Articles tagged with Kidney
A new $5 million NIH grant will investigate the effects of a genetic variation on kidney transplant outcomes in African American donors. The study aims to improve matching of donor kidneys with recipients and extend post-transplant kidney function.
Researchers found that adding healthy bacteria like Lactobacillus can reduce disease symptoms in female mice with lupus. The study suggests that a 'leaky gut' condition may contribute to the disease, and testosterone suppression may affect probiotic effects.
Researchers at UW Medicine have developed mini-kidney organoids that can track the early stages of polycystic kidney disease. By manipulating the micro-environment, they found that cyst formation can be increased or decreased.
A study found a linear relationship between air pollution levels and the risk of experiencing kidney function decline and developing kidney disease or failure. The results suggest that particulate matter above the EPA's recommended limit is associated with new cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine and VA St. Louis Health Care System found that breathing dirty air may harm kidneys. The research analyzed data on nearly 2.5 million people over 8.5 years, concluding that high levels of particulate matter increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and failure.
The UCLA-led study highlights the success of the kidney voucher program, which enables individuals to donate a kidney now and prioritize family members for future transplants. The program has led to 25 lifesaving transplants across the US, thanks to the altruistic donations of living donors.
Researchers discovered the GREB1L gene associated with renal agenesis, a hereditary condition causing one or no kidneys. The finding enables early detection of the disorder, providing relief to families.
A study found that individuals with chronic kidney disease who experienced high sleep fragmentation were at elevated risk of developing kidney failure. Higher sleep fragmentation and shorter sleep duration were also linked to steeper declines in kidney function over time. Subjectively measured daytime sleepiness was associated with an ...
A new research network, led by CHOP and Penn Medicine, aims to identify strategies to prevent kidney stone recurrence. The PUSH study tests personalized fluid goals, financial incentives, and health coaching to reduce stone recurrence over a two-year period.
A new study finds that sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral therapy is safe and effective in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The treatment improved kidney function in stage 3 patients after cure, suggesting a potential therapeutic option for CKD patients with HCV.
Researchers found that high levels of suPAR are a reliable predictor of kidney damage in children, similar to adults. The protein is associated with increased risk of kidney loss and progression in children with mild to moderate kidney disease.
Researchers discovered that a particular receptor in kidney cells plays a crucial role in obesity-induced kidney damage. Targeting this receptor or its associated signaling pathway may help protect the kidneys of individuals with obesity from structural and functional changes, thereby reducing the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Researchers use MRI elastogram to measure kidney scarring and predict future kidney function within one year. The test detects high variability in scarring throughout the entire organ and is comparable to traditional needle biopsies.
A cancer drug called bosutinib showed promise in slowing cyst growth in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The study found a 66% reduction in kidney enlargement for those receiving bosutinib compared to placebo.
A recent study of healthy young adults found no association between marijuana use and change in kidney function over time or albumin in the urine. Further research is needed to assess the effects of marijuana on older adults and patients with kidney disease.
A new analysis suggests that targeted educational interventions can improve living kidney donation rates. The study found significant benefits from educating both the potential recipient and their close social network, highlighting a promising approach to increase living donor kidney transplantation.
A study found that individuals with poor kidney function had a higher risk of developing lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and sepsis. The relative proportion of these infections increased as kidney function decreased.
A research team at Lund University has discovered that gene expression in normal tissue varies depending on the location within the kidney. This variation affects the accuracy of comparisons between tumour cells and healthy tissue, leading to a better understanding of kidney cancer subtypes.
A new approach to assess renal function in term newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy identifies early stages of AKI. Approximately 69% of infants did not develop kidney failure, while 19% showed a slower serum creatinine decline rate matching those with established AKI.
The study found that individuals with kidney disease have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The risk increased step-wise with decreasing kidney function, and the link held even after accounting for other factors such as cardiovascular health.
Researchers at Osaka University developed a non-invasive imaging technique to detect kidney damage and predict chronic kidney disease in diabetic patients. The method uses diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) to identify specific regions of the kidney with abnormal fluid dynamics, offering a promising approach to prevent kidney disease progression.
Researchers found that treating patients with IdeS drug before transplantation significantly reduced donor-specific antibodies, allowing successful kidney transplants. The enzyme, produced by Streptococcus pyogenes, can remove organ-rejecting antibodies, making kidney transplantation possible.
Charuhas Thakar, a leading expert on acute kidney injury (AKI), has addressed the treatment challenges of AKI as a guest editor for the Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease Journal. Thakar emphasizes the need to view AKI not only as a patient-centric issue but also as a systems quality issue that affects the entire healthcare system.
A study found that steroid treatment for IgA nephropathy was associated with a significantly higher risk of serious adverse events, primarily infections. The trial was stopped early due to an unexpectedly high rate of serious infections and two deaths.
A study found that US transplant centers rejected donated kidneys a median of 7 times before accepting them for transplantation. The rejections varied by patient and donor characteristics, contributing to racial and ethnic disparities in access to kidney transplants.
A study published in BMC Nephrology found that patients receiving non-renal solid organ transplants are at a higher risk of death due to acute kidney injury. The research suggests that reducing AKI-D diagnoses can improve health outcomes and reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system.
A new study reveals that patients discharged home from the emergency department with acute kidney injury (AKI) are at an increased risk of dying within 30 days. Patients with moderate-to-severe AKI have a higher risk of death, emphasizing the need for close follow-up and repeat kidney function testing.
Researchers have developed a method to quickly diagnose preeclampsia, which affects 5% of pregnancies and is linked to elevated fetal hemoglobin levels. The findings may lead to better diagnostics and treatments for affected women.
Researchers identified potential kidney damage from aggressive blood pressure treatments in mice and patients with high blood pressure. The study found that blocking renin cells, which are sometimes targeted in treating high blood pressure, can cause obstructive vascular lesions in the kidneys.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a new statistical model to estimate kidney function in cancer patients, improving chemotherapy dosing accuracy. The model reduces errors from over 20% to 11.7% compared to existing methods.
A recent study found that biopsy tests had no impact on kidney function after transplantation from living donors, but did influence outcomes with deceased donor kidneys. Despite this, nearly 20% of organs are still being discarded in the US due to suboptimal biopsy results.
The DYNAMO study aims to identify genes and processes involved in diabetic kidney disease, with the goal of reducing DKD by 30% in Singapore within five years. The research collaboration will utilize multiple experimental approaches to develop new treatments for kidney complications from diabetes.
Patients with acute heart failure and diabetes show unique signs of kidney health and inflammation compared to those without diabetes. Different treatment strategies may be needed for diabetic patients with acute heart failure due to these differences.
Researchers found that high suPAR protein levels combine with common genetic mutation to trigger disease onset and define rate of progression. The study used large cohorts of black patients with genetic risk factors for chronic kidney disease and found that plasma suPAR levels predict renal function decline.
Targeting a systolic blood pressure of <120 mm Hg reduced cardiovascular events and premature death in CKD patients, but slightly accelerated kidney function decline. The benefits were observed across all age groups within the CKD subgroup.
Researchers developed a calculator estimating graft survival after kidney transplant from living donors, accounting for mismatches in age, sex, HLA, and body size. The tool is particularly useful for kidney paired donation, allowing candidates to compare estimated graft survival with different potential donors.
The new UNOS system reduced disparities in national kidney transplant rates for blacks and Hispanics, with significant increases in transplant rates for these groups after implementation. However, disparities may return if the most disadvantaged patients are cleared from the list.
A study by Loyola Medicine found that 0.09% of patients who underwent urologic surgery were diagnosed with opioid dependence or overdose (ODO) within a year. Patients at highest risk for ODO were younger, had longer hospital stays, and were on Medicaid or Medicare.
A new study finds that accepting a kidney from a deceased diabetic donor can improve survival rates for sicker patients, with a nearly 10% improvement in long-term survival. Patients over 40 or with existing diabetes may benefit most from transplantation with diabetic donor kidneys.
Receiving donor kidneys from individuals with diabetes offers a greater survival benefit than remaining on the waitlist for many transplant candidates. Patients at high risk of dying while on the waitlist and those at centers with long wait times may benefit the most from transplantation with kidneys from diabetic donors.
A new study has identified various medical diagnoses that may elevate an individual's risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) while in the hospital. AKI is often associated with medical or surgical conditions that deprive the kidneys of normal blood flow, and previous studies have only identified certain risk factors.
A team of researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute has successfully engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells into mature podocytes with over 90% efficiency, paving the way for modeling patient-specific kidney diseases and guiding therapeutic discovery. The development of a functional human kidney glomerulus chip opens up new expe...
Researchers at UVA Health System discover that a single type of stem cell turns into both blood and heart tissue, shedding light on cause of ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy. The S1P1 gene is vital for proper heart formation.
A new study analyzed 21,380 nephrectomies and found the 30-day mortality rate to be only 0.5%. Established risk factors were confirmed, with old age, co-morbidities, significant blood loss, and advanced stage of disease identified as major contributors.
Researchers developed a technique using multimodal autofluorescence and light scattering to evaluate kidney function after ischemic injury. The study suggests that variations in tissue microstructure, fluorophore emission, and blood absorption spectral characteristics contribute to the behavior of recorded signals.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has been awarded a five-year, $11.2 million Program Project Grant to study the renal control of sodium and salt balance. The research aims to understand how the body regulates salt intake and its impact on blood pressure regulation.
A novel treatment has been successfully used to treat patients with a rare disorder that causes kidney failure, allowing targeted elimination of abnormal proteins and improving kidney function. The treatment, Daratumumab, targets plasma cell clones in the bone marrow, offering a new way to specifically treat the problem.
Researchers have developed a novel fruit fly model of kidney cysts, enabling the deciphering of biochemical pathways in polycystic kidney disease and cancer. The findings will help identify new treatment targets and methods for certain kidney diseases and cancers.
Researchers at Indiana University identified a therapy that rapidly restores blood flow in the organ, reduces inflammation and improves overall kidney function after acute kidney injury. The therapy has the potential to eliminate the need for dialysis treatment.
Ten patients at Penn Medicine have been cured of Hepatitis C following kidney transplants from HCV-infected donors. The study demonstrates the potential for increasing organ supply and may open up new transplant options for hundreds more patients.
Researchers developed a risk calculator to estimate long-term risks of developing kidney failure in living kidney donors. The study found that black donors and older male donors were at higher risk, while younger black candidates should be carefully evaluated.
A new study published in Oncoimmunology suggests that kidney dysfunction in cancer patients can be triggered by the immune system's response to the tumor. Researchers identified neutrophils as a key player in this process, which can lead to impaired blood flow and inflammation in organs like the kidneys.
Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have found that healthy individuals with diabetes develop protective enzymes against damage from high blood sugar levels. The researchers identified an enzyme called PKM2 and showed that activating it can stop abnormalities in mouse podocytes and delay diabetic kidney disease progression.
Researchers discovered a protein cocktail in urine that can distinguish between viral infection and organ rejection. The new test may enable early detection of transplant failure, improving outcomes for patients.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects one-third of the population, with 9 out of 10 people unaware of their condition. The Global Kidney Health Atlas highlights gaps in care and prevention worldwide, with many countries not prioritizing kidney health.
A novel dietary supplement has been shown to reverse cellular damage caused by specific genetic mutations in the kidneys of transgenic fruit flies. The study provides a personalized model for testing novel therapies for rare diseases such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), which currently lack treatment options.
A new study published in JCI Insights reveals that increasing SMOC2 levels in the kidney can initiate and continue kidney fibrosis, while reducing SMOC2 levels prevents it. Detecting SMOC2 in urine may help diagnose fibrosis, making it a potential biomarker for early intervention.
A recent study examines how new kidney specialists feel their training has prepared them to care for patients, highlighting areas for improvement in nephrology fellowship structure and content. The findings suggest that fellows may be underprepared for home dialysis modalities and emphasize the need for more education in core nephrolog...
A new noninvasive imaging test, sestamibi SPECT/CT, has been shown to accurately rule out kidney cancers. The test adds diagnostic information to conventional CT and MRI scans, improving physicians' ability to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors.
A new analysis reveals that by 2013, cardiovascular deaths due to reduced kidney function surpassed kidney failure deaths globally. Maintaining kidney health may help prevent cardiovascular diseases and deaths. The study found that reduced kidney function increases the risk of congestive heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes.