In order to further characterize the basic pattern of electrolyte and nitrogen metabolism of the Korean, 24-hour urines were collected from 1,260 male subjects who were randomly selected from three different geographical areas (city, rural and island) in age from 6 to 25. For the city subjects, studies were conducted in both summer and winter for a seasonal comparison, while the other subjects were studied in the autumn only. Of these subjects, blood samples were also obtained from 225. In all groups, the serum composition of electrolytes including proteins was within normal range. The daily urine output which increased as a function of age was somewhat greater in summer than in winter. The daily urine output per unit surface is decreased inversely according to age. On the other hand, the urine osmolality which increased with age was higher in winter than in summer. The daily salt excretion which was greater in summer than in winter increased according to age, although the daily salt excretion per unit surface area was constant regardless of age. The daily potassium excretion was such that the urinary K/Na ratio decreased according to age while it was higher in winter than in summer. Likewise, the daily nitrogen excretion was much greater in winter than in summer while it increased with age. However, the daily nitrogen excretion per unit surface area decreased in older subjects age. In contrast to these seasonal differences in respect to certain electrolytes and nitrogen excretion, there was no distinct geographic difference in these variables. Moreover, many of the above variables changed according to age, but tended to stabilize at the age of approximately 15 years. A comparison of the present data with others indicates that the daily urine output and the daily salt excretion are greater while the urine osmolality, the daily nitrogen excretion and the urinary K/Na ratio are lower in the Korean than in the occidental. Moreover, these results strongly suggest that Korean people acquired a habit of ingesting low-protein and high-salt diets at the age of 6 years or perhaps before.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Dietary Proteins ; Electrolytes/*urine ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Nitrogen/*urine ; Seasons ; *Water-Electrolyte Balance

Neopterin is a pyrazino-pyrimidine compound, and is known to be a marker associated with cell-mediated immunity in various diseases. We hypothesized that the levels of serum and urine neopterin would be elevated in renal disease, and would correlate with certain clinical parameters. We evaluated serum and urinary neopterin levels in patients with several renal diseases, including nephrotic syndrome (NS, n=19), chronic renal failure (CRF, n=8), end stage renal disease (ESRD, n=64) and controls (n=22). Serum neopterin was elevated in patients with CRF and ESRD, as compared to controls. Urinary neopterin levels were also found to be elevated in patients with CRF and ESRD, as compared to controls. Serum neopterin levels showed significant positive correlation with age, serum BUN and creatinine levels, and inverse correlation with WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum albumin and total iron binding capacity. Urine neopterin levels exhibited positive correlation with age and serum creatinine levels, and inverse correlation with WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, BUN and serum albumin. In conclusion, increased serum and urinary neopterin levels were found in some patients with renal disease and were correlated with certain clinical parameters.
Triglycerides/blood ; Radioimmunoassay/methods ; Nephrotic Syndrome/blood/pathology/urine ; Neopterin/*blood/*urine ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood/pathology/urine ; Kidney Diseases/blood/*pathology/urine ; Humans ; Hemoglobins/metabolism ; Hematocrit ; Female ; Creatinine/blood ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Aged ; Age Factors ; Adult

BACKGROUNDAcute renal failure (ARF) after liver transplantation is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Early therapeutic or preventive intervention is hampered by the lack of early effective prognostic factors. Recent studies indicated that serum levels of cystatin C and beta2-microglobulin (beta2 MG) as well as urinary beta2 MG and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) would increase in patients with early and mild renal impairment. In this study, these factors were detected during the different stages in patients who accepted orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and their feasibilities to predict early ARF after OLT were also analyzed.

METHODSSixty patients with normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) who received modified piggyback liver transplantation without veno-venous bypass were prospectively studied. Blood samples were drawn from patients for the determination of serum beta2 MG (n = 60), SCr (n = 60) and serum Cystatin C (n = 39) at following 5 intervals: before operation (T0), 20 minutes before anhepatic phase (T1), 25 minutes in anhepatic (T2), 60 minutes after reperfusion (T3) and at the end of operation (T4). Urinary beta2 MG (n = 60) and NAG (n = 60) were also examined at following 3 intervals: before operation (T0), 60 minutes after reperfusion (T3) and at the end of operation (T4). According to the Rimola A criteria of ARF in 24 hours after operation, all the patients were divided into two groups: ARF group and non-ARF group. The data were statistically analyzed to evaluate the feasibiliy of regarding these factors as prognostic factors for early ARF after liver transplantation in patients with normal SCr and BUN before operation.

RESULTSTen of sixty cases showed ARF (16.7%). The Logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of serum and urinary beta2 MG as well as serum cystatin C before operation were correlated with early ARF after liver transplantation (P < 0.05), while only serum levels of cystatin C and Cr at the end of operation correlated with early ARF (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) after liver transplantation. The serum beta2 MG, Cystatin C, SCr and urinary beta2 MG levels in ARF group were much more higher than that in non-ARF group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There were significant differences between the correct and false predictive positive ratios of serum cystatin C, serum and urinary beta2 MG levels before operation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while only SCr showed significant difference between these groups at the end of operation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results revealed that there was potential renal damage among those patients who demonstrated normal SCr and BUN before operation, and that liver transplantation could aggravate this damage and causing ARF. Here we provided the prognostic values of serum Cystatin C, beta2 MG, urinary beta2 MG and NAG in patients with early acute renal failure after liver transplantation.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Acute Kidney Injury ; blood ; diagnosis ; urine ; Adult ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; blood ; diagnosis ; urine ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; analysis ; blood ; urine

OBJECTIVETo study the value of apolipoprotein H (apoH) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and urinary N-Acetyl-beta-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG) and retinal-binding protein (RBP) in the early diagnosis of renal function damage in neonates.

METHODSSixty sick neonates who renal function damage probably occurred were enrolled. The blood and urinary samples were collected twice within 48 hrs following admission, with an interval of 12-24 hrs. Expression of apoH gene in PBMC was determined with RT-PCR. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, and urinary activities of NAG and RBP were measured with enzymatic reaction.

RESULTSThe abnormal rates of blood apoH and urinary NAG and RBP were 73.3%, 83.3% and 76.7%, respectively in the first detection. The second detection for blood apoH and urinary NAG and RBP showed abnormal rates of 70.0%, 66.7% and 76.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the abnormal rates between the three markers either in the first or the second detection (P>0.05). Beside there were no significant significances in the abnormal rates between urinary NAG and blood BUN in the second detection, the abnormal rates of blood apoH and urinary NAG and RBP in both detections were significantly higher than those of BUN or creatinine (P<0.01 or 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are identical values of blood apoH gene expression and urinary NAG and RBP in the early diagnosis of renal function damage in neonates. The above three markers are more sensitive to early renal function damage than blood BUN and creatinine.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Male ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; urine ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I ; blood ; genetics

urine instead of 24-hour (hr) urine collection. Nevertheless, the optimal method for assessing daily sodium intake remains unclear.SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen male (age 32.7 ± 6.5 years) participants were offered 3 meals with a total of 9–10 g salt over 24 hours, and 24-hr urine was collected from the second-void urine of the first day to the first-void urine of the second day. Twenty-four-hr urinary sodium (24UNa) was estimated using Tanaka's equation and the Korean formula, and spot urine Na, potassium (K), chloride (Cl), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), specific gravity (SG) and osmolality (Osm) were measured. The ratios of urinary Na to other parameters were calculated, and correlations with total measured 24UNa were identified.RESULTS: Average 24-hr urine volume was 1,403 ± 475 mL, and measured 24UNa was 143.9 ± 42.1 mEq (range, 87.1–239.4 mEq). Measured 24UNa was significantly correlated with urinary Na/UN (r = 0.560, P < 0.01), urinary Na/Osm (r = 0.510, P < 0.01), urinary Na/Cr (r = 0.392, P < 0.01), urinary Na/K (r = 0.290, P < 0.01), 24UNa estimated using Tanaka's equation (r = 0.452, P < 0.01) and the Korean formula (r = 0.414, P < 0.01), age (r = 0.548, P < 0.01), weight (r = 0.497, P < 0.01), and height (r = 0.393, P < 0.01) in all spot urine samples. Estimated 24UNa based on the second-void spot urine of the first day tended to be more closely correlated with measured 24UNa than were estimates from the other spot urine samples. The significant parameters correlated with the second-void urine of the first day were urinary Na/K (r = 0.647, P < 0.01), urinary Na/Cr (r = 0.558, P < 0.05), and estimated 24UNa using Tanaka's equation (r = 0.616, P < 0.05) and the Korean formula (r = 0.588, P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Second-void urine is more reliable than first-void urine for estimating 24UNa. Urinary Na/K in the second-void urine on the first day is significantly correlated with 24UNa. Further studies are needed to establish the most reliable index and the optimal time of urine sampling for predicting 24UNa.]]>
Creatinine ; Humans ; Male ; Meals ; Methods ; Nitrogen ; Osmolar Concentration ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Sodium, Dietary ; Specific Gravity ; Urea ; Urine Specimen Collection

OBJECTIVETo compare the sensitivity of early renal injury induced by mercury-containing medicine in rats, including urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosdminidase (NAG), beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), retinol binding protein (RBP) and clusterin (CLU).

METHODBadu Shengji San(BDSJS), a mercury-containing preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, was adopted as the mercury contact drug. The lowest effective toxic dose was used to observe its effect on serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and such early renal injury indicators as NAG, RBP, beta2-MG and CLU and compare the sensitivity of tested indicators.

RESULTCompared to the broken skin group, groups with administration of 60 and 120 mg x kg(-1) doses of BDSJS showed no obvious difference in SCr and BUN when kidney indicators is remarkably increased and obvious pathological changes were found in kidney tubules but with significant increase in the urinary level of CLU and the levels of NAG and RBP. H&E staining of renal tubule showed that exposure of 30 mg x kg(-1) BDSJS had no significant morphological changes, but at the same concentrations, the level of RBP was markedly increased. Urinary beta2-MG levels were markedly decreased in BDSJS 30, 60 mg x kg(-1) group rats, whereas 120 mg x kg(-1) dose group showed no obvious change in urinary beta2-MG levels.

CONCLUSIONUrinary RBP, NAG and CLU were more sensitive than SCr and BUN as indicators for early renal injury in the order of RBP > NAG > CLU, and urinary RBP, NAG would increase earlier than beta2-MG.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Clusterin ; urine ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mercury ; blood ; metabolism ; toxicity ; urine ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; urine ; Skin ; drug effects ; injuries ; Time Factors ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine

OBJECTIVETo investigate nephroprotective effects of a mixture of 8 L-amino acids on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury and its effects on renal endothelin-1 (ET-1).

METHODSThe mixture of 8 L-amino acids includes glycine, alanine, threonine, serine, valine, leucine, isoleucine and proline. Acute ischemic renal injury was induced by clamping renal pedicle for 45 minutes in rats. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a sham-operated group (Group A, n=8), a control group (Group B, n=26) and an amino acid-treated group (Group C, n=26). Amino acids were infused at a rate of 1 ml x 100g(-1) x h(-1) I hour before ischemia and during 3 hours of the whole reperfusion. The serum creatinine values, BUN levels, creatinine clearance, urine sodium and potassium excretion, urine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the rate of urine flow and histological examination were measured. Renal ET-1 levels were assayed with radioimmunological assay (RIA) RESULTS: The creatinine clearance was 471.0 microl/min+/-121.5 microl/min in Group C and 227.0 microl/min+/-27.0 microl/min in Group B 3 hours after reperfusion, P<0.01). The urine flow rate was 63.6 microl/min+/-15.2 microl/min in Group C and 24.3 microl/min+/-7.7 microl/minin Group B, P<0.01) 1.5 hours after reperfusion. The serum creatinine was 85.0 microl/min+/-7.7 micromol/L and BUN concentration 11.4 mmol/L+/-3.9 mmol/L in Group C and 112.7 micromol/L+/-19.5 micromol/L and 20.7 mmol/L+/-6.6 mmol/L respectively in Group B after 24 hours of reperfusion (P<0.05). The mean histological score by standards of Paller in kidneys was 108.7+/-15.7 in Group C, and 168.8+/-14.8in Group B (P<0.01). The renal ET-1 levels 15 minute and 3 hours after reperfusion were 7.2 pg/mg+/-0.8 pg/mg and 9.6 pg/ml+/-1.0 pg/ml in Group C, and 10.1 pg/ml+/-2.8 pg/ml and 13.0 pg/ml+/-2.7pg/ml in Group B (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe mixture of 8 L-amino acids can provide remarkable protection against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. This may associate with attenuation of renal ET-1 disorder.

Amino Acids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; urine ; Endothelin-1 ; analysis ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Kidney ; blood supply ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; urine ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of long-term external use of Goupi Gao on renal function and lead accumulation in rats.

METHODRats were externally administered with Goupi Gao at different doses (7, 3.5 and 1.75 g x kg(-1)) for 90 d. At 45 days and 90 days after administration, the renal indicator, levels of blood urea nitrogen (BU) and creatinine (Cr) in serum, beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in urine were determined. Lead content in kidneys was detected by atomic absorption spectrometry.

RESULTA 90-day administration with Goupi Gao significantly enhanced the renal indicator, levels of NAG in urine and lead content in renal, when compared with the normal rats. However, the levels of BUN and beta2-MG as well as renal pathology in Goupi Gao treated rats were not obviously changed.

CONCLUSIONConsecutive administration of Goupi Gao for 90 days can increase the renal indicator and levels of NAG in urine, enhance the accumulation of lead in renal, but with no effect on excretory function of kidneys and organic changes.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lead ; analysis ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of different extracts of Alisma orientalis on urinary calcium oxalate stone formation in rats and to identify the effective constituents.

METHODDifferent extracts were administered through a stomach tube to rats of different groups with renal calcium oxalate stones induced by ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonium chloride (AC).

RESULTIn the rats administered with ethyl acetate elution of ethyl acetate extract, blood Cr, BUN, renal tissue calcium content, urinary calcium excretion and crystals deposition in renal tissue were significantly lower than those of the stone formation group.

CONCLUSIONThe ethyl acetate elution of ethyl acetate fraction extract of Alisma orientalis can significantly inhibit urinary calcium oxalate stone formation in rats and be the most effective constituent of Alisma orientalis.

Alisma ; chemistry ; Ammonium Chloride ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Oxalate ; urine ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethylene Glycol ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Calculi ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Magnesium ; metabolism ; urine ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to investigate the protection of procyanidins and lycopene from the renal damage induced by mercuric chloride.

METHODSRats were treated with either procyanidins or lycopene 2h before HgCl(2) subcutaneously injection, once daily treatment for 2 successive days.

RESULTSIn comparison with HgCl(2) group, markers of renal function such as blood urea nitrogen in serum and urinary protein were decreased to (18.45±11.63) mmol/L and (15.93±9.36) mmol/L, (4.54±0.78) g/(g·Cr) and (4.40±1.12) g/(g·Cr). N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase in urine were depressed to (125.49±11.68) U/(g·Cr), (103.73±21.79) U/(g·Cr), (101.99±12.28) U/(g·Cr), and (113.19±23.74) U/(g·Cr), (71.14±21.80) U/(g·Cr), (73.64±21.51) U/(g·Cr) in procyanidins and lycopene groups. Indicators of oxidative stress, for example, Glutathion was reduced to (45.58±9.89) μmol/(g·pro) and (45.33±5.90) μmol/(g·pro), and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase were enhanced to (43.07±10.97) U/(mg·pro) and (39.94±6.04) U/(mg·pro), (83.85±18.48) U/(mg·pro), and (85.62±12.68) U/(mg·pro). Malondialdehyde was lowered to (0.95±0.12) (μmol/g·pro) and (1.03±0.12) μmol/(g·pro) in procyanidins and lycopene groups. ROS generation was decreased by 27.63% and 16.40% and apoptosis was also decreased in procyanidins and lycopene groups respectively. Pathological changes were much better as well.

CONCLUSIONProcyanidins and Lycopene play some protective role against mercury kidney damage.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; urine ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carotenoids ; therapeutic use ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; urine ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mercuric Chloride ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; urine ; Mercury ; metabolism ; Proanthocyanidins ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism