• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.403-411
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• 1990

The present investigation was performed to see a possible influence of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) on pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized rats since the DRN had been known to exert a regulatory mechanism on sympathetic activity which was known to be very important for pancreatic exocrine secretion, particularly in rats. Twenty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats fasted for 24 hours were anesthetized by i.p. injection of 1 g/kg of urethane. The pancreatic duct was cannulated to collect pancreatic juice while bile juice was diverted into the jejunum. The duodenopyloric junction was tightly ligated. After surgery for collection of pancreatic exocrine secretion and recording of carotid blood pressure, a coaxial electrode was stereotaxically inserted in the DRN with a guide of a brain atlas. And then, electrical stimulus of biphasic square wave with 2 v, 2 msec, 40 Hz was applied on the electrode for 10 minutes. Pancreatic volume flow and protein output secreted in 10 min were measured. Either bilateral cervical vagotomy or spinal cord transection at the level of $C4{\sim}C5$ was performed 20 min prior to stimulation of the DRN. 1) Electrical stimulation of the DRN resulted in significant (p<0.05) increase in pancreatic volume flow and protein output. These stimulatory effects were not affected by cervical vagotomy but completely abolished by cervical cord transection. 2) Electrical stimulation of the DRN also resulted in significant (p<0.05) rise of blood pressure of the carotid artery. The hypertensive effect was not affected by cervical vagotomy but completely abolished by cervical cord transection. The results strongly suggest that the DRN, a part of the central serotonergic system, could exert a stimulatory influence on pancreatic exocrine secretion by increasing the sympathetic activity in anesthetized rats.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2000

Purpose: Biliary atresia, one of the major causes of neonatal cholestais, is an idiopathic, serious disorder, affecting the newborn that results in complete obstruction of biliary tract. Successful reestablishment of bile flow is dependent on early surgical intervention, early diagnosis is imperative. The authors evaluate the utility of Tc-99m-labeled diisoprpyliminodiacetic acid (DISIDA) hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. Methods: From January, 1995 to August, 1999, total 60 patients with neonatal cholestasis underwent Tc-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy at Asan Medical Center. Results: The undelying causes of neonatal cholestasis were biliary atresia in 14, neonatal hepatitis in 33, intrahepatic bile duct paucity in 9, and total parenteral nutrition induced cholestasis in 4. All patient with biliary atresia were interpreted correctely in DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy, showing 100% sensitivity. Of the 46 patients with neonatal hepatitis and other causes, 37 patients had intestinal radioactivity showing 80% specificity. Conclusion: Visualization of DISIDA in the intestinal tract indicates patency of the biliary ducts and excludes the diagnosis of biliary atresia. But the absence of intestinal excretion on the DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy dose not necessarily indicate biliary atresia.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.411-417
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• 1998

In order to investigate the effect of the pretreatment with various doses of diltiazem (DTZ) on the pharmacokinetics of indocyanine green (ICG) at steady state, especially the hepatic blood clearance due to the change of hepatic blood flow, the following experiments were carried out with ICG, a hepatic function test marker, not metabolized in liver and only excreted in bile. The intravenous bolus injection ($3,780\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) and the constant-rate infusion ($10,100\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/hr) of ICG into the left femoral vein were made in order to check the steady-state plasma concentration ($C_{ss} of $10\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) of ICG at 20, 25 and 30 min. Following a 90-min washout period, the intravenous bolus injection (108, 430, 860 and $1,720\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) and the constant-rate infusion (108, 433, 866 and $1,730\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/hr) of DTZ into the right femoral vein were made and the achievement of the steady-state plasma levels ($C_{ss} of 50, 200, 400 and 800 ng/ml) of DTZ were conformed at 60, 70 and 80 min. During the steady state of DTZ, the intravenous bolus injection ($3,780\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) and the constant-rate infusion ($10,200\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/hr) of ICG into the left femoral vein were made and also the steady-state plasma concentration of ICG was checked at 20, 25 and 30 min. The plasma concentrations of DTZ and ICG were determined using a high performance liquid chromatographic technique. At the steady state, the hepatic blood clearance of ICG was obtained from the plasma concentration and blood-to-plasma concentration ratio ($R_B$) of ICG. The pretreatment with various doses of DTZ did not influence the plasma concentrations, $R_B$ and plasma free fraction ($f_p$) of ICG. So the hepatic blood clearance of ICG was independent of concentration of DTZ. The hepatic blood clearance of ICG could be affected by both hepatic bood flow and hepatic intrinsic clearance. But there was no change of the hepatic blood clearance of ICG between the control and the DTZ-pretreated rats in this study. So it may be suggested that DTZ does not influence hepatic blood flow.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.593-596
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate normal hepatobiliary functions in healthy miniature pigs. $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ hepatobiliary scintigraphy(HBS) was used for it. Five mCi dose of $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ was injected intravenously into 3 healthy adult miniature pigs, and dynamic images were obtained during 1 hour. $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ HBS in a miniature pig was evaluated for 6 variables. A cardiac washout occurred within 1 min in all miniature pigs and radioactivities in the gallbladder were not detected in two miniature pigs. Thus, the initial radioactivity and Tmax of the gallbladder were non-available to identify. Mean Tmax of liver was $8.67{\pm}2.08$ min and initial small intestinal radioactivity was seen at $9.67{\pm}2.52$ min after $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ injection. Mean hepatic washout time was not detected in 60 min dynamic images. Therefore, $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ HBS is the effective diagnostic method to evaluate the function of hepatocyte and bile flow rate. However, it was not a proper method to evaluate the function of gallbladder, which indicates that an additional study is needed to further specify the reasons for the absence of radioactivities in gallbladder of two miniature pigs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex, a mixture of Aloe vera and Silybum marianum, against acute liver injuries. Acute liver damages were induced by intraperitoneal injection of galactosamine (GalN, 700 mg/kg), naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 40 mg/kg) and ethionine (500 mg/kg). $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 (85, 170 and 340) was administered orally 48 h, 24 h, 2 h before and 6 h after the injection of hepatotoxins. At 24 h after GalN treatment the levels of serum aminotransferases and hepatic lipid peroxidation were significantly elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione, serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol were decreased. These changes were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. The serum aminotransferase activities and total bilirubin significantly increased at 48 h after ANIT treatment, but were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. The bile flow was lower after ANIT treatment, which was restored by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex reduced the ethionine-induced elevated hepatic TG contents. Histopathological analysis revealed that signs of liver injury were prominent at 24 h as result of ethionine injection, demonstrated by extensive areas of fatty change and microvesicular steatosis were observed around cells. These changes were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. Our results suggest that the $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex has a protective effect on acute liver injury.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.205-205
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• 1996

본 실험은 간장허혈 및 재관류시 야기되는 간장 손상에 대해 vitamin C와 E 각각의 효과와 이들의 병용효과를 알아보고자 하였다. 실험군은 흰쥐에 vitamin E(25mg/kg)를 실험전 3일간 투여한 군, vitamin C(100mg/kg)를 실험 5분전 경정맥주사한 군 및 vitamin C와 E의 병용 투여군등의 3군으로 하여 각각에 허혈을 유발시킨 후 (60분) 재관류 1시간, 5시간에 간세포 손상정도(AI.T, AST, liver wet-weight to dry-weight ratio), 지질과산화(MDA), 담즙분비변동(bile flow, bilirubin, cholate output) 및 약물대사효소계의 변동(cytochrome P$_{450}$, aminopyrine-N-demethylase, aniline p-hydroxylase activity) 등을 관찰하였다. 실험결과로는 허혈 및 재관류로 인한 ALT, AST MDA는 재관류 5시간에 최고치를 이루었으며 이는 vitamin C와 vitamin E의 각각 투여로 억제되었고, 특히 vitamin C와 E의 병용투여로 더욱 현저하게 억제되었다. 간세포 부종의 지표인 liver wet-weight to dry-weight ratio도 vitamin C와 E의 병용투어로 유의성있게 억제되었다. 담즙분비량 및 담즙산량은 vitamin C 투여와 vitamin C와 E 병용투여로 허혈 및 재관류로 감소된 양을 증가시켰고, 특히 vitamin C와 E의 병용투여는 담즙분비량에 있어 현저한 상승을 나타내었다. 허혈 및 재관류로 인한 cytochrome P$_{450}$양의 감소와 aminopyrine N-demethylase 활성의 억제는 vitamin C 투여와 vitamin C와 E의 병용투여에 의해 유의성 있게 증가하였다. 이상의 결과로 보아 vitamin C와 vitamin E는 각각 허혈 및 재관류로 인한 간장손상을 완화시켰으며 특히 vitamin C와 E의 병용투여는 상승적으로 적용하여 간세포손상을 더욱 억제시킴을 알 수 있었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1163-1168
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• 2016

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the bile duct cancer which constitutes one of the important public health problems in Thailand with high mortality rate, especially in the Opisthorchis viverrini (a parasite risk factor for CCA) endemic area of the northeastern region of the country. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers from the plasma peptidome by CCA patients. Peptides were isolated using 10 kDa cut-off filter column and the flow-through was then used as a peptidome for LC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 209 peptides were obtained. Among these, 15 peptides were concerned with signaling pathways and 12 related to metabolic, regulatory, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolite pathways. Five exclusive peptides were identified as potential biomarkers, i.e. ETS domain-containing transcription factor ERF (P50548), KIAA0220 (Q92617), phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta isoform isoform 1 (P42338), LP2209 (Q6XYC0), and casein kinase II subunit alpha (P19784). Three of these biomarkers are signaling related molecules. A combination of these biomarkers for CCA diagnosis is proposed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7473-7478
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• 2014

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a fatal cancer with poor prognosis and less than 10% of CCA patients can be offered surgical cure. Conventional chemotherapy results in unfavorable outcomes. At present, plant-derived compounds are gaining interest as potential cancer therapeutics, particularly for treatment-refractory cancers. In this study, antitumor activity of tiliacorinine, the major alkaloid isolated from a tropical plant, on CCA was first demonstrated. Antiproliferative effects of tiliacorinine on human CCA cell lines were investigated using SRB assays. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, flow cytometric analysis and DNA laddering assays were used for apoptotic determination. Apoptosis-related proteins were verified by Western blotting and antitumor activity of tiliacorinine in vivo was demonstrated in CCA xenografted mice. Tiliacorinine significantly inhibited proliferation of human CCA cell lines with $IC_{50}$ $4.5-7{\mu}M$ by inducing apoptosis through caspase activation, upregulation of BAX, and downregulation of $Bcl_{xL}$ and XIAP. Tiliacorinine considerably reduced tumor growth in CCA xenografted mice. These results demonstrated antitumor effects of tiliacorinine on human CCA in vitro and in vivo. Tiliacorinine may be an effective agent for CCA treatment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2005

A new medical system was started in Korea in 2000 and pharmaceutical affairs law was revised in 2001. According to the revised law, generic substitution is permitted only to therapeutically equivalent generic product. Bioequivalence studies are usually used to demonstrate therapeutic equivalence between reference listed drugs and generic drugs. The issues that are recently heating up in Korea are to increase bioequivalent drug products and at the same time to ensure the credibility of the therapeutic equivalence of generic drugs. Sometimes food can change the bioavailability (BA) of a drug and influence the bioequivalence (BE) between test and reference products as well. Food effects on BA can have clinically significant consequences. Food can alter BA by various means including delaying gastric emptying, stimulating bile flow and changing gastointestinal pH. This paper provides the recently published Korean guideline on food-effect BA and fed BE studies.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.350-356
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• 2015

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent idiopathic upper gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by diverse symptomatology including epigastric pain or discomfort, postprandial fullness, and early satiety. Although its pathophysiological mechanisms have not yet been fully established, the available studies suggest that the etiology of FD is invariably multifactorial. Benachio-F$^{(R)}$ (BF) is a proprietary liquid formulation of 7 herbal extracts that has been proposed to address this multifactorial etiology using multi-drug phytotherapy. The pharmacological effects of BF, in comparison with those of two other herbal products (Whalmyungsu$^{(R)}$; WM and Iberogast$^{(R)}$; IB) were evaluated in rats. In a laparotomy-induced rat model of delayed GI transit, BF significantly accelerated the delayed gastric emptying caused by morphine, apomorphine, and cisplatin, and also significantly increased mean gastric transit, as compared to the control animals. BF markedly increased gastric accommodation in rats and produced higher gastric volume values than did the control treatment. The effects of BF were generally comparable or superior to those of WM and IB in these models. Furthermore, BF significantly stimulated biliary flow, as compared to the control treatment. These results indicated that BF might have great potential as an effective phytotherapeutic agent capable of reducing GI symptoms and increasing quality of life in FD patients.