• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.110-132
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• 1987

A study on hepatomegaly detected by abdominal palpation, and facial telangiectasia in a total of 3,418 insured persons medically examined at the Honam Medical Room of Dong Bang Life Insurance Company Ltd. from February, 1984 to August, 1985 was undertaken. The results were as follows: 1) Hepatomegaly was found in 383 cases(27.5%) among the 1,395 insureds of male and in 163 cases(8.1%) among the 2,023 insureds of female. The difference of incidence of hepatomegaly between all males and females showed statistical significance(p<0.001). In each age group, the incidence of hepatomegaly in :nale was higher than that in female. The incidence of hepatomegaly in each age group in male increased cnosiderably with age; it showed 11.6%,16.2%, 42.6% and 52.9% from second to sixth decade in order, thereafter in seventh decade it decreased to 26.7%, While the incidence of hepatomegaly in female increased slightly in each age group. 2) Facial telangiectasia was found in 318 cases(22.8%) among all males and in 157 cases(7.8%) among all females. The difference of incidence of telangiectasia between all males and females showed statistical significance(p<0.001). In each age group, the incidence of telangiectasia in male was higher than that in female, except of second decade. The incidence of facial telangiectasia in each age group in male increased considerably with age; while it increased slightly in female. 3) Facial telangiectasia accompanied by hepatomegaly was found in 235 cases(61.4%) among 383 cases of hepatomegaly in male and in 69 cases(42.3%) among 163 cases of hepatomegaly in female. The difference of incidence of telangiectasia between males and females show ed statistical significance(p<0.001). 4) Facial telangiectasia without spider angiomata accompanied by hepatomegaly was found in 201 cases(52.5%) among 383 cases of hepatomegaly in all males and in 67 casgs(41.4%) among 163 cases of hepatomegaly in all females; facial spider angiomata accompanied by hepatomegaly was found in 34 cases(8.9%) among 383 cases of hepatomegaly in all males and in 2 cases(1.2%) among 163 cases of hepatomegaly in all females. 5) Abnormal SGOT activity was found in 19 cases(7.9%) among 242 cases of hepatomegaly in all males and in one case(1.5%) among 67 cases of hepatomegaly in all females. The difference of incidence of abnormal SGOT activity showed statistical significance(p<0.001). The incidence of abnormal SGOT activity by the size of hepatomegaly, that is, palpated <1 finger's breadth, <2 fingers' breadth and ${\geqq}2$ fingers' breadth, revealed 2.2%, 6.0% and 60.0% respectively in all males, while abnormal SGOT activity was found only one case in fifth decade among 67 cases of hepatomegaly in all females. 6) In ordinary medical examination(the insured amount is low) abnormal SGOT activity was found in 7 cases(4.8%) among 146 cases of hepatomegaly palpated $1\frac{1}{2}$ fingers' breadth and under, while it was not found in 37 cases of the same sized hepatomegaly in all females. Above mentioned 7 cases are thought to be very significant because 7 cases occupy 35% in 20 cases of abnormal SGOT activity with hepatomegaly. 7) Abnormal SGOT activity was found in 12 cases(4.4%) among 273 cases of hepatomegaly of "not firm" consistency, while it was found in 8 cases(22.2%) among 36 cases of hepatomegaly of "firm" consistency. The difference of incidence of abnormal SGOT activity showed statistical significance(p<0.05). 8) Abnormal SGOT activity was found in 5 cases(17.9%) among 28 cases of spider angiomata with hepatomegaly, while it was found in 10 cases(7.3%) among 166 cases of telangiectasia without spider angiomata with hepatomegaly. Owing to a small number of cases, statistical significance was not recognized, but the incidence of abnormal SGOT activity in spider angiomata cases with hepatomegaly is apt to be higher than that in telangiectasia cases without spider angiomata with hepatomegaly. 9) The incidence of abnormal SGOT activity is apt to be higher with age in male group; abnormal SGOT activity was not found among 4 cases of hepatomegaly in second decade and it was 3.8% in third decade, 4.5% in fourth decade, 9.3% in fifth decade, 17.5% in sixth decade and 33.3% in seventh decade, while the incidence of it was only one case among 67 cases in all females. 10) It is believed that the performance of liver function test to the subjects with hepatomegaly even in ordinary medical examination(the insured amount is low) will give considerable contribution for medical selection of hepatomegaly risk. 11) Age of the insured(young or old), presence of facial telangiectasia or spider angiomata especially and their severity, and consistency of enlarged liver(firm or not) should be considered to increase accuracy in evaluating hepatomegaly risk.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2005

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed the efficacy and safety of beef tallow extract (BTE) including Cis-9-cetylmyristoleate in patients with arthritis. Between May and December 2003, we selected 80 patients (n=80) who showed/manifested arthritic symptoms and whose radiological findings were suggestive of arthritis, and randomly assigned them to placebo-controlled (n=40) and treatment group (n=40). The placebo (corn starch 350 mg) and BTE (208 mg) were orally administered to placebo-controlled and treatment group three times a day, respectively. We assessed the efficacy and safety based on the visual analogue scale (V AS) and modified knee society knee scores (MKSKS) at baseline and endpoint, respectively. To assess the safety, we monitored the adverse effects noted in liver, kidney, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal system for 3 weeks. Then, we performed not only a questionnaire study but also laboratory tests (e.g., liver function test, kidney function test, urinalysis, electrocardiography [EKG], complete blood cell counts [CBC] and chest X-ray). For statistical analysis, Student (-test and paired (-test were done using SPSS■ Version 11.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The scores between V AS and MKSKS showed statistical significance (p < 0.05) with an improvement of $69.2\%$ (27/39) and $3.8\%$ (21/39) of treatment-group patients, respectively. Abnormal laboratory findings were noted in neither placebo-controlled nor treatment group. In conclusion, our results indicate that the administration of BTE was a safe and effective treatment regimen for patients with arthritis. In addition, the efficacy of BTE was more remarkable in alleviating the symptoms rather than improving the function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.911-916
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• 2003

The effects of Opuntia ficus-indica (OF) administration on the biochemical parameters of function in liver tissue and serum of $CCl_4$ treated rats were investigated. Opuntia ficus-indica (200 mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for two weeks. $3.3m\ell$ of $CCl_4$$_4$ (50% $CCl_4$ : Olive oil = 1 : 1) was treated to rats on the 14th day and 15th day and they were operated on 15th day. We examined the antioxidative enzymatic activity by measuring the level of AST (Aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (Alanine aminotransferase), GSH (Glutathione reduced form), GSSG (Glutathione oxidezed form), GPx (GSH-peroxidase), SOD (Superoxide dismutase) and CAT (Catalase) in serum and liver tissue of rats. OFC administered group showed 24.8% of inhibitory effect in AST activity compared to $CCl_4$ -treated abnormal group (CTA). ALT level of OF administered group was decreased by 60.7% to the level of CTA. GSH, GSSG and GPx of OFC administered group were significantly higher than those of CTA group. SOD and CAT in OFC administered group were increased by 28.3% and by 16.9% respectively compared to those of CTA group.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-2
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• 2017

Acquiring a selective growth advantage by breaking the proliferation barrier established by gatekeeper genes is a centrally important event in tumor formation. Removal of the mammalian Hippo kinase Mst1 and Mst2 in hepatocytes leads to rapid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation, indicating that the Hippo signaling pathway is a critical gatekeeper that restrains abnormal growth in hepatocytes. By rigorous genetic approaches, we identified an interacting network of the Hippo, Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin and Notch signaling pathways that control organ size and HCC development. We found that in hepatocytes, the loss of Mst1/2 leads to the activation of Notch signaling, which forms a positive feedback loop with Yap/Taz (transcription factors controlled by Mst1/2). This positive feedback loop results in severe liver enlargement and rapid HCC formation. Blocking the Yap/Taz-Notch positive feedback loop by Notch inhibition in vivo significantly reduced the Yap/Taz activities, hepatocyte proliferation and tumor formation. Furthermore, we uncovered a surprising inhibitory role of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling to Yap/Taz activities, which are important in tumor initiation. Genetic removal of ${\beta}$-catenin in the liver of the Mst1/2 mutants significantly accelerates tumoriogenesis. Therefore, Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling, known for its oncogenic property, exerts an unexpected function in restricting Yap/Taz and Notch activities in HCC initiation. The molecular interplay between the three signaling pathways identified in our study provides new insights in developing novel therapeutic strategies to treat liver tumors.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between diabetes and liver function test results. Unlike type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hepatogenous diabetes is caused by abnormal liver function. In this study, the relationship between liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and the AST/ALT ratio (De Ritis ratio), indicating liver function, and diabetes-related tests was analyzed. The results of the study showed a positive correlation between AST and glucose (r=0.14, P<0.01), ALT and glucose (r=0.21, P<0.01), AST and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=0.15, P<0.01), and ALT and HbA1c (r=0.20, P<0.01). The De Ritis ratio showed a negative correlation with glucose (r=-0.20, P<0.01) and HbA1c (r=-0.14, P<0.01). The results of regression analysis with AST, ALT, and the De Ritis ratio as independent variables and glucose (R²=0.05) and HbA1c (R²=0.04) as dependent variables revealed that the independent variables had a statistically significant effect on the dependent variables. AST showed a lower correlation between blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin than ALT, and an increase in ALT caused a decrease in the De Ritis ratio. Therefore, the De Ritis ratio can be said to be meaningful in relation to diabetes-related tests.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.63-73
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• 2012

Development of antiviral resistance to lamivudine is the most important factor for the treatment failure. It is necessary to establish proper guidelines to overcome drug resistance for children with chronic hepatitis B. Primary treatment with lamivudine should be considered if patients are in immune-clearance phase and have persistently elevated ALT levels more than twice the upper limit of normal value. Before initiating the therapy, careful consideration of the patient's status is required to exclude abnormal liver function tests due to other causes. The treatment option should be carefully decided to suppress the viral replication effectively. To obtain good compliance, clinicians should educate patients and their parents. Appropriate monitoring for virologic breakthrough and genotypic resistance is important in deciding to change the treatment plan. Sequential monotherapy should be avoided and a combination of drugs in other categories is recommended. New antiviral agents, such as entecavir and tenofovir, which have high potency and high genetic barrier, are soon expected to be available for use with children.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.76-84
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• 2015

This is a clinical report of one patient with mental disorientation, abnormal behavior, spasm, and other symptoms caused by poisoning with Xanthii Fructus, who recovered completely with treatment. The patient was treated with Korean medical treatments, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture. After treatment, various symptoms caused by the Xanthii Fructus poisoning disappeared completely and laboratory findings, such as liver function tests (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase), were also close to the normal ranges. This case shows that Korean medicine therapy can be applicable in treating various symptoms caused by Xanthii Fructus poisoning. It is considered that further research is needed to confirm the safe use of Xanthii Fructus.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.287-291
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• 2007

The factors and mechanisms by infection of Oriental Tsutsugamushi caused disease are not well understood. The onset of tsutsugamushi disease is characterized by chilliness, fever, malaise, headache and generalized aching. Infection of tsutsugamushi is the cause of impairment of function of a major organ often complicate the picture and immediately change the prognosis for the worse. Tsutsugamushi disease is reported that this disease is characterized by the histopathogenesis of liver, kidney, heart, and lung, but the variation of biochemical components in serum of tsutsugamushi disease patient are not clear. We analyzed total protein (TP), albumin (AL), aspartic aminotranferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphotase (ALP), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (CRE), glucose (GLD), cholesterol (CHOL) and total bilirubin (TB) in sera of patients with tsutsugamushi disease. In comparison with reference, total protein and albumin were abnormally decreased in 19.6% and 39.2% of patients, respectively. AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, UN, glucose, cholesterol and total bilirubin were abnormally increased in 94.1 %, 72.5%, 25.5%, 15.7%, 9.8%, 62.7%, 25.5% and 6.0% of patients, respectively. The patients showed abnormal relative rate of protein electrophoretic fractions to total protein in serum compared to them of reference were 43.1% (albumin), 12.9% ($\alpha_1$-globulin), 58.8% ($\alpha_2$-globulin), 60.8% ($\beta$-globulin) and 70.6% ($\gamma$-globulin), respectively. These data suggest that infection of Oriental Tsutsugamushi causes impairment of function of a major organ and abnormal serum protein electrophoresis fractions to tsutsugamushi patients.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.50-59
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• 2017

To evaluate the capability of integrated PET-MRI, which has recently been utilized in the clinical practices, on the diagnosis of liver cancer, its utility was assessed by $2{\times}2$ decision matrix. The numbers of abnormal and normal decisions on the liver cancer were 98 and 51 cases, respectively, upon PET-MRI scan results of the subjects, and the numbers of positive and negative decisions were 103 and 62, respectively, upon cytopathologic results. Out of the two tests, 95 cases were shown as true-positive and 3 were false positive, while 62 were true negative and 5 were false negative. Upon the results of PET-MRI test, its sensitivity, specificity, false negative rate, and false positive rate were 95.00%, 95.38%, 0.05%, and 95.15%, respectively. Therefore, it is considered to have the high potential to use the determination of the stage before the surgery, detections of recurrence and remote metastasis, assessment of uncertain remote lymph node metastasis, and so on in the diagnosis of the liver cancer, and also for the clinical utility of PET-MRI to be sufficient by integrated diagnosis and follow up scan with pathological studies.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.255-261
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to compare hepatotoxicity of each treatment for dermatophytosis; one is the administration of the ketoconazole only and the other, ketoconazole with diphenyl-dimeththyl-dicarboxylate. Have chosen the range of 14-24 months of healthy dogs divided by two groups (group 1 and group 2) for the experiment of which test proved positive in dermatophytosis diagnosis and showed normal reaction in terms of physical examination, blood chemistry and especially of liver function. Group 1 was administrated ketoconazole orally at 10 mg/kg/day and of same dose of ketoconazole with diphenyl-dimethyl-dicarboxylate for group 2. After administering, we have tested two groups by blood collecting every one week in order to check the differences of hepatotoxicity state through AST, ALT and r-GTP, the barometers of liver function which lasted for 12 weeks. Moreover, tested Indocyanine Green (ICG), known as susceptible gauge of function of excretion before starting the experiment and tested ICG as well after 12 weeks. The experiment of result the value of group 1 in AST, ALT and r-GTP has been highly rised after administering ketoconazole for 10 weeks meanwhile, of group 2 has shown a steady state troughout the whole experiment. For ICG test, we injected 0.5 mg/kg of ICG into a vein for both groups and tested the retention rate at regular interval of 15, 30, 45 minutes. The results of retention rate in two groups were similar to before the drug administration. However, after 12 weeks the retention rate of group 1 has been delayed, on the other hand, retention rate of group 2 were a steady state. In conclusion, the administration of ketoconazole only for a long period of time induced hepatotoxicity where as, the administration of ketoconazole with diphenyl-dimethyl-dicarboxylate didn't induce hepatotoxicity. Therefore, when doctors prescribes for a dog with dermatophytosis should not administrate ketoconnazole itself but with diphenyl-dimethyl-dicarboxylate and one who has abnormal condition of liver function should not be prescribed ketoconazole treatment. If there is a case needed to prescribe ketoconazole treatment, the regular monitoring should be accompanied by at the same time.