty liver, by reducing hepatic TG and enzyme levels in alcoholic rats.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.131-143
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• 2011

Objectives: This study is to develop a web-based prevention program of alcohol-related problem among university students and to examine its efficacy in changing drinking behaviors and reducing harms associated with alcohol use. Methods: An hour-length program was developed containing news paper articles, pictures, stories and questionnaires in a multimedia format such as flash, animation, and text. Survey data were analyzed to examine program efficacy from a convenient sample of 1,080 freshmen enrolled in a participating university. Results: Participation in the program has resulted in statistically significant changes in drinking behavior between pretest and follow-up, including reduction of frequency of drinking, heavy drinking, and intoxication, typical amount of drinking per occasion, and subjective norm of heavy drinking. Repeated ANOVA revealed significant increases in knowledge on alcohol related facts, including recommended drinking unit by WHO with substantial level of effect size and in making negative alcohol expectancy with very low effect size. Further studies are guaranteed with randomized controlled trial for the program effectiveness. Conclusions: A web-based prevention program of alcohol-related problems in this study was efficacious in changing drinking behavior, knowledge on alcohol-related fact, alcohol expectancy and subjective drinking norm.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-30
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• 2013

A 66-year-old male with chronic alcoholism presented with tremor, gait disturbance, memory impairment, insomnia, decreased appetite, and confusion. The patient had been taking lithium daily for treatment of bipolar disorder. Brain CT showed no specific abnormality, and serum lithium and ammonia levels were 3.63 mEq/L (therapeutic range, 0.6~1.2 mEq/L) and $85{\mu}g/dL$ (reference range: $19{\sim}54{\mu}g/dL$), respectively. Therefore, the initial differential diagnosis included chronic lithium intoxication, hepatic encephalopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy, or alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Even with the provision of adequate hydration, the patient's neurologic status did not show improvement, so that lactulose enema, thiamine replacement, and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were started on the third admission day. By the fifth admission day he had made a rapid neurologic recovery, and was discharged on the 20th admission day. Therefore, CVVHDF might be a treatment for patients with chronic lithium intoxication, because, even if serum lithium concentration is normal, lithium concentration in the brain may be different from that of the serum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.625-633
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• 2016

Allium hookeri is known as a healthy food since it contains larger amounts of sulfur compounds than commonly known alliaceous plants. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of A. hookeri were compared between two types of extracts, $80^{\circ}C$ water and 95% ethanol extracts of A. hookeri roots. A. hookeri root 95% ethanol extracts displayed superior total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical scavenging activity], and anti-inflammation activity than those of water extracts (P<0.05). We studied the effects of A. hookeri root 95% ethanol extracts (95% ethanol extracts group: AHE) on acute alcohol-induced intoxication in mice. AHE [250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg body weight (BW)/d] was orally administered to the study group once a day for 1 week. On the last day of AHE treatment, 40% ethanol (10 mL/kg BW) was orally administered to induce acute liver injury. The blood alcohol concentration of mice treated with AHE was significantly lower compared to the control group (P<0.05). The levels of hepatic aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were lower in the AHE-treated group than the control group (P<0.05). The RT-PCR results for alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase measured based on mRNA in liver tissues showed that enzyme activities were higher in the AHE-treated group than in the control group at a low blood alcohol concentration.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.402-412
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• 1998

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of 'Angelicae gigantis Radix extract (AG.EX.)' and 'Angelicae acutilobae Radix extract (AA.EX.)' on the activities of GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase (A1.P), the contents of total cholesterol in serum of $CCl_4$ and D-galactosamine intoxicated rats, and the weight change ratio of body, liver and spleen in $CCl_4-intoxicated-rats$ by administering the extract of 300 and 500 mg/kg P.O.. Significant test was performed by comparision with the biochemical values between intoxicated-control group and extract-administered group. The activities of s-GOT, s-GPT and the contents of total cholesterol elevated by $CCl_4-intoxication$ were significantly decreased in all dose (300, 500 mg/kg) of Angelicae gigantis Radix-water extract (AG.WEX.) and alcohol extract (AG.AEX), and Angelica acutilobae Radix-water extract (AA.WEX.) and alcohol extract (AA.AEX.), respectively, as compared with the control group. And administered group of 300 mg/kg showed more significant decreasing effect than 500 mg/kg, and more significantly decreased in water extract of AG.EX. and ethanol extract of AA.EX. But in the activities of s-A1.P. inhibition effect were significantly decreased only in a dose of 300 mg/kg of AA.WEX. and AA.AEX. The activities of s-GOT and s-GPT elevated by D-galactosamine were not decreased in all samples, as compared to intoxicated-control group. But the activities of s-Al.p was significantly decreased as compared with control groups, in all samples and administration of 300 mg/kg was more significantly decreased than 500 mg/kg. The contents of total cholesterol remarkably decreased than the normal groups by D-galactosamine intoxication was not recovered in all samples. The increasing rate of the body weight increased by $CCl_4-intoxication$ were not decreased than the $CCl_4-control$ group in all sample groups. The increasing rate of liver weight increased by $CCl_4-intoxication$ were significantly decreased in 300 mg/kg of AA.AEX.AG.WEX. and AA.WEX., respectively, as compared with $CCl_4-control$ group.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.482-485
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• 2009

The effect of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC) extract in eliminating ethanol was evaluated in New Zealand white rabbit and ICR mice. When a hot-water extract of water dropwort extract and ethanol was injected into New Zealand white rabbit, the plasma ethanol level was rapidly reduced, similar to metadoxine treatment. Specifically, the n-butanol fraction of hot-water extract was the strongest in eliminating plasma alcohol in ICR mice. When ethanol was orally ingested, administration of the hot-water extract eliminated up to 44% of the plasma ethanol in mice while the n-butanol fraction eliminated around 70%. Alcohol removal behaved in a dose-dependent manner in response to 50-200 mg/kg of n-butanol fraction. These data show O. javanica extract is effective in overcoming alcohol intoxication by the accelerating ethanol metabolism.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 1985

The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible effect of ginseng butanol fraction on the hepatic acetaldehyde metabolism. Experimental animals were used for the subject of the study. When, in case of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (Ald DH), ginseng butanol fraction was added, enzyme activity was increased in a small dose, while, in a large dose, it showed inhibitory effect. In terms of kinetic aspect, ginseng butanol fraction has the effect to decrease the Km values of Ald DH. In vivo studies, the activity of Aid DH increased by induction of acute intoxication of ethanol was further increased through pretreatment with ginseng butanol fraction. When ginseng butanol fraction was given to mice fed with 5% ethanol instead of water for 60 days, the activity of Ald DH in mitochondrial fraction decreased to about 35% in chronic alcoholism, but after pretreatment of ginseng butanol fraction the activity was restored to the control level. By the pretreatment with disulfiram, the Ald DH activity was inhibited in normal and alcohol-treated groups, but after the treatment with ginseng butanol fraction the activity was restored to the control level. The results suggest that ginseng butanol fraction enhance the Ald DH activity inhibited by the treatment of disulfiram with no relation to NAD. It was observed that ginseng butanol fraction markedly decrease the acetaldehyde levels in plasma and liver. All these observations suggested that reduction of acetaldehyde in blood and liver should be dependent upon increased activity of mitochonclrial Ald DH. It is concluded that the recovery from alcohol intoxication should be prompted by treatment with ginseng.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 1994

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of Galgunhaeiutang + Danjuhwan and Haejujigaltang on the experimental behaviors of alcohol-inticxicated mice. ICR mice were used as subjects for alcohol intoxication in this experiment and sample group received Herb Medicine. The foot-step and rearing score were measured in mice. Also Rota-Rod treadmill & number of successful trials swimming time in the T-maze were done. And the following results were observed; 1. The food-step score was decreased in Galgunhaejutang + Danjuhwan group at the 8th hour, the difference was statistically significant. But Haejujigaltang group showed no significant difference. 2. The number of rearing was decreased in Galgunhaejutang + Danjuhwan group at the 3rd and 8th hour, the difference was statistical significant, while Haejujigaltang group showed no significant differnce. 3. The motor incoordination measered by the Rota-Rod treadmill was decreased in Galgunhaejutang + Danjuhwan group at the 8th hour, but Haejujigaltang group showed no significant difference. 4. The number of successful trials in T-maze showed no significant difference in both groups. 5. The passing time in T-maze was increased in Galgunhaejutang +Danjuhwan group at the 8th hour, but Haejujigaltang group showed no significant difference.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1050-1054
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• 2000

Objective : The incidence of head injury has been increasing in the rural area. The author investigated the clinical features and difficulties in care of the acute head-injured patients in this area. Method and Material : The authors performed a retrospective review of radiological data and clinical records in patients with mild to moderate head injury. Cause, type of craniocerebral injury, delayed intracranial lesions, complications, its relation to alcohol abuse, and outcome were analyzed. Results : In total of 68 cases, 20(29.4%) victims were associated with acute alcohol intoxication. Motor vehicle accident was the leading cause of head injury and the most common craniocerebral lesion was basilar skull fracture. Eight(11.8%) patients showed delayed radiological and clinical deterioration and 40(58.8%) were followed-up regularly after discharge. The subdural hygroma was commonly noted in the elderly and alcoholics. Causes of thirty events that resulted in an atypical and difficult neurosurgical practice were as follows : delayed admission, premature discharge against doctor's request, refusal of radiological studies and admission, misunderstanding of disease entity, and unreasonable desire of transfer to tertiary hospitals. Inaccurate initial diagnoses were made by emergency doctors in twenty patients. During the course of treatment, there were a few complications such as alcohol withdrawal, acute otitis media, cerebrospinal fistula, facial weakness, and posttraumatic seizure. Outcome was good in 60(88.2%) patients. Conclusion : Most of minor head trauma patients in this series have shown good results, but we have to consider some possible complications and delayed intracranial lesions in these patients that should be managed with special cautions with various kinds of treatment difficulties.