• 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.131-135
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• 1994

The effect of ginsenoside (GS) from Panax ginseng on basal and nitro-L-arginine suppressed nitric oxide (NO) production was studied in rat kidney. NO production was determined by conversion to [$^{14C}$]=L-citrulline from [$^{14C}$]-L-arginine both in whole kidney and three renal segments; glomerulus, cortex excluding glomerulus (cortex-) and medulla. Nitro-L-arginine (total dose of 30 mg/kg/3 days, i.p.) significantly reduced NO production in whole kidney, which was prevented by GS pretreatment (30 mg/kg/3 days, i.p.). Relative high dose of GS (120 mg/kg/4 days, i.p..) selectively increased NO production in glomerulus and cortex-. Protein content, on wet weight basis, in cortex- and glomerular DNA content were significantly reduced by GS. Our results confirm the existence of constitutive nitric oxide synthase in kidney and it seems that target nephron segment for volume expansion due to GS'NO-mediated vasodilation and for NO production stimulated by GS is cortex including glomerulus.lus.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.20-33
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• 2000

The author was used for the ICR mouse and induced diabetes with the streptozotocin(50mg/kg)and alloxan(40mg/kg). After the testing and the identifying the diabetes, the histological changes of the glomerulus, blood test for the values of blood sugar, and urine test for the values of urine protein were investigated. The results are as follows : 1. The values of high blood sugar appeared from the 2 group were about $378mg/d{\ell}{\sim}709mg/d{\ell}$, in the treated groups with the streptozotocin and alloxan. The glycosuria were obviously continued from the 2 weeks to the 12 weeks of the streptozotocin and the alloxan treated groups and the proteinuria was ${\pm}{\sim}+$ in the 4 weeks and 8 weeks of streptozotocin treated group and were + in all the 12 weeks. The ketonuria were generally negative. 2. In the view of the light microscope, there was no significant histological changes until the 8 weeks. However, in the 12 weeks group treated with the streptozotocin, the mesangial matrix of glomerulus increased Bowman's capsules adhered to each other and changed them to the crescence shapes because of increasing the exothelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.343-347
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• 2006

The present study was designed to investigate the effects renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), endothelin (ET) and local natriuretic peptide (NP) system for glomerulopathy induced in the experimental bilateral ureteral obstructive rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats ($200{\sim}220g$ body weight) were bilaterally obstructed by ligation of the proximal ureters for 24 hours. Control rats were treated in the same ways, except that no ligature was made. The glomeruli were isolated from cortex by graded sieve methods, and the mRNA expressions of local renin-angiotensin system (RAS), aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and NP system were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Following the bilateral ureteral obstruction, the mRNA expressions of renin, angiotensin converting enzyme 1 as well as ET-1 were increased, while that of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 was not changed. The expressions of CYP11B2 and angiotensin II receptors were not changed. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) expression was increased, while its receptors (natriuretic peptide receptor-B) were not changed. We suggest that the upregulation of local RAS and ET playa role in the progressive glomerular injury, and that the enhanced CNP activity also plays a compensatory role in obstructive uropathy in the glomerulus.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2008

The filtration barrier of kidney consists of endothelial cell, glomerular capillary, glomerular basement membrane, mesangial matrix, and podocyte. In aged rats, the morphological changes were shown in various parts, including the glomerulus. These changes were thickening of basement membrane and mesangial matrix, crescent formation of glomerular capillary, deformity of foot processes, glomerular sclerosis and obsolescence. But these glomerular morphologies are partial images or few serial images analysis. In this study, we examined the morphological alteration of glomerulus in the young and aged rats by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and three dimensional reconstruction. We were found in aged rat glomerulus, expansion of urinary space and mesangial matrix, thickening and degrading of glomerular basement membrane, decreasing in podocyte foot processes, fragmentation of podocytic nucleus membrane. These observations indicate that may provide useful data for investigating the pathogenesis of age-related dysfunction of kidney.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.373-389
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• 1997

Morphological difference of the renal glomerulus at different age groups have been studies in one week-old, five weeks-old, eight weeks-old, six months-old, twelve months-old, eighteen months-old, twenty-four months-old, and thirty months-old ICR mice. Pieces of the tissue taken from the renal corticies were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solution (0.1 Millonig's phosphate buffer pH 7.3), and 1% osmium tetroxide solution (0.1 M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH 7.3), and were embedded in araldite mixture. The ultrathin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate solution, and were observed under a JEM 100CX-II electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1 In the one week-old mouse, thicknesses of the three layers of the glomeluar basal lamina (lamina densa, lamina rara interna and lamina rara externa) are similar, but in the five weeks-old mouse, thick lamina densa becomes a greater portion of the thickness of whole glomerular basal lamina. 2. No difference was noticed between thickness of the renal glomerular basal lamina of the five weeks-old mouse compare with that of the one week-old one, but basal lamina of the eight weeks-old one is thickened considerably and thicknesses were maintained through twelve months-old one. After eighteen months, the thickness of the glomerular basal lamina is increased remarkably. 3. After eighteen months, electron dense deposits within the basal lamina of the renal glomeruli are observed frequently. 4. Amount of the microfilaments in the mesangial cells and the mesangial matrices are increasing during aging. 5. The thicknesses of the basal laminae of the Bowman's capsule are increasing during aging. 6. After twenty four months, the proximal tubular cell-like parietal cells with well developed microvilli are observed frequently. From the above results, it was suggested that the renal glomerulus matures structurally in five weeks, and the function of the glomerulus is suppressed after eighteen months.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 2001

Background: The number of glomerulus has been considered one of the etiologic factors especially for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, glomeruli are too many to calculate them correctly. Although the fractionator method has became convinced, in which they used selected sections, not whole kidney sections, with same intervals, it is also very hard to get good results. Because it is still very time-consuming and laborous work which leads to make big observers' biases. Methods and Materials: We designed the index for glomerular number to estimate the tendency of increase or decrease of the number of it in different kidneys and which was evaluated by other conventional methods including fractionator method. Index was based upon the theory by Nyengaard; "the number of glomerulus correlates with the weight of kidney, which is positively correlated with body weight". Calculating formula is the number of glomeruli/surface areas of cortices, which contain calculated glomeruli multiplies by kidney weight/body weight. Results: We applied this index to kidneys of FGS/Kist mouse and those of RFM/Nga mouse. The former is spontaneous glomerulosclerosis model with heavy protein uria and renal failure and the latter is the mother side of FGS/Kist mouse but has no glomerular disease or protein uria. The number of glomerulus of FGS/Kist mouse was decreased by 30% to those of RFM/Nga mouse. Conclusion: This index was useful and reliable for estimating the relative glomerular number between two groups.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2016

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) such as $N^{\varepsilon}$-(carboxy-methyl)lysine (CML) have been implicated in the development of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of ethanolic extract of Aster koraiensis (AKE) on AGEs formation and AGEs-collagen cross-linking in vitro and CMLs formation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. AKE significantly inhibited AGEs formation ($IC_{50}$ value of $18.74{\mu}g/mL$) and AGEs-collagen cross-linking ($IC_{50}$ value of 0.274 mg/mL) in vitro than the well-known glycation inhibitor aminoguanidine ($IC_{50}$ value of $72.12{\mu}g/mL$ and 1.99 mg/mL, respectively). AKE (100 mg/kg per day) was given to diabetic rats for 9 weeks. In STZ-induced diabetic rats, severe hyperglycemia was developed, and urinary CMLs and plasma CMLs were markedly increased. Immunohistochemical stain revealed that CMLs were accumulated within renal glomerulus in STZ-induced diabetic rats. However, AKE significantly reduced urinary CMLs and plasma CMLs in diabetic rats. CMLs accumulation was inhibited by AKE treatment in the renal glomerulus. These results suggest that AKE had an inhibitory effect of AGE accumulation in the glomeruli of diabetic rat and could be an inhibitor of AGE-induced protein cross-linking. The oral administration of AKE may significantly help to prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with diabetes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

Objective : For this study, mice on mercurial toxication were given mercuric subcutaneous injection to their abdomen factitiously. After delivering Kami- bangpungtongseong-san(KBT) extracts to the mice by oral administration, we observed changes from liver and kidney of mice. Method : The BALB/c mice were distributed into three groups: No treated group(Normal group), Mercuric chloride subcutaneous injection group(Control group), Kami-bangpungtongseong-san-treated group (Sample group). KBT Extracts were delivered orally in 7 days. We observed involution of liver, necrosis of liver and cell plate loss of liver, lipid peroxidation CYP1A1 expression. We observed involution of proximal convoluted tubules, hypertrophy of Bowman's capsule, periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)'s positive reaction of proximal convoluted tubules, heat shock protein(HSP)700's positive reaction in glomerulus. For the charting the results, image analysis was taken. The result of image analysis was verified significance by Sigmaplot 2000(P<0.05). Result : The mice' liver on mercurial toxication were relieved involution of liver, necrosis of liver, and cell plate loss of liver and also declined lipid peroxidation and CYP1A1 expression. The mice' kidney on mercurial toxication were relieved involution of proximal convoluted tubules, hypertrophy of Bowman's capsule and increasing PAS's positive reaction of proximal convoluted tubules. On the other hand it was declined HSP700's positive reaction in glomerulus. Conclusion : According to the result of study, we think that we can expect to the effect of KBT extracts' therapeutic action to tissue injuries of the mice' liver and kidney on acute mercurial toxication.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.283-289
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• 2003

The effect on kidney, gill, and hepatopancreas of juvenile olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus were investigated by histological method under limit concentration of effulent of PCBs for 60 days. The free surface of epithelial cell layer in the renal tubules of kidney showed a strong positive reaction in alcian blue during all exposure period. There were also observed swelling of hemocyte in glomerulus and macrophage. At 60 days after exposure, epithelium of the renal tubules was fused and some of organism $(20\%)$ showed damage of glomerulus and eosinophlic cell in epithelium of the renal tubules. The phenomena such as the activation and increase of the chloride cell, and swelling of hemocyte in the capillary of gill were observed during all exposure period. At 60 days after exposure, swelling of the gill filament and mucous cell appeared in gill and some of organism $(30\%)$ showed swelling of the gill lamellar. Swelling of hemocyte in the capillary of hepatopancreas was observed and the free surface of epithelial layer of the bile duct showed positive reaction in alcian blue during all exposure period. Degenerated zymogen in the pancreas and swelling of the hepatocyte were occurred at 60 days after exposure.