• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 2001

The present study was investigated effect of each water extract from Pueraria flos (PF) and Pueraria radix (PR) on serum several biomarkers in ethanol-treated rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: Normal (None-treated group); Ethanol (only ethanol-treated group); EPF I (ethanol-treated, supplemented group); EPR (ethanol-treated, PF II-supplemented group); EPR I (ethanol-treated, PR I-supplemented group) ; EPR (ethanoltreated, PR II-supplemented grou). Five groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered 25% ethanol (5 g/kg body weight/day) and sacrified 5 weeks post treatment. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase activities were significiantly lowered by feeding of PF or PR than those of only ethanol-treated group. Whereas serum glucoseand liver glycogen contents were significantly decreased (p<0.05) by ethanol administration and increased decreased (p<0.05) by PF or PR supplement. This results indicate that Pueraria flos and radix water extract supplement improves alcoholic disorder.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.8
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• pp.261-265
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• 2017

Purpose: Studies on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in immunocompetent children are lacking, and minimal information is available in the medical literature on hepatic manifestations and complications of CMV. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and prognosis of children with CMV hepatitis, and to investigate its prevalence at a single medical center in Korea over a 10-year period. Methods: One hundred thirty-two children diagnosed with CMV infection based on specific markers (anti-CMV IgM, CMV polymerase chain reaction in blood and urine, or CMV culture of urine) were included in the study. Clinical and biochemical characteristics, immunological markers, and outcomes of hepatic CMV infection were determined. Results: The median age of patients (n=132) was 8.5 months (range, 14 days-11.3 years). Peak total bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase levels in serum ranged from 0.11-21.97 mg/dL, and 5-1,517 IU/L, respectively. Alanine aminotransferase remained elevated from 2-48 weeks. Jaundice was the most common clinical feature of hepatic CMV infection during infancy. The hematologic findings revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and monocytosis in CMV-infected patients. All participants recovered without administration of ganciclovir. Conclusion: In children with CMV hepatitis, fever was the most common symptom at presentation, and jaundice was the most common clinical feature of hepatic CMV infection in infants younger than 3 months of age. Hepatic CMV infection in immunocompetent children is often a self-limited illness that does not require antiviral therapy, as most patients in this study had favorable outcomes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.279-288
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• 1995

To apply the serum xanthine oxidase (XO) determining for the index of the toluene intoxication, the serum XO activity was compared with the other parameters, the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), 5'-nucleotidase(5'-NT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), guanase(GDA) and $\gamma$-gIutamyl transpeptidase(T-GTP). Concomitantly, the cause of increased level of serum XO was clarified in the present experimental conditions. Although the other serum enzyme activities, ALT, AST, 5'-NT, ALP, GDA and $\gamma$-GTP were respectively not found to be different between control group and toluene-treated group, the serum XO activity in toluene-treated group showed the higher levels than that in the control group. These suggested that the determination of serum XO activity could be used for monitoring the intoxication of toluene. On the other hand, the activities of XO both in the serum and liver were higher in toluene-treated or benzaldehyde-treated rats than those in each control group. In the pooled liver XO from each group, toluene-treated or benzaldehyde-treated group showed the higher $V_{max}$ value than the control group, whereas no changes were observed in liver XO activities between the control liver specimen and that preincubated with bertzaldehyde in vitro. The present results indicate that the increased level of XO in toluene-treated rats is due to the result of enzyme protein induction in liver cell by the benzaldehyde metabolized from toluene. All the more, the benzaldehyde may be acted as a substrate for XO, since the benzaldehyde induced the increased activity of both liver and serum XO, and no changes were found in purine catabolite, uric acid in serum or urine and liver purine catabolizing enzymes, adenosine deaminase, GDA, uricuse except XO in toluene-treated rats.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.695-704
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to obtain reference values of serum chemistry in Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli), 5 juvenile (n=25) and 3 broodstock (n=15) subpopulations which were differentiated by cultured method. Serum samples were analyzed for the following commercial clinical kits: total protein, albumin, glucose, AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), total cholesterol, free cholesterol, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and ALP (alkaline phosphatase). Significant differences were observed in the values of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, AST, ALT, LDH and ALP between juvenile and broodstock subpopulations. In the comparison of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol and ALP, broodstock subpopulations showed higher levels. On the other hand, increased AST, ALT and LDH were observed in juvenile subpopulations. These results indicate that cultured method are major contributors to health-related physiology of Korean rockfish, juveniles and broodstocks.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.714-723
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• 2012

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of Bupleuri Radix, aqueous extracts of the root part of Bupleurum falcatum on the 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-induced rat hypothyroidism. Aqueous extracts of Bupleuri Radix (BR; yield = 11.73%) were administered, once day for 42 days from 2 weeks before start of PTU treatment as an oral dose of 300 and 150 mg/kg (body weight), and hypothyroidism was induced by daily subcutaneous treatment of PTU 10 mg/kg for 28 days. The changes on the body weight, thyroid gland weights, serum thyroid hormone - thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine ($T_3$) and thyroxine ($T_4$), serum lipid profiles - total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride, liver antioxidant defense system - lipid peroxidation, $H_2O_2$, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed with histopathology of thyroid glands. Results were compared with $LevoT_4$ 0.5 mg/kg treated rats. As results of PTU treatment, marked decreases of body weights, triglyceride contents, liver CAT activities and changes of serum thyroid hormone levels were observed with increases of serum AST, HDL contents, liver $H_2O_2$ and SOD activities and thyroid gland weight. In addition, marked hyperplasia of follicular cells with decreases of follicular colloid contents and sizes were demonstrated at histopathological inspections. However, these PTU induced hypothyroidism were dose-dependently inhibited by treatment of BR extracts, and BR extracts effectively regulated the hypothyroidism related changes on the antioxidant defense system. The results obtained in this study suggest that BR extracts have favorable effects on the thyroid hormone productions with beneficial effects on the hypothyroidism mediated by the modulatory effects on the antioxidant defense system.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2012

Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) hepatitis is a usually asymptomatic and self-limiting disease in immunocompetent patients. However, the range of severity is wide, and the serological diagnosis is typically difficult until the convalescent phase. Thus, we examined the value of plasma EBV DNA real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in EBV hepatitis for the timely diagnosis and the relationship between EBV viral load and clinical severity. Methods: Sixty samples were confirmed as having EBV infection by RT-qPCR with the EBV BALF5 gene sequence. We examined the clinical characteristics of EBV hepatitis by reviewing medical records. Results: The median total duration of fever was 8 days (range: 0-13 days). The mean peak value of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was $241{\pm}214$ U/L, and the mean peak value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was $298{\pm}312$ U/L. There was no correlation between the serum levels of liver enzyme and plasma EBV DNA titer ($p$=0.1) or between median total duration of fever and EBV DNA titer ($p$=0.056). The median age of the EBV VCA IgM-negative group was lower compared with the EBV VCA IgM-positive group in EBV hepatitis (2 years vs. 6 years, $p$=0.0009). Conclusion: The severity of EBV hepatitis does not correlate with circulating EBV DNA load according to our data. Furthermore, we suggest that plasma EBV PCR may be valuable in young infants in whom the results of serology test for EBV infection commonly are negative.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2010

This study was carried out to find whether phenidone (1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone), a cyclooxygenase as well as a lipoxygenase inhibitor, exhibits the preventive effect on carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_{4})-induced$ acute liver injury in rats. Rats were pretreated with phenidone at a dose of 50 or 200 mg/kg (p.o.) once daily for 3 consecutive days before $CCl_{4}$ administration. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production was determined as an index of lipid peroxidation in the liver and serum. The histopathological changes in the liver were also examined in each group. The reduction in body weights was significantly inhibited in the phenidone-treated group than in the $CCl_{4}$ control group. Significant increase in the relative liver weights of the phenidone-treated groups was observed compared with either the vehicle or $CCl_{4}$ groups. Elevation of serum AST and ALT activities occurred after $CCl_{4}$ treatment was significantly attenuated by the pretreatment with phenidone. The elevation of MDA levels in liver and serum were completely inhibited in phenidone-treated groups. The protective effects on phenidone-treated groups were confirmed histopathologically. These results suggest that phenidone may be a useful protector through modulation of hepatic inflammation in $(CCl_{4})-induced$ acute liver injury.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

The acute toxicity and sublethal effects of nitrite on the dark-banded rockfish, Sebastes inermis (mean body weight: $83.3{\pm}7.2$ g), were studied under static conditions for a period of 96 h. The acute toxicity of nitrite was at the 50% lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) of 700 mg/L. The sublethal effects on selected hematological parameters of the dark-banded rockfish, such as its osmolality, hematocrit, cortisol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were measured after 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of exposure to 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, or 700 mg/L nitrite. Sublethal nitrite caused a progressive reduction in the hematocrit of the fish, depending on the nitrite concentration and the exposure period. Exposure to 100-700 mg/L nitrite for 96 h caused a reduction in the hematocrit and an increase in cortisol, ALT, and AST compared with the control levels. Abnormal ultrastructural changes in the gills and liver tissues were observed in fish exposed to 700 mg/L nitrite for up to 96 h compared with the control tissues. Ultrastructural changes included atrophic gill mitochondria and hepatocytes that developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum and atrophic mitochondria. Although no rockfish mortality occurred at 500 mg/L nitrite, all the hematological parameters examined responded adversely to a nitrite dose of 200 mg/L for 96 h. These results show that although the acute toxic concentration of nitrite for the dark-banded rockfish is > 700 mg/L, sublethal concentrations of nitrite also negatively affect its hematological parameters.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2006

The effects of formalin on mixed function oxygenase (MFO) system and stress-response were investigated in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Olive flounder was exposed to formalin at the concentration of 300 ppm for 1, 2, 4 and 16 h. Levels of stress-response enzymes together with total protein, glucose and osmolality were quantitatively determined in blood, and the activities of phase I (cytochrome P450, ethoxyresorufin deethylase) and phase II (glutathione S-transferase) hepatic enzymes were also determined. Since the formalin-exposure for 16 h resulted no significant changes in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, specific enzymes for liver damage, it was thought that it did not cause hepatic tissue damage at the concentration of 300 ppm. However, hepatic MFO system was induced at 1 to 4 h, and stress response was induced after 16 h of exposure. Moreover, it is considered that the depression of MFO activity after 16 h of exposure may not be adaptation to formalin, but toxic response. These results suggest that low concentration of formalin does not cause hepatic tissue damage of fish, but could induce MFO and stress response.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2008

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has been widely used as an anti-inflammatory agent in oriental medicine. In the current study, we investigated the protective effect, and the possible mechanism, of dandelion extracts against ethanol-induced acute hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice. Dandelion water and ethanol extract was administered at 2 g/kg body weight (BW) once daily for 7 consecutive days, whereas control and ethanol groups received water by gavage. Ethanol (50% ethanol; 6 g/kg BW) was administered 12 hr before sacrificing the mice in order to generate liver injury. Significantly increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities as well as liver triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels were attenuated by dandelion supplementation. In addition, dandelion extracts not only enhanced alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and anti-oxidative enzyme activities, but reduced lipid peroxidation. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP 2E1), one of the critical enzymes xenobiotic metabolism, expression was lower with ethanol treatment but restored by dandelion supplementation. These results were confirmed by improved histopathological changes in fatty liver and hepatic lesions induced by ethanol. In conclusion, dandelion could protect liver against ethanol administration by attenuating of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.