• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.376-381
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• 2003

Acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACS4) is an arachidonate-preferring enzyme abundant in steroidogenic tissues. We examined ACS4 in rat liver, which contains a variety of pathways that use acyl-CoAs, in order to determine subcellular locations. We demonstrate that ACS4 protein was present most abundantly in the mitochondria and to a much lesser extent in the peroxisomes and microsomes. To determined the dietary effects on the level of ACS4 mRNA, northern blotting was carried out using total RNA from the livers of adult male rats fed various diets. Fasting, high fat diet, and fat-free high sucrose diet increased the hepatic level of ACS4 mRNA approximately 2-fold. Furthermore, the levels of ACS4 mRNA were induced by DEHP[Di- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate]. These data suggest that ACS4 expression in the liver is regulated with a variety of pathways, including $\beta$-oxidation, hormone, and insulin.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 1976

In the sequence of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, increased serum levels of a number of enzymes have been demonstrated in experimental animals. These observations, therefore, have served to help in detecting hepatic injury. The serological influence of chlorpromazine (CPZ) and iproniazid on the acute $CCl_4$ poisoning was executed in this investigation taking use of 6 albino rabbits (around 2 kg b.w.) in each group. By measuring of blood sugar level (Nelson-Somogyi method), S-GOT and S-GPT activities (Reitman-Frankel method), the pharmacological effects of the drugs was evaluated setting pretreated groups against the control. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The intramuscular injection of $CCl_4$ led to increase the blood sugar level in first 3 hours and, after that, to decrease reasonably. But CPZ-pretreated group showed a tendency of increasing in compare with the control, and iproniazid-pretreated group inhibited evidently. 2. In S-GOT activity, the increased level was induced by $CCl_4$ in control. And CPZ-pretreated group showed a increased level until first day and decreased rapidly. But this property inhibited inhibited significantly by pretreating with iproniazid. 3. Although a single dose of $CCl_4$ increased the S-GPT activity, the more increasing trend was observed in CPZ-pretreated group. But these tendencies depressed remarkably in the iproniazid-pretreated group. It seemed to be attributed not to defend the $CCl_4$ toxicity but to be suppressed the enzyme systems in the liver by iproniazid that the blood sugar level and serum transaminase activities was decreased significantly in pretreating with iproniazid.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2005

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme catalyzing the first step for scavenging the reactive oxygen species is important as an early warning indicator to address various biological stresses. For this reason, the monitoring the expressed pattern of SOD gene in fish organs is one of important biomarkers to assess the aquatic pollution caused by many toxic chemicals. Based on the Northern blot hybridization, semi-quantitative and/or realtime RT-PCRs, the alteration of SOD gene transcripts in shark liver was examined during the experimental acute exposures to cadmium. The expression of SOD at mRNA level was up-regulated both by injection (0, 0.5, 1 or 2 mg $CdCl_2/kg$ body weight for 48 hours) and by immersion (0 or $5{\mu}M$ Cd for 0, 1, 4 and 7 days) treatments of cadmium. The transcriptional stimulation of shark SOD gene by cadmium exposure was dependent upon doses and durations: there was a trend toward more increase in higher dose and longer durations of exposure. The hepatic SOD mRNA levels showed also a general agreement with the tissue cadmium concentrations accumulated in immersion exposure. This result may provide useful strategy to develop a fine molecular biomarker at mRNA level for detecting aquatic pollution caused by toxic metals.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2008

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has been widely used as an anti-inflammatory agent in oriental medicine. In the current study, we investigated the protective effect, and the possible mechanism, of dandelion extracts against ethanol-induced acute hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice. Dandelion water and ethanol extract was administered at 2 g/kg body weight (BW) once daily for 7 consecutive days, whereas control and ethanol groups received water by gavage. Ethanol (50% ethanol; 6 g/kg BW) was administered 12 hr before sacrificing the mice in order to generate liver injury. Significantly increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities as well as liver triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels were attenuated by dandelion supplementation. In addition, dandelion extracts not only enhanced alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and anti-oxidative enzyme activities, but reduced lipid peroxidation. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP 2E1), one of the critical enzymes xenobiotic metabolism, expression was lower with ethanol treatment but restored by dandelion supplementation. These results were confirmed by improved histopathological changes in fatty liver and hepatic lesions induced by ethanol. In conclusion, dandelion could protect liver against ethanol administration by attenuating of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.208-212
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• 2012

In the present study, we examined whether four grains including adlay (AD), buckwheat (BW), glutinous barley (GB), and white rice (WR) affect the duration of food residence in the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic enzyme activities in rats fed different combinations of the grains. The rats were raised for 4 weeks on a high fat diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition-93 (AIN-93G) diets containing 1% cholesterol and 20% dietary lipids. Forty male rats were divided into four groups and raised for 4 weeks with a diet containing one of the grains. Corresponding to the dietary fiber contents of the experimental grains, gut transit time was shortest in the rats fed GB and increased in the order of BW, AD, and WR. In addition, the accumulated shortest transit time occurred in the GB group. Gut transit time affected weight gain and major organ weight, as it was closely related to the absorption of nutrients. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in liver was higher in rats fed WR, AD, BW, and GB, indicating that the other grains decreased oxidative stress in vivo more than WR. Glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase levels in the AD, BW, and GB groups were significantly higher than those in the WR group. In conclusion, reduced colonic transit time has been implicated in reducing the incidence of colon cancer, as evidenced by populations consuming diets rich in fiber. Whole grains such as AD, BW, and GB may contribute to a significant supply of antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress if they are consumed in large amounts.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.230-236
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• 2009

An extract of Allomyrina dichotoma larva (ADL), one of the insects used most frequently in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of liver diseases such as hepatocirrhosis and hepatofibrosis, was assessed for antioxidant bioactivity in this study. In the current work, we have investigated the protective effects of ADL extracts on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity in cultured hepa1c1c7 cells and in the mouse liver. The treatment of the hepa1c1c7 cells with ADL extracts induced a significant reduction of t-BHP-induced oxidative injuries, as determined by cell cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen species contents, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ADL extracts evidenced a protective effect against t-BHPinduced oxidative DNA damage, as revealed by the results of the Comet assay in hepa1c1c7 cells. ADL extracts also protected against hydroxyl radical-induced 2-deoxy-d-ribose degradation by ferric ion-nitrilotriacetic acid and $H_2O_2$. In addition, ADL extracts were shown to be able to quench 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. Our in vivo study revealed that ADL extracts pretreatment applied prior to t-BHP administration significantly prevented an increase in the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers and reduced LPO in the mouse liver in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that the protective effects of ADL extracts against t-BHP-induced hepatotoxicity may be attributable, at least in part, to its ability to scavenge free oxygen radicals, and to protect against DNA damage due to oxidative stress.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2016

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is an enzyme functioning in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) of the liver. Patients with CPT1A deficiency have impaired mitochondrial FAO and display hypoketotic hypoglycemia and hepatic encephalopathy as typical manifestations. In this report, we present a case of CPT1A deficiency presenting jaundice as the first manifestation. A 1.9 years old boy showed jaundice and elevated levels of free and total carnitine were observed. From direct sequencing analysis of CPT1A, two novel mutations, c.1163+1G>A and c.1393G>A (p.Gly465Arg), were identified. At the age of 2.2 years, hypoglycemia, tachycardia, and altered mental status developed just after cranioplasty for craniosynostosis. High glucose infusion rate was required for recovery of his vital signs and mentality. Diet rich in high carbohydrate, low fat and inclusion of medium chain triglyceride oil resulted in improvement in cholestatic hepatitis and since then the boy has shown normal growth velocity and developmental milestones to date.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.333-336
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• 2008

A 52-year-old woman with a history of general weakness, fatigue, weight loss, elevated serum levels of liver transaminase enzyme for three months underwent an F-18 FDG PET/CT scan to evaluate a cause of the hepatosplenomegaly found on abdominal ultrasonography. Initial PET/CT revealed markedly enlarged liver and spleen with intense FDG uptake. Otherwise, there were no areas of abnormal FDG uptake in whole body image. Histological evaluation by a hepatic needle biopsy demonstrated diffuse large B cell type lymphoma and final diagnosis for this patient was hepatosplenic B-cell lymphoma. She received five cycles of CHOP chemotherapy, and second PET/CT scan was followed after then. Follow-up PET-CT revealed normal sized liver with disappearance of abnormal FDG uptake. Hepatosplenic B-cell lymphoma is relatively rare and mostly presents as single or multiple nodules.1,2 Diffuse type hepatosplenic lymphoma is extremely rare and poorly recognized entity.3 The diagnosis is very difficult and complicated by the presence of misleading symptoms.4 In this rare hepatosplenic B-cell lymphoma case, F-18 FDG PET/CT scan provided a initial diagnostic clue of hepatosplenic lymphoma and an accurate chemotherapy response.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.6-13
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• 2019

[Purpose] In this study, we examined the in vitro antioxidant activities and laxative effects of taurine-xylose (T-X), a synthetic taurine-carbohydrate derivative, in a rat model of constipation induced by loperamide. [Methods] The animals were divided into four treatment groups: normal untreated rats (NOR group), loperamide-treated control rats (CON group), loperamide and taurine-xylose (15 mg/kg)-treated rats (T-X group), and loperamide and commercial Dulcolax S (5.5 mg/kg)-treated rats (DS group). [Results] In the present study, T-X exhibited potent reducing power and free radical scavenging activities for DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS+ (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonic acid ammonium salt) radicals. The laxative effects of T-X were dependent on food, body weight, fecal properties, gastrointestinal transit (GIT) ratio, and serum metabolic parameters. In the T-X group, the number, wet weight, and water content of fecal pellets were noticeably increased compared to those in the loperamide-induced group. T-X treatment significantly increased the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, including those of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), relative to those in loperamide-induced constipated rats. Furthermore, the GIT ratio and loperamide-induced metabolic parameters in serum, including gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL), and somatostatin (SS) levels, were significantly improved by T-X treatment. [Conclusion] These results suggest that taurine-xylose exerts antioxidant activities and laxative effects on loperamide-induced constipation by promoting gastrointestinal motility.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1693-1699
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• 2023

Objective: Cows that are nursing get around 80% of their glucose from liver gluconeogenesis. Propionate, a significant precursor of liver gluconeogenesis, can regulate the key genes involved in hepatic gluconeogenesis expression, but its precise effects on the activity of enzymes have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of propionate on the activity, gene expression, and protein abundance of the key enzymes involved in the gluconeogenesis of dairy cow hepatocytes. Methods: The hepatocytes were cultured and treated with various concentrations of sodium propionate (0, 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00 mM) for 12 h. Glucose content in the culture media was determined by an enzymatic coloring method. The activities of gluconeogenesis related enzymes were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits, and the levels of gene expression and protein abundance of the enzymes were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Results: Propionate supplementation considerably increased the amount of glucose in the culture medium compared to the control (p<0.05); while there was no discernible difference among the various treatment concentrations (p>0.05). The activities of cytoplasmic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK1), mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK2), pyruvate carboxylase (PC), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) were increased with the addition of 2.50 and 3.75 mM propionate; the gene expressions and protein abundances of PEPCK1, PEPCK2, PC, and G6PC were increased by 3.75 mM propionate addition. Conclusion: Propionate encouraged glucose synthesis in bovine hepatocytes, and 3.75 mM propionate directly increased the activities, gene expressions and protein abundances of PC, PEPCK1, PEPCK2, and G6PC in bovine hepatocytes, providing a theoretical basis of propionate-regulating gluconeogenesis in bovine hepatocytes.