Expression of Clusterin by Angiotensin II Infusion in the Kidney and the Heart of Rats

PURPOSE: Clusterin is a heterodimeric glycoprotein and its expression is related with tissue injury and apotosis. Angitensisn II(ANG II) is known to be associated with the progression of renal disease by inducing renal fibrosis and cell proliferation. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between ANG II and clusterin expression in the kindey and the heart. We also attempted to discriminate the effect of ANG II-mediated hypertension by experimenting with two doses of ANG II-one is high enough to cause hypertension, and the other is not. METHODS: Three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats received ANG II infusion by osmotic minipump at a dose of 50ng/min, 100ng/min and placebo infusion, respectively. After 7 days, their kidneys and hearts were harvested and underwent immunohistochemical staining, RT-PCR, and Western blotting of clusterin. RESULTS: There were no differences in body weight nor organ weight/body weight among the three groups. Blood pressures of control and low-dose ANG group were not changed throughout the study, but that of high-dose ANG group was increased significantly at day 3 and 7. Staining for renal clusterin was diffusely distributed over the cortex and medulla in all 3 groups, but the intensity of staining was different notably in the medulla of control group which showed stronger staining than the ANG II infused groups. Staining intensity was not significantly different between the low and high ANG groups in the heart and kidney. In the kidney, expression of clusterin mRNA and protein were decreased in low-and high-dose ANG groups compared with control. In the heart, expression of clusterin mRNA was decreased in the low- and high-dose ANG groups compared with control. CONCLUSION: We conclude that ANG II decreases clusterin expression in the kidney and heart regardless of systemic hypertension induced by ANG II.

Macroamylasemia in a patient with acute appendicitis: a case report

Macroamylasemia is a condition of persistent, elevated serum amylase activity with no apparent clinical symptoms of a pancreatic disorder. In Korea, however, no such case has been reported to date. We report a case of a 17-year-old female diagnosed with macroamylasemia and acute appendicitis. One day earlier, she developed epigastric and right lower quadrant abdominal pain. She was characterized by high level of serum amylase, but normal lipase. Amylase isoenzyme analysis demonstrated increased fraction of salivary type and follow-up amylase level was persistently increased. Immunofixation disclosed the macroamylase binding with an immunoglobulin, consisting of IgA and kappa chain. The patient was treated by appendectomy, and the abdominal pain subsided.

Association of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia and Allergy in Preschool Children / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: To clarify whether Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced respiratory infections are associated with allergic disorder. METHODS: We studied ninety-two preschool children with pneumonia who were hospitalized at the pediatric ward of Korea University Medical Center from December 1995 to June 1997. Patients who had evidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection(Group I) were compared with non-infected group(Group II) in terms of serologic parameters, ie, eosinophil count, total IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE levels and specific IgE(MAST). RESULTS: 1) Number of Group I was 46(male 23, female 23, mean age=3.4 years old), and that of Group II was also 46(male 29, female 17, mean age=3.4 years old). There was no age difference between two groups. 2) Total eosinophil count in Group I(185.0+/-179.3/mm3) was significantly higher than that of Group II(123.3+/-148.3/mm3)(P<0.05). 3) Total IgE in Group I(245.4+/-279.2IU/mL) was significantly higher than that of Group II(135.1+/-207.8IU/mL)(P<0.05). 4) Higher levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA were observed in the group I as compared to a non-infected group, but there were no significant differences between two groups. 5) Positive rates of specific IgE(MAST) in each group were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in preschool children is highly associated with allergy, and follow-up studies are expected to know the occurrence rate of allergic disease in children with a previous history of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

A Case of Primary Cutaneous Aspergillosis in a Leukemic Child / 대한소아혈액종양학회지

A 5-year-old boy developed painful erythematous indurated patch at vertex that rapidly progressed to central necrotic ulceration with peripheral granulation after chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cultures at the lesion sites demonstrated a fungus, Aspergillus niger, as the etiologic agent. No evidence of involvement of other organs or of systemic dissemination by Aspergillus niger was found. Surgical debridement was performed and the patient received treatment with intravenous Amphotericine B followed by oral itraconazole. No evidence of recurrent fungal infection was noted during several months of follow-up.