• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.650-658
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• 2016

Chronic alcohol consumption causes alcoholic liver disease, which is associated with the initiation of dysregulated lipid metabolism. Recent evidences suggest that dysregulated cholesterol metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ecklonia stolonifera (ES), a perennial brown marine alga that belongs to the family Laminariaceae, is rich in phlorotannins. Many studies have indicated that ES has extensive pharmacological effects, such as antioxidative, hepatoprotective, and antiinflammatory effects. However, only a few studies have investigated the protective effect of ES in alcoholic fatty liver. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal diet (ND) (fed a normal diet for 10 weeks) and ethanol diet (ED) groups. Rats in the ED group were fed a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet (containing 5% ethanol) for 10 weeks and administered ES extract (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day), silymarin (100 mg/kg/day), or no treatment for 4 weeks. Each treatment group comprised of eight rats. The supplementation with ES resulted in decreased serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. In addition, there were decreases in hepatic lipid and malondialdehyde levels. Changes in liver histology, as analyzed by Oil Red O staining, showed that the ES treatment suppressed adipogenesis. In addition, the ES treatment increased the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes (e.g., PPAR-${\alpha}$ and CPT-1) but decreased the expression of SREBP 1, which is a TG synthesis-related gene. These results suggest that ES extract may be useful in preventing fatty acid oxidation and reducing lipogenesis in ethanol-induced fatty liver.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.68-79
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of Chungganhaeju-tang (Qingganjiejiu-tang) on alcoholic liver damage by applying proteomics. Materials and Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment; the rats were divided into a control group, alcohol group and Chungganhaeju-tang + alcohol group. Ethanol was orally administered twice a day for 4 weeks to the alcohol group. Water without ethanol was administered twice a day for 4 weeks to the control group. Ethanol + Chungganhaeju-tang extract was orally administered twice a day for 4 weeks to the Chungganhaeju-tang + alcohol group. The livers of each group were processed and we investigated histology, OxyBlot, 2-dimensional electrophoresis, and western blot of liver of each group. Results : In the histological findings of the liver, the alcohol group showed portal fibrosis with a few septa or without septa. The Chungganhaeju-tang + alcohol group showed no fibrosis or portalfibrosis without septa. In the OxyBlot finding, Chungganhaeju-tangprevented liver damage by oxidation. In the 2-dimensional electrophoresis finding, formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase (FTCD), glucose regulated protein, 58 kDa (GRP58K), aryl sulfotransferase, sulfotransferase family 1A, member 2, similar to acyl-coenzyme A oxidase-like, and catalase were changed. Conclusion : Chungganhaeju-tangexerts an inhibitory effect against the fibrosis and oxidation induced by alcohol in rat liver cell, and some proteins induced by alcohol were changed by Chungganhaeju-tang.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.44-51
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• 2012

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) polymorphism has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adults, and known to be a mediator of insulin resistance. In this study, we evaluated the role of TNF-${\alpha}$ promoter polymorphisms and insulin resistance in the development of NAFLD in obese children. Methods: A total of 111 obese children (M:F=74:37; mean age, $11.1{\pm}2.0$ yrs) were included. The children were divided into 3 groups: controls (group I, n=61), children with simple steatosis (group II, n=17), and children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (group III, n=33). Serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 and -238 polymorphisms were evaluated. Results: There were no differences in TNF-${\alpha}$ polymorphism at the -308 or the -238 loci between group I and group II + III ($p$=0.134 and $p$=0.133). The medians of HOMA-IR were significantly different between group I and group II + III ($p$=0.001), with significant difference between group II and group III ($p$=0.007). No difference was observed in the HOMA-IR among the genotypes at the -308 locus ($p$=0.061) or the -238 locus ($p$=0.207) in obese children. Conclusion: TNF-${\alpha}$ promoter polymorphisms at the -308 and -238 loci were not significantly associated with the development of NAFLD in children; nevertheless, insulin resistance remains a likely essential factor in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in obese children, especially in the progression to NASH.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.100-107
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-lipogenic effect of Sobuncheong-eum on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in free fatty acid induced cellular model. Methods : HepG2 cells were treated with palmitate for 24h to overload intracellular triglyceride (TG) content in the presence or absence of Sobuncheong-eum extract. After palmitate treatment, Intracellular TG content was measured with TG assay kit. Several lipogenesis related markers, including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS), were assessed using Western-blot analyses and RT-PCR. Results : Palmitate markedly increased intracellular TG in HepG2 cells, and which were alleviated by coadministered Sobuncheong-eum extract. Sobuncheong-eum extract activated AMPK, which plays a key role in reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, and reduced lipogenic fators, SREBP-1c, ACC, and FAS. Conclusions : Taken together, it is conceivable that Sobuncheong-eum has an potential to alleviate steatosis, and which may be mediated by activating AMPK at least in part.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.243-254
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• 2008

This study is a clinical report for hepatitic C patient and alcoholic hepatitis patient who were improved by treatment of a herbal viscous extracts(Chunggan plus). We checked up Aspartate-aminotransferase(AST), Alamine-aminotransferase(ALT) and ${\gamma}$-Glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}$-GTP) and compared the level of AST, ALT, ${\gamma}$-GTP after treatment. After medication the level of AST, ALT, ${\gamma}$-GTP was significantly normalized. So we suggested that herbal viscous extracts(Chunggan plus) has effects on hepatitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.276-285
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• 2020

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges in severity from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis. Early detection of NAFLD is important for preventing the disease from progressing to become an irreversible end-stage liver disease. We developed a nomogram that allows for non-invasive screening for NAFLD in obese children. Methods: Anthropometric and laboratory data of 180 patients from our pediatric obesity clinic were collected. Diagnoses of NAFLD were based on abdominal ultrasonographic findings. The nomogram was constructed using predictors from a multivariate analysis of NAFLD risk factors. Results: The subjects were divided into non-NAFLD (n=67) and NAFLD groups (n=113). Factors, including sex, body mass index, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT), uric acid, triglycerides, and insulin, were significantly different between the two groups (all p<0.05) as determined using homeostatis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). In our multivariate logistic regression analysis, elevated serum ALT, γGT, and triglyceride levels were significantly related to NAFLD development. The nomogram was established using γGT, uric acid, triglycerides, HOMA-IR, and ALT as predictors of NAFLD probability. Conclusion: The newly developed nomogram may help predict NAFLD risk in obese children. The nomogram may also allow for early NAFLD diagnosis without the need for invasive liver biopsy or expensive liver imaging, and may also allow clinicians to intervene early to prevent the progression of NAFLD to become a more advanced liver disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.342-352
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was associated with incident bone mineral density (BMD) decrease. Methods: This study included 4536 subjects with normal BMD at baseline. NAFLD was defined as the presence of fatty liver on abdominal ultrasonography without significant alcohol consumption or other causes. Decreased BMD was defined as a diagnosis of osteopenia, osteoporosis, or BMD below the expected range for the patient's age based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio of incident BMD decrease in subjects with or without NAFLD. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the relevant factors. Results: Across 13 354 person-years of total follow-up, decreased BMD was observed in 606 subjects, corresponding to an incidence of 45.4 cases per 1000 person-years (median follow-up duration, 2.1 years). In the model adjusted for age and sex, the hazard ratio was 0.65 (95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.82), and statistical significance disappeared after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic factors. In the subgroup analyses, NAFLD was associated with a lower risk of incident BMD decrease in females even after adjustment for confounders. The direction of the effect of NAFLD on the risk of BMD decrease changed depending on BMI category and body fat percentage, although the impact was statistically insignificant. Conclusions: NAFLD had a significant protective effect on BMD in females. However, the effects may vary depending on BMI category or body fat percentage.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.19-30
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• 2008

This study has comparatively analyzed the primary success factors in smoking cessation among new enrollees and re-enrollees of a smoking cessation clinic in order to find out how to efficiently operate smoking cessation clinics at public health centers. The study was conducted with 262,837 smokers aged 19 or over who were provided with smoking cessation services for more than 6 months after being registered with the smoking cessation clinic at public health centers(250 clinics nationwide) from July 16, 2006 to July 15, 2007. After dividing smokers into re-enrollees and new enrollees of the smoking cessation clinic, the success rate of and success factors for smoking cessation over 6 months have been investigated. The success factors in smoking cessation have been compared between new enrollees and re-enrollees of smoking cessation clinics. The results can be summarized as follows: First, the success rate of smoking cessation for 6 months at smoking cessation clinics of public health centers was higher in new enrollees (46.3%) than in re-enrollees (41.1%). Second, the common factors that had an influence on the success of smoking cessation of both new enrollees and re-enrollees of the smoking cessation clinic included age, social security, service, frequency of counseling, number of cigarettes per day, and alcoholic problems. Third, compared to new enrollees, re-enrollees had a higher success rate of smoking cessation as they got older. In terms of the success rate of health insurance, on the contrary, new enrollees were better than re-enrollees. Fourth, the study showed a higher success rate in smoking cessation in both new and re-enrollees if they had no alcoholic problems. In particular, a higher success rate was observed in re-enrollees when there were no alcoholic problems. To efficiently operate smoking cessation clinics at public health centers, this study confirmed that counseling should be tailored depending on the types of enrollees in the program.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.32-36
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• 2012

Objective : Alcoholic neuropathy is characterized by allodynia (a discomfort evoked by normally innocuous stimuli), hyperalgesia (an exaggerated pain in response to painful stimuli) and spontaneous burning pain. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of rolipram, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, against alcohol-induced neuropathy in rats. Methods : Allodynia was induced by administering 35% v/v ethanol (10 g/kg; oral gavage) to Spraue-Dawley rats for 8 weeks. Rolipram and saline (vehicle) were administered intraperitoneally. Mechanical allodynia was measured by using von Frey filaments. Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) was proposed as complementary measure to assess the integrity of nerve pathway. Results : The ethanol-induced mechanical allodynia began to manifest from 3 week, and then peaked within 1 week. Beginning from 3 week, latency significantly started to increased in control group. In rolipram treated rats, the shorter latency was sustained until 8 weeks (p<0.05). The mechanical allodynia, which began to manifest on the 3 weeks, intraperitoneal injections of rolipram sustained statistical difference until 8 weeks, the final week of the study (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study suggests that rolipram might alleviate mechanical allodynia induced by alcohol in rats, which clearly has clinical implication.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.317-322
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• 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases. NAFLD can further progress to irreversible liver failure such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, specific regulator of NASH-fibrosis has yet to be established. Here, we found that glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPx7) was markedly expressed in NASH fibrosis. Although GPx7 is an antioxidant enzyme protecting other organs, whether GPx7 plays a role in NASH fibrosis has yet to be studied. We found that knockdown of GPx7 in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and free fatty acids (FFA)-treated LX-2 cells elevated the expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes and collagen synthesis. Consistently, GPx7 overexpression in LX-2 cells led to the suppression of ROS production and reduced the expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes. Further, NASH fibrosis induced by choline-deficient amino acid defined, high fat diet (CDAHFD) feeding was significantly accelerated by knockdown of GPx7, as evidenced by up-regulated liver fibrosis and inflammation compared with CDAHFD control mice. Collectively, these results suggest that GPx7 might be a novel therapeutic target to prevent the progression and development of NAFLD.