Protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role not only in signal transduction mechanisms in various biological processes, but also in the regulation of growth and differentiation during development. We studied the classical PKC alpha, betaI, betaII and gamma, with regard to their expression in adult and developing rat kidney. PKCalpha appeared in the ureteric bud at embryonic day (E) 16, and the proximal and distal anlage at E18. After birth, the immunoreactivity of PKCalpha gradually decreased. In adult, PKCalpha was expressed intensely in the connecting tubule (CNT), the collecting ducts (CD) and the renal corpuscle, and weakly in the proximal and distal tubules. PKCbetaI appeared in the ureteric bud at E16, and the proximal anlage at E18. After birth, the immunoreactivity of PKCbetaI gradually disappeared from the CD and proximal tubule. In adult, PKCbetaI was expressed in the intercalated cells of the CNT and cortical CD, the proximal straight tubule, and the renal corpuscle. PKCbII appeared in distal anlage at E18, and increased markedly after birth. In the CD, PKCbetaII immunoreactivity appeared after birth. In adult, PKCbetaII was expressed in the distal tubule, the CNT and the CD. The immunoreactivity for PKCgamma appeared only in the proximal anlage at E18, and increased temporally around the time of birth. However, no immunoreactivity for PKCgamma was observed in adult rat kidney. These results indicate that classical PKC isoforms appear to play a role in the regulation of various renal functions and differentiation within specific functional units of the uriniferous tubule in rat kidney.
Adult* ; Animals ; Biological Processes ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Parturition ; Protein Isoforms ; Protein Kinase C beta ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Rats* ; Signal Transduction ; Ureter

PURPOSE: TPN has been widely used to treat nutritional depletion since the late 1960s. However, many metabolic complications may occur as a result of parenteral feeding. Among these, hepatic complications has received increasing attention. A retrospective review of liver function abnormalities in adult patients who underwent TPN was done to determine the frequency and magnitude of the abnormalities in a liver function test. METHODS: From January 2001 to Jun 2001, 160 adult patient receiving TPN were reviewed. Of these, 111 had a malignant disease and 49 had a benign disease. The duration of TPN therapy ranged from 5 days to 52 days, with a mean duration of 14 days. Abnormalities of liver function test were defined as a value greater than the upper normal limit. Forty cases of gastric cancer were analyzed to determine the risk factors that contribute to abnormal liver function in individual patients receiving TPN. RESULTS: Abnormalities of the liver function test appeared after 6~7 days of therapy. Increases in the ALP levels were noted in 34 out of 93 patients (37.6%), in the AST levels in 42 out of 116 patients (36.2%), in the ALT levels in 54 out of 125 patients (43.2%), in the LDH levels in 20 out of 72 patients (27.8%), in the gamma-GTP levels in 44 out of 81 patients (54.3%), and in the bilirubin levels in 30 out of 126 patients (23.8%). The serum ALP level rose to 1.6 times upper the limit of normal; AST, 1.7 times; ALT, 2.0 times; LDH, 1.2 times; gamma-GTP, 2.4 times; bilirubin, 2.4 times. gamma-GTP value was most sensitive. In 40 gastric cancers, factors as age, the amount of TPN solution, the duration of TPN, intraoperative chemotherapy, transfusion, and postoperative infection were investigated. However, no association with TPN-associated liver function abnormalities was found. CONCLUSION: The incidences of an abnormal liver function during TPN were 23.8~54.3%. However, the liver function abnormalities that developed during short term-TPN were reversible and not serious.
Adult ; Bilirubin ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver* ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms

The purpose of this study is to investigate initial nutritional status of stomach cancer patients. The study subjects were 88 patients with stomach cancer admitted at Kosin University Gospel Hospital in Busan. We assessed the initial nutritional status by anthropometric, biochemical and dietary intake data along with subjective global assessment(SGA). The results are as follows. 1. The mean age, weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, mid arm circumference, and mid arm muscle circumference of the subjects were 55.9+/-11.0years, 60.0+/-9.8kg, 162.4+/-8.5cm, 10.9+/-5.7mm, 26.8+/-3.8cm, and 23.4+/-3.5cm respectively. The mean body mass index was within the normal range, with 22.7+/-2.8kg/m2, while 15.4% of the patients was underweight. The result shows that body fat mass and body protein mass of the patients with stomach cancer were decreased. 2. The mean biochemical data of the subjects were 4.0+/-0.5g/dl for albumin, 174.7+/-41.9mg/dl for cholesterol, 107.6+/-57.2mg/dl for triglyceride, 92.1microgram/dl for Zn, 297.0+/-103.1mg/dl for transferrin, 1980.0+/-0.8mm3 for total lymphocyte count. 3. Daily energy intake was 1997.8+/-579.3kcal. And the ratio of carbohydrate, protein, and lipid to energy intake was 72:14:14. 4. The patients were divided into three groups according to SGA performed by an observer. Group A(well nourished) was 55.7% with 49 patients, Group B(moderately malnourished) was 22.7 % with 20 patients, and Group C(severely malnourished) was 21.6 % with 19 patients. The three groups showed a significant difference in body weight(p<0.01), 1 month weight loss %(p<0.001), 6 months weight loss %(p<0.001), body mass index(p<0.01), and mid arm circumference(p<0.05), albumin(p<0.01), energy intake(p<0.05) as well as carbohydrate intake(p<0.05). From these results, it may be concluded that SGA can be used as a nutrition screening tool, and comprehensive nutrition assessment is desirable for those malnourished.
Adipose Tissue ; Arm ; Body Mass Index ; Busan ; Cholesterol ; Energy Intake ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mass Screening ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status* ; Reference Values ; Skinfold Thickness ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Thinness ; Transferrin ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss