정신분열병에 대한 리스페리돈의 효과 및 안정성

이민수,김용구,김영훈,연병길,오병훈,윤도준,윤진상,이철,정희연,강병조,김광수,김동언,김명정,김상훈,김희철,나철,노승호,민경준,박기창,박두병,백기청,백인호,손봉기,손진욱,양병환,양창국,우행원,이정호,이종범,이홍식,임기영,전태연,정영조,정영철,정인과,정인원,지익성,채정호,한상익,한선호,한진희,서광윤 大韓神經精神醫學會 1998 신경정신의학 Vol.37 No.1

연구목적 : 본 시험의 목적은 임상시험 시작전에 연구자들을 대상으로 PANSS Workshop을 통하여 PANSS, ESRS에 대한 국내에서의 표준화 작업을 구축하고 새로운 정신병 치료제인 리스페리돈의 효과와 안정성을 재확인하여 리스페리돈 사용에 대한 적정화를 이루는데 있다. 연구방법 : 1996년 4월부터 1996년 9월까지 국내 39개 대학병원 정신과에 입원중인 혹은 증상이 악화되어 입원하는 정신분열병 환자 377명을 대상으로 다시설 개방 연구를 시행하였다. 1주일간의 약물 배설기간을 가진후, 리스페리돈을 8주간 투여하였고, 기준점, 1주, 2주, 4주, 그리고 8주후에 평가되었다. 용량은 제1일에는 리스페리돈 1mg씩 1일 2회, 제2일에는 2mg씩 1일 2회, 제3∼7일에는 3mg씩 1일 2회 투여하였다. 이후 환자의 임상상태에 따라 임의로 증량할 수 있으며, 최대 일일 16mg을 초과하지 않도록 하였다. 추체외로 증상을 조절하기 위한 투약을 허용하였다. 임상증상 및 부작용의 평가는 PANSS(Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), CGI(Clinical Global Impression) 그리고 ESRS(Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale)을 사용하였다. 연구결과 : 377명중 343명(91%)이 8주간의 연구를 완결하였다. 치료 종결시점인 8주후 PANSS 총점수가 20% 이상 호전된 경우를 약물 반응군으로 정의할때, 약물반응군은 81.3%였다. 리스페리돈에 반응하는 예측인자로는 발병연령, 이전의 입원 횟수, 유병기간이 관련 있었다. 리스페리돈은 1주후부터 PANSS양성, 음성, 및 일반정신병리 점수상에 유의한 호전을 보여 효과가 빨랐다. CGI의 경우도 기준점에 비해 1주후부터 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. ESRS의 경우, 파킨슨 평가점수는 기준점과 비교해 투여 1주, 2주, 4주후 유의하게 증가되었다가 8주후 기준점과 차이가 없었다. Dystonia 평가점수는 1주후만 유의한 증가를 보였으며, dyskinesia 평가점수는 유의한 차이가 없었다. 혈압, 맥박수의 생명징후 및 일반 혈액학 검사, 생화학적 검사, 심전도 검사에서 유의한 변화는 없었다. 결 론 : 이상의 다시설 개방 임상 연구를 통해 리스페리돈은 정신분열병 환자에서 양성증상뿐만 아니라 음성증상 및 전반적인 증상에도 효과적인 것으로 사료된다. 보다 명확한 평가를 위해서는 다른 항정신병약물과의 이중맹검 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각되며, 또한 장기적 치료에 대한 평가도 함께 이루어져야 하겠다. Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of Korean schizophrenic patients. Method : This multicenter open study included 377 schizophrenic patients drawn from 39 university hospitals. After a wash-out period of 1 week, the schizophrenic patients were treated with risperidone for 8 weeks and evaluated at 5 points ; at baseline, and 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. The dose was increased from 2mg/day(1mg twice daily) to 6mg/day(3mg twice daily) during the first week and adjusted to a maximum of 16mg/day over the next 7 weeks according to the patient's clinical response. Medication to control extrapyramidal symptoms was permitted. The psychiatric and neurological status of the patients was assessed by PANSS, CGI, and ESRS scales. Results : 343(91%) of 377 patients completed the 8-week trial period. Clinical improvement, as defined by a 20% or more reduction in total PANSS score at end point, was shown by 81.3% of patients. The predictors of response to risperidone were associated older age, shorter duration of illness, fewer previous hospitalization. Risperidone had rapid onset of action ; a significant decrease of the total PANSS and three PANSS factor(positive, negative, general), and CGI was already noticed at the end of first week. For the ESRS, parkinsonism rating scores were significantly increased until week 4 comparing with baseline. Dystonia rating scores were significantly increased until week 1, and dyskinesia rating scores were not significantly changed during the study. Laboratory parameters including vital sign, EKG, hematological, and biochemical values showed no significant changes during the trial. Conclusions : This study suggests that risperidone is generally safe and effective against both the positive and negative symptoms in our group of patients.

단기간의 저용량 Cytosine arabinoside 치료에 반응하였던 Down 증후군에 병발한 급성골수성백혈병 1례

김현수,이정호,이정찬,강정현,곽상혁,김철희,배광봉,김종숙,조덕연,김삼용 충남대학교 의과대학 지역사회의학연구소 1998 충남의대잡지 Vol.25 No.1

The incidence of hematologic disorders in patients with Down's syndrome is significantly increased, about 14∼30 - fold higher than in general population and includes neonatal transient abnormal myelopoieis and acute leukemias. The age of onset of leukemia in Down's syndrome is peaking first in the newborn period and then under 4 years of age. Down's syndrome with acute leukemia above the age of 20 is very rare and it's treatment oucome is unclear. The treatment of Down's syndrome with leukemia has been controversial because of toxicity and associated congenital cardiac and other abnormalities. But if treated adequately, children with Down's syndrome show a favorable response to anti-leukemia therapy. A 24-year-old man with Down's syndrome was first seen for the evaluation of anemia and thrombocytopenia. The peripheral blood morphology and bone marrow study revealed acute myelogenous leukemia, cytogenetic study of bone marrow showed trisomy 21. Beacuse of his sicioeconomic condition and medical abnormalities including deafness, visual loss, he was treated with low dose subcutaneous cytosine arabinoside(Ara-C) for 11 days. Complete remission was obtained after 37 days. The complete remission lasted for 5 months. He subsequently relapsed, and died 6 months later.

성인 IgA 신병증의 임상적 고찰

김영학,권용은,허경무,윤채중,김종인,김건영,배학연,정종훈 조선의대 1998 The Medical Journal of Chosun University Vol.23 No.1

자궁내막암 환자에서 복강경하 자궁적출술과 복식 자궁적출술의 비교 연구

김종혁,이상수,김천복,김대연,김용만,김영탁,목정은,남주현 대한부인종양 콜포스코피학회 2003 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.14 No.4

목적 : 자궁내막암 환자에서 시행된 복강경 수술의 임상적 결과를 평가하고 수술적 지표 및 재발률에 대하여 기존의 개복 수술과 비교하고자 하였다. 연구 방법 : 1997년 8월부터 2003년 11월까지 저자들은 임상적 병기 I기인 79명의 자궁내막암 환자에서 복강경하 자궁적출술과 골반 및 부대동맥 림프절 절제술을 시행하였다. 총 79명의 환자 중, 수술적 병기 I기와 II기로 판명된 74명의 환자를 연구 대상으로 하였다. 대조군으로는 같은 기간 동안에 개복수술을 시행한 환자중 복강경 수술군과 병기가 같은 168예를 선정하였다. 결과 : 평균 수술 기간, 수혈량은 양군에서 비슷하였으며, 평균 재원 기간은 복강경 수술군에서 유의하게 짧았다. 수술전후 및 만성 합병증의 발생은 개복 수술군에서 유의하게 증가되었으며, 획득한 림프절의 수는 복강경 수술군에서 유의하게 더 많았다. 복강경 수술군에서 1예, 개복 수술군에서는 2예에서 재발하였고, 2년 무병 생존률은 복강경 수술군과 개복 수술군에서 각각 97.5%와 98.6%으로 유의한 차이는 관찰되지 않았다. 결론 : 자궁내막암 치료로서 복강경 수술은 기존의 개복술을 대신할 수 있는 안전하고 효과적인 시술 방법이다. 개복 수술과 비교해 볼 때, 재발 및 생존율 면에서 차이가 없었지만, 향후 전향적이고 더 오랜 추적기간을 갖는 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다. Objective : To evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery and to compare surgical parameters and recurrence rate of these with those of conventional abdominal surgery in patients with endometrial cancer. Methods : From August 1997 to November 2003, we have performed 79 cases of LAVH (laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy) with or without lymph node dissection. Laparoscopic approach was adapted in patients with FIGO clinical stage I by imaging study. Of the 79 patients, 74 patients who were proved to be surgical stage I and II were enrolled in this comparative study. As a control group, We selected 168 cases for the laparotomy group of the same stages. Results : The mean duration of surgery, the amount of blood transfusion and hemoglobin chamges were similar in both the laparoscory and the convertional alparotomy group. The mean duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter in patients treated by laparoscopic surgery (10.2 vs. 15.5 days). The number of lymph node obtained was significantly higher in the laparoscopy group. Two year recurrence-free survival rates were 97.5% in laparoscopy group and 98.6% in laparotomy group (p=0.763). Conclusion : Laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of early stage endometrial cancer is safe and effective altematives in terms of perioperative complications. Overall and recurrence-free survival did not differ significantly in both groups however long term risk for recurrence and survival has yet to be defined.

항암제 처리한 백혈병 세포주에서의 Apoptosis 발현

김삼용,윤소현,김현수,김종숙,윤환중,김진경,조덕연 충남대학교 암연구소 1998 癌共同硏究所 硏究誌 Vol.2 No.1

The bcl-2 proto-oncogene encodes a 26 kD protein that promotes cell survival by blocking apoptosis. The bax protein is a member of the bcl-2 familly, now known to form heterodimers with the bcl-2 protein. The ratio of bax to bcl-2 is be critical in determining the fate of the cell in response to stimuli that can induce apoptosis. Extract of Pulsatilla Koreana (SB-31) showed promising antitumor activity in vitro with Topo I inhibitory action. In the present study, the relationship between apoptosis and the apoptosis related proteins, bcl-2 and bax were investigated in human leukemic cell lines HL-60, U-937 and CEM-CM3. All anticancer drugs(adriamycin, etoposide, camptothecin, SB-31) induced extensive apoptosis in HL-60, U-937 cells and CEM-CM3 cells. The expression of bcl-2 and bax protein were determined in cell lines by western blotting before and after incubation with anticancer drugs at different time points. 1) In HL-60 or U-937 cell lines, down regulation of bcl-2 and up-regulation of bax were found after incubation with ADR, VP-16 or camptothecin. 2) In HL-60 or U-937 cell lines, no significant change in bcl-2 or bax protein expression resulted after incubation with SB-31. 3) In CEM-CM3 cells, virtually no change was noted in bcl-2/bax expression after incubation with ADR, VP-16, camptothecin or SB-31. It is suggested that different leukemic cell lines use different pathways of apoptosis activation and a given cell may utilize different pathways of apoptosis activation in response to different cytotoxic agents.

당뇨병성 합병증을 가진 환자에서 혈중 Erythropoietin 농도

김동규,유기동,허광식,김상용,윤성호,조영신,권용은,김태원,김건영,정종훈,배학연 朝鮮大學校 附設 醫學硏究所 1998 The Medical Journal of Chosun University Vol.23 No.1

연구 배경 : 고혈당성에 의한 산화환원반응 이상(가저산소증)이 조절 되지않는 당뇨병의 특징으로 혈관과 신경 기능에 대한 진성 저산소증의 효과와 유사하며, 당뇨 합병증의 병태생리에 중요한 역할을 한다. 고혈당이 있는 인슐린 비의존형 당뇨병 환자에서 인슐린 수준이 정상이듯이, 빈혈이 있는 당뇨병 환자에서 EPO의 농도는 실제 혈색소 농도의 감소비율과 차이가 있을 것이라 추측된다. Friedman 등은 당뇨병성 합병증 원인 인자로 가저산소증(pseudohypoxia) 또는 저산소증(hypoxia)을 제기하였고 이런 인자들이 EPO의 상대적 또는 절대적 결핍에 의한 것임을 보고하였다. 방법 : EPO-Trac^(TM 125)I RIA kit을 이용하여 방사면역측정법으로 EPO 수준을 검사하였다. 전혈 3㎖을 5-10㎖ 시험관에 정맥 채혈하였으며, 용혈과 장기간의 보존을 위하여 원심분리를 즉시 시행하여 혈청을 영하 200C에서 냉동 보관 후 일괄적으로 검사 결과를 얻었다. 결과 : 1996년 9월부터 1997년 2월까지 조선대학교 부속병원 내과에 입원한 2형 당뇨병 환자 63례를 대상으로 하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1) 당뇨병성 합병증이 없는 군과 있는 군간의 혈색소, 혈중 EPO농도의 차이는 유의한 차이가 있었으며 혈색소의 감소율보다 혈중 EPO의 감소율이 더 높았다. 2) 당뇨병성 망막증의 유무에 따른 혈색소 농도의 차이는 유의한 차이가 없었으나 혈중 EPO농도는 유의한 차이가 있었다. 증식성군에서만 혈중 EPO의 감소비율이 혈색소에 비해 높았다. 3) 당뇨병성 신증의 유무에 따른 혈색소, 혈중 EPO농도는 유의한 차이가 있었고 혈색소 감소율에 비해 EPO농도의 감소율이 높았다. 신증의 중증도에 따른 혈색소, EPO의 차이는 미세알부민뇨군을 제외하고는 유의한 차이를 보였고 혈색소 감소율에 비해 EPO의 감소율이 더높았다. 4) 당뇨병성 신경병증의 유무에 따른 혈색소 농도의 차이는 유의한 차이가 없었으며 EPO농도는 유의한 차이를 보였다. 혈색소와 EPO의 감소비율은 비슷하였다. 신경병증의 중등도에 따른 혈색소와 EPO농도의 변화는 유의한 차이가 없었으나 stage 3에서는 혈색소감소율보다 EPO감소율이 더높았다. 결론 : 당뇨병성 합병증을 가진 환자에서 빈혈의 정도는 대부분 혈청 EPO치의 절대적 감소에 의함을 간접적으로 밝혀낼 수 있었으며 차후 더 많은 대상으로 비교 분석이 필요하리라 사료된다. Background: Hyperglycemic-induced redox(pseudohypoxia) imbalance is a characteristic feature of poorly controlled diabetes that mimics the effects of true hypoxia on vascular and neural functions and plays an important role on the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. As is true for apparently "normal" insulin levels typically found in NIDDM even in the presence of hyperglycemia, a "normal" erythropoietin level in an anemic diabetic subject may be disproportionally low for the actual red cell mass. Therefore, Friedman et al suggested that pseudohypoxia or hypoxia as an etiological factor of diabetic complications are due to absolute or relative erythropoietin deficiency Method: EPO-TracTM 125I RIA kit was used for the quantitative determination of erythropoietin(EPO) in serum by radioimmunoassay. An adequate sample of blood (3ml whole blood) was collected aseptically by venipuncture in a 5~10ml glass tube to yield a minimum of 400 L of serum per assay. The serum was promptly removed from the clot by centrifugation in order to avoid hemolysis. Then to increase its storage time it was frozen at -200C in a nonself defrosting freezer. Finally, tests were undertaken simultaneously Results We studied 63 cases with diabetes mellitus, who were admitted to Chosun University Hospital from September, 1996 to February, 1997 at the Department of Internal Medicine. We defined the control group, as diabetic patients who did not have anemia(<13mg/dl), diabetic complications(retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy) and the remainders were defined as the experimental group(we excluded anemic patients, who had secondary causes of anemia and diabetic patients with end stage renal disease)Data were as follow 1) The relationship of Hb and the 24hr urine protein between diabetic patients with and without complications significantly differed(p=0.02, < 0.001 respectively), but the Hb level was poorly related between diabetic patients with and without retinopathy(except in preproliferative, proliferative subgroups) and neuropathy. 2) Subgroups of patients with diabetic complications had higher 24hr urine protein than patients without diabetic complications, except stage I diabetic neuropathy 3) The EPO level was significantly different between diabetic patients with and without complications. 4) The correlation between EPO and Hb was significantly different, especially in diabetic patients with retinopathy and nephropathy according to severity of diabetic complications, compared with patients who did not have diabetic complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy. Conclusion: We know that anemia induced by diabetic complications is due to relative EPO deficiency than absolute EPO deficiency, and further evaluation and studies are needed on many cases in the future

냉동 제대혈 세포의 체외 증폭

김삼용,김철희,배광봉,김현수,박상준,김종숙,윤환중,조덕연 충남대학교 암연구소 1998 癌共同硏究所 硏究誌 Vol.2 No.1

Background : Cord blood(CB), which has no HLA restriction, is an alternative to bone marrow for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The use of cord blood, however, is limited by the number of progenitor/stem cells necessary to reconstitute the older child or adult. Therefore, ex vivo expansion of CB could have tremendous impact on diverse clinical settings. We studied the ex vivo expansion of isolated population of CD34_(+) cells from cryopreserved CB cells. Methods : CD34 cells were isolated from cryopreserved CB mononuclear cells. Purified cells were cultured with various combinations of hematopoietic growth factors including erythropoietin(EPO), stem cell factor(SCF), granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF), gra-nulocyte, macrophage-colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), 1L-3, and IL-6. After 7, 10 or 14 days of culture, the fold increases of colony-forming unit- granu-locyte, macrophage(CFU-GM), burst-forming unit-erythroid(BFU-E), colony-forming unit-mix (CFU-Mix), and high proliferative potential colony-forming cell(HPP-CFC) were evaluated. Results : Ten-day culture with the combination of EPO, SCF, G-CSF, IL-1β, and IL-3 resulted in a median of 60-fold increase of CFU-GM, which was greater than those with the combinations of less than 5 growth factors. The addition of IL-6 or GM-CSF to this combination did not enhance CFU-GM expansion. Ten-day culture was significantly superior to 7-day culture for CFU-GM expansion. Prolongation of culture to 14 days, however, revealed decreased expansion of CFU-GM compared to 10 days. BFU-E and CFU-Mix were expanded to 2~5 folds in 7-day culture with the combination of EPO, SCF, and G-CSF. Further expansion was not achieved in 10-day culture and colonies disappeared in 14-day culture. HPP-CFC was expanded to a median of 7.5 folds in 7-day culture with the combination of EPO, SCF, G-CSF, IL-1β, IL-3, and IL-6. Neither 10-day or 14 day-culture enhanced expansion of HPP-CFU. Conclusion : Cryopreserved cord blood cells maintain ex vivo expansion potential. In our system, 10-day culture with the combination consisting of EPO, SCF, G-CSF, IL-1β, and IL-3 seems to be adequate for hematopoietic progenitor/stem cell expansion from cryopreserved cord blood cells.

항암제 처리한 백혈병 세포주에서의 Apoptosis 발현

김삼용,윤소현,김현수,김종숙,윤환중,김진경,조덕연 충남대학교 의과대학 지역사회의학연구소 1998 충남의대잡지 Vol.25 No.1

The bcl-2 proto-oncogene encodes a 26 kD protein that promotes cell survival by blocking apoptosis. The bax protein is a member of the bcl-2 familly, now known to form heterodimers with the bcl-2 protein. The ratio of bax to bcl-2 is be critical in determining the fate of the cell in response to stimuli that can induce apoptosis. Extract of Pulsatilla Koreana (SB-31) showed promising antitumor activity in vitro with Topo I inhibitory action. In the present study, the relationship between apoptosis and the apoptosis related proteins, bcl-2 and bax were investigated in human leukemic cell lines HL-60, U-937 and CEM-CM3. All anticancer drugs(adriamycin, etoposide, camptothecin, SB-31) induced extensive apoptosis in HL-60, U-937 cells and CEM-CM3 cells. The expression of bcl-2 and bax protein were determined in cell lines by western blotting before and after incubation with anticancer drugs at different time points. 1) In HL-60 or U-937 cell lines, down regulation of bcl-2 and up-regulation of bax were found after incubation with ADR, VP-16 or camptothecin. 2) In HL-60 or U-937 cell lines, no significant change in bcl-2 or bax protein expression resulted after incubation with SB-31. 3) In CEM-CM3 cells, virtually no change was noted in bcl-2/bax expression after incubation with ADR, VP-16, camptothecin or SB-31. It is suggested that different leukemic cell lines use different pathways of apoptosis activation and a given cell may utilize different pathways of apoptosis activation in response to different cytotoxic agents.

The Effects of Publicly Disclosing the Corporate Sustainability Management Practices on Its Stakeholders' Satisfaction and Trustworthiness to the Corporations

Kim,Jong-Dae.Lee,Joong-Kyu.Kim,Yeon-Bok 한국상품학회 2012 商品學硏究 Vol.30 No.6

This study examined effects on stakeholder satisfaction and reliability and how stakeholders become aware of by disclosing sustainability management public activities being promoted or has been promoted by a corporate through empirical analysis. The study examined effects on satisfaction and reliability by examining level of awareness on growth index, profit index along with governance, risk management corresponding to economical activities and environment management, responding to climate changes, green products, green logistics corresponding to environmental activities and finally social contribution, human rights protection, consumer information protection, growth with partners corresponding to social activities out of sustainability management. The study also examined effects according to demographical characteristics and types of life styles. Subjects for study were employees of LG Household & Health Care a manufacturer of consumer goods, partners, institutional investors and consumers using Google Docs program and conducted surveys on 43 items and study period was from Nov 10 to 30 of 2011 through online. Hypothesis was verified using SAS statistics programfor empirical analysis and statistical methods applied was regression analysis and correlation analysis and variance analysis. The results fromthis study can be summarized as followings. First, the effects on stakeholder satisfaction by disclosing performance of sustainability management were analyzed as having positive (+) effects on stakeholder satisfaction by all factors of economical, environmental, social activities which are triple bottom lines of corporate sustainable activities. The study showed that the awareness on performance especially on environmental responsibilities affected greatly in stakeholder satisfaction. Second, the effects on stakeholder reliability by disclosing performance of sustainability management were analyzed as having positive (+) effects on stakeholder satisfaction by all factors of economical, environmental, social activities which are triple bottom lines of corporate sustainable activities. The study showed that the awareness on performance especially on social responsibilities affected greatly in stakeholder satisfaction. Third, the effects on stakeholder satisfaction and reliability on the awareness of performance of sustainability management according to the types of stakeholder did not show meaningful results. The awareness on performance of sustainability management was higher for employees than other stakeholders thus forecasted that satisfaction or reliability according to this would be high but could not find meaningful differences between stakeholder groups but showed higher satisfaction from shareholders and institutional investors. This is believed that the disclosure of sustainability management is required for institutions for analyzing, evaluating and making investments on corporate and providing information. Fourth, disclosed data on sustainability management was analyzed as having significantly positive (+) effects on third party verifications and reliability. The study showed that reliability on environment and social data was high. This is because there are hardly any reports on disclosed corporate environmental and social contributions and the contents were at the level of promotional materials by corresponding organizations while reports on sustainability management published by third party verifications were trusted more. Fifth, the relationship between stakeholder satisfaction and reliability on sustainability management showed no statistically meaningful results between two groups after analyzing satisfaction and reliability between groups with high interest and low interest in sustainability management. The effects on stakeholder satisfaction and reliability on the awareness and the interest on performance of sustainability management showed that the interest on sustainability management has no meanin

Curcumin ameliorates cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats

Kim, Kyeong Seok,Lim, Hyun-Jung,Lim, Jong Seung,Son, Ji Yeon,Lee, Jaewon,Lee, Byung Mu,Chang, Seung-Cheol,Kim, Hyung Sik Elsevier 2018 Food and chemical toxicology Vol.114 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd) causes remarkable damage to the kidneys, a target organ of accumulated Cd after oral administration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of curcumin against Cd-induced nephrotoxicity. Sprague–Dawley male rats were divided into the following four treatment groups: control, curcumin (50 mg/kg, oral), CdCl<SUB>2</SUB>, (25 mg/kg, oral), and pre-treatment with curcumin (50 mg/kg) 1 h prior to the administration of CdCl<SUB>2</SUB> (25 mg/kg, oral) for 7 days. At 24 h after the final treatment, the animals were killed, and the biomarkers associated with nephrotoxicity were measured. Our data indicated that blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr) levels were significantly reduced by curcumin pre-treatment in CdCl<SUB>2</SUB>-treated animals. Histopathological studies showed hydropic swelling and hypertrophy of the proximal tubular cells in the renal cortex after Cd treatment. Pretreatment with curcumin ameliorated the histological alterations induced by Cd. The urinary excretion of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1), osteopontin (OPN), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and netrin-1 significantly reduced by curcumin treatment compared to that in the CdCl<SUB>2</SUB>-treated group. The administration of curcumin provided a significant protective effect against Cd-induced nephrotoxicity.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Curcumin protects against cadmium-induced renal injury. </LI> <LI> Curcumin reduces urinary excretion of AKI biomarkers. </LI> <LI> Curcumin protects against cadmium-induced apoptosis in the kidney. </LI> </UL> </P>