• Title/Summary/Keyword: Liver Health

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An Overview of HRQOL (Health Related Quality of Life) Instrument and Application in Oriental Medicine (삶의 질 측정도구의 개괄 및 한의학에서의 이용)

  • Jeong, Tae-Young;Cho, Jung-Hyo;Son, Chang-Gue
    • The Journal of Korean Medicine
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.64-70
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    • 2010
  • Objective: This study aimed to construct an overview of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scales for application in studies of traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Methods: We analyzed all HRQOL scales from the PROQOLID web site (www.proqolid.org) regarding to classification, application purposes, and translation to Korean version. We also searched clinical studies focused on "Quality of Life" using TKM. Results: A total of 660 HRQOL instruments were analyzed; 99 were for general condition while 559 were disease-specific. Twenty clinical studies for TKM were conduced using HRQOL scales. Conclusion: The adaptation of the international HRQOL instrument is strongly recommended in TKM-associated clinical study, and development of a TKM-specific HRQOL scale is needed for globalization of TKM.

Health beneficial effects of brown algae ecklonia stolonifera in liver (갈조류 곰피(Ecklonia stolonifera)의 간 건강기능성)

  • Yu, Seungmin;Kim, Wooki
    • Food Science and Industry
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    • v.51 no.4
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    • pp.334-342
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    • 2018
  • People in Korea, a peninsular, have acquired a variety of marine food resources including seaweeds. Ecklonia stolonifera, a brown algae, is commonly dwelling in Korean coasts and their cultivation methods were developed for a mass-production. Recently, studies have revealed that Ecklonia stolonifera is a promising material for the development of health functional foods. In an effort to carefully review the current understating in the effects and mechanisms of Ecklonia stolonifera on liver functions by deduction from relevant literatures, the effective components were identified as phlorotannins, including dieckol, eckstolonol, eckol, phlorofucofuroeckol A, and phlorosterol. Their aiding action on the hepatic functions is categorized as follows. A) Regulation of oxidative stress by anti-oxidant capacity, B) Protection of hepatocytes from toxins, C) Prevention of alcoholic fatty liver and fibrogenesis, D) Regulation of chronic disease by improvement of inflammatory responses and lipid metabolisms, and E) indirect benefit conferred by a personal total wellness.

Subchronic Oral Toxicity Study of Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus in Rats

  • Kim, Myoung Jun;Lee, Mi Ju;Lee, Yong-Hoon;Park, Sun Hee;Kim, Duyeol;Park, Cheol Beom;Kang, Jin Seok;Kang, Jong-Koo
    • Toxicological Research
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    • v.33 no.1
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    • pp.15-23
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    • 2017
  • Acanthopanax divaricatus (Siebold & Zucc.) Seem. var. albeofructus (ADA), a traditional medical herb, has been used to treat arthritis and muscular injury, to strengthen muscle and bone, and to get vital energy. However, information regarding its toxicity is limited. ADA was administered by oral gavage to groups of rats at doses of 0 (control), 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 mg/kg five times per week for 13 weeks. Mortality, clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights, necropsy, histopathological finding, vaginal cytology, and sperm morphology were compared between control and ADA-treated groups. Salivation was intermittently observed in both sexes receiving 2,500 and 3,000 mg/kg directly after dosing. Absolute liver weights increased in females receiving 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 mg/kg ADA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively) and so did the relative liver weights (P < 0.001). Salivation and increased liver weight were ADA-related changes but not considered to be adverse effects. Salivation was intermittent and transient, and the liver weight increase was minor and not accompanied by other changes such as hepatic morphological or functional alterations. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level was determined to be at least 3,000 mg/kg in both sexes of rats.

Expressional Analysis of Two Genes (Scd1 and Idi1) Down-regulated by Starvation Stress (영양고갈-스트레스에 의해서 하강발현하는 유전자(Scd1과 Idi1)의 분석)

  • Cho, Junho;Kwon, Young-Sook;Kim, Dong-Il;Kim, Bok Jo;Kwon, Kisang
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.24 no.7
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    • pp.762-768
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    • 2014
  • Diet exerts a major stress on the body and may affect gene expression and physiological functions. Understanding of cellular responses during starvation is necessary in developing strategies to reduce damage caused by diet. In this study, we isolated 10 genes (Comt, RGN, Scd1, Temt, Idi1, Fabp5, Car3, Cyp2c70, Pinx1, and Poldip3) that are down-regulated in starvation and are closely related to liver metabolism. Water supply during starvation had no effect on the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and ERQC. The genes down-regulated by starvation were associated with many related pathways rather than limited to the liver homeostasis pathway. Water supply during starvation is important. However, maintaining NaCl homeostasis is more important. The results are thought to be closely related to gender-specific metabolism in starvation and NaCl.

The Severity of COVID-19 in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Korea

  • Park, Hyeki;Joe, Hyun
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.472-478
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    • 2021
  • Background: Early identification of patients who are highly likely to develop severe illness among confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) can be expected to lead to effective treatment. This study therefore aimed to determine whether the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has an impact on the exacerbation of COVID-19 symptoms. Methods: The study used the Korean National Health Insurance claim data for treatment of COVID-19 patients in 2020. NAFLD includes nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The outcome variables used were hospitalization and the use of medical devices. Hospitalization was defined by a length of stay exceeding one day and the use of medical devices was defined as one or more uses of a ventilator or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine if there was a difference in the hospitalization and use of medical devices of COVID-19 patients depending on the presence of NAFLD. Results: The odds ratio of hospitalization was 1.059, indicating slightly higher odds of hospitalization for patients with NAFL or NASH compared to those without the conditions, but it was not statistically significant (0.969-1.156). On the other hand, the odds ratio of use of medical devices was high at 1.667 and was statistically significant (1.111-2.501). Conclusion: The study results found NAFLD to be a risk factor that can exacerbate symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Accordingly, it is necessary to identify NAFLD patients through preemptive screening and provide them with appropriate treatments.

Evaluation of Liver Toxicity of Neonates Following Intragastric Administration or Intratracheal Instillation of Polyethylene Microplatics to Pregnant Mice (폴리에틸렌 미세플라스틱의 임신 마우스 위내 투여 및 기도 점적에 따른 신생자 간독성 평가)

  • Kim, GeunWoo;Kim, ChangYul
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.106-115
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    • 2022
  • Background: Current research suggests that humans are exposed to microplastics through consumption of foods and beverages, the airway route, and a variety of other means. Objectives: We evaluated oxidative stress and inflammation from polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in the neonatal liver through intragastric administration or intratracheal instillation in pregnant mice. Methods: PE-MPs were administered from gestational day 9 to postnatal day 7. The intragastric administration group (0.01 mg/mouse/day or 0.1 mg/mouse/day) and intratracheal instillation group (6 ㎍/mouse/day or 60 ㎍/mouse/day) of PE-MPs were administered. After sacrifice, the oxidative stress and inflammation of the neonatal livers were measured. Results: As a result of the oxidative stress caused by PE-MPs in the neonatal livers, glutathione peroxidase decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the intragastric administration group compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation decreased in high concentration PE-MPs. The catalase level increased at high concentrations of intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation. To confirm the level of inflammation caused by PE-MPs, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factoralpha were increased compared to the control group except for intratracheal intilation-high concentration PEMPs. The C-reactive protein level was decreased by intragastric administration compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation was increased compared to the control group. Conclusions: Despite the difficulty in comparing the toxic intensity between intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation of PE-MPs, our study revealed that oxidative stress and inflammation were induced in the neonatal liver. However, it is necessary to evaluate the toxic effects of microplastics on various organs as well. Overall, the present study indicates that the evaluation of toxic effects of long-term microplastic exposure, potential of microplastic toxicity on next-generation offspring and toxicity mechanism in human should be considered for further investigations.

Immunostaining patterns reveal potential morphogenetic role of Toll-like receptors 4 and 7 in the development of mouse respiratory system, liver and pancreas

  • Michele Sommariva;Marco Busnelli;Elena Menegola;Francesca Di Renzo;Serena Indino;Alessandra Menon;Isabella Barajon;Francesca Arnaboldi
    • Anatomy and Cell Biology
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    • v.56 no.2
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    • pp.228-235
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    • 2023
  • Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the mammalian ortholog of Drosophila melanogaster protein Toll, originally identified for its involvement in embryonic development. In mammals, TLRs are mainly known for their ability to recognize pathogen- or damage-associated molecular patterns and, consequently, to initiate the immune response. However, it is becoming clear that TLRs can play a role also in mammal embryo development. We have previously described TLR4 and TLR7 expression in developing mouse peripheral nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, we extended the investigation of TLR4 and TLR7 to the respiratory system and to the two main accessory organs of the digestive system, the liver and pancreas. TLR4 and TLR7 immunostaining was performed on mouse conceptuses collected at different stages, from E12 to E18. TLR4 and TLR7 immunoreactivity was evident in the embryo pancreas and liver at E12, while, in the respiratory apparatus, appeared at E14 and E17, respectively. Although further studies are required to elucidate the specific role of these TLRs in embryo development, the differential spatiotemporal TLR4 and TLR7 appearance may suggest that TLR expression in developing embryos is highly regulated for a possible their direct involvement in the formation of the organs and in the acquisition of immune-related features in preparation for the birth.

Long Term Outcomes after Pediatric Liver Transplantation

  • Yazigi, Nada A.
    • Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.207-218
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    • 2013
  • Long term outcomes after liver transplantation are major determinants of quality of life and of the value of this heroic treatment. As short term outcomes are excellent, our community is turning to take a harder look at long term outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to review these outcomes, and highlight proposed treatments, as well as pressing topics needing to be studied. A systemic review of the English literature was carried in PubMed, covering all papers addressing long term outcomes in pediatric liver transplant from 2000-2013. Late outcomes after pediatric liver transplant affect the liver graft in the form of chronic liver dysfunction. The causes include rejection particularly humoral rejection, but also de novo autoimmune hepatitis, and recurrent disease. The metabolic syndrome is a major factor in long term cardiovascular complication risk. Secondary infections, kidney dysfunction and malignancy remain a reality of those patients. There is growing evidence of late cognitive and executive function delays affecting daily life productivity as well as likely adherence. Finally, despite a good health status, quality of life measures are comparable to those of children with chronic diseases. Long term outcomes are the new frontier in pediatric liver transplantation. Much is needed to improve graft survival, but also to avoid systemic morbidities from long term immunosuppression. Quality of life is a new inclusive measure that will require interventions and innovative approaches respectful not only on the patients but also of their social circle.

The Influence of Saturated Fats, ${\alpha}-linolenic$ Acid, EPA and DHA on the Lipid Hydroperoxide Level and Fatty Acid Composition in Liver Microsomes and in Plasma Lipid of Rabbits

  • Nam, Hyun-Keun
    • Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.55-61
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    • 1990
  • To investigate the influence of saturated fats, ${\alpha}-linolenic$ acid, EPA and DHA on the lipid hydroperoxide concentration and fatty acid composition in liver microsomes and in plasma lipid of rabbits, the animals were fed on the perilla oil rich ${\alpha}-linolenic$ acid or sardine oil rich EPA and DHA diet for four weeks Were examined. The fatty acid composition of plasma lipid and liver microsomes of rabbits fed on the perilla oil diet was an accumulation of arachidonic acid(AA) 20:4 n-6, eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) 20:5 n-3, and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) 22:6 n-3, The fatty acid composition of plasma lipid and liver microsomes of rabbits fed on the sardine oil was an accumulation of ${\alpha}-linolenic$ acid(LNA) 18:3 n-3, and arachidonic acid(AA) 20:4. The p/s ratio of rabbits fed on the perilla oil diet changed from 7.4 to 2.27 for plasma lipid and 2.47 for liver microsomes. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxide was 3.48 nmol MDA/ml and 4.35 nmol MDA/ml for plasma lipid and liver microsomes, respectively, in perilla oil diet. The lipid hydroperoxide liver was 4.22 nmol MDA/ml and 67 nmol MDA/ml for plasma lipid and liver microsornes in sardine oil diet.