• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to examine whether administration of glutamine are able to prevent the methotrexate induced gut barrier damage, bacterial translocation, and weight changes. The animals with glutamine were fed with L-glutamine (1.2 and 2.4 mg/kg/day) for 7 days before methotrexate administration (20 mg/kg orally). 48 hour after methotrexate administration, intestinal permeability were measured for an assessment of the gut barrier dysfunction. Also, enteric aerobic bacterial counts, number of gram-negatives in mesenteric lymph node (MLN), liver spleen, kidney and heart were measured for an assessment of the enteric bacterial number and bacterial translocation. Amounts of food intake, body weight changes and organ weight changes of liver spleen, kidney and heart were measured. Methotrexate administration caused body and liver weight loss regardless amounts of food intakes. Methotrexate induced increasing intestinal permeability, enteric bacterial undergrowth and bacterial translocation to MLN, liver and spleen, but not kidney and heart. The supplements with glutamine reduced the intestinal permeability bacterial translocation, and not influences enteric bacterial number, and body and liver weight changes. This study suggested that glutamine might effectively reduce methotrexate induced intestinal damage and bacterial translocation, but not influence body and organ weight loss.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.105-108
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• 2019

Background: Although kidney transplantation outcomes have improved dramatically after using calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), CNI toxicity continues to be reported and the mechanism remains uncertain. Here, we investigated the neurotoxicity of CNIs by focusing on the viability of glioma cells. Methods: Glioma cells were treated with several concentrations of CNIs for 24 hours at $37^{\circ}C$ and their cell viability was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Results: Exposure to 0, 0.25, 0.5, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mM concentrations respectively showed 100%, 64.3%, 61.3%, 68.1%, 62.4%, and 68.6% cell viability for cyclosporine and 100%, 38.6%, 40.8%, 43.7%, 37.8%, and 43.0% for tacrolimus. The direct toxic effect of tacrolimus on glioma cell viability was stronger than that of cyclosporine at the same concentration. Conclusion: CNIs can cause neurological side effects by directly exerting cytotoxic effects on brain cells. Therefore, we should carefully monitor the neurologic symptoms and level of CNIs in kidney transplant patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2023

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Oenanthe javanica (OJ) extracts on rats with potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemia. Methods: The effects of OJ extract on rats with PO-induced hyperuricemia-induced were monitored. Changes in the body weight and organ indices of hyperuricemic rats were calculated to detect anti-hyperuricemic effects. Blood samples were collected to observe the effect of reducing serum uric acid concentration. Kidney tissues were stained to observe histopathological changes under a microscope. The activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), which catalyzes xanthine to uric acid in the liver, was assessed to observe the inhibitory effect of XO. Results: 1. The body weight of hyperuricemic rats showed no considerable differences between the control group and the treatment group. The OJ group had significantly improved liver index, whereas the allopurinol group had improved liver and kidney indices. 2. Serum uric acid levels increased significantly after PO injection, and the OJ and allopurinol groups showed a significant reduction effect. 3. PO injection led to the inflammation of kidney tissues, and OJ improved it significantly. 4. The activity of XO after PO injection was significantly increased, and allopurinol significantly inhibited XO activity in the liver. Conclusion: In the hyperuricemia rat model, OJ extract reduced uric acid concentration and demonstrated its anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, OJ extracts can be used to lower uric acid levels.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2023

Background: This study aimed to investigate hyperuricemia, renal inflammation, and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity improvement in a rat model treated with Scutellaria baicalensis extract (SBE). Methods: The rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 5 each), including sham, potassium oxonate (PO) injected hyperuricemia (control group), PO + 10 mg/kg allopurinol administrated (allopurinol group), and a PO + 50 mg/kg SBE administrated (SBE group), to investigate the effectiveness and molecular mechanisms of SBE. The effects of SBE on PO-induced hyperuricemia rats, renal inflammation, and XO activity were measured. Body weight and organ index of the kidney and liver were measured in PO-induced hyperuricemia rats, and serum uric acid level was extracted from whole blood and was measured. Renal inflammation was observed under a microscope after sections. XO activity was measured by liver tissue and serum XO levels. Results: Organ indexes of the kidney and liver in rats were significantly decreased in the allopurinol group than in the control group and with no significant difference in the SBE group. A PO injection for 5 days significantly increased serum uric acid levels in the control group compared to the sham group. Meanwhile, the SBE and allopurinol groups have significantly decreased serum uric acid levels compared to the control group. The SBE group revealed effectively improved renal histopathological changes compared to the control group. The XO inhibitor, allopurinol, significantly decreased XO activity. Additionally, SBE significantly lowered XO activity in rats. Conclusion: SBE can be used as an effective treatment for gout in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.213-213
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• 1996

The effects of the anti-tumor agent, SDZ-y2434, on rat kidney were investigated to predict the toxicities of its derivatives and to develope less toxic derivatives. After adjusted in metabolic cages for 5 days, rats were treated SDZ-62434(acute : 25mg/kg, i.p, once and 50mg/kg, i.p., once; subacute ; 10mg/kg, i.p., daily for 7 days). Kidney weights and urine volume during the treatment were observed. Creatinine concentration, protein concentration and the activities of N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) in 24 hr urine were also determined. The kidney weights after the acute and subacute administration didn't show any difference. Urine volume increased 5 days after the acute administration (50mg/kg) and 3 days after the subacute administration. The excretion of creatinine was increased 5 days after the acute (50mg/kg) and subacute administration. However, the protein excretion didn't show any change. NAG acivity declined 7 days after the subacute administration. AAP and GGT activites increased 3 days after the acute administration (50mg/kg) but, returned to the control value. LDH activity showed continuousely high value after the subacute administration. These results indicates that the acute administration of SDZ-62434 might damage on glomerulus and that the subacute administration might be cytotoxic to kidney cells.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 1997

The concentrations of cadmium, metallothionein(MT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were investigated in liver and kidney of rats which were fed the water containing 50 or 100ppm cadmium chloride with basal diet(group A), 5% horsetail diet(group, B), 5% mugwort diet(group C) and 5% champignon diet(group D) for weeks. Cadmium in liver decreased for the first 12 weeks of treatment, but thereafter increased, and was lower in experimental group B,C,D than in control group A. Cadmium in kidney increased linearly during the 16 weeks of treatment, and was lower in group B than in group A. MT in liver decreased for the first 12 weeks of treatment in group A, but increased linearly during the 16 weeks in group B,C,D, higher in group B than in group A. There were significantly higher accumulation of cadmium and MT in liver than in kidney in the beginning of cadmium treatment, but reversed in the ending of treatment. The SOD and LDH activities were not affected during the 16 weeks treatment, and there was no significant difference between groups. Histologic examination revealed moderate to severe hepatic and renal injury in group A compared to horsetail diet group B. These results indicate that the kidney is a major target organ of chronic cadmium poisoning, and suggest that Cd-induced hepatic injury, via release of Cd-MT, may play an important role in the nephrotoxicity. In addition, higher MT concentrations in liver and kidney in the group B constitute a plausible explanation of the protective effects of horsetail diet against the cadmium toxicity in relation to histologic findings.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.631-640
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• 1999

The present study investigated the stimulatory effects of iron (or ascorbate) on cyclosporine-induced kidney mitochondrial damage. Damaging effect of $50\;{\mu}M$ cyclosporine plus $20\;{\mu}M\;Fe^{2+}$ on mitochondrial lipids and proteins of rat kidney and hyaluronic acid was greater than the summation of oxidizing action of each compound alone, except sulfhydryl oxidation. Cyclosporine and $100\;{\mu}M$ ascorbate showed an enhanced damaging effect on lipids but not on proteins. The peroxidative action of cyclosporine on lipids was enhanced with increasing concentrations of $Fe^{2+}.$ Ferric ion $(20\;{\mu}M)$ also interacted with cyclosporine to stimulate lipid peroxidation. Damaging action of cyclosporine on mitochondrial lipids was enhanced by ascorbate $(100\;{\mu}M\;and\;1\;mM)$. Iron chelators, DTPA and EDTA, attenuated carbonyl formation induced by cyclosporine plus ascorbate. Cyclosporine $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and $50\;{\mu}M\;Fe^{2+}$ $(or\;100\;{\mu}M\;ascorbate)$ synergistically stimulated degradation of $2-{\alpha}$ deoxyribose. Cyclosporine $(1\;to\;100\;{\mu}M)$ reduced ferric ion in a dose dependent manner, which is much less than ascorbate action. Addition of $Fe^{2+}$ caused a change in absorbance spectrum of cyclosporine in $230{\sim}350$ nm of wavelengths. The results show that cyclosporine plus iron (or ascorbate) exerts an enhanced damaging effect on kidney mitochondria. Iron and ascorbate appear to promote the nephrotoxicity induced by cyclosporine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.459-467
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• 2002

The sex steroid hormone progesterone is essential for normal development and maturation of the endometrium in preparation for the embryo implantation and the maintenance of pregnancy. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system that is composed of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) is also involved in the maintenance of pregnancy. In addition, liver, kidney, and uterus is a target tissue for IGF system. However, the effect of exogenous progesterone on IGF system was not elucidated in female rats. Therefore, we investigated the effect of progesterone on insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins in serum, liver, kidney, and uterus in female ovariectomized rats. IGFs concentration was measured by radioimmuoassay (RIA) and IGFBPs levels by western ligand blotting(WLB). IGF-I concentration was increased in serum, liver, and uterus, but not in kidney of progesterone-treated ovariectomized rats, compared to control (P<0.05). IGF-II concentration was decreased in liver, but not in serum, kidney, and uterus of progesterone-treated rats, compared to control (P<0.05). IGFBP-3 was increased in serum, but not in liver of progesterone-treated rats, compared to control. IGFBP-2 was decreased in kidney, but not in others tissues of progesterone-treated rats, compared to control. These results suggest that progesterone may exert diverse physiological functions via the tissue-specific regulation of IGFs/IGFBPs system in female rats.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.352-356
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• 2007

The present study was investigated the anti-oxidative effects of aloe vera ingestion on brain and kidney in aged rats by monitoring several oxidative-related parameters. Male specific pathogen-free Fischer 344 rats were randomly divided into four groups of five rat each: Group A was fed test chow without aloe supplementation; Group B was fed a diet containing a 1% freeze-dried aloe filet; Group C was fed a diet containing a 1% charcoal-processed, freeze-dried aloe filet; and Group D was fed a diet containing a charcoal-processed, freeze-dried, whole leaf aloe in drinking water. Analyses of tissues were done at 4 months and 16 months of age. Results showed that a long-term intake of aloe, regardless of the preparation used, enhanced antioxidant defenses against lipid peroxidation, as indicated by reduced phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide levels in both brain and kidney. The additional benefit of aloe intake on the anti-oxidative action was evidenced by enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in all aloe-ingested groups. Another beneficial effect of aloe shown in this study, although not an anti-oxidative parameter, was its cholesterol-lowering effect as detected in brain and kidney with significant decreases at age16 months of aloe-fed rats. Based on these findings, we conclude that a long-term dietary aloe supplementation modulated the anti-oxidative defense systems and cholesterol level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 1994

Effects of very low level of lead in diet and exposure time on the accumulation and distribution in organs and tissues was investigated with growing rats. 21 days old Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to lead for 7, 14 and 21 days by feeding of 0.03, 0.42, 0.92 and 1.46mg/kg Pb as Pb-acetate containing diet, respectively. Lead concentrations in blood, liver, kidney and bone exhibit a linear relationship with lead levels in diet. After 7 days of exposure, the greatest dose dependent accumulation of lead was found in kidney and followed in bone. However, after 14 and 21 days, the dose dependent accumlation of lead in bone was about two fold greater than that in kidney. The accumulation of lead in liver and blood was relatively low. As continuous exposure to lead, the concentrations of lead in liver, kidney, blood and intestinal tracts were rather not increased with exposure time. However, bone lead concentration was increased with exposure time by feeding of 0.92 and 1.46mg/kg Pb in diet, but not 0.42mg/kg. The lead concentration in gastrointestinal tracts tends also to increasing with lead levels in diet after 7 and 14 days of exposure. However, by 21 days of exposure the lead concentration revealed relatively constant value regardless of the dietary lead levels. It is concluded that the binding capacity of the lead in blood, liver, kidney and bone seems to be increased with increasing lead levels in diet. The lead concentration in these organs, with the exception of the lead in bone, seems, however, to be standing under steady state regulation by continued exposure with the same dietary lead level. Therefore, by chronic exposure condition with environmental relevant lead level bone might be a principle targe organ for lead and blood lead repesents better the current lead exposure than the lead body burden.