• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2018

Gremlin-1 (GREM1) has been defined as an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), particularly during embryonic development and tissue differentiation. However, recent studies have shown that GREM1 has BMPs-dependent or -independent functions in diverse human diseases. GREM1 plays a key role in the process of organ fibrosis, including lungs, kidneys, and so on. The GREM1-induced fibrosis typically promotes the development of other diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension, renal inflammation, and diabetic nephropathy. More recently, considerable evidence has been reported showing that GREM1 is involved in the promotion and/or progression of tumors in vitro and in vivo. It also performs an oncogenic role in the maintenance of cancer stem cells. Although GREM1 is known to function in a variety of diseases, here we focus on the role of GREM1 in cancer, and suggest GREM1 as a potential therapeutic target in certain types of cancer.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.151-154
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• 1997

Purpose : The prevalence of renal malformation in Turner syndrome has been quoted as being greater than 50% in older series. Recently in 1988, Lippe's review gave a prevalence of 33%, significantly lower than all previous reports. In 1996, Flynn reported that renal malformation occurs in approximately 24% of all girls with Turner syndrome, and that it is seldom seen in girls with mosaic karyotype who form the predominant subgroup. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence of renal malformation by karyotype in Turner syndrome in Korea. Method : We evaluated 81 patients with Turner sundrome diagnosed in Yonsei University from Jan. 1987 to Dec. 1996. The patient entered in this study were those for whom both karyotype and ultrasound examination of the kidney were available. Result : 1) The karyotype showed: 45,X ; 29 cases (38%), mosaicism : 32 cases (40%), structural aberration ; 17 cases (22%). 2) Of the 29 cases of pure 45,X karyotype, 5(17%) had abnormal renal findings, while these were found in only 1 of the 30 mosaic cases(3.3%), and in 1 of the 17 structural aberration cases(6%). The malformation included 3 cases of horseshoe kidney, 2 cases of axial malrotation, hypoplastic kidney and simple cyst each one. There was no statistical significance between 3 groups (p=0.09). Conclusion : We conclude that renal malformation occurs in 9.2% in this study, therefore Korean girls with Turner syndrome have lower rates of renal malformation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1981

HBsAg. was identified in the urine of the patients positive for serum HBsAg. by Tripatzis in 1970. In 1977, Hourani et al reported the incidence of HBsAg. in urine was about 52% in the patients positive for serum HBsAg. with hemodialysis treatment due to chronic renal failure. A series of studies on the HBsAg. in urine has revealed the urine of the patients positive for serum HBsAg. to be important source of infection. But there's much room to debate on the relationship of HBsAg. in urine with infectivity and the exact mechanism of urinary emergence of HBsAg. The authors detected HBsAg. in serum and urine by employing sandwitch solid-phase rad ioimmunoassay, and performed urinalysis, liver function test and renal function evaluation. Percutanous liver and/or kidney biopsis were done. Among 38 renal disease patients, 9 cases (23.4%) were shown to be positive for serum HBsAg. and 5 cases (55.5%) among above 9 patients positive for urine HBsAg.. 56 cases (67.4%) of 83 liver disease patients revealed positive for serum HBsAg. but only 11 cases (13.2%) among the 56 cases positive fo urine HBsAg. All 10 renal and liver disease patients revealed positive serum HBsAg., and among the 9 cases (90%) positive for urine HBsAg.. In the 25 patients positive for urine HBsAg. all of 5 renal patients and 9 renal and liver patients had hematuria or/and proteinuria above 2 positive for albumin. But in the 11 liver patients 6 cases (55.1%) were normal findings. And there's no significant difference in cpm of urine HBsAg. between the patient positive for serum HBsAg. and negative, and in cpm of serum HBsAg. between liver and renal disease patients. But there's statistical significance in cm of urine HBsAg. between renal and liver diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.630-633
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• 2020

Renal failure syndrome in wild mammals is infrequently reported. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized rodent known to carry many diseases but rarely exhibiting renal failure. A six-month old female muskrat was submitted to our laboratory for pathological diagnosis, and necropsy revealed severe renal damage with sand-like lithiasis in the ureter, renal calculi, and hydronephrosis. All major organs, including the cerebrum, also showed systemic hemorrhage and calcification which may have been due to uremia induced by renal failure. Histopathologically, necrosis and microcalcification were detected in the renal cortex and the medulla, especially in the proximal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney. Significant hyalinization of the glomeruli was also observed, and this suggested chronic nephritis. These findings would support mycotoxic effects, particularly on the kidney. Moreover, infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells was observed in the lung and of plasma cells in the spleen. The definitive cause of the toxic effects in this case of muskrat renal failure could be attributed to contaminated food.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2013

Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by impaired transport of cystine and dibasic amino acids in the proximal renal tubule, resulting in the formation of cystine stones. It is believed to account for about 1% of all kidney stones and up to 10% of pediatric stones. Here we report a case of cystinuria with multiple renal stones confirmed by genetic mutational analysis. An 8-month-old girl was admitted to AMC with persistent fever and multiple renal stones. A renal sonogram showed multiple stones at the right renal pelvis, right distal ureter, and left renal medullary portion. An approximately 1 cm renal stone was extracted spontaneously, and stone analysis revealed it to be composed entirely of cystine. Cystinuria was confirmed by increased urine dibasic amino acid levels, including cysteine, and genetic mutational analysis showed the patient to be a homozygote for the pathogenic c. 1820del (p.L607fs) of SLC3A1. Despite treatment with oral hydration and urinary alkalinization, and restricted intake of animal protein, the stones increased in size and number. The patient has since been treated with tiopronin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.145-148
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• 2007

Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. has been used in some parts of Southeast Asia as a folk medicine to treat kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia. The present work was undertaken to prove the mechanisms of G. procumbens in the management of glomerular diseases. We investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of G. procumbens on cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and the expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$, PDGF-BB, CDK1, CDK2, and CDK4 in fetal bovine serum-activated human mesangial cells (MCs). The G. procumbens extract inhibited proliferation, DNA synthesis, expressions of PDGF-BB, CDK1, and CDK2 mRNA, and expression of $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein in MCs. The inhibitory effect of G. procumbens on MC proliferation may be mediated by suppression of PDGF-BB and $TGF-{\beta}1$ expressions and the modulation of CDK1 and CDK2 expression. Therefore, G. procumbens shows promise as an adjunct therapy in preventing progressive renal diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2002

To better understand the reservoir host range and distribution of hantaviruses in small mammal populations in Korea, a serological survey was conducted on 1,375 wild rodents and 62 insectivores captured in seven provinces during the six-year period, 1995 to 2000. As determined by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test, 90 ($13.1\%$) of 685 Apodemus agrarius, 47 ($13.6\%$) of 345 Apodemus peninsulae, and 4 ($6.5\%$) of 62 Crocidura laciura were seropositive against the Hantaan virus, while 38 ($13.5\%$) of 282 Eothenomys regulus were seropositive against the Puumala virus. Serological evidence for hantavirus infection was not found in 50 Microtus fortis, six Micromys minutus, six Mus musculus, and one Cricetulus triton. Our serological data indicate that hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)-related hantaviruses are widely distributed in indigenous rodents in Korea. Particularly noteworthy was the high seropositivity rates among Apodemus peninsulae and Eothenomys regulus captured in certain mountainous regions, suggesting that HFRS may be under-reported among nearby residents or among individuals who might visit such areas for recreational or occupational purposes.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.227-231
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• 1999

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a clinical syndrome with various etiology and pathogenesis. And pneumococcal neuraminidase has been known to play a pathogenetic role in some cases with this syndrome. We experienced two children with hemolytic uremic syndrome complicated by pneumococcal infection. One was 21-month-old girl with pneumococcal pneumonia, and the other was 7-month-old girl with pneumococcal meningitis and sepsis. Both of them showed typical clinical manifestations of hemolytic uremic syndrome with prolonged anuria during the course of pneumococcal infection. The renal functions of both cases did not recovered after resolution of acute hemolytic episode and chronic renal failure developed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.217-220
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• 1999

Kimura disease is a chronic benign disorder, primarily seen in asians male during the second and third decades of life, which presents itself as a tumour like lesion with a predilection for the head and neck region. There is high prevalence of associated renal disease. We report two cases of nephrotic syndrome associated with Kimura disease, and this is the first report of Kimura disease with renal involvement in Korean children.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.278-281
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• 2009

Bilateral renal enlargement is a very rare manifestation as the primary presenting feature of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We are reporting an unusual clinical picture of a 9-month-old male patient diagnosed as precusor B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, who showed bilateral nephromegaly without any hepatosplenomegaly at the time of initial presentation.