• 대한화학회지
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• 제67권2호
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• pp.99-105
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• 2023

Here we present how a supramolecular complex of Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) with Menthol (Mt) affects the blood glucose levels and glycogen synthesis in the liver of rats in in-vivo experiments with diabetes caused by alloxan. We have shown that Menthol, Glycyrrhizic acid and GA:Mt supramolecular complexes can restore functional dysfunction of the liver mitochondria in alloxan diabetes, i.e., inhibit lipid peroxidation. The hypoglycemic activity and mitochondrial membrane stabilizing properties of the supramolecular complex GA:Mt (4:1) in alloxan diabetes were more pronounced than those of menthol, GA and its GA:Mt (2:1) and GA: Mt (9:1) supramolecular complexes.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical significance of T1 high signal intensity on the globus pallidus as a predictor of severe hepatic encephalopathy in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which is a distinct syndrome characterized by multi-organ dysfunction including cerebral failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2002 to April 2014, we retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) features of 74 consecutive patients (44 men and 30 women; mean age, 59.5 years) with liver cirrhosis. The chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment score was used to diagnose ACLF. The pallidal index (PI), calculated by dividing the mean signal intensity of the globus pallidus by that of the subcortical frontal white matter were compared according to ACLF. The PI was compared with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in predicting the development of ACLF. Results: Fifteen patients who were diagnosed with ACLF had higher hepatic encephalopathy grades (initial, P = 0.024; follow-up, P = 0.002), MELD scores (P < 0.001), and PI (P = 0.048). In the ACLF group, the mean PI in patients with cerebral failure was significantly higher than that in the patients without cerebral failure (1.33 vs. 1.20, P = 0.039). In patients with ACLF, the area under the curve (AUC) for PI was 0.680 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.52-0.85), which was significantly lower than that for the MELD score (AUC, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77-0.99) (P = 0.04). Conclusion: The PI can be an ancillary biomarker for predicting the development of ACLF and severe hepatic encephalopathy.

• 환경생물
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.79-85
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• 2010

To examine the effect of Codium fragile on blood cholesterol and lipid metabolism, hyperlipidemia was induced in experimental animal rats through the administration of a hypercholesterolemic diet. Codium fragile powder was then administered to the rats for 5 weeks, after which, blood biochemical changes such as blood cholesterol, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST: serum SGOT) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT: serum SGPT) enzyme activity, etc. were determined. And histological changes in liver cells were examined using an electron microscope. Codium fragile treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the levels of total cholesterol, blood triglyceride and low-density cholesterol (LDL. Chol) compared to the control rats. In contrast the expression levels of high-density cholesterol (HDL. chol.) were increased. The AST value of the Codium fragile administration group was significantly reduced and the blood ALT value of the Codium fragile group showed a significant decrease in comparison to the negative control group. In summary, this study demonstrated the beneficial possibilities of Codium fragile in improving the abnormality of lipid metabolism caused by liver cell damage and hyperlipidemia.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.833-837
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• 2006

To determine whether alcohol-treated rat liver cells can be protected by a static magnetic field (SMF), we analyzed the blood chemistry and histology of hepatic tissue removed from alcohol-exposed rats that had been exposed to a static magnetic field. The rats were exposed to a 0.3 tesla (3,000 gauss) magnetic field (MF) for 24 hr daily for 5 weeks with appropriate controls. Glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity and the triglyceride levels in animals exposed to the north (N) or south (S) pole of the MF decreased significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) compared with negative control animals with alcohol exposure. A histological examination of hepatic tissue revealed a moderate to severe accumulation of fat vacuoles of various sizes in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes of animals in the negative control group throughout the study; whereas in groups exposed to the MF poles, fewer fat vacuoles were seen compared with the negative control group. Electron microscopic observations showed that exposure to the N or S pole protected organelles, including the nucleus, from damage during exposure to this toxic agent, as indicated by the fact that the nucleus and the mithochondria virtually retained their shape throughout this study. These results suggest that exposure to a SMF could be an excellent way of protecting against alcohol-induced damage to the rat liver cell.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.204-209
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• 2008

저자들은 뇌하수체저하증을 동반한 조기에 발병된 소아 비만 환자에서 비알코올성 지방간질환의 진행으로 인한 간경화를 경험하였기에 이를 보고하는 바이며, 향후 뇌하수체저하증이 동반된 비만 환자에서 비알코올성 지방간질환의 발생 및 진행에 대한 주의 깊은 관찰이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.52-55
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• 2020

Background: Immunomodulatory properties of interferon (IFN) have been documented. It may induce autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis with hypo- or hyperthyroidism. In addition, it may impair thyroid hormone synthesis through affecting iodide organification in thyroid gland. Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe thyroid function tests disturbances in children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG IFN-α) plus ribavirin. Methods: Fifty children with CHC virus infection who received combined pegylated interferon-alpha with ribavirin were selected. Other 50 apparently healthy children of matched age and sex (considered as control group) were selected. All children (100) were subject to liver function tests, virological studies, and follow-up of thyroid function test during and after the treatment course. Results: Our study showed that 28% of children received combined PEG IFN-α plus ribavirin showed subclinical hypothyroidism. After 24 weeks treatment with combined therapy of IFN plus ribavirin, the mean level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was 3.23±88 mU/mL, while TSH was 1.16±0.77 mU/mL before starting treatment. On the other hand, mean TSH was 1.09±0.92 mU/mL in normal control group. Conclusion: This study revealed an association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin in children. Further studies on larger number of patients and longer follow-up duration are recommended for further confirmation.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.137-144
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• 2022

This paper presents the effect of the supramolecular complex of GA (Glycyrrhizic acid) and Mt(menthol) and GA: Mt (4: 1) obtained on their basis can restore functional dysfunction of the liver mitochondria in alloxan diabetes, ie, inhibit lipid peroxidation. The hypoglycemic activity and mitochondrial membrane stabilizing properties of the supramolecular compound GA: Mt (4: 1) in alloxan diabetes were more pronounced than those of menthol, GA and its GK: Mt (2: 1) and GA: Mt (9: 1) compounds. According to the results obtained, the concentration of GA did not affect the peroxidation of lipid membranes of the liver mitochondria. However, a concentration of 15 μM of GA was found to reduce LPO (lipid peroxidation) formed by the effect of Fe²+ / ascorbate on the mitochondrial membrane by 58.0 ± 5.0% relative to control. The inhibitory effect of GA and its supramolecular compounds in different proportions with menthol on the peroxidation of lipids in rat heart and brain tissue has been studied

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.152-157
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• 2022

Schisandra chinensis and its fruits have been used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat liver dysfunction, fatigue, and chronic coughs. Several in vitro and in vivo studies suggested that dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans present in Schisandra fruits strongly inhibit CYP3A4 activity. However, reports on the inhibitory potential of dietary Schisandra supplements against CYP3A activity are limited despite their increasing consumption as dietary supplements. In this study, we evaluated the CYP3A-inhibitory potential of four dietary Schisandra supplements in human liver microsomes. At a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL, Schisandra supplements from Nature's Way, Swanson, Planetary Herbals, and Only Natural inhibited CYP3A activity by 93.9, 70.8, 33.6, and 24.8%, respectively. Nature's Way, which exhibited the strongest inhibition against CYP3A, had the highest contents of gomisin B and gomisin C, which potently inhibit CYP3A activity. The in vivo pharmacokinetics of this product should be examined to determine whether the clinical relevance of inhibiting CYP3A activity by dietary Schisandra supplementation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.565-571
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• 2016

Paeoniflorin (PAE) is the most abundant compound in Xuebijing injection widely used to treat sepsis. We aimed to investigate effect of PAE on expression of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in a rat model of sepsis. Wistar rats were divided into Normal, Model, and PAE groups (n=20 each). Endotoxin was administrated at 5 mg/ml/kg in Model and PAE rats to establish rat sepsis model. 1 h after endotoxin administration, PAE was administrated at 4 ml/kg in PAE group once per day for 3 days. Routine blood tests and biochemical indexes were assessed, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB). The plasma sTREM-1 level was measured using quantitative ELISA. At the end of experiment, the small intestine, liver, kidney and lung were subjected to pathological examinations. A rat model of sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was established successfully with endotoxin administration (5 mg/ml/kg), evidenced by histo-pathological examinations, routine blood tests and biochemical indexes: platelet count decreased and white blood cell count increased (p<0.05), CK-MB and AST increased (p<0.05). PAE treatment significantly reduced the plasma levels of AST, CK-MB, and sTREM-1, compared to Model group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, sepsis-induced damages in the liver, lung, stomach and intestinal mucosa were also markedly ameliorated by PAE treatment. PAE demonstrated a significantly protective effect in a rat model of sepsis by decreasing plasma sTREM-1 level, reducing inflammation, preventing MODS and protecting organ functions.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.20-26
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• 2016

Prunellae Spica, the herbaceous plant in the genus Prunella, is a traditional herbal medicine and has been reported to have diuretic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of its action was not clearly identified. In the present study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of Prunellae Spica extract (PSE) against the damage of mitochondria and death in hepatocyte induced by oxidative stress. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron significantly induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hepatocytes. However, PSE protected cells and inhibited apoptosis by altering the protein levels such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and pro-caspase 3. Moreover, AA+iron induced reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction, and Both of them were inhibited by PSE treatment. PSE markedly activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important regulator in cell survival. Furthermore, this activation by PSE was mediated with liver kinase B1, a major upstream kinase that phosphorylates Thr 172 of AMPKα, and this activation was associated with its cell protection, as assessed by an experiment of a chemical inhibitor. In conclusion, this study demonstrate that PSE protects hepatocytes against oxidative stress as mediated with activation of LKB1-dependent AMPK pathway.