• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.119-132
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• 2008

Objectives : To compare the effects of low-frequency electro-acupuncture (EA) stimulation at left and right GB34s on hepatotoxicity in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. Methods : Rats were injected with $CCl_4$ and treated with 2 Hz electro-acupuncture (EA) at left and right GB34s for 15 minutes 3 times per week, for 10 weeks. Holder group, injected with $CCl_4$ and strained in a cylinder for same period as the EA group, was established to compare the hepatotoxicity against the two electroacupuncture groups. To estimate the effects of EA on hepatotoxicity in rats, body weight, liver weight and liver index were measured. Biochemical assays for serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol ; hematological analysis for RBC, WBC, PLT, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes ; and histology analysis of liver tissue were also performed. Results : Lymphocyte level in blood was significantly decreased by $CCl_4$-intoxication, and increased by low-frequency electroacupuncture applied on both left and right GB34s. Low-frequency EA applied on right and left GB34s significantly reduced serum ALT and AST, both of which had been increased by $CCl_4$-intoxication. Conclusion : Low-frequency electroacupunctures at both left and right GB34s have hepatoprotective effects on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats. However, no significant differences were found between the effects of EAs at left and right GB34s.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.1 s.96
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• pp.11-15
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• 2006

The biological activities of extracts from the fruit, stem, and leaf of Hovenia dulcis were examined. In the batch mode of operation, the fruit, stem, and leaf of Hovenia dulcis were extracted with hot water for 10 hr. The fruit extract of Hovenia dulcis gave the highest activity for decreasing alcohol concentration which was 138% of control. The equilibrium between bioactive compound in the fruit (size : 4 mm) and hot water solution was reached within 6 hr and the recovery was 95% by three-times extraction. The fruit extract of Hovenia dulcis showed significant alcohol decrease in blood and hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4$-toxicity in rat. The fruit extract significantly inhibited the elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-20
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• 2018

Objectives This study was conducted to experimentally evaluate the effects of Younggyechulgam-tang-ga Hwanggi(YGT) on obesity in mice induced by high fat diet. Methods The experiment was conducted with 4-week-old male mice divided into 5 groups. They were a normal diet group(Nor), a high fat diet group(Veh), a positive drug control group-orlistat 40 mg/kg(Oris), a 1.08 g/kg group(YGTL), and a 2.16 g/kg group(YGTH), and were tested for five weeks. Changes in antioxidant activity, body weight, organ weight, ROS, AST, ALT, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and lipid metabolism protein were checked. Results YGTL and YGTH group significantly reduced body weight compared to Veh group. YGTH group significantly reduced visceral fat weights compared to Veh group. In blood biochemistry analysis, ROS, AST, ALT, TC, TG and LDL-C in YGTL and YGTH group were significantly lower than Veh group. HDL-C increased significance in YGTL and YGTH group. In antioxidation protein analysis, Catalase, GPx and HO-1 have increased significantly in YGTL and YGTH group. YGTH group have increased $PPAR-{\alpha}$, p-AMPK compared to Veh group. but decreased FAS. SREBP-1, p-ACC levels in YGTL and YGTH group were decreased compared to Veh group, however CPT-1, UCP-2 levels in YGTL and YGTH group were increased compared to Veh group. Conclusions YGT has anti-obesity effects by regulating lipolysis and antioxidation in a diet-induced obesity model. Additional clinical studies are needed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.437-445
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• 1995

This experiment was carried out to study the preventive effect of cysteine on the toxicities of captafol to the hematological and serum biochemical values. A single dose of captafol(5mg/kg BW, ip) was given to male Sprague-Dawley rats and its toxicities were evalutated by body weitht changes, autopsy findings, absolute organ weight, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters. The single dose of captafol caused significant decreases in body weitht, and absolute liver weight, as-cites, fibrin clot in abdominal cavity, adhesion of liver lobes significant elevation of number of RBC, hemoglobin concentration and serum AST activity, and decreased of serum phospholipid level. Where as cysteine(over 58mg/kg BW) given immediately after captafol appeared to prevent the ascites, fibrin clot in abdominal cavity and liver lobe adhesion. It also prevented the liver and blood, especially RBC toxicites. The results suggest that cysteine and other compounds containing sulfhydryl groups may protect the subjects from captafol-induced toxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.35-58
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Curcuma longa rhizoma extract in an experimental rat model of osteoarthritis. Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced in rats by injecting monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the knee joint cavity of rats. The rats were divided into 5 groups (Normal, Control, positive comparison, low (CL) and high (CH) concentration groups). Rats in the low concentration (CL) group had MIA-induced osteoarthritis; they were treated with Curcuma longa rhizoma extract at a dose of 50mg/kg body weight. Rats in the high concentration (CH) group had MIA-induced osteoarthritis; they were treated with Curcuma longa rhizoma extract at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight. Hind paw weight distribution and ROS levels were measured. At the end of all treatments, changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels were analyzed. In addition, inflammatory protein levels were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results: In this study, hind paw weight distribution significantly improved in the CL and CH groups, while. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production significantly decreased in both. The levels of ALT, AST, BUN, and creatinine did not significantly change in either group. The production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4), $p47^{phox}$, and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) decreased in both. Catalase, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased in the CL and CH groups, respectively. Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2) increased, but there were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups. Inflammatory cytokines, including nuclear factor-kappa Bp65 (NF-${\kappa}Bp65$), interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), decreased significantly in both the CL and CH groups. Conclusions: Our results showed that Curcuma longa rhizoma extract has anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-inflammatory activity is regulated by the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and mediators, such as NF-${\kappa}B$, therefore, it suppresses cartilage damage as well.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Objective : Citri Unshius Pericarpium (Citrus unshiu peel) has been used in Korean medicine to treat indigestion, vomiting, coughing and phlegm. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extract of Citrus unshiu peel (CEE) in cadmium (CdCl2)-treated mouse model. Methods : CEE was dissolved in water and administered orally to mice once a day for 7 consecutive days. The mice were then exposed to a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cadmium (4 mg/kg body weight) to induce acute hepatotoxicity. At the end of the experiment, blood and liver tissue samples were collected, analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and histopathological evaluation. Liver damage was assessed as the percentage of degenerative areas of the hepatic parenchyma, the number of degenerative hepatocytes, and the number of infiltrated inflammatory cells. Results : In cadmium-treated rats, pretreatment with CEE significantly reduced the serum ALT and AST levels associated with liver damage. Histopathologically, CEE prevented degenerative changes on the hepatic tissues including confluent necrosis, congestions and infiltration of inflammatory cells. CEE also reduced the elevation of oxidative stress markers (nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal) and apoptosis markers (cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP) positive cells. PARP protein expression in liver tissue was also restored by CEE. Conclusion : This study showed that CEE exerted antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects against cadmium-induced liver injury. Thus, it can be concluded that CEE can be used to prevent liver damage caused by cadmium.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 2021

Purpose: No consensus exists on whether to preserve or ligate an aberrant left hepatic artery (ALHA), which is the most commonly encountered hepatic arterial variation during gastric surgery. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of ALHA ligation by analyzing the perioperative outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 5,310 patients who underwent subtotal/total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Patients in whom the ALHA was ligated (n=486) were categorized into 2 groups according to peak aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels: moderate-to-severe (MS) elevation (≥5 times the upper limit of normal [ULN]; MS group, n=42) and no-to-mild (NM) elevation (<5 times the ULN; NM group, n=444). The groups were matched 1:3 using propensity score-matching analysis to minimize confounding factors that can affect the perioperative outcomes. Results: The mean operation time (P=0.646) and blood loss amount (P=0.937) were similar between the 2 groups. The length of hospital stay was longer in the MS group (13.0 vs. 7.8 days, P=0.022). No postoperative mortality occurred. The incidence of grade ≥ IIIa postoperative complications (19.0% vs. 5.1%, P=0.001), especially pulmonary complications (11.9% vs. 2.5%, P=0.003), was significantly higher in the MS group. This group also showed a higher Comprehensive Complication Index (29.0 vs. 13.9, P<0.001). Conclusions: Among patients with a ligated ALHA, those with peak AST/ALT ≥5 times the ULN showed worse perioperative outcomes in terms of hospital stay and severity of complications. More precise perioperative decision-making tools are needed to better determine whether to preserve or ligate an ALHA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2021

Objectives: We investigated the effects of Clean-DM4 (C-DM4), a polyherbal extract consisting of Coptidis Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhiza Radix, and Cinnamomi Cortex on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and diabetes in mice. Methods: The C57BL/6 mice (6 weeks) were fed a HFD for 8 weeks and then administrated with C-DM4 extract at 500 mg/kg (p.o.) once daily for 4 weeks. The changes of body weights, calorie intakes, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured in mice. The serum levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured in mice by enzyme-based assay. It was also observed the histological changes of pancreas, liver, and fat tissues with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results: The increase of calorie intakes and FBG levels in HFD-induced obesity mice was significantly decreased by oral administration of C-DM4 extract. C-DM4 extract administration was significantly reduced the increased levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, AST, and ALT in obesity mice. In addition, C-DM4 extract inhibited lipid droplet accumulation in liver tissues of obesity mice, hyperplasia of pancreatic islets, and enlargement of adipocytes in adipose tissues. Conclusions: Our study indicates that C-DM4 extract could help improve obesity and to prevent diabetes progression.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2017

This study investigated physiological and hematological changes, expression of stress protein Hsp70 mRNA and oxygen consumption in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) after exposing the fish at different temperature conditions (9, 12, 15, 18 and 21℃) for 24 and 48 hours. Hematological parameters including hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb), cortisol and glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), NH₃, osmolality and total protein (TP) mostly exhibited significant changes at 9 and 12℃. The expression of Hsp70 mRNA was also higher at 9 and 12℃ than at other temperatures. The measured oxygen consumptions were also lower at 9 and 12℃ than at 21℃. It is expected that the study results could be utilized as baseline data to control water temperature during long-distance transportation, e.g. for exporting olive flounder juveniles to overseas.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fracture healing effect of extracts from Cnidium officinale and Angelica sinensis (CO/AS) in mice with femoral fracture. Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal, control (phospate-bufferd saline), positive control (tramadol), CO/AS extract 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg. By using Collier's method, all groups except normal group went through femoral fracture. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured to evaluate the safety of CO/AS. Hematoxylin & eosin, Safranin O staining, x-ray, tensile and compressive force were conducted to assess the effect of CO/AS on fracture. Results The liver function test showed AST, ALT and LDH in CO/AS at 14th and 28th days were not significantly different compared with control group. The renal function test showed BUN in CO/AS at 14th days and BUN and creatinine in CO/AS at 28th days were significantly decreased compared with control group. The morphological & histological analysis and x-ray showed that CO/AS promoted cartilage and callus formation process compared with control group. The tensile and compressive forces test showed tensile in CO/AS 40 mg/kg and tensile & compressive forces in CO/AS 80 mg/kg were significantly increased compared with control group. Conclusions CO/AS extract showed the possibility that it promotes early fracture union and increases bone tensile and compressive strength, while does not have hepatotoxicity. In conclusion, CO/AS has a potential to promote healing of bone fracture and this study warranted the clinical usage of CO/AS at bone fracture.