• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.239-247
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• 2014

Purpose: There are no studies of hepatic glycogen storage diseases (GSDs) other than type I and III in Korea. We aimed on investigating the characteristics of hepatic GSDs in Korea diagnosed and followed at a single center. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were diagnosed as GSD and followed at Samsung Medical Center from January, 1997 to December, 2013. Clinical manifestations, laboratory results, treatment, and prognosis were investigated. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in the study. The types of 17 patients were confirmed by enzyme activity tests and/or gene analysis. GSD Ia was diagnosed in 7 patients (33.3%), Ib in 1 patient (4.8%), III in 2 patients (9.5%), IV in 1 patient (4.8%), and IX in 6 patients (28.6%). Types other than GSD I constituted 52.9% (9/17) of the patients diagnosed with a specific type of hepatic GSD. The median age at presentation was 2 years. Hepatomegaly was observed in 95.2%, elevated liver transaminases in 90.5%, and hyperlactacidemia in 81.0% of the patients. The duration for follow-up was $77{\pm}62.0$ months. Uncooked corn starch was initiated in all the patients. No mortality was observed during the follow-up period, and liver transplantation was performed in 14.3%. Conclusion: Types other than GSD I comprised more than half of the patients diagnosed with a specific type of hepatic GSD. Clinical suspicion and thorough evaluation of hepatic GSDs in Korea should be focused not only on GSD I, but also on other types.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary garlic powder on cytochrome P450 enzymes and membrane stability in murine hepatocarcinogenesis initiated by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg body wt) dissolved in saline. After 2 weeks on a basal diet, animals were fed diets containing 0. 0.5. 2.0. or 5.0% garlic powder for 6 weeks, and were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy. The areas of placental glutathione S-transferase (GST-P) positive foci were inhibited in rats fed with garlic diets. GST-P is the most effective marker for DEN-initiated lesions. Hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased in rats fed with 2.0 and 5.0% garlic powder diets compared with that observed in the control animals and hepatic microsomal glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activity was found to increase significantly in rats fed 0.5 and 2.0% garlic powder diets. Thus as little as 0.5% garlic powder has a positive effect on the stability of hepatic microsomal membranes. p-Nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH) activity and the level of cytochrome P450 2E1 protein in the hepatic microsomes from rats fed diets containing 2.0 and 5.0% garlic powder were much lower than those of control microsomes. Rats fed 5.0% garlic powder diets exhibited the lowest P450 2E1 activity and protein levels among groups. Pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity and immunoblot (cytochrome P450 2B1) analyses were not different between groups. However, the levels of cytochrome P450 1A1/2 protein in rats fed 0.5 and 2.0% garlic powder were significantly induced compared to controls. These results suggest that 2.0% garlic powder is effective in inhibiting the areas of GST-P positive foci, modulating certain isoforms of cytochrome P450 enzymes and stabilizing the hepatic microsomal membrane. Thus, the selective modification of cytochrome P450 enzymes and membrane stability by dietary garlic powder may influence areas of GST-P positive foci and chemoprevention of post-initiation of rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.234-237
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• 2015

Hepatic glycogenosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) can be caused by poor glycemic control due to insulin deficiency, excessive insulin treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis, or excessive glucose administration to control hypoglycemia. Mauriac syndrome, which is characterized by hepatomegaly due to hepatic glycogenosis, growth retardation, delayed puberty, and Cushingoid features, is a rare diabetic complication. We report a case of hepatic glycogenosis mimicking Mauriac syndrome. A 14-year-old girl with poorly controlled type 1 DM was admitted to The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital for abdominal pain and distension. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly and a Cushingoid face. The growth rate of the patient had decreased, and she had not yet experienced menarche. Laboratory findings revealed elevated liver enzyme levels. A liver biopsy confirmed hepatic glycogenosis. Continuous glucose monitoring showed hyperglycemia after meals and frequent hypoglycemia before meals. To control hyperglycemia, we increased insulin dosage by using an insulin pump. In addition, we prescribed uncooked cornstarch to prevent hypoglycemia. After strict blood glucose control, the patient's liver functions and size normalized. The patient subsequently underwent menarche. Hepatic glycogenosis is a complication of type 1 DM that is reversible with appropriate glycemic control.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2003

Hepatic lipase is a key enzyme that is involved in HDL-C metabolism. The goal of this study was to find out the frequency of the hepatic lipase C514T polymorphism, and evaluate its relationship with plasma HDL-C levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) in Koreans. Two hundred and twenty four subjects with no previous history of lipid-lowering therapy, 118 patients with significant CAD, and 106 controls were examined with respect to their genotypes, lipid profiles, and other risk factors for CAD. The frequency of the -514T allele was 0.37 in men and 0.35 in women, which were higher than the frequency that was reported in Caucasians, but lower than the frequency that was reported in African-Americans. The -514T allele was associated with significantly higher HDL-C levels in women. After controlling for age, gender, BMI, DM, and smoking, the non-CC genotype was significantly associated with HDL-C levels, and explained 6% of the HDL-C variation in this study. When the genotypes-distribution was compared between the CAD and non-CAD patients, the hepatic lipase C-514T polymorphism was not associated with the presence of CAD. Koreans have a higher frequency of the hepatic lipase gene 514T allele than Caucasians, and the -514T allele is associated with higher plasma HDL-C levels in Korean women, and perhaps non-smoking men. However, our data does not suggest an association between the polymorphism and an increased risk of CAD.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.229-238
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• 2012

Cyclooxygenase(COX-2) is an inducible enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) from arachidonic acid. Over-expression of COX-2 has been reported to be associated with progressive hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatic C infection and rat liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$). Recently, it is well known that mast cell products can stimulate the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and key players in liver fibrosis. But little is known regarding their role in $CCl_4$-induced liver fibrosis in rat. Our aim was to investigate the relation between COX-2 expression and mast cells during liver fibrosis after $CCl_4$ treatment. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into five groups (non-treated 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8-week after $CCl_4$-treatment). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the expression of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), collagen-1 and COX-2 in liver tissue from $CCl_4$-treated rats. The density of collagen and mast cells were determined using a computerized image analysis system in liver sections stained with picrosirius red and toluidine blue, respectively. The expression levels of ${\alpha}$-SMA, collagen-1 and COX-2 mRNA were significantly higher at 2 wk in $CCl_4$-treated groups than non-treated group. The number of mast cells in liver tissues increased gradually from 2 wk to 6 wk depending on the fibrosis severity but decreased abruptly at 8 wk. The significant increase of collagen-1 and ${\alpha}$-SMA mRNA expression in $CCl_4$-treated rats was continued until 6 wk while the COX-2 mRNA was significantly decreased at 8 wk. These results suggest that increased mast cells are closely associated with COX-2 over-expression during hepatic fibrogenesis of $CCl_4$-treated rats.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.136-140
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• 2010

Galactosemia is a group of inherited enzyme deficiencies characterized by increase in the blood galactose levels. This condition may be associated with deficiencies of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase, galactokinase, or uridine diphosphate galactose-4-epimerase. However, the elevated galactose identified by neonatal screening tests has several other possible etiologies, including hepatic hemangioendothelioma, hepatic hemangioma, and patent ductus venosus with hypoplasia of the portal vein. We report a 13-day-old Korean male with hepatic hemangioendothelioma, which was incidentally detected during the evaluation for suspected galactosemia. Laboratory studies revealed that mildly elevated levels of galactose, galactose-1-phosphate and alpha- fetoprotein, at the time of admission, were graduallydecreased to the normal range over the 6 months of observation. Ultrasonography showed a well-defined heterogeneous hypoechoic mass in the liver, and magnetic resonance imaging study showed multiple enhanced mass lesions, which was compatible with the diagnosis of a hepatic hemangioendothelioma. Thus, hepatic imaging, especially ultrasonography, should be performed if neonatal screening suggests galactosemia.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.206-213
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to find out the therapeutic effect of Artemisia capillaris extracts on hepatic damage in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_{4}$). In this experiment, 96 Sprague-Dawley rats were used as experimental groups, which were divided into 4 groups; control group(A), $CCl_{4}$-treated group(B), $CCl_{4}$+Artemisia extract-treated group(C) and $CCl_{4}$+silymarin-treated group(D). The B, C, D group were administrated single dose of $CCl_{4}$(2.5 ml/kg) to induce acute hepatic injury. C group was administrated with Artemisia capillaris extract(200 mg/kg/day) and D group treated with silymarin(50 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Hematological, ultrasonographical, histological examinations and examination of antioxidant activity were also performed in all groups. AST and ALT activities of C group were significantly decreased compared with B group. The activities of AST and ALT in C and D groups returned to the normal range more rapidly than those of B group. In ultrasonographic examination, the echogenicity of liver in C group was significantly decreased compared with B group. Also C and D group had tended to recover faster than B group on liver histogram. Histologically, the percentage of degenerative regions and degenerative cell numbers in peri-central vein hepatic parenchyma of C and D group were significantly decreased compared with B group. In examination of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde of hepatic tissue in C group was decreased as compared with B group. In examination of antioxidant enzyme activity in liver, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly increased compared with B group. As results of this study, it is thought that A. capillaris extract has therapeutic effects on hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, and has the similar therapeutic effects as silymarin in rats.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2004

The levels of arylsulfatases A and B, $\alpha$-amylase, aspartate transcarbamylase, and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase were investigated during the infection of mice with schistosoma mansoni. This infection caused a significant (p<0.001) increase in the activity of hepatic arylsulfatase B (ASB), aspartate transcarbamylases and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase. A non-significant difference occurred for $\alpha$-amylase (p<0.3) and arylsulfatase A (p>0.5) when compared to the control. The specific activity of hepatic ASB was progressively increased with the progression of the Schistosoma-infection. Moreover, the kinetic studies of hepatic ASB in Schistosoma-infection showed that a slight decrease in the value of $K_m$ and about a 40% increase in $V_{max}$ when compared to the control. In addition, the pH optimum of hepatic ASB was altered from 6 to 7 as a result of schistosomiasis. These observations suggest that there are schistosomiasis-associated changes of the catalytic and kinetic properties of hepatic ASB.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 1997

In order to elucidate the effect of phenobarbital (PB) on the nonlinear pharmacokinetic behavior of naproxen (NAP), we compared the dose dependent hepatic intrinsic clearance, biliary excretion and protein binding of NAP in control rats to those in the PB-pretreated rats which were intraperitoneally pretreated with PB sodium (75 mg/kg) once a day for four days. NAP was injected via femoral (1.5 mg/kg) and portal(0.25, 0.5, 1.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg) vein to the control and PB-pretreated rats, respectively. And also, we measured the plasma free fraction of NAP with the equilibrium dialysis method and the biliary excreted total amounts of NAP in both rats. Plasma free fraction of NAP was decreased in lower concentration than $150\;{\mu}g/ml$ of NAP due to PB pretreatment. In higher concentration, however, plasma free fraction was increased. These in vitro results suggest that the total protein concentration was increased but the total binding capacity of NAP to protein was decreased by PB-pretreatment. The total plasma clearance and the hepatic intrinsic clearance of NAP had similar values in both groups, respectively. And, both clearances of NAP were significantly increased by PB-pretreatment. Even though the plasma free fractions of NAP in both groups were constantly remained within the concentration range according to the increase of administration dose, the hepatic intrinsic clearances of NAP were significantly increased in both groups with the increased dose. And, the biliary excreted total amounts of NAP were significantly increased by PB-pretreatment at the lower dose, but decreased at the higher dose. These in vivo results suggest that NAP represents the uncommon nonlinear pharmacokinetic behavior that the hepatic intrinsic clearance was enhanced with the increased dose, and that PB enhances further the hepatic intrinsic clearance of NAP with the increased dose due to its enzyme induction effect.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1983-1990
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• 2007

Antidiabetic effects of a novel microbial biopolymer (PGB) 1 excreted from new Enterobacter sp. BL-2 were tested in the db/db mice. The animals were divided into normal control, rosiglitazone (0.005%, wt/wt), low PGB1 (0.1%, wt/wt), and high PGB1 (0.25%, wt/wt) groups. After 5 weeks, the blood glucose levels of high PGB1 and rosiglitazone supplemented groups were significantly lower than those of the control group. In hepatic glucose metabolic enzyme activities, the glucokinase activities of PGB1 supplemented groups were significantly higher than the control group, whereas the PEPCK activities were significantly lower. The plasma insulin and hepatic glycogen levels of the low and high PGB1 supplemented groups were significantly higher compared with the control group. Specifically, the insulin and glycogen increases were dose-responsive to PGB1 supplement. PGB1 supplement did not affect the IPGTT and IPITT compared with the control group; however, rosiglitazone significantly improved IPITT. High PGB1 and rosiglitazone supplementation preserved the appearance of islets and insulin-positive cells in immunohistochemical photographs of the pancreas compared with the control group. These results demonstrated that high PGB1 (0.25% in the diet) supplementation seemingly contributes to preventing the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes by stimulating insulin secretion and enhancing the hepatic glucose metabolic enzyme activities.