• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.30-39
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• 2009

Extraction of glomeruli region plays a very important role for diagnosing nephritis automatically. However, it is not easy to extract glomeruli region correctly because the difference between glomeruli region and other region is not obvious, simultaneously unevennesses that is brought in the sampling process and in the imaging process. In this study, a new method for extracting renal glomeruli region using genetic algorithm is proposed. The first, low and high resolution images are obtained by using Laplacian-Gaussian filter with ${\sigma}=2.1$ and ${\sigma}=1.8$, then, binary images by setting the threshold value to zero are obtained. And then border edge is detected from low resolution images, the border of glomeruli is expressed by a closed B-splines' curve line. The parameters that decide the closed curve line with this low resolution image prevent the noises and the border lines from breaking off in the middle by searching using genetic algorithm. Next, in order to obtain more precise border edges of glomeruli, the number of node points is increased and corrected in order from eight to sixteen and thirty two from high resolution images. Finally, the validity of this proposed method is shown to be effective by applying to the real images.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.12-47
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• 2005

First, mice were dosed with 50mg/kg of streptozotocin(STZ) twice every 24 hours to cause high blood-sugar. Then, after three days, mice were injected with 100mg/kg of STZ again. Two different dosages of Saengjihwangeumja-gami were given to the experiment groups: SA group, 15mg/kg/day, and SB group, 90mg/kg/day, in order to determine the effects of Saengjihwangeumja-gami, which has been known to be good for DM(Diabetes Mellitus). By observing weight and blood-sugar level changes, blood tolerance, the numerical value of BUN(Blood Urea Nitrogen) and creatinine in blood, and through light-electronicmicroscopic and immunohistologic investigations of pancreas and kidneys, the following results were obtained: 1. The experiment groups showed a high suppressive effect of weight-loss. 2. The experiment groups' blood-sugar and blood tolerance showed an effective lowering of blood-sugar levels. 3. The experiment groups did not show any noticeable change in the numerical value of BUN and creatinine in blood compared with that of the control groups. 4. The experiment groups showed a higher Insulin positive reaction of pancreatic islets ${/beta}-cell$ than the control groups. 5. The experiment groups showed a higher immuno-reaction against IGF- II than the control groups. 6. Observation of apoptosis of the pancreatic islets showed that the cells of experiment groups were less injured compared with those of the control groups, and fewer apoptag-positive reaction cells were seen in experiment groups than in the control groups. 7. Uunder electron-microscopy, the insulin-containing granules in pancreatic islets ${/beta}-cells$ had increased more in the experiment groups than in the control groups. 8. Under light microscopy, the injury on the inner & outer membrane of the glomerulus and epithelial cells of capillaries and cells among vessels were fewer in the experiment groups than in the control groups. 9. More apoptag-positive reaction cells in the kidney were seen in the control groups than in the experiment groups. 10. PAS-positive reaction substances had increased more in the substrate among the vessels of a glomerulus belonging to the control group than those of the experiment group. 11. Uunder electron-microscopy, the nucleonic membrane, nucleoplasm and mitochondria of proximal and distal renal tubular were more injured in the control groups than in the experiment groups. In conclusion, strong evidence for the efficacy of Saengjihwangeumja-gami in lowering blood-sugar, and in recovery and generation of pancreatic tissues injured by DM was observed. Results suggest Saengjihwangeumja-gami is an effective treatment for DM. Further study of the principles of blood-sugar dropping effects of Saengjihwangeumja-gami are needed, as well as further study of recovery and regeneration of pancreatic tissues injured by DM.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2016

Background: This study examined the hypoglycemic and kidney protective effect of black ginseng in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Methods and Results: Diabetes was induced by treating mice with streptozotocin (STZ) for four weeks. In vivo studies were performed in order to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of the black ginseng prosapogenin (GBG05-FF) extract. The body weight and blood glucose level were measured. Moreover, after the mice were sacrificed, the kidneys were isolated and histological changes were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were also measured. The results showed that administration of black ginseng increased body weight. Compared to blood glucose levels in STZ mice, blood glucose levels were reduced by 48% in STZ mice supplemented with 300 mg/kg of black ginseng, and by 69% in STZ mice supplemented with 900 mg/kg. Furthermore, histopathological examination of STZ mouse kidneys revealed, changes in the kidneys, epithelial cell damages, inflammatory cell infiltration and glomerulus hypertrophy. However, a significant reduction of glomerular water droplets (indicative of glomerulus hypertrophy) was observed in the kidneys of STZ mice supplemented with black ginseng extract. Conclusions: These results suggest that black prosapogenin (GBG05-FF) ginseng extract has a significant hypoglycemic effect and can be used as an anti-diabetic substance and renal protective agents as part of dietary supplements or novel drugs.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2004

Experiments were carried out to investigate Cd accumulation, elimination and cell response in juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) exposed to sub-chronic dietary Cd (0, 0.5, 5, 25 and 125 mg/kg) for 60 days and depuration periods of 30 days. Cd accumulation in the kidney of cock fish increased with exposure periods and concentrations for the 60 days of dietary Cd exposure. After the end of the dietary Cd exposure, Cd accumulation values in the kidney were $52.9{\pm}9.94\;{\mu}g/g$ and $90.6{\pm}15.7\;{\mu}g/g$ for those exposed to 25 mg/kg and 125 mg/kg Cd, respectively. The accumulation factors increased with the exposure period in the kidney. Cd elimination in the kidney of rockfish did not vary significantly and remained constant after the cessation of the dietary Cd exposure. In the primary exposure periods, the effect of kidney tissue in the rockfish exposed to dietary Cd was observed the swelling of capillary of the glomerulus. In addition, there was also hydropic swelling within the pyknotic nuclei, some of hyaline droplet accumulation and the microvilli showed a positive reaction to alcian blue in the tubular cells. While exposure time and concentrations were increased, there was a lot of hyaline droplet accumulation and the microvilli showed a positive reaction to alcian blue in the tubular cells. Fused renal tubule and its necrosis were observed after 60 days at l25 mg/kg.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2020

Purpose: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is among etiologies of secondary membranous nephropathy (MN) in pediatric patients. We evaluated expression of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R), a specific target antigen of primary MN, in pediatric HBV-related MN. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with biopsy-proven HBV-related MN from the renal biopsy registry and electronic medical records of Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from 1993 to 2004. Paraffin-embedded human kidney tissues were retrieved and immunohistochemically stained for PLA2R. Results: Ten pediatric patients with 13 biopsied specimens were reviewed. The predominant pathological stage was stage II-III, and second was stage II. The intensity of staining for IgG was greatest, with less intense staining for IgM, IgA, C3, C4, and C1q. All the patients had angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor combined with glucocorticoid, and four patients converted to cyclosporine treatment from glucocorticoid monotherapy. Urinalysis of all the patients normalized after variable period. PLA2R staining was demonstrated in the outer glomerulus in 3 out of 13 biopsies, 2 of which were obtained from the same patient over a 5-year interval. Conclusions: PLA2R was expressed in a small number of cases diagnosed as pediatric HBV-related MN, indicating that some HBV-related MN cases may be primary MN concurrent with HBV infection.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 2004

The histopathologieal effects of his(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) on the flounder, Paralichthys otivaceus were examined by means of histological methods. The experimental fishes were exposed to 0.17, 0.36, 0.60, 3.20, 6.30, 12.50 ${\mu}g \;L^{-1}$TBTO concentrations for 42 days. Histopathological change of the fish exposed to TBTO is dependent on the exposure duration and concentration. In the lower concentrations early histological changes included activated mucous cells and chloride cells, capillary hyperemia and epithelial hyperplasia in the gill; hepatocyte activation, degeneration of bile duct and pancyeatic zymogen reduction in the hepatopancreas; and capillary hyperemia, appearance of eosinophilic cell and melano-macrophagocytes in the kidney. At the higher concentrations histological changes of dysfunctionality included epithelial lifting and deformation of the lamellae in the gill; pycnosis and cytoplasmic degeneration of hepatocyte; pycnosis of haemopoietic cell and deformation of renal tubules and glomerulus in the kidney. It is indicated that TBTO induced histopathological changes in the fish as other aquatic pollutants.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.375-380
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• 2006

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a cyanobacterial hepatotoxin mainly produced by Microcystis aeruginosa. The current study examined the effects of a single intraperitoneal dose of MC-LR in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with MC-LR ($100{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) and they were sacrificed at 0, 20, 40, 80, 160 min, or 12 h after injection. Clinically, animals showed lethargy and had ruffled hair beginning at 40 min post injection. In the gross findings, liver was enlarged and its color was changed into dark red beginning at 40 min post injection. Microscopically, dissociation of centrilobular hepatocytes and hemorrhage was observed in the hepatic central legions and such pathological changes were then extended to the portal regions of liver by time course manner. Interestingly at 80 min after MC-LR injection, the entrapped eosinophilic materials that may be necrotic fragments of dissociated hepatocytes were found in the capillaries of lung and renal glomerulus. Ultrastructurally, microvilli of the hepatocytes were disrupted or lost at all time points. Furthermore, the Disse space and gap junctions were widened beginning at 40 min post injection. These results suggest that liver is the major target organ of MC-LR and isolated hepatocytes by the effects of such hepatotoxin may secondarily reduce the physiological function of lung and kidney.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1987

The renal handling and tissue distribution of pyrazinamide were studied after administration of single dose intravenous injection for 15 min or constant infusion in New Zealand White rabbits. Peak pyrazinamide serum concentration ranged from 57.3 to $105.0{\mu}g/ml$ ($mean{\pm}SD;83.0{\pm}17.8$). The mean half-life of the a phase was $0.143{\pm}0.047$ hr while the ${\beta}$ phase ranged from 1.66 to 3.25 hr($mean{\pm}SD;2.38{\pm}0.57$). The mean steady-state volume of distribution in non-compartmental model was $0.935{\pm}0.362\;L/kg$ Excretion ratio of pyrazinamide was dramatically reduced from 1.02 to 0.30 when unbound serum pyrazinamide concentration was increased from 6.04 to $60.9\;{\mu}g/ml$. The urine flow dependency of renal clearance of pyrazinamide was demonstrated in steady-state serum concentration. The tissue/serum concentration ratio of pyrazinamide was highest in kidney and lowest in skeletal muscle among the tissues examined. The results suggested that a large fraction of pyrazinamide filtered by glomerulus and secreted by renal tubule was reabsorbed and this tubular reabsorption of pyrazinamide might be greatly influenced by urine flow.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.76-95
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• 1991

A single injection of cadmium chloride (3.75 mg/kg) was made into the peritoneal cavities of albino rats. The cortices of kidney were obtained from the experimental animals at 3 hr., 6 hr., 12 hr., 24 hr. and 36 hr. after administration of cadmium chloride, respectively. The specimens of each experimental animal were prefixed in 2% glutaraldehyde-4% paraformaldehyde solution for $2{\sim}4$ hours, and these specimens were post-fixed in 1% osmic acid. After fixation, the specimens were dehydrated with alcohol and acetate and embedded in Epon 812. Ultrathin sections, $600{\sim}800{\AA}$ thickness were made and stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. And all the preparations were observed with Hitachi-600 transmission electron microscope. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The main changes in ultrastructures of the glomeruli observed at 3 hr. after cadmium chloride administration include loss of filtration slit and fenestrae of capillary endothelium that was resulted from thickings of the basal lamina and fusion of pedicels of the podocytes. At 12 hr. after cadmium chloride administration the Bowman's capsules were mostly filled with abnormally thickened and fused pedicels. After 24 hr. however, the only recognized change was loss of fenestrae of the capillary endothelium. And the ultrastructure of the glomeruli were almost normal in 36 hr. after cadmium chloride treatment. 2. At 3 hr. after treatment with cadmium chloride, in the renal tubular cells the vesicles and vacuoles increased in number at the apical portion, of the tubular epithelial cells, the basal infoldings were reduced and the basal lamina was thickened. After 12 hr., a number of phagosomes appeared at the apical portion and the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum were swollen. At 24 hr. after cadmium chloride administration irregularly shaped mitochondria were observed in the apical area, and mitochondria with swollen cristae were found at the basal portion. And after 36 hr. The ultrastructures of the epithelial cells appeared almost normal except for a moderate increase in the number of vesicles and vacuoles. Consequently it is suggested that in albino rats, cadmium chloride induces acute reversible degenerative changes in the glomeruli as well as in the epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2018

Tenofovir nanoparticles are novel therapeutic intervention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reaching the virus in their sanctuary sites. However, there has been no systemic toxicity testing of this formulation despite global concerns on the safety of nano drugs. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the toxicity of Tenofovir nanoparticle (NTDF) on the liver and kidney using an animal model. Fifteen adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats maintained at the animal house of the biomedical resources unit of the University of KwaZulu-Natal were weighed and divided into three groups. Control animals (A) were administered with normal saline (NS). The therapeutic doses of Tenofovir (TDF) and nanoparticles of Tenofovir (NTDF) were administered to group B and C and observed for signs of stress for four weeks after which animals were weighed and sacrificed. Liver and kidney were removed and fixed in formal saline, processed and stained using H/E, PAS and MT stains for light microscopy. Serum was obtained for renal function test (RFT) and liver function test (LFT). Cellular measurements and capturing were done using ImageJ and Leica software 2.0. Data were analysed using graph pad 6, p values < 0.05 were significant. We observed no signs of behavioural toxicity and no mortality during this study, however, in the kidneys, we reported mild morphological perturbations widening of Bowman's space, and vacuolations in glomerulus and tubules of TDF and NTDF animals. Also, there was a significant elevation of glycogen deposition in NTDF and TDF animals when compared with control. In the liver, there were mild histological changes with widening of sinusoidal spaces, vacuolations in hepatocytes and elevation of glycogen deposition in TDF and NTDF administered animals. In addition to this, there were no significant differences in stereological measurements and cell count, LFT, RFT, weight changes and organo-somatic index between treatment groups and control. In conclusion, NTDF and TDF in therapeutic doses can lead to mild hepatic and renal histological damage. Further studies are needed to understand the precise genetic mechanism.