• 한국건강관리협회지
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.121-136
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• 2005

Background/Aims The liver funtion tests(LFTs), such as aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine amino-transferase(ALT), r -glutamyl transferase( r -GT), have been widely used for screening tests but their low positive predictive value can cause many false positive results. To evaluate the clinical usefulness of these tests, we analyzed serial LFT results of single factory workers and compared the risk factor's in groups divided by the serial LFT results. Methods From June 2001 to October 2001, 1223 consecutive healthy workers in a single factory were enrolled and questionnaire, LFT and liver ultrasonography were performed. Previous LFT results were collected from Annual Health Examination Survey. According to the abnormalities in serial LFT, participants were classified into three groups (abnormal-in-both, alternating normal-in-both) and the risk factors were compared among these groups using multiple logistic regression Results The prevalence of LFT abnormality in a single test was 16.8% but, in serial LFT, only 5% of participants showed consistent abnormality. The risk factors for abnormal-in-both group, compared with alternating group, were liver ultrasonography abnormality such as fatty liver(odds ratio, 2.2; p=0.026) and heavy alcohol intake (more than 210g/week) (odds ratio, 7.2;P=0.064). HBsAg was not significant risk factor for any of the three groups. ConclusionIn factory workers with serial LFT abnormality, alcoholic liver disease could be the principal cause of abnormal LFT. Even if HBsAg were positive in patients with abnormal LFT, there is a possibility of another causes for LFT abnormalities such as alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic steatosis or steatohepatitis

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.542-551
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the effectiveness of Chunggan plus extract (CGX) in improving liver function in a Korean medical clinic. Methods: We collected the data of inpatients who received CGX to improve abnormal liver function test (LFT) results from March 2016 to February 2020. We analyzed the changes in LFT and adverse events based on subjective symptom changes and creatinine results. Results: The data of eight patients, three male and five female, were selected by inclusion criteria (patients who did LFT before and after the prescription of CGX and who prescribed CGX more than 6 days) and exclusion criteria (patients who administered other herbal medicine for improving liver function except CGX and who are diagnosed with terminal stage of hepatobiliary cancer). As a cause of abnormal LFT, one case was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease, two cases with non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis, and one case with cholecystitis. Three of the other four were suspected to have drug-induced hepatitis, and one case was determined to have an unknown cause. Most patients showed a decrease in LFT results (Aspartate transaminase 87.5%, Alanine transaminase 87.5%, and Alkaline Phosphatase 100%) without any critical adverse events. Conclusions: CGX may be an efficient and convenient herbal medicine for improving liver function regardless of the chief impression. Further study should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of CGX.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.192-203
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• 2013

Objectives : To investigate the incidence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) by combined-prescription of Korean herbal medicine (KHM; prescribed herbal medicine by doctors of traditional Korean medicine) and Western medicine on liver function. Methods : Sixty-nine in-patients who took KHM and Western medicine for various conditions were enrolled for prospective observational study. All subjects were given liver and renal function tests at the start of hospitalization to establish a baseline. After taking KHM and Western medicine, tests were done at approximately 4-week intervals afterwards. Results : Fifty-three subjects showed normal liver function test (LFT) at baseline, 50 subjects (72.5%) remained within the normal range at the second test, while 3 subjects (4.3%) tests revealed slight increase of LFT. However not a single patient had a high enough raised LFT to indicate liver injury. Sixteen of 69 subjects had abnormal baseline, 11 subjects recovered to normal levels and 5 subjects remained at abnormal level. Among all subjects, there was no statistically significant increase in LFT level between the first and second tests. Conclusions : This study shows that the combined-prescription of KHM and Western medicine did not cause any DILI. In some cases, combined treatment increased LFT levels but those increases were not high enough to have statistical significance. Additional large scale and systematical studies are required for more conclusive proof and results.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.715-722
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of short-term use of Korean herbal medicine (KHM; prescribed herbal medicine by doctors of traditional Korean medicine) on liver function. Three hundred eighty four outpatients who took KHM for various conditions were enrolled for multi-center, prospective observational study. Of them 237 patients completed questionnaire and were checked liver function (aspartic aminotransferase;AST, alanine aminotransferase;ALT, alkaline phosphatase;ALP, total bilirubin;t-Bil, direct bilirubin;d-Bil, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase;GGT, protein and albumin) before and after taking KHM (duration; 21.4${\pm}$10.0 days), and data were analysed statistically. Of the 213 patients showing normal liver function test (LFT) at baseline, 209 (98.1%) remained within the normal range at the second test while 3 (1.4%) revealed slight increase of LFT. Only one subject had raised LFT regarding level of liver injury without perceived symptoms. Twenty-four of 237 patients were abnormal at baseline, and 16 at the second testing. Of the patients taking KHM, only 4 changed from normal to abnormal while 12 from abnormal to normal in their LFT. There were no significant increase in LFT level between the first and second test, except in the t-Bil level, however, the change of t-Bil was small and within normal range. The current study showed that the use of KHM did not increase the frequency of abnormal LFTs, at least in the short term.

• 한방비만학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.29-40
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• 2010

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Gamitaeeumjowi-tang(GTT) prescribed by doctors of korean(KMD) medicine on liver function. Methods For this single-center, prospective, observational study, we enrolled patients who wished to take GTT prescribed by KMD for losing weight. sixty(60) patients took GTT for 33.8 days and completed questionnaires. Liver function tests(LFTs) were performed bofore(first test) and after each GTT treatment(finish test). For LFT, T-bil, ALP, AST, ALT were measured. Result There were no significant changes in LFT data between the first and finish tests. At first test, levels of test seven(7) patients were more than twice of normal range of upper limit, levels of eight(8) patients were more than normal range of upper limit, less than twice of normal range of upper limit. At last test, levels of nine(9) patients were more than normal range of upper limit, less than twice of normal range of upper limit. Conclusion The current study showed that ingestion of GTT prescribed by KMD did not increase the frequency of abnormal LFTs, at least in the short term.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.275-281
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• 2021

Objectives : This study reports changes in liver function test (LFT) after Korean Medicine treatment in patients admitted to Korean Medicine hospital with abnormal LFT. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the Korean medicine treatment and abonormal LFT to verify safety of Korean medicine treatment by analyzing index of LFT. Methods : From Oct. 2015 to Sep. 2020, the result was analyzed for 91 patients admitted to the Pohang Korean Medicine Hospital and received Korean Medicine treatment. Asparate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TB) were compared at admission and discharge. Results : Comparison between admission and discharge LFT showend AST decreased from 52.72±25.08 to 43.2±19.20, ALT from 70.85±32.40 to 62.13±29.40, and TB from 1.33±0.37 to 0.81±0.29. Conclusions : After Korean medicine treatment, AST, ALT, and TB decreased compared with the values at admission. Further studies on safety of Korean Medicine treatment are warranted.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.555-563
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• 2017

Objectives: This case report describes a patient who had suffered a stroke and who was treated for a long period with herbal medicine in combination with a Western medicine. Methods: Changes in liver function and renal function laboratory tests were measured while the patient took herbal medicine during the 1190 days of hospitalization. Results: During the hospitalization period, the liver function test (LFT) levels were elevated two fold, but after taking the herbal medicine, the LFT levels were stabilized and have remained stable since. Conclusions: The high risk of prescribing herbal medicine by an unlicensed person and the possibility of long-term herbal medicine usage for stabilizing liver function test were shown.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.291-298
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the effects that Injinsugunomija Extract affected Liver function test of Alcoholic liver disease and Viral hepatitis patients. Methods: We adminstered eighty packets of Injinsugunomija Extract to some kinds of liver disease patients for one month. And we investigated the changes of their liver function test. Results: The results from this study were summarized as followed. In the 10 patients of Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD), 3 cases improve prominent and 4 cases improve effective and 3 cases are ineffective. Then 70% 01 ALD patients has improved by Injinsugunomija Extract In the 9 patients of Viral hepatitis, 1 case improves prominent and 4 cases improve effective and 1 case become worse and 1 case become worst and 2 cases are ineffective. Then 55.6% of Viral hepatitis patients has improved by Injinsugunomija Extract. Conclusions: From these results, Injinsugunomija Extract showed the meaningful effects on improving liver function test of ALD patients and Viral hepatitis patients.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.547-555
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• 2001

Objectives: Obesity is regarded as the aggregation of needless risk factors, for instance, cardiovascular disease, joint disease, induce cancer. We studied on interrelation between abnormal liver function and obesity. Methods: We analyzed liver function, T.Cholesterol, Triglyceride before and after lose weight treatment. The collateral condition is over 6 weeks period on obesity treatment, no liver injury and no complicated another disease on personal past history and found out abnormal impression on biochemical liver function blood test. Results: The improvement rate of LFT, compare with before treatment is 10.6% in T.Bilirubin, 11.1% in ALP, 21% in AST, 38% in ALT, 37.3% in r-GTP, 9.2% in LDH and decreased 2.7% in T.Protein, increased 2.3% in Albumin. Hyperlipidemia is 19.4% in T.Cholesterol, 42.5% in Triglyceride. Conclusions: LFT and Hyperlipidemia of abnormal liver function patients, caused by obesity, is improved to normal limit in proportion to reduce patient's weight.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.20-31
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• 2017

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of SM-2015 on blood alcohol clearance and hangover. We undertook this study to test whether SM-2015 is effective in decreasing blood alcohol concentration and preventing the symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover. Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers participated in this randomized crossover study. All participants were classified between an SM-2015 intake group (test group) and a non-intake group (control group). The primary outcome measure was the difference in blood alcohol concentration and hangover severity scores between the test and control groups. The secondary outcome measure was the difference in a liver function test (LFT) between the test and control groups. Results: After alcohol exposure, the sensitivity scores of blood alcohol concentration and hangover symptoms (sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, weakness, stomach pain, diarrhea, and concentration disorder) were significantly decreased in the SM-2015 intake group compared with the non-intake group. There were no differences in the LFT results between the SM-2015 intake group and the non-intake group. Conclusions: SM-2015 is effective in decreasing blood alcohol concentration and preventing the symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings.