• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1367-1370
• /
• 2015

Diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is difficult when patients do not show jaundice. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using the total serum bile acid (TSBA) level as an aid for the diagnosis of CCA in patients without jaundice. For this purpose, TSBA of the following groups were measured using a Beckman Synchron CX4 clinical chemistry analyzer: 60 cases of CCA with total serum bilirubin ${\leq}2mg/dL$ (low total bilirubin group, LTB); 32 cases of CCA with total serum bilirubin >2 mg/dL (high total bilirubin group, HTB); and 115 healthy controls. Liver function parameters such as serum cholesterol, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also examined. The results showed that the TSBA of both LTB and HTB groups of the CCA patients were significantly higher than that of the healthy controls. Also, significant correlation was observed between TSBA and total bilirubin levels in the HTB group of CCA patients. However, no such correlation was seen in the LTB group. The cut-off value of TSBA was determined for the LTB group of CCA patients using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and it was $6.05{\mu}mol/L$ with the sensitivity and specificity of 46.7% and 84.4%, respectively. In addition, the ALP level was correlated well with the TSBA level and ALP in HTB group was significantly higher than that of LTB group. Moreover, the combination of high TSBA and high ALP levels gave higher specificity up to 97.4%. TSBA might be useful for the diagnosis of CCA patients without jaundice.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.389-401
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine a factor for predicting suboptimal image quality of the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in patients with extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) cancer before MRI examination. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 259 patients (mean age ± standard deviation: 68.0 ± 8.3 years; 162 male and 97 female) with EHD cancer who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI between 2011 and 2017. Patients were divided into a primary analysis set (n = 184) and a validation set (n = 75) based on the diagnosis date of January 2014. Two reviewers assigned the functional liver imaging score (FLIS) to reflect the HBP image quality. The FLIS consists of the sum of three HBP features, each scored on a 0-2 scale: liver parenchymal enhancement, biliary excretion, and signal intensity of the portal vein. Patients were classified into low-FLIS (0-3) or high-FLIS (4-6) groups. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine a predictor of low FLIS using serum biochemical and imaging parameters of cholestasis severity. The optimal cutoff value for predicting low FLIS was obtained using receiver operating characteristic analysis, and validation was performed. Results: Of the 259 patients, 140 (54.0%) and 119 (46.0%) were classified into the low-FLIS and high-FLIS groups, respectively. In the primary analysis set, total bilirubin was an independent factor associated with low FLIS (adjusted odds ratio per 1-mg/dL increase, 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-1.98). The optimal cutoff value of total bilirubin for predicting low FLIS was 2.1 mg/dL with a sensitivity of 95.1% (95% CI: 88.9-98.4) and a specificity of 89.0% (95% CI: 80.2-94.9). In the validation set, the total bilirubin cutoff showed a sensitivity of 92.1% (95% CI: 78.6-98.3) and a specificity of 83.8% (95% CI: 68.0-93.8). Conclusion: Serum total bilirubin before acquisition of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI may help predict suboptimal HBP image quality in patients with EHD cancer.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.352-363
• /
• 2004

Lipid-lowering effects of the inulin have been demonstrated in animal, yet attempts to reproduce similar effects in humans have generated conflicting results. In this study, the lipid-lowering potential of inulin and especially its effect on bile acid and neutral sterol excretion were investigated in Korean postmenopausal women. Nineteen postmenopausal women were randomly divided into two groups in a double-blind parallel design and consumed one of two supplements for 12 weeks; placebo of 8g maltodextrins/sucrose mixture (placebo group) or 8g inulin (inulin group). There were no significant changes in body weight during the supplementation period in either inulin or placebo group. Dietary consumption of animal fat in both group tended to decrease after 12 weeks of experiment. Intake of cholesterol was lower in placebo group, whereas the decrease of cholesterol intake in inulin group did not reach statistical significance after 12 weeks. The levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly decreased in both placebo (p＜0.05) and inulin group (p＜0.01) after supplementation for 12 weeks compared with the baseline. The levels of serum triglyceride (TG) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were not significantly affected by inulin supplements, but atherogenic index (AI) and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (LHR) as a predictor for coronary heart disease were improved (p＜0.01) significantly after inulin supplementation. Therefore, inulin supplement may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease via improving blood cholesterol level. Fecal weight and pH were not changed after 12 weeks of supplementation. There were no statistically significant changes for the fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In inulin group, fecal deoxycholic acid (DCA) was significantly lowered compared with the baseline (p＜0.05) whereas other bile acids were not changed. During the 12 weeks of intervention, no differences were found in fecal excretion of neutral sterol in the two groups. In summary, dietary inulin decreases serum TC, LDL-C, AI, LHR and lowers excretion of fecal DCA in the Korean postmenopausal women. These results support the use of inulin for reducing risk factors for hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women. However, the exact mechanism (s) responsible for the blood lipid lowering action of inulin including altered fecal bile acid remain to be elucidated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.879-886
• /
• 1994

This study was carried out to determine, the effects of sodium alginate and cellulose on the plasma lipoportein composition and cholesterol metabolism inrats.Each experimental diet contained 105 sodium alginate and cellulose by weight, respectivley and rats were fed fro 4 weeks. The results obtained were as follows : The feeding of sodium alginate and cellulose decreased total plasma cholesterol slightly . total cholesterol of Chylomicron /VLDL- , LDL-fraction and liver were decreased significantly insodium alginate group. HDL-cholesterol was slightly increased in soidum alginate group. The feeding of sodium alginate significantly lowered plasma , Chylomicron VLDL-, LDL-fraction and liver TG concentrations compared with those fed fiber-free diet . The HMG-CoA reductase activity was not different among diet groups but the lowest activity was observed in sodium alginate group. The feeding of sodium alginate significantly increased fecal cholesterol , TG, and bile acid excretion . In summary , the ingestion of sodium alginate decreased cholesterol and TG concentrations of plasma and liver. This may be explained by the facts that fecal cholesterol, bile acid and TG level were increased significantly in sodium alginate group.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.562-569
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effects of porphyran and insoluble dietary fiber isolated from laver in rats fed high fat diet containing 1% cholesterol, 0.25% sodium cholate and 12% lard. Rats were fed, ad libitum, diets containing 5% diet fiber as cellulose(normal control or high fat control), porphyran or insoluble dietary fiber for 4 weeks. Among the groups fed high fat diet, liver weight was significantly lower in high fat porphyran group than high fat control. Plasma GOT, GPT, total cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, LDL-cholesterol and liver total cholesterol concentration were significantly lower in high fat porphyran group than high fat control. The feeding of porphyran significantly increased fecal cholesterol and bile acid excretion. The feeding of insoluble dietary fiber had no significant effect on either plasma or liver cholesterol levels, although fecal cholesterol level in the insoluble dietary fiber group was significantly higher than that in the high fat control. The results indicate that porphyran isolated from the laver may exert their hypocholesterolemic effect by increasing excretion of fecal bile acid and cholesterol.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.100-107
• /
• 1994

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Cnidi rhizoma (CR) water extract on fat accumulation in fatted rats induced by the oral high fat administration for six weeks. Total cholesterol, neutral lipid and epididymal fat pad of CR groups were lower than the control group. On the other hand, high density lipoprotein(HDL) -cholesterol was somewhat higher In CR than In the control group. In addition, the same result as the above case was obtained when examining adipose for liver and epididymal fat components. During the feeding experiment, level of low density Lipoprotein(LDL) and very low density Lipoprotein (VLDL) increased while HDL was decreased. The degree of LDL and VLDL was decreased however, and HDL was, increased In CH groups as compared with the control group. Insulin and cortisol were higher than the control group, due to the fat accumulation. Experiment group showed the increased excretion as compared with the control group, in the excretion of bile acid and neutral sterol. The liver of the control group observed by the light microscope appeared to the fatty liver, but CR groups showed some improvement of the fatty liver. Based on the above results, it was shown that It Is possible to improve fat accumulation induced, by high fat dietary through using the oral administration of Cnidi rhizoma boiling extract solutions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.726-732
• /
• 2020

Indonesian kefir grains are potential sources of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that may act as probiotics with specific functional properties. In this study we explored the potential of the probiotic and cholesterol-lowering effect of LAB isolated from Indonesian kefir grains obtained from Bogor, Bandung, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta. The results revealed that 10 isolates showed considerable survivability at low pH and bile salt with total cell reduction of ~3 log colony-forming units per milliliter after exposure to pH 2.5 and 0.5% (w/v) bile salt for 1 and 3 h, respectively. All strains exhibited strong antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacteria and were sensitive to a wide spectrum of antibiotics but exhibited weak bile salt hydrolase activity. Identification based on 16S RNA suggested that nine isolates were Lactobacillus kefiri and one was Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The ability of the isolates to reduce cholesterol from the media varied, ranging from 22.08% to 68.75% with the highest reduction shown by L. kefiri JK17. The ability to remove cholesterol from the media decreased greatly in resting and dead cells, ranging from 14.58% to 22.08% in resting cells and from 7.89% to 18.17% in dead cells. It can be concluded that Indonesian kefir grains contain LAB potentially acting as probiotics capable of reducing cholesterol. The cholesterol-lowering effect especially occurs when the cells are metabolically active.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.906-912
• /
• 2003

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of Saengshik supplementation on lipid metabolism in rats fed high cholesterol diets. Male Spraque-Dawley rats were administrated 1% cholesterol to induce hypercholesterolemia and were fed on diet containing Saengshik (30%, w/w). Serum and liver lipid profiles and fecal bile acids excretion were examined after 7 weeks of experimental diet. The feeding of diet containing 30% Saengshik significantly decreased total cholesterol (TC) contents in liver and plasma. Since cholesterol was balanced by entero-hepatic circulation through bile acid synthesis and reabsorption, inhibition of bile acid re-uptake in intestine decreases total cholesterol in liver and blood. In this point, significant increament of fecal bile acid excretion in Shaengshik group decreased TC and improved hypercholesterolemia. Also plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) decreasing risk for coronary heart disease in Saengshik supplemented group was significantly higher than control group, whereas low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) accumulation in arterial vessel wall was significantly lower than control group. In this result, we supposed that supplementation of Saengshik, uncooked natural food, may improve hypercholesterolemia through increment of cholesterol excretion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.978-983
• /
• 1995

The effect of sulfur-containing amino acids on lipid metabolism was studied in rats fed casein as a protein source. Plasma cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and atherosclerotic index decreased in the cysteine group compared to the methionine group. Plasma triglyceride and phospholipid level were not affected by the supplementation of the sulfur-containing amino acids. The levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in liver decreased by both methionine and cysteine. Cysteine increased the fecal excretion of coprostanol, total neutral steroid and bile acid. The results suggest that plasma cholesterol level is affected by dietary ratio of cysteine/methionine and that the hypocholesterolemic effects of cysteine is, at least in part, through reducing cholesterol absorption from small intestine and through enhancing fecal excretion of bile acids.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.981-990
• /
• 1998

The effects of indigestible dextrin on lipids in serum, tissue, and feces were investigated in two experiments carried out with 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats for eight weeks. Experiment I diet(normal fat diet) containing 5% corn oil and experiment II diet(high fat diet) containing 18% fat(13% beef tallow and 5% corn oil) and 1% cholesterol were divided into four groups with 0.5% cellulose(0.5CL : control), 10% cellulose(10CL), 10% Indigestible dextrin I(ID-I) and 10% indigestible dextrin II(ID-II), respectively. ID-I and ID-II diets produced a decrease in serum total lipid and cholesterol concentrations in both normal and high fat diets but more significantly in the groups fed high fat diet. ID-I, ID-II, and 10CL of high fat diet decreased serum glucose concentration. ID-I and ID-II diets also decreased liver cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in rats fed normal and high fit diets. The fecal excretion of cholesterol in ID-II/high fat diet was significantly higher than that of 0.5CL diet. Bile acid excretion was increased in the rats fed 10CL and ID-II diets of normal and high fat diets. These observations indicat the hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effects of indigestible dextrin on the rats. These effects are mediated by the increase of facal cholesterol and bile acid excretion. (Korean J Nutrition31(6) : 981-990, 1998)