• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 1999

Purpose: The aims of this study are to measure the serum levels of fat soluble vitamins (vitamin A and D) from bile duct ligated rats, and to evaluate the effect of oral bile acids administration to facilitate absorption of fat soluble vitamins. Methods: We measured serum ALT, total bilirubin, vitamin A, and vitamin D of Sprague-Dawley rats 1 week before and 4 weeks after experimental bile duct ligation. Rats were consisted with 3 groups. Group 2 had been fed bile acids and group 3 ursodeoxycholic acid after operation for 4 weeks. Multi-vitamin was given to all groups. Results: 1) Base line (mean value before duct ligation): ALT 74.2 IU, total bilirubin 0.26 mg/dL; vitamin D 13.01 ng/mL vitamin A $0.87\;{\mu}g/mL$, total bile acids $25.16\;{\mu}mol/L$. 2) Four weeks after ligation: ALT 100.7 IU, total bilirubin 2.58 mg/dL; vitamin D 7.89 ng/mL vitamin A $1.37{\mu}g/mL$, total bile acids $278.22\;{\mu}mol/L$. 3) 4 weeks after ligation, each group (group 1, group 2 and group 3) showed vitamin D (7.62, 8.10 and 7.99) ng/mL, vitamin A (1.68, 1.06 and 1.33) ${\mu}g/mL$, total bile acids (233.17, 345.80 and 268.57) ${\mu}mol/L$, which were statistically not significant. Conclusion: Serum level of vitamin A is increased after bile duct ligation although vitamin D is decreased. Oral administration of bile acids does not affect the serum levels of vitamin A and D in bile duct ligated rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1996

The variation in the enzyme activities of human liver usually represents the particular physiological conditions of each individuals. Thus, we investigated the variation in the activities of SOD, HR and LPO of (1) non-exposed workers (56 subjects), and (2) exposed workers to DMF (43 subjects) in synthetic leather process. Serum levels of enzyme activities of exposed workers (AST:$30.26{\pm}20.041$U/L, ALT:$32.72{\pm}23.393$U/L, GGT:$28.47{\pm}18.635$ U/L, ALP:$81.77{\pm}34.879$ U/L)were slightly higher than those in nonexposed workers (AST:$24.00{\pm}9.441$ U/L, ALT:$23.89{\pm}18.305$U/L, GGT:$21.95{\pm}17.970$U/L, ALP:$70.84{\pm}24.678$U/L), but only the level of ALT was statistically significant (p< 0.05). Serum levels of LDH, TRF and CHOL in non-exposed workers were slightly higher than those of exposed workers. However, they were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Serum levels of HR and LPO of the exposed workers appeared to be reduced, but not those of the non-exposed workers. The SOD activities of exposed workers were also slightly higher than those of non-exposed workers, but the results were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The level of HR was increased with age, but the SOD level was not. These results suggest that the intermittent exposure to DMF at time-weighted average (TWA) level (10 ppm/$m^3$) has affected on the activities of enzymes such as AST, ALT, TRF, but not on the generation of HR, activity of SOD. However, if high dose of DMF was used, there would be severe effects for the generation of HR and LPO.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to examine relations between obesity and birthweight, parental weight and serum biochemical levels(lipids , glucose, insulin and aminotransferase) in elementary school children aged 10-12 . The weight of obese girls was higher than that of obese boys, while WHR was higher in obese boys than in obese girls. The birth weight of the obese children was significantly higher than that of the non-obese children(p<0.01), and was positively correlated with current weight. The concentrations of serum TG, LDL, VLDL, LDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin and ALT in obese children were much higher than those in non-obese children . However, the serum HDL -cholesterol concentration of the obese children was significantly lower compared with that of the no-obese children. On the other hand, little differences in these levels were found between genders. The concentrations of PL, TC and AST in the groups showed no significant differences. In the obese children, serum concentrations of TG, LDL-cholesterol , glucose and ALT were more closely associated with GMI than with WHR. No significant correlation was found with serum insulin , glucose and TG levels. These data show that childhood obesity may be related to hyperlipidemia , atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and fatty liver.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2010

Purpose: The liver is the second most common organ injured by blunt abdominal trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of liver transaminase in screening blunt abdominal trauma patients for traumatic liver injury. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 231 patients who sustained blunt trauma and were at risk for traumatic liver injury between June 2009 and August 2010. All of them underwent a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Based on the diagnosis of abdominal CT, patients were divided into two groups: group I with liver injury and group II without liver injury. We compared the two groups and calculated the sensitivity, the specificity and the predictive values of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by using multiple cutoff values. Results: Of 231 patients with no abdominal free fluid in the FAST, 33 had traumatic liver injury on abdominal CT. The mean AST and ALT levels in group I (311.6 IU/L and 228.1 IU/L, respectively) were significantly higher than the values in group II (48.4 IU/L and 35.6 IU/L, respectively). The cutoff to distinguish liver injury is 60 IU/L for AST and 58 IU/L for ALT, with 93.8% sensitivity and 79.8% specificity for AST, and 90.6% sensitivity and 87.4% specificity for ALT. Conclusion: We recommend that all patient with suspected blunt abdominal trauma be evaluated using serum liver transaminase as a screening test for liver injury even though no abdominal free fluid is shown on the FAST. If AST > 60 IU/L and/or ALT > 58 IU/L, abdominal CT was useful to confirm liver injury in this study.

• BLOOD RESEARCH
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.314-319
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• 2018

Background Iron overload is a risk factor affecting all patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI). We aimed to determine whether there is a relationship of serum ferritin (SF) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with liver iron concentration (LIC) determined by R2 magnetic resonance imaging (R2-MRI), to estimate the most relevant degree of iron overload and best time to chelate in patients with TI. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 119 patients with TI (mean age years) were randomly selected and compared with 120 patients who had a diagnosis of thalassemia major (TM). Correlations of LIC, as determined by R2-MRI, with SF and ALT levels, were assessed in all participants. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results SF and LIC levels were lower in patients with TI than in those with TM; only ferritin values were significant. We found a statistically significant relationship between SF and LIC, with cut-off estimates of SF in patients with TI who had splenectomy and those who entered puberty spontaneously (916 and 940 ng/mL, respectively) with LIC >5 mg Fe/g dry weight (P<0.0001). A significant relationship was also found for patients with TI who had elevated ALT level (63.5 U/L), of 3.15 times the upper normal laboratory limit, using a cut-off for LIC ${\geq}5mg\;Fe/g\;dry\;weight$. Conclusion We determined the cut-off values for ALT and SF indicating the best time to start iron chelation therapy in patients with TI, and found significant correlations among iron overload, SF, and ALT.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2001

In order to investigate a pathogenesis of liver damage induced by skin burn, thermal injury was induced by scald burn on entirely dorsal surface in rats (total burn surface area $20\sim25\%$) except for inhalated injury. At 5 and 24 h after scald burn, biochemical assay and morphological changes in serum and liver tissue were examined. Skin burn increased liver weight (% of body weight, p<0.05) and the activity of serum aniline amino-transferase (ALT, p<0.05), in addition, the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), an enzyme of oxygen free radical generating system, was elevated (p<0.01) in serum, but not in skin and in liver. Postburn treatment of allopurinol intraperitoneally decreased liver weight, serum ALT activity and serum XO activity. Scald burn induced ultrastructurally swelling of endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome detachment, accumulation of lipid, dilatation of bile canaliculi and intercellular space, neutrophil infiltration, activation of Kupffer's cells and degeneration of hepatocytic microvilli. Futhermore , thermal injury decreased not only the protein concentration in plasma but also the number of intravascular leukocytes, that indicates induction of edema formation with protein exudation and inflammation by neutrophil infiltration into the internal organs. However allopurinol injection after burn inhibited post burn ultrastructural changes. These data suggest that acute dermal scald burn injury leads to liver damage, that is related to elevation of xanthine oxidase activity in serum. Xanthine oxidase may be a key role in the pathogenesis of liver damage induced by skin burn.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 1994

Nine rabbits were fed with Clonorchis sinenis metacercariae (MC) and the blood samples chronologically obtained were analyzed biochemically. Rabbits Infected by less than 100 flukes were grouped into Group I, and by 100-250 flukes into Group II. The serum level of alanine amlnotransferase (ALT) was increased from 3 weeks after the Infection of the metacercariae (AIM) and showed a peak at 8 weeks, and decreased from 12 weeks ASM. The serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was raised to $92.3{\;}{\pm}{\;}65.4{\;}U/L$ at 3 weeks AIM and stayed high until 8 weeks, then lowered thereafter. The serum level of ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase (${\gamma}-GT$) was increased rapidly to the highest value ($18.9{\;}{\pm}{\;}14.6{\;}U/L$) at 16 weeks ASM, and decreased to the control level after 20 weeks. The serum level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was headed down from the early infection to 52 weeks AIM. The serum cholesterol level was increased from 8 weeks and reached at a peak 16 weeks AIM, and decreased thereafter to the control level. It is suggested that serum ALT, AST, ALP and ${\gamma}-GT$ tests be useful to diagnose the early infEction of C. sinensis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2009

Purpose: To investigate the physical and biochemical parameters related with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in obese children. Methods: One hundred forty-two obese or overweight children who visited the out-patient clinics of Chungnam National University Hospital between January 2006 and August 2008 were enrolled. Physical measures and biochemical tests were performed in all patients. Liver sonography was performed in 43 patients. They were divided into the following 2 groups based on ALT levels: group I, normal ALT levels (n=65); and group II, elevated ALT levels (n=77). We compared the physical measures, biochemical results, and ultrasonographic findings of the livers in both groups. Other causes of elevated serum ALT levels were ruled out. Results: The male-to-female ratios were 1.6:1 in group I and 7.6:1 in group II. Among physical parameters, the waist circumference-to-height ratio and hip circumference-to-height ratio were significantly higher in group II (p=0.001 and 0.046, respectively). Among biochemical parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase (${\gamma}$-GT), and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in group II (p<0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). The AST/ALT ratio was <1 (mean, 0.55) and statistically lower in group II. There was a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and ${\gamma}$-GT (p<0.001, r=0.750), and a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and the waist circumference-to-height ratio in group II (p<0.001, r=0.401). Conclusion: The results suggest that the waist circumference-to-height ratio and ${\gamma}$-GT may be associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase activity in obese children.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.219-224
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• 2000

This study was conducted to examine the prognosis of canine pyometra after surgical treatment in terms of their clinical indications, hematology and serum chemistry. A total of 20 bitches diagnosed as pyometra after physical examination was hospitalized at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul National University, during the period of 1998 to 1999. After examining all profiles, ovariohysterectomy was performed to treat pyometra. All bitches had clinical symptoms of general depression, polyuria/polydipsia, anorexia and abdominal distension. In hematologic profiles, 65% of bitches had higher level of leukocyte count compared with normal level, but RBC and PCV values maintained within the normal ranges in most pyometric bitches. In serum chemistry profiler, ALT and ALP values were increased over the normal range, and BUN and creatine values were higher than normal ranges only in 10(50%) and 3 bitches (15%), respectively. Survival rate after ovariohisterectomy was 90% (18/20), but bitches that had higher ALT, ALP, BUN, creatine and potassium than normal values were died after surgical treatment. The results of this clinical investigation show that the recovery of pyometric bitches after ovariohysterectomy can be prognosed by hematologic and serum profiles including ALT, ALP, BUN, creatinine and potassium.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2015

Curcumin is widely used as a traditional medicine. This work was aimed to investigate its possible protective effect against chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Fifty male albino rats were divided into five groups (n=10, each). The control group received a single dose of normal saline, the diethylnitrosamine (DENA) group received a single intra-peritoneal dose at 200mg/kg body weight, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th groups were given DENA and daily administrated curcunine (CUR) via intra-gastric intubation in doses of 300, 200 and 100 mg/kg b.wt. respectively for 20 weeks. Serum, and liver samples were used for determination of alpha feto-protein (AFP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukine-6 (IL-6), serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) levels as well the activities and gene expression of glutathione peroxidise (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and super oxide dismutase (SOD). Curcumin significantly lowered the serum levels of AFP, IL-2 and IL-6, ALT, ALT, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well gene expression of IL-2 and IL-6. In contrast it increased the gene expression and activities of Gpx, GRD, CAT and SOD. The protective effect of CUR against DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in albino rats was proven.