• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2023

Aristolochic acid (AA), extracted from Aristolochiaceae plants, plays an essential role in traditional herbal medicines and is used for different diseases. However, AA has been found to be nephrotoxic and is known to cause aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). AA-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome in AAN with a high morbidity that manifests mitochondrial damage as a key part of its pathological progression. Melatonin primarily serves as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant. However, its mitochondrial protective role in AA-induced AKI is barely reported. In this study, mice were administrated 2.5 mg/kg AA to induce AKI. Melatonin reduced the increase in Upro and Scr and attenuated the necrosis and atrophy of renal proximal tubules in mice exposed to AA. Melatonin suppressed ROS generation, MDA levels and iNOS expression and increased SOD activities in vivo and in vitro. Intriguingly, the in vivo study revealed that melatonin decreased mitochondrial fragmentation in renal proximal tubular cells and increased ATP levels in kidney tissues in response to AA. In vitro, melatonin restored the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in NRK-52E and HK-2 cells and led to an elevation in ATP levels. Confocal immunofluorescence data showed that puncta containing Mito-tracker and GFP-LC3A/B were reduced, thereby impeding the mitophagy of tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, melatonin decreased LC3A/B-II expression and increased p62 expression. The apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells induced by AA was decreased. Therefore, our findings revealed that melatonin could prevent AA-induced AKI by attenuating mitochondrial damage, which may provide a potential therapeutic method for renal AA toxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2000

Purpose : Endoscopic carpal tunnel release technique was developed and has being used to decrease postoperative morbidity and complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results and clinical usefulness of endoscopic carpal tunnel release using single portal technique. Methods and Materials : 18 carpal tunnel syndrome patients who were diagnosed by means of clinical symptoms, physical examination, and electrodiagnostic study had endoscopic carpal tunnel release using single portal technique with about 1 cm oblique wrist incision on 30 hands. And then they were followed-up and reviewed in the same way. Late results of operation were analysed by grading system according to patient's own assessments of relief of symptoms at the final fellow-up. The follow-up period ranged 6 to 13 months from surgery. Results : There were postoperative improvements with respect to clinical symptoms, physical examination, and electrodiagnostic study. 23 of 30 hands$(76.7\%)$ had complete resolution of symptoms. 27 hands$(90\%)$ were able to return to normal activities and work within 6 weeks, and 30 hands$(100\%)$ returned within 8 weeks. In grip strength study, 29 hands$(96.6\%)$ regained preoperative strength in 6 months. 12 of 22 hands$(55\%)$ had improvement with respect to thenar atrophy within 6 months. Late results were as follows . 23 hands$(76.7\%)$ was graded as excellent, 6 hands$(20\%)$ graded as good and 1 hand$(3.3\%)$ graded as fair, and there was no poor result. Conclusion : We think that endoscopic carpal tunnel release with single portal technique is technically safe and simple, if the surgeon takes step to stay within the safety zone based on local anatomy and selects an appropriate patient and that endoscopic carpal tunnel release does have advantages over open release. We agree that the surgeon must be prepared to perform an open technique, if technical difficulties arise, difficulty in introducing the device into the carpal tunnel is encountered, or the transverse fibers of the transverse carpal ligaments are not clearly seen.