Kidney News and Research

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Podocytes key to development of kidney failure in diabetes

Diabetes is the leading reason for kidney failure in the world, resulting in patients requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. New research has found a cell in the kidney called the podocyte could be the key to understanding why this happens.

6 Oct 2010

Insulin-sensitizing drugs may offer new treatments for kidney failure

Evidence reported in the October issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, offers a completely new explanation for why people with diabetes account for more than half of all patients requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. It appears that insulin has a significant influence on the structure and proper function of a particular group of very specialized cells, known as podocytes, that are integral to the kidney's ability to do its job filtering blood.

6 Oct 2010

ADRCs cells improve survival in acute kidney injury animal model

Preclinical data was published today on research performed by Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CYTX) showing adipose (fat)-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs), either fresh or banked, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in animal survival and kidney function in an acute kidney injury animal model.

6 Oct 2010

EU called upon to tackle problem of chronic non-communicable diseases

Members of the European Parliament are calling on the Presidency of the EU and Member States to tackle urgently the problem of chronic non-communicable diseases that are responsible for 86% of all deaths in the WHO European Region. Their call is supported by an alliance of European health professionals, including ECCO - the European CanCer Organisation - and ESMO - the European Society for Medical Oncology.

5 Oct 2010

FMCNA offers annual flu vaccine to patients and clinical staff

Beginning in mid-October, Fresenius Medical Care North America will offer all of its patients and clinical staff an annual flu vaccine, which protects against both seasonal flu and H1N1 this year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) cautions that it is likely that H1N1 will continue to spread along with seasonal viruses this flu season.

5 Oct 2010

Human growth hormone can treat cystic fibrosis symptoms

Human growth hormone can be used successfully to treat some symptoms of cystic fibrosis, but its impact on the disease itself remains unknown, according to a new report funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

5 Oct 2010

FDA clears DFine's new percutaneous radiofrequency ablation device for metastatic spinal lesions

DFine, Inc., developer of minimally invasive solutions for the treatment of vertebral pathologies, announced today the 510(k) clearance of a new platform extension indicated for the palliative treatment of cancer patients. The product, a percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) device, provides localized tumor necrosis of vertebral body lesions where metastatic disease has spread to the spine causing severe pain and discomfort.

4 Oct 2010

Single-incision, robot surgery at UT Southwestern helps fix congenital narrowing of ureters

A stabbing pain in Cameron Giammalva's abdomen came on so suddenly one day during his freshman year of college that he and his friends mistook it for appendicitis.

4 Oct 2010

AVEO Pharmaceuticals to present tivozanib Phase 2 study results at IKCS Symposium

AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing cancer therapeutics, today announced that previously reported results from its Phase 2 study evaluating tivozanib for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) will be presented at the Ninth International Kidney Cancer Symposium (IKCS) in Chicago, Illinois, October 1-2, 2010.

4 Oct 2010

Look AHEAD intervention program improves risk factors in obese, type 2 diabetic patients

An intensive lifestyle intervention program designed to achieve and maintain weight loss improves diabetes control and cardiovascular disease risk factors in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to four-year results of the Look AHEAD study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The results are published in the Sept. 27, 2010, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

4 Oct 2010

NIH awards Scripps Research grants to study the mechanisms of protein complex

For Immediate Release -Scripps Research Institute scientists have been awarded approximately $65 million in four five-year grants as part of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) latest round of structural biology funding. The projects will focus on determining the shapes and functions of proteins and protein complexes that are important in biology and medicine.

4 Oct 2010

Argos' AGS-003 in combination with sunitinib demonstrates favorable PFS for renal cell carcinoma

Argos Therapeutics announced that its Arcelis immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), AGS-003, demonstrated favorable progression-free survival (PFS) and safety in combination with sunitinib, based upon updated results from an ongoing Phase 2 trial.

1 Oct 2010

RN expert provides an overview on healthcare quality measurement

Students at Louisiana State University today heard an executive with Baton Rouge-based Amedisys talk about how quality is measured in health care and why it should matter to all Americans. Amedisys is the largest home health care and hospice company in the U.S., providing care to more than 35,000 patients every day.

1 Oct 2010

South Asian ethnicity is a risk factor for cardiovascular events after renal transplantation

Ethnicity is a contributing risk factor of cardiovascular problems in kidney recipients of South Asian origin post-transplant, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

1 Oct 2010

APhA urges consumers to discuss proper medication usage with pharmacists

In honor of American Pharmacists Month, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) encourages consumers to hold an open dialogue with their pharmacists about a growing problem in the United States, the proper usage of and adherence to medications.

1 Oct 2010

Tengion presents Neo-Kidney Augment development program at ISCT Symposium

Tengion, Inc. presented new research data yesterday in a podium presentation at the 2nd Annual Symposium on Stem Cell Translation of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) in San Francisco. The presentation highlighted new results from Tengion's Neo-Kidney Augment development program demonstrating success with an autologous cellular therapy approach to kidney regeneration in a rodent model of obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

30 Sep 2010

Researchers identify biomarker to predict tivozanib drug resistance

Researchers believe there may be a way to predict, based on individual tumors, those patients that are more likely to respond to the investigational new drug tivozanib.

29 Sep 2010

Research: SorCS1 gene is linked to Alzheimer's disease, Type 2 diabetes

A research team led by Mount Sinai School of Medicine has identified the mechanism behind a single gene linked to the causes of both Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes.

29 Sep 2010

Bayer’s new oral contraceptive receives FDA approval

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new oral contraceptive, Beyaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol / levomefolate calcium tablets and levomefolate calcium tablets).

28 Sep 2010

Researchers find no link between dialysis treatments and cardiac symptoms

Dialysis treatments do not affect the heart health of kidney disease patients who have had a heart attack, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). Since cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in kidney disease patients, the findings are good news for individuals who need the treatments.

27 Sep 2010