Dialysis News and Research

Latest Dialysis News and Research

Improving muscle mass benefits kidney disease patients

Kidney disease patients are healthier and live longer if they've beefed up their muscles, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest that patients may benefit from pumping iron or taking medications to boost their lean body mass.

14 Oct 2010

2010 edition of The AHLA/BVR Guide to Healthcare Valuation

Business Valuation Resources (BVR) and the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) are pleased to announce The AHLA/BVR Guide to Healthcare Valuation, 2010 Edition, edited by Mark Dietrich, CPA, ABV.

13 Oct 2010

Study examines restrictive strategy of RBC transfusion in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery

Use of stricter guidelines for the use of red blood cell transfusions for patients undergoing cardiac surgery was associated similar rates of death and severe illness compared to patients who received more transfusions, according to a study in the October 13 issue of JAMA. Another study in this issue of JAMA examines the variation in the use of blood transfusions for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

13 Oct 2010

Researchers develop new therapy to overcome tissue incompatibility in kidney transplantation

Donor kidneys can be successfully transplanted even if there is strong tissue incompatibility between donor and recipient. An interdisciplinary working group headed by Dr. Christian Morath, senior consultant at the Department of Nephrology at Heidelberg University Hospital (Medical Director: Professor Dr. Martin Zeier) and Professor Dr. Caner S-sal, head of antibody laboratory in the Department of Transplantation Immunology, showed in a study of 34 sensitized high-risk patients that the success rate in these patients was not different from the success rate of patients with a low immunological risk.

13 Oct 2010

ALung Technologies announces closing of $14 Million Series A financing round

ALung Technologies, Inc. today announced that the Company has closed a $14 Million Series A financing round. The investment will support ongoing clinical trials of the Hemolung™ Respiratory Assist System and its subsequent commercialization. The Company's Hemolung device is expected to help many patients with acute respiratory failure to avoid intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation.

11 Oct 2010

AngioDynamics reports 3% increase in net sales for fiscal 2011 first quarter

AngioDynamics, a leading provider of innovative medical devices for the minimally-invasive treatment of cancer and peripheral vascular disease, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2011 first quarter ended August 31, 2010 that were in line with the preliminary results reported on September 7, 2010.

7 Oct 2010

Lowering blood pressure may reduce risk of kidney disease progression

Keeping blood pressure at a low level in African-Americans with kidney disease may slow the progression of the condition in patients with proteinuria, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found in a national study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

7 Oct 2010

Affymax receives arbitration panel decision related to dispute against JNJ subsidiaries

Affymax, Inc. today announced that it has received a decision from the arbitration panel reviewing its dispute against certain subsidiaries of Johnson and Johnson (JNJ).

7 Oct 2010

New report focuses on management of renal anemia amongst dialysis, later stage CKD patients

BioTrends Research Group, Inc. recently published its TreatmentTrends: Renal Anemia in China report. This report is based on survey results from 150 nephrologists in clinical practice in China and qualitative interviews conducted with ten thought leaders in nephrology. The report examines the demographics of nephrology practice in China and focuses specifically on the management of renal anemia amongst dialysis and later stage chronic kidney disease patients.

7 Oct 2010

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

Amgen to present oncology portfolio results at ESMO Congress

Amgen today announced that results from several important studies from the Company's ncology portfolio will be presented at the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Oct. 8-12, 2010, in Milan, Italy.

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

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

Early diagnosis of interstitial cystitis can improve quality of life

October is interstitial cystitis (IC) awareness month and this year's campaign is dedicated to fighting discrimination.

5 Oct 2010

Merck to appeal against jury verdict in retrial of federal FOSAMAX case

Merck & Co., Inc. today said it will appeal a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that reduced the jury verdict from $8 million to $1.5 million but denied Merck's request for judgment in its favor or a new trial in the case of Boles v. Merck, a retrial of a federal FOSAMAX case.

5 Oct 2010

Merck's boceprevir Phase III studies for HCV to be presented at 61st AASLD

Merck today announced that final results from two pivotal Phase III studies of boceprevir, its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor, will be presented in oral plenary sessions at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), which is taking place from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 in Boston. Results for boceprevir in response-guided therapy strategies, which evaluated treatment durations shorter than current standard therapy, will be presented during the meeting.

4 Oct 2010

Characteristics that help dialysis centers achieve higher patient survival rates

Characteristics such as patient engagement, physician communication, and staff coordination may help to explain why some dialysis centers achieve higher patient survival rates than others, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).

4 Oct 2010

UCI awarded $10M grant to explore ways of preventing staph infections in people harboring MRSA bacteria

A UC Irvine infectious disease specialist has received a three-year, $10 million grant to explore the effectiveness of new methods to prevent staph infections in people who harbor MRSA bacteria when they're discharged from the hospital.

4 Oct 2010

DaVita announces $1.45 billion Senior Notes offering

DaVita Inc. announced today that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $1.45 billion principal amount of senior notes (the "Senior Notes").

1 Oct 2010