• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.243-248
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• 2006

Purpose: Liver demonstrates heterogeneous FDG uptake and sometimes it shows abnormally increased uptake even though there is no malignant tissue. However, there was no previous study to correlate these various pattern of hepatic FDG uptake with benign liver disease. Therefore, we evaluated the significance of hepatic FDG uptake associated with various clinical factors including fatty liver, liver function tests and lipid profiles. Materials and Methods: We reviewed a total of 188 patients (male/female: 120/68, mean age: $50{\pm}9$) who underwent PET/CT for screening of malignancy. Patients with DM, impaired glucose tolerance, previous severe hepatic disease or long-term medication history were excluded. The FDG uptake in liver was analyzed semi-quantitatively using ROI on transaxial images (segment 8) and we compared mean standardized uptake value (SUV) between fatty liver and non-fatty liver group. We also evaluated the correlation between hepatic FDG uptake and various clinical factors including serum liver function test (ALT, AST), ${\gamma}-GT$, total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration. The effect of alcoholic history and body mass index on hepatic FDG uptake was analyzed within the fatty liver patients. Results: The hepatic FDG uptake of fatty liver group was significantly higher than that of non-fatty liver group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration showed significant correlation with hepatic FDG uptake. However, there was no significant correlation between other factors (ALT, AST, and ${\gamma}-GT$) and FDG uptake. Also there was no difference of mean SUV between normal and abnormal groups on the basis of alcoholic history and body mass Index within fatty liver patients. Fatty liver and high serum triglyceride concentration were the independent factors affecting hepatic FDG uptake according to multivariate analysis. Conclusion: In conclusion, hepatic FDG uptake was strongly correlated with fatty liver and serum triglyceride concentration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.629-640
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• 2023

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver which is not a result of excessive alcohol consumption. Its global prevalence was estimated to be approximately 32% in the years 1994-2019. More than half of obese individuals and patients with diabetes are reported to have NAFLD as a comorbidity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) berry on insulin resistance and steatosis in rats fed a high-fructose diet. Methods: Six-week-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group received a diet consisting of 65% corn starch, while the fructose and experimental groups were fed a diet comprising 65% fructose (FRU) and an FRU diet containing 0.5% (low-dose autumn olive berry group; LAO) or 1.0% (high-dose autumn olive berry group; HAO) ethanol extract of autumn olive berry, respectively, for 10 weeks. Results: The HAO group exhibited significantly lower blood glucose levels compared to the fructose-fed group. Both the LAO and HAO groups showed a substantial reduction in serum insulin levels and insulin resistance when compared to the fructose-fed group. The consumption of LAO and HAO significantly ameliorated dyslipidemia and reduced the levels of triglycerides in the liver compared to the fructose-fed group. Additionally, the consumption of HAO resulted in lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities compared to the fructose group. The hepatic expression of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) was significantly reduced in the LAO and HAO groups compared to the fructose group. Conclusion: Autumn olive berries improved steatosis by ameliorating insulin resistance and down-regulating the lipogenesis proteins in rats fed on high fructose diet.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1053-1058
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• 2008

Glutathione is a well known chemotherapeutic agent for liver disease and is a popular nutritional supplement in the United States. Previous our studies reported the suppressive effects of glutathione-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 strain (FF-8GY) on carbon tetrachloride- and alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the comparative effects of FF-8GY and commercially available glutathione-enriched yeast extract (GYE) against the oxidative stress in alcohol-induced fatty liver of rats. The lipid peroxidative index (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS) and antioxidant status (reduced glutathione level) were used to monitor those protective roles of FF-8GY or GYE treatment. When the rat was treated alcohol, the TBARS levels in the whole liver and the subfractions of microsomal and mitochondria were significantly increased but these were significantly decreased by FF-8GY treatment and tended to be lowered by GYE treatment. The concentration of hepatic glutathione is known to be closely associated with antioxidant system and this was slightly deplete in the alcohol-induced rats, but this was recovered by treating with FF-8GY. However, the glutathione concentration was more significantly decreased in the GYE supplementation in alcohol feeding rats. Alcohol treatment also negatively affected the serum total protein and albumin, but these were significantly increased near normal levels in FF-8GY coadministered rats. These results suggest that glutathione-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 strain may have positively mediate the alcohol-induced oxidative stress, and this effect was more pronounced in FF-8GY compared to GYE.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.524-528
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate the quality characteristic of cholesterol free milk helping the reduction of serum cholesterol. Cholesterol free milk stored at $10\pm1^{\circ}C$ was evaluated with general analysis, stability, cholesterol, microorganism, aflatoxin $M_1$, antibiotic, antibacterial agent, color, and sensory evaluation. Animal fat contents were significant (p<0.05), but normal values. Quality characteristics of alcohol test, freezing point, and somatic cell count were general milk data with stability. Cholesterol content, microorganism, and aflatoxin MI were not detected. Also antibiotic and antibacterial agent residues were not detected by Parallux, Charm II, TTC II, and Eclipse method. Color of CFM1 was significant, while CFM2 was similar with conventional milk. Compared to control milk made by conventional way, QDA scores of color and mouthfeel in CFM1 were significantly different, whereas CFM2 did not show any significant. These Quality characteristic results suggested that health-oriented cholesterol free milk would be made by food additive.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.331-345
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Saenggantanggami-bang (SG) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods : HepG2 cells were used in an in vitro model. HepG2 cells were divided into three groups. The Normal group was incubated with no fatty acid. The Control group was incubated with 1mM palmitic acid to introduce fat overloading. The PA-SG group was incubated with 1mM palmitic acid and various concentrations of Saenggantanggami-bang (SG). Cell viability and cytotoxicity were analyzed by MTT assay and LDH assay. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, ATP amount, and GST activity were measured. Cell death pattern and protective effect of SG on cell death were studied by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 intensity (western blot). Results : Compared with the Control group, cell viability of the PA-SG group significantly increased (P<0.01), cytotoxicity of the PA-SG group decreased (P<0.01), and intracellular TG levels and ROS levels of the PA-SG group decreased (P<0.05). In DNA fragmentation assay, necrotic pattern was observed and DNA fragment decreased in the PA-SG group. In western blot, apoptotic pattern was observed, caspase-3 intensity of the PA-SG group was reduced significantly, but there were no significant differences in intracellular ATP amount and GST activity between the control group and the PA-SG group. Conclusion : The results suggest that Saenggantanggami-bang can be a potential candidate for the clinical treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1206-1224
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• 2018

Purpose: This systematic review was planned and performed in order to determine the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: We searched related randomized controlled trials in several medical online databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Public/Publisher MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), National Digital Science Library (NDSL), and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS). NAFLD related outcomes were extracted from the included trials and meta-analyzed. Results: From the 8 included trials, the values of the following examinations were extracted: liver ultrasonography, liver CT, body fat CT, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, fasting blood sugar (FBS), hosmeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), weight, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), obesity degree, body fat mass, body fat rate, leptin, malondialdehyde (MDA), and super oxide dismutase (SOD). In the 4 outcomes, cure rate in liver ultrasonography (RR=1.56; 95%CI=1.05~2.31; P=0.03), cure rate in liver CT (RR=2.23; 95%CI=1.33~3.72; P=0.002), TC (MD=-0.78; 95%CI=-1.41~-0.15; P=0.02), and TG (MD=-2.05; 95%CI=-3.88~-0.21; P=0.03), acupuncture was more effective than the control intervention. Conclusions: In this meta-analysis, acupuncture relieved hepatic steatosis, and reduced TC, and TG in NAFLD patients. more well-planned studies are still needed due to the heterogeneity and the considerable methodological flaws in the analyzed trials.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.676-684
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• 2017

The present study aimed to examine the hepatoprotective effects of ethanol extracts from steam-dried ginseng berry (SGBE) in both $\text\tiny{D}$-Galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide ($\text\tiny{D}$-GalN/LPS)-sensitized mice and in vitro models. Our results clearly demonstrated that SGBE significantly reduced the level of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase in blood, and $TNF{\alpha}$ was normalized in 8 h after the treatment with $\text\tiny{D}$-GalN/LPS. Coincidently, major organs remained unimpaired when compared to $\text\tiny{D}$-GalN/LPS control group. Moreover, p38, which stimulates expression of NAFLD-associated cytokines, was markedly inhibited when treated with SGBE. In vitro analysis revealed that the main components of SGBE, linoleic acid and ginsenoside Re/Rd, may play a role in protecting liver from $\text\tiny{D}$-GalN/LPS-induced toxicity. Finally, we concluded that SGBE may be a promising therapeutic agent for preventing damage to the liver.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1795-1803
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• 2011

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease accompanies the rise in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and the tendency toward high-fat dietary habits. Specifically, the higher prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in men and postmenopausal women seems to be caused by the protective effects of estrogen against liver fibrosis, or lack thereof. There are no effective preventive therapies for liver diseases because the mechanisms underlying the progression of fatty liver diseases to chronic liver diseases and the protective effects of estrogen against fibrogenesis remain unclear. Recently, it has been reported that the hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in the progression of chronic liver diseases. Hedgehog, a morphogen regulating embryonic liver development, is expressed in injured livers but not in adult healthy livers. The level of hedgehog expression parallels the stages of liver diseases. Hedgehog induces myofibroblast activation and hepatic progenitor cell proliferation and leads to excessive liver fibrosis, whereas estrogen inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells to myofibroblasts and prevents liver fibrosis. Although the mechanism underlying the opposing actions of hedgehog and estrogen on liver fibrosis remain unclear, the suppressive effects of estrogen on the expression of osteopontin, a profibrogenic extracellular matrix protein and cytokine, and the inductive effects of hedgehog on osteopontin transcription suggest that estrogen and hedgehog are associated with liver fibrosis regulation. Therefore, further research on the estrogen-mediated regulatory mechanisms underlying the hedgehog-signaling pathway can identify the mechanism underlying liver fibrogenesis and contribute to developing therapies for preventing the progression of fibrosis to chronic liver diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aims to report the clinical efficacy of Korean medical treatment of a patient with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accompanied by obesity and dyslipidemia. Methods: A 52-year-old man with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and dyslipidemia was treated with Saenggangunbi-tang extract from November 3, 2021 to January 8, 2022. During the treatment period, the patient also undertook exercise and maintained a hypocaloric diet to reduce body weight. Changes were observed in the patient's symptoms, laboratory findings, such as liver enzymes and lipid profiles, and bioelectrical impedance analyzer results. Results: After taking Saenggangunbi-tang extract for approximately two months, with concomitant adjustments to exercise and diet, the serum levels of liver enzymes and triglyceride were decreased and the patient's body weight, body mass index, hepatic steatosis index, and visceral fat area were also reduced. In addition, symptoms including fatigue and dyspepsia improved. Conclusion: This study suggests that Saenggangunbi-tang extract with exercise and a regulated diet could be a helpful treatment strategy for managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with metabolic disorders.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.680-719
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the trends in research on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using Korean traditional medicine. Methods: This review included studies related to the treatment of NAFLD, irrespective of the year of publication. The search terms were "nonalcoholic fatty liver disease", "non-alcoholic fatty liver", "nonalcoholic hepatitis", "herb", "herbal medicine", "acupuncture", and "traditional medicine". The studies were analyzed according to the type of research. Results: After screening, 179 studies were selected from the 592 identified by the search. The types of studies were 151 in vivo or in vitro studies, 5 randomized controlled trials, 12 case reports, 2 unspecified clinical studies, 8 review articles, and 1 article that was difficult to classify. Conclusion: Analysis of the trends in Korean traditional medicine treatment by reviewing the studies on NAFLD revealed a focus on experimental studies rather than clinical studies. Therefore, multifaceted and well-designed studies are needed.