Kidney Transplant News and Research

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A kidney transplant is an operation where a healthy kidney from one person (the donor) is transferred to a person who has little or no kidney function (the recipient).

Low physical activity increases kidney transplant patients' likelihood of dying early

Low physical activity increases kidney transplant patients' likelihood of dying early, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The results suggest that patients need to exercise to fend off an early death.

4 Mar 2011

Racial and ethnic groups less likely to receive kidney transplants than others

Not all racial and ethnic groups have equal access to kidney transplantation, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The results indicate that the reasons for these disparities are varied and that more focused efforts are needed to address them.

3 Mar 2011

Organ transplant deaths investigated

Three women died within one week of each other after they received diseased organs in transplant procedures at the Austin and Royal Melbourne hospitals according to an ongoing inquest.

3 Mar 2011

New therapeutic strategy improves superior renal function after kidney transplantation

Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, together with 16 other transplant centers in Germany and Switzerland successfully tested a new therapeutic strategy that allows for superior renal function after kidney transplantation. The results were published online in the journal "The Lancet".

1 Mar 2011

Omni Bio to expand Type 1 diabetes Phase I/II trial from 15 to 50 patients

Omni Bio Pharmaceutical, Inc., an emerging biopharmaceutical company formed to acquire, license, and develop existing therapies for indications with substantial commercialization potential, has committed to expand its Phase I/II human clinical trial in recently diagnosed Type 1 diabetes patients from 15 patients to 50.

28 Feb 2011

Alexion joins EURORDIS, NORD and medical communities to observe Rare Disease Day 2011

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. joins the European Organization for Rare Diseases, the National Organization for Rare Disorders and families, governments, companies and medical communities around the world in observing the fourth annual Rare Disease Day today.

28 Feb 2011

Kidney transplant proposal - younger patients greater success

Soon kidney transplant recipients would be younger under a proposal being considered by the nation’s organ transplant network. This would replace the current ‘first-come-first-served’ system and is intended to provide better matches between the life expectancies of recipients and the functional life of donated kidneys.

27 Feb 2011

Study: More effective therapies needed for diabetes patients with ESRD

Despite significant advances in kidney care over the past 20 years, efforts to improve therapy for type 1 diabetes patients with kidney dysfunction remain unsuccessful, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The results suggest that more effective therapies are needed for these patients.

24 Feb 2011

Educational intervention may increase awareness about kidney transplant recipients' risk of developing skin cancer

Sharing printed educational materials about the risk of squamous cell carcinoma with kidney transplant recipients appeared to be effective at increasing skin self-examination and encouraging follow-up with a dermatologist to determine risk of cancer, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the June issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Feb 2011

Loyola forms new sixth research-focused transplant institute at LUHS

From the world's first successful kidney transplant to the first successful heart transplant performed in Illinois, Loyola University Health System has always been a pioneer in organ transplant research, education and clinical care.

21 Feb 2011

Québec-Transplant: 371 persons benefited from transplant in 2010

Thanks to 119 deceased organ donors, 371 persons benefited from a transplant in 2010. Unfortunately, there were also 46 deaths among people on the waiting list (compared to 58 in 2009), many of which could have been avoided. As of December 31, 2010, 1,241 people were registered on the single waiting list managed by Québec-Transplant.

19 Feb 2011

Patient on artificial heart receives heart and kidney transplant

Charles Okeke, the Phoenix husband and father of three, made headlines in May 2010 when he became the first patient in the U.S. to be discharged from a hospital with an artificial heart. With the latest technology, the "Freedom Driver," the man without a heart was able to resume his family life and to be free of the confines of a hospital room.

16 Feb 2011

U.S. FDA clears QMS Everolimus Immunoassay to prevent rejection in kidney transplants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it has cleared a test to help manage potential organ rejection in kidney transplant patients. The test, called QMS Everolimus Immunoassay, monitors the blood level of everolimus, a drug that helps prevent rejection in kidney transplants.

14 Feb 2011

Alexion fourth quarter net product sales of Soliris increases to $156.0 million

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. For the three months ended December 31, 2010, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported net product sales of Soliris® (eculizumab) of $156.0 million, reflecting strong additions of new patients, compared to $110.6 million for the same period in 2009.

10 Feb 2011

Pervasis' Vascugel granted Fast Track review status for prevention of hemodialysis access failure in ESRD patients

Pervasis Therapeutics announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track review status for Vascugel® for the prevention of hemodialysis access failure in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).

9 Feb 2011

New understanding of how host and foreign structures are distinguished by front-line defence mechanism

This week, the highly-respected US Academy of Sciences journal (PNAS) published an article describing how the first line of defence of the human immune system distinguishes between microbes and the body's own structures.

5 Feb 2011

How body's first line of defence distinguishes between microbes and own structures

4 Feb 2011

Isotechnika closes licensing deal with ILJIN Life Science to advance development of voclosporin

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. is pleased to announce that it has finalized the Development, Distribution and License Agreement with ILJIN Life Science Co., Ltd., previously announced on November 16, 2010. Isotechnika will now receive the license fee of US$4.5 million plus proceeds of US$2.375 million from ILJIN's purchase of its first tranche of Common Shares from treasury.

3 Feb 2011

Kidney transplant surgeon receives Loyola's Spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Award

Each year, Loyola University Health System presents its prestigious Spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Award to an employee who provides inspirational service to others in the spirit of the slain civil rights leader.

19 Jan 2011

Home dialysis as effective as hospital dialysis for patients with kidney transplant failure

Patients who must return to dialysis after a kidney transplant failure survive just as well on home dialysis as hospital dialysis, but few choose that option, according to new research by Dr. Jeffrey Perl, a nephrologist at St. Michael's Hospital.

14 Jan 2011