• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.331-339
• /
• 2018

NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is first known to be expressed in the hypothalamus while controlling appetite and energy metabolism. However, recent studies have shown that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the various organs as well as the hypothalamus. Our previous reports also demonstrated that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the ovary, testis, pituitary gland, lung, kidney, and stomach of fetal and adult mice. However, the role of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in mouse fetus remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether NUCB2/nestatin-1 is expressed in mouse fetus at the developmental stage in which organogenesis begins. To do this, we performed in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to examine the distribution of NUCB2 mRNA and nesfatin-1 protein in the mouse fetal organs during early developmental stages, especially at embryonic day (E) 10.5. As a result of ISH, NUCB2 mRNA positive signals were more frequent in the liver, but there were relatively few positive signals in heart. On the other hand, no positive signals were detected in other organs. These ISH results were validated by IHC staining and qRT-PCR analysis. Expression of nesfatin-1 protein detected by IHC staining was similar to that of NUCB2 mRNA detected by ISH in the liver and heart. In addition, the levels of NUCB2 mRNA expression analyzed by qRT-PCR were significantly increased in the liver and heart compared to other organs of the mouse fetus at E13.5, whereas its level was extensively decreased in the liver, but increased in the lung, stomach, and kidney of the mouse fetus at E17.5. These results suggest that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 may play an important role in liver and heart development and physiological functions in the developmental process of mouse fetus. Further studies are needed on the function of NUCB2/nesfatin-1, which is highly expressed in the various organs, including liver and heart during mouse development.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 1999

Each life has its own properties that distinguish one another. With this property, Oriental medicine suggests original diagnosis and treament. Our process of aging shows typical outline of cycle, i. e. from one's birth to death. Understanding the life cycle of men gives us very good hint to predict one's state of health, possible diseases, characteristics of disease in each term of his/her life cycle. It's because body and mode of diseases change according to age. Aging starts when $\breve{U}$m Essence(陰精)-the essence one receive from parents-dries up or when Deficient Fire(虛火) soars. Parts that compose our body-bones, muscles, flesh, etc.-gradually weaken and worn out as they no longer get support from Yang-Ki(陽氣), In "Yellow Emperor's Classic", aging starts around one's forties when $\breve{U}$m Essence(陰精) is reduced to less than half. However, what is usually accepted is that women start aging from 49 and men 64, regarding significant geriatric disease. As it is mentioned, aging starts with exhaustion of $\breve{U}$m Essence(陰精) which results in soaring Deficient Fire. Main symptoms are weak mental state due to Sin(神) disorder, and weak physical state due to Spleen and Stomacn(脾胃) disorder. Main principle in treating and preventing diseases related to aging is preserving $\breve{U}$m Essence(陰精), as well as fortifying Ki and Blood(氣血). To do this, Lung(肺)-which collects $\breve{U}$m Essence(陰精), and Kidney(腎) stores-which stores $\breve{U}$m Essence(陰精).

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are frequently employed to counteract the detrimental effects of proteinuria on glomerular diseases. However, the effects of ARBs remain poorly examined in pediatric patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of losartan, an ARB, in pediatric IgA nephropathy with proteinuria. Methods: This prospective, single-arm, multicenter study included children with IgA nephropathy exhibiting proteinuria. Changes in proteinuria, blood pressure, and kidney function were prospectively evaluated before and 4 and 24 weeks after losartan administration. The primary endpoint was the difference in proteinuria between baseline and 24 weeks. Results: In total, 29 patients were enrolled and received losartan treatment. The full analysis set included 28 patients who received losartan at least once and had pre- and post-urinary protein to creatinine ratio measurements (n=28). The per-protocol analysis group included 22 patients who completed all scheduled visits without any serious violations during the study period. In both groups, the mean log (urine protein to creatinine ratio) value decreased significantly at 6 months. After 24 weeks, the urinary protein to creatinine ratio decreased by more than 50% in approximately 40% of the patients. The glomerular filtration rate was not significantly altered during the observation period. Conclusions: Losartan decreased proteinuria without decreasing kidney function in patients with IgA nephropathy over 24 weeks. Losartan could be safely employed to reduce proteinuria in this patient population. ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration (NCT0223277)

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.225-236
• /
• 2007

Tic disorder show purposeless, repeated, unexpected, involuntary behavior and voice, can be divided into motor, vocal tic. this is about a patient who suffered from motor tic, tachycardia and other symptoms. We treated him with Sa-am acupuncture and other oriental medicine from the viewpoint of weak of kidney power. involuntary movement was estimated by doctor with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale(YGTSS). The patient's motor tic, tachycardia and other symptoms were improved and YGTSS also decresed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2012

Objectives: To describe a clinical case of a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who was cured using indirect moxibustion. Methods: A male patient with severe CFS was treated with mainly indirect moxibustion (KI1, CV4 and CV8). The clinical outcome was observed by self-reporting, both visual analogue scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS). Results: The patient's symptoms matched the criteria for CFS diagnosis. His symptom differentiation was the "Yang deficiency of spleen and kidney". The fatigue feeling and related-symptoms were radically reduced by 14-day treatment. The VAS and NRS score changed from 8.5 and 70 to 3.5 and 35, respectively. Conclusions: This case report provides information on the potential of moxibustion therapy and its application for CFS and fatigue-associated disorders.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.373-383
• /
• 2018

Background: Several epidemiologic studies have suggested that the urine sodium excretion (USE) can be estimated in lieu of performing 24-hour urine collection. However, this method has not been verified in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or in an interventional study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of estimating USE in a prospective low-salt diet education cohort (ESPECIAL). Methods: A new formula was developed on the basis of morning fasting urine samples from 228 CKD patients in the ESPECIAL cohort. This formula was compared to the previous four formulas in the prediction of 24-hour USE after treatment with olmesartan and low-salt diet education. Results: Most previously reported formulas had low predictability of the measured USE based on the ESPECIAL cohort. Only the Tanaka formula showed a small but significant bias (9.8 mEq/day, P < 0.05) with a low correlation (r = 0.34). In contrast, a new formula showed improved bias (-0.1 mEq/day) and correlation (r = 0.569) at baseline. This formula demonstrated no significant bias (-1.2 mEq/day) with the same correlation (r = 0.571) after 8 weeks of treatment with olmesartan. Intensive low-salt diet education elicited a significant decrease in the measured USE. However, none of the formulas predicted this change in the measured urine sodium after diet adjustment. Conclusion: We developed a more reliable formula for estimating the USE in CKD patients. Although estimating USE is applicable in an interventional study, it may be unsuitable for estimating the change of individual sodium intake in a low-salt intervention study.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.58-61
• /
• 2020

Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare salt-wasting disorder caused by resistance to mineralocorticoid action. PHA1 is of two types with different levels of disease severity and phenotype as follows: systemic type with an autosomal recessive inheritance (caused by mutations of the epithelial sodium channel) and renal type with an autosomal dominant inheritance (caused by mutations in the mineralocorticoid receptor). The clinical manifestations of PHA1 vary widely; however, PHA1 commonly involves hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis and elevated levels of renin and aldosterone. The earliest signs of both type of PAH1 also comprise insufficiency weight gain due to chronic dehydration and failure to thrive during infancy. Here, we report a case of renal PAH1 in a 28-day-old male infant harboring a novel heterozygous mutation in NR3C2 gene (c.1341_1345dupAAACC in exon 2), showing only failure to thrive without the characteristic of dehydration.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1989 no.05
• /
• pp.81-83
• /
• 1989

In surgery the hemostatic control is very important for the parenchymatous organs. These organs consist of the fragile and the blood content tissues such as liver, spleen and kidney, etc.. One of the control methods to solve this problem is to insert the mono polar typed needle electrode, which gathers the thermal effect of microwave, directly into tissues so as to coagulate and stop the hemorrhage. This method has same advantages: First, the range of the heat energy is limited. Second, the coagulation, the hemostatic characteristic, and stability are excellent. Third, more convenient operation is possible. This paper is aimed to manufacture the microwave tissue coagulation system and to suggest the new direction for development, hereafter.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.27-40
• /
• 1993

This study was taken to examine the light microscopic and ultrastructural changes of gill and kidney of female tilapia{Oreochromis niloticus) adapted in 0%o, 10%o, 20%o, and 30%o salt concentrations, respectively, by light, scanning and transmission electron microscope. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: Gill chloride cell hyperplasia, gill lamellar epithelial separation, kidney glomerular shrinkage, blood congestion in kidneys and deposition of hyalin droplets in kidney glomeruli, tubules were the histological alterations in Oreochromis niloticus. Incidence and severity of gill chloride cell hyperplasia rapidly increased together with increase of salinity, and the number of chloride cells in gill lamellae rapidly increased in response to high external NaCl concentrations. The ultrastructure by scanning electron microscope(SEM) indicated that the gill secondary lamella of tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to seawater, were characterized by rough convoluted surfaces during the adaptation. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) indicated that mitochondria in chloride cells exposed to seawater, were both large and elongate and contained well-developed cristae. TEM also showed the increased chloride cells exposed to seawater. The presence of two mitochondria-rich cell types is discussed with regard to their possible role in the hypoosmoregulatory changes which occur during seawater-adaptation. Most Oreochromis niloticus adapted in seawater had an occasional glomerulus completely filling Bowman's capsule in kidney, and glomerular shrinkage was occurred higher in kidney tissues of individuals living in 10%o, 20%o, 30%o of seawater than in those living in 0%o of freshwater, and blood congestion was occurred severer in kidney tissues of individuals living 20%o, 30%o of seawater than in those living in 10%o of seawater. There were decreases in the glomerular area and the nuclear area in the main segments of the nephron, and that the nuclear areas of the nephron cells in seawater-adapted tilapia were of smaller size than those from freshwater-adapted fish. Our findings demonstrated that Oreochromis niloticus tolerated moderately saline environment and the increased body weight living in 30%o was relatively higher than that living in 10%o in spite of histopathological changes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2013

Objectives: Medically unexplained fatigue includes chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF). These disorders quite impair quality of life while no effective therapies exist. Therefore, patients with CFS or ICF frequently choose treatments based on traditional Korean medicine. The study aimed to analyze characteristic of patients visiting an Oriental clinic with CFS or ICF. Methods: Patients who met criteria for CFS or ICF were enrolled in this study, from March 2011 to Jun 2013. Clinical information focused on symptom differentiation and Sasang constitution was analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare the frequency among sub-groups. Results: In total, 77 patients (49 male and 28 female) were diagnosed with CFS (17 male and 13 female) or ICF (32 male and 15 female). The symptom differentiation was 37.7%, 26.0%, 13.0%, and 23.3% for "Qi deficiency of both spleen and lung (脾肺氣虛)", "Yin deficiency of both liver and kidney (肝腎陰虛)", "Blood deficiency of both heart and spleen (心脾血虛)" and "Yang deficiency of both spleen and kidney (脾腎陽虛)", while Sasang constitutional distribution was 59.7%, 22.1% and 18.2% Soeumin, Taeumin and Soyangin, respectively. The fatigue severity was notably different between CFS ($63.7{\pm}12.1$) or ICF ($52.2{\pm}15.3$) according to the Chalder fatigue scale (10-point scale for eleven questions). There was statistical significance regarding symptom differentiation and Sasang constitution (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In the process of traditional Korean medicine-based development of therapeutics for patients with chronic fatigue or related conditions, this report can serve as reference data.