• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 1998

Purpose : A precise NMR technique for measuring the rate of water exchange and cell membrane permeability across the hepatocyte membrane using liver-specific MR contrast agent is described. Materials and Methods : The rat hepatocytes isolated by perfusion of the livers were used for the NMR measurements. All experiments were performed on an IBM field cycling relaxometer operating from 0.02MHz to 60 MHz proton Larmor frequency. spin-echo pulse sequence was empolyed to measure spin-lattice relaxation time, T1. The continuous distribution analysis of water proton T1 data from rat hepatocytes containing low concentrations of the liver specific contrast agent, Gd-EOB-DTPA, modeled by a general two compartment exchange model. Results : The mean residence time of water molecule inside the hepatocyte was approximately 250 msec. The lower limit for the permeability of the hepatocyte membrane was $(1.3{\pm}0.1){\;}{\times}{\;}10^{-3}cm/sec$. The CONTIN analysis, which seeks the natural distribution of relaxation times, reveals direct evidence of the effect of diffusive exchange. the diffusive water exchange is not small in the intracellular space in the case of hepatocytes. Conclusions : Gd-EOB-DTPA, when combined with continuous distribution analysis, provides a robust method to study water exchange and membrane permeability in hepatocytes. Water exchange in hepatocyte is much slower thatn that in red blood cells. Therefore, tissue-specific contrast agent may be used as a functional agent to give physiological information such as cell membrane permeability.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.422-430
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• 1998

In order to study the effects of Rhei rhizoma, Ephedrae herba and Scutellariae radix on hepatic metabolism, we examined the pretreatment effect of those on the metabolism of 7-e thoxycoumarin (EC). Water extracts (1g/kg) of Rhei rhizoma, Ephedrae herba and Scutellariae radix were administered orally to rats for 7 days, respectively. Livers were then isolated and perfused with 100mcM EC for 2 hours. The metabolites of EC, 7-hydroxycoumarin, sulfate conjugate and glucuronide conjugate were measured in the perfusates. The amount of glucuronide conjugates was decreased in Rhei rhizoma pretreated rats (p<0.01), however, 7-hydroxycoumarin was increased in Ephedrae herba pretreated rats (p<0.01). We examined whether the change of enzyme activity is related to the change of cytochrome P4501A1 and P4502B1 mRNA level in the perfused rat liver, which are responsible for EC metabolism. CYP1A1 and CYP2B1 mRNA level was increased, which was was not statistically significant with rhei rhizoma nor ephedrae herba pretreatment. We also assessed the hepatotoxicity of Rhei rhizoma, Ephedrae herba and Scutellariae radix. The activities of ALT and AST were assayed at 24 hours after 7 days administration. Only the ratio of ALT over AST was increased in ephedrae herba pretreated rats (p<0.05). Lipid peroxidation was increased in Rhei rhizoma treatment (p<0.05), while histopathological examination performed after liver perfusion did not show any difference compared with vehicle treatment. These results suggest that Ephedrae herba pretreatment increases the o-deethy-lation of 7-ethoxycoumarin in rats, which may be mediated by CYP1A1 mRNA induction.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.241-252
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• 2011

The study was carried out to evaluate the anticancer effects in Korean soybean paste(doenjang) added with sun-dried salt(S-D), roasted salt(R-D), bamboo salt roasted once(B1-D) or bamboo salt roasted nine times(B9-D). In MTT assay, S-D, R-D, B1-D and B9-D exhibited a significant inhibitory activity(64-87% and 68-92%) against the proliferation of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells by adding 0.05% and 0.1% of methanol extract. Among Balb/c mice injected with sarcoma-180 cells, the bodies, livers, spleens, kidneys and heart weight of the mice administered with 4 kinds of doenjang extracts were heavier than the non-administered ones of the group. However, no difference was found between the control and doenjang administered groups. Four kinds of doenjang inhibited significantly the tumor growth, especially R-D and B1-D showing an inhibition of tumor cell growth up to 97% by the administration of 1.0 mg/kg methanol extracts of doenjang. The activity of natural killer(NK) cells was relatively high in mice administered with four kinds of doenjang. Particularly, mice administered with R-D methanol extract showed a stronger activity of 88.2%. The activity of glutathione S-transferase(GST) in mice administered with four kinds of doenjang was higher than that of the non-administered group. In particular, the GST activity was the strongest in the group with B1-D. As these results indicate the various kinds of salt have different effects on the anticancer activity of doenjang.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 1997

Surgical removal of hepatic cancerous tissues have been widely performed due to its early detection. However, a patient can not survive if excessive hepatic tissues were removed. Therefore, quantitative evaluation of remaining hepatic function after surgery is a really important factor for surgeon. the currently used ICG Rmax and Lidocaine clearance tests have disadvantages such as tedium, complexity, and inability to estimate remaining hepatic function after surgery. While HEF has advantages such as simplicity, quickness, nonivasiveness, and quantification, its reliability has been doubtful. Thus, the program for calculation of HEF has been developed from serial gamma camera image data. And we compared the reliability of HEF with ICG Rmax and Lidocaine clearance test using 6normal and 18 abnormal rabbits with damaged livers. The correlation coefficient of HEF to ICG Rmax and MEGX was 0.91, 0.94, respectively. I was also found that the HEFs of normal and abnormal hepatic tissues was higher than 100% and lower than 80%, respectively. Thus we confirmed that HEF can be a good indicator distinguishing between abnormal tissues and normal ones. Finally, we could conclude that patients would survive if both the pre-and the post-operative HEF were greater than 60%.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.19-40
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• 1971

Since the iron balance is maintained by regulated intestinal absorption rather than regulated excretion, there have been many reports concerning the factors which may influence the intestinal iron absorption. As the liver is the largest iron storage organ of the body, any hepatocellular damage may result in disturbances in iron metabolism, e,g., frequent co-existence of hemochromatosis and liver cirrhosis, or elevated serum iron level and increased iron absorption rate in patients with infectious hepatitis or cirrhosis. In one effort to demonstrate the influence of hepatocellular damage on intestinal iron absortion, the iron absorption rate was measured in the rabbits whose livers were injured by a single subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (doses ranging from 0.15 to 0.5cc per kg of body weight) or by a single irradiation of 2,000 to 16,000 rads with $^{60}Co$ on the liver locally. A single oral dose of $1{\mu}Ci\;of\;^{59}Fe$-citrate with 0.5mg of ferrous citrate was fed in the fasting state, 24 hours after hepatic damage had been induced, without any reducing or chelating agents, and stool was collected for one week thereafter. Serum iron levels, together with conventional liver function tests, were measured at 24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 hours after liver damage had been induced. All animals were sacrificed upon the completing of the one week's test period and tissue specimens were prepared for H-E and Gomori's iron stain. Following are the results. 1. Normal iron absorption rate of the rabbit was $41.72{\pm}3.61%$ when 0.5mg of iron was given in the fasting state, as measured by subtracting the amount recovered in stool collected for 7 days from the amount given. The test period of 7 days is adequate, for only 1% of the iron given was excreted thereafter. 2. The intestinal iron absorption rate and serum iron level were significantly increased when the animal was poisoned by a single subcutaneous injection of 0.15cc. per kg. of body weight of carbon tetrachloride or more, or the liver was irradiated with a single dose of 12,000 rads or more. The results of liver function tests which were done simultaneously remained within normal limit except SGOT and SGPT which were somewhat increased. 3. In each case, there has been good correlation between the extent of liver cell damage and degree of increased iron absorption rate or serum iron level. 4. The method of liver damage appeared to make no obvious difference in the pattern of iron deposit in liver. This may be partly due to the fact that tissue specimens were obtained too late, for by this time the elevated serum iron level had returned within normal range and the pathological changes were almost healed. 5. The possible factors and relationship between intestinal iron absorption and hepatic parenchymal cell damage has been discussed.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2021

Particulate matter (PM) causes oxidative stress and can rapidly diffuse from the lung to the blood and accumulate in the liver when inhaled. Natural antioxidants can be used to protect against oxidative stress caused by PM. Sargassum horneri, a brown seaweed, possesses antioxidative activity and is a good source of functional foods. Therefore, this study investigated the antioxidant potential of S. horneri extract (SHE) in the livers of PM-induced asthmatic mice. PM inhalation triggered lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, and SHE treatment attenuated malondialdehyde in the liver of mice with PM-induced asthma. Furthermore, SHE mitigated the increase in catalase activity. Importantly, SHE reduced the activity of 8-oxoguanine glycosylase (OGG1), a DNA repair enzyme. These results suggest that SHE has antioxidant potential for moderating PM-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the liver of asthmatic mice.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2019

Chinese xian-xia films is a new genre that occurred through the fusion of the genre of martial arts and fantasy. This study analyzed the development of xian-xia films and the space aesthetics of xian-xia films through the miseenscene of the journey to the west films. In particular, the space for xian-xia in the films is divided into the human, urinary, heaven world and the space of conflict. It looks like the fantastic Middle Earth that Tolkien presented, however it is discriminatory in that it shows a highly Chinese appearance and overlapping world centered on the natural environment (the world of Mountains and Livers), such as mountains, deserts, caves, and grasslands, which usually appears in traditional martial arts history. Resently, the boom of journey to the west films is regarded as the change of the Chinese film industry under the influence of the development of IP (Intellectual Property) industry and the western fantasy genre in the 21st century China. This change marks the birth of the new Chinese fantasy "xian-xia" genre with the spirit of the present era that transcends the original world of journey to the west through the hybridization of the genre.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.457-465
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• 2019

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) often suffer from diverse skin disorders, which might be attributable to skin barrier dysfunction. To explore the role of lipid alterations in the epidermis in DM skin disorders, we quantitated 49 lipids (34 ceramides, 14 free fatty acids (FFAs), and cholesterol) in the skin epidermis, liver, and kidneys of db/db mice, a Type 2 DM model, using UPLC-MS/MS. The expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis was also evaluated. With the full establishment of hyperglycemia at the age of 20 weeks, remarkable lipid enrichment was noted in the skin of the db/db mice, especially at the epidermis and subcutaneous fat bed. Prominent increases in the ceramides and FFAs (>3 fold) with short or medium chains ($LXR{\alpha}/{\beta}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, nuclear receptors promoting lipid synthesis, lipid synthesis enzymes such as elongases 1, 4, and 6, and fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase were highly expressed in the skin and livers of the db/db mice. Collectively, our study demonstrates an extensive alteration in the skin and systemic lipid profiles of db/db mice, which could contribute to the development of skin disorders in DM.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.607-613
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of either chrysin or exercise on the inflammasome and thermogenic markers in the livers of high-fat fed mice. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups: normal diet control (NC; n=5), high-fat diet control (HC; n=5), high-fat diet with chrysin (Hch; n=5), and high-fat diet with moderate exercise (HME; n=5). The mice were fed a high-fat diet (60% of calories from fat) or normal diet (18% of calories from fat). Chrysin was supplemented orally as 50mg/kg/day dissolved in a 0.1ml solution of dimethyl sulfoxide. The exercised mice ran on a treadmill at 12-20 m/min for 30-60 min/day, 5 times/week, for 16 weeks. After the intervention, the epididymal fat and liver weights were significantly decreased in the HME group compared with HC and Hch groups. The adipocyte size was effectively decreased in the Hch and HME groups compared with the HC group. The inflammasome markers NLRP3, $IL-1{\beta}$, and caspase1 were significantly decreased in the Hch and HME groups compared with the HC group. The thermogenic markers $PGC-1{\alpha}$ and BMP7 were significantly lower in the HC than in the NC group. However, the HME group showed an increase in the thermogenic markers. In conclusion, chrysin and moderate exercise have positive effects on obese metabolic complications induced by high-fat diets by reducing inflammasome genes. However, chrysin supplementation had no effect on thermogenic gene expression. Moderate exercise would therefore seem to be more effective in controlling obesity-induced metabolic deregulation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2019

Background: Dysregulation of hepatic glucose production (HGP) contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), has various ancillary effects in addition to common blood pressure-lowering effects. The effects and mechanism of telmisartan on HGP have not been fully elucidated and, therefore, we investigated these phenomena in hyperglycemic HepG2 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Methods: Glucose production and glucose uptake were measured in HepG2 cells. Expression levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase ${\alpha}$ ($G6Pase-{\alpha}$), and phosphorylation levels of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and protein kinase C ${\zeta}$ ($PKC{\zeta}$) were assessed by western blot analysis. Animal studies were performed using HFD-fed mice. Results: Telmisartan dose-dependently increased HGP, and PEPCK expression was minimally increased at a $40{\mu}M$ concentration without a change in $G6Pase-{\alpha}$ expression. In contrast, telmisartan increased phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser302 ($p-IRS-1-Ser^{302}$) and decreased $p-IRS-1-Tyr^{632}$ dose-dependently. Telmisartan dose-dependently increased $p-PKC{\zeta}-Thr^{410}$ which is known to reduce insulin action by inducing IRS-1 serine phosphorylation. Ectopic expression of dominant-negative $PKC{\zeta}$ significantly attenuated telmisartan-induced HGP and $p-IRS-1-Ser^{302}$ and -inhibited $p-IRS-1-Tyr^{632}$. Among ARBs, including losartan and fimasartan, only telmisartan changed IRS-1 phosphorylation and pretreatment with GW9662, a specific and irreversible peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) antagonist, did not alter this effect. Finally, in the livers from HFD-fed mice, telmisartan increased $p-IRS-1-Ser^{302}$ and decreased $p-IRS-1-Tyr^{632}$, which was accompanied by an increase in $p-PKC{\zeta}-Thr^{410}$. Conclusion: These results suggest that telmisartan increases HGP by inducing $p-PKC{\zeta}-Thr^{410}$ that increases $p-IRS-1-Ser^{302}$ and decreases $p-IRS-1-Tyr^{632}$ in a $PPAR{\gamma}$-independent manner