Progressive renal fibrosis is considered to be the final common pathway leading to chronic renal insufficiency, however, the mechanism regarding renal fibrosis in renal injury is not well understood. Recently, several kinds of cytokines have been known to be related to fibrosis after renal injury. The interaction between elements regulating fibrogenesis would be better understood by looking at the effect of TGF-beta1 on the synthesis and accumulation of extracellular matrix, especially collagenous proteins. Crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) was induced in New Zealand White rabbits by administration of guinea pig anti-GBM IgG after sensitization with guinea pig IgG; and their kidneys were analyzed for the development of crescents and fibrosis through sequential renal biopsies. Serum creatinine levels in a time course progressively increased until day 15. We semi-quantitatively assayed the levels of the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA and TGF-beta1 mRNA factored for GAPDH mRNA using RT-PCR. We observed a progressive interstitial fibrosis and the expression of collagen I both in the cortex and medulla. The effect of repeated renal biopsy itself on pathology and on the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA and TGF-beta1 mRNA in a time course were not significant, but a very mild increase of the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA was noted at day 15. Histology showed a progressive crescent formation and interstitial fibrosis in a time course that roughly paralleled the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA in both cortex and medulla. TGF-beta1 mRNA was hardly expressed at day 0 in cortex as well as in medulla. It was elevated from day 1, peaked at day 7, and then decreased. In medulla, TGF-beta1 mRNA was noticeably expressed at day 1, peaked at day 4, and then decreased. The expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA was seen even before inducing CGN. It was gradually and continuously increased until day 15 both in cortex and medulla. These results suggest that the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA precedes that of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA in the early stage of CGN and has a central role for provoking the accumulation the collagen I, the most representative interstitial extracellular matrix, in the rabbit model CGN induced by anti-GBM antibody. We conclude that the measurement of the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and/or alpha1(I) collagen mRNA in a biopsy sample can be a useful predictor for renal outcome.
Animals ; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Creatinine ; Cytokines ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibrosis ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunoglobulin G ; Kidney ; Pathology ; Rabbits ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; RNA, Messenger* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria(PNH) is a rare, acquired disease involving multiple hematopoietic lines. Characteristics of PNH are intrinsic hemolytic anemia, iron deficiency anemia and venous thrombosis. report a case of PNH with characterostoc MR and CT findings. The signal intensity of renal cortex was lower than that of medulla on both T1- and T2- weighted MR imaging. On T2 weighted MR images, the liver showed very low signal intensity but the signal intensity of the spleen was normal. On precontrast CT the attenuation of renal cortex was higher than that of renal medulla and the attenuation of liver was higher than that of the spleen. These findings of MR imaging and CT were the result from the deposition of hemosiderin in the cells of proximal convoluted tubules and transfusional hemosiderosis of liver.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal* ; Hemosiderin ; Hemosiderosis ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spleen ; Venous Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney*

No abstract available.
Iron* ; Mesangial Cells* ; Perfusion*

Sleep disturbance and restless legs syndrome (RLS) among uremic patients is known to be high, but data on the prevalence, clinical significance, and causative factors are limited. A semiquantitative sleep and RLS questionnaire was distributed to 62 chronic hemodialysis(HD) patients. 74.5N had sleep complaints and frequent awakening was the most frequent specific sleep complaints followed by daytime sleepiness. Presence of diabetes mellitus(DM), RLS, depres- sion, high CRP level, low intact parathyroid hormone level, low subjective global assessment score, and short HD duration were associated with more sleep complaints. 58.3N had RLS and presence of DM, low serum albumin level were also associated with more severe RLS. But Kt/V, protein catabolic rate, hematocrit, plasma bicarbonate level, use of erythropoietin and sleep medication were not associated with sleep complaints and RLS. Sleep problems and RLS are comrnon in HD patients and seem to be associated with malnutrition. Presence of DM, de- pression, and RLS are likely to contribute the high prevalence of sleep disturbance.
Erythropoietin ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis* ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Serum Albumin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate characteristic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of granulocytic sarcomas of the head and neck. METHODS: The CT (n=11) and MR (n=1) images obtained from 11 patients (7 males and 4 females; mean age, 23.5 yr; age range, 1 to 69 yr) with histologically-proven granulocytic sarcomas of the head and neck were retrospectively reviewed. Histological confirmation was done by bone marrow biopsy in 9 patients, and/or local biopsy in 4 patients. The imaging findings were analyzed with particular attention to location, size, shape, margin, bone destruction, internal architecture, pattern and degree of enhancement, and multiplicity of the lesions. RESULTS: The masses were most commonly located in the orbital cavity (n=8); other locations included lymph nodes (n=5) and palatine/pharyngeal/lingual tonsils (n=3). The mass sizes varied from a mean diameter of 1.3 to 5.8 cm (average, 2.6 cm). Multiple lesions were found in 6 patients. The shapes of the tumors were ovoid in 12 patients and irregular in 4 patients. Most lesions had poorly-defined margins (13/16) and invaded adjacent bony structures (5/16). On the pre-contrast CT images, the masses were iso- (5/8) or low-density (3/8) in comparison with muscle. The MRI, which was obtained in one patient in this study, showed that the mass was iso-signal intensity on T1-weighted images and iso-signal intensity on T2-weighted images compared to the gray matter of the brain. On the post-contrast CT images, there was homogenesous (n=12) or heterogeneous (n=4) enhancement, with mild (n=10), moderate (n=4), and marked (n=2) enhancement in the solid portions of the lesions. CONCLUSION: Although rare, granulocytic sarcomas arise in various locations in the head and neck area (most commonly in the orbit) in the form of well-demarcated, and mildly- and homogenously-enhancing masses with adjacent bony invasion.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Head ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Muscles ; Neck ; Orbit ; Palatine Tonsil ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma, Myeloid

No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Korea*

Whether immunosuppressive therapy may have beneficial effects in the treatment of IgA nephropathy remains controversial. ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor antagonist(AIIA) are suggested to reduce urinary protein excretion(Up) in patients with renal diseases. We therefore investigated the effects of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan on the proteinuria and renal function in patients with IgA nephropathy. AIIA reduced blood pressure in patients with hypertension, but there were no significant differences statistically before and after therapy. AIIA reduced Up after 1-4 months(2.8+/-1.1 to 1.1+/-1.0g/24h, p=0.001) and 7-13 months(2.8+/-1.1 to 1.7+/-0.6g/24h, p=0.017). There were no significant changes of serum creatinine levels after AIIA treatment. Cough or angioedema were not observed during AIIA treatment. In conclusion, AIIA may be useful in the treatment of patients with IgA nephropathy and proteinuria.
Angioedema ; Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists* ; Angiotensins* ; Blood Pressure ; Cough ; Creatinine ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Losartan ; Proteinuria ; Receptors, Angiotensin*

Ankylosis ; Arthroplasty ; Chin ; Chronic Pain ; Facial Asymmetry ; Humans ; Joints ; Molar ; Mouth ; Oral Hygiene ; Temporomandibular Joint