• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2012

Purpose: The aims of this study was to compare and evaluate the clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and prognosis for infants under age 1 year with CMV hepatitis and those with viral hepatitis of unknown etiology. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of infants under age 1 year who were admitted with acute hepatitis. The exclusion criteria consisted of: autoimmune, genetic, metabolic, toxic, HAV, HBV, HCV, toxoplasma, rubella, herpes simplex, and Epstein-Barr virus. The 30 patients included were divided into two groups based on markers for CMV (IgM anti-CMV, CMV PCR in urine, CMV culture in urine). Results: The median age of patients (n=15) was 2.8 months. No other organ involvement was detected in any patient. Peak serum total bilirubin levels (n=4) ranged from 2.6 to 6.7 mg/dL. Peak serum ALT levels ranged from 51 to 1,581 IU/L. The duration of ALT elevation ranged from 1.5 weeks to 26 weeks (median 9 weeks). All had recovered in full without ganciclovir; there were no cases of hearing loss. The median age of controls (n=15) was 2.5 months. Peak serum total bilirubin levels (n=4) ranged from 1.6 to 9.1 mg/dL. Peak serum ALT levels ranged from 26 to 1,794 IU/L. No significant differences were observed between both groups regarding the peak serum ALT levels, peak serum total bilirubin levels, duration of hyperbilirubinemia and ALT elevation. Conclusion: Although it was not possible to differentiate congenital infection with perinatal infection in this study, the prognosis of patients with CMV hepatitis without other organ involvement was good without ganciclovir treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2685-2691
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• 2015

To evaluate the clinical impact of preoperative serum CEA and CA19-9 on resectable gastric cancer (GC), a total of 1,075 consecutive cases with gastric adenocarcinoma were obtained retrospectively from January 2012 and December 2013 in a single tertiary hospital, and the relationships between serum CEA, CA19-9 and clinicopathologic features were investigated. Positive preoperative serum rates of CEA and CA19-9 were 22.4% and 12.3% respectively, levels significantly correlating with each other and depth of invasion, lymph node involvement, pTNM and stage. The CEA level also presented a remarkable association with lymphovascular invasion. Both CEA and CA19-9 positivity significantly and positively correlated with depth of invasion, nodal involvement, pTNM stage, lymphovascular invasion, tumor size and tumor location. Stratified analyses according to gender or tumor location showed preoperative CEA or CA19-9 had different associations with clinicopathologic features in different gender subgroups or location subgroups. Preoperative serum CA19-9 positivity may be more meaningful for tumor size rather than CEA. In conclusion, preoperative serum CEA and CA19-9 correlate with disease progression of GC, and may have applications in aiding more accurate estimation of tumor stage, decision of treatment choice and prognosis evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.171-175
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify salivary and serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) in patients with oral lichen planus, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Patients selected included 54 oral lichen planus (41 to 65 years), 50 oral leukoplakia (42 to 65 years), 51 oral submucous fibrosis (41 to 65 years), and 50 healthy controls (42 to 65 years). Oral lichen planus, oral leukoplakia, and oral submucous fibrosis cases were diagnosed using histopathological analysis. Salivary and serum cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay kits in all subjects. Results: The levels of serum and salivary $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-8 were statistically significantly increased in oral leukoplakia, submucous fibrosis, and lichen planus in contrast to normal healthy subjects (P<0.05). Serum and salivary correlation analysis revealed strong and highly significant correlations for $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-8 in all groups (r=0.72-0.82, P<0.05). Conclusion: Salivary and serum cytokines were also elevated when analyzed in oral precancerous lesions. Thus, salivary and serum IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels might act as diagnostic markers for detection of oral precancer.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.693-699
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• 2005

Protein-calorie malnutrition is common in maintenance dialysis patients. Indeed, diabetic patients with chronic renal failure are considered to be at increased risk of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional status and markers of inflammation of hemodialysis patients with and without type 2 diabetes. We compared nutritional parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of inflammation in 30 type 2 diabetic patients and age-matched 30 non-diabetic patients with hemodialysis. Serum albumin was significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes $(3.45\pm0.43g/dL)$ than in non-diabetic patients $(3.64\pm0.36 g/dL)$ (p<0.05). In contrast, the concentration of serum CRP was significantly higher in type 2 diabetes $(1.42\pm1.8mg/dL)$ (p<0.05). There were significant negative-relationships between serum albumin and CRP level in both diabetic (r=-0.553, p<0.01) and non-diabetic (r=-0.579, p<0.01) patients. In diabetic patients, serum albumin level was significantly correlated with hemoglobin (r = 0.488, p < 0.01) and hematocrit (r=0.386, p < 0.01). Diabetic patients as compared to non-diabetic patients showed a significant (p < 0.01) increased serum triglyceride (TG) $(153.1\pm80.1mg/dL\;vs\;101.6\pm62.4mg/dL)$ and decreased serum HDL cholesterol $(36.89\pm13.48mg/dL\;vs\;47.00\pm14.02mg/dL,\;P<0.05)$. There were significant correlations in the intake of calorie and serum albumin levels in both diabetic (r=0.438, p< 0.05) and non-diabetic (r=0.527, p<0.05) patients. Serum CRP level was negatively correlated with calorie (r= -0.468, p < 0.05), protein (r=-0.520, p < 0.01) and fat intakes (r=-0.403, p < 0.05) in diabetic patients and calorie (r=-0.534, p<0.05) and protein intakes (r=-0.559, p<0.05) in non-diabetic patients. The prevalence of protein malnutrition and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease were significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients than in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients. Thus, we can suggest that the higher comorbidity and mortality rate in diabetic hemodialysis patients are partially explained by malnutrition and inflammation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.341-348
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• 2021

Serum amylase is a representative enzyme secreted by the salivary gland and pancreas. This study investigates the clinical significance of serum amylase levels in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Totally, 70 female subjects were enrolled, who were diagnosed as SS and had no accompanying afflictions that affected the serum amylase levels. Unstimulated salivary flow rate (U-SFR) and stimulated SFR (S-SFR), salivary gland scan, and disease activity markers (ESSDAI and ESSPRI), as well as blood tests including ESR, CRP, and amylase, were evaluated. Serum amylase showed significant positive correlation with the U-SFR and S-SFR, and was increased with higher ejection fraction (EF) of the parotid gland. However, there was no significant correlation with disease activity and inflammatory markers. Based on their average amylase levels, subjects were divided into two groups. The group with higher serum amylase levels showed a statistically significant increase in the S-SFR and EF of the parotid gland. Considering the results of the salivary gland scan, we conclude that serum amylase is significantly correlated with SFR and the EF of the parotid gland, thereby indicating that the salivary gland function remains intact in SS.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2273-2276
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• 2013

Objectives: This study employed proteomic profiling to identify specific tumor markers that might improve early diagnosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Serum samples were isolated from 30 patients with stage I lung squamous cell carcinoma and 30 age-and gender-matched healthy controls, and proteomic profiles were obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Results: Three highly expressed potential tumor markers were identified in the sera of stage I lung squamous cell carcinoma patients, with molecular weights of 3261.69, 3192.07, and 2556.92 Da. One protein peak with molecular weight 3261.69 Da was chosen as the candidate biomarker and identified as a fibrinogen alpha chain through a search of the IPI, NCBI or SWISS-PROT protein databases. Conclusion: As a potential tumor biomarker, fibrinogen alpha chain may be applicable for the early diagnosis and prognosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-49
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• 2018

Objectives: The study is aimed at evaluating the possible toxicity in 90-day repeated oral administration of modified Samjung-hwan (mSJH) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. This study was conducted to detect the no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). Methods: Modified SJH extract was administered orally in male and female SD rats at dose of 0, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 mg/kg. Each group consisted of 10 rats of each gender. The modified SJH extract was given once a day for 90 days. We monitored the changes of mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, food consumption, ophthalmologic findings, urine analysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, histological markers of all animals treated with modified SJH extract during the study period. Results: There were no toxicologically significant changes in mortalities, clinical signs, body weight gains, food consumption, ophthalmologic findings, urine analysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, histological markers in any of rats tested. Conclusions: The NOAEL of the modified SJH extract in male rats and no observed effect level (NOEL) in female rats are considered 4,000 mg/kg.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.345-350
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• 2019

Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing liver fibrosis, but it is invasive and has a risk for complications. For this reason, recently, study has been actively conducted on non-invasive liver fibrosis evaluation method. But, there is no established standard for the type of diffuse liver disease. Therefore, this study was suggest the usefulness and cut-off values of Fibroscan, FIB-4, APRI and AAR of patients with hepatitis C in Korea. According to the diagnosis, 240 people in hepatitis C are classified into fatty liver, chronic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. The statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA to verify difference between groups. The ROC curve was analyzed to determine the usefulness and practical cut-off value. As a result, for all diseases, the AUC value for Fibroscan was 0.8 over and the APRI was 0.7 over. Cut-off value of serum based liver fibrosis markers was increased in order of fatty liver, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. If Fibroscan and serological liver fibrosis markers are applied to predict liver fibrosis, it is expected that excessive liver biopsy can be reduced.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.92-111
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• 2021

Purpose: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common form of glomerulopathy in children. Most pediatric patients respond to glucocorticosteroid treatment (steroid-sensitive NS, SSNS), while approximately 10-15% will remain unresponsive or later become steroid-resistant. There has been a long-standing effort to find biomarkers that may predict steroid responsiveness. Methods: We systematically reviewed current studies which investigated clinically relevant biomarkers for predicting steroid responsiveness in pediatric NS. We performed a PubMed and EMBASE search to identify eligible articles. We collected data on urinary markers, blood/serum markers (including cellular phenotypes and mRNA expression), genotypes and HLA allele frequency. Results: A total of 659 articles were identified following electronic and manual searches. After reviewing the titles, abstracts, and full texts, 72 eligible articles were finally included. Vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) seemed to be significantly elevated in SRNS than in SSNS, in both serum and urine specimen, although further validation is required. Conclusions: The present paper narratively illustrates current understandings of potential biomarkers that may help predict steroid responsiveness. Further investigation and collaboration involving a larger number of patients are necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2021

This study was designed to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of cirsilineol in hydrochloric acid (HCl)/ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Cirsilineol was administered at the doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg in HCl/ethanol-induced rats. The gastroprotective ability was verified by determining the ulcer score, total acidity, hemoglobin, inflammatory cytokines, lipid peroxides, and enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in gastric tissue and serum biochemical analysis. The results showed a favorable increase in the hemoglobin level, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), restored electrochemical balance (carbon dioxide & anion gap) while a noticeable decrease in ulcer index, total acidity, lipid peroxides, inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) in rats treated with the cirsilineol. The serum biochemical analysis on liver markers (alkaline phosphatases, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase), kidney markers (urea, creatinine, albumin, globulin, total protein), and lipid profile (triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol) were attenuated by cirsilineol treatment in rats. Histopathology showed enhanced gastric protection and preserved the integrity of gastric mucosa upon cirsilineol administration. These results ultimately suggest that cirsilineol has gastroprotective effects that prevent the development of gastric ulcer.