• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.152-160
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• 2007

Twenty-six renal allograft biopsies which showed acute rejection and had renal capsule and medulla in the same specimen were selected in order to compare the severity of acute rejection between superficial cortex, deep cortex and medulla. Disregarding the mid cortical region, the superficial cortex was considered as being one-third of the distance from the renal capsule to the medulla and the deep cortex as being that one-third of the cortex which was adjacent to the medulla. Using semiquantitative histologic analysis the following parameters were compared in superficial cortex, deep cortex, and medulla: interstitial inflammation, edema, tubulitis, and acute tubulointerstitial rejection grade. Also, the presence of lymphocyte activation and polymorphonuclear leukocytes was evaluated. Significantly greater histologic changes of acute rejection were found in the deep cortex vs. supeficial cortex for the following parameters: interstitial inflammation(P=0.013), edema (P=0.023) and tubulointerstitial rejection grade(P=0.016). These findings support the view that biopsies in which deep cortex is not included may result in underestimation of the severity of renal allograft rejection.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.58.1-58.11
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• 2020

Background: Quantitative evaluation of renal cortical echogenicity (RCE) has been tried and developed in human and veterinary medicine. Objectives: The objective of this study was to propose a method for evaluating RCE quantitatively and intuitively, and to determine associations between ultrasonographic renal structural distinction and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in canine chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Data were collected on 63 dogs, including 27 with normal kidney function and 36 CKD patients. Symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine concentrations were measured for calculating eGFR. RCE was evaluated as 3 grades on ultrasonography images according to the distinction between the renal cortex and outer medulla. The RCE grade of each kidney was measured. Results: There was a significant difference in eGFR between the group normal and CKD (p < 0.001). As mean of RCE grades (the mean values of each right and left kidney's RCE grade) increases, the proportion of group CKD among the patients in each grade increases (p < 0.001). Also, severity of RCE (classified as "high" if any right or left kidney evaluated as RCE grade 3, "low" otherwise) and eGFR is good indicator for predicting group CKD (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The degree of distinction between the renal cortex and the outer medulla is closely related to renal function including eGFR and the RCE grade defined in this study can be used as a method of objectively evaluating RCE.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

The production of concentrated urine is achieved by countercurrent multiplication in the renal medulla. The single effect of the outer medulla is the active NaCl reabsorption in the thick ascending limb, while the single effect of the inner medulla is the passive efflux of NaCl through the thin ascending limb. The passive mechanism in the inner medulla requires a high interstitial urea concentration which is maintained by intrarenal recycling of urea. During the past decade, many transport proteins involved in the urine concentrating mechanism have been cloned, which has enabled us to understand the countercurrent multiplication mechanism on a molecular basis. This review will summarize the locations and functions of the renal medullary transport proteins, and the recent insights that have been acquired into the long term regulation of urea transporters.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.60-63
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• 2000

Renal hemangioma is an uncommon benign tumor which usually causes painless or painful gross hematuria. Its preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult or even impossible. We experienced three cases of renal hemangioma, located mainly at the pelvocalyceal junction or in the inner medulla. US demonstrated variable echogenecity, and CT revealed a lack of significant enhancement. Where there is gross hematuria in a young adult, especially when the renal mass located in the pelvocalyceal junction or inner medulla shows little enhancement on CT, renal hemangioma should form part of the differential diagnosis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.208-212
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• 2017

This study was performed to retrospectively pursue any correlation between renal cortex thickness (RCT), outer medulla thickness (OMT) on ultrasonography (US) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage. Medical records and US findings of the dogs diagnosed CKD were reviewed for comparing to those of the clinically healthy dogs from March. 2015 through June. 2016. To evaluate the correlation about normal and CKD patients, RCT and the OMT were measured on US images. RCT and OMT were adjusted by dividing body surface area for standardization (RCTS, OMTS). Also the ratio of RCT/OMT were calculated and these indices were evaluated to investigate any tendency between 5 groups (normal and 4 IRIS stages) using Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test (J-T test). The RCTS showed a declining tendency (p < 0.02) and the OMTS showed an inclining tendency from normal through each IRIS stage (p < 0.01). The RCT/OMT showed also declining tendency (p < 0.01). Although the gold standard for renal function including GFR is lack, it is thought that differentiation between normal and CKD patients could be possible on US measurement of renal cortex and outer medulla thickness, which could be an alternative index for kidney function in diagnostic imaging.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.588-597
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the value of combined chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and conventional magnetization transfer imaging (MT) in detecting metabolic and structural changes of renal fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) at 3T MRI. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats underwent UUO surgery (n = 25) or sham surgery (n = 10). The obstructed and contralateral kidneys were evaluated on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after surgery. After CEST and MT examinations, ¹⁸F-labeled fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography was performed to quantify glucose metabolism. Fibrosis was measured by histology and western blots. Correlations were compared between asymmetrical magnetization transfer ratio at 1.2 ppm (MTR_asym(1.2ppm)) derived from CEST and maximum standard uptake value (SUV_max) and between magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) derived from MT and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Results: On days 3 and 7, MTR_asym(1.2ppm) and MTR of UUO renal cortex and medulla were significantly different from those of contralateral kidneys (p < 0.05). On day 7, MTR_asym(1.2ppm) and MTR of UUO renal cortex and medulla were significantly different from those of sham-operated kidneys (p < 0.05). The MTR_asym(1.2ppm) of UUO renal medulla was fairly negatively correlated with SUV_max (r = -0.350, p = 0.021), whereas MTR of UUO renal medulla was strongly negatively correlated with α-SMA (r = -0.744, p < 0.001). Conclusion: CEST and MT could provide metabolic and structural information for comprehensive assessment of renal fibrosis in UUO rats in 3T MRI and may aid in clinical monitoring of renal fibrosis in patients with chronic kidney disease.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate the effects of n-3 fatty acids on renal function in male Sprague-Dawley rats of different ages 5-, 15- and 19-months old. The rats were fed a 20%(w/w) lipid diet containing 10% fish oil, compared with control animals fed a 20% lipid diet without fish oil for 4 weeks. The results were as follows: kidney weights were significantly higher in fish oil-fed rats compared to control rats. Plasma levels of total lipid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride markedly increased, with aging and LDL-cholesterol showing a significantly lower level in fish oil-fed rats than control rats. The urinary protein and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased with aging. GFR was higher in fish oil-fed rats. However, urinary protein was the same in the two groups. Renal medulla thromboxane B$_2$(TXB$_2$)tended to be lower in fish oil-fed 19-month-old rats. Urinary TXB$_2$and PGE$_2$were found to be higher proteinuria. Light microscopic examination showed interstitial inflammation, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and glomerular mesangium increase. Although glomerular sclerosis increased with aging, fish oil in the diet had no effect on histological changes. In conclusion, plasma lipid, urinary protein excretion and renal histological change showed a significant increase with aging. The reduction of TXB$_2$in the medulla and increase of GFR caused by fish oil indicated n-3 fatty acid could affect renal function in line with the hypolipidemic effect.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 1972

This experiment was carried out to investigate systematically how the aerobic metabolic capacity of renal tissue reduced by the effects of a period of induced ischemia. Aerobic metabolic studies were performed on homogenates of cortex and medulla of rabbits. Ischemia was induced by occluding the renal vein or renal artery of the left kidney for an hour. The right kidney used as a paired control. Aerobic metabolism was asesssed by measuring the oxygen consumption using the Warburg's manometric apparatus. The results are summarized as follows: 1. One hour of occlusive ischemia does not increase in the kidney weight in the renal arterial occlusion but increase in the renal venous occlusion. 2. Occlusion of either the renal vein or renal artery for an hour did not reduce to any significant degree the level of endogenous substrate in cortical homogenates as measured the rates of $0_2$ consumption. 3. A significant reduction in the rate of $C_2$ consumption was noted in the medullary homogenates of renal venous occluded kidneys while renal arterial occlusion had less of an effect. 4. The capaciy of homogenates for aerobic metabolism is not reduced by acute ischemia, because of the higher rate of oxygen consumption induced by exogenous glucose in renal vein occlusion. 5. The oxygen consumption of medullary homogenate more decreased to acute ischemia than cortical homogenates. The results of this investigation suggest that one hour circulatory stasis does not reduce major potential capacity of renal cortical tissue at the subcellular level to produce energy. In contrast, the aerobic metabolism of medullary tissue is reduced by renal ischemia. Further, both cortex and medulla appear to be more sensitive to ischemia induced by renal venous occlusion than by renal arterial occlusion.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.61-74
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• 1986

The anatomy of the renal papilla and pelvis of the bat(Pipistrellus abramus abramus Temminck) and their ultrastructure of the epithelium has been studied by means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The bats were captured at Ondal cave located in Yangchun-Myun, Tanyang-Kun, Chungchongpuk-Do, Korea in the active(July) and hibernating(January) phases. A conical renal papilla with several papillary foramina at the apex was curved toward the ureter. At the margin of the funnel-shaped renal pelvis, the fornix extended deeply into the kidney parenchyme was formed between the outer zone of the medulla and the cortex. The epithelium of the papilla covered the inner zone of the medulla. The epithelium of the fornix medially overlayed the outer zone of the medulla, and laterally the cortex. The surface epithelium of the papilla was simple columnar in shape with the scanty organelles and the short microvilli on their luminal surface. The fornix was Jined with $1{\sim}2$ cell layered squamous epithelium. On the medial surface of the fornix, two types of the superficial epithelial cells were identified; one had numerous short microvilli and the other had the microplicae and plaques on their luminal surface. The lateral surface of the fornix lined with the epithelial cells showed microridges and plaques on the luminal surface. The epithelial cells on the medial and lateral surfaces of the fornix were similar to their internal ultrastructures. The pelvic epithelium was a typical transitional type, which was composed of a layer of basal cells, one or two layers of intermediate cells, and a layer of superficial(facet) cells. The fusiform vesicles were observed in the cytoplasm of the intermediate and facet cells. There were no noticeable morphological changes in the epithelium of the papilla, fornix and pelvis except the medial epithelium of the fornix in the hibernating cycle. The microvillar cells were more numerous in the hibernating phase than in the active phase. The morphology, of the renal papilla and fornix of bats, indicates that a functional relationship may exist between the pelvic urine and the renal parenchyme.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.186-189
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• 2005

For the assessment of the clinical application of histogram on internal parenchymal organs, ultrasonography with a multi-frequency transducer was taken. We scanned in the region of right cranial abdomen for both liver and right kidney, and left cranial abdomen for liver, spleen and left kidney in 9 normal Beagle dogs. The data from histogram examined in a region of interest centered on each picture element of B-mode images at the same depth were compared among liver, renal cortex, spleen, cortex and medulla of each kidney. The right renal cortex showed significantly lower echogenicity than parenchyma of liver by $15{\%}$. Spleen was more echogenic than the cortex of the left kidney by $23{\%}$, and liver was more echogenic than the left renal cortex by $30{\%}$. Renal cortex was more echogenic than medulla by $47{\%}$ and $65{\%}$ on the right and left side, respectively (p<0.05). The mean (${\pm}SD$) values calculated echogenicity were $46.2{\pm}12.3\;(95\%$ confidential interval (CI), 41.0 to 55.0) and $53.4{\pm}12.1\;(95\%$ CI, 47.0 to 55.1) in in the right renal cortex and liver parenchyma, $65.0{\pm}11.8\;(95\%$ CI, 57.9 to 71.0) and $51.0{\pm}16.9\;(95\%$ CI, 42.8 to 54.1) in splenic parenchyma and renal cortex. And the mean values calculated echogenicity were $65.0{\pm}10.15\;(95\%$ CI, 60.1 to 71.5) and $52.0{\pm}9.4\;(95\$ CI, 43.8 to 60.3) in liver parenchyma and the left renal cortex, $54.5{\pm}18.3\;(95\%$ CI, 40.1 to 62.8) and $35.0{\pm}16.2\;(95\%$ CI, 24.2 to 43.6) in the left renal cortex and medulla. And the mean values calculated echogenicity were $55.0{\pm}14.4\;(95\%$ CI, 47.3 to 61.7) and $40.0{\pm}13.2\;(95\%$ CI, 34.3 to 46.7) in the right renal cortex and medulla, respectively. In addition, the echogenicity ratios were $0.86{\pm}0.11$ between the right renal cortex and liver parenchyma, $1.37{\pm}0.47$ between spleenic parenchyma and the left renal cortex, $1.30{\pm}0.19$ between liver parenchyma and the left renal cortex. All the values measured showed significant different (p<0.05). Ultrasound histogram is simple, useful and feasible to evaluate the sonographic architecture of the internal organs such as liver, spleen and kidney, quantitatively.