Kidney Failure News and Research

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IU scientists successfully transplant primary kidney cells intravenously to treat renal failure

Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have successfully transplanted primary kidney cells intravenously to treat renal failure in rats, pointing the way to a possible future alternative to kidney transplants and expensive dialysis treatments in humans.

1 Jun 2012

Studies outline dilemmas on new generic heart drugs, hormone replacement therapy

One heart drug's move to generic status has complicated treatment options for some patients and doctors, the Wall Street Journal reports. Also, another study raises concerns about hormone replacement therapy in women.

30 May 2012

Spectrum initiates enrollment in RenaZorb Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in oncology and hematology, today announced the initiation of patient enrollment in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of RenaZorb in healthy volunteers.

29 May 2012

Intensive glycemic control not associated with reduced risk of kidney failure in type-2 diabetics

Yale School of Medicine researchers have found that intensively controlling glucose (glycemic) levels in type-2 diabetes patients may not reduce the risk of kidney failure. The study, which is a review of data from seven clinical trials, is published in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

29 May 2012

Peritonitis commonly arises in the weeks before many dialysis patients die

An infection called peritonitis commonly arises in the weeks before many dialysis patients die, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

25 May 2012

Zytoprotec completes PD-protec Phase I/II trial on kidney failure

Zytoprotec, a company developing drugs based on active cytoprotection, today announced the completion of a Phase I/II clinical trial with its lead product, PD-protec.

24 May 2012

Phase I/II clinical trial of novel dialysate completed by Zytoprotec

Zytoprotec, a company developing drugs based on active cytoprotection, today announced the completion of a Phase I/II clinical trial with its lead product, PD-protec™. The product is developed to improve the treatment of patients with kidney failure.

23 May 2012

“Networks” succeed in finding kidney donors: John Hopkins program reports

Johns Hopkins researchers say a program they developed that uses personal advocates and community networks to find organ donors for friends and loved ones who need kidney transplants resulted in success for nearly half of the participants in its trial run.

22 May 2012

PN kidney cancer surgery not being used for older, sicker and poorer uninsured patients

An increasingly common and safer type of surgery for kidney cancer is not as likely to be used for older, sicker and poorer patients who are uninsured or rely on Medicare or Medicaid for their health care, according to a new study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.

16 May 2012

World health statistics 2012 report puts spotlight on growing problem of NCD burden

The World health statistics 2012 report, released today, puts the spotlight on the growing problem of the noncommunicable diseases burden.

16 May 2012

Lenalidomide delays progression of multiple myeloma after stem cell transplant

Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer where the plasma cells in the bone marrow grow out of control, causing damage to bones as well as predisposing patients to anemia, infection and kidney failure. A medical procedure called autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, commonly known as a stem cell transplant, is frequently an important treatment option for many patients.

14 May 2012

A Better Method for Diagnosing Kidney Disease

Assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using kidney filtration markers in blood is the standard means for determining kidney function, diagnosing kidney disease and measuring its progression. A higher filtration rate indicates healthy kidney function, while a lower rate points to various stages of kidney disease. A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the new CKD-EPI equation for calculating GFR is a better predictor of risk for kidney disease and death compared to the most widely used method. The findings suggest that switching to the CKD-EPI equation for calculating GFR could focus efforts more efficiently, and improve assessment of patient future risk and treatment of kidney disease. The study is published in the May 9 edition of JAMA.

10 May 2012

CKD-EPI equation may provide more accurate risk prediction of death, ESRD

Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., principal investigator at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed), is the author of an invited editorial in JAMA. The editorial accompanied a study that included data from more than 1 million adults, and indicated the use of a newer risk prediction equation that classified fewer individuals as having chronic kidney disease and more accurately categorized the risk for death and end-stage renal disease.

9 May 2012

Hot water pasteurisation reduces amount of E. coli on meat

Following the E. coli case in Norway in 2006, when 17 people fell ill and one child died after eating mutton sausages, the meat industry introduced a number of measures in order to reduce the risk of food poisoning from meat. Clean animals and good hygiene during slaughtering are essential preconditions for food safety.

7 May 2012

Lexicon to receive funding for LX4211 Phase 2 trial in type 1 diabetes

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that an independent, non-profit organization will provide funding to support the Phase 2 development of LX4211 in type 1 diabetes.

4 May 2012

E coli detection in contaminated meat to be ‘sped up’ says USDA

The government is gearing up to speed up the process for tracking E. coli in meat, a move that will help authorities more quickly find the source of bacteria outbreaks and hasten recalls of contaminated food.

3 May 2012

Middle-aged and older adults with diabetes show substantial survival rates

Middle-aged and older adults with diabetes showed substantial survival rates in a new University of Michigan Health System study of retirees.

3 May 2012

Overweight and obese teenagers with diabetes may be difficult to treat: Study

According to a major study released Sunday, several ways to manage blood sugar in teens newly diagnosed with diabetes were tested. The researchers found that nearly half of them failed within a few years and 1 in 5 suffered serious complications. This is concerning since there is an epidemic rise of Type 2 diabetes brought on by obesity.

30 Apr 2012

Ramson leaves can be confused with poisonous plants

The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has assessed the possible toxic effects of eating ramson, which in recent years has become a popular plant to gather and eat in Denmark. As such, ramson does not contain any substances that are toxic for humans, but they can be confused with poisonous plants. In particular, before flowering, ramson leaves can be confused with autumn crocus and lily of the valley. Several cases of poisoning have been reported in other European countries with fatal consequences as a result of this confusion.

30 Apr 2012

Home-based dialysis more popular in developing countries

Researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute have discovered that developing countries have faster growing rates of use of home-based dialysis (called peritoneal dialysis) for kidney failure than the developed world. Despite home-based dialysis' reduced cost and better outcomes, developed countries (including Canada) are using this form of therapy less.

27 Apr 2012