Dialysis News and Research

Latest Dialysis News and Research

House passes bill that would allow 'paired' kidney donations

The House on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation (HR 710) to specify that "paired" kidney donations do not violate laws prohibiting compensation for organ donations, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.

11 Mar 2007

Kidney disease in children: common but treatable

"Kidney disease occurs more often than we think, but it is also more treatable than we used to think, especially when caught early," says Barbara Fivush, M.D., director of nephrology at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

8 Mar 2007

Botox for bladder problems

Pioneering medical research is going on at the University of Leicester into the use of Botulinum toxin - commonly thought of as a beauty treatment - for bladder problems.

8 Mar 2007

GenoMed discovers African gene

GenoMed has announced that it has found the "African gene," responsible for the much higher incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney failure among people of African ancestry than whites.

12 Feb 2007

Aprotinin use associated with an increased risk of death following CABG surgery

Aprotinin, a drug used for limiting blood loss in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, is associated with an increased risk of death during five years following the surgery, according to a new study in the February 7 issue of JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.

7 Feb 2007

New drug to treat kidney failure during septic shock

Research from Melbourne's Howard Florey Institute and the Austin Hospital has resulted in a drug to treat kidney failure during septic shock, which will be trialled at the Austin Hospital from mid-2007.

29 Jan 2007

Link between MRI contrast agent and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis

New research has shown a possible association between a popular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and the incidence of a rare disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with kidney disease, according to an editorial appearing in the March issue of Radiology.

28 Jan 2007

Specific gene found that protects some people with diabetes from severe kidney failure

A research team at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and the University of Heidelberg has proven that a gene protects some people with diabetes from developing severe kidney failure or "end-stage renal disease."

9 Jan 2007

Rational solution to debate over compensation for kidney donation

The debate over ethical concerns of financial compensation for kidney donation continues to spark controversy, but a discussion in the latest issue of American Journal of Transplantation proposes a practical solution.

19 Nov 2006

Use of subcutaneous injections of Epogen for dialysis patients could save Medicare $537 million annually

Administering the anti-anemia drug Epogen to kidney dialysis patients by subcutaneous injections rather than intravenously could save the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars annually, the Boston Globe reports.

24 Oct 2006

Incidence of kidney damage associated with coronary artery bypass surgery has increased significantly

The incidence of kidney damage associated with coronary artery bypass surgery has increased significantly over the past 16 years in the United States, but the rate of death from such damage has decreased significantly during the period, according to a new analysis.

16 Oct 2006

Built-in blocker - drug and antidote in the same molecule

In cases of serious side effects or overdoses of medications, it can be vital to have a fast-acting antidote on hand.

2 Oct 2006

One of the largest Japanese cardiovascular trials confirms angiotensin receptor blockade protects people who have a wide range of cardiovascular diseases

The first controlled large-scale intervention trial of angiotensin receptor blockade in Japanese patients has confirmed that the cardiovascular protective effects of the drug valsartan is greater than to those seen with other therapies giving the same level of blood pressure control.

5 Sep 2006

Women's health policy highlights

Highlights recently released from journal articles on women's health issues

24 Aug 2006

Herrin twins healthy, hungry and alert

The conjoined 4 year old twins separated last week after lengthy surgery are said to be healthy, hungry and alert, but apparently are not aware they have been separated.

15 Aug 2006

Drug trial fiasco induced immune system overload in patients

The doctors who treated six British men in a trial of a drug in March which went horribly wrong, say they believe the men suffered an immune system overreaction known as a cytokine storm.

15 Aug 2006

Twins breathing independently following lengthy separation surgery

According to hospital officials, the conjoined twins separated during lengthy surgery last week in Salt Lake City are now breathing independently.

14 Aug 2006

Conjoined twin sisters survive lengthy, complex surgery

A team of six surgeons in the U.S., after 25 hours of complex surgery have successfully separated four-year-old conjoined twin sisters.

9 Aug 2006

Researchers develop new technique using the abdominal cavity to deliver oxygen to assist ailing lungs

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have helped develop a technique in animal models for using the abdominal cavity to exchange gas, supplementing the function normally performed by the lungs.

8 Aug 2006

Diagnosis and referrals for kidney disease fall well short of need

Results of a national study of 304 U.S. physicians, in which "mock" patients' symptoms were presented for diagnosis, suggest that a sizeable percentage of primary care doctors probably fail to properly diagnose and refer patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

3 Aug 2006