Kidney News and Research

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Chemical found in medical devices impairs heart function

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have found that a chemical commonly used in the production of such medical plastic devices as intravenous (IV) bags and catheters can impair heart function in rats.

3 May 2009

Full kidney removal is not always the best treatment for small renal tumors

Nephron-sparing treatments, such as partial nephrectomy, thermal ablation and active surveillance, minimize these risks and are viable options for patients with early-stage (T1a) kidney tumors, according to a new clinical guideline issued by the American Urological Association (AUA).

30 Apr 2009

Research may bring drugs with triple the absorbing power and lower toxic risks

Drug makers might be able to triple the absorbing power of some medications and lower toxic risks of others, as a result of a study at the University of Maryland, Baltimore on how bile acids travel through the gut.

29 Apr 2009

Finding will improve accuracy of cancer diagnosis

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) investigators working in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic researchers have determined that two types of kidney tumors previously thought to be different diseases are actually variations of the same disease.

29 Apr 2009

Nanosensor arrays ''sniff out" cancer

In 2006 researchers established that dogs could detect cancer by sniffing the exhaled breath of cancer patients. Now, using nanoscale arrays of detectors, two groups of investigators have shown that a compact mechanical device also can sniff out lung cancer in humans.

27 Apr 2009

Cancer incidence, mortality, treatment and survival in Ireland

Survival rates for cancer are continuing to rise even though the number of cases being diagnosed is increasing, an all-Ireland report reveals.

26 Apr 2009

da Vinci robot-assisted technology when used for urothelial cancer of the kidney proves to be beneficial for patients

Robotic trained surgeons at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia presented a new and novel approach to surgically treat urothelial cancer (in the lining of the bladder or kidney) today at the American Urological Association's Annual Meeting.

26 Apr 2009

Predominant risk factors for first urinary tract infections in college-aged women

Increased sexual activity and alcohol consumption were associated with an increased risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs), and college-aged women experiencing urinary frequency or urgency should seek medical care to treat what may be their first urinary tract infection (UTI), according to new research presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA)

26 Apr 2009

Long-term complications for children fed with melamine contaminated products

Children with a history of consuming melamine-contaminated milk powder are at an increased risk of developing kidney stones and other urological complications.

26 Apr 2009

Patients with stone disease could benefit from drinking diet soda

New research from the University of California, San Francisco suggests that the citrate and malate content in commonly consumed sodas may be sufficient to inhibit the development of calcium stones. The study was presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).

26 Apr 2009

Change to Medicare reimbursement policy may pose risks to black kidney patients

A change in Medicare reimbursement policy could make it more difficult for African Americans with kidney disease to access dialysis services, suggests a study in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

23 Apr 2009

Knowledge unlocks key to healthier options for dialysis patients

Kidney disease patients who are educated about dialysis are more likely to undergo a standard but under-utilized dialysis-related procedure than less knowledgeable patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

23 Apr 2009

Surgeon removes a diseased kidney through the belly button

A surgeon at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago is one of the first in the Midwest to use a new surgical technique that requires only one small incision to remove a diseased kidney.

22 Apr 2009

Transplant physicians express serious concern about organ procurement practices in China

The globalization of health care and the growth of "transplant tourism" (traveling abroad to purchase donor organs and undergo organ transplantation) have outpaced the implementation of internationally accepted ethical standards for procurement of organs for transplantation.

22 Apr 2009

Lilly granted preliminary injunction to prevent launch of generic Raloxifene

Eli Lilly and Company has announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana today issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the launch of a generic version of Lilly's medicine Evista (raloxifene HCl tablets) by Teva Pharmaceuticals until the Court renders its final ruling.

22 Apr 2009

Genetics may help explain alcohol-related susceptibility and resistance

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to teratogenesis, the development of embryonic defects.

22 Apr 2009

Discovery of two important molecules that underlie the pathology of lupus, particularly kidney disease

Kidney damage associated with the autoimmune disease lupus is linked to a malfunction of immune cells that causes them to congregate in and attack the organs, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered in a mouse study.

22 Apr 2009

Scientists combine USB-based ultrasound probe technology with a smartphone

Computer engineers at Washington University in St. Louis are bringing the minimalist approach to medical care and computing by coupling USB-based ultrasound probe technology with a smartphone, enabling a compact, mobile computational platform and a medical imaging device that fits in the palm of a hand.

22 Apr 2009

Retooled chemotherapy agents for drug delivery may increase effectiveness

Researchers may have found a way to combine imaging with chemotherapy in a single agent for the treatment of prostate cancer, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 100th Annual Meeting 2009

22 Apr 2009

Remote or rural residence not associated with increased time to kidney transplantation

Contrary to what may be a common perception, researchers found no evidence that the likelihood of kidney transplantation is lower among remote- or rural-dwelling patients treated for kidney failure in the United States, according to a study in the April 22/29 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

22 Apr 2009