The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low-intensity cardiac rehabilitation exercise on the cardiac function and the degree of fibrosis in an older white rat model. This study used male Sprague- Dawley white rats that were 50 weeks old. After the acute myocardial infarction induction, Twenty of the rats were randomly allocated into an experimental group and a control group, and each of the groups consisted of 8 rats. In the experimental group, the exercise was conducted for six weeks, 30 minutes a day, five days a week, using a Rotarod treadmill for animals. The degree of myocardial fibrosis was significantly repressed in the experimental group(13.69±1.90%) and in the control group(15.67±1.54%)(p<0.05). However, fractional shortening and ejection fraction did not show a significant difference. The results of this study suggest that cardiac rehabilitation with low intensity treadmill exercise repress the myocardial fibrosis.

담도 과오종과 선천성 간섬유증은 태생기에 간판 기형에 의해 생기는 섬유 낭성 질환에 속한다. 담도 과오종은 증상 을 유발하지 않고 우연히 발견되는 질환이지만, 선천성 간섬 유증은 25%에서 담관염이 발생하고 증상이 발생하면 항생 제 투여부터 수술까지 적극적 치료가 필요하다. 저자들은 복부 영상 소견으로 담도 과오종으로 진단하고 경과 관찰하던 64세 남자가 2년간 반복적인 담관염이 발생한 원인을 찾기 위해 시행한 간 생검에서 담도 과오종과 선천성 간섬유증이 병합된 것으로 진단한 증례를 경험하여 문헌고찰과 함께 보고한다.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is defined as a gradual, interstitial fibrous disease of the lung parenchyma. PF causes collapse of the lung lobe, which can lead to lung lobe torsion of the other side. A 14-year-old male Pekinese dog was referred to the Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University. The chief complaint was acute dyspnea. The dog had a history of chronic cough, which lasted for 18 months, and the cough had recently deteriorated. Tachypnea was observed on physical examination. As a result of thoracic radiographs, ultrasonography, and computed tomography, lung lobe torsion and collapse were diagnosed. A postmortem examination revealed lung lobe torsion of the left cranial lobe and carnification of the right cranial lobe. Histologically, severe and diffuse interstitial fibrosis with distortion of alveolar architecture and severe congestion and/or hemorrhage were observed in the right cranial lobe and left cranial lobe, respectively. Although the cause of pulmonary fibrosis was undetermined, this case showed a typical lung lobe torsion caused by pulmonary fibrosis.

본 연구는 일반적인 간 초음파영상에서 형태학적인 분류인 간 표면, 간 가장자리, 간 실질을 점수체계로 이용하여 간 조직검사 결과의 경미한 섬유화(F1), 중증도 섬유화(F2), 심한 섬유화(F3) 및 간병변(F4)으로 나 눈 섬유화 단계와 비교하여 유용성을 알아보고자 하였다. 결론적으로 일반적인 초음파 검사는 경미한 섬유 화(F1)~심한 섬유화(F3)를 검출할 수 있는 민감한 예측 인자로 간 가장자리>간 실질>간 표면으로 나타났으 며, 간경변(F4)를 검출할 수 있는 예측인자로는 간 실질>간 표면>간 가장자리로 나타났다. 일반적인 초음파 검사에서 각각의 변수가 아닌 3가지 변수조합을 활용한다면 간 섬유화 정도와 진행 상태를 평가하는데 더 유용할 것으로 사료된다.

간조직 생검은 침습적이며, 합병증의 위험을 동반함에도 불구하고 간섬유화의 정도를 예측하는 표준 진 단법으로 적용된다. 이러한 단점을 보완하기 위해 본 연구에서는 만성 C형간염 환자 200명을 대상으로 Fib roscan®을 이용하여 간섬유화 등급을 나누고, ROC 곡선을 측정하여 혈청학적검사로 계산되는 FIB-4, APR I, AAR의 유용성과 실질적인 Cut-off value를 알아보고자 하였다. 그 결과 간섬유화 평가를 위해 AAR을 적 용하는 것보다는 APRI, FIB-4를 이용하는 것이 적절할 것으로 생각되며, 경한 섬유화 등급을 예측하기 위 해서는 APRI, 간경변군인 F4등급에는 FIB-4를 사용하는 것이 유용하다고 판단된다. 혈청학적 간섬유화 표 지자의 간편하고 반복 측정이 가능하다는 장점을 이용해 간 섬유화의 경과 관찰 기간을 줄일 수 있으므로 나아가 간경변과 간암의 유병률을 감소시킬 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, induces toxicity in cells and in experimental animals. Ginseng extracts were evaluated to determine whether they can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity. The antioxidant activity of fresh ginseng extract (WGE), dried white ginseng extract (DGE), and dried red ginseng extract (RGE) was measured using the DPPH assay. WGE and RGE increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Cell viability was measured in HepG2 cells following treatment with BPA and ginseng extracts using the MTT assay. DGE and RGE increased HepG2 cell viability following treatment with 200 μM BPA. RGE reduced levels of biochemical markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) that increased in mice following treatment with BPA. In addition, the regeneration and proliferation of damaged liver cells were significantly increased in RGE-treated mice. Moreover, RGE inhibited hepatic fibrosis in the surrounding area and in the central vein of the liver microstructure. RGE also significantly inhibited BPA-induced cytotoxicity. In addition, RGE protected liver damage and regenerated liver tissues in BPA-treated animals. These results show that RGE may represent a potential candidate drug for the treatment and prevention of liver damage caused by environmental toxins.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of retroperitoneal tissue marked by chronic inflammation and prominent fibrosis. A 67-year-old man presented with general weakness and oliguria. Laboratory findings showed blood urea nitrogen 77.7 mg/dL, serum creatinine 9.24 mg/dL, and an IgG4 level within the normal range. Computed tomography (CT) findings showed bilateral hydronephrosis and distal ureteral obstruction due to fibrotic adhesion to a presacral mass. Laparoscopic biopsy was performed. The authors report a case of acute kidney injury caused by non-IgG4 related focal retroperitoneal fibrosis in the pelvis that was successfully treated using prednisolone and tamoxifen… non-IgG4 related focal retroperitoneal fibrosis caused byacute kidney injury.

A 67-year-old man visited our hospital with anorexia and abdominal discomfort after taking herb for 3 months. Abdominal computed tomograpy showed splenomegaly. Blood test showed elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase level, thrombocytopenia, and there was no viral or autoimmune hepatitis. Liver biopsy showed comprehensive fibrotic changes and necrosis on iver parenchyma. He recovered within 1 week after stopping the herb. There was no disease recurrence for 1 year. No case of toxic hepatitis by taking Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel has been reported. Thus, this case proved for the first time that Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel could cause drug induced liver injury.

Fifty percent ethanol extract of Lythrum salicaria Linne root (LSR) was tested in vitro on antioxidant activity, and furthermore was investigated on antioxidative and fibrosis protecting activities in CCL4-induced liver fibrosis rat model. Ratio of hepatic GSH/GSSG (reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione) as bio-parameter of antioxidant level in CCL4 plus LSR-treated rats for 6 weeks significantly increased from 2.8- to 5.7-fold than that of CCL4-treated rats at p 〈 0.05. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) contents in CCL4 plus LSR-treated rats ranged from 1.57- to 2.19-fold of normal rats and were lower than those in CCL4 plus silymarin-treated rats (1.78~2.46-fold of normal rats) (p 〈 0.05). Amounts of hydroxyproline of liver tissue showing the content of total collagen, a parameter of fibrosis, in CCL4 plus LSR-administrated rat livers were 4.9~8.8μg/mg (-47~-71%, compared with that in CCL4-treated rat livers (16.6μg/mg tissue), which were significantly lower than those in CCL4 plus silymarin-administrated rats being 8.4~11.7μg/mg (-30~-50%). This collagen reducing effect of liver tissue in CCL4 plus LSR-treated rats was supported by histological observation using microscopy assay. From the results, we conclude that the root of L. salicaria have efficient antioxidant potential and effective antifibrotic activities.