An international study led by University of Alberta researchers links poor health in the womb and in early childhood with an increased risk of premature high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart disease. Babies who do not develop properly in the womb may be born with smaller kidneys with fewer nephrons for filtering. Under-developed kidneys … Continue reading Poor Maternal and Child Health Linked to Kidney Disease
Bioengineered Vein Implanted into First U.S. Dialysis Patient
In a pioneering breakthrough, Duke University Hospital surgeons have implanted a bioengineered vein into a 62-year-old kidney dialysis patient as part of a U.S. clinical trial. The vein, created by Duke and bioengineering company Humacyte, was grown on a biodegradable mesh scaffold using human cells. Nutrients were pumped rhythmically into the vessel-shaped scaffold to simulate … Continue reading Bioengineered Vein Implanted into First U.S. Dialysis Patient
Reprogrammed Kidney Cells May One Day Repair Damaged Organs
The nephrons are the key filtering units of the kidneys. The amount of nephrons we’re born with turns out to be a very important number for kidney health. We can’t grow more after birth and those people born with substantially fewer nephrons are at a higher risk of developing blood pressure and kidney problems later … Continue reading Reprogrammed Kidney Cells May One Day Repair Damaged Organs
Diary of a Kidney Lover: Exciting Transplant & Donation News
Hello, readers! It’s good to be back. As you know, the Kidney Lover adores kidneys. And when she finds a story that combines kidneys and creative thinking, then a-blogging she must go. You may have read our recent research blog about bioengineered rat kidneys. Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital begin this innovative process by stripping … Continue reading Diary of a Kidney Lover: Exciting Transplant & Donation News
New Imaging Tool Unlocks Kidney’s Secrets
A biomedical team from Monash University in Australia has developed xGlom, an exciting new imaging tool that offers an important look inside the kidney. xGlom’s 3D images are made possible via MRI and computer in far less time than traditional methods and provide a comprehensive view, from minute detail to the big picture of overall … Continue reading New Imaging Tool Unlocks Kidney’s Secrets
Absence of Intrarenal ACE Protects Against Hypertension
A team of researchers, including Dr. Janos Peti-Peterdi and Dr. Alicia McDonough of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has identified a new target for eliminating hypertension, which is a leading cause of kidney disease. The initial research was funded in part by a grant from UKRO. The renin-angiotensin system or RAS regulates blood … Continue reading Absence of Intrarenal ACE Protects Against Hypertension