• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.538-544
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• 2009

Objective : Primary treatment of spinal metastasis has been external beam radiotherapy. Recent advance of technology enables radiosurgery to be extended to extracranial lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effectiveness and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery using Cyberknife in spinal metastasis. Methods : From June, 2002 to December, 2007, 129 patients with 167 spinal metastases were treated with Cyberknife. Most of the patients (94%) presented with pain and nine patients suffered from motor deficits. Twelve patients were asymptomatic. Fifty-three patients (32%) had previous radiation therapy. Using Cyberknife, 16-39 Gy in 1-5 fractions were delivered to spinal metastatic lesions. Radiation dose was not different regarding the tumor pathology or tumor volume. Results : After six months follow-up, patient evaluation was possible in 108 lesions. Among them, significant pain relief was seen in 98 lesions (91%). Radiological data were obtained in 83 lesions. The mass size was decreased or stable in 75 lesions and increased in eight lesions. Radiological control failure cases were hepatocellular carcinoma (5 cases), lung cancer (1 case), breast cancer (1 case) and renal cell carcinoma (1 case). Treatment-related radiation injury was not detected. Conclusion : Cyberknife radiosurgery is clinically effective and safe for spinal metastases. It is true even in previously irradiated patients. Compared to conventional radiation therapy, Cyberknife shows higher pain control rate and its treatment process is more convenient for patients. Thus, it can be regarded as a primary treatment modality for spinal metastases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.345-359
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• 2003

A number of toxicants have been incriminated as a causing hepatic disease. Among many detrimental injury, alcohol has been noted for hepatitis, fatty liver, fibrosis, and hepatic cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to develop animal model for hepatic fibrosis in pigs fed ethanol, and to search for a new anti-fibrogenic agent via this model. Twelve male Landrace pigs were divided into 3 groups of 4 animals each. Group 1, 2 and 3 were fed with active ceramic water only, ceramic water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol and normal tap water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol for 12 weeks, respectively. At week 12, all pigs were immediately sacrificed for collection each tissue and blood. Serologically, serum ALT and AST levels were significantly reversed in group 2, as compared to group 3. They were normal range in pigs of group 1. Microscopically, macrovesicular lipid droplets and moderate hepatocellular necrosis were evident in the tap water + ethanol fed group 3. However, the active ceramic water treated group 1 showed normal architecture. Moreover, in group 2, mild fatty changes and necrosis were observed in hepatocytes. Collagen fibers were increased in spaces surrounding periportal and interlobular connective tissues in the group 3 of tap water + ethanol, but collagen synthesis and its thickness of fibrotic septa connecting portal tracts were markedly reduced in the group 2 of ceramic water + ethanol. Myofibroblasts were detected mainly in the interlobular connective tissues of pig liver of group 3 treated ethanol and tap water. Few to no myofibroblasts were observed in groups 1 and 2. CYP2E1 was not or rarely detected in group 1 fed ceramic water. However, group 2 showed slightly activation of CYP2E1 in the area of pericentral vein, while CYP2E1 was significantly activated in group 3 fed tap water and ethanol. Based on the above data, we believe that we have developed a unique alcohol induced fibrosis model in pig, which will be useful in developing anti-fibrotic agents and drugs. Furthermore, the active ceramic water used in our study had an inhibitory and may be protective against ethanol induced hepatic toxicity and fibrosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2004

The hepatotherapeutic effect of the extract of Lycii fructus has been studied in rats against $CCl_4$ induced liver toxicity. The rats were orally treated with $CCl_4$ (corn oil/$CCl_4$ 1:1, $1m{\ell}/kg$) and then $CCl_4$ ($0.5m{\ell}/kg$) administered four times for 2 weeks. The extracts of L. fructus have been administered every day for 2 weeks after the last $CCl_4$ injection. The experimental groups consisted of negative control (G1), positive control ($CCl_4$ alone; G2), extract of L. fructus (50 mg/kg; G3, 100 mg/kg; G4, 200 mg/kg; G5), respectively. There was a significant decrement to G2 on the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in G5. Also, the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, and phosphatidylcholine hydroperxidase, a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the liver were decreased significantly G5 and G4 compared with G2. Although, catalase or superoxide dismutase, antioxidant enzyme, in the liver were decreased significantly too, it would not be a good sign for the liver. In histopathological findings, such a hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration, lobular restructure, cellular infiltration, necrosis, and so on were shown severely in G2. However, G4 and G5 was shown a mild cytoplasmic vacuolation and inflammatory cell. In conclusion, as a protection against cell damage, lipid peroxidation and serum level, it suggested that the extract of Lycii fructus would have been a therapeutic effect of liver injury directly.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Objective : This study is purposed to report 2 cases of cancer patient whose symptoms related to radiation pneumonitis had been controlled with Saengmaek-san treatment. Methods : A 56-year-old female rectal cancer patient was prescribed with Saengmaek-san due to the symptoms which had developed 4 weeks after the completion of her radiotherapy session in both lungs. Her chief complaints were shortness of breath, dry cough and fatigue. Another case, 53-year-old male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, had also developed symptoms of fatigue, weight loss and dry cough after his radiotherapy session in left upper lung zone. Radiological changes of both patients' chest X-ray suggested radiation pneumonitis. Results : Symptoms of the female patient were improved, especially shortness of breath, after Saengmaek-san treatment, without any aggravation in her chest X-ray result. However, infiltrative opacity in the left upper lung zone of the male patient was aggravated despite the improvement of his clinical symptoms. His remaining symptoms and radiological change were effectively controlled after steroid therapy. Conclusion : Seangmaek-san may be considered as a potential treatment for symptoms related to radiation pneumonitis with proper monitoring.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.376-383
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• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng has a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Wild ginseng cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) were obtained from P. ginseng cambium. This study examined the protective mechanism of wild ginseng CMCs against $\small{D}$-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury. GalN, a well-known hepatotoxicant, causes severe hepatocellular inflammatory damage and clinical features similar to those of human viral hepatitis in experimental animals. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats using GalN (700 mg/kg, i.p.). Wild ginseng CMCs was administered orally once a day for 2 wks, and then 2 h prior to and 6 h after GalN injection. Results: Wild ginseng CMCs attenuated the increase in serum aminotransferase activity that occurs 24 h after GalN injection. Wild ginseng CMCs also attenuated the GalN-induced increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6 level, and hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 protein and mRNA expression. Wild ginseng CMCs augmented the increase in serum interleukin -10 and hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein and mRNA expression that was induced by GalN, inhibited the increase in the nuclear level of nuclear factor-kappa B, and enhanced the increase in NF-E2-related factor 2. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that wild ginseng CMCs protects liver against GalN-induced inflammation by suppressing proinflammatory mediators and enhancing production of anti-inflammatory mediators.

• Korean Journal of Transplantation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.108-112
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• 2018

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a major complication after ABO-incompatible liver transplantation. According to the 2016 Banff Working Group on Liver Allograft Criteria for the diagnosis of acute AMR, a positive serum donor specific antibody (DSA) is needed. On the other hand, the clinical significance of the histological findings of AMR in the absence of DSA is unclear. This paper describes a 57-year-old man (blood type, O+) who suffered from hepatitis B virus cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma. Pre-operative DSA and cross-matching were negative. After transplantation, despite the improvement of the liver function, acute AMR was observed in the protocol biopsy on postoperative day 7; the cluster of differentiation 19+ (CD19+) count was 0% and anti-ABO antibody titers were 1:2. This paper presents the allograft injury like AMR in the absence of DSA after ABOi living donor liver transplantation with low titers of anti-ABO antibody and depleted serum CD19+ B cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2021

Background: Many herbal medications have been used to treat various liver diseases. But the concerns of herbal medicine induced liver injury also existed. In this respect, we would like to report several cases with imporved elevated liver aminotransferase after treating herbal medicine including Artemisia capillaris. Case Reports: We report four patients with elevated aminotransferase levels (ATLs), which indicate hepatocellular damages. After receiving herbal medicines therapy containing Artemisia capillaris as principal component (HMA), the patients' ATLs were improved. In the first case, the patient's ATLs decreased into normal range after administration of HMA, although they have not been improved with hepatotonics for a long period. In the second case, the patient's ATLs have been elevated after taking anticoagulants. The ATLs were improved with HMA without stopping anticoagulants. In the other two cases, the patients' ATLs were also improved after taking HMA. In addition, there were no changes of previous drugs for treating the corresponding underlying diseases and no adverse events during HMA applications. Result and Conclusion: The four patients received the herbal medicine containing Artemisia capillaris as principal component and showed improvement of ATLs. These cases suggest that HMA can be considered as alternative or complementary remedies to improve various liver diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.633-638
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• 2022

Liver regeneration is a well-known systemic homeostatic phenomenon. The N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification pathway has been associated with liver regeneration and hepatocellular carcinoma. m⁶A methyltransferases, such as methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) and methyltransferase 14 (METTL14), are involved in the hepatocyte-specific-regenerative pathway. To illustrate the role of METTL14, secreted from non-parenchymal liver cells, in the initiation phase of liver regeneration, we performed 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) in Mettl14 heterozygous (HET) and wild-type (WT) mice. Next, we analyzed the ratio of liver weight to body weight and the expression of mitogenic stimulators derived from non-parenchymal liver cells. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression of cell cycle-related genes and the hepatocyte proliferation rate via MKI67-immunostaining. During regeneration after PH, the weight ratio was lower in Mettl14 HET mice compared to WT mice. The expressions of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, mitogens derived from non-parenchymal liver cells that stimulate the cell cycle, as well as the expressions of cyclin B1 and D1, which regulate the cell cycle, and the number of MKI67-positive cells, which indicate proliferative hepatocyte in the late G1-M phase, were significantly reduced in Mettl14 HET mice 72 h after PH. Our findings demonstrate that global Mettl14 mutation may interrupt the homeostasis of liver regeneration after an acute injury like PH by restraining certain mitogens, such as HGF and TNF-α, derived from sinusoidal endothelial cells, stellate cells, and Kupffer cells. These results provide new insights into the role of METTL14 in the clinical treatment strategies of liver disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.196-208
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• 2019

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the chronic inflammatory liver diseases and a leading cause of advanced liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The main purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of GBCK25 fermented by Saccharomyces servazzii GB-07 and pectinase, on NASH severity in mice. Methods: Six-wk-old male mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or a Western diet (WD) for 12 wks to induce NASH. Each group was orally administered with vehicle or GBCK25 once daily at a dose of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, or 400 mg/kg during that time. The effects of GBCK25 on cellular damage and inflammation were determined by in vitro experiments. Results: Histopathologic analysis and hepatic/serum biochemical levels revealed that WD-fed mice showed severe steatosis and liver injury compared to ND-fed mice. Such lesions were significantly decreased in the livers of WD-fed mice with GBCK25 administration. Consistently, mRNA expression levels of NASH-related inflammatory-, fibrogenic-, and lipid metabolism-related genes were decreased in the livers of WD-fed mice administered with GBCK25 compared to WD-fed mice. Western blot analysis revealed decreased protein levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) with concomitantly reduced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the livers of WD-fed mice administered with GBCK25. Also, decreased cellular damage and inflammation were observed in alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells and RAW264.7 cells, respectively. Conclusion: Administration of GBCK25 ameliorates NASH severity through the modulation of CYP2E1 and its associated JNK-mediated cellular damage. GBCK25 could be a potentially effective prophylactic strategy to prevent metabolic diseases including NASH.