UT Southwestern study shows glucagon is key for kidney health

Glucagon, a hormone best known for promoting blood sugar production in the liver, also appears to play a key role in maintaining kidney health. When UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers removed receptors for this hormone from mouse kidneys, the animals developed symptoms akin to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Study Details Toxic Elements Found in Stranded Whales, Dolphins Over 15 Years

Researchers evaluated the prevalence, concentration and tissue distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements, including heavy metal toxicants in tissue (blubber, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, skin) and fecal samples. Findings reveal how toxicant levels relate to their sex, breed, age and other demographic factors.

Quanta™ to Present Highly Anticipated Real-World Evidence at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2023

Quanta Dialysis Technologies, a medical technology company committed to making kidney care more accessible with its Quanta™ Dialysis System, today announced the presentation of real-world evidence from its Home Run™ study at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2023, taking place November 2 – 5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Chronic kidney disease may be linked to sudden cardiac arrest in Hispanic/Latino adults

Research Highlights:

Chronic kidney disease was strongly associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest among Hispanic/Latino adults, in a new study.
Early identification and management of kidney disease may reduce risk of sudden cardiac arrest among Hispanic/Latino people, researchers suggest.

Hispanics Are Being Impacted By Diabetes and Kidney Disease

Paula Duran, MD, at Baylor Scott & White Health, answers the most common patient questions and reacts to the latest medical research impacting the Hispanic population. Why do Hispanics have a high incidence of diabetes and subsequent kidney disease? Is…

Living Kidney Donor on 1,441-Mile Bike Ride Spends the Day in New Orleans

“I’ve been riding my bike all over the country to showcase how healthy and active a living organ donor can be after donation,” said Scotch. “Today, in New Orleans, I had the unique opportunity to add a tugboat ride on the great Mississippi to my journey to make it that much more remarkable. Ending my day by raising the flag at Ochsner’s Transplant Institute was a fitting end to the day to celebrate the work they are doing with transplant donations to save lives.”

A readily available dietary supplement may reverse organ damage caused by HIV and antiretroviral therapy

MitoQ, a mitochondrial antioxidant that is available to the public as a diet supplement, was found in a mouse study to reverse the detrimental effects that HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) have on mitochondria in the brain, heart, aorta, lungs, kidney and liver.

Study estimates the lifetime benefit of combination therapy in patients with kidney disease without diabetes

A recent analysis of clinical trial data estimates that treatment with the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACE inhibitors/ARBs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can substantially increase the lifetime survival free of kidney failure for patients with albuminuric chronic kidney disease without diabetes.

Together with Missouri S&T, Saint Louis University Researchers Use Artificial Intelligence to Improve Kidney Transplant Process

With a new grant that brings together engineering expertise from Missouri S&T and medical expertise from Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine, researchers are investigating how artificial intelligence can support matchmaking between donated kidneys and transplant centers to help more patients in need.

Cell competition may explain cancer relapses, UT Southwestern research suggests

A normal process called cell competition, in which healthy tissues eliminate unhealthy cells, could be responsible for cancer relapses in patients months or years after they were declared cancer-free

Population-level study provides reassuring data on the risk of kidney disease relapse after COVID-19 vaccination

• In a population-level study of 1,105 adults with stable glomerular disease (a type of autoimmune kidney disease), a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was not associated with relapse risk; however, receiving a subsequent vaccine dose was associated with a 2-fold higher relative risk of relapse.
• Importantly, the increase in absolute risk associated with vaccination was low (1–5% depending on type of glomerular disease), and most vaccine-associated disease flares were mild.

Study assesses symptom trajectories and outcomes in patients with kidney disease

● Among individuals with varying levels of chronic kidney disease who were not on dialysis, the prevalence of individual symptoms ranged from 24% (chest pain) to 83% (fatigue), and 98% of participants reported at least one symptom.
● Patients categorized as having a “Worse symptom score and worsening trajectory” of symptoms had higher risks of later needing dialysis and of dying before dialysis initiation.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Omicron surge in patients on dialysis: The role of antibody responses and vaccine doses

• Among US adults with kidney failure receiving dialysis, risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Omicron-dominant period was higher among patients without vaccination and with 1–2 doses compared with 3 doses of mRNA vaccines.
• Irrespective of vaccine doses, risk for infection was higher among patients with low circulating levels of anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY STRONGLY SUPPORTS CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF TRANSPLANT SYSTEM

The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) supports efforts by Congress to improve the US transplant system. Today, the Senate Finance Committee will conduct an oversight hearing, A System in Need of Repair: Addressing Organizational Failures of the U.S.’s Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).