Chonbuk National University

About: Chonbuk National University is a education organization based out in Jeonju, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Apoptosis & Nanofiber. The organization has 14820 authors who have published 28884 publications receiving 554131 citations.

Revision and update on clinical practice guideline for liver cirrhosis.

Abstract: Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a disease with a high rate of prevalence and one of the most common causes of mortality in the Republic of Korea (hereafter "Korea"). In Korea, the main etiologies of LC have been found to be chronic hepatitis B (CHB), alcohol, and chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In patients with complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding, and encephalopathy, the 5-year survival rates were 32%, 21%, and 40%, respectively, reflecting the poor prognosis of patients with LC. Consequently, a clinical practice guideline appropriate for the medical milieu of Korea is important for both patients and clinicians. In 2005, the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver established a guideline for the treatment of LC that is now widely used. However, it is currently necessary to revise and update the clinical practice guideline based on new evidence over the past 6 years regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of LC. Therefore, the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver undertook a revision and update of the clinical practice guideline co-organized by the Liver Cirrhosis Clinical Research Center. This guideline was based on an interdisciplinary (hepatology, radiology, pathology, and preventive medicine) approach. A panel of experts selected by the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver and Liver Cirrhosis Clinical Research Center met several times to discuss and write this guideline during 2005-2011. This guideline was written in light of published studies retrieved from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. The panel aimed to address 5 subjects: diagnosis of LC, anti-fibrotic therapy for LC, variceal bleeding, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. The evidence and recommendations made in this guideline have been graded according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation) system. The strength of evidence has been classified into 3 levels: A (high-quality evidence), B (moderate-quality evidence), and C (low-quality evidence). The strength of recommendation has been classified into 2 categories: strong and weak (Table 1). Where there was no clear evidence, the recommendations were based on the consensus expert opinion(s) in literature and that of the writing committee. Table 1 Grading evidence and recommendations 1. Diagnosis of LC LC is a pathologically defined disease, and is clinically classified as compensated and decompensated LC. Decompensated LC includes cases with ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, or jaundice. Image studies for diagnosing LC are CT, abdominal ultrasound, and MRI. Typical findings of these images are nodular liver surface, splenomegaly, and the presence of intra-abdominal collateral vessels, which mean increasing portal venous pressure. Although there are not established criteria for the diagnosis of compensated LC, imaging studies may be helpful for the diagnosis of LC b y integrating laboratory findings such as albumin, bilirubin, or prothrombin time and platelet values. 1-1. Diagnostic approach-patient history, physical examination, and laboratory tests When dealing with patients with LC, evaluation of the cause, severity, and stage is the first step. In patients with chronic liver disease, history taking (drug use, blood transfusion, or alcohol use), physical examination (jaundice, ascites, spider angioma, hepatomegaly, or splenomegaly), and symptom such as fatigue from hepatitis should be assessed. In patients with LC, a whole blood test including platelet count, liver function test (albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase), prothrombin time, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal CT, and endoscopy should be carried out to confirm the presence or absence of cirrhosis. In addition, laboratory tests for hepatitis B or C virus infection are needed for the evaluation of its cause. Generally, the Child-Pugh score is used to assess the severity of LC. In clinical practice for the diagnosis of LC, findings of portal hypertension such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or varices, imaging findings, and laboratory findings are common diagnostic tools. Recently, it was found that nodularity of the liver surface, a platelet count of less than 100,000/mm3, albumin less than 3.5 g/dL, and an international normalized ratio of 1.3 or more are related to the presence of LC. Presence of one condition of these findings showed a specificity of 90.42% and a sensitivity of 61.11%.1

Synthesis, Structural, and Morphological Characterizations of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Supported Polypyrrole Anode Catalysts for Improved Microbial Fuel Cell Performances

Abstract: The conductive polypyrrole (PPy)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were synthesized through simple, environmentally benign, time and cost efficient, in situ polymerization and bioreduction techniques. The pyrrole monomer effectively adsorbed over the negatively charged GO sheets through electrostatic and π–π interactions was polymerized into polypyrrole in its adsorbed state. The obtained morphological images of the rGO/PPy composite ensured that the entire surface of the active carbon support was covered by PPy. The removal of oxygen functionalities from GO with the aid of Ocimum tenuiflorum extract was ascertained through FT-IR and UV–vis absorption spectroscopic studies. The rGO/PPy composite exhibited higher electrocatalytic oxidation current as evidenced from the cyclic voltammetric analysis. The number of actives sites and continuous carrier channels of the rGO/PPy composite exhibited a maximum MFC power density of 1068 mW/m2, which is almost two-fold higher than that of bare PPy. The strong a...

Effect of Biopesticides Applied Separately or Together on Nutritional Indices of the Rice Leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis

Abstract: Laboratory assays were done to evaluate the effect of neem seed kernel extract (Azadirachta indica A. Juss),Vitex negundo L. (Lamiales: Verbenaceae) leaf extract, andBacillus thuringiensis (Berliner), applied separately or together, on nutritional indices of the rice leaffolderCnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). All three biopesticides suppressed feeding and larval growth and low concentrations affected the larval performance. The combined effect of the three biopesticides resulted in a considerable decrease in nutritional indices, indicating strong deterrence. Dose response relationships were established with respect to frass production and larval growth. The efficiency of conversion of ingested and digested food was considerably reduced.

Styrylpyrone-class compounds from medicinal fungi Phellinus and Inonotus spp., and their medicinal importance

Abstract: Members of the genera Phellinus and Inonotus, including P. linteus, P. igniarius, P. ribis, I. obliquus and I. xeranticus are well-known medicinal fungi (mushrooms) and have been used in treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial and viral infections and ulcer. Adverse effects of these medicinal mushrooms have not yet been reported, indicating the safe nature of these mushrooms. Polysaccharides, particularly β-glucan, are considered the compounds responsible for the biological activity of medicinal mushrooms. However, there is only a limited amount of evidence to indicate that polysaccharides are in fact responsible for the biological effects of these medicinal mushrooms. Recently, many research groups have begun identification of active low-MW compounds in medicinal mushrooms, with a focus on the yellow polyphenol pigments, which are composed of a styrylpyrone class of compounds. Interestingly, a representative group of medicinal fungi, including P. linteus, P. igniarius, P. ribis, I. obliquus and I. xeranticus were shown to produce a large and diverse range of styrylpyrone-type polyphenol pigments that exhibited various biological activities, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-diabetic, anti-dementia and anti-viral effects. Styrylpyrone pigments in mushrooms are thought to have a role similar to that of flavonoids in plants. The unique and unprecedented carbon skeleton of fused styrylpyrone might be an attractive molecular scaffold for pharmacological applications. In this review, the structural diversity, biological effects and biogenesis of styrylpyrone-class polyphenols from medicinal fungi are described.