• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.906-918
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• 2019

MicroRNA-223-3p (miR-223-3p) is one of the potential microRNAs that have been shown to alleviate inflammatory responses in pre-clinical investigations and is highly encased in exosomes derived from bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exosomes). MSC-exosomes are able to function as carriers to deliver microRNAs into cells. Autoimmune hepatitis is one of the challenging liver diseases with no effective treatment other than steroid hormones. Here, we examined whether MSC-exosomes can transfer miR-223-3p to treat autoimmune hepatitis in an experimental model. We found that MSC-exosomes were successfully incorporated with miR-223-3p and delivered miR-223-3p into macrophages. Moreover, there was no toxic effect of exosomes on the macrophages. Furthermore, treatments of either exosomes or exosomes with miR-223-3p successfully attenuated inflammatory responses in the liver of autoimmune hepatitis and inflammatory cytokine release in both the liver and macrophages. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of miR-223-3p level and STAT3 expression in the liver and macrophages. These results suggest that MSC-exosomes can be used to deliver miR-223-3p for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.422-431
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• 2022

Purpose: At the beginning of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, physicians paid close attention to children with chronic diseases to prevent transmission or a severe course of infection. We aimed to measure the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody levels in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases to analyze the risk factors for infection and its interaction with their primary disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in patients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases (n=141) and in healthy children (n=48) between January and February 2021. Results: During the pandemic, 10 patients (7%) and 1 child (2%) had confirmed COVID-19 infection (p=0.2). The SARS-CoV-2 antibody test was positive in 36 patients (25.5%) and 11 children (22.9%) (p=0.7). SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was found in 20.4%, 26.6%, 33.3%, and 33.3% of patients with chronic liver diseases, chronic gastrointestinal tract diseases, cystic fibrosis, and liver transplantation recipients, respectively (p>0.05, patients vs. healthy children). Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity were COVID-19-related symptoms (47.2% vs. 14.2%, p=0.00004) and close contact with SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction-positive patients (69.4% vs. 9%, p<0.00001). The use, number, and type of immunosuppressants and primary diagnosis were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity. The frequency of disease activation/flare was not significant in patients with (8.3%) or without (14.2%) antibody positivity (p=0.35). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases are similar to that in healthy children. Close follow-up is important to understand the long-term effects of past COVID-19 infection in these children.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 1987

The fact there are increase of intrapulmonary arterioveneous shunt amount in the liver cirrhosis patient has been known since 1950. And the method of shunt amount calculation by radionuclide method using $^{99m}Tc-MAA$ was introduced in the middle of 1970. We measured intrapulmonary shunt amount by means of perfusion lung scan using $^{99m}Tc-MAA$ in the various type of liver diseases especially in chronic liver diseases and acute liver disease. The results were as followed. 1) The amount of arteriovenous intrapulmonary shunt in the total case of liver disease was $9.3{\pm}3.9%$, and that of in the control group was $4.6{\pm}2.1%$. 2) The amount of arteriovenous intrapulmonary shunt in the chronic liver disease was $10.8{\pm}4.4%$, and that of in the acute liver disease was $7.2{\pm}2.8%$. We observed significant differences between normal control group and liver disease group, and between chronic liver disease group and acute liver disease group in the amount of shunt by the nucleolide method.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.450-455
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• 2017

Chronic liver disease, one of the most common diseases, typically arises from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, there is a pressing need for improved treatment strategies. Korean Red Ginseng has been known to have positive effects on liver disease and liver function. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the beneficial effects of Korean Red Ginseng on chronic liver disease, a condition encompassing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, as supported by experimental evaluation and clinical investigation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 1983

Sixty-nine patients with diffuse lung uptake of $^{99m}Tc-tin$ colloid were evaluated to determine the kinds of associated diseases, the incidence of associated liver scan abnormalities, and prognosis. The results were as follows: 1) Diseases associated with diffuse lung uptake included malignancies in 31 patients, infectious diseases in 19, chronic liver diseases in 14, and others in 5. It appeared that the marked degree of lung uptake was associated with severe diseases. 2) Thirty-one of the 69 patients(45%) had abnormal liver size, 43(62%) had space occupying lesions or nonhomogeneity in liver image, 37(54%) had splenomegaly and 45(65%) had increased splenic uptake. Increased bone marrow uptake was found in 48(70%) and renal uptake in 15(22%). As the degree of lung uptake increased, there was a statistically significant (p<0.05) tendency for the incidences of the abnormal liver image and renal uptake to increase. 3) Sixty-two of the 69 patients were followed up for one to 439 days(mean 44 days) after liver scanning. Eleven(18%) were dead, 10(16%) were aggravated, and 13(21%) were improved. Most of improved patients had infectious diseases. It appeared that diffuse lung uptake of $^{99m}Tc-Tn$ colloid was found in the various diseases including malignancies, infections, and chronic liver diseases, and that it was strongly associated with other liver scan abnormalities, but was not necessarily associated with a poor prognosis, particularly when underlying diseases were infections.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 2023

Obesity is closely related to chronic diseases and cancer. The present case report aims to discuss the anti-obesity treatment strategy and the evaluation of the clinical progress in a patient with obesity and concurrent fatty liver disease. Following five months of treatment with liraglutide and rosuvastatin, the patient had a weight reduction of 3 kg (4.7%), a decrease in fasting blood sugar by 42 mg/dl (26.6%), a decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 82 mg/dl (60.2%), and decrease in alanine transaminase. This case report documented the treatment of a patient with common chronic diseases encountered in the outpatient setting. Based on the therapeutic effects documented in clinical and laboratory indices, the anti-obesity treatment plan significantly aided in managing chronic diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 1990

In order to study the effect on liver diseases, Saenggan-tang has been applied to 26 patients of chronic hepatitis, 9 patients of liver cirrhosis, 5 patients of acute hepatitis, 8 patients of alcoholic liver diseases, 1 patient of hepatoma total 49 patients visiting the first internal medicine department of the hospital of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University. The Saenggan-tang was taken every 4 weeks (ecept acute hepatitis every 2 weeks). 1. Saenggan-tang had decrease on activity of SGOTF SGPT, with the passage of time, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, showing statistically significant effect. 2. Saenggan-tang revealed sharp decrease on levels of total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase no showing significance in relation to a few cases 3. Serum protein total and albumin levels were in normal limit before or after Saenggan-tang treatment 4. Triglyceride level was lowered remarkably after Saenggan-tang treatment, showing significance in alcoholic liver disease group whereas no significance in chornic hepatitis Judging from above results, it is proved that Saenggan-tang has curative effect of liver diseases such as acute, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, alcobolic liver diseases and so on.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.384-391
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• 2018

Backgrounds/Aims: The objective of our study was to determine the epidemiological, laboratory, and serological characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and normal transaminases. The study also aimed to evaluate liver damage by measuring the liver fibrosis (LF) grade and to identify possible factors associated with the presence of fibrosis. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with chronic HBV infection and classified as inactive carriers or immune-tolerant. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, immigrant, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), as well as virological variables (HBV DNA) and transaminase level were collected throughout the follow-up. The LF grade was evaluated by transient elastography. The cutoff value for significant fibrosis (SF) was liver stiffness ${\geq}7.9kPa$. Results: A total of 214 patients were included in the analysis, and 62% of them had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$. During follow-up, 4% of patients showed transaminase elevation (<1.5 times normal). Most patients had a viral DNA level <2,000 IU/mL (83%). Data on LF were available in 160 patients; of these, 14% had SF, 9% F3, and 6% F4. The variables associated with the presence of SF were transaminase alteration during follow-up, as 23% of patients with SF had elevated transaminases versus 3% of patients without SF (P<0.005), and BMI, as the vast majority of patients with SF (88%) had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$ versus 56% of patients without SF (P<0.05). Conclusions: In patients with chronic HBV infection and normal transaminases, liver damage does not seem to be related to DNA levels, alcohol consumption, or immigrant status. SF seems to be associated with transaminase alteration during follow-up and elevated BMI. It is therefore recommended to measure LF grade with validated non-invasive methods in such patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4765-4771
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• 2014

Background: Patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) may have compromised health related quality of life (HRQoL). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has long been the leading cause of CLD including liver cancer and cirrhosis. Knowledge on different symptom profiles of CLD should help in development of comprehensive treatment and patient care plans. Objective: To access the facets of HRQoL in chronic liver diseases throughout their spectrum of severity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in Yunnan Province of China. Both out- and inpatients undergoing treatment protocols for different HBV related liver disease states were consecutively collected from December 2012 to June 2013. ANOVA was used to compare the mean scores of EQ-5D and chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) among 5 disease groups. The relationship between demographic variables predicting global CLDQ scores and the domains of CLDQ was analysed. Results: A total of 1040 patients including 520 without complications, 91 with compensated cirrhosis, 198 with decompensated cirrhosis, 131 with HCC and 100 with liver failure were recruited. All domains of CLDQ, the means of EQ-5D value and EQ VAS exhibited significant decline with worsening of disease severity from uncomplicated HBV to liver failure. The multivariate regression demonstrated the reduction of mean scores of CLDQ domain at advanced stage. Patients with liver failure and HCC had more HRQoL impairment than other disease states. No effect of patient gender was found. Patient age was associated with 'fatigue' and 'worry' domains (p=0.006; p=0.004) but not with other domains and global scores of CLDQ and ED-5D. Conclusions: The HRQoL in chronic hepatitis B patients is greatly affected by disease states. Care for HBV-related diseases should consider not only the outcomes of treatment strategies but also improvement in patient wellbeing.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for approximately 350 million chronic infections worldwide and is a leading cause of broad-spectrum liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although it has been well established that adaptive immunity plays a critical role in viral clearance, the pathogenetic mechanisms that cause liver damage during acute and chronic HBV infection remain largely known. This review describes our current knowledge of the immune-mediated pathogenesis of HBV infection and the role of immune cells in the liver injury during hepatitis B.