• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2012

Interruption or prolonged reduction and subsequent restoration of blood flow into the kidney triggers the generation of a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to injury in the tubular epithelial cells. In this study, we determined whether methanol extract of goat's-beard (Aruncus dioicus) (extract) could prevent this ischemia/reperfusion injury. When in vitro radical scavenging activity of the extract was measured using a DPPH radical quenching assay, the extract displayed slightly lower activity than ascorbic acid. One hour after administration of the extract (400 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection in rats, renal ischemia/reperfusion injury was generated by clamping the left renal artery for forty minutes, followed by 24 hr restoration of blood circulation. Prior to clamping the left renal artery, the right renal artery was removed. Compared with the vehicle-treated group, pretreatment with the extract significantly reduced the tubular epithelial cell injury by 37% in the outer medulla region, and consequently reduced serum creatinine concentration by 39%. Reduction in the cell injury was mediated by attenuation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, inhibition of caspase-3 activation from procaspase-3, and subsequent reduction in the number of apoptotic cells. Thus, goat's-beard (Aruncus dioicus) might be developed as a prophylactic agent to prevent acute kidney injury.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.135-143
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine whether the methanol extract of Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino, a naturally growing plant in Korea, could prevent the renal-ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model or not. Methods : The radical scavenging activities of the extracts, and ascorbic acid as a positive control, were measured in vitro. At one hour after an intraperitoneal injection of the extract (400 mg/kg), renal ischemia/reperfusion injury was generated by 40 min clamping of the left renal artery in rats. After renal ischemia/reperfusion and 24 hr restoration of blood circulation, the serum creatinine concentration was measured. And the extent of epithelial cell injury and apoptosis was assessed by various staining technologies. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activated caspase-3 were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results : The extract showed a slightly lower level of radical scavenging activity than that of ascorbic acid. Compared to those of the vehicle-treated group, the extract-treated group displayed a significantly smaller tubular epithelial cell injury of 54% reduction in the outer medulla region and a lower serum creatinine concentration of 50% reduction. It seems that the reduction in cellular injury is due to the attenuation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the inhibition of caspase-3 activation by the extract of Cassia mimosoides. Conclusions : Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino could be a good candidate for a prophylactic agent against the ischemia/reperfusion/induced kidney injury.

• 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.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2013

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for tracking intravenously injected superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in an acute renal failure (ARF) rat model. Materials and Methods: HUVECs were labeled with SPIO and poly-L-lysine (PLL) complex. Relaxation rates at 1.5-T MR, cell viability, and labeling stability were assessed. HUVECs were injected into the tail vein of ARF rats (labeled cells in 10 rats, unlabeled cells in 2 rats). Follow-up serial $T2^*$-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging was performed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after injection, and the MR findings were compared with histologic findings. Results: There was an average of $98.4{\pm}2.4%$ Prussian blue stain-positive cells after labeling with SPIOPLL complex. Relaxation rates ($R2^*$) of all cultured HUVECs at day 3 and 5 were not markedly decreased compared with that at day 1. The stability of SPIO in HUVECs was maintained during the proliferation of HUVECs in culture media. In the presence of left unilateral renal artery ischemia, $T2^*$-weighted MR imaging performed 1 day after the intravenous injection of labeled HUVECs revealed a significant signal intensity (SI) loss exclusively in the left renal outer medulla regions, but not in the right kidney. The MR imaging findings at days 3, 5 and 7 after intravenous injection of HUVECs showed a SI loss in the outer medulla regions of the ischemically injured kidney, but the SI progressively recovered with time and the right kidney did not have a significant change in SI in the same period. Upon histologic analysis, the SI loss on MR images was correspondent to the presence of Prussian blue stained cells, primarily in the renal outer medulla. Conclusion: MR imaging appears to be useful for in vivo monitoring of intravenously injected SPIO-labeled HUVECs in an ischemically injured rat kidney.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.630-633
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• 2020

Renal failure syndrome in wild mammals is infrequently reported. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized rodent known to carry many diseases but rarely exhibiting renal failure. A six-month old female muskrat was submitted to our laboratory for pathological diagnosis, and necropsy revealed severe renal damage with sand-like lithiasis in the ureter, renal calculi, and hydronephrosis. All major organs, including the cerebrum, also showed systemic hemorrhage and calcification which may have been due to uremia induced by renal failure. Histopathologically, necrosis and microcalcification were detected in the renal cortex and the medulla, especially in the proximal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney. Significant hyalinization of the glomeruli was also observed, and this suggested chronic nephritis. These findings would support mycotoxic effects, particularly on the kidney. Moreover, infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells was observed in the lung and of plasma cells in the spleen. The definitive cause of the toxic effects in this case of muskrat renal failure could be attributed to contaminated food.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.991-995
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• 1996

Renal size(length, width and height) of rabbits was measured by radiographs and nephrosonograms and compared with actual size. After measuring on the radiographs and nephrograms, both kidneys were removed from the body and actual size was also measured. On radiographs, right kidney was observed at the T13-L2 vertebrae and left kidney was at L2-L4 vertebrae. On nephrosonograms, the renal cortex was visible as small, homogenous echoes that were hypoechoic relative to the surrounding tissues, whereas the renal medulla was anechoic to slightly hypoechoic. The actual length, width and height of the left kidney were $35.84{\pm}3.12(mean{\pm}SD)$, $23.52{\pm}3.21$, $15.11{\pm}2.58cm$, respectively, whereas those of the right kidney were $36.02{\pm}3.42$, $23.69{\pm}3.50$ and $14.13{\pm}3.55cm$, respectively. On radiographs, the length and width of both kidneys were a little magnified(102-104%) when compared to actual size. On nephrosonograms, the length, width and height of bothkidneys were lessened(70-96 %) when compared to actual size. The length and width of kidney were 1.85 and 1.25 times the length of the second lumbar vertebrae on the ventrodorsal view. In correlation and correlation coefficient of body weight with the renal size, the body weight and renal size were significantly correlated with each other other(p<0.01) and the correlation coefficents of body weight with left, right and both Kindneys were 0.748, 0.794 and 0.859, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2002

The frequency of the hypertension is increasing as the life level is improved and an average span of the life is extended since we approached modern stage. The hypertension is also dangerous disease which raises fatal complication for example with the bleeding aproplexy and the ischemic attack. The medicinal treatment about the hypertension is required patients to take continually. The acupuncture have been introduced because a medicine-chemical treatment hasn't good influence on the human body. It recently has been processed that studies acupuncture effect for blood pressure and have been found out that blood pressure go down. The object of this study observe the effect of LR3 acupuncture on hypertension in Renal Hypertension RAT induced by 2K1C. The 2K1C model was based on renin-angiotensin system. We put the silver clip in renal artery to induce renal hypertension. We try to observe that LR3 acupuncture influence on the blood pressure and c-fos expression in CVLM, NTS, RVLM. In results, the blood pressure was decreased during acupuncture than before acupuncture, after acupuncture. The heart rate was also decreased during acupuncture than before acupuncture, after acupuncture. The LR3 acupuncture significantly effects on blood pressure and heart rate (P<0.05). The increased expression of c-fos was shown in CVLM, NTS, but not in RVLM. In conclusion, LR3 was relived the action of control upon the hypertension and related with medulla, particularly CVLM, NTS. It needs to be closely examined pharmacological mechanism and studied combination with other acupoints.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.393-398
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• 1999

This case occurred following accidental consumptions of toxic levels of feedstuffs in the Korean indigenous cattle which were pregnant for 3-6 months. Grossly, poorly defined bluish coloration in the ventral sac of the rumen, reticulum and omasum was visible on the surface of the stomach. The severely affected ruminal walls were perforated and blood-tinged exudate was observed and death followed due to acute diffuse peritonitis. There were copious amount of porridgelike rumen contents, which has a distinct fermentative odor. The epithelia were easily wiped off and hyperemic in patch. Histopathologically, chemical rumenitis with neutrophilic infiltration and opportunistic fungal infection was evident in the mucosa and submucosa. Multifocal necrotic foci with fungal hyphae on the liver and severe congestion on the renal medulla were noted. There was no evidence of heavy metal and aflatoxin Bl in the suspected feedstuffs. This case was diagnosed as acute carbohydate engorgement in cattle.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.371-374
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• 2002

A female 8-year-old Pug weighing 7.3 kg and a female 10-year-old Maltese dog weighing 3.5 kg showing anorexia and vomiting for a few weeks were referred to Veterinary Medical leaching Hospital, Seoul National University. Radiographic findings were an enlarged right kidney in a pug dog and a radiopaque material on the right ureteral region lateral to the third lumbar vertebrae with indefinite right kidney contour in a Maltese dog, repectively. Excretory urography performed in a Pug dog revealed a poor opacified enlarged right kidney with absent of pelvic recesses and pelvic dilation with proximal ureteral dilation on contralateral kidney. Ultrasonographic findings were enlarged kidney with dilated pelvis and echogenic sediment within the medulla in both dogs and especially an engorged proximal ureter and a thin rim of functional renal tissue remains in a Maltese dog. Those diagnostic findings indicated high possibility of pyelonephritis and these were confirmed by pathologic examination. Radiography and ultrasonography, although not giving final diagnosis for pyelonephritis, are useful for assessment and diagnosis of pyelonephritis.