• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common syndrome resulting in kidney damage and malfunction within a few days or even a few hours. The diagnosis of AKI depends on routine biochemical tests, including serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and electrolytes. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a biomarker that shows correlation with the severity of acute infections and kidney injuries. The predictive value in other conventional assays for kidney functions has been reported to cause distraction for AKI syndrome. The aim of this study is to verify the predictive value of plasma NGAL in patients with established AKI. The NGAL kit for checkup demonstrates sensitivity of ${\geq}300$ (92.2%), ${\geq}200$ (95.6%), ${\geq}100$ (99.6%), specificity of ${\geq}300$ (95.1%), ${\geq}200$ (97.3%), ${\geq}100$ (99.4%), positive predictability of ${\geq}300$ (93.3%), ${\geq}200$ (93.4%), ${\geq}100$ (99.2%), and negative predictability of ${\geq}300$ (96.7%), ${\geq}200$ (97.7%), ${\geq}100$ (98.1%), respectively. The plasma NGAL compared with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been shown to be an early predictive biomarker of AKI. The NGAL kit, recently developed for point-of-care of plasma specimens, is thought to be a useful and reliable biomarker for the early diagnosis of decreased kidney functions.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of Momordica Charantia L. water extracts, one of the natural chelator, on the biochemical and enzyme activity changes in the rats liver and kidney caused by lead acetate. Rat approximately 250 g in weight were grouped into the control, lead acetate treated, and the Momordica Charantia L. boiling water extracts treated after lead acetate groups. Lead acetate (1,000 ppm) and Momordica Charantia L. water extracts (5%, 10%) were delivered drinking water. Serum AST, ALT and BUN were measured, histological alteration of liver and kidney were examined by light microscopy. Momordica Charantia L. extract group was decreased serum AST, ALT and BUN level induced by lead. Optical observations of liver tissue, lead group were observed necrosis of hepatic cells and infiltration of inflammatory cells, but Momordica Charantia L. extract group was observed only slight infiltration of inflammatory cells around the central vein. Optical observations of kidney tissue, lead acetate induced atrophy and necrosis of glomerulus and infiltration of inflammatory cell around renal tubule. For the group treated with Momordica charantia L. extract, the glomerulus was similar to the control, some around the renal tubule was observed infiltration of inflammatory cells. In conclusion, Momordica Charantia L. water extract may protect the lead-induced toxicity on liver and kidney.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.208-216
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• 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to investigate the status of renal function in patients with COVID-19. The study surveyed a total of 649 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a hospital located in southern Gyeonggi Province, South Korea over a one month period in January 2021. The parameters analyzed were blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The BUN and creatinine of the COVID-19 patients were found to be higher than the normal reference range, specially in males, and in the elderly (60s and 80s or older). The serum electrolyte levels of the patients were observed to be within the reference intervals. Of the subjects, males over 80 years of age had a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) of 60 mL/min/1.73 m² or less. Recent research suggests that some severe cases of COVID-19 are showing signs of kidney damage, even in those with no prior underlying kidney disease. Thus, assessment of kidney function using multiple indicators could help diagnose abnormal renal function in patients with COVID-19.