• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.485-505
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• 1994

Lead toxicity was evaluated in forty-five cats on a balanced diet, treated with 0(control), 10, 100(low), 1, 000, 2, 000 and 4, 000(high)ppm of lead acetate orally on a body weight basis. The objectives were to describe the gross and histopathologic changes and to demonstrate what tissue lead concentrations correlate with the known dosages of lead. In subclinical lead toxicity, greater than 80% of the absorbed lead was deposited in the bone, whereas in more acute lead toxicity, 42% of absorbed lead was deposited in the bone and 36% and 20% of absorbed lead was deposited in the kidneys and in the liver, respectively. No gross lesions were found in the nervous system. Yellow-brown colored livers appear to be associated with lead toxicity. Neuronal necrosis in the cerebrum was the most predominant histopathologic finding. Astrocytic proliferation in the cerebral gray matter was observed in 1 high dose cat. Gliosis was noted in the cerebral cortex of 6 high dose cats. Two high dose cats had demyelination in the deepest layer of the cortical gray matter of the cerebrum. Extravasation of red cells and cavitation around the vessels were found in the cerebrum of 1 high dose cat. Six high dose cats had degeneration of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. The microscopic findings in the peripheral nerves were ambiguous. In more acute toxicity, the cats had lead inclusions in the epithelial cells of proximal tubules of the kidneys of 7 cats and hepatocytes of the liver of S cats. These inclusions could be seen wlth H&E, but were more prominent with orcein staining. Two high dose cats had granulomas and connective tissue hyperplasia between tubules of the kidneys. Periportal hepatocyte vacuolization was observed in the liver of 22 cats. Vacuolization of seminiferous tubules and a reduced number of spermatogonia(indicative of reduced spermatogenesis) were found in the testis of 5 treated cats. Cystic ovaries were observed in 3 high dose cats and poor development of oogonia was found in 2 cats. The diagnosis of lead toxicity in cats can be suspected on the basis of the histopathologic lesions described, and can be of value in contributing to a diagnosis. A reliable diagnosis of lead poisoning can be helped utilizing tissue lead analysis(post molten)

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.497-507
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• 2000

Purpose: We have examined the utility of $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 perfusion indices for assessing renal graft function in early post-transplantation period. Materials and Methods: Our study included 80 renal transplant recipients (48 men and 32 women, mean age: 40.3 years). Diagnosis was based on biopsy, laboratory data and clinical course. Renal scintigraphy (RS) was obtained using 100 MBq of $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 from 11 days to 23 days of kidney transplantation. We measured 5 indices in whole-kidney (WK) and cortical (C) renograms; Hilson's perfusion index (PI), transplant perfusion index (TP) and transplant function index (TF) as perfusion parameter, and the time to peak activity (Tmax) and the ratio of renal counts at 20 min to that at 3 min (K20/3) as functional parameter. Results: The diagnoses at the day of RS were normal graft (NG) in 44, acute rejection (AR) in 14, acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in 10, and Cyclosporine A nephrotoxicity (CsA) in 12. TP and TF were significantly decreased in AR, ATN and CsA, compared to those in NG. K20/3 of AR and ATN wore significantly greater than that of NG. WK-Tmax of AR was significantly longer than that of NG. K20/3 of AR and C-K20/3 of ATN were significantly prolonged relative to those of CsA. There were no statistically significant perfusion indices among complication groups. Conclusion: TP and TF reflecting microperfusion and initial tubular extraction are reliable in assessing graft function. However, it is required to correlate perfusion indices with functional indices and clinical course in differentiating from one another among complication groups.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2003

Purpose : Vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) is known to be the main cause of childhood hypertension and renal failure. Knowing its familial occurrence, we determined the incidence of VUR and renal scar in asymptomatic siblings of Korean patients with primary VUR Methods : A total of 50 siblings from 37 index patients were included. Voiding cystourethro-graphy(VCUG) and renal scintigraphy using $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ were peformed in these siblings from June, 1994 to May, 2001, Index patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of VUR in their siblings, and the clinical factors of the index patients such as age, sex, grade of reflux and renal cortical defect were compared between the groups. Results : Among the 50 siblings, VUR were found in 8(16%) and renal cortical defects were detected in 8(16%) siblings respectively. The incidence of renal cortical defects was 87.5%(7 out of 8) in the VUR(+) siblings. There was a case of VUR(-) cortical defect in one sibling, presumed as a scar from an old VUR. There was no relationship among age, sex, grade of reflux and renal cortical defect of the index patient to the presence of VUR in siblings. Conclusion : This study confirmed a significant incidence of VUR(16%) and renal cortical defects(16%) in the asymptomatic siblings of patients with primary VUR in Korea. It Is resonable to recommend screening studies to the siblings of patients with VUR for the early detection and prevention of probable reflux nephropathy. (J K orean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2003;7:181-188)

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was perfonned to elucidate the clinical pictures of acute focal bacterial nephritis(nephronia) in children. Methods: We reviewed 9 children with nephronia diagnosed by ultrasonography or computed tomography of kidneys from September 1994 to August 2004. Results: The overall male to female ratio was 2:1, and the age distribution ranged from 0.1 to 6 years(mean $2.8{\pm}2.2$). The cardinal symptoms were fever, chills, abdominal pain and dysuria/frequency. The initial leukocyte count was $21,000{\pm}5,600/uL$, ESR $60{\pm}23mm/hr$, CRP $17{\pm}10\;mg/dl$. Pyuria was noted in every patient and persisted for $10.5{\pm}7.8$ days after antimicrobial treatment. Abdominal sonography demonstrated focal lesion of ill-defined margin and low echogenicity in 5 of 9 patients(55.6%), while computed tomography revealed nonenhancing low density area in all patients(100%). Three of 9 patients(33.3%) had vesicoureteral reflux, greater than grade III. The initial $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ scan showed one or multiple cortical defects in every patient, and improvements were noted in 2(33.3%) of 6 patients who received follow up scan after 4 months. Intravenous antibiotics was given in every patient under admission. Total febrile period was $11.8{\pm}6.3$ days(pre-admission, $4.0{\pm}3.0;$ post-admission, $7.8{\pm}5.5$ days) and the patients needed hospitalization for $17.2{\pm}8.1$ days. Conclusion: For the early diagnosis of 'acute focal bacterial nephritis' we should perform renal computed tomography first rather than ultrasonography, when the child has toxic symptoms and severe inflammatory responses in blood and urine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1989

Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on the development of hypertension in 2-kidney, 1-clip (2-K, 1-C) rats were examined. In one group of rats, ANP infusion (500 ng/hr, iv) started immediately after clipping the renal artery. Another group of rats with one kidney-clipped was without ANP infusion and served as a control. Blood pressure was measured on days 4, 7, and 10 following clipping the renal artery. Upon the last blood pressure measurement finished, blood sample was collected by decapitation to measure plasma renin activity (PRA), and both kidneys were taken to weigh and to measure renin content. The ANP-infused group showed an attenuation of increases in blood pressure compared to the non-infused control group. PRA was lower in the ANP-infused group than in the non-infused group. Cortical renal renin content (RRC) of the clipped kidneys was not different between ANP-infused and non-infused groups. The clipped kidneys showed a higher RRC and weighed less than the non-clipped contralateral kidneys within each group. In contrast, sham-clipped rats did not show significant changes in any of the parameters examined regardless of whether ANP was infused or not. These results demonstrate that chronic ANP infusion does not prevent but does attenuate the development of hypertension in 2-K, 1-C rats. It is suggested that ANP plays a role in the long-term regulation of blood pressure, at least in part, by antagonizing the renin-angiotensin-system.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.212-219
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• 2007

Purpose : It is difficult to diagnose acute pyelonephritis(APN) in young children, because of their nonspecific symptoms. The younger the age, the higher the risk of renal scars after APN, which can be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment. We compare the significance of renal imaging studies by age for diagnosis of APN in febrile urinary tract infection(UTI) in children. Methods : Fifty-three hospitalized children(34 patients under age 2 and 19 patients over age 2) with febrile UTI and who had undergone dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan, renal ultra sonography(RUS) and voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) during the acute stage were re-viewed. We compared the renal imaging studies between the different age groups. Results : The DMSA scan showed cortical defects in 23.5% of patients under age 2, which was significantly lower than 63.2% of patents over age 2(P<0.05). The renal cortical defects on DMSA scan were associated only with a high peripheral leukocyte count, but not with fever duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), and C-reactive protein(CRP). And there was no correlation between the DMSA scan, VCUG or RUS findings. Conclusions : The DMSA scan is not sensitive for diagnosis of APN in children less than 2 years of age and the findings cannot predict the presence of vesicoureteral reflux(VUR). VCUG may be necessary for proper management in this age group.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 1986

Effects of anions on p-Aminohippurate (PAH) transport across the basolateral membrane (BLM) were studied. Basolateral membrane vesicles were isolated from rabbit renal cortex by using a self-orienting Percoll-gradient centrifugation and $Mg^{2+}-precipitation$. The characteristics of the membrane vesicles was examined by marker enzyme activity, membrane orientation and transport studies. The Na-K-ATPase activity in the fraction containing BLM vesicles was enriched 9·fold, and the alkaline phosphatase activity in the fraction containing BBM vesicles was increased 9-fold, compared with those of the homogenate. The transport properties of the two membrane preparations were studied by a rapid filtration technique. The uptake of PAH by BLM was sensitive to changes in medium osmolarity and inhibited by probenecid. When the uptake of $50{\mu}M$ PAH in voltage-clamped BLM vesicles was determined in the presence of various anions in the incubation medium, cis inhibitions by $SO_4\;and\;SSO_3$ were observed in the presence of sodium gradient (out>in). Sodium-dependent PAH uptake was inhibited competitively by external $SO_4$ PAH uptake in BLM vesicles loaded with 20 mM acetate and $SO_4\;or\;200\;{\mu}M$ PAH was significantly stimulated as compared with unloaded vesicles. The extent of trans-stmulation of PAH uptake by $SO_4$. was increased with the inside concentration of $SO_4$. This trans-stimulatory effect by $SO_4$, was observed to be additive in the presence of Na gradient and completely inhibited by 2 mM probenecid and 1 mM SITS. These results demonstrate that PAH/anion exchange is present in BLM of renal cortex and in this exchange mechanism inorganic as well as organic anions are involved as substrates.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.244-254
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• 2002

Purpose: This study investigated the differences between technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD) and technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (Tc-99m HMPAO) uptake in the normal brain by means of statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed age and sex matched 53 cases of normal brain SPECT. Thirty-two cases were obtained with Tc-99m ECD and 21 cases with Tc-99m HMPAO. There were no abnormal findings on brain MRIs. All of the SPECT images were spatially transformed to standard space, smoothed and globally normalized. The differences between the Tc-99m ECD and Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT images were statistically analyzed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM'99) software. The differences bgetween the two groups were considered significant ant a threshold of corrected P values less than 0.05. Results: SPM analysis revealed significantly different uptakes of Tc-99m ECD and Tc-99m HMPAO in the normal brains. On the Tc-99m ECD SPECT images, relatively higher uptake was observed in the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes, in the basal ganglia and thalamus, and in the superior region of the cerebellum. On the Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT images, relatively higher uptakes was observed in subcortical areas of the frontal region, temporal lobe, and posterior portion of inferior cerebellum. Conclusion: Uptake of Tc-99m ECD and Tc-99m HMPO in the normallooking brain was significantly different on SPM analysis. The selective use of Tc-99m ECD of Tc-99m HMPAO in brain SPECT imaging appears especially valuable for the interpretation of cerebral perfusion. Further investigation is necessary to determine which tracer is more accurate for diagnosing different clinical conditions.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.248-251
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• 2009

The urachus is a normal embryonic remnant of the primitive dome. It generally exists as a fibrous cord extending from the dome of the bladder to the umbilicus. Disorders of the urachus are developed as a result of its incomplete regression. The urachal cyst is the most common urachal anomaly, and is usually asymptomatic in infancy and childhood. However, when the cysts are large or accompanied with secondary infection, they may be detected in its early stage. A sonography or CT scan may be helpful to confirm the diagnosis of urachal cyst. The managements of infected urachal cyst are varied from simple drainage to radical excision. Here, we report an unusual case of urachal cyst infection that occurred during corticosteroids therapy in a girl with IgA nephropathy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.143-159
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• 1983

Vanadate가 가토 신피질절편에서 PAH이동과 Na-K-ATPase활성에 미치는 효과를 관찰한 결과 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1) Vanadate는 Na-K-ATPase활성을 농도에 따라 억제하였으며 $7.94{\times}10^{-7}M$에서 이 효소의 활성이 50% 억제되었다. 2) Vanadate는 PAH의 능동적이동을 농도에 따라 억제하였으며 50%억제농도는 대략 $10^{-4}M$ 이었고, 수동적이동에는 영향을 미치지 못하였다. 조직내 Na과 K의 양도 vanadate가 PAH이동을 억제하는 농도 범위에서 같이 변화하였고 산소소모량은 $10^{-4}M$까지는 약간 감소하였으나 $10^{-3}M$에서는 오히려 증가하였다. 3) 30분간 preincubation한 후에도 15분까지의 PAH이동은 30분 이후에 비해 vanadate에 의해 적게 억제되었다. 4) $10^{-4}M$ vanadate와 $10^{-4}M$ ouabain은 가역적으로 PAH 이동을 억제하였으며 $10^{-3}M$ vanadate는 비가역적으로 억제하였고 장시간 세척후에도 거의 같은 정도의 억제양상을 나타내었다. 5) Vanadate에 의한 PAH이동의 억제정도는 incubation용액내 $Na^+$의 감소, $K^+$의 증가에 의하여 증가하였고 $Ca^{2+}$의 농도 변화에 의해서는 영향을 받지 않았다. 6) Vanadate가 존재치 않을 때 Tris완충용액 사용시는 pH 8.2까지 PAH축적정도가 증가하였고 phosphate완충용액 사용시는 pH 7.4에서 최대축적치를 보였다. pH가 증가함에 따라 억제정도는 증가하였으며 같은 pH에서도 완충용액의 종류에 따라 vanadate에 의한 억제정도가 달랐다. 7) Vanadate와 ouabain은 PAH이등과 Na-K-ATPase활성에 부가적 억제작용을 나타내었다. 이상의 결과로 vanadate는 가토신장의 세포내부에서 Na-K-ATPase를 가역적으로 억제함으로써 PAH의 이동을 억제하는 것으로 생각되며 PAH의 이동은 Na-K-ATPase활성과 기능적으로 밀접히 연결되어 있는 것으로 생각된다.