• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.70-76
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• 2012

In this paper, an automatic extraction method of glomerulus region from human renal tissue image is presented. The important information reflecting the state of kidneys richly included in the glomeruli, so it should be the first step to extract the glomerulus region from the renal tissue image for the further quantitative analysis of the renal condition. Especially, there is no clear difference between the glomerulus and other tissues, so the glomerulus region can not be easily extracted from its background by the existing segmentation methods. The outer edge of a glomerulus region is regarded as a common property for the regions of this kind ; a two- dimensional Gaussian distribution is used to convolve with an original image first and then the image is thresholded at this blurred image ; a closed curve corresponding to the outer edge can be obtained by usual pattern processing skills like thinning, branch-cutting, hole-filling etc., Finally, the glomerulus region can be obtained by extracting the area in the original image surrounded by the closed curve. The glomerulus regions are correctly extracted by 85 percentages and experimental results show the proposed method is effective.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2021

C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN), a rare condition associated with dysregulation of the alternative pathway of the complement system, is histopathologically characterized by isolated or dominant C3 deposition in the renal glomeruli. We report a case of C3GN associated with anti-complement factor H (CFH) autoantibodies and CHF-related protein deficiency in an adolescent male. A 16-year-old adolescent male was admitted to a hospital with a 1-month history of generalized edema prior to presentation. Persistent microscopic hematuria and low serum C3 levels were incidentally detected at 7 and 10 years of age, respectively. Laboratory test results revealed hypoalbuminemia, nephrotic-range proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, and normal serum creatinine levels. The serum C3 and C4 levels were 17 mg/dL (normal 80-150 mg/dL) and 22 mg/mL (17-40 mg/mL), respectively. Renal biopsy showed typical features of C3GN. Further investigations revealed positive results on plasma anti-CFH autoantibody testing and a homozygous deletion of CFHR1 and CFHR3, which encode CFH-related proteins 1 and 3, respectively. Proteinuria persisted despite treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and angiotensin-receptor blocker; however, his renal function remained stable. In conclusion, anti-CFH autoantibodies serve as important contributors to C3GN. This is the first case report that describes C3GN in an adolescent Korean male with anti-CFH autoantibodies and homozygous CFHR1 and CFHR3 deletion.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Objectives : Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most significant chronic complications of diabetes. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in the development of diabetic nephropathy. GS-E3D is an enzymatic modified red ginseng extract by pectin lyase and has an increased concentration of the ginsenoside Rd compared to an unmodified red ginseng extract. In this study, we evaluated the preventive effects of GS-E3D on renal dysfunction in the type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Methods : GS-E3D (100 or 250 mg/kg body weight per day) was given to db/db mice through oral gavage for 6 weeks. Body weight and blood glucose levels were examined. At the end of the experiment, albuminuria was measured. The renal tissues were collected for histological examination, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect renal accumulation of AGEs and podocyte loss Results : In the db/db mice, severe hyperglycemia developed, and albuminuria was significantly increased. Diabetes induced markedly morphological alterations to the renal glomerular cells. AGE accumulations and podocyte loss were detected in renal glomeruli. No difference in blood glucose levels was noted between GS-E3D-treated and vehicletreated diabetic db/db mice. However, GS-E3D treatment significantly reduced albuminuria and AGE accumulations in diabetic mice. Moreover, the loss of podocytes was restored by GS-E3D treatment. Conclusions : GS-E3D might be beneficial for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. The ability of GS-E3D on to attenuate albuminuria and podocyte dysfunction in the db/db mice may be mediated by the inhibition of AGE accumulation.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.109-121
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• 2023

Thioacetamide (TAA) exposure and hepatitis C virus infection are usually associated with renal dysfunction. Sofosbuvir (SFV) and daclatasvir (DAC) drugs combination has great value in the treatment of hepatitis C. The study aimed to identify the nephrotoxic effects of TAA and to evaluate the ameliorative role of SFV and DAC in this condition. Forty-eight adult male albino rats were divided into eight groups and received saline (control), SFV, DAC, SFV+DAC, TAA, TAA+SFV, TAA+DAC and TAA+SFV+DAC for eight weeks. Kidney and blood samples were retrieved and processed for histological (Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson's trichrome), immunohistochemical (α-smooth muscle actin), and biochemical analysis (urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and tumor necrosis factor-α). Examination revealed marked destruction of renal tubules on exposure to TAA with either hypertrophy or atrophy of glomeruli, increase in collagen deposition, and wide expression of α-smooth muscle actin. Also, significant disturbance in kidney functions, oxidative stress markers, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Supplementation with either SFV or DAC produced mild improvement in the tissue and laboratory markers. Moreover, the combination of both drugs greatly refined the pathology induced by TAA at the cellular and laboratory levels. However, there are still significant differences when compared to the control. In conclusion, SFV and DAC combination partially but greatly ameliorated the renal damage induced by TAA which might be enhanced with further supplementations to give new hope for those with nephropathy associated with hepatitis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 1998

Purpose : The proliferative nuclear antigen Ki-67, present in all cell cycle phases except G0, is a useful marker for the detection of proliferative cells in vivo. MIB I has been found to recognize an antigen in formalin-fixed and wax-embedded material. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of MIB-1 expression as a marker of representing the status of mesangial cell proliferation in renal tissues. Methods : Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 Ag using monoclonal antibody MIB-1 (Immunotech,505) were performed in 41 renal tissuses which were obtained by percutaneous renal biopsy done between January 1994 and December 1996. Results : In both glomeruli and renal tubules, MIB-1 expression was observed only in 2 of 18 ($11.1\%$) cases of IgA nephropathy, in 2 of the 4 ($50\%$) cases of mebranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, in 4 of the 5 ($80\%$) cases of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. But MIB-1 expression was not detected in all cases of minimal lesion and membranous nephropathy. Renal tubules In another 7 cases of IgA nephropathy were MIB-1 positive. Conclusion : MIB-1 expression in renal tissues may relate to the cell proliferation in glomeruli and renal tubules. But the efficacy of MIB-1 expression as a marker of mesangial cell proliferation may reveal a limited value because of it's lower positive rate in IgA nephropathy.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2000

Purpose: This retrospective study of 126 children with symptomless primary hematuria was undertaken to determine the distribution of various histologic types by renal biopsy, clinical outcome according to the biopsy findings and also to find out feasibility of performing renal biopsy in these children. Patients and Methods : Study population consisted of 126 children with symptom-less primary hematuria who have been admitted to the pediatric department of Kyung-poot National University Hospital for the past 11 years from 1987 to 1998 and renal biopsy was performed percutaneously. Hematuric children with duration of less than 6 months, evidences of systemic illness such as SLE or Henoch-Schonlein purpura, urinary tract infection, and idiopathic hypercalciuria were excluded from the study. Results : Mean age of presentation was 9.2${\pm}$3.3 years (range ; 1.5-15.3 years) and male preponderance was noted with male to female ratio of 2:1. IgA nephropathy was the most common biopsy finding occuring in 60 children ($47.6\%$), followed by MsPGN in 13 ($10.3\%$), MPGN in 5 ($3.9\%$), TGBM in 6 ($4.7\%$), Alport syndrome in 2 ($1.6\%$), FSGS in 1 ($0.8\%$), and in 39 children ($30.9\%$), 'normal' glomeruli were noted. Recurrent gross hematuria was more common than persistent microscopic hematuria (84 versus 42), and especially in IgA nephropathy, recurrent gross hematuria was the most prevalent pattern of hematuria. In 58 out of 126 cases ($46.0\%$), hematuria was isolated without accompa-nying proteinuria and this was especially true In cases of MsPGN and 'normal' glomer-uli by biopsy finding. Normalization of urinalysis (disappearance of hematuria) in IgA nephropathy, MsPGN and 'normal' glomuli group were similar and it was $14\%,\;27\%\;and\;21\%$ respectively during 1-2 years of follow-up period, and $37.1\%,\;40\%\;and\;35\%$ respectively during 3-4 years of follow-up periods. However, abnormal urinalysis persi-sted in the majority of children with MPGN, TGBM. Alport syndrome and FSGS. Renal function deteriorated progressively in 6 cases (3 with IgA nephropathy, 2 with Alport syndrome and 1 with TGBM). Conclusion : In summary, present study demonstrates that in 126 children with symptomless primary hematuria, IgA nephropathy was the most common biopsy findings followed by MsPGN, MPGN, TGBM, Alport syndrome and FSGS, and 'normal glomeruli' was also seen in 39 cases ($30.9\%$). Renal histology could not be predictable on the clinical findings, so that to establish appropriate long-term planning for these children, we would recommend to obtain precise histologic diagnosis by renal biopsy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.2180-2186
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• 2011

To find out the protective effects of Kamdootang against accumulation of cadmium in rats, the experimental rats were divided into 2 groups. One group was administered with cadmium alone and the other group administered with cadmium mixed with Kamdootang. Each group has been orally administered with different doses of cadmium such as 1.7 ${\mu}g/g/day$, 3.4 ${\mu}g/g/day$ and 6.8 ${\mu}g/g/day$, respectively, for 1 to 8 weeks. As a results, body weight gained has a tendency to decrease more in the Kamdootang treated groups and non-treated groups than in control group. Cadmium accumulation in kidney showed a significant difference between the Kamdootang treated group and Kamdootang non-treated group. As the experiment period is longer and longer, both groups have got more significantly cadmium accumulation amounts. The kidney system was researched through histopathological observation that Multiple foci of necrosis, hemorrhagic necrosis in glomeruli and cloudy swelling of tubules in kamdootang non-treated group. but tissue lesion of kidney was showed less kamdootang treated group than Kamdootang non-treated group. As remarked above results, when dose low concentrated Cd in rat, Kamdootang was reduced accumulation of Cd. in kidney.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.323-331
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• 1995

Monocyte/macrophage infiltration is the well known initial features associated with the development of glomerular disease including non-immune mediated nephropathy. Tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}(TNF{\alpha})$, a cytokine produced primarily by monocyte/macrophage, exhibits similar effects as observed at the initial stages and during the progression of glomerular injury. Because the mesangial cells are target cells for glomerular injury, the present study examined the effect of $TNF{\alpha}$ on glomerular mesangial cell membrane lipid peroxidation as an index of cytotoxicity attributing to $TNF{\alpha}$. Primary culture of rat mesangial cell was established by incubation of glomeruli isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rat kidneys utilizing a standard sieving method. The levels of lipid peroxides in the mesangial cells were quantitated by malondialdehyde- thiobarbituric acid adduct formation. During an 8 hour incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, $TNF{\alpha}$ at 10 to 10,000 units/ml increased the levels of lipid peroxides dose dependently. Western blot analysis demonstrated that a short thermal stress induced heat shock response and the synthesis of heat shock protein 70(hsp70) in this mesangial cells. Further, this induction of hsp 70 prevented increase of lipid peroxides in the mesangial cells exposed to $TNF{\alpha}$. These data suggest that $TNF{\alpha}-induced$ lipid peroxidation in the mesangial cells may have pathophysiological relevance to glomerular injury and prior induction of heat shock response may play a role in the cellular resistance against $TNF{\alpha}-induced$ glomerular injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.295-305
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• 1988

It has been well known that the renal cortical blood flow rate was much higher than that of the medulla and the renal blood flow distribution was affected by hemorrhage, volume expansion or salt-loading. The existance of the heterogeneities of glomerular filtration rate and nephron has also been reported. In order to understand the regulations and physiological roles of the heterogeneities, studies on the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system have been focused. Although it is well known that the granularity of iuxtaglomerular cells and renal renin content are more marked in superficial than in the deep glomeruli, their physiological significance is not quite clear. This study was therefore undertaken to clarify changes in renin response and isoelectric ronin profile to TMB-8 in outer, mid and inner cotices of normotensive and hypertensive rats. The basal rate of renin release was highest in outer cortex of Sprague-Dawley rat (SDR), Wistar rat (WR) and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The basal renin release from outer and inner cortex of SHR was significantly lower than that from those of SDR. The reponse of renin release to TM8-8 was highest in mid cortex and the increase of renin release in response to TMB-8 from inner cortex of SDR was significantly higher than that in SHR. In dehydrated rats, the basal renin release from renal cortical slices of SDR was increased but that from WR and SHR was not. The response of renin release to TMB-8 from mid and inner cortex of dehydrated WR tended to increase. In dehyrated SHR, increase of renin release from inner cortex was significantly higher than that in euhydrated SHR. No significant differences in the isoelectric renin profile were found both in different cortical areas and strains. In dehydrated rats, the percentage of renin form 2 was decreased and those of renin form 5 and 6 were increased. These results suggest that the heterogeneity of renin release from cortical area of euhydrated and dehydrated rats in response to TMB-8 may be related to the changes of renal blood flow and/or calcium metabolism in cortical area. These data also suggest that the renin forms with different isoelectric points may have an physiological significance.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.43-60
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• 1998

This study examined the histomorphomeric and histological changes of the left and right kidney in uninephrectomized rat. The results were as follows: 1. In the control, the right kidney was more prominent than the left in the basement membrane of glomerular capillaries. The podocyte had well developed Golgi apparatus in the left kidney and rough endoplasmic reticulum in the right kidney. 2. At the 30 days after unilateral nephrectomy, the basal lamina of glomerular capillaries was prominently thickened in the right kidney. The cytoplasm of the podocyte of the left kidney was markedly increased and had free ribosomes, developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum. 3. At the 30 days, the section of the glomeruli were more enlarged in the left kidney than in the right. 4. At the 20 day, the nuclear section of the podocytes were markedly enlarged in the right kidney, but those of the left kidney were diminished. The mitochondrial section of the podocytes were prominently increased in the right kidney. 5. The nuclear section of the parietal layer lining cells was no significant change in the right kidney. That of the left kidney was increased at the 20 days and decreased at the 40 days. The nuclear section of glomerular endothelium of the left kidney increased earlier than the right. 6. In the morphometry of the control kidney, the section areas, long and short diameters, the nuclear section, the mitochondrial section of the proximal tubule cells, and the changes of those were more large in the right kidney than in the left. 7. The luminal secretory vesicles and peroxisomes of the left kidney were more than the right at the 20 days. The increase of mitochodrial section in the proximal tubule cells of the left kidney was more prominent than the right. The large cytoplasmic vacuoles were more prominent in the left kidney than in the right. 8. The thickness of cytoplasm and brush border was more thick in the control left kidney than in the control right. The change of cytoplasmic thickness of the left kidney was increased earlier than in the right and both kineys were increased in the thickness of brush border at the 30 days.