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Urine Test Effective in Diagnosing Kidney Transplant Fibrosis

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have developed a urine test to diagnose and monitor fibrosis or scarring in kidney transplant patients experiencing organ rejection. The simple test could eliminate the need for the many invasive and potentially harmful needle biopsies now used in this situation. Best of all, it would enable doctors to identify and … Continue reading Urine Test Effective in Diagnosing Kidney Transplant Fibrosis

Dendritic Cell Therapy Improves Kidney Transplant Survival

Researchers at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found a way to prolong kidney transplant survival in monkeys using donor dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are regulators of the immune system, responsible for both immune response and tolerance. In order to promote immune tolerance, the scientists prevented donor DCs from fully maturing and treated a group … Continue reading Dendritic Cell Therapy Improves Kidney Transplant Survival

Poor Maternal and Child Health Linked to Kidney Disease

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