This study aims to investigate the hepatotoxicity of Psoraleae Fructus water extract and the underlying mechanism in rats. Forty-eight rats were randomly assigned into four groups: a blank group and low-(BZGL, 6.25 g·kg~(-1)), medium-(BGZM, 12.5 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(BGZH, 25 g·kg~(-1)) Psoraleae Fructus water extract groups. The rats were treated for 28 days, and toxicity and mortality were observed daily. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed, and the body weight, liver index, and liver-to-brain ratio were calculated. The morphological changes in the liver tissue were observed, and the serum levels of related biochemical indicators were measured. The results showed that compared with the blank group, Psoraleae Fructus water extracts of different doses decreased the body weight, increased the liver index and liver-to-brain ratio, and caused liver hypertrophy and pathological changes. Pathological examination revealed that the rats in Psoraleae Fructus water extract groups had bile duct hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and liver cell fibrosis. Compared with the blank group, BGZL elevated the levels of alanine transaminase(ALT), α-glutathione S-transferase(α-GST), and total bile acid(TBA)(P<0.05), and BGZM and BGZH elevated the levels of ALT, TBA, α-GST, γ-glutamyl transferase(γ-GT), purine nucleoside phosphorylase(PNP), ornithine carbamoyltransferase(OCT), and arginase(ArgI)(P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, Psoraleae Fructus water extracts of different doses down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of bile salt export pump(BSEP) and farnesoid X receptor(FXR) and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), nuclear factor kappaB(NF-κB), and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase(CYP7A1)(P<0.05). The results suggested that Psoraleae Fructus water extract caused toxicity in rats, showing a dose-toxicity relationship. Psoraleae Fructus water extract may cause liver damage, which may be due to its effect on liver bile acid secretion and induction of inflammation.
Rats ; Animals ; Water ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Liver ; NF-kappa B ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Body Weight ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECITVIE: To compare the liver protective activity of fresh/dried dandelion extracts against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Totally 90 Kunming mice were randomly divided into 10 groups according to body weight (9 mice for each group). The mice in the normal control and model (vehicle control) groups were administered sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na, 0.5%) only. Administration groups were pretreated with high and low-dose dry dandelion extract (1,000 or 500 g fresh herb dried and then decocted into 120 mL solution, DDE-H and DDE-L); low-, medium- and high-dose dandelion juice (250, 500, 1,000 g/120 mL, DJ-L, DJ-M, and DJ-H); fresh dandelions evaporation juice water (120 mL, DEJW); dry dandelion extract dissolved by pure water (1 kg/120 mL, DDED-PW); dry dandelion extract dissolved by DEJW (120 g/120 mL, DDED-DEJW) by oral gavage for 7 days at the dosage of 0.5 mL solution/10 g body weight; after that, except normal control group, all other groups were intraperitonealy injected with 350 mg/kg APAP to induce liver injury. Twenty hours after APAP administration, serum and liver tissue were collected and serum alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were quantified by biochemical kits; tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-1 β contents in liver tissue were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits. Histopathological changes in liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining; TUNEL Assay and Hoechst 33258 staining were applied for cell apoptosis evaluation. The expressions of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), caspase-9, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bax and p-JNK were determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Pretreatment with fresh dandelion juice (FDJ, including DJ-L, DJ-M, DJ-H, DEJW and DDED-DEJW) significantly decreased the levels of serum ALT, AST, AKP, TNF-α and IL-1β compared with vehicle control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, compared with the vehicle control group, FDJ decreased the levels of hepatic MDA and restored GSH levels and SOD activity in livers (P<0.05 or P<0.01). FDJ inhibited the overexpression of pro-inflammatory factors including cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the liver tissues (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, Western blot analysis revealed that FDJ pretreatment inhibited activation of apoptotic signaling pathways via decreasing of Bax, and caspase-9 and JNK protein expression, and inhibited activation of JNK pathway (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Liver histopathological observation provided further evidence that FDJ pretreatment significantly inhibited APAP-induced hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and congestion. CONCLUSIONS FDJ pretreatment protects against APAP-induced hepatic injury by activating the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, and the effect of fresh dandelion extracts was superior to dried dandelion extracts in APAP hepatotoxicity model mice.
Acetaminophen/toxicity* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Body Weight ; Caspase 9/metabolism* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control* ; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene/pharmacology* ; Glutathione/metabolism* ; Liver ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Taraxacum/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Water/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: The metabolomics technique of LC-MS/MS combined with data analysis was used to detect changes and differences in metabolic profiles in the vitreous humor of early rat carcasses found in water, and to explore the feasibility of its use for early postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) estimation and the cause of death determination. METHODS: The experimental model was established in natural lake water with 100 SD rats were randomly divided into a drowning group (n=50) and a postmortem (CO₂ suffocation) immediately submersion group (n=50). Vitreous humor was extracted from 10 rats in each group at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h postmortem for metabolomics analyses, of which 8 were used as the training set to build the model, and 2 were used as test set. PCA and PLS multivariate statistical analysis were performed to explore the differences in metabolic profiles among PMSI and causes of death in the training set samples. Then random forest (RF) algorithm was used to screen several biomarkers to establish a model. RESULTS: PCA and PLS analysis showed that the metabolic profiles had time regularity, but no differences were found among different causes of death. Thirteen small molecule biomarkers with good temporal correlation were selected by RF algorithm. A simple PMSI estimation model was constructed based on this indicator set, and the data of the test samples showed the mean absolute error (MAE) of the model was 0.847 h. CONCLUSIONS The 13 metabolic markers screened in the vitreous humor of rat corpses in water had good correlations with the early PMSI. The simplified PMSI estimation model constructed by RF can be used to estimate the PMSI. Additionally, the metabolic profiles of vitreous humor cannot be used for early identification of cause of death in water carcasses.
Animals ; Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Cadaver ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Immersion ; Postmortem Changes ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Vitreous Body/metabolism* ; Water/metabolism*

Bioelectrical impedance measurement technology is a non-invasive detection technology for extracting human physiological and pathological information. The analysis method of the relationship between bioimpedance and human physiological parameters is an important part of this technology. In order to calculate the internal and external liquid volume of human cells more accurately, based on the Moissl equation for calculating the internal and external fluid volume of human cells, a segmented human bioimpedance spectrum measurement model and an improved calculation method of intracellular and external fluid capacity were proposed. The measurement and calculation experiments of the intracellular and extracellular fluid volume before and after the human body's water intake were designed and compared with the Moissl calculation method. The results show that the improved calculation method can calculate the intracellular and extracellular fluid volumes more effectively, and the relative error is less than 5%, which may provide new ideas or more accurate methods for the analysis of human body components, facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Body Water ; Electric Impedance ; Extracellular Fluid ; Humans ; Intracellular Fluid

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated physical activity (PA) participation based on demographic, physical, and psychological variables in Korean adults.METHODS: Participants were divided into four groups (combined, aerobic only, resistance only, and neither) based on meeting the PA guidelines using moderate and vigorous PA time and resistance exercise frequency from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017. The association between meeting the PA guidelines and demographic, medical, fitness, lifestyle, and psychological variables were analyzed using complex samples crosstabs and a general linear model.RESULTS: Of the 5,820 Korean adults, 66.0% did not meet any of the guidelines. Among demographic factors, sex, age, marital status, income, education level, occupation, and employment status were associated with meeting the PA guidelines. Chronic disease prevalence, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels, hand-grip strength, resting heart rate, and family history of chronic disease in the medical and fitness variables; frequency of drinking and eating breakfast, total calorie, water, protein, and fat intake in the lifestyle variables; and perceived stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, and quality of life in the psychological variables were associated with meeting PA guidelines.CONCLUSIONS: Most Korean adults participate in insufficient PA. Moreover, individuals who are socially underprivileged, have low-income or poor physical and mental health conditions participated in relatively less PA. Our findings suggest that government and individual efforts are required to increase PA and resolve health inequality in Korean adults.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Breakfast ; Chronic Disease ; Demography ; Depression ; Drinking ; Eating ; Education ; Employment ; Glucose ; Health Equity ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Linear Models ; Lipoproteins ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference ; Water

OBJECTIVES: The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major challenge for the global control of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with MDR-TB in Sudan.METHODS: This case-control study was conducted from May 2017 to February 2019. Patients newly diagnosed with MDR-TB were selected as cases, and controls were selected from TB patients who responded to first-line anti-TB drugs. A questionnaire was designed and used to collect data from study participants. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between risk factors and MDR-TB infection. The best multivariate model was selected based on the likelihood ratio test.RESULTS: A total of 430 cases and 860 controls were selected for this study. A history of previous TB treatment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 54.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 30.48 to 98.69) was strongly associated with MDR-TB infection. We identified interruption of TB treatment (aOR, 7.62; 95% CI, 3.16 to 18.34), contact with MDR-TB patients (aOR, 5.40; 95% CI, 2.69 to 10.74), lower body weight (aOR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.91), and water pipe smoking (aOR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.73 to 6.04) as factors associated with MDR-TB infection.CONCLUSIONS: Previous TB treatment and interruption of TB treatment were found to be the main predictors of MDR-TB. Additionally, this study found that contact with MDR-TB patients and water pipe smoking were associated with MDR-TB infection in Sudan. More efforts are required to decrease the rate of treatment interruption, to strengthen patients' adherence to treatment, and to reduce contact with MDR-TB patients.
Body Weight ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Sudan ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; Water

BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an irreversible progressive disease that destroys exocrine parenchyma, which are replaced by fibrous tissue. As pancreatic fibrosis is a key feature of CP, reducing fibrotic protein content in the pancreas is crucial for preventing CP. Studies suggest that NF-κB facilitates the expression of fibrotic mediators in pancreas and protein kinase C-δ (PKC-δ) regulates NF-κB activation in stimulated pancreatic acinar cells. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid having anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. It has been shown to inhibit NF-κB activity in cerulein-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells which is a cellular model of CP. In the present study, we investigated if DHA inhibits expression of fibrotic mediators by reducing PKC-δ and NF-κB expression in mouse pancreatic tissues with CP.METHODS: For six weeks, mice were weekly induced for acute pancreatitis to develop CP. Furthermore, acute pancreatitis was induced by hourly intraperitoneal injections of cerulein (50 μg/kg × 7). Mice were administered DHA (10 μM) via drinking water before and after CP induction.RESULTS: Cerulein-induced pancreatic damages like decreased pancreatic weight/total body weight, leukocyte infiltration, necrosis of acinar cells, and vacuolization were found to be inhibited by DHA. Additionally, DHA inhibited cerulein-induced fibrotic mediators like alpha-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin in pancreas. DHA reduced expression of PKC-δ and NF-κB p65 in pancreatic tissues of cerulein-treated mice.CONCLUSIONS: DHA may be beneficial in preventing CP by suppressing pancreatic expression of fibrotic mediators.
Acinar Cells ; Actins ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Ceruletide ; Drinking Water ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Leukocytes ; Mice ; Necrosis ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Protein Kinases

PURPOSE: This study examined the immunological activity and optimized the mixture conditions of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) extracts in vitro and in vivo models.METHODS: S. horneri was extracted using three different methods: hot water extraction (HWE), 50% ethanol extraction (EE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ) were measured using a WST-1 assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of nitric oxide and T cell activation production were measured using a Griess assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined using an EZ-LDH kit.RESULTS: Among the three different types of extracts, HWE showed the highest levels of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. In the animal model, three different types of extracts were administrated for 14 days (once/day) at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. HWE and SFE showed a high level of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in the with and without mitogen-treated groups, whereas EE administration did not induce the splenocyte activation. When RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with different mixtures (HWE with 5, 10, 15, 20% of SFE) to determine the optimal mixture ratio of HWE and SFE, the levels of nitric oxide and cytokine production increased strongly in the HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE containing group. In the animal model, HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE mixture administration increased the levels of splenocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and activated CD4⁺ cell population significantly, with the highest level observed in the HWE with 5% of SFE group. Moreover, the NK cell activity was increased significantly in the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture-treated group compared to the control group.CONCLUSION: The optimal mixture condition of S. horneri with immune-enhancing activity is the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture. These results confirmed that the extracts of S. horneri and its mixtures are potential candidate materials for immune enhancement.
Body Weight ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol ; Flow Cytometry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Macrophages ; Models, Animal ; Nitric Oxide ; Sargassum ; Water

BACKGROUND: Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy is becoming increasingly common. The weight of the breast specimen informs implant selection. However, specimens of the same weight may have different volume. Therefore, identifying the factors affecting the density of breast specimens may facilitate the selection of implants with an appropriate volume. METHODS: From December 2015 to May 2018, 108 patients underwent direct-to-implant reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy. The weight of the breast specimens was measured using an electronic scale in the operating room. Furthermore, the volume of specimens was measured using the water displacement technique. Multiple regression analysis was performed on factors that can affect breast density, such as menopause, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CTx), age, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The average density of breast specimens in patients older than 50 years (n=36) was 0.96±0.04 g/mL, which was significantly lower than the 1.01±0.08 g/mL observed in patients younger than 50 years (n=72) (P=0.007). The mean density of breast specimens in patients who underwent neoadjuvant CTx (n=25) was 0.96±0.06 g/mL, which was significantly lower than the value of 1.00±0.08 g/mL in those who did not (n=83). CONCLUSIONS: It is advisable to select an implant slightly larger than the mastectomy specimen weight in patients older than 50 years or in those who have undergone neoadjuvant CTx.
Body Mass Index ; Breast Implants ; Breast ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Mastectomy ; Menopause ; Operating Rooms ; Water

For patients with short bowel syndrome who undergo ileostomy, nutritional management is essential to prevent complications associated with a high-output stoma (HOS). We report a practical example of ostomic, medical nutrition therapy provided by an intensive nutritional support team (NST). A 42-year-old male with a history of Crohn's disease visited Seoul National University Hospital for treatment of mechanical ileus. He underwent loop ileostomy after extensive small bowel resection. As his remaining small bowel was only 160 cm in length, the stomal output was about 3,000 mL/day and his body weight fell from 52.4 to 40.3 kg. Given his clinical condition, continuous tube feeding for 24 h was used to promote adaptation of the remnant bowel. Thereafter, an oral diet was initiated and multiple, nutritional educational sessions were offered by dietitians. Constant infusion therapy was prescribed and included in the discharge plan. Two months after discharge, his body weight had increased to 46.6 kg and his hydration status was appropriately maintained. This case suggests that the critical features of medical nutritional therapy for ostomy management are frequent assessments of fluid balance, weight history, and laboratory data and after nutritional interventions.
Adult ; Body Weight ; Crohn Disease ; Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Ileus ; Male ; Nutrition Therapy ; Nutritional Support ; Nutritionists ; Ostomy ; Seoul ; Short Bowel Syndrome ; Water-Electrolyte Balance