• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2000

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of MR urography (MRU) with that of ultrasonography (US) in the evaluation of urinary tract when this failed to opacify during excretory urography (EXU). Materials and Methods: Twelve urinary tracts in 11 patients were studied. In each case, during EXU, the urinary system failed to opacify within one hour of the injection of contrast media, and US revealed dilatation of the pelvocalyceal system. Patients underwent MRU, using a HASTE sequence with the breath-hold technique; multi-slice acquisition was then performed, and the images were reconstructed using maximal intensity projection. Each set of images was evaluated by three radiologists to determine the presence, level, and cause of urinary tract obstruction. Results: Obstruction was present in all twelve cases, and in all of these, MRU accurately demonstrated its level. In this respect, however, US was successful in only ten. The cause of obstruction was determined by MRU in eight cases, but by US in only six. In all of these six, MRU also successfully demonstrated the cause. Conclusion: MRU is an effective modality for evaluation of the urinary tract when this fails to opacify during EXU, and appears to be superior to US in demonstrating the level and cause of obstruction.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2013

Purpose: The $^{99m}Tc$-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan is used primarily for the diagnosis of renal scarring and acute pyelonephritis in children with urinary tract infections (UTI). This study aimed to evaluate clinical differences based on the positive or negative results of DMSA scans and kidney ultrasonography (US) in pediatric UTI. Method: We retrospectively reviewed 142 pediatric patients with UTI who were admitted to Myongji Hospital from January 2004 to December 2012. We performed a comparative analysis of clinical parameters such as age, sex, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, creatinine (Cr) level, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and durations of hospitalization and fever, grouped by the results of the DMSA scans and kidney US. Results: The mean age of the patients was $33.8{\pm}48.3$ months, and 78 (55%) were male. Fifty-two patients had abnormal DMSA findings, and 71 patients had abormal kidney US findings (test positive groups). In the DMSA scan positive group, there were significant differences in age, WBC counts, neutrophil counts, CRP level, BUN level, Cr level, hospitalization duration, number of abnormal findings on kidney US, and incidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) compared with the scan negative group. The kidney US positive group had significant differences in age, neutrophil count, CRP level, BUN level, Cr level, hospitalization duration, number of abnormal findings on the DMSA scans, and more frequent VUR compared with the US negative group. Conclusion: Our data suggest that there were no major differences in clinical parameters based on the results of the DMSA scans compared with kidney US in pediatric UTI. However, as kidney US and DMSA scan were performed to predict VUR, the sensitivity and negative predictive value was increased.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.208-212
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• 2017

This study was performed to retrospectively pursue any correlation between renal cortex thickness (RCT), outer medulla thickness (OMT) on ultrasonography (US) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage. Medical records and US findings of the dogs diagnosed CKD were reviewed for comparing to those of the clinically healthy dogs from March. 2015 through June. 2016. To evaluate the correlation about normal and CKD patients, RCT and the OMT were measured on US images. RCT and OMT were adjusted by dividing body surface area for standardization (RCTS, OMTS). Also the ratio of RCT/OMT were calculated and these indices were evaluated to investigate any tendency between 5 groups (normal and 4 IRIS stages) using Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test (J-T test). The RCTS showed a declining tendency (p < 0.02) and the OMTS showed an inclining tendency from normal through each IRIS stage (p < 0.01). The RCT/OMT showed also declining tendency (p < 0.01). Although the gold standard for renal function including GFR is lack, it is thought that differentiation between normal and CKD patients could be possible on US measurement of renal cortex and outer medulla thickness, which could be an alternative index for kidney function in diagnostic imaging.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 1998

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is a rare malignant tumor of the renal origin in childhood, distinguished from Wilms tumor by its pathologic and clinical features. Bone metastasis is one of the characteristic clinical features. The common site of metastasis of the clear cell Sarcoma of the kidney is axial skeleton including skull, spines, ribs and femur. A cases of clear cell Sarcoma of the kidney presented to us, which solely metastasized to the hand bones without metastasizing to any other tissues including axial skeleton. We report this case with review of literatures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4431-4433
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• 2012

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate retrospectively histopathologically-diagnosed lesions that were detected in the kidney after radical nephrectomy for a preoperative diagnosis of kidney cancer. Methods: The medical records of 83 patients (51 male, 32 female) were included. Preoperative staging was accomplished by various methods including physical examination, blood hemography and biochemistry, abdominal ultrasonography (US), chest x-ray, abdominal computed tomography (CT) and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Totals of 70 patients underwent radical nephrectomy and 13 nephron sparing surgery. Of the 83 patients, 70 had malignant lesions (renal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or other malignancies) 13 had a variety of benign lesions, the most frequently detected being oncoytoma (6), angiomyolipoma (3), xanthogranulamatous pyelonephritis (2), cortical cyst (1) and chronic pyelonephritic change (1). Conclusion: It was concluded that in spite of great technological developments regarding radiological imaging modalities such as US, CT and MRI, benign lesions might still be detected pathologically in patients who undergo radical nephrectomy with the preoperative diagnosis of renal cancer. But, all renal masses should be regarded as malignant and should be managed surgically otherwise proven benign.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2000

Objective: Multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma (MCRCC) is a recently described variety of renal cell carcinoma with characteristic pathologic and clinical features. The purpose of this study was to analyze the imaging findings of MCRCCs. Materials and Methods: Ten adult patients with pathologically proven unilateral MCRCC who underwent renal US and CT were included in this study. The radiologic findings were retrospectively evaluated for cystic content, wall, septum, nodularity, calcification and solid portion by three radiologists who established a consensus. Imaging and postnephrectomy pathologic findings were compared. Results: All patients were adults (six males and four females) and their ages ranged from 33 to 68 years (mean, 46). On US and CT images, all tumors appeared as well-defined multilocular cystic masses composed of serous or complicated fluid. In all patients, unenhanced CT scans revealed hypodense cystic portions, and in four tumors, due to the presence of hemorrhage or gelatinous fluid, some hyperdense areas were also noted. In no tumor was an expansile solid nodule seen in the thin septa, and in only one was there dystrophic calcification in a septum. Small areas of solid portion constituting less than 10% of the entire lesion were found in six of the ten tumors, and these areas were slightly enhanced on enhanced CT scans. In all patients, imaging and pathologic findings correlated closely. Conclusion: On US and CT images, MCRCC appeared as a well-defined multilocular cystic mass with serous, proteinaceous or hemorrhagic fluid, with no expansile solid nodules in the thin septa, and sometimes with small slightly enhanced solid areas. Where radiologic examinations demonstrate a cystic renal mass of this kind in adult males, MCRCC should be included in the differential diagnosis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

Many children with microscopic hematuria have been found on school screening examinations. There are not, however, nation-wide criteria for us(specifically, pediatric nephrologists) how to take care of them. Recently, quite a few research papers concerning microalbuminuria with microscopic hematuria, which can predict the renal pathological findings, are published. Here I have reviewed articles on microalbuminuria which gives us the information how to manage microscopic hematuria.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.219-222
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• 2000

Renal inflammatory pseudotumor is a very rare benign condition of unknown etiology characterized by proliferative myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, histiocytes, and plasma cells. In the case we report, the lesion appeared on contrast-enhanced power Doppler US images as a well-defined hypoechoic mass with intratumoral vascularity, and on CT as a low-attenuated mass. Differentiation from malignant renal neoplasms was not possible.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2006

Purpose : Conservative management of multicystic dysplastic kidney(MCDK) without nephrectomy has recently been advocated. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical course of conservatively managed MCDK and to find out possible predictive factors for involution of MCDK by ultrasonography(US). Methods : A retrospective analysis was made on 45 patients(26 boys and 20 girls) in whom MCDK was detected and had been traced by US between Dec. 1993 and Aug. 2005 at Severance Hospital. Results : Median follow-up time was 30 months(range 2-102 months). All patients under-went radionuclide scans and voiding eystourethrograms. The serial follow-up US showed complete involution in 11(24%), partial involution in 19(41%), and no interval change or increased in cyst size in 13(28%) patients. Nephrectomy was done in 3 patients(7%) due to relapsing urinary tract infection(UTI) and severe abdominal distension. The mean age of complete involution of MCDK was 37 months(range 12-84 months). Episodes of UTI were present in 17 patients(37%) and additional genitourinary(GU) abnormalities were found in 22 patients(44%). Hypertension and renal insufficiency was complicated in one patient. No child developed malignant tumor. Univariate analysis showed that five variables were associated with complete involution of the MCDK; gender, site, UTI episode, additional GU abnormalities, and renal length on initial US. After adjusting using the Pearson model, the presence of additional GU abnormalities was exclusively associated with complete involution among the 5 variables(P=0.034). Conclusion : In our review of 46 cases of MCDK, non-surgical approach for patients with MCDK was advisable and we could predict poor prognosis when MCDK is associated with other GU anomalies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.2005-2017
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• 2007

Diabetic nephropathy remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the diabetic population and is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure. Despite current therapeutics including intensified glycemic control and blood pressure lowering agents, renal disease continues to progress relentlessly in diabetic patients, albeit at a lower rate. Since synthetic drugs for diabetes are known to have side effects, fungal mushrooms as a natural product come into preventing the development of diabetes. Our previous report showed the hypoglycemic effect of extracellular fungal polysaccharides (EPS) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In this study, we analyzed the differential expression patterns of rat kidney proteins from normal, STZ-induced diabetic, and EPS-treated diabetic rats, to discover diabetes-associated proteins in rat kidney. The results of proteomic analysis revealed that up to 500 protein spots were visualized, of which 291 spots were differentially expressed in the three experimental groups. Eventually, 51 spots were statistically significant and were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. Among the differentially expressed renal proteins, 10 were increased and 16 were decreased significantly in diabetic rat kidney. The levels of different proteins, altered after diabetes induction, were returned to approximately those of the healthy rats by EPS treatment. A histopathological examination showed that EPS administration restored the impaired kidney to almost normal architecture. The study of protein expression in the normal and diabetic kidney tissues enabled us to find several diabetic nephropathy-specific proteins, such as phospholipids scramblase 3 and tropomyosin 3, which have not been mentioned yet in connection with diabetes.