• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.309-323
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• 2011

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of naturally occurring small non-coding RNAs of about 22 nucleotides that have recently emerged as important regulators of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Recent studies provided clear evidence that microRNAs are abundant in the lung, liver and kidney and modulate a diverse spectrum of their functions. Moreover, a large number of studies have reported links between alterations of miRNA homeostasis and pathological conditions such as infectious diseases, sickle cell disease and endometrium diseases as well as lung, liver and kidney diseases. As a consequence of extensive participation of miRNAs in normal functions, alteration and/or abnormalities in miRNAs should have importance in human diseases. Beside their important roles in patterning and development, miRNAs also orchestrated responses to pathogen infections. Particularly, emerging evidence indicates that viruses use their own miRNAs to manipulate both cellular and viral gene expression. Furthermore, viral infection can exert a profound impact on the host cellular miRNA expression profile, and several RNA viruses have been reported to interact directly with cellular miRNAs and/or to use these miRNAs to augment their replication potential. Here I briefly summarize the newly discovered roles of miRNAs in various human diseases including infectious diseases, sickle cell disease and enodmetrium diseases as well as lung, liver and kidney diseases.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.79-88
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• 2015

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has emerged as one of the most promising biomarkers of renal epithelial injury. Numerous studies have presented the diagnostic and prognostic utility of urinary and plasma NGAL in patients with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, renal injury after kidney transplantation, and other renal diseases. NGAL is a member of the lipocalin family that is abundantly expressed in neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages and is a mediator of the innate immune response. The biological significance of NGAL to hamper bacterial growth by sequestering iron-binding siderophores has been studied in a knock-out mouse model. Besides neutrophils, NGAL is detectable in most tissues normally encountered by microorganisms, and its expression is upregulated in epithelial cells during inflammation. A growing number of studies have supported the clinical utility of NAGL for detecting invasive bacterial infections. Several investigators including our group have reported that measuring NGAL can be used to help predict and manage urinary tract infections and acute pyelonephritis. This article summarizes the biology and pathophysiology of NGAL and reviews studies on the implications of NGAL in various renal diseases from acute kidney injury to acute pyelonephritis.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.323-337
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• 2018

Infectious complications have been considered as a major cause of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation, especially in the Asian population. Therefore, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of such infections are crucial in kidney transplant recipients. Among all infectious complications, viruses are considered to be the most common agents because of their abundance, infectivity, and latency ability. Herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, BK polyomavirus, and adenovirus are well-known etiologic agents of viral infections in kidney transplant patients worldwide because of their wide range of distribution. As DNA viruses, they are able to reactivate after affected patients receive immunosuppressive agents. These DNA viruses can cause systemic diseases or allograft dysfunction, especially in the first six months after transplantation. Pretransplant evaluation and immunization as well as appropriate prophylaxis and preemptive approaches after transplant have been established in the guidelines and are used effectively to reduce the incidence of these viral infections. This review will describe the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of viral infections that commonly affect kidney transplant recipients.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.3-10
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• 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from different types of kidney cells under physiologic conditions contribute to homeostasis maintenance, immune-modulation, and cell-to-cell communications. EVs can also negatively affect the progression of renal diseases through their pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic, and tumorigenic potential. Inhibiting EVs by blocking their production, release, and uptake has been suggested as a potential therapeutic mechanism based on the significant implication of exosomes in various renal diseases. On the other hand, stem cell-derived EVs can ameliorate tissue injury and mediate tissue repair by ameliorating apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis while promoting angiogenesis and tubular cell proliferation. Recent advancement in biomedical engineering technique has made it feasible to modulate the composition of exosomes with diverse biologic functions, making EV one of the most popular drug delivery tools. The objective of this review was to provide updates of recent clinical and experimental findings on the therapeutic potential of EVs in renal diseases and discuss the clinical applicability of EVs in various renal diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2022

Kidney disease is becoming a global public health issue. Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have serious adverse health outcomes. However, there is no effective therapy to treat these diseases. Lactoferrin (LF), a multi-functional glycoprotein, is protective against various pathophysiological conditions in various disease models. LF shows protective effects against AKI and CKD. LF reduces markers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and kidney fibrosis, and induces autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in the kidney. Although there are no clinical trials of LF to treat kidney disease, several clinical trials and studies on LF-based drug development are ongoing. In this review, we discussed the possible kidney protective mechanisms of LF, as well as the pharmacological and therapeutic advances. The evidence suggests that LF may become a potent pharmacological agent to treat kidney diseases.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.176-179
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• 2015

Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody against the B-cell marker CD20, is commonly used as a treatment for antibody-mediated diseases or B-lymphocyte-mediated diseases. Destruction of B cells may reverse the disease course in many conditions; however, patients who are treated with RTX cannot respond appropriately to de novo infection due to lack of B lymphocytes. Here, we report one such case. A 7-year-old renal allograft recipient presented with severe anemia due to parvovirus infection after RTX treatment. The patient had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and had received cadaveric kidney transplantation 6 months previously. She was treated with high-dose steroid for acute rejection and RTX for Epstein Barr Virus infection 3 months previously. At presentation, her hemoglobin level was 5.4 g/dL and leukocyte and platelet counts were normal. She had microcytic normochromic anemia and high viral load of parvovirus B19(70,578 copies/mL). Intravenous immunoglobulin ($200mg/kg{\cdot}d$) treatment controlled the progression of anemia and parvovirus infection. De novo parvovirus infection during the B lymphocyte-depletion period may have precipitated the severe anemia in this case. Close monitoring of infection is required after RTX therapy.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.18-24
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• 2022

Pediatric rheumatologic diseases are rare systemic diseases that can involve various organs, including the kidneys. Each rheumatologic disease can exhibit characteristic renal involvement, which requires proper treatment and diagnosis. In this review, we discuss renal involvement in classic rheumatologic diseases, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and juvenile dermatomyositis. Reviews addressing lupus nephritis and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated renal disease are complex and tend to cover a wide array of topics, and thus were excluded from this review.

• 한국통신학회논문지
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• 제34권10B호
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• pp.1062-1069
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• 2009

비만으로 인해 대사증후군을 많이 앓고 있는 상황에서 후유증으로 신장 질환이 커다란 사회문제가 되고 있는 실정이다. 따라서 자각증상이 없는 신장의 이상 유무를 조기에 판단하여 적절한 조치를 취하는 것이 무엇보다 중요하다. 이를 위해 본 논문에서는 음성 분석을 통해 신장 질환을 무자각, 무구속, 무통종의 방법으로 진단할 수 있는 방법을 제안하였다. 구성하고자 하는 전체 시스템은 크게 음성 분석과 얼굴색을 살피는 방법을 결합시키는 시스템이 개발되고 있으며 이 중 본 논문은 입술소리를 기반으로 신장 질환을 진단하는 방법에 설계하였다. 이를 위해 본 논문에서는 첫째, 신장 질환을 앓고 있는 환자와 정상인을 대상으로 피실험자 집단을 각각 구성하고 입술소리의 수치학적 분석을 실험으로 출력하고 그 결과값에 대한 비교 분석을 수행하였으며 둘째, 한의학적 청진 이론과 언어학, 음성학과의 상관성을 분석하고 이를 기반으로 음성에 대한 신장의 특징 요소를 추출하여 제1포먼트 주파수와의 연관성을 도출하였다. 실험 결과 신장 질환자 집단이 정상인 집단보다 제1포먼트 주파수 대역폭이 넓게 형성되는 결과를 추출하였으며 최종적으로 입술소리만으로 신장 질환을 진단할 때의 오진 확률에 대해 계산하였다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제77권2호
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• pp.94-97
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• 2014

Empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of an empyema. Although the incidence is thought to be decreased in the post-antibiotic era, immunocompromised patients such as patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis are still at a higher risk. A 56-year-old woman on peritoneal dialysis presented with an enlarging mass on the right anterior chest wall. The chest computed tomography scan revealed an empyema necessitatis and the histopathologic findings revealed a granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis. The patient was treated with anti-tuberculous medication.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.8-13
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• 2021

Pediatric kidney transplantation is the best option since it can achieve near normal glomerular filtration rate, adequate fluid balance, and autonomic endocrine function of the kidney in end-stage kidney disease. However, pediatric kidney transplantation is difficult because children are developing and growing, management and complications of pediatric kidney transplantation are different from those of adults. This review covers the current status of pediatric kidney transplantation in Korea, key considerations that must be taken before kidney transplantation in children, and management strategy of immunosuppression and common complications.