• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.235-238
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• 2016

Hepatitis C is an ailment of liver caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. About 3% of the world population is infected by this virus. HCV infection is a leading reason for liver cirrhosis and therefore a major source of hepatocellular carcinoma. The study focused on the incidence of active HCV infection in blood donors of Mardan district of KPK, Pakistan. A total of 5318 blood donors were inspected for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV-RNA using ICT (immune-chromatographic test), ELISA and RT-PCR at Mardan Medical Complex (MMC), Mardan. Out of these, 157 (2.95%) were positive by ICT, 60 (1.12%) by ELISA and 56 (1.05%) for HCV-RNA. The frequency of active HCV infectivity amongst the blood donors from district Mardan, KPK Pakistan was 1.05 %. Application of strict measures during blood donor selection and use of proper screening assays such as ELISA in place of ICT devices can give a more accurate picture so that the incidence of this viral infection in HCV negative blood recipients can be reduced.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2015

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers in South East Asian countries including Cambodia, where prevalence of chronic carriers of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) is reported to be very high. We reviewed HCC cases admitted to a cancer hospital in Phnom Penh, which is the only one hospital for cancer treatment and care in Cambodia during the study period. Materials and Methods: Information was collected from medical records of 281 cases (210 males and 71 females) diagnosed as primary HCC from 2006 to 2011. Results: The subjects were 7-81 years old with a median age of 53 years. Hypochondriac pain was the most common complained symptom (74%). One third of the cases presented with jaundice. Nearly half had ascites at their first visit. One third had liver cirrhosis. Nearly three fourths of the cases presented with tumor sized more than 50 mm in diameter, and in almost all cases (97.4%) the size was more than 20 mm. Among 209 subjects tested, hepatitis virus carriers were 75.6%; 46.4% for HBV only, 21.5% for HCV only, and 7.7% for both viral infections. Median age of patients with HBV was about ten years younger than those with HCV. Conclusions: This study revealed the characteristics of HCC cases in Cambodia, although there were several limitations. Most HCC cases were infected with HBV and/or HCV, and diagnosed at late stages with complications. This implicated that public health intervention to prevent HBV and HCV infection is of high priority.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1979-1985
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• 2016

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine has been highly appreciated as a supportive regimen for classical treatment strategies. Here we offer a nutrition-based adjuvant therapy for liver fibrosis, a major risk factor for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim of the study: To evaluate the possible hepatoprotective effects of Jerusalem artichoke tubers (JAT) in combination with interferon and ribavirin. Materials and Methods: Twelve groups of rats were administered JAT, interferon and ribavirin either separately or in combination from day one of $CCL_4$ administration until the end of the study. Animals were killed after 8 weeks of $CCL_4$-induced hepatotoxicity. Results: Hepatocytes from rats treated with triple combination of interferon, ribavirin, and JAT showed more less normal architecture compared to $CCL_4$-treated rats. We also detected significantly higher hepatic protein expression levels of p53, BAX and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) in the $CCL_4$-intoxicated group compared to normal controls, as evidenced by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting analyses. Addition of JAT as a supportive regimen improved response to ribavirin and interferon and effectively participated in retaining normal histopathological and biochemical criteria and significantly lowered protein expression of p53, BAX, and TGF-${\beta}$. Conclusions: We suggest that addition of JAT as a supportive r egimen to interferon and ribavirin effectively potentiates their anti-fibrotic effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3381-3384
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• 2016

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a key factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). About 350 million people are affected by chronic infection which is related to the rapid development of liver diseases as well as hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) in the liver demonstrates a major genetic polymorphism which is involved in resistance or susceptibility to chronic HBV infection. Materials and Methods: In this study, two populations were studied by the sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) method: HBV cases (n=409), who were HBS-Ag+, and healthy controls (n=483). Results: The results shown that the frequency of TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 G/G genotype in healthy controls (47.2%) was significantly higher than in HBV infected patients (28%) (CI = 1.29-2.61, OR = 1.83, P = 0.0004). Also TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 A/A and A/G genotype frequencies in the healthy controls were 4.6% and 48.2% and in patient group were 19.5% and 52.5% (CI = 2.23-7.12, p: 0.0001, OR: 3.94) respectively. Conclusions: We found that among Iranian people TNF-${\alpha}$ -308A allele not only has the highest genotype frequency but also it has the highest frequency in the world population. In addition, TNF-${\alpha}$-308 G/G polymorphism was associated with HBV resistance, whereas TNF-${\alpha}$-308A (A/A or A/G) polymorphism appeared to associated with chronic HBV infection. These data suggested that among the Iranian population, the -308 G/G polymorphism of TNF-${\alpha}$ gene promoter region has the potential to influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and it may be responsible for viral antigen clearance.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2009

Isoniazid was discovered in 1950's and since then it has been widely used as a synthetic bactericidal agent in the treatment of tuberculosis. However, the adverse effect of isoniazid has been reported to show significant hepatotoxicity in approximately 1-2% of patients. Nitrofurantoin {1-(5-nitro-2-furfurylideneamino)-hydantoin} is a synthetic nitrofuran that is commonly used for the treatment and prophylaxis of urinary tract infections, but its use is associated with liver cirrhosis and fatal liver necrosis. Therefore, studies for natural products with protective effect on the isoniazid- and/or nitrofurantoin-induced hepatotoxcity would be valuable as the potential therapeutic use. 107 plants sources were collected at Mt. Baekdu, and extracted with methanol. These extracts had been screened for the protective effects against isoniazid- and/or nitrofurantoin-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells at the both 100 and $300{\mu}g/ml$. Five methanolic extracts, Acanthopanax senticosus, Acer mono, Asparagus schoberioides, Fagopyrum tataricum, Potentilla centigrana, showed significant protective effects against isoniazidinduced hepatotoxicity. Two methanolic extracts, Acer mono and Leonurus artemisia, showed significant protective effects against nitrofurantoin-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2016

Chronic alcoholic myopathy is one of the most common skeletal muscle disorders. It is characterized by a reduction in the entire skeletal musculature, skeletal muscle weakness, and difficulties in gait. Patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis have severe muscle loss that contributes to worsening outcome. Although the myopathy selectively affects Type II (fast twitch, glycolytic, anaerobic) skeletal muscle fibers, total skeletal musculature is reduced. The severity of the muscle atrophy is proportional to the duration and amount of alcohol consumed and leads to decreased muscle strength. The mechanisms for the myopathy are generally unknown but it is not due to overt nutritional deficiency, nor due to either neuropathy or severe liver disease. Skeletal muscle mass and protein content are maintained by a balance between protein synthesis and breakdown and in vivo animal models studies have shown that ethanol inhibits skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Daekumeumja is a traditional Korean medicine that is widely employed to treat various alcohol-induced diseases. Muscle diseases are often related to liver diseases and conditions. The main objective of this study was to assess that Daekumeumja extract could have protective effect against alcoholic myopathy in a Sprague-Dawley rat model. Rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5ml/kg, body weight) for 8 weeks. After 30 minutes, rats were administrated with Daekumeumja extract. Controls were similarly administrated with the vehicle alone. The weights of gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles were assessed and the morphologic changes of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were also assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In results, The muscles from ethanol treated rats displayed a significant reduction in muscle weight and average cross section area compared to Normal group. Daekumeumja extract treated group showed increased muscle weight and muscle fiber compared to the ethanol treated group. It was concluded that Daekumeumja extract showed ameliorating effects on chronic alcohol myopathy in skeletal muscle.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.489-496
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• 1995

Artemisia messes-schmidiana var viridis(Compositae) has been used for jaundice, hepatitis, diuretic and liver cirrhosis etc. 1-naphthylisothiocyanate(ANIT) has been used as a model compound to study mechanisms of intrahepatic cholestasis in laboratory animals as rat and mouse. The purposes of present study are to examine pharmacological effects of Artemisia messes-schmidiana var viridis water extract(AMWE) on alterations of triacylglycerol, cholesterol, protein, albumin and A/G ratio levels in serum, of histopathological appearances of liver, and that of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 contents. Increased serum triacylglycerol levels by ANIT were significantly decreased with AMWE. However, AMWE posttreatment aggravated ANIT-induced cholesterol increase. Serum total protein and albumin contents, and A/G ratio were decreased in all ANIT-treated groups, and there were increased compared with control by AMWE posttreatment. Hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 contents were decreased in either AMWE and ANIT treatment, which greatly increased with AMWE pretreatment. On the other hand, in histological findings, our results shown that ANIT induced increase of lipid droplets and widening of sinusoidal capillary and these phenomena were disappeared with AMWE treatment. In conclusion, AMWE have choleresis effect. Also, AMWE improved lipid metabolism, protection and regeneration of hepatocytes in ANIT-induced cholestasis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.481-488
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• 1995

In oriental folk medicine, Artemisia messes-schmidiana var viridis(Compositae) has been used for jaundice, hepatitis, diuretic and liver cirrhosis etc. 1-naphthylisothiocyanate(ANIT) has been used for more than 20 years as a model compound to study mechanisms of intrahepatic cholestasis in laboratory animals as rat and mouse. Various biochemical and morphological changes including biliary epithelial and parenchymal cell necrosis occur in the liver of animals treated with ANIT. The purposes of present study are to examine pharmacological effects of Artemisia messes-schmidiana var viridis water extract(AMWE) on alterations of secretion volume and total bile acids level in bile juice, and that of serum AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin, and glucose levels in rat. AMWE stimulated bile secretion and recovered ANIT-induced cholestasis. Bile acid concentrations increased to more than 60% compared with normal by ANIT, which were returned toward normal value with AMWE treatment. Serum AST and ALT activities were increased by ANIT and yet which were significantly decreased with AMWE treatment. In addition, this effect was apparent in AMWE pretreatment group. Serum glucose levels were increased with AMWE and ANIT, while were decreased compared with control in AMWE posttreatment group. Increased serum total bilirubin contents and ALP activities by ANIT were significantly decreased with AMWE posttreatment. In conclusion, AMWE exerted bile acid-independent choleresis effect and then improved to normal conditions ANIT-induced cholestatic syndromes. Also, AMWE have protective and regenerative effect of hepatocytes in rat.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1982

Serum thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) was measured with a radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit (GammaDab TBG). The TBG concentration in 23 adult normals was $23.7{\pm}1.9{\mu}g/ml(mean{\pm}SD)$. The serum TBG levels of $21.6{\pm}3.5{\mu}g/ml$) in hyperthyroidism, $24.7{\pm}4.9{\mu}g/ml$ in subacute thyroiditis, $20.7{\pm}7.0{\mu}g/ml$ in liver cirrhosis and $22.6{\pm}3.7{\mu}g/ml$ in sick patient were not significantly different from normals. The levels of $31.8{\pm}5.9{\mu}g/ml$ in hypothyroidism, $36.2{\pm}5.1{\mu}g/ml$ in pregnancy (p<0.01, p<0.001) and $29.3{\pm}6.1{\mu}g/ml$ in molar pregnancy (p<0.01) were significanty higher that in normals. In various cases without thyroid dieases (euthroid group), the TBG concentration correlated with the value for Amerlex $T_3$ (r=0.816) though there was curvilinear relationship. This relationship was altered in hyperthyroidism, subacute thyroiditis and molar pregnancy in which sera were overloaded with thyroxine $(T_4)$ so that concentration of unoccupied binding sites on TBG (free TBG concentration) were more decreased than expected from normal TBG concentrations. Hypothyroidism was also separated from the curvilinear relationship in euthyroid group indicating that free TBG concentrations were more increased relative to slightly increased TBG concentrations. Measurement of the TBG concentration was considered useful in the diagnosis of TBG defiency, in differentiating molar pregnancy from hyperthyroidism and for correct understanding the hormone binding in liver dieases and other nonthyroidal illness.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.379-387
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• 2019

Clonorchis sinensis is a carcinogenic human liver fluke that promotes hepatic inflammatory environments via direct contact or through their excretory-secretory products (ESPs), subsequently leading to cholangitis, periductal fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and even cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). This study was conducted to examine the host inflammatory responses to C. sinensis ESPs and their putative protein components selected from C. sinensis expressed sequenced tag (EST) pool databases, including $TGF-{\beta}$ receptor interacting protein 1(CsTRIP1), legumain (CsLeg), and growth factor binding protein 2 (CsGrb2). Treatment of CCA cells (HuCCT1) with the ESPs or bacterial recombinant C. sinensis proteins differentially promoted the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$) as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, $TGF-{\beta}1$, and $TGF-{\beta}2$) in a time-dependent manner. In particular, recombinant C. sinensis protein treatment resulted in increase (at maximum) of ~7-fold in $TGF-{\beta}1$, ~30-fold in $TGF-{\beta}2$, and ~3-fold in $TNF-{\alpha}$ compared with the increase produced by ESPs, indicating that CsTrip1, CsLeg, and CsGrb2 function as strong inducers for secretion of these cytokines in host cells. These results suggest that C. sinensis ESPs contribute to the immunopathological response in host cells, leading to clonorchiasis-associated hepatobiliary abnormalities of greater severity.