• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.169-177
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: Acute worsening of cardiac function frequently leads to kidney dysfunction. This study aimed to identify clinical and imaging parameters associated with impaired kidney function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: Data from 131 patients hospitalized with acute decompensated HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction, < 40%) were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at admission (those with preserved kidney function [GFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m²] and those with reduced kidney function [GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²]). Various echocardiographic parameters and perirenal fat thicknesses were assessed by computed tomography. RESULTS: There were 71 patients with preserved kidney function and 60 patients with reduced kidney function. Increased age (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.12; p = 0.005), increased log N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.14-2.66; p = 0.010), and increased perirenal fat thickness (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.10-1.29; p < 0.001) were independently associated with reduced kidney function, even after adjusting for variable clinical and echocardiographic parameters. The optimal average perirenal fat thickness cut-off value of > 12 mm had a sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 83% for kidney dysfunction prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Thick perirenal fat was independently associated with impaired kidney function in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HFrEF. Measurement of perirenal fat thickness may be a promising imaging marker for the detection of HFrEF patients who are more susceptible to kidney dysfunction.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.332-340
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• 2018

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze dosimetric parameters of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) delivered to extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the stomach (gastric MALT lymphoma) to find out advantages of VMAT and conditions for definite benefits of VMAT. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with stage I-II gastric MALT lymphoma received VMAT (n = 14) or 3D-CRT (n = 36) between December 2005 and April 2018. Twenty-seven patients were categorized according to whether the planning target volume (PTV) overlaps kidney(s). Dosimetric parameters were analyzed by dose-volume histogram. Results: Radiation dose to the liver was definitely lower with VMAT in terms of mean dose (p = 0.026) and V₁₅ (p = 0.008). The V₁₅ of the left kidney was lower with VMAT (p = 0.065). For those with PTV overlapping kidney(s), the left kidney V₁₅ was significantly lower with VMAT. Furthermore, the closer the distance between the PTV and kidneys, the less the left kidney V₁₅ with VMAT (p = 0.037). Delineation of kidney(s) by integrating all respiratory phases had no additional benefit. Conclusions: VMAT significantly increased monitor units, reduced treatment time and radiation dose to the liver and kidneys. The benefit of VMAT was definite in reducing the left kidney V₁₅, especially in geometrically challenging conditions of overlap or close separation between PTV and kidney(s).

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.671-676
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• 2012

Caloric restriction (CR) has been associated with health benefits and these effects have been attributed, in part, to modulation of oxidative status by CR; however, data are still controversial. Here, we investigate the effects of seventeen weeks of chronic CR on parameters of oxidative damage/modification of proteins and on antioxidant enzyme activities in cardiac and kidney tissues. Our results demonstrate that CR induced an increase in protein carbonylation in the heart without changing the content of sulfhydryl groups or the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT). Moreover, CR caused an increase in CAT activity in kidney, without changing other parameters. Protein carbonylation has been associated with oxidative damage and functional impairment; however, we cannot exclude the possibility that, under our conditions, this alteration indicates a different functional meaning in the heart tissue. In addition, we reinforce the idea that CR can increase CAT activity in the kidney. Moreover, CR caused an increase in CAT activity in kidney, without changing other parameters. Protein carbonylation has been associated with oxidative damage and functional impairment; however, we cannot exclude the possibility that, under our conditions, this alteration indicates a different functional meaning in the heart tissue. In addition, we reinforce the idea that CR can increase CAT activity in the kidney.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1993 no.11
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• pp.13-16
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• 1993

In this paper the morphological characteristic parameters according to the Lee's physical constitution theory are suggested using the X-ray computed tomography. The Lee's physical constitution theory is classify into 4 physical constitutional types by the relative degree of visceral function: those are macro-negative(strong liver- weak lung), micro-negative(strong kidney- weak spleen), micro-positive(strong spleen- weak kidney) and macro-positive(string lung- weak liver). The morphological characteristic parameters are the following. The AA-line is the distance between Rt. & Lt. acupuncture point keug-cheun. The BB-line is the length of lung. The CC-line is the longest width of thorax. The DD-line is the vertical distance between the CC-line and the EE-line. The EE-line is the distance between the Rt. and Lt. anterior superior iliac spines. As the results macro-negative(strong liver-weak lung) has the longest CC-line and the short BB-line. Micro-negative(strong kidney-weak spleen) has the longest EE-line and the short CC-line. Micro-positive(strong spleen-weak kidney) has the longest DD-line and the short BB-line. And macro-positive(strong lung-weak kidney) has the longest BB-line and the short EE-line.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2003

The possibility that liver and kidney function is adversely affected by current levels of environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) as investigated in adult men and women in the general population in Seoul. From February to August in 2001, blood and morning spot urine samples were collected from 136 not occupationally exposed group (age range 20∼75 years) at 4 survey sites throughout seoul. Liver and kidney function parameters in serum and urine were examined by conventional methods. The questionnaire included factors, i.e. sex, age, smoking, alcohol, diet habit etc. The geometric mean values for Cd in blood (Cd-B) were 1.43 $\mu\textrm{g}$/1, It seemed prudent to conclude that liver and kidney function as not disturbed by the current environmental exposure to Cd in study.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Sa-am acupuncture with tonifications of kidney and urinary bladder on radial pulse in healthy subjects. Methods : Sixty healthy subjects participated in this study, and were divided into a kidney tonifying acupuncture group(KI group), urinary bladder tonifying acupuncture group(BL group) and control group. Radial pulse was measured by 3 dimensional pulse imaging system(DMP-3000) before, immediately after, 30 minutes after, and 60 minutes after acupuncture at Cun, Guan, and Chi in each time. Results : 1. BL group exhibited significantly reduced T1 / T, T4 / T, T4 / (T-T4), T5 / T and increased(T-T4) / T compared to KI group. 2. BL group showed increase of radial augmentation index / heart rate(RAI / HR) in left Cun, H5, Ad / Ap in left Chi, H1, As / Ap in right Chi compared to KI group. BL group showed decrease of As / Ap, Aw / Ap in left Chi, H1, pulse depth, Ad / Ap in right Chi compared to KI group. 3. KI group showed increase of Aw / Ap, H1, H2, H4, pulse area in right Guan, pulse depth in right Chi compared to BL group. KI group showed decrease of RAI in left Cun, applied pressure, pulse depth in left Guan, Aw / Ap in right Chi compared to BL group. Conclusions : The effects of Sa-am acupuncture with tonifications of kidney and urinary bladder in healthy humans have been observed on various parameters. The parameters analysed in this study can be used to differentiate the effects of Sa-am acupuncture with tonifications of kidney and urinary bladder on radial pulse.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2024

Patients with kidney disease require frequent blood tests to monitor their kidney function, which is particularly difficult for young children and the elderly. For these people, the standard method is to evaluate serum creatinine or cystatin C or drug levels through venous sampling, but more recently, evaluation using dried blood spots has been used. This narrative review reports information from the literature on the use of dried blood spots to quantify the main markers used to detect kidney diseases. The ScienceDirect and PubMed databases were searched using the keywords: "dried blood on filter paper," "markers of renal function," "renal function," "creatinine," "cystatin C," "urea," "iohexol," and "iotalamate." Studies using animal samples were excluded, and only relevant articles in English or Spanish were considered. Creatinine was the most assessed biomarker in studies using dried blood spots to monitor kidney function, showing good performance in samples whose hematocrit levels were within normal reference values. According to the included studies, dried blood spots are a practical monitoring alternative for kidney disease. Validation parameters, such as sample and card type, volume, storage, internal patterns, and the effects of hematocrit are crucial to improving the reliability of these results.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2019

Effects on glutathione-related antioxidant parameters were examined after a chronic exposure of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus to dietary 4-tert-octylphenol (4-tert-OP). Fish were fed diets containing 4-tert-OP at 0, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg diet for 6 weeks. Antioxidant parameters examined were reduced glutathione (GSH) contents and enzyme activities of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in tissue homogenates of the liver, kidney and gill. It was observed that all parameters examined increased although there were some differences in dose responses and temporal patterns in the increase. GSH contents increased after exposure to 4-tert-OP in the three organs examined. However, the GSH increase was evident only after 4 weeks in the liver whereas it was elevated after 2 weeks in the kidney and gill. GR activity exhibited a significant increase in response to 4-tert-OP at 1 mg/kg in all three organs, however, its activity returned to control levels when exposed to 5 and 10 mg/kg. Hepatic GST activity showed an earlier increase at week 2 in contrast to the kidney and gill where they increased after 4 weeks of 4-tert-OP exposure. Temporal patterns in GPx activity changes to 4-tert-OP exposure were dissimilar among the organs: hepatic activity increased from week 2 through week 6; renal activity increased transiently at week 2; gill levels were higher through weeks 4 - 6. The results suggest that elevation of several GSH-related antioxidant parameters can be considered as evaluation criteria for 4-tert-OP-induced oxidative stress in a fish.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2023

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. Although diabetic kidney disease can be effectively controlled through strict blood glucose management and corresponding symptomatic treatment, these therapies cannot reduce its incidence in diabetic patients. The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the traditional Chinese herb "Gegen" have been widely used in diabetes-related therapy. However, it remains unclear whether the combined use of these two kinds of medicines contributes to an increased curative effect on diabetic kidney disease. In this study, we examined this issue by evaluating the efficacy of the combination of puerarin, an active ingredient of Gegen, and canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor for a 12-week intervention using a mouse model of diabetes. The results indicated that the combination of puerarin and canagliflozin was superior to canagliflozin alone in improving the metabolic and renal function parameters of diabetic mice. Our findings suggested that the renoprotective effect of combined puerarin and canagliflozin in diabetic mice was achieved by reducing renal lipid accumulation. This study provides a new strategy for the clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. The puerarin and SGLT2 inhibitor combination therapy at the initial stage of diabetes may effectively delay the occurrence of diabetic kidney injury, and significantly alleviate the burden of renal lipotoxicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2019

Cadmium is a strong toxic heavy metal which presents in paints and liquid wastes and causes oxidative stress in fish. On the other hand, lead is widely used for different purposes, e.g. lead pipes, it targets vital organs such as liver and kidney causing biochemical alterations. The present study evaluates the effects of 60 days exposure to Cd and Pb either single or combined together in African catfish. Sixty-four fishes were divided into 3 groups and exposed to $CdCl_2$ (7.02 mg/L) or $PbCl_2$ (69.3 mg/L) or a combination of them along with control group. Activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were estimated. Moreover, gill, liver and kidney were assayed for activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Individual exposure showed that both Cd and Pb significantly decreased LDH activity and SOD activity in the kidney. Pb significantly increased G-6-PDH activity and decreased GSH level in the gill. CAT activity in liver and kidney elevated significantly on Cd exposure while lead caused a significant depletion in the liver and significant elevation in the kidney. Both Cd and Pb significantly increased MDA levels in liver and kidney while Pb increased its level in gills. The combined exposure resulted in normalization of LDH, G-6-PDH activity, and CAT activity in liver and kidney as well as GSH level in both tissues and MDA in gill and kidney. The combination increased SOD activity and MDA level in liver and decreased SOD activity in kidney and GSH level in gills. In conclusion, the antioxidant system of African catfish was adversely affected by prolonged exposure to Cd and Pb. The combined exposure caused less damage than individual exposure and returned most parameters to those of controls.