Being Overweight in Early Adulthood Linked to Kidney Disease


In a retrospective study, researchers in the UK have made a direct link between being overweight in early adulthood and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease later in life. Tracking body mass index and other data from subjects at different stages in their lives, they found that individuals who were overweight at ages 26 … Continue reading Being Overweight in Early Adulthood Linked to Kidney Disease

Faulty Gene Regulation Triggers the Kidney Disease FSGS


Researchers from the Clinical Institute of Pathology at MediUni Vienna have discovered a new cause for the kidney disease, FSGS. About half of FSGS cases can be explained by genetic causes or a circulatory factor in the blood, but until now, scientists have been unable to uncover the cause for the remaining 50% of cases. … Continue reading Faulty Gene Regulation Triggers the Kidney Disease FSGS

UKRO and Rep Schiff Discuss Protecting NIH Funding from Sequestration Cuts


Yesterday UKRO President, Ken Kleinberg, Vito Campese, M.D., Chief of Nephrology of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and kidney researcher Alicia McDonough, Ph.D., met with Representative Adam Schiff to ask for his help in preventing sequestration cuts that would severely limit NIH funding for research. Speaking on behalf of UKRO and the USC/UKRO … Continue reading UKRO and Rep Schiff Discuss Protecting NIH Funding from Sequestration Cuts

Hemodiafiltration Could Cut Mortality Risk for Kidney Patients by 30%


A retrospective study conducted by University of Barcelona researchers suggests that on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) cuts mortality risk for kidney patients by 30%, compared to conventional hemodialysis. With OL-HDF, more water and toxins are removed from the blood. Though two previous randomized trials had found no benefit with OL-HDF, the scientists noted that the earlier studies … Continue reading Hemodiafiltration Could Cut Mortality Risk for Kidney Patients by 30%

Fish Oil May Protect Dialysis Patients from Sudden Cardiac Death


Hemodialysis patients are at high risk for sudden cardiac death, and they are at the highest risk during the first year of treatment. Given those grim facts, researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine set out to discover whether heart-protective Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, walnuts and other foods, could be beneficial … Continue reading Fish Oil May Protect Dialysis Patients from Sudden Cardiac Death

Researchers Discover Role of White Blood Cells in Kidney Inflammation


Researchers from Australia’s Monash University have made an important discovery about the role of leukocytes, or white blood cells, in kidney inflammation. Leukocytes are immune system cells found throughout the body, where they defend against infectious disease; a high leukocyte count can be a marker of inflammation and disease. Prior to this study, the medical … Continue reading Researchers Discover Role of White Blood Cells in Kidney Inflammation