Dialysis News and Research

Latest Dialysis News and Research

New technique can reduce hemodialysis complications in kidney patients

Approximately two million people around the world regularly undergo hemodialysis - blood purification outside the body - as a result of kidney failure. This usually involves creating a dialysis fistula - a connection between an artery and a vein - in the patient's arm. However this causes complications in as many as 50% of patients, primarily related to changes in blood flow.

7 Dec 2012

University of Michigan to create National Kidney Disease Registry

The University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center will create a National Kidney Disease Registry to monitor kidney disease among America's veterans.

7 Dec 2012

Baxter enters definitive agreement to acquire Gambro

Baxter International Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gambro AB, a privately held dialysis product company based in Lund, Sweden, for total consideration of 26.5 billion SEK (approximately $4.0 billion USD at current exchange rates).

From Baxter International Inc. 5 Dec 2012

DaVita acquires Tulips Dialysis Centre; opens two new joint venture centers in Malaysia

DaVita, a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced the acquisition of Tulips Dialysis Centre and has opened two new joint venture centers in Malaysia.

3 Dec 2012

Tour DaVita helps raise $0.9M to support 2012 Bridge of Life

DaVita, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc. and a leading provider of kidney care services announced that its annual charity bike ride, Tour DaVita, raised $900,000 to support Bridge of Life—DaVita Medical MissionsTM in 2012.

1 Dec 2012

Coronary artery bypass grafting safe for dialysis patients

Among the two available procedures for opening blocked arteries surrounding the heart, one appears to be safer than the other for dialysis patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

30 Nov 2012

BMBF to provide EUR 1.3M to develop MRI using polarized substances

Over the past 30 years, magnetic resonance imaging has evolved into one of the most important imaging procedures in medical diagnostics. With a new approach based on the use of polarized gases and dissolved substances, it will in future be possible to produce even better quality images of the inside of the human body.

30 Nov 2012

Novartis to highlight key data from extensive oncology portfolio at SABCS and ASH meeting

Novartis will highlight more than 140 presentations on key data from its extensive oncology portfolio at the leading year-end scientific meetings devoted to hematology and breast cancer, demonstrating continued innovation in research and development efforts to advance the care of patients with cancer and rare diseases.

30 Nov 2012

Renal care provider Diaverum signs contract with Bureau Veritas to standardise ISO certifications

Diaverum, one of the world's leading renal care providers, has signed a contract with Bureau Veritas (BV) to standardise ISO certifications within the company. A pilot project has successfully been rolled out in Hungary and Poland earlier this year. In 2013 the ISO certification project will be expanded to an additional five countries in Diaverum.

26 Nov 2012

Medgenics’ EPODURE Biopump technology for EPO delivery receives U.S. patent

Medgenics, Inc., the developer of BiopumpTM a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, today announced a patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) protecting the use of Medgenics' EPODURE Biopump technology for delivery of erythropoietin (EPO).

22 Nov 2012

Decreased cognitive functioning associated with deterioration in kidney function

Decreased kidney function is associated with decreased cognitive functioning in areas such as global cognitive ability, abstract reasoning and verbal memory, according to a study led by Temple University. This is the first study describing change in multiple domains of cognitive functioning in order to determine which specific abilities are most affected in individuals with impaired renal function.

19 Nov 2012

Dialysis raises complication, mortality risk after general surgery

Long-term dialysis patients undergoing general surgical procedures have a significantly increased risk for postoperative complications and death within 30 days of surgery compared with their nondialysis counterparts, study findings show.

15 Nov 2012

Tolvaptan improves kidney health in polycystic kidney disease

A vasopressin V2-receptor blocker slows the increase in total kidney volume and decline in kidney function in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, report US researchers.

12 Nov 2012

New communication training could help nephrology fellows to discuss serious news with patients

Kidney specialists, or nephrologists, care for a medically complex population and frequently must discuss serious news with patients: giving a diagnosis of kidney disease, explaining the risks and benefits of treatments, and defining care goals at the end of life. Yet nephrologists do not routinely receive formal education on how to engage in these types of conversations.

9 Nov 2012

Tengion receives U.S. patent allowance titled ‘Isolated Renal Cells and Uses Thereof’

Tengion, Inc., a leader in regenerative medicine, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 12/617,721, titled "Isolated Renal Cells and Uses Thereof."

5 Nov 2012

Study highlights potential treatment that reduces kidney growth

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common genetic disorders, affecting one in every 1,000 people and responsible for up to ten percent of patients on dialysis worldwide. The disease is characterized by the development of cysts that lead to progressive kidney failure and necessitate dialysis or a kidney transplant in most patients aged around fifty. Moreover, the persistent cyst growth causes high blood pressure and painful complications.

5 Nov 2012

New information related to kidney transplantation

Three studies presented during the American Society of Nephrology's Annual Kidney Week provide new information related to kidney transplantation—specifically, the post-transplant health of kidney donors and the racial disparities faced by children in need of transplants.

3 Nov 2012

State of glycocalyx barrier indicates vascular risk in dialysis patients

The glycocalyx barrier – a mesh of proteoglycans and associated glycosaminoglycans present on vascular endothelium – is impaired in patients with renal failure, probably contributing to their predisposition to endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease, say researchers.

2 Nov 2012

Takeda, Affymax announce data from OMONTYS Phase 3 studies on anemia due to CKD

Affymax, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (TPUSA) today announced the presentation of post-hoc sub-group analyses of the EMERALD Phase 3 studies that evaluated OMONTYS (peginesatide) Injection, an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult dialysis patients.

2 Nov 2012

FibroGen announces presentation of FG-4592 Phase 2 data on anemia at ASN Kidney Week 2012

FibroGen, Inc., today announced that two abstracts relating to FG-4592, its oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) clinical candidate for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease, have been accepted for oral and poster presentations at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2012.

1 Nov 2012