• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3931-3936
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• 2015

Fatty liver disease (FLD) can be a precondition for other liver pathology including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been suggested in some studies to be a risk factor for FLD as well as cancers, including cholangiocellular carcinoma; however, there are currently very few studies on FLD in DM subjects, although the rate of FLD continues to increase annually. To determine the association between DM and FLD ultrasonographic data were analyzed from the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP), in northeast Thailand. DM was reported by the subjects based on the CASCAP health questionnaire. Factors that were associated with FLD were determined by prevalence, odds ratio (ORs) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multiple logistic regression. There were 45,263 subjects with a mean age of 53.46 (${\pm}9.25$) years. FLD was found in 36.3% of DM subjects but only in 20.7% of non-DM subjects. The association between DM and FLD was adjusted for all other factors including gender, age, education level, relatives diagnosed with CCA, smoking, alcohol consumption, and hepatitis B and C. The risk of DM in subjects having FLD was highly significant compared with the non-DM subjects (OR 2.13; 95%CI: 1.92 to 2.35; p-value < 0.001). Thus DM is significantly associated with FLD which in turn may facilitate the development of several diseases including CCA. DM should be taken into consideration in future ultrasonic investigations of FLD and CCA.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Inonotus obliquus is one of the immune-regulatory substances and is recognized to play the role in the metabolic process of inflammation, allergy and immuntiy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of Inonotus obliquus (IOW) on the liver lymphocyte immune function in the Sprague-Dawley male rats treated with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) to induce liver damage. Rats were fed with each experimental diet and water for 4 weeks. We found that effects of IOW on interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (pSTAT1) and GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) were decrease in vivo. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), STAT6, pSTAT6 and T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) decreased significantly lower in $CCl_4$+IOW group than the $CCl_4$ group. Our data indicated that cytokine protein production were increased in $CCl_4$ group and $CCl_4$+IOW group. As a result of this study, we assume that IOW fed could regulate the immuno-modulating functions through regulate the cytokine production capacity activated by liver damage.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 1980

Five hundred seventeen farmers(214 males and 303 females), over age 30 and living in Suh San County, Unsan township, were examined to determine the prevalence of peasants syndrome. Using the health interview questionnaire, the farmers were asked whether they had any of eight subjective symptoms during the past one month before the survey, October 1979. Those symptoms reported were scored based on a pre-determined point system. The farmers with high symptom scores(7 points or more) were further examined by the liver function test. In addition, all the sample(517 cases) were subjected to the examination of urinalysis and blood pressure. The liver function test is also undertaken for those farmers with high symptome scores(7 points or more) and those with abnormal findings in urinalysis and blood pressure. The results are summarized below: 1) 156 out of 517 farmers(30.2%) have had seven points or more of the symptom scores. Among the eight major symptoms, 72% of the farmers complained of lumbago. 2) The prevalence of peasant's syndrome were higher among females and the older age group. The symptom scores of this syndrome were slightly higher among women who have had many children (e. g. 4 or more). 3) The prevalence of peasant's syndrome was also related to the level of one's education-the lower education groups were found to have higher symptom scores of this syndrome. This may be due to the fact that the lower education groups are more exposed to manual labor. 4) The points of the peasants syndrome were higher in hypertensive farmers and those with abnormal findings of urinaly sis. 5) It was reported, in Japan, that those with high scores of the syndrome are more likely to have an abnormal findings in the liver function test. However, in this study it was observed that there was no significant difference between those with high scores of the syndrome (7 points or more) and those with low score of the syndrome(6 points or less) in the prevalence of abnormal liver function. As this study indicates that the point system given for the peasant's syndrome is closely related to the high bleod pressure and abnormal urinalysis(and to some extent to the abnormal liver function), there is a need to study peasant's syndrome more extensively. Such an effort will serve to detect varonic disease conditions among farmer's towards better management of farmer's health, which is vitally important for rural development in Korea.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.234-246
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed in order to examine the effects of an smoking cessation counselling program for smoking cessation success. Method: Among a total of 468 persons who had ceased from smoking for 6-months and had visited the smoking cessation clinic of a public health center from January 2nd to December 31th in 2006, 61 in all who had a negative reaction in the urine nicotine check were selected for this study. Collected data were expiratory CO concentration, BMI, blood pressure, liver function, and lipid metabolism. These data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, repeated measured ANOVA and paired t-test with the SPSS/PC(Version 12.0) program. Result: There were significant changes in expiratory CO concentration, SBP, DBP, AST, ALT, and TG, but not in BMI, $\gamma$-GTP, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C. Conclusion: This study showed that smoking cessation through a smoking cessation counselling program has partially positive effects for smoking cessation success. The results of this study show that the smoking cessation counselling program at the smoking cessation clinic of a public health center should be continued for smoking cessation success.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.615-622
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• 2018

Despite the well-proven, safe and effective therapies for hepatitis B infection, delivery of treatment remains a significant challenge in resource-poor settings. Geopolitical and economic restrictions present additional difficulties in providing care in North Korea. However, treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B remains a top priority for both the North Korean Ministry of Public Health and international agencies working in North Korean hepatitis healthcare facilities. Working in partnership, a path was created to institute this much-needed program. A consortium of United States and Australian humanitarian non-governmental organizations along with generous individual and corporate donors working in concert with local and national health authorities have succeeded in establishing the first hepatitis B treatment program in North Korea. The essential elements of this program include renovation of existing hepatitis hospitals, access to antiviral medications, establishment of laboratory facilities, creation of medical documentation and record-keeping, training of local health care professionals, and quarterly visits by international volunteer physicians and laboratory experts. Management and treatment decisions are made bilaterally. To date, nearly 1,500 patients have been evaluated, and over 800 have been started on long-term antiviral therapy. It is envisioned that this program will eventually be managed and funded by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Ministry of Public Health. This program's success demonstrates a potential model for delivery of antiviral therapy for patients suffering from hepatitis B in other developing countries.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.44-44
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• 1999

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.943-952
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• 2022

As a test for diagnosing fatty liver, recently, ultrasound and blood exam are being performed simultaneously. In particular, in the case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in blood exam, it is used as an index indicating the level of inflammation in various parts of the body as well as cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to analyze the association between metabolic syndrome components, liver function, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels according to the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver, and use it as a clinical indicator for fatty liver diagnosis. Metabolic syndrome components, liver function and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein blood test values analyzed from 1,139 men and women over 20 years of age with nonalcoholic fatty liver in abdominal ultrasonography from March 2021 to August 2021 at the Korea Association of Health Promotion, Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch. Analyzed for all men and women, the blood test values for subjects with mild fatty liver were AST 30 U/L, ALT 32.1 U/L, γ-GTP 41.2 IU/L, and hs-CRP 0.14 mg/dL. These values were lower than the blood test values of subjects with moderate fatty liver (AST 38 U/L, ALT 47.6 U/L, γ-GTP 54.9 IU/L, hs-CRP 0.22 mg/dL) and was statistically significant (p<0.001). In this case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test, it is statistically significant, showing higher values in Subjects with moderate fatty liver than Subjects with mild fatty liver. thus, it is considered that hs-CRP can be used as clinical data for the prevention and management of fatty liver.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.73-96
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• 2004

Along with a development of medical technology, a variety of tests, such as laboratory tests, x-ray and endoscopies are being used in health screening tests. As the tests determine the quality of health screening, test items and methods should be carefully selected. This study was to get hold of the test items of major health screening programs in Korea Most of the health screening programmes focused upon detection of risk factors and diagnosis of life - style related diseases (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolemia, overweight, drinking, smoking, cerebrovascular diseases, osteoporosis) ,cancers (stomach, cervix, lung, breast, liver, colon, prostate, ovary, pancreas, thyroid, esophagus) , infectious diseases (hepatitis, tuberculosis, sexually-transmitted diseases, parasites) , chronic obstructive respiratory diseases, chronic renal diseases (bacteriuria hematuria, proteinuria) , anemia, glaucoma, hearing loss, Alzheimer disease, stress, early psychiatric diseases. The health screening tests were basic physical examination, basic laboratory tests (CBC, urinalysis, liver function tests, lipid tests, glucose, HbAlc, uric acid, electrolytes, serological tests (HBsAg, HBs-Ab, HCV-Ab, HIV-Ab, VDRL) EKG, x-ray (chest PA, CT) , endoscopy (gastroscopy, colonoscopy) , sonography(abdomen, thyroid, pelvis, breast) ,cytology (cervix) , bone density, tumor markets (NMP22, alpha-FP, CEA, CA-19-9, CA12S, PSA) and eye tests. Advanced technologies, like CT, PET, MRI, MRT/Angio, molecular testings) were widely used in hospital health screening programmes .In summary, a variety of tests were utilized in health screening in Korea. Those tests were utilized by stages or according to sex and age in most of health screening programmes, however a few program used tests to excess disregarding health screening subjects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.178-181
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• 2004

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is used extensively in the plastic industry and has been known as an environmental hormone (endocrine disruptor). Present study was undertaken to examine whether DBP can induce oxidative stress in mice. In this study, oxidative stress was measured in terms of the modification of lipid peroxidation and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (${\gamma}-GT$) activity. The activity of ${\gamma}-GT$, the level of lipid peroxidation and serum toxicity index were measured in male ICR mice after treatment with DBP (5 g/kg, po). Administration of DBP was found to significantly increase the level of lipid peroxidation approximately 2 fold in liver. The activity of ${\gamma}-GT$ in the liver of DBP-exposed animals was also increased approximately 2.5 fold. However, DBP did not alter the parameters for hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine. These results indicate that DBP can induce oxidative stress in mice. The ${\gamma}-GT$ activity is considered to be increased as one of the adaptive defense mechanisms to oxidative stress induced by DBP.