title: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography of neoplastic human renal tissues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The biochemical composition of human neoplastic and normal renal tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with nephrocarcinomas were examined: 24 samples, 13 from the nephrocarcinomas, 9 from the surrounding healthy parenchyma and 2 from the healthy cortex and medulla were extracted and analyzed by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRS yielded information on renal osmolytes, whereas HPLC disclosed the amino acid pattern of tissue extracts. Significant biochemical differences were found between normal and pathological renal tissues: the osmolyte content decreases dramatically in nephrocarcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm that many osmolytes are present in the healthy kidney, with a different distribution between cortex and medulla, and can be considered markers of a physiological renal function. The marked decrease of these osmolytes is typical of cancer. A detailed knowledge of the biochemical composition of human renal tissues is required for the use of diagnostic methods, like in vivo MRS, the reliability of which is based on the detection of molecular markers. Useful information can also be obtained from the study of the amino acidic fraction.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica G. Moruzzi, Università, v. Belmeloro 8/2, 40126, Bologna, Italy. matilde@ciam.unibo.it
authors.forename: Vitaliano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tugnoli
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reggiani
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beghelli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomaselli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trinchero
authors.forename: M Raffaella
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tosi
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis; D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001622:Betaine / Q000032:analysis; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005997:Glycerylphosphorylcholine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000032:analysis; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000737:chemistry; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000737:chemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008744:Methylamines / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000032:analysis; D013386:Succinates / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000596:Amino Acids; D008744:Methylamines; D013386:Succinates; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D001622:Betaine; D007294:Inositol; D005997:Glycerylphosphorylcholine; C005855:trimethyloxamine; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid