Nephrology News and Research

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Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.

Rituximab shows promise against primary biliary cirrhosis

An open-label study of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody for human CD20, was shown to be safe in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) who had an incomplete response to the standard ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy, also known as Ursodiol.

3 Feb 2012

Anemia triples risk of dying within a year after having a stroke

Being anemic could more than triple your risk of dying within a year after having a stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.

3 Feb 2012

Silver as effective as leading chemotherapy drugs

The internet is awash with stories of how silver can be used to treat cancer. Now, lab tests have shown that it is as effective as the leading chemotherapy drug - and may have fewer side-effects.

3 Feb 2012

Frontal NIRS can help physicians monitor hospitalized stroke patients

A research team led by investigators at Mayo Clinic in Florida has found that a small device worn on a patient's brow can be useful in monitoring stroke patients in the hospital. The device measures blood oxygen, similar to a pulse oximeter, which is clipped onto a finger.

2 Feb 2012

Study finds wide variation in rates of diabetes across developing countries

Rates of diabetes vary widely across developing countries worldwide, according to a new analysis led by Dr. Longjian Liu of Drexel University's School of Public Health.

2 Feb 2012

New ultrasound can overcome challenges linked with kidney stone treatment

Just the mention of kidney stones can cause a person to cringe. They are often painful and sometimes difficult to remove, and 10 percent of the population will suffer from them. In space, the risk of developing kidney stones is exacerbated due to environmental conditions. The health risk is compounded by the fact that resource limitations and distance from Earth could restrict treatment options.

1 Feb 2012

OPN-305 may improve survival outcomes for kidney transplant patients

New research published online in the FASEB Journal details a new antibody, called "OPN-305" that may significantly improve survival outcomes for those receiving donated kidneys and other organs.

1 Feb 2012

State roundup: Iowa reconsiders lawmakers' benefits

Two bills introduced in the Iowa House last week would curtail benefits for lawmakers. ... House File 2118 also removes per diem and daily allowances from inclusion in lawmakers' pension calculations, but also requires members and employees of the General Assembly to pay a portion of their health-insurance premiums. That premium payment would have to be at least $100 a month.

1 Feb 2012

Majority of children can safely quit anti-rejection drugs after liver transplant from parents

Physicians at three transplant centers have found in a pilot study that a majority of children who receive liver tissue from a parent can eventually stop using immunosuppression (anti-rejection) medications safely. These drugs, which tamp down natural immune function, have been linked to a bevy of complications, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure.

1 Feb 2012

Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly receive FDA approval for Jentadueto to treat type 2 diabetes

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Jentadueto (linagliptin/metformin hydrochloride) tablets, a new tablet combining the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, linagliptin, and metformin.

31 Jan 2012

KineMed, Pfizer enter research collaboration on metabolic diseases

KineMed, Inc. today announced a non-exclusive research collaboration with Pfizer Inc. for the advancement of novel approaches towards metabolic disease, in particular Type II Diabetes.

30 Jan 2012

AMAG completes enrollment in Feraheme Phase III program for iron-deficiency anemia

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the completion of patient enrollment in the second of the company's two phase III studies that comprise its global registrational program for Feraheme (ferumoxytol) in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) who are not candidates for oral iron, regardless of the underlying cause.

30 Jan 2012

Inlyta receives FDA approval for treatment of advanced kidney cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Inlyta (axitinib) to treat patients with advanced kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) who have not responded to another drug for this type of cancer.

30 Jan 2012

Rapid discontinuation of prednisone after kidney transplant can help prevent side effects

Rapid discontinuation of the immunosuppressive steroid prednisone after a kidney transplant can help prevent serious side effects, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

27 Jan 2012

New system safe, effective in delivering CsA to organ transplant patients

A new system for delivering a drug to organ transplant patients, which could avoid the risk of harmful side effects, is being developed by scientists at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

27 Jan 2012

Study: Live liver donor transplantation safer than previously believed

People who donate a portion of their livers for transplant to a relative or friend whose liver is failing can generally expect to live long, healthy lives and recover safely from the donation surgery, Johns Hopkins researchers have found.

27 Jan 2012

Major surgery to donate a portion of liver does not interfere with long, healthy life

26 Jan 2012

Urological cancer experts to examine latest treatment, research findings at 27th Annual EAU Congress

International urological cancer experts will examine the latest treatment and research findings at the 27th Annual EAU Congress in Paris, France on 24-28 February 2012.

25 Jan 2012

Study shows important aspects of how sodium and potassium are regulated in the kidney

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a principal risk factor for heart disease and affects 1 billion people. At least half of them are estimated to be salt-sensitive; their blood pressure rises with sodium intake. New research shows important aspects of how sodium and potassium are regulated in the kidney.

24 Jan 2012

Chromosome aberrations happen in pairs when it comes to cancer

A healthy genome is characterized by 23 pairs of chromosomes, and even a small change in this structure - such as an extra copy of a single chromosome - can lead to severe physical impairment. So it's no surprise that when it comes to cancer, chromosomal structure is frequently a contributing factor, says Prof. Ron Shamir of the Blavatnik School of Computer Science at Tel Aviv University.

24 Jan 2012