ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Renal aging-related changes are characterized by oxidative stress. SIRT1 regulates cellular conditions by activating Nrf2. The present study investigated the processes of renal changes by antioxidant enzymes and the relationship between SIRT1 and Nrf2. METHODS: We used male 2-, 12-, and 24-month-old C57BL/6 mice. We measured renal function, histological changes, oxidative stress, and expression of SIRT1–Nrf2 signaling in the kidneys. RESULTS: 24-month-old mice exhibited increased albuminuria and serum creatinine. Creatinine clearance was decreased in 24-month-old mice compared with 12-month-old mice. There were increases in mesangial volume and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in 24-month-old mice. Moreover, oxidative stress marker, 3-Nitrotyrosine, expression and apoptosis were increased in 24-month-old mice. The 24 h urinary 8-isoprostane and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine excretion increased with aging. The levels of expression of SIRT1 and nuclear Nrf2 were decreased in 24-month-old mice. The antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and NQO-1 were down-regulated in 24-month-old mice. Another antioxidant enzyme, SOD2, was decreased in 24-month-old mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that SIRT1 was down-regulated with aging, and this may be related to changes in the expression of target molecules including Nrf2. As a result, oxidative stress was induced. The pharmacological targeting of these signaling molecules may reduce the pathological changes associated with aging in the kidney.
Subject(s)
Animals , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Male , Mice , Aging , Albuminuria , Apoptosis , Creatinine , Fibrosis , Kidney , NF-E2-Related Factor 2 , Oxidative Stress , Sirtuin 1ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to review the screening performance of combined test at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. METHODS: All women admitted for routine antenatal care between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2012 with a known pregnancy outcome were included in this study, totaling 1,156 women with singleton pregnancies presenting at 10 to 13 weeks of gestation. Women were offered screening using a combination of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, free β-human chorionic gonadotropin and fetal nuchal translucency thickness. Those with an estimated risk of ≥1 in 250 of carrying a fetus with trisomy 21 or ≥1 in 300 risk of trisomy 18 were offered genetic counseling with the option of an invasive diagnostic test. RESULTS: The median of gestational age was 11+3 weeks, the median of crown-rump length was 47.1 mm, and the median age of the women was 31 years. The detection rate was 80% for trisomy 21 (4 of 5) and 100% for trisomy 13 and 18 (all 2). The false-positive rate was 7.73% for trisomy 21 and 1.21% for trisomy 18. CONCLUSION: This study was the first large population study performed with the aim of analyzing the performance of the combined test in Korea. This study demonstrated that the detection rates and other figures of the first trimester combined test are comparable to the results reported in other papers worldwide. Consequently, if strict conditions for good screening outcomes are achieved, the first trimester combined test might well be the earliest detectable screening, improving detection rates without increasing karyotyping or economic and other implications that inevitably ensue.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy , Chorionic Gonadotropin , Chromosome Aberrations , Crown-Rump Length , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Down Syndrome , Fetus , Genetic Counseling , Gestational Age , Korea , Mass Screening , Nuchal Translucency Measurement , Pregnancy Outcome , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A , Prenatal Diagnosis , TrisomyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to review the screening performance of combined test at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. METHODS: All women admitted for routine antenatal care between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2012 with a known pregnancy outcome were included in this study, totaling 1,156 women with singleton pregnancies presenting at 10 to 13 weeks of gestation. Women were offered screening using a combination of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, free β-human chorionic gonadotropin and fetal nuchal translucency thickness. Those with an estimated risk of ≥1 in 250 of carrying a fetus with trisomy 21 or ≥1 in 300 risk of trisomy 18 were offered genetic counseling with the option of an invasive diagnostic test. RESULTS: The median of gestational age was 11+3 weeks, the median of crown-rump length was 47.1 mm, and the median age of the women was 31 years. The detection rate was 80% for trisomy 21 (4 of 5) and 100% for trisomy 13 and 18 (all 2). The false-positive rate was 7.73% for trisomy 21 and 1.21% for trisomy 18. CONCLUSION: This study was the first large population study performed with the aim of analyzing the performance of the combined test in Korea. This study demonstrated that the detection rates and other figures of the first trimester combined test are comparable to the results reported in other papers worldwide. Consequently, if strict conditions for good screening outcomes are achieved, the first trimester combined test might well be the earliest detectable screening, improving detection rates without increasing karyotyping or economic and other implications that inevitably ensue.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy , Chorionic Gonadotropin , Chromosome Aberrations , Crown-Rump Length , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Down Syndrome , Fetus , Genetic Counseling , Gestational Age , Korea , Mass Screening , Nuchal Translucency Measurement , Pregnancy Outcome , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A , Prenatal Diagnosis , TrisomyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) is an important cause of allograft dysfunction in kidney transplant recipients. It has an unfavorable clinical course, and no definite treatment guidelines have yet been established. Here, we report our center's experience with biopsy-proven BKVAN and investigate factors associated with its progression. METHODS: From January 2004 to April 2013, 25 patients with BKVAN were diagnosed by biopsy at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. Of the 25 patients, 10 were deceaseddonor transplant recipients and 15 were living-donor transplant recipients. Three of the patients underwent retransplantation. The primary immunosuppressant used was tacrolimus in 17 patients and cyclosporine in eight patients. RESULTS: BKVAN was observed at a mean duration of 22.8 ± 29.1 months after transplantation. The mean serum creatinine level at biopsy was 2.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL. BKVAN occurred with acute rejection in eight patients (28%). Immunosuppression modification was performed in 21 patients (84%). Additionally, leflunomide and intravenous immunoglobulin were administered to 13 patients (52%) and two (8%), respectively. Allograft loss occurred in five patients (27.8%) during the follow- up period at 0.7, 17.1, 21.8, 39.8, and 41.5 months after the BKVAN diagnosis. Advanced stages of BKVAN, increased creatinine levels, and accompanying acute rejection at the time of BKVAN diagnosis increased the risk of allograft failure. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes in patients with biopsy-proven BKVAN were unfavorable in the present study, especially in patients with advanced-stage BKVAN, poor renal function, and acute allograft rejection.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Allografts , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , BK Virus/pathogenicity , Biomarkers/blood , Biopsy , Creatinine/blood , Disease Progression , Graft Rejection/diagnosis , Graft Survival , Immunocompromised Host , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Opportunistic Infections/diagnosis , Polyomavirus Infections/diagnosis , Republic of Korea , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Tumor Virus Infections/diagnosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To find factors associated with dysmenorrhea, we surveyed the obstetric and gynecologic histories as well as socioeconomic factors of Vietnamese female residents in Can Tho (southern part of Vietnam) and Bavi (northern part of Vietnam) and Vietnamese female marriage immigrants living in South Korea. METHODS: From March 2010 to March 2011, 3,017 Vietnamese women aged 17 to 42 years (mean, 25.5 years) were recruited. Socioeconomic factors as well as baseline characteristics, including gynecologic history and menstrual patterns, were collected using questionnaires. The relationships between these factors and dysmenorrhea were analyzed using chi-square test, independent t-test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Dysmenorrhea was found in 58.8% of all women. The mean age and the age at menarche were younger in the women with dysmenorrhea. A longer duration of menstrual flow and severe menstrual volume increased the risk of dysmenorrhea. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was lower in women who had experienced pregnancy, term delivery and breastfeeding. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea in Vietnamese women was also different according to their educational status. When participants were divided according to their religious preferences, atheist women showed a lower prevalence with 55%, and women who were religious had a higher prevalence of dysmenorrhea. The body mass index, menstrual cycle length, monthly income, and duration of residency in Korea were not related with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors as well as age, menstrual pattern and obstetric history were related with dysmenorrhea in Vietnamese women.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Asian People , Body Mass Index , Breast Feeding , Dysmenorrhea , Educational Status , Emigrants and Immigrants , Internship and Residency , Korea , Logistic Models , Marriage , Menarche , Menstrual Cycle , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Republic of Korea , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Cardiac Tamponade/etiology , Drainage , Empyema, Pleural/diagnosis , Heart Diseases/diagnosis , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Pericardial Effusion/etiology , Pericardial Window Techniques , Pericardiocentesis , Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/adverse effects , Peritonitis/diagnosis , Pleural Effusion/etiology , Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is a common complication after liver transplantation. In this study, we analyzed the results of kidney biopsy in liver transplantation recipients with renal impairment. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2012, 544 liver transplants were performed at our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and histological data of 10 liver transplantation recipients referred for kidney biopsy. RESULTS: The biopsies were performed at a median of 24.5 months (range, 3-73 months) after liver transplantation. The serum creatinine level was 1.81+/-0.5mg/dL at the time of kidney biopsy. There were no immediate complications. The most common diagnosis was glomerulonephritis (GN), such as immunoglobulin A nephropathy (n=4), mesangial proliferative GN(n=1), focal proliferative GN (n=1), and membranous GN (n=1). Typical calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced nephrotoxicity was detected in three cases (30%).Chronic tissue changes such as glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy were present in 90%, 80%,and 80% of cases, respectively, and mesangial proliferation was detected in 40%of cases. We began treatment for renal impairment based on the result of kidney biopsy; for example, angiotensin-receptor blockers or steroids were prescribed for GN, and the CNI dose was reduced for CNI nephrotoxicity. As a result, eight of 10 patients showed improvement in glomerular filtration rate, but two progressed to end-stage renal disease. CONCLUSION: Kidney biopsy is a safe and effective method for determining the cause of renal impairment after liver transplantation. Management of patients based on the result of kidney biopsy may improve renal outcomes.