UKRO – University Kidney Research Organization
Together We Build a Kidney
Research from a team of investigators, including University of Houston scientists, could lead to a new treatment to prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. HCA (hydroxycitrate), a natural fruit extract available as a supplement, could represent the first breakthrough in decades, with the potential to not only stop the growth of calcium oxalate crystals, but dissolve them. The researchers compared … Continue reading New Kidney Stone Treatment Breakthrough
New research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that the DASH diet, originally designed to lower blood pressure, also reduces the risk of kidney disease. The DASH diet (short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which is known to help with weight loss, heart health and chronic disease prevention, consists of high quantities of … Continue reading DASH Diet for Blood Pressure Protects Kidneys, Too
Japanese researchers from Osaka and Kyushu Universities have uncovered biomarkers that could identify chronic kidney disease patients at risk of progressing to kidney failure. Earlier studies have found a correlation between kidney function and D-amino acids. These somewhat elusive mirror images of L-amino acids have been found in trace amounts in the blood, but they are difficult … Continue reading D-Amino Acids May Give Clues to Kidney Disease Progression
Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have found high levels of toxins and a kidney injury biomarker in children in Mexico exposed to contaminated water. Urine samples of 107 children revealed arsenic and chromium at extremely high levels, well above the safety limits for adults. The arsenic probably came from contaminated tap water, but more research … Continue reading Early Warning Sign of Kidney Injury Found in Kids
Researchers from Indiana University have made important discoveries about PKD cyst formation using virtual tissue technology. Building a virtual nephron, the scientists used computer simulation to show that PKD gene mutations caused errors in cell adhesion. When cells failed to stick together, they formed mushroom-shaped cysts. When cells stuck together, but failed to stop growing … Continue reading Computer Modeling Points to New Drug Target for PKD
Researchers have been unable to explain why up to 30 percent of organ transplant patients develop diabetes. Immunosuppressant drugs have topped the list of possible causes, leading doctors to believe that diabetes may be inevitable for some patients. A new study from Thomas Jefferson University in Pennsylvania reveals that the culprit may be inflammation caused … Continue reading Inflammation Linked to Diabetes After Transplant