• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of dimethyl disulfide by a 2-week inhalation in F344 rats. The test article, dimethyl disulfide, was exposed by inhalation to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 33, 100, or 300 ppm/6 hrs/day for 2 weeks. At the end of treatment period, all males and females were sacrificed. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, and gross findings were examined. The mean body weights of the male 300 ppm group and the female 33 ppm or higher dose groups were significantly lower than those of the control group, respectively. The mean food consumption at male 300 ppm and female 100 and 300 ppm were significantly decreased compared with the controls. Some treatment-related serum biochemical changes, including decreased alkaline phosphatase at male 300 ppm and female 100 and 300 ppm, reduced total bilirubin at male 300 ppm, and decreased alanine aminotransferase at female 300 ppm, were observed in a dose-dependent manner, but these findings were considered to be of no toxicological significance. There were no adverse effects on mortality, clinical signs, hematology, and necropsy findings in any treatment group. Based on these results, it was concluded that the 2-week repeated dose of dimethyl disulfide by inhalation resulted in suppressed body weight gain and decreased food consumption at the dose of male 300 ppm and suppressed or reduced body weight gain and decreased food consumption at the dose of female 33 ppm or higher. In the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be 100 ppm/6 hrs/day for male rats and below 33 ppm/6 hrs/day for female rats.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2003

Sepsis remains common surgical problems with high morbidity and mortality despite improvement in the management for septic patient. Although hepatocellular dysfunction occurs during sepsis, the mechanism responsible for this remains unclear. In sepsis, a state of severe oxidative stress is encountered, with host endogenous antioxidant defenses overcome. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of a-tocopherol (AT) vasoregulatory gene expression during polymicrobial sepsis. Rats were subjected to polymicrobial sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). AT (15 mg/kg) was intraperitonealy injected for 3 days prior to CLP. Blood samples were taken 24 h after CLP for measurement of the extent of hepatocellular damage. Liver samples were taken for RT-PCR analysis of mRNA for genes of interest: endothelin-l (ET-l), its receptors $ET_{A}$ and $ET_{B}$, nitric oxide synthases (iNOS and eNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX -2), heme oxygenase-l (HO-l), and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$). The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and lipid peroxidation level were significantly increased; an increase which was prevented by AT pretreatment. CLP significantly increased the mRNA levels of ET-1 and $ET_{B}$; an increase that was prevented by AT pretreatment. However, the level of $ET_{A}$ mRNA significantly decreased after CLP; a decrease that was not prevented by AT pretreatment. There were significant increases in the mRNA expression of iNOS, HO-l and COX -2 in CLP groups. This increase was prevented by AT pretreatment. The expression of eNOS and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA significantly increased in CLP, which was not prevented by AT pretreatment. Our findings suggest that there was an imbalanced vasoregulatory gene expression in sepsis, and AT ameliorates this change through its free radical scavenging activity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2002

Effect of cyclohexanone treatment on the activities oxygen free radical and cyclohexanone metabolizing enzyme in acute liver damaged rats, was investigated. Acute liver damage was induced in rats with pretreatment of 50% $CCl_4$ in olive oil(0.1ml/100g body wt) intraperitoneally 3 times every other day. Cyclohexanone(1.56g/kg body wt, i.p.) was administered to the animals 24 hours after the last Pretreatment of CC1$_4$. Rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after injection of cyclohexanone. On the basis of liver weight/body weight(％), serum levels alanine aminotransferase activity and hepatic protein content, cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged animals led to the more enhanced liver damage. On the other hand, injection of cyclohexanone to the rats led to the increased activities of hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent aniline hydroxylase and xanthine oxidase. Furthermore, by treatment of cyclohexanone to the acute liver damaged rats hepatic xanthine oxidase activity was more increased than the $CCl_4$ treated rats. In case of oxygen free radical scavenging system, the hepatic glutathione content and the activities of hepatic glutathione S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase were generally increased by injection of cyclohexanone to rats, and the hepatic glutathione content, catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were more decreased in liver damaged rats by the treatment of cyclohexanone. In conclusion, the cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged rats led to enhancement of liver damage that may be due to oxygen free radical together with cyclohexanone.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.750-755
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• 2017

Flatfish Paralichthys olivaceus raised in biofloc system (mean length $27.6{\pm}3.1cm$, mean weight $280.4{\pm}26.5g$) were exposed for to different concentrations of ammonia (0, 8, 16, 32, and $64mg\;{NH_4}^+/L$) for 7 days. Following ammonia exposure, hematological parameters such as hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly reduced. Plasma components such as magnesium, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) were significantly altered by ammonia exposure, whereas there were no significant changes in calcium, cholesterol, or total protein. Antioxidant responses, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were significantly elevated following ammonia exposure. The results of this study indicate that ammonia exposure induces significant changes in hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in biofloc-reared Paralichthys olivaceus as a toxic response.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.165-171
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• 2015

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and obesity indices including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), total fat mass (FM), truncal fat mass (TFM), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in Korean adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data derived from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES). Subjects were Korean adolescents aged 10-18 years (871 total; 475 boys and 396 girls) who participated in KNHANES. Results: In both sexes, BMI, FM, TFM, WC, and WHtR were higher when ALT levels were in the 4th quartile. In boys, there was a significant positive correlation between ALT level and BMI, BFP, FM, TFM, WC, and WHtR (r=0.55, P<0.0001 for BMI; r=0.52, P<0.0001 for BFP; r=0.58, P<0.0001 for FM; r=0.61, P<0.0001 for TFM; and r=0.56, P<0.0001 for WC; r=0.62, P<0.0001 for WHtR), and the correlation coefficient was higher than that in girls. Conclusion: Our results suggest a significant positive association between serum ALT level and obesity indices in male adolescents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.43-53
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• 2020

Objective : Reflux esophagitis is a disease caused by reflux of stomach contents, stomach acid, and pepsin into the esophagus, and is currently increasing worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a mixture of Rhei Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix (RS) extract on acute reflux esophagitis in rats. Methods : Rats were divided into five groups for examination: Normal group (Nor, n=8), water-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Con, n=8), tocopherol 30 mg/kg body weight/day-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Toco, n=8), RS 100 mg/kg body weight/day-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (RS100, n=8), RS 200 mg/kg body weight/day-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (RS200, n=8). All rats fasted for 18 h and then were derived by linking the metastatic junction between pylorus and forestomach and corpus. And rats were sacrificed 5 h after surgery. We analyzed the expression of NADPH, MAPK, inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and tight junction related proteins by western blot in esophageal tissue and observed the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alanine aminotransferanse (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum. Results : RS administration significantly protected the esophageal mucosal damage of reflux esophagitis, and ROS, AST, and ALT levels were significantly reduced in RS administration compared to Con group. In addition, RS administration effectively suppressed MAPK and NF-κB pathways and upregulated protein expressions of tight junction protein. Conclusions : These results suggest that RS protected the esophageal mucosa by inhibiting the MAPK and NF-κB pathways and upregulating tight junctions.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2003

In the biological world, there are a number of ecological fights for survival between each organism such as plants, animals and microorganism In such events, an organism can use its natural bioactive products as defence agent against other organisms. Furthermore, natural bioactive products can be utilized for medicine or functional food. Recently, we investigate the effect of Monascus pigment extracted from a fungus, Monascus anke, on the alcohol metabolism and blood lipid profile. In the present study, it is observed that Monascus pigment supplemented dietary may have a hepatoprotective effect on rat's liver damage induced with $CCl_4$ . By treatment with $CCl_4$(3 times, I.P), liver damage was reduced more in the rats fed 2% Monascus pigment extract supplemented diet than those fed standard diet, based on the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, microsomal glucose-6-phosphatse activity and hepaic malondialdehyde content. On the other hand, oxygen free radical generating enzymes, hepatic P-450 dependent aniline hydroxylase, xanthine oxidase, and oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes, hepatic glutathione S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase activities were generally higher both in $CCl_4$ treated group and control fed 2% Monascus pigment extract supplemented diet than those fed standard diet. In conclusion, the rats fed 2% Monascus pigment extract supplemented diet showed more reduced liver damage than those fed standard diet, which may be due to the acceleration of oxygen free radical metabolism.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.1014-1026
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• 2006

Liver cirrhosis is a liverdisease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules. Liver cirrhosis is regarded as a serious health problem with high prevalence in the world as well as in Korea. Liver cirrhosis is an irreversible disease. However, in cases of liver cirrhosis induced by chronic hepatitis B, we should treat the chronic hepatitis B, because it frequently progresses to cirrhosis and hepatoma. We observedimprovements of symptoms and laboratory tests with herb medicine Injinchunggan-tang (茵蔯淸肝湯) in five cases ofliver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B. The serum aminotransferase was preserved within normal value levels for a long time, 3 years to 7 years. However, further study is necessary to determine the effect of herb medicine on liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2013

Silymarin has been introduced fairly recently as a hepatoprotective agent. But its mechanisms of action still have not been well established. The aim of this study was to make alcoholic fatty liver model of rats in a short time and investigate silymarin's protective effects and possible mechanisms on alcoholic fatty liver for rats. The model of rat's alcoholic fatty liver was induced by intragastric infusion of ethanol and high-fat diet for six weeks. Histopathological changes were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE). The activities of alanine transarninase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in serum were detected with routine laboratory methods using an autoanalyzer. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver homogenates were measured by spectrophotometry. The TG content in liver tissue was determined by spectrophotometry. The expression of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the liver were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Silymarin effectively protected liver from alcohol-induced injury as evidenced by improving histological damage situation, reducing ALT and AST activities and TBIL level in serum, increasing SOD and GPx activities and decreasing MDA content in liver homogenates and reducing TG content in liver tissue. Additionally, silymarin markedly downregulated the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65, ICAM-1 and IL-6 in liver tissue. In conclusion, Silymarin could protect against the liver injury caused by ethanol administration. The effect may be related to alleviating lipid peroxidation and inhibiting the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.266-275
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• 2020

Purpose: The outcome predictors of Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) for biliary atresia (BA) are controversial. This study aimed to identify possible short-term outcome predictors of KPE for BA in infants. Methods: This retrospective study included infants with BA who underwent KPE between January 2015 and December 2017 and were followed up for at least 6 months after surgery at the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Cairo University Pediatric Hospital, Egypt. The short-term outcome was jaundice clearance within 6 months following surgery. All data were compared between the jaundice free group and those with persistent jaundice to identify the predictors of jaundice clearance. Results: The study included 75 infants. The mean age at the time of surgery was 82.43±22.77 days (range, 37-150 days), and 28 (37.3%) infants cleared their jaundice within 6 months postoperative. Age at surgery did not significantly affect the outcome (p=0.518). Infants with persistent jaundice had significantly higher pre-operative levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) than those who were jaundice free (p=0.041). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that preoperative AST ≤180 IU/L was predictive of a successful KPE, with sensitivity 74.5% and specificity 60.7%. Infants with bile plugs in liver biopsy had a 6-fold higher risk of persistent jaundice than those without bile plugs (95% confidence interval: 1.59-20.75, p=0.008). Conclusion: Jaundice clearance after KPE for BA can be predicted using preoperative AST and presence of bile plugs in liver biopsy.