• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 1996

In order to develop a suitable secondary renal disease model and diagnostic markers of renal disease in the rat, the change of PIIIP (aminoterminal procollagen III peptide) in serum and hydroxyproline levels in the renal tissue that reflect the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) during development of experimental renal diseases were observed. Two types of experimental primary diseases, diabetes mellitus administrated by streptozotocin (STZ, 75 mg/kg, i.p.) and liver cirrhosis produced by bile duct ligation/scission (BDL/s) operation, were induced. The hydroxyproline level increased according to the high PIIIP and NCl(carboxyterminal procollagen IV peptide) in Western blot analysis as early as 1 week in the STZ treated-rat kidney. Increased renal ECM was observed at 15 weeks in STZ and BDL/s model under the microscopic examination. High PAS positive reaction was found in capillary basement membrane in STZ treated-rats and mesangium in BDL/s operated rats at this time, showing the histological characteristics of diabetic nephropathy and cirrhotic glomerulonephritis in human, respectively. Such secondary renal failure were supported by additional tests including urinalysis and renal function test. The serum PIIIP detected by ELISA was a useful parameter to estimate synthesis rate of renal ECM during development of renal disease without extrarenal fibrosis i.e. liver cirrhosis in rats. This study is proposed that STZ treatment or BDL/s operation may be a suitable experimental animal model for the induction and development of chronic secondary renal diseases. Morover, it was found that hydroxyproline level in renal tissues was a good parameter of the change of renal ECM at the early stage of the diseases without apparent histological changes. Especially, serum PIIIP could be a choice as a diagnostic or prognostic marker during the development of renal diseases in rats.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.239-244
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• 2003

$^{99m}Tc-MAG3$ Scintigraphic Scan is sensitive at depicting focal parenchymal abnormalities and can be used for the measurement of overall renal function. We experienced a 12-year-old girl presenting with fever and flank pain. On the ultrasonogram and post-voiding delayed image of $^{99m}Tc-MAG3$ scintigraphic scan, severe right cortical atrophy and hydronephrosis with vesicoureteral reflux were detected. We could demonstrate the reflux nephropathy by these two diagnostic work-up without conventional voiding cystourethrography.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2020

Purpose: Alport syndrome (AS) is one of the most common inherited renal diseases caused due to mutations of genes encoding specific proteins of the type IV collagen family, and its major clinical manifestations include progressive renal failure, sensorineural deafness, and ocular abnormalities. We investigated the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of AS in Korean pediatric and adult populations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 33 children and adults who had been diagnosed or treated with AS from 1985 to 2019. Results: The mean age of the 33 patients diagnosed with AS was 16.2±13.6 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. At the first visit, recurrent gross hematuria was the most common initial symptom. In 10 of 33 patients (30.3%), sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was diagnosed, but none had ophthalmic problems. Moreover, 11 of 33 patients (33.3%) had advanced to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and a significant difference was observed in the age of the patients who progressed to ESRD based on the presence or absence of SNHL (P=0.035). Conclusion: SNHL in AS can be an important prognostic factor for long-term deterioration of renal function. Further investigation is required to confirm the clinical course and the genetic characteristics of AS in Korea through prospective national cohort studies.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and long-term clinical effects of hypertension in Korean childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients. Methods: The medical records of SLE patients, diagnosed by 2019 SLE European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria, who visited Samsung Medical Center from January 2009 to May 2019 were reviewed. Disease activity and long-term damage were evaluated using the Modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and the Pediatric Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index (Ped-SDI), respectively. The sex-, age- and height-blood pressure standards recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2017 guideline was used to define hypertension. Results: A total of 32 patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up duration was 7.3 years and females were predominant. The median ages at SLE and hypertension diagnoses were 14.2 and 14.3 years, respectively. The biopsy-proven lupus nephritis was detected in 90.6% and 37.5% were class IV. During the follow-up, 12 patients (37.5%) had hypertension. Among them, 2 patients had 3 episodes of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and 5 patients had left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Univariate analysis showed baseline hypertension was significantly correlated with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher body mass index and SLEDAI at baseline. The development of hypertension during the follow-up was significantly correlated with obesity, LVH, and higher Ped-SDI. Conclusion: Our study revealed that hypertension in pediatric SLE is associated with obesity and renal function at SLE diagnosis and could affect long-term damage.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.480-488
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by deficits in memory and cognitive functions. The accumulation of amyloid beta peptide ($A{\beta}$) and oxidative stress in the brain are the most common causes of AD. MATERIALS/METHODS: Caffeic acid (CA) is an active phenolic compound that has a variety of pharmacological actions. We studied the protective abilities of CA in an $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected AD mouse model. CA was administered at an oral dose of 10 or 50 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Behavioral tests including T-maze, object recognition, and Morris water maze were carried out to assess cognitive abilities. In addition, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (NO) production in the brain were measured to investigate the protective effect of CA in oxidative stress. RESULTS: In the T-maze and object recognition tests, novel route awareness and novel object recognition were improved by oral administration of CA compared with the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected control group. These results indicate that administration of CA improved spatial cognitive and memory functions. The Morris water maze test showed that memory function was enhanced by administration of CA. In addition, CA inhibited lipid peroxidation and NO formation in the liver, kidney, and brain compared with the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected control group. In particular, CA 50 mg/kg/day showed the stronger protective effect from cognitive impairment than CA 10 mg/kg/day. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that CA improves $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced memory deficits and cognitive impairment through inhibition of lipid peroxidation and NO production.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.479-487
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• 2013

This study is intended to examine the tDCS and Morris Water maze training in Alzheimer's disease(AD) rats on Tau protein expression. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 16 rats to each group. Group I was a control group(AD induced by scopolamine); Group II was a experimental control group(AD injured by scopolamine and treatment tacrine); Group III was a group of tDCS application after AD injured by scopolamine; Group IV was a group of morris water maze training after AD injured by scopolamine. In cognition test, the outcome of group II was significantly lower than the groups(p<.001). and group III, IV were significantly low result at 14 days(p<.05). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of micro vessels and finding of cell atropy and swelling. Group III, IV were decreased in degeneration of liver and kidney cells. In immuno- histochemistric response of BDNF and tau protein in hippocampus, BDNF expression of Group II was more increase than the other groups. and increase of BDNF expression was III, IV were higher than group I at 21 days. Tau protein expression of Group II was more decrease than the other groups. and decrease of Tau protein expression was III, IV were lower than group I at 21 days. These result suggest that improved tDCS and morris water maze training after scopolamine induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of BDNF and Tau protein in hippocampus and that is related with cognitive function.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.144-158
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medical treatment in case of germ cell tumor patient treated by chemotherapy. Methods: The patient was treated with Korean medical treatment (herbal medicine, acupuncture) for 11 months. By taking computed tomography and laboratory testing, we could compare before and after. Results: The patient treated with combination of Korean medical treatment and Chemotherapy recovered after taking Korean medicine for 11 months. Panax ginseng, C.A. Meyer, Astragalus membranaceus, Rhus Verniciflua Stokes were main ingredient of the korean medical treatment. Conclusions: This report shows the Korean medical treatment is effective on Germ cell tumor patient. Korean medical treatment alleviates the side-effect of Chemotherapy such as nausea, vomiting, hot flush and anorexia. Also Blood test results prove long-term use of Korean medicine is safe for lung and kidney function.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Background: Saengmaeksan (SMS) is a traditional Korean medicine composed of three herbs, Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, and Liriope platyphylla. SMS is used to treat respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. However, whether SMS exerts antihyperuricemic effects is unknown. Methods: Effects of the SMS extract in water (SMS-W) and 30% ethanol (SMS-E) were studied in a rat model of potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia. Uric acid concentrations and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities were evaluated in the serum, urine, and hepatic tissue. Using renal histopathology to assess kidney function and uric acid excretion, we investigated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, as well as protein levels of renal urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), and organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1). The effects of SMS on in vitro XO activity and uric acid uptake were also evaluated. The components of SMS were identified using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Results: SMS-E reduced serum uric acid and creatinine concentrations, and elevated urine uric acid excretion. SMS-E lowered XO activities in both the serum and liver, and downregulated the expression of renal URAT1 and GLUT9 proteins. SMS-E reduced renal inflammation and IL-1b levels in both the serum and kidneys. SMS-E inhibited both in vitro XO activity and urate uptake in URAT1-expressing oocytes. Using UPLC, 25 ginsenosides were identified, all of which were present in higher levels in SMS-E than in SMS-W. Conclusion: SMS-E exhibited antihyperuricemic effects by regulating XO activity and renal urate transporters, providing the first evidence of its applicability in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.516-521
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• 2021

Although arginase primarily participates in the last reaction of the urea cycle, we have previously demonstrated that arginase II is an important cytosolic calcium regulator through spermine production in a p32-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrated that rhaponticin (RPT) is a novel medicinal-plant arginase inhibitor and investigated its mechanism of action on Ca²⁺-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation. RPT was uncompetitively inhibited for both arginases I and II prepared from mouse liver and kidney. It also inhibited arginase activity in both aorta and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Using both microscope and FACS analyses, RPT treatments induced increases in cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels using Fluo-4 AM as a calcium indicator. Increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ elicited the phosphorylations of both CaMKII and eNOS Ser1177 in a time-dependent manner. RPT incubations also increased intracellular L-arginine (L-Arg) levels and activated the CaMKII/AMPK/Akt/eNOS signaling cascade in HUVECs. Treatment of L-Arg and ABH, arginase inhibitor, increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations and activated CaMKII-dependent eNOS activation in ECs of WT mice, but, the effects were not observed in ECs of inositol triphosphate receptor type 1 knockout (IP3R1^-/-) mice. In the aortic endothelium of WT mice, RPT also augmented nitric oxide (NO) production and attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In a vascular tension assay using RPT-treated aortic tissue, cumulative vasorelaxant responses to acetylcholine (Ach) were enhanced, and phenylephrine (PE)-dependent vasoconstrictive responses were retarded, although sodium nitroprusside and KCl responses were not different. In this study, we present a novel mechanism for RPT, as an arginase inhibitor, to increase cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in a L-Arg-dependent manner and enhance endothelial function through eNOS activation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2019

Although there has been many studies about the co-administration of herb formula and western medicine, there is none about obesity. The aim of this study was to report the effects of co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin on two obese patients for about 2~4 months. During the treatment, we checked body weight and body composition, and collected blood samples to evaluate liver, kidney, thyroid function and lipid profile. This treatment not only decreased body weight but also improved body composition and lipid profile in both patients. There was no hepatic or renal toxicity, nor any serious side effects of treatment. This study demonstrated that co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin is a safe and effective therapy to lose weight and improve metabolic parameters for obese patients. Further large-scale clinical trials are needed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of the combination of herbal and western medicines.