• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 1999

Purpose: The purpose of our study is to provide useful information for diagnostic methods of fatty liver by childhood simple obesity and to provide correlation between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for screening test and abdominal computerized tomography (CT) and liver biopsy for confirmative diagnostic methods of fatty liver. Methods: Among 78 obese childrens who visited our hospital, CT was carried out in 26 childrens. Of these, liver biopsy was carried out in 15 childrens who had high obesity index or severe elevated ALT. Based on the level of serum ALT, 26 cases were classified into 3 groups, and compared with physical measurements and degree of fatty infiltration on CT and liver biopsy. Results: 1) Correlation between ALT and physical measurements: Of 26 obese children, ALT was abnormally elevated (>30 IU/L) in 17 cases (67.4%) but there was no significant correlation between ALT and physical measurements (p>0.05). 2) Correlation between degree of fatty infiltration on CT and ALT: Of 26 cases, 13 cases (50%) revealed fatty liver on CT. The degree of fatty liver on CT had significant correlation with elevation of ALT (p<0.05). 3) Correlation between the degree of fatty infiltration on liver biopsy and ALT: Liver biopsy was performed in 15 cases of which 14 cases revealed fatty liver. But one case had normal hepatic histology with severe obesity and normal ALT. Fourteen fatty liver cases on liver biopsy were classified into 3 groups by the degree of fatty infiltration and analysed with obesity index and ALT. The histologic hepatic steatosis had no significant correlation with obesity index (p>0.05), but significant correlation with ALT (p<0.05). 4) Correlation between CT and liver biopsy finding: Both CT and liver biopsy were performed in 15 cases of which 6 cases revealed normal finding on CT and 9 cases manifested fatty liver. There was significant correlation between CT and liver biopsy findings (r=0.6094). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that abdominal CT and liver biopsy are useful and accurate methods of estimating fatty liver in the childhood obesity. But biochemical abnormalities of routine liver function tests dot not correlate well with severity of the fatty liver and liver injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1560-1566
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• 2013

This study was conducted to find out the effects of aqueous extract from the leaves of Artemisia capillaris (AA) on the reduction of hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol in rats. In this experiment, Sprague Dawley rats were used in the experimental groups, which were divided into 5 groups; normal group, ethanol+UDCA (ursodeoxycholic acid)-treated group (positive control), ethanol-treated group (control), ethanol+Artemisia capillaris aqueous extract-treated group (200 mg/kg of BW) and ethanol+Artemisia capillaris aqueous extract-treated group (400 mg/kg of BW). AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), GGT (gamma(${\gamma}$)-glutamyl transferase) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) activities of the ethanol+Artemisia capillaris aqueous extract-treated group (400 mg/kg of BW) were significantly decreased compared to that of the ethanol-treated group (P<0.05). The triglyceride level of the ethanol-treated group was significantly increased and the HDL-cholesterol level was significantly decreased compared to the normal group (P<0.05). On the other hand, the triglyceride level was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and the HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the ethanol+Artemisia capillaris aqueous extract-treated groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was enhanced significantly (P<0.05) in the ethanol+Artemisia capillaris aqueous extract-treated groups. Also, malondialdehyde contents were decreased in this group (P<0.05). Histologically, in the control group, there was a mild degenerative change around central venule. The AA treated group showed well preserved lobular architectures with no evidence of steatosis or liver damage in aqueous extract from the leaves of Artemisia capillaris treated group (H&E, ${\times}20$). As the results of this study, it is thought that Artemisia capillaris aqueous extract may have effects on the improvement of hepatic damage by ethanol.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.1431-1438
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the effects of fermented water extracts from Ligularia fischeri (LAF) on reduction of hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol in rats. Ethanol-treated Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following eight groups: ethanol-treated group (control), ethanol and ursodeoxycholic acid-treated group (positive control), ethanol and non-fermented water extracts from Ligularia fischeri (LA)-treated groups [100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW (body weight)], ethanol and LAF-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW). ${\gamma}$-Glutamyl transferase activities of the ethanol+LA-treated (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW) groups and ethanol+LAF-treated (400 mg/kg BW) group decreased significantly compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase activities of the ethanol+LAF-treated (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW) groups and ethanol+LA-treated (200 and 400 mg/kg BW) groups decreased significantly compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). Alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities of all groups significantly decreased compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). The total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of all groups tended to decrease compared to those in the control group, but the differences were not significant. Superoxide dismutase activity of liver tissues was enhanced in the ethanol+LAF-treated (400 mg/kg BW) group (P<0.05). The contents of malondialdehyde in liver tissues decreased in the ethanol+LAF-treated groups (P<0.05). All treated groups showed well preserved lobular architectures with no evidence of steatosis or liver damage compared to the control group. As the results of this study, LAF may improve the plasma lipid profile and alleviate hepatic damage by ethanol.