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.

Smoking is common among young adults and children with diabetes, raises risk of heart disease

Cigarette smoking is widespread among children and young adults with diabetes yet few health care providers are counseling children and young adults with diabetes to not smoke or stop smoking, according to a new report from the SEARCH Study Group, published online in the Journal of Pediatrics.

7 Dec 2010

Study: Mixing exenatide with insulin provides better blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes patients

A new study finds that combining the newer diabetes drug exenatide with insulin provides better blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes than insulin alone and helps promote weight loss.

7 Dec 2010

New analysis of Soliris in patients with PNH presented at ASH Annual Meeting

Independent investigators reported today that patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria who were treated long-term with Soliris (eculizumab) achieved survival comparable to that of an age- and gender-matched normal population. Findings from this investigator-led analysis were reported in an oral presentation today at the 52nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando.

7 Dec 2010

Study: REVLIMID and dexamethasone for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma reduce risk of disease progression

Celgene International Sàrl (NASDAQ: CELG) announced that data evaluating combination therapy REVLIMID® (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone in patients with high-risk asymptomatic smoldering multiple myeloma were presented during the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting. The study reported REVLIMID and dexamethasone prolonged time to progression.

6 Dec 2010

New approach to biomarker detection for early lung cancer diagnosis

Even with astounding advances in genomic science, genetic analysis of disease remains largely a measure of risk rather than actual disease state. A truer and more immediate measure of health can be obtained by analysis of proteins, especially those that are biomarkers of disease state.

2 Dec 2010

Advent of HAART leads to decrease in mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS

During the decade since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), or 1996-2006, mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) sharply decreased in the United States. So, too, did the percentages of PLWHA deaths attributable to AIDS-defining illnesses, just as there was a marked increase in the percentage of deaths attributable to heart, kidney, and liver disease.

2 Dec 2010

New pilot program to honor registered organ donors

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the New York Organ Donation Network today announced the launch of a new pilot program to honor the wishes of registered organ donors and help save lives.

2 Dec 2010

Research may lead to new treatment strategies for Graves' disease

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified a compound that prevents overproduction of thyroid hormone, a finding that brings scientists one step closer to improving treatment for Graves' disease.

2 Dec 2010

ASH to host annual meeting for blood disorders at Orange Convention Center

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will host its 52nd annual meeting at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, December 4-7. More than 20,000 attendees are expected for this event, which will highlight emerging research trends in the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of blood disorders.

1 Dec 2010

Penicillamine challenge ineffective for detecting Wilson's disease in asymptomatic children

An Italian research team confirmed that the scoring system for Wilson's disease (WD) provides good diagnostic accuracy with 93% positive and 92% negative predictive values, respectively in children with mild liver disease. In asymptomatic children, a urinary copper excretion above 40 μg/24 hours was suggestive of WD, however the penicillamine challenge test (PCT) did not provide an accurate diagnosis in this patient subset.

1 Dec 2010

British Journal: Obesity, alcohol consumption may increase cancer risk

People should be warned that cancer is linked to obesity and alcohol, rather than urged to eat more fruit and vegetables to protect against the disease.

1 Dec 2010

Vitamin D supplementation may reduce risk of diabetes, heart disease: Research

Researchers from the UC Davis Health System have found that compared with healthy controls, blood levels of vitamin D are significantly reduced in patients in the Sacramento area with metabolic syndrome, a constellation of disease risk factors that affects about one in three U.S. adults and predisposes them to diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

1 Dec 2010

Living Donor Paired Exchange becomes first Canada-wide organ donation registry

Yesterday, the Living Donor Paired Exchange performed the first match run to include kidney patients and donors from all across Canada. In doing so, it became the first Canada-wide organ donation registry.

1 Dec 2010

Cordis to distribute OSTIAL PRO Stent Positioning System worldwide

Cordis Corporation has entered into a distribution agreement with Ostial Solutions for the worldwide distribution of the OSTIAL PRO Stent Positioning System™. The OSTIAL PRO™ is the world's first and only aorto-ostial stent positioning system for coronary and peripheral applications. The OSTIAL PRO™ is intended to optimize the treatment of patients who require a stent implantation for treatment for aorto-ostial blockages.

30 Nov 2010

Ikaria initiates enrollment in LUCASSIN Phase III trial for HRS Type 1

Ikaria, Inc. announced that it has enrolled the first patients in its pivotal Phase III trial for LUCASSIN® (terlipressin). The multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial is known as the REVERSE Trial.

30 Nov 2010

Are vitamin D and calcium supplements needed?

The IOM raised the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D from the amount cited in their last report, released 13 years ago. It said that although 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D or more each day is sufficient to maintain bone health in majority. But those aged 71 and older may need as much as 800 IUs daily, the IOM experts say. However 1997 recommendations advised 400 IUs per day for people aged 51 to 70 and 600 IUs per day for those over 70.

30 Nov 2010

Keryx announces positive top-line results from Zerenex Phase 3 study for hyperphosphatemia

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive top-line results from the Phase 3 short-term efficacy study component of its Phase 3 registration program of Zerenex (ferric citrate), the Company's ferric iron-based phosphate binder for the treatment of elevated serum phosphorus levels, or hyperphosphatemia, in patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis.

30 Nov 2010

BioTrends releases annual syndicated publication of CKD-ND patient charts

BioTrends Research Group, Inc. released ChartTrends: Bone and Mineral Metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease Non-Dialysis (CKD-ND), an annual syndicated publication based on patient and laboratory data collected from over 1,000 U.S.

30 Nov 2010

New review from JASN highlights hazards of fructose

More and more people have become aware of the dangers of excessive fructose in diet. A new review on fructose in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) indicates just how dangerous this simple sugar may be.

30 Nov 2010

Majority of Americans and Canadians are getting enough vitamin D and calcium, says report

The majority of Americans and Canadians are getting enough vitamin D and calcium to meet their needs, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Most people up to age 70 need no more than 600 international units, or IUs, of vitamin D per day, and those 71 and older may need as much as 800 IUs, the report finds. The amount of calcium needed ranges, based on age, from 700 to 1,300 milligrams per day.

30 Nov 2010