Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered that the same molecular mechanism that causes cancer cells to multiply also causes cysts to grow in patients with ADPKD, the most common form of Polycystic Kidney Disease. They found that the transcription factor STAT3 is activated by a mutated protein present in ADPKD patients. UCSB researchers are … Continue reading UCSB Researchers Discover Drug Target for PKD
Scientists Discover Role of PVT1 Gene in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, Arizona are shedding new light on the role of the PVT1 gene in reducing kidney filtration and causing diabetic kidney disease. They discovered that high blood sugar increases the rate of PVT1 gene expression, unleashing proteins associated with damage to the mesangial cells of the … Continue reading Scientists Discover Role of PVT1 Gene in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Research Breakthrough – Kidneys Grown in Lab in Scotland
Scottish researchers at the University of Edinburgh have managed to grow tiny kidneys measuring just 0.2 inches long. Their breakthrough represents a giant leap forward in the future treatment of kidney disease. The organs, created in the lab using stem cells from human amniotic fluid and animal fetal cells, are of the same size and … Continue reading Research Breakthrough – Kidneys Grown in Lab in Scotland
Diary of a Kidney Lover April 14, 2011
Dear diary, it’s been too long! So much has happened since my last entry back in October and it’s a bit complicated to explain. Maintaining a healthy body can be a difficult balancing act. After a complete physical, including an artery scan and blood vessel flexibility test, my doctor found anomalies that pointed to elevated … Continue reading Diary of a Kidney Lover April 14, 2011
Top News on Blood Pressure for the Week of 3/28/11
There are so many studies and stories about blood pressure in the news this week! Georgia Health Sciences University will be undertaking an interesting study to find out whether lower blood pressure reduces kidney disease progression in CKD patients age 55 and older. – Study Examines Whether Lower Blood Pressure Reduces Kidney Disease Progression This … Continue reading Top News on Blood Pressure for the Week of 3/28/11
The Debate Over Kidney Transplants and Rationing
By now you have probably heard of the national proposal to change the way kidneys are allocated – bypassing the traditional transplant waiting list and matching kidneys by age rather than length of time spent on the list. The topic has sparked heated debate in the kidney community and beyond. Our founder, Ken Kleinberg, recently … Continue reading The Debate Over Kidney Transplants and Rationing