• 한방비만학회지
• /
• 제22권1호
• /
• pp.38-46
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Juknyeok (JN) is natural liquor extracted from bamboo stems (Phyllostachys bambusoides) and has been used as a traditional Korean medicine for improving vascular function, blood glucose, and treating stroke. Until now, the JN's lipid-lowering effect and underlying mechanism in adipocytes are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the effect of a standardized commercial JN on lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: Lipid and triglyceride (TG) accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were measured by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. Cell count analysis was used to ascertain 3T3-L1 cytotoxicity. Immunoblotting and Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis were used to assess protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Results: Treatment with JN at 25 𝜇l/ml after pH calibration with 6.35 significantly reduced lipid and TG accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes without significant cytotoxicity. On mechanistic levels, JN markedly suppressed protein expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-𝛽 and fatty acid synthase (FAS) during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. However, JN did not affect the protein expression levels of C/EBP-𝛼, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-𝛽/𝛾, and phosphorylation levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3/5 in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. JN also reduced leptin mRNA expression levels in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Conclusions: JN at 25 𝜇l/ml lowers lipid accumulation and TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells, mediated through the reduced expression levels of C/EBP-𝛽 and FAS.

• 한국수산과학회지
• /
• 제54권6호
• /
• pp.954-964
• /
• 2021

Mirror carp Cyprinus carpio nudus (weight 42.0±3.8 g, length 14.3±0.4 cm) were exposed to different concentrations of waterborne copper (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 ㎍ Cu²⁺·L^-1) at 20.3℃ for 96 h. The lethal concentration 50 of waterborne copper was 1,176.45 ㎍ Cu²⁺·L^-1. Among hematological parameters, red blood cell count was significantly decreased, whereas there were no significant changes in the hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value. Among the inorganic plasma components, calcium was significantly decreased following copper exposure. Conversely, organic plasma components such as glucose and total protein were significantly increased. Similarly, enzymatic components, such as aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase, were also significantly increased. These findings suggest that the copper exposure is detrimental to the survival rates and physiology of C. carpio nudus.

• Mycobiology
• /
• 제50권1호
• /
• pp.86-95
• /
• 2022

Inflammaging in male reproductive organs covers a wide variety of problems, including sexual dysfunction and infertility. In this study, the beneficial effects of cordycepin (COR), isolated from potential medicinal fungi Cordyceps militaris, in aging-associated testicular inflammation and serum biochemical changes in naturally aged rats were investigated. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into young control (YC), aged control (AC), and COR (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) treated aged rat groups. Aging-associated serum biochemical changes and inflammatory parameters were analyzed by biochemical assay kits, Western blotting, and real-time RT-PCR. Results showed a significant (p < 0.05) alteration in the total blood cell count, lipid metabolism, and liver functional parameters in AC group when compared with YC group. However, COR-treated aged rats ameliorated the altered biochemical parameters significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively). Furthermore, the increase in the expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tissue necrosis factor-alpha) in aged rat testis was significant (p < 0.05) when compared with YC group. Treatment with COR at 20 mg/kg to aged rats attenuated the increased expression of inflammatory mediators significantly (p < 0.05). Mechanistic studies revealed that the potential attenuating effects exhibited by COR in aged rats was mediated by regulation of NF-κB activation and MAPKs (c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and p38) signaling. In conclusion, COR restored the altered serum biochemical parameters in aged rats and ameliorated the aging-associated testicular inflammation proving the therapeutic benefits of COR targeting inflammaging-associated male sexual dysfunctions.

• 한국어병학회지
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.65-75
• /
• 2022

Mirror carp, Cyprinus carpio nudus (weight 26.2±3.1 g, length 11.8±0.5 cm) were exposed to waterborne total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 mg TAN/L. The lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) of mirror carp, C. carpio nudus exposed to waterborne ammonia was 60.38 mg TAN/L. The red blood cell (RBC) count was significantly reduced by ammonia exposure, whereas there was no significant changes in the hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value. In the plasma components, glucose, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly increased by ammonia exposure. The results of this study suggest that the ammonia exposure to C. carpio nudus affects the survival rates, hematological parameters and plasma components as toxicity.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.46-56
• /
• 2022

The incidence of fever complicating percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is rare. However, little is known regarding the cause of fever after PCI. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with or without fever, after PCI. We enrolled a total of 926 AMI patients who underwent PCI. Body temperature (BT) was measured every 4 hours or 8 hours for 5 days after PCI. Patients were divided into two groups according to BT as follows: BT<37.7℃ (no-fever group) and BT ≥37.7℃ (fever group). The 2 years clinical outcomes were compared subsequently. Fever after PCI was associated with higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.28; P=0.021), all-cause death (HR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.18-4.45; P=0.014), cardiac death (CD) (HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.02-6.76; P=0.049), and any revascularization (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.02-2.81; P=0.044) than without fever. In women, prior chronic kidney disease, lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, higher LV wall motion score index, white blood cell count, peak creatine kinase-myocardial band level, and longer PCI duration were associated with fever after PCI. Procedures such as an intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, continuous renal replacement therapy, central and arterial line insertion, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were related to fever after PCI. Fever after PCI in patients with AMI was associated with a higher incidence of MACE, all-cause death, CD, and any revascularization at the 2 years mark than in those without fever.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제44권2호
• /
• pp.181-200
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bojungikgi-tang (BJIG) and its modifications for patients with anemia. Methods: The subject of analysis of this study was a parallel design randomized controlled trial in which BJIG or its modifications was administered orally to patients who met the World Health Organization's anemia criteria and the efficacy and safety were prospectively measured. Electronic databases were searched to retrieve eligible literature published from 1 January 2000 to 12 February 2023. A meta-analysis was conducted, and the risk of bias (RoB) and level of evidence of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool and GRADE method, respectively. Results: Five studies were included in the meta-analysis. When BJIG or its modifications was administered to anemia patients receiving conventional treatment, additional benefits compared to the non-administered group were found in terms of an increase in red blood cell count (mean difference (MD) 0.46 × 10¹²/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to 0.74), hemoglobin concentration (MD 9.28 g/L, 95% CI 6.06 to 12.51), hematocrit (MD 2.57%, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.38), total effective rate (odds ratio 5.29, 95% CI 2.05 to 13.68), and traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores (standardized MD -1.51, 95% CI -2.79 to -0.24). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the clinical potential of BJIG and its modifications to provide additional benefits to patients with anemia receiving conventional treatment.

• 한국임상수의학회지
• /
• 제40권5호
• /
• pp.382-386
• /
• 2023

A 2-year-old, 12.5 kg, castrated male, mixed-breed dog was presented with a 1-year history of pruritus and progressive alopecia. On physical examination, no remarkable findings were detected including body condition score (5/9). A dermatological examination of the dog revealed generalized erythema, papules or plaques, especially on the face, auricle, dorsum, and shoulder. A fine-needle aspiration of the dorsum and face lesions revealed various numbers of macrophages with foamy cytoplasm and multinucleated giant cells. A bacterial culture test showed the growth of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. A complete blood cell count was unremarkable and biochemical abnormalities included hyperglobulinemia (4.8 g/dL, reference interval 2.5-4.5 g/dL), mild hypertriglyceridemia (277 mg/dL, reference interval 10-100 mg/dL) and mild hypercholesterolemia (383 mg/dL, reference interval 110-320 mg/dL). Additional diagnostic tests were performed to identify the underlying cause of hyperlipidemia. Canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (<50 ng/mL, reference interval 0-200 ng/mL) and total T4 (1.4 ㎍/dL, reference interval 1.1-5.6 ㎍/dL) were within the reference intervals. For a definitive diagnosis, skin biopsy specimen was collected from the papular lesions on the dorsum by using a 4 mm biopsy punch. A histopathological examination revealed numerous large macrophages with abundant foamy cytoplasm in the dermis. The foamy macrophages were located diffusely between the collagen fibers. Extracellular amorphous lipid deposits were also presented in the dermal tissue. A definitive diagnosis of cutaneous xanthoma was made based on clinical signs and cytological and histopathological results.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제44권5호
• /
• pp.1011-1016
• /
• 2023

We have experienced a case in which herbal medicine was administered to treat drug-induced liver damage and would like to introduce it. A 49-year-old man exhibited a positive result in the interferon-gamma release assay. He had never suffered from tuberculosis in the past, and the route and time of infection could not be confirmed. He had no respiratory or systemic symptoms suggestive of active tuberculosis, and a chest X-ray examination showed no active lung lesions, so he was diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection. He was confirmed to be within the normal range in the liver function test, renal function test, and complete blood cell count test, and started taking rifampin (600 mg qd). In the screening test performed on the 19th day of taking the drug, other test items were normal, but alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased to 50 U/L (reference value: 4-40 U/L). In a test performed on the 29th day of taking the drug, ALT was clearly elevated to 102 U/L. Ursodeoxycholic acid and Injinho-tang were taken together with rifampin, and the patient's progress was observed. In a test performed 14 days later, ALT decreased to 26 U/L, within the normal range. It is presumed that Injinho-tang may have partially contributed to alleviating liver damage in this case.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제37권2호
• /
• pp.140-146
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Despite the high incidence of abdominal stab injuries, the rate of nontherapeutic laparotomies and the predictors of therapeutic laparotomies have rarely been studied in low-income settings. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study involved three of the largest academic medical centers in central Ethiopia. All patients who sustained an anterior abdominal stab injury and underwent exploratory laparotomy, regardless of the intraoperative findings, were included over the 3-year course of the study. Results: Of the 117 patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy, 35 patients (29.9%) underwent nontherapeutic laparotomies. Three factors predicted therapeutic laparotomy: hollow viscus evisceration (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-28.64; P=0.032), localized and generalized peritonitis (AOR, 4.77; 95% CI, 1.90-11.93; P=0.001), and white blood cell count ≥11,500/mm³ (AOR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.002-7.650; P=0.049). The overall positive predictive value of the therapeutic predictors was 80.2%, while the negative predictive value of all predictor-negative patients was 58.1%. The predictors would have prevented 51.4% of the nontherapeutic laparotomies. Conclusions: Close to one-third of the patients had a nontherapeutic laparotomy. The clinical predictors of therapeutic laparotomy were shown to have a high positive predictive value despite a lower negative predictive value. Further prospective studies that involve all patients who sustain anterior abdominal stab injuries are needed to potentially improve on the negative predictive value of the predictors suggested by our study.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2023

건강한 소아에서 화농성 간농양은 선진국에서는 드문 질환이지만 진단과 치료가 늦어진다면 치명적일 수 있는 질환이다. 전세계적으로 화농성 간농양의 가장 흔한 원인균은 Staphylococcus aureus이며 국내의 경우 Klebsiella pneumoniae가 가장 흔하지만, 혐기균에 의한 화농성 간농양도 매우 드물게 보고되고 있다. 발열과 우상복부 통증을 주소로 응급실에 온 14세 남아가 우상복부 압통을 보이고 백혈구 상승, 빈혈, 간효소치 상승을 보여 조영증강 복부컴퓨터단층촬영을 시행한 결과 간농양을 진단하였다. 환자는 2주간의 경피적 도관 배액술과 4주간의 항생제 치료 후 완쾌되었다. 간농양 배양검사에서 혐기균이자 구강 상재균인 Prevotella intermedia가 확인되었으나 감염의 근원이 치아조직 감염이라는 증거를 찾지는 못하였다. 본 증례와 같이 건강한 소아에서도 화농성 간농양이 발생할 수 있음을 염두에 두고 진단적 접근을 하는 것이 바람직하겠다.