• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.19-23
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate safety of Rhus Verniciflua STOKES as a combination therapy of Oriental and conventional cancer treatment. So, We investigated liver function test(especially total bilirubin, AST, ALT, and ALP) levels in outpatients at an oriental medical clinic, to know whether Rhus Verniciflua STOKES decotion (Chijongtang) was hepatotoxic. The outpatients were treated with Rhus Verniciflua STOKES decotion(Chijongtang) during intravenous or oral chemotherapy. Methods : We surveyed whether Chijongtang caused liver injury in patients, who visited and took Chijongtang at Hana oriental medical clinic, from March, 2008 to November 2011. We looked over all the liver function tests of those patients, done during medication. Patients who had no records of liver function tests or with basal liver disease were excluded. And patients were classified into normal and abnormal liver function groups. Results and Conclusions : 48 patients were enrolled, and their mean dosage was 300ml/day, and the mean medication period was 9.3 (2-42) months. During and after medication, there were no abnormal liver function test results at all, in the normal liver function group. and 10 out of 11 patients in the abnormal liver function group showed normal liver function test levels. Roughly speaking, according to the above results, it seems that taking Chijongtang did not cause hepatotoxicity. And it seems Chijongtang has hepatoprotective effect. But we still need more laboratory and clinical research to reach a more definitive conclusion.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.4 s.36
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• pp.465-472
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• 1991

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in drug abusers. The subjects were 141 inpatients who had been admitted to a general hospital with the symptoms and signs of methamphetamine intoxication. Seroprevalence of antibody to the hepatitis C virus(anti-HCV) was 60.3%(85/141) and it was higher in the group with increased frequency and duration of drug abuse, but such a relationship was not found in the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg). These findings suggested the possibility of high prevalence of HCV infection in methamphetamine abusers, and the importance of repetitive percutaneous injection in the transmission of HCV infection.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2010

Objectives: Liver function tests are used as screening tests for liver injuries, but their inaccuracy on positive predictive values can result in numerous false positive results. We investigated the incidence of liver function test abnormalities of patients who came to an oriental medicine hospital, in order to present a practical way to rule out false positive results for other studies designed to investigate the safety of Korean herb medicine. Methods: We analyzed the medical records and liver function test results proceeded at admission of all in-patients admitted to Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital, from July 2008 to June 2009. Results: Among 1,117 inpatients, 941 executed liver function tests on admission, and 40 were excluded due to their diagnosed liver disease. 747 (82.9%) of 901 enrolled patients were within the normal range of all liver function tests, and 140 (15.5%) and 14 (1.6%) were classified as "abnormalities of liver tests" and "liver injury" respectively, according to the CIOMS (Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences) criteria. Conclusions: According to the results, among the outcomes of liver function tests proceeded among the patients admitted to the oriental medicine hospital, excluding who were diagnosed with liver disease, 17.1% showed abnormality. This means simple liver function test results are not sufficient in determining liver toxicity of Korean herb medicine (KHM).

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of safety on liver functions when Korean herbal medicine was taken internally. Method: 101 inpatients who took Korean herbal medicine were enrolled and liver function test (aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase) was performed on admission and 1 month later. Results: In 101 patients, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase decreased significantly compared with the value taken on admission (p<0.05) but aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase were not significantly changed (p>0.05). In the patients who took Scutellaria baicalensis (n=34), alkaline phosphatase decreased and albumin increased significantly (p<0.05). Among the patients who took Atractylodes macrocephala (n=29), alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly (p<0.05). In the patients who took Glycyrrhiza uralensis or Paeonia lactiflora, liver function parameters were not significantly changed (p>0.05). On admission 11 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients had liver injury while 7 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients showed liver injury 1 month later. Conclusions: This study suggests that prescribed Korean herbal medicine does not injure liver function.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.3 no.2
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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

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1121-1129
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• 1998

The critical role of folate vitamin in the remethylation pathway for methionine synthesis from homocysteine has been well documented. Hyperhomocysteinemia resulting from inadequate folate nutrition has been implicated in increased incidence of macrovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, neural tube defects, etc. Chronic exposure to ethanol impairs folate nutrition and one-carbon metabolism in the liver, which often results in fatty liver due to a defective remethylation process. This study was carried out to investigate the chronic effects of moderate levels of alcohol and dietary 131ate on plasma homocysteine levels, and on histopathology and biochemical functions of the liver Rats were raised on experimental diets with three levels of folate(0, 2, 8mg/kg diet), and 50% ethanol(1.8m1/kg body weight) was administered intragastrically by intubation tubes three times a week for 10 weeks. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were found to be significantly influenced by dietary folate intake and alcohol administration. Among all treatment groups, Plasma homocysteine levels were highest in the animals receiving a combined treatment of folate deficient diet and alcohol administration. Plasma homocysteine concentration was negatively correlated with folate concentration in the plasma(p<0.01) and liver(p<0.05). Among alcohol treated rats, increase in plasma homocysteine values due to ethanol was prevented by 131ate supplementation. When liver histological tests were performed, macrovascular and microvascular fatty changes and spotted necrosis were observed more frequently in folate-deficient animals diet than those on folate-adequate and folate-supplemented diets in alcohol-treated rats. These results indicate that folate supplementation above the recommended level might be beneficial in the prevention of alcohol-related hyperhomocystei-nemia and abnormal histologic changes in the liver due. (Korean J Nutrition 31(7) : l121-l129, 1998)

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2013

Objectives This study aimed to examine differences in the hepatic function disorders and prevalence rates of liver diseases in accordance with the Sasang constitutional type, and to analyze whether Sasang constitution is a significant risk factor for fatty liver. Methods A total of 1211 patients who underwent health check-up at the Ilsan Hospital of Dongguk University and had their physical constitutions diagnosed by a specialist in Sasang constitutional medicine from October 31, 2011 to September 28, 2012 were used as the subjects of this study. Presence of hepatobiliary diseases was analyzed from the results of the hepatic function test, lipid test and viral hepatitis infection marker test in the biochemistry tests, and abdominal ultrasonography. Results & Conclusion Subjects of the study were composed of 691 males and 520 females and, in terms of Sasang constitution distribution, 550 Taeeumin, 343 Soeumin and 318 Soyangin. As the results of analysis of prevalence rates in accordance with Sasang constitutions, significant differences were observed in the prevalence rates of abnormal groups in the cases of AST, ALT, GGT, Triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and all of their prevalence rates were in the descending order of Taeeumin, Soyangin and Soeumin. Soeumin displayed significantly higher positive rate for HBs Ab in comparison to Taeeumin and Soyangin. In the results of abdominal ultrasonography, the prevalence rates of fatty liver displayed significant differences and were in the descending order of Taeeumin, Soyangin and Soeumin. And as the result of logistic regression analysis in order to find the risk factors of fatty liver, the Sasang constitution was found to be a significant risk factor for fatty liver. The odds ratio of Taeeumin in fatty liver was found to be 1.634 higher than Soeumin and 1.773 higher than Soyangin

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2002

We experienced a male patient who was diagnosed as very severe abdominal obesity. From the 3rd of January to the 14th of April we applied herbal medication(Tiganyiyiren-tang), very low calorie diet, aerobic exercise, behavioral therapy, electrolipolysis, infra-red therapy, auricular acupuncture, and aqua-massage to him. And we examined the changes of his height, weight, body composition, body size, liver functional test, abdominal CT finding. The food production of this year has decreased by 5 percent. His weight decreased by 28.2%, PIBW by 28.5%, BMI by 28.2%, PBF by 22.7%, and WHR by 15.9%. The circumference of upper extremity decreased by 25.7%, the circumference of the muscle of upper extremity by 18.2%, the circumference of chest by 20.5%, the circumference of abdomen by 29.5%, the circumference of hip by 17.4%, and the circumference of thigh by 15.9%. In the liver functional test GOT decreased from 42IU/l to 361U/I, GPT from 1211U/l to 48IU/I. Total cholesterol from 211mg/dl to 152mg/dl, and Trigliceride from 192mg/dl to 81 mg/dl. In the abdominal CT finding the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity decreased from $9732mm^2$ to $3639mm^2$.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.418-421
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of liver function test before and after treatment in patients admitted to Korean medicine hospital. We checked liver function test level (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin) of 147 patient who admitted in Korean medicine hospital from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. The subjects were selected those who took herbal medicine continuously during the admission period and who performed liver function test on admission and before discharge. And the subjects were excluded those who had a history of liver and biliary disease at the time of admission or who took hepatoprotectants. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased compared with the values of admission(p<0.05), but total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were not significantly changed(p>0.05). On admission 31 patients(21.1%) had abnormal liver function and 6 patients(4.1%) had liver injury while 19 patients(12.9%) had abnormal liver function and 6 patients(4.1%) showed liver injury before discharge. This study suggests that herbal medicine may not injure liver function.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of recently developed specific formulas for phenylketonuria(PKU) patient by observing the growth and developmental pattern and serum phenylalanine level. Methods : We observed 14 patients diagnosed with PKU at Soon Chung Hyang University Hospital fed with formula for 1 year by checking daily diet diary and plasma aminoacids, Hb, Hct, WBC, Platelet count, ferritin, GOT, GPT, protein, albumin, globulin and urinalysis. Results : The 14 patients all liked the formula and height, weight and head circumference showed normal growth. Hemoglobin levels were in normal range, but 4 out of the 14 patients showed ferritin level lower than 12 ng/mL and needed iron supplements. Serum albumin, liver enzyme levels, urinalysis showed within normal range. The plasma phenyalanine levels were normal ranged 0.7-15.6 mg/dL. Adverse reactions such as rash, diarrhea or constipation were not observed. Conclusion : We confirmed that the specific formulas for PKU patients developed in Korea, PKU-1 and PKU-2 showed favorable results In development and treatment of PKU patients and could be used safely to children.