• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this clinical trial was evaluate the safety and efficacy of Mahwangjeongcheon-tang (MJT). Methods Twenty six volunteers were recruited as subjects. They were divided into two groups, which were MJT test group and placebo group. The investigated items related to the safety were the weight, the results of renal function and liver function. The investigated items related to the efficacy are the results of the spirometer, the clinical asthma measurement scale in oriental medicine-V (CAMSOM-V) and the quality of life questionnaire for adult Korean asthmatics (QLQAKA). Results There are no difference in the weight, the results of the renal functions and the liver functions between MJT test group and placebo group. There are the some differences in the result of the questionnaires related to the efficacy between MJT test group and placebo group. The significant difference were observed in the CAMSOM-V at the 4th visit. Conclusion MJT is the safe and effective herbal prescription that is useful to the asthma patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5999-6004
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• 2012

Measurement of quality of life among prostate cancer patients helps the health care providers to understand the impact of the disease in the patients' own perspective. The main aim of this study is to measure the quality of life among prostate cancer patients at University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) and to ascertain the association factors for physical coefficient summary (PCS) and mental coefficient summary (MCS). A hospital based, cross sectional study using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was conducted over a period of 6 months. A total of 193 respondents were recruited. Their total quality of life score was $70.1{\pm}14.7$ and the PCS score was lower compared to MCS. The factors associated for PCS were: age, living partner, renal problem, urinary problem of intermittency, dysuria and hematuria. Factors associated for MCS were: age, living partner, renal problem, presenting prostatic specific antigen and urinary problem of intermittency and dysuria. Our prostate cancer patients had moderate quality of life in the physical health components but their mental health was less affected.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2019

Objective: Adriamycin (ADR) is an important anti-cancer drug which can cause renal toxicity. Given the known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Plantago major (P. major), the aim of this study was to determine the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of P. major on ADR- induced nephropathy in rats. Methods: Fifty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups including: control, ADR (5 mg/kg), ADR + P. major (600 and 1200 mg/kg) and P. major (1200 mg/kg). The animals were treated with P. major extract for 5 consecutive weeks and ADR was intravenously injected on the 7th day of the study. Urine and serum samples were collected on days 0, 14, 21, 28, and 35 for the measurement of serum cholesterol and albumin levels and urine protein excretion rate. At the end of the study, the left kidneys were removed for apoptosis assessment. Results: Administration of ADR significantly decreased serum albumin level and increased serum cholesterol and urine protein excretion rate as well as, apoptotic cell numbers compared to the control group (P < 0.001) while had no effect on glomerular filtration rate (P > 0.05). Treatment with P. major, in both 600 and 1200 mg/kg doses, increased serum albumin level and decreased serum cholesterol concentration, urine protein excretion rate and as well as the number of apoptotic cell compared to the ADR group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed that the P. major extract effectively protects against ADR- induced nephropathy by reducing kidney apoptosis and improving renal functioning in rats.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.33-44
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• 2006

Objective : The objective of this study is to observe the effect of Yukmijiwhangtangkamibang(YukmD with Liriopis Tuber, Amomi Fructus, Citri Pericarpium, Zizyphi Spinosae Semen, Drynariae Rhizoma Ephedrae Herba, Ginseng Radix, Phellodendri Cortex, on the experimental diabetes. Methods : In order to induce diabetes experimentally, injected streptozoticin to the vein in the tail of rats and then treated oral administration of Yukmi water extracts. In the measurement of the variation levels of glucose, ALP, creatinine, and BUN concentration for each concentration levels for serum (382.5mg/l00g, 510.0mg/100g, 637.5mg/100g), concentration level of glucose significantly decreased in 510.0mg/l00g concentration level of Yukmi. With this 510.0mg/100g concentration level of Yukmijiwhangtanggamibang, the following conclusion was derived from the measurement of the serum levels of glucose, ALP, GOT, GPT, creatinine, and BUN concentration for the streptozotocin injection date of each 4th, 11th, and 18th day. Results : 1. In the measurement for each concentrations. the glucose concentration level in the serum significantly decreased on the 9th day in the Yukmi group. 2. In the measurement for each concentrations, the creatinine concentration level in the serum significantly decreased on the 9th day in the Yukmi group. 3. In the measurement for each dosage dates, the glucose concentration level in the serum significantly decreased on the 18th day in the Yukmi group to which 510.0mg/l00g administrated. 4. In the measurement for each dosage dates, the got concentration level in the serum significantly decreased on the 18th day in the Yukmi group to which 510.0mg/100g administrated. 5. In the measurement for each dosage dates, the creatinine concentration level in the serum significantly decreased on the 18th day in the Yukmi group to which 510.0mg/l00g administrated. Conclusion : Yukmi that is Yukmijiwhangtang with Liriopis Tuber, Amoni Fructus, Citri Pericarpium, Zizyphi Spinosae Semen, Drynariae Rhizoma, Ephedrae Herba, Ginseng Radix and Phellodendri Cortex, is known to have effects to lessen the damages on renal function and liver function without causing damages on liver and kidney.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1989

Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on the development of hypertension in 2-kidney, 1-clip (2-K, 1-C) rats were examined. In one group of rats, ANP infusion (500 ng/hr, iv) started immediately after clipping the renal artery. Another group of rats with one kidney-clipped was without ANP infusion and served as a control. Blood pressure was measured on days 4, 7, and 10 following clipping the renal artery. Upon the last blood pressure measurement finished, blood sample was collected by decapitation to measure plasma renin activity (PRA), and both kidneys were taken to weigh and to measure renin content. The ANP-infused group showed an attenuation of increases in blood pressure compared to the non-infused control group. PRA was lower in the ANP-infused group than in the non-infused group. Cortical renal renin content (RRC) of the clipped kidneys was not different between ANP-infused and non-infused groups. The clipped kidneys showed a higher RRC and weighed less than the non-clipped contralateral kidneys within each group. In contrast, sham-clipped rats did not show significant changes in any of the parameters examined regardless of whether ANP was infused or not. These results demonstrate that chronic ANP infusion does not prevent but does attenuate the development of hypertension in 2-K, 1-C rats. It is suggested that ANP plays a role in the long-term regulation of blood pressure, at least in part, by antagonizing the renin-angiotensin-system.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.257-262
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• 2008

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury is great clinical important because viability of the transplanted organ depends on the tolerance of the graft to ischemia-reperfusion injury, an inevitable processing during surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of irrigation-aspiration in ischemia-reperfusion injury model induced by cross-clamping of renal vessels. Blood samples were collected from these dogs for measurement of kidney function and antioxidant enzyme activity, and RI at the intrarenal artery was measured at different time intervals. And the kidneys were taken for histopathologic evaluation at day 14. Kidney function (Cr and BUN) showed a significant increasing in untreated group compared to treated group. Resistive index of intrarenal artery was no significant difference among the groups. Activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma was significant decrease in untreated group compare to control group while in treated group was no significant difference compared to control group. In histopathologic finding, treated group was showed less damage than that of untreated group. This result suggests that the processing of irrigation-aspiration is useful to reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2005

Urea in blood has been measured as an effective marker for diagnosis of renal function. Urea which is e end-product of nitrogen containing metabolites such as proteins is filtered through glomeruli of kidneys and then excreted as urine. If the renal function is deteriorated, the urea concentration in blood will be increased, from which the healthiness of renal function is judged. In order to improve the confidence of diagnosis results, the results must keep traceability chain to certified reference materials, which was certified by primary reference method. In this study, we proposed isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS) as a candidate primary method, in which $15^N_2$-urea is used as an internal reference material. The developed method is highly accurate in principle and is convenient as it does not require cumbersome derivatization. 0.1 mmol/L ammonium chloride was selected as a mobile phase for HPLC because it provided low interference in MS analysis of relatively low molecular weighted urea. HPLC and MS were connected with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface of positive mode, which provided high sensitivity and reproducibility. The developed method was validated with internationally recognized reference materials, and we have obtained satisfactory results in an international ring trial. The expanded uncertainty calculated according to ISO guide was 1.8% at 95% confidence interval. The developed method is being used as a primary reference measurement method such as for certification of serum certified reference materials (CRMs).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2006

Purpose : It is difficult to make a distinction between lower urinary tract infection(UTI) and acute pyelonephritis(APN) during the acute phase of febrile UTI due to nonspecific clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, especially among young children. We measured the serum procalcitonin(PCT) in children with UTI to distinguish between acute pyelonephritis and lower UTI, and to determine the accuracy of PCT measurement compared with other inflammatory markers. Methods : Serum samples were taken from children who admitted with unexplained fever or were suspected of having UTI. 51 children(mean $12.2{\pm}11.4$ months) were enrolled in this study. Leukocyte counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates(ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP) were also measured. Renal parenchymal involvement was assessed by $^{99m}Tc$ DMSA scintigraphy in the first 7 days after admission. PCT was measured by immunoluminometric assay. Results : PCT values were significantly correlated with the presence of renal defects in children with UTI(n=16)($5.06{\pm}12.97{\mu}g/L$, P<0.05). However, PCT values were not significantly different between children with UTI without renal damage(n=18) and children without UTI(n=17). Using a cutoff of $0.5{\mu}g/L$ for PCT and 20 mm/hr for ESR, 20 mg/L for CRP, sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between UTI with and without renal involvement were 81.3 percent and 88.9 percent for PCT 87.5 percent and 72.2 percent for ESR, and 87.5 percent and 55.6 percent for CRP, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 86.7 percent and 84.2 percent for PCT and 60.9 percent and 81.8 percent for CRP, respectively. Conclusion : In febrile UTI, PCT values were more specific than CRP, ESR and leukocyte count for the identification of patients who might develop renal defects.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2013

Purpose : Renal blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI has been used in the evaluation of renal oxygenation. We tried to provide the normal $R2^*$ value of the human kidney with 3.0 T, and evaluated the differences in $R2^*$ values according to gender and location. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers underwent BOLD MRI at 3.0 T. Multi gradient echo-echo planar imaging sequence with seventeen echoes was used. After generation of the $T2^*$ map, the $R2^*$ was calculated. The statistical differences in $R2^*$ values between the cortex and medulla, males and females, and the right and left kidney were analyzed. The regional differences of $R2^*$ within the both kidneys were evaluated respectively. Results: BOLD MRI was successful in all participants. No gross artifact interfered with $R2^*$ measurement. The mean $R2^*$ at 3.0 T was $17.1{\pm}2.60s^{-1}$ in the cortex and $27.7{\pm}4.83s^{-1}$ in the medulla (p < 0.001). The $R2^*$ value in the medulla was significantly higher in the male than female volunteers (p = 0.025). There were no statistical differences of $R2^*$ according to the side and location in the kidney (p = 0.197). Conclusion: Renal BOLD MRI can be efficiently performed with 3.0 T MRI. Renal medullary hypoxia is present in normal volunteers. Our results may be used as reference values in the evaluation of pathologic conditions using BOLD MRI.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.418-425
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• 2000

Purpose: There is no established formula for estimating renal depths in Korean. As a result, we undertook this study to develop a new formula, and to apply this formula in the calculation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Materials and Methods: We measured the renal depth (RD) on the abdominal CT obtained in 300 adults (M:F: 167:133, mean age 50.9 years) without known renal diseases. The RDs measured by CT were compared with the estimated RDs based on the Tonnesen and Taylor equations. New formulas were derived from the measured RDs in 200 out of 300 patients based on several variables such as sex, age, weight, and height by multiple regression analysis. The RDs estimated from the new formulas were compared with the measured RDs in the remaining 100 patients as a control. In 48 patients who underwent Tc-99m DTPA renal scintigraphy, GFR was measured with three equations (new formula, Tonnesen and Taylor equations), respectively, and compared with each other. Results: The mean values of the RDs measured from CT were 6.9 cm for right kidney of the men (MRK), 6.7 cm for left kidney of the men (MLK), 6.7 cm for right kidney of the women (WRK), and 6.6 cm for left kidney of the women (WLK). The RDs estimated from Tonnesen equation were shorter than the ones measured from CT significantly. The newly derived formulas were 12.813 (weight/height)+0.002 (age)+ 2.264 for MRK, 15.344 (weight/height)+0.011 (age)+0.557 for MLK, 12.936 (weight/height)+ 0.014 (age)+1.462 for WRK and 13.488 (weight/height)+0.019 (age)+0.762 for WLK. The correlation coefficients of the RD measured from CT and estimated from the new formula were 0.529 in MRK, 0.729 in MLK, 0.601 in WRK, and 0.724 in WLK, respectively. The GFRs from the new formula were significantly higher than those from the Tonnesen equation significantly, which was the most similar to normal GFR values. Conclusion: We generated new formulas for estimating RD in Korean from the data by CT. By adopting these formulas, we expect that GFR can be measured by the Gates method accurately in Korean.