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
Kidney Stones in Kids Linked to Hardened Arteries
Clinician-scientists at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have uncovered a link between kidney stones in children and atherosclerosis, or hardened arteries, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is usually seen in adults. Ultrasound imaging revealed thicker arteries in children with recent stones compared to children without stones. Urine samples from the children with a history of … Continue reading Kidney Stones in Kids Linked to Hardened Arteries
Zinc Levels May Contribute to Kidney Stones
A team of researchers led by scientists from UC San Francisco has discovered that zinc levels play a part in kidney stone formation and could represent a promising therapeutic target. Working with a fruit fly model as well as humans, they examined the relationship between zinc and the minerals that form kidney stones, such as … Continue reading Zinc Levels May Contribute to Kidney Stones
Vascular Calcification May Explain Link Between Kidney Stones and Heart Disease
New research suggests that blood vessel calcification may explain the link between kidney stones and heart disease. Vascular calcification is common in chronic kidney disease patients and puts them at high risk of cardiovascular death. Researchers led by Linda Shavit, M.D. of University College London Medical School and Israel’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, used CT … Continue reading Vascular Calcification May Explain Link Between Kidney Stones and Heart Disease
Kidney Stones Tied to Raised Heart Disease Risk for Women
Researchers at Columbus Gemelli Hospital in Rome have found that women, but not men, with a history of kidney stones have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. They studied 242,105 men and women in the U.S., 19,678 of whom reported a history of kidney … Continue reading Kidney Stones Tied to Raised Heart Disease Risk for Women
Top News on Metabolic Syndrome for the Week of 8/15/11
Metabolic syndrome describes a set of symptoms that increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Those risk factors are: high blood pressure obesity, particularly extra weight around the waist insulin resistance low good cholesterol higher levels of triglycerides Patients are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome when they have 3 or more of … Continue reading Top News on Metabolic Syndrome for the Week of 8/15/11