• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.466-468
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• 2014

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by multiple cysts within the renal parenchyma and is a common heritable disease in humans, dogs, and cats. However, a few cases of PKD have been described in captive pygmy hippopotamuses. Bilateral PKD was observed in a 33-year-old, 198-kg female pygmy hippopotamus during its necropsy in Seoul Zoo on 15 January 2013. The diagnosis of PKD was confirmed by gross findings and histopathological examination. One kidney was slightly enlarged, and the lower portion of other kidney contained a large cyst filled with light yellow, watery fluid. Both kidneys had numerous, variably sized fluid-filled cysts of 2 to 20 mm in diameter. Considerable portions of the renal cortex and medulla were replaced by cysts. Microscopic inspection showed that the cysts were lined with low cuboidal to flat epithelial cells. The present case report of PKD in a pygmy hippopotamus is the first in Korea.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2017

Background: Nephrotoxicity is the major side effect in cisplatin chemotherapy. Previously, we reported that the ginsenosides Rk3 and Rh4 reduced cisplatin toxicity on porcine renal proximal epithelial tubular cells (LLC-PK1). Here, we aimed to evaluate the protective effect of ginsenosides Rk3 and Rh4 on kidney function and elucidate their antioxidant effect using in vitro and in vivo models of cisplatin-induced acute renal failure. Methods: An enriched mixture of ginsenosides Rk3 and Rh4 (KG-KH; 49.3% and 43.1%, respectively) was purified from sun ginseng (heat processed Panax ginseng). Cytotoxicity was induced by treatment of $20{\mu}M$ cisplatin to LLC-PK1 cells and rat model of acute renal failure was generated by single intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg cisplatin. Protective effects were assessed by determining cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, antioxidant enzyme activity, and histopathological examination. Results: The in vitro assay demonstrated that KG-KH ($50{\mu}g/mL$) significantly increased cell viability (4.6-fold), superoxide dismutase activity (2.8-fold), and glutathione reductase activity (1.5-fold), but reduced reactive oxygen species generation (56%) compared to cisplatin control cells. KG-KH (6 mg/kg, per os) also significantly inhibited renal edema (87% kidney index) and dysfunction (71.4% blood urea nitrogen, 67.4% creatinine) compared to cisplatin control rats. Of note, KG-KH significantly recovered the kidney levels of catalase (1.2-fold) and superoxide dismutase (1.5-fold). Conclusion: Considering the oxidative injury as an early trigger of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, our findings suggest that ginsenosides Rk3 and Rh4 protect the kidney from cisplatin-induced oxidative injury and help to recover renal function by restoring intrinsic antioxidant defenses.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2002

After the introduction of cyclosporin, the graft survival rate of renal transplant and patients' life expectancy have been greatly improved. However, cyclosporin is known to cause several undesirable side effects, one of which is hyperuricemia, which may subsequently cause gouty nephropathy and graft dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and predisposing factors of hyperuricemia in cyclosporin-treated patients within one year of kidney transplantation and uricosuric efficacy of benzbromarone. The patients who were treated with cyclosporin after kidney transplantation in 1998 and the patients who were treated with benzbromarone for the control of cyclosporin-induced hyperuricemia in 1999 were investigated retrospectively. Among the 76 patients in cyclosporin-treated patients in 1998, hyperuricemia occurred in 55 patients $(72.4\%)$ and the mean time from kidney transplantation to occurrence of hyperuicemia was $5.0\pm8.0$ months. In 1999, 22 patients were treated with benzbromarone for hyperuricemia and their mean time from kidney transplantation to occurrence of hyperuricemia was $4.5\pm10.4$ months. Acute rejection developed in one patient $(4.8\%)$ out of 21 normo-uricemic patients and 11 patients $(20.0\%)$ out of 55 hyperuricemic patients in 1998. The difference of rejection rate in these two groups was significant (p<0.001). There was no difference of rejection rate between before and after treatment of benzbromarone. Cyclosporin trough levels did not show a significant correlation with the serum uric acid levels among the three groups. However, hyperuricemic patients showed significantly higher serum creatinine levels than patients with normal uric acid levels (p<0.001). Benzbromarone decreased serum uric acid levels from $8.3\pm2.3\;mg/dl\;to\;5.1\pm2.0\;mg/dl$ (p<0.0001) and normalizing serum uric acid in all of 22 patients. Except for one patient $(4.5\%)$ who experienced diarrhea, no significant side effect was noted.

• CELLMED
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.6
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• 2019

Decoction of Cocos nucifera husk fibre is used indigenously in Nigeria for malaria treatment. Polyphenols have been identified as the phytochemicals responsible for the antimalarial activity of Cocos nucifera husk fibre, though their toxicity has not been evaluated. The polyphenols of Cocos nucifera husk fibre were therefore evaluated for their effects on selected kidney function indices in mice. Fifty mice were randomly divided into five groups (A-E) of ten mice each. Mice in group A were orally administered 5% DMSO solution while those in groups B, C, D and E were orally administered 31.25, 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/Kg body weight of the polyphenols respectively for seven days. Serum urea, creatinine and uric acid concentrations were determined. Serum levels of sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium ions and kidney alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities were also determined. The results showed that the polyphenols significantly reduced (p<0.05) urea concentration at 250 mg/Kg body weight and creatinine concentration at all doses compared to controls. The polyphenols caused no significant alteration (p>0.05) in serum uric acid concentration and kidney ALP, GGT and GDH activities compared to controls. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in serum sodium ion concentration at 31.25, 125 and 250 mg/Kg body weight of polyphenols whereas significant increase (p<0.05) in serum potassium and chloride ions was observed at 62.5 and 250 mg/Kg body weight compared to controls. Thus, polyphenols of Cocos nucifera husk fibre may adversely affect some osmoregulatory functions of the kidney, especially at higher concentrations.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 1999

The heavy metal concentrations in seawater and winkles (Littorina brevicula) collected from the Onsan bay area in southeast of Korea were analyzed. The heavy metal concentrations in the seawater obtained from the most polluted site showed approximately 189. 205. and 110 fold higher cadmium, copper. and zinc concentrations, respectively. than the uncontaminated control site. The contamination levels of these metals in winkles were 11.08 - 2.35, 334.5 - 212.5, and 426.0 - 499.2$\mu\textrm{g}$ per gram dry body weight. respectively. The concentrations of all three metals in both the seawater and winkles decreased gradually with increasing distance from Daejeong stream, suggesting the stream being the major source of heavy metal input into the bay. Among the four body parts of digestive gland and gonad. gill. kidney, and remaining tissue in contaminated winkles, kidney showed the highest accumulation level of cadmium: copper and zinc, however. were more or less distributed among the four body parts. Upon gel filtration chromatography of the cytosol from the kidney of cadmium induced winkles, one cadmium peak corresponded to the elution peak of horse kidney metallothionein.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.43-74
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• 2012

Objective : Due to the tendency of researchers to avoid anatomical approach to East Asian medical classics, their ideas on seminal pathways have not been clearly reconstructed yet. So we tried to concretely reconstruct the pathway of semen described in ancient East Asian classics. Methods : Besides analysing the literal description about seminal pathways, we gathered and classified the ancient Viscera Drawings drawn in East Asian countries - especially the drawings in lateral view, and morphologically analysed them with some literal material. Results : We found that there were 3 major streams in the ancient Asian ideas on the seminal pathways. The first one was the modality originated from Hwangjenaegyeong(黃帝內經), which suggested the semen flew out of the kidney. The second one was the modality arose under the influence of Taoist thinking, which suggested the semen was originated from the brain and spinal cord. The last one was revision of the first modality by Janggaebin(張介賓), which asserted semen was originated from the kidney, but was ejaculated via Myeongmun(命門). Conclusion : On the seminal pathways, there had been 2 types of ideas focussing on kidney and one idea focussing on brain and spinal cord in East Asian tradition.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 1998

The heavy metal concentrations of seawater collected from the Onsan coastal zone in February and July 1996 and mussels(Mytilus edulis) in February 1997 were analysed. The concentrations of cadmium in seawater were in the range of 0.008-2.988 ${\mu}g/L$, while the ranges of copper and zinc concentrations were 0.08-2.55, and 0.21-35.12 ${\mu}g/L$, respectively. The metal concentrations decreased gradually with increasing distances from Daejeong stream, indicating that this stream was the major source of heavy metal input into the Onsan coastal zone. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in mussels were in the ranges of 1.40-25.09, 8.5-64.5, and 46.8-291.2 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively. The metal concentrations decreased gradually with increasing distances from Daejeong stream. Among organs of mussels, gill showed the highest concentrations of cadmium and the digestive gland showed the highest concentrations of copper and for zine the kidney showed the highest concentrations. The digestive gland and kidney revealed high proportion of cadmium in cytosolic fraction and the percentage of copper was high in the kidney and that of zine was high in the digestive gland. Metal-binding protein of mussels collected from the mouth of Daejeong stream was separated, using gel-filtration chromatography. In the kidney and gill of mussels, most of cadmium was associated with metal-binding protein. In contrast, most of the metal in the digestive gland and remaining tissues is bound to high molecular weight protein rather than metal-binding protein.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2014

Objectives: Current studies are debating on the association of vascular calcification and the benefit of treatment to lower serum phosphorus level in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of mortality and risk of vascular calcification in patients with CKD who were taking phosphate binders. Methods: This study was conducted through retrospective medical chart review for 420 patients aged 18 years and older who were admitted for chronic kidney disease. Results: Vascular calcification was not statistically significantly associated with increased mortality in patients with CKD [16.7% vs. 19.2%; 95% CI; 0.388 to 1.818 (p=0.656)]. Intervention of calcium-based phosphate binders was not significantly associated with vascular calcification in patients with CKD [9.1% vs. 12.5%; 95% CI; 0.364 to 1.358 (p=0.292)]. Ca x P product ${\geq}55mg^2/dL^2$ was not significantly associated with increased 1 year mortality in patients with CKD [25.4% vs. 17.5%; 95% CI; 0.851 to 3.013 (p=0.142)]. Intervention of sevelamer was significantly associated with reduced 1 year mortality in patients with CKD than that of patients who did not take sevelamer [6.3% vs. 25.3%; 95% CI; 0.044 to 0.880 (p=0.020)]. Conclusion: There was not a statistically significant association between vascular calcification and phosphate binder's use. But phosphate binder use was significantly associated with decreased mortality in patients with CKD.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2004

2 Cases of nephrotomy for removal of calculi in dog were referred to veterinary teaching hospital of Konkuk University. In case 1, a 5 year-old, castrated male Yorkshire Terrier dog was referred because of intermittent hematuria, pain in urination for one month. Hematologic and chemical examination showed mild increased BUN and CPK. Radiographic findings revealed radiopaque materials in the urinary bladder, urethra, and left kidney. Retrograde hydropropulsion was performed to move the calculi into the bladder, and cystotomy was done to remove calculi. Nephrotomy was performed to removal of the calculi from the left renal pelvis and calyx. After operation renal function were recovered and preserved. In case 2, a 5 year-old, neutral female Schnauzer dog was referred because of persistant vomiting, anorexia, and celialgia for 20 days. Hematologic and chemical examination showed stress leucogram, moderate azotemia, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and increased ALP. Radiographic findings revealed enlargement of the left kidney and radiopaque materials in the both of the kidneys. On excretory urography, left kidney was no pyelogram. On ultrasonography, renal tissue was very thin and distended renal pelvis appeared. Nephrectomy of nonfunctional left kidney and nephrotomy for removal of calculi from the right renal pelvis and calyx were done. One week after operation, renal and hepatic functions were recovered. So, in cases of renal calculi, it is necessary that renal calculi are extracted actively as far as the patient's body condition endurable.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo toxicity of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), on the immune system of the rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus. Fish were injected twice intraperitoneally with DEHP (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg BW), and the cellularity and functional activity of phagocytes in the spleen and head kidney were measured. The number of head kidney leukocyte cells was significantly greater in fish treated with 800-mg DEHP/kg BW. Nonspecific immunity, as determined by the phagocytic index, was significantly decreased at 800-mg DEHP/kg BW in the head kidney. A significant reduction in phagocytic capacity was observed in the head kidney at ${\geq}$400-mg DEHP/kg BW. Furthermore, significantly increased levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamic pyruvate transaminase indicated a marked hepatic dysfunction in immunosuppressed fish. Total serum protein was significantly reduced at ${\geq}$400-mg DEHP/kg BW; however, there were no significant changes in lysozyme activity. These results demonstrate that immune responses in the rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus can predict immunotoxicity at doses ${\geq}$400-mg DEHP/kg BW.