AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

June 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LEXINGTON, Mass.–(Business Wire)–
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAG) today announced that management will
present at the following investor conferences during the month of June:

* June 9, at 8:00 a.m. ET – 9th Annual Needham Healthcare Conference in New York
City;
* June 10, at 4:30 p.m. ET – Jefferies 2010 Global Life Sciences Conference in
New York City; and
* June 15, at 2:30 p.m. PT – Goldman Sachs 31st Annual Global Healthcare
Conference in Los Angeles, CA.

Live webcasts of each presentation will be accessible through the Investors
section of the company`s website at www.amagpharma.com. Following each
conference, the webcast will be archived on the AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
website for approximately two weeks.

About AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that utilizes its
proprietary technology for the development and commercialization of a
therapeutic iron compound to treat iron deficiency anemia and novel imaging
agents to aid in the diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular disease. On June 30,
2009, AMAG received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to
market Feraheme® (ferumoxytol) Injection for intravenous (IV) use for the
treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult chronic kidney disease patients.
For additional company and product information, please visit www.amagpharma.com.

Feraheme is a registered trademark of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals
Carol Miceli, 617-498-3361

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NattoPharma – First Step Into The Pharmaceutical Market

June 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LYSAKER, NORWAY, Jun 02 (MARKET WIRE) —

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to
Section 5- 12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)

02.June 2010, Lysaker – Today it was agreed that NattoPharma’s natural
vitamin K2, MenaQ7(R), will be used in the VitaVasK study, a placebo-
controlled, double-blind multinational European randomized trial. The
hypothesis that the dietary supplementation of MenaQ7(R) can delay the
progression of vascular and valvular calcification in patients on chronic
hemodialysis will be tested. The study will last for three years and will
measure placebo controlled the effect of high doses of MenaQ7(R) in some
600 kidney patients over one and a half years. VitaVasK is being financed
by a EUR1,8mill grant from the European Renal Association.

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) exhibit an enormous increase in
cardiovascular mortality associated with extensive vascular calcification
(VC). Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a powerful inhibitor of VC. MGP is
produced by vascular smooth muscle cells and is activated (carboxylated)
by vitamin K. “The proposed VitaVasK study will be the first clinical
trial in HD patients to target the progression of VC using dietary
vitamin K-mediated supplements”, says principle investigator Prof Juergen
Floege, head of the nephrology department at the University Hospital of
the RWTH Aachen University, in Germany.

Studies carried out at Maastricht University, in collaboration with
NattoPharma, indicate that MenaQ7(R) has the potential to prevent or even
reduce vascular calcification. Especially in patients prone to vascular
calcification, such as those with chronic kidney disease, this
calcification reduction may positively influence patient outcome. In a
pilot study, it was shown that hemodialysis patients revealed an extreme
vitamin K deficiency and inactive MGP, indicating that they do not have
the ability to protect against arterial calcification. It was shown that
six weeks of MenaQ7(R) supplementation increased the active MGP levels in
these patients in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that disturbed
calcification inhibitory activity in the vasculature may be improved by
MenaQ7(R) supplementation, hopefully leading to a better outcome for
dialysis patients.

According to one of the principle investigators of the Vitamin K2 study in
dialysis patients, Dr Leon Schurgers, senior scientist at Maastricht
University and VP of R&D at NattoPharma, “Calcification of the arteries
seen in chronic kidney disease is the same type of calcification which is
found in aging populations. The accumulation of calcium salts in the
arteries results in stiffening and increased fragility. This might be
considered a ‘silent killer’ as hardening of the arteries develops
without any symptoms over time.” Further, he stated that current evidence
now indicates that “the process of calcification is an actively regulated
process and that adequate MenaQ7(R) intake can prevent this process and
eliminate this risk factor.”

Prof Peter Stenvinkel, nephrologist at the Karolinska institute explains,
“Whereas 500.000 people in Europe and the USA suffer from dialysis-
dependent chronic kidney disease, signs of mild to moderate CKD (Chronic
Kidney Disease) are found in more than 10 million patients. Compared to
the general population, patients with advanced chronic kidney disease
experience a 10 – 100x increased risk of cardiovascular complications,
which translates into a mortality risk comparable to the one found in
patients with mestastatic cancer disease. This problematic situation is
further complicated by the fact that many treatment strategies (including
statins, increased dialysis dose and erythropoietin), in randomized
controlled trials have not been shown to improve survival in this patient
group. A major problem in dialysis patients is accelerated vascular
calcification; a process that increases the risk of cardiovascular
complications and premature death. As this deleterious process may be
accelerated by a subclinical deficiency of vitamin K2, MenaQ7(R)
supplementation may be a novel beneficial treatment strategy to slow down
the calcification process and lower the risk of cardiovascular
complications without troublesome side effects in this unfortunate
patient group.”

“We see this as our first step into the pharmaceutical market. Until now,
we have only done trials in healthy subjects. Now, for the first time, we
are part of a large trial in dialysis patients suffering from a disease
with a high mortality. Thus, if this trial is successful, we see a great
potential for MenaQ7(R) as a drug in the future” says Morten Sundsto, CEO
of
NattoPharma.

For further information:

Morten Sundsto
CEO NattoPharma ASA
Phone: +47 950 61860

[HUG#1421003]

NattoPharma – First Step Into The Pharmaceutical
Market: http://hugin.info/137386/R/1421003/370437.pdf

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NattoPharma: NattoPharma – First Step Into The Pharmaceutical Market

June 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian
Securities Trading Act)

02.June 2010, Lysaker – Today it was agreed that NattoPharma’s natural vitamin K2,
MenaQ7®, will be used in the VitaVasK study, a placebo-controlled, double-blind
multinational European randomized trial. The hypothesis that the dietary supplementation
of MenaQ7® can delay the progression of vascular and valvular calcification in patients
on chronic hemodialysis will be tested. The study will last for three years and will
measure placebo controlled the effect of high doses of MenaQ7® in some 600 kidney
patients over one and a half years. VitaVasK is being financed by a €1,8mill grant from
the European Renal Association.

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) exhibit an enormous increase in cardiovascular mortality
associated with extensive vascular calcification (VC). Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a
powerful inhibitor of VC. MGP is produced by vascular smooth muscle cells and is
activated (carboxylated) by vitamin K. “The proposed VitaVasK study will be the first
clinical trial in HD patients to target the progression of VC using dietary vitamin
K-mediated supplements”, says principle investigator Prof Jürgen Floege, head of the
nephrology department at the University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, in
Germany.

Studies carried out at Maastricht University, in collaboration with NattoPharma,
indicate that MenaQ7® has the potential to prevent or even reduce vascular
calcification. Especially in patients prone to vascular calcification, such as those
with chronic kidney disease, this calcification reduction may positively influence
patient outcome. In a pilot study, it was shown that hemodialysis patients revealed an
extreme vitamin K deficiency and inactive MGP, indicating that they do not have the
ability to protect against arterial calcification. It was shown that six weeks of
MenaQ7® supplementation increased the active MGP levels in these patients in a
dose-dependent manner, suggesting that disturbed calcification inhibitory activity in
the vasculature may be improved by MenaQ7® supplementation, hopefully leading to a
better outcome for dialysis patients.

According to one of the principle investigators of the Vitamin K2 study in dialysis
patients, Dr Leon Schurgers, senior scientist at Maastricht University and VP of R&D at
NattoPharma, “Calcification of the arteries seen in chronic kidney disease is the same
type of calcification which is found in aging populations. The accumulation of calcium
salts in the arteries results in stiffening and increased fragility. This might be
considered a ‘silent killer’ as hardening of the arteries develops without any symptoms
over time.” Further, he stated that current evidence now indicates that “the process of
calcification is an actively regulated process and that adequate MenaQ7® intake can
prevent this process and eliminate this risk factor.”

Prof Peter Stenvinkel, nephrologist at the Karolinska institute explains, “Whereas
500.000 people in Europe and the USA suffer from dialysis-dependent chronic kidney
disease, signs of mild to moderate CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) are found in more than
10 million patients. Compared to the general population, patients with advanced chronic
kidney disease experience a 10 – 100x increased risk of cardiovascular complications,
which translates into a mortality risk comparable to the one found in patients with
mestastatic cancer disease. This problematic situation is further complicated by the
fact that many treatment strategies (including statins, increased dialysis dose and
erythropoietin), in randomized controlled trials have not been shown to improve survival
in this patient group. A major problem in dialysis patients is accelerated vascular
calcification; a process that increases the risk of cardiovascular complications and
premature death. As this deleterious process may be accelerated by a subclinical
deficiency of vitamin K2, MenaQ7® supplementation may be a novel beneficial treatment
strategy to slow down the calcification process and lower the risk of cardiovascular
complications without troublesome side effects in this unfortunate patient group.”

“We see this as our first step into the pharmaceutical market. Until now, we have only
done trials in healthy subjects. Now, for the first time, we are part of a large trial
in dialysis patients suffering from a disease with a high mortality. Thus, if this trial
is successful, we see a great potential for MenaQ7® as a drug in the future” says Morten
Sundstø, CEO of NattoPharma.

For further information:

Morten Sundstø

CEO NattoPharma ASA

Phone: +47 950 61860

HUG#1421003

NattoPharma – First Step Into The Pharmaceutical Market

http://hugin.info/137386/R/1421003/370437.pdf

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chronic kidney disease patients with depression at complications risk

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 20 (ANI): UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found that patients with chronic kidney disease who have been diagnosed with depression are twice as likely to be hospitalized, progress to long-term dialysis treatments or die within a year as those who are not depressed.

In the study, researchers monitored for one year 267 patients with chronic kidney disease – 56 of them with a diagnosis of a current major depressive episode, referred to here as depression, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV).

Nearly 61 percent of patients with depression compared to 44 percent without depression either died, progressed to long-term dialysis, or were hospitalized within a year of observation; 55 percent of depressed patients were hospitalized compared to 40 percent of patients who were not depressed; 27 percent of depressed patients needed to start regular dialysis treatments compared to 11 percent without depression; and 9 percent of depressed individuals died compared to 6 percent without depression.

“Chronic kidney disease patients with depression have poorer health outcomes than those without depression, even after adjusting for other factors that determine poor outcomes in these patients, such as other medical diseases, anemia and low albumin levels,” said Dr. Susan Hedayati, assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern, staff nephrologist at the Dallas VA Medical Center and lead author of the study.

“Clinicians should consider screening chronic kidney disease patients for

depression, especially since depression is also associated with poor quality of life,” she added.

The study appears in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kidney function, damage markers could help predict mortality risk

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 18 (ANI): A new study has shown that common tests of kidney function and damage can predict the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and all causes.

This analysis of 21 studies from 14 countries found that a common blood test to estimate kidney function and a urine test measuring protein (albumin) to estimate kidney damage were strongly related to mortality risk.

“People with high levels of albumin in their urine were at markedly higher risk of mortality than people with low levels of albumin in the urine,” said Kunihiro Matsushita, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health”s Department of Epidemiology.

“The risk of mortality was elevated by nearly 50 percent at 30 mg/g albumin to creatinine ratio, which is the threshold for defining chronic kidney disease. In addition, mortality risk increased more than four-fold at high levels of albuminuria compared to an optimal level of 5 mg/g.

“The data presented in this analysis confirm that the current thresholds are indicative of increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk with both kidney filtration function and urine protein contributing to risk,” Matsushita added.

The results are published in the May 17, 2010 issue of the Lancet. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Protein loss in urine harmful for high BP patients

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): High blood pressure patients who excrete a slight excess of protein in the urine raise their risk of developing kidney and heart complications, says a new study.

The study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

Kidney dysfunction, common in individuals with hypertension, can increase one”s risk of developing heart problems and kidney failure. Therefore, doctors should strive to identify and treat the precursors of kidney dysfunction as a way to maintain hypertensive patients” heart and kidney health.

Research shows that diabetic patients with hypertension who excrete slightly increased amounts of protein in the urine—a condition known as microalbuminuria—have an elevated risk of developing heart and kidney problems. Investigators have wondered whether microalbuminuria (occurring in 10 percent-30 percent of individuals, depending on age and clinical conditions) may have similar effects in non-diabetic patients with hypertension.

Over nearly 12 years, Roberto Pontremoli, MD, PhD (University of Genoa, in Italy) and his colleagues followed the health of 917 hypertensive, non-diabetic patients enrolled in the MAGIC (Microalbuminuria: A Genoa Investigation on Complications) study between 1993 and 1997. The investigators found that patients with microalbuminuria at the start of the study were 7.6-times as likely to develop chronic kidney disease and 2.1-times as likely to develop cardiovascular complications (such as heart disease or stroke) compared with individuals without microalbuminuria. Study participants with microalbuminuria also had a 3.2-fold increased risk of developing both kidney and cardiovascular conditions. Even after the researchers considered and adjusted for various patient characteristics that might contribute to health differences (age, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol level, and kidney function), individuals with microalbuminuria at the start of the study still had a 2.6-fold increased risk of developing both kidney and cardiovascular problems compared with those without microalbuminuria.

These results demonstrate that microalbuminuria has a profound effect on the health of non-diabetic patients with hypertension. “Our findings emphasize the usefulness of a more widespread evaluation of microalbuminuria in an effort to guide the management of hypertension,” said Dr. Pontremoli. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sodas, processed foods can accelerate signs of aging

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 27 (ANI): High levels of phosphate in sodas and processed foods can accelerate the aging process in mice and contribute to age-associated complications such as chronic kidney disease, claims a new study.

The study has been published in the FASEB Journal.

“Humans need a healthy diet and keeping the balance of phosphate in the diet may be important for a healthy life and longevity,” said M. Shawkat Razzaque, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. “Avoid phosphate toxicity and enjoy a healthy life.”

To reach the conclusion, Razzaque and colleague examined the effects of high phosphate levels in three groups of mice. The first group of mice was missing a gene (klotho), which when absent, causes mice to have toxic levels of phosphate in their bodies. These mice lived 8 to 15 weeks.

The second group of mice was missing the klotho gene and a second gene (NaPi2a), which when absent at the same time, substantially lowered the amount of phosphate in their bodies. These mice lived to 20 weeks. The third group of mice was like the second group (missing both the klotho and NaPi2a genes), except they were fed a high-phosphate diet. All of these mice died by 15 weeks, like those in the first group. This suggests that phosphate has toxic effects in mice, and may have a similar effect in other mammals, including humans.

“Soda is the caffeine delivery vehicle of choice for millions of people worldwide, but comes with phosphorous as a passenger” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal. “This research suggests that our phosphorous balance influences the aging process, so don”t tip it.” (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kidney disease ‘hiding in people with undiagnosed diabetes’

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Mar 26 (ANI): People with prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes may already be suffering kidney damage, claims a new study.

According to the study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN), millions of Americans may have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and not know it.

“Our research indicates that much of the CKD burden in the United States is in persons with prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes, who are not being screened for CKD,” comments Laura C. Plantinga, ScM (University of California, San Francisco). The researchers believe that broader screening may be needed to detect patients with these two “relatively silent yet harmful diseases.”

In a study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Plantinga and colleagues analyzed a nationally representative sample of about 8,200 Americans from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Standard laboratory tests were used to assess the rate of CKD, focusing on people with undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes (sometimes called “borderline” diabetes).

Based on lab tests, 42 percent of subjects with undiagnosed diabetes had CKD—similar to the 40 percent rate in those with diagnosed diabetes. “Only a small percentage of participants were aware of the diagnosis of CKD,” says Plantinga.

In addition, CKD was present in nearly 18 percent of subjects with prediabetes. Among participants without diabetes or prediabetes, the rate of CKD was about 11 percent.

“Based on these results, there may be a substantial number of individuals in the United States—up to 13 million—who have undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes and who already have signs of kidney damage and/or reduced kidney function,” says Plantinga. Such patients would be at high risk for worsening kidney disease and diabetes, and for the poor outcomes associated with both conditions—including cardiovascular disease and death.

Diabetes is the most important risk factor for kidney disease, but the new results suggest that harmful effects on the kidneys may be occurring even before diabetes is diagnosed. “Persons at risk for diabetes and their health care providers should be aware that earlier screening for both diabetes and kidney disease may be warranted,” says Plantinga. “Earlier screening would allow for appropriate, timely medical care to prevent further progression and poor outcomes.” (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kim Jong Il suffering from kidney failure, partially paralysed

March 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 25 (ANI): North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Il is partially paralysed following a 2008 stroke and is also suffering from kidney failure, the head of a South Korean state research institute has said.

The paleness of Kim’s fingernails indicates the 68-year-old leader has chronic kidney disease, said Nam Sung-Wook, the director of the Institute for National Security Strategy.

The institute has links to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and Nam’s remarks, in a speech at a Seoul forum, were quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency and were confirmed by the organisers of the event.

“Chairman Kim Jong-Il is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure and we believe he is undergoing kidney dialysis every two weeks. (The pale colour of) his nails indicates he has chronic kidney failure,” The Times quoted Nam, as saying.

Nam showed photographs of Kim to illustrate his point. The North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency frequently releases colour photos of the Supreme Leader.

Kim weighed 86kg (189 pounds) before his stroke in August 2008, according to Nam. In January last year he went on a three-month diet and slimmed down to 70-73kg (154-160lbs). (ANI)

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DaVita Celebrates National Kidney Month this March

March 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Helping to Raise Awareness, Dialysis Provider Launches New Online Resource
DENVER–(Business Wire)–
DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those
diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced the launch of
YourKidneys.com to kick off efforts to raise awareness and education during
National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day on March 11.

“DaVita is more than just a dialysis provider. To help celebrate National Kidney
Month, we unveiled a wonderful new tool called YourKidneys.com,” said Kent
Thiry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita. “If we can educate
people, help more people get tested for CKD, and prevent them from reaching our
dialysis chairs, then we`ve done our jobs and more people will be living
healthier lives.”

YourKidneys.com is an empowering educational site and online community where
patients can utilize a social networking forum to ask questions, make comments
and get to know others in the kidney community. A diverse panel of DaVita health
experts is available to answer questions in the Expert Q&A section, and
additional educational materials cover a wide variety of topics, including diet
and nutrition.

National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day are part of a global health campaign
to raise awareness for the more than 31 million Americans living with CKD. A
silent epidemic, CKD affects one in six Americans, with most unaware they are
suffering from this disease. The chance that an American adult has CKD is nearly
12 times greater than an American woman`s risk of getting breast cancer. High
risk groups include African-Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native
Americans and seniors (those 60 and over). Primary risk factors include
diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease or a family history of these
conditions.

DaVita has numerous programs like YourKidneys.com that increase awareness,
provide early detection and deliver disease management solutions for kidney
disease patients. These programs, in conjunction with non-profit organizations
like the Kidney TRUST, help by providing health screenings and education courses
at no cost in communities throughout the U.S. For more information about these
programs and National Kidney Month, please visit
www.davita.com/nationalkidneymonth.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the
United States, delivering dialysis services and education to patients with
chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. As of December 31, 2009,
DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,530 outpatient dialysis
facilities and acute units in approximately 720 hospitals located in 43 states
and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 118,000 patients. DaVita
develops, participates in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to
transforming communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children,
families and our environment. The company`s leadership development initiatives
and corporate social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune,
Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu, among others. For more information,
please visit www.davita.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6196236〈=en.

DaVita Inc.
Kelsey Rood, 310-536-2404
kelsey.rood@davita.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Chronic kidney disease patients ‘at increased depression risk’

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sept 9 (ANI): Patients suffering from chronic kidney disease are likely to be depressed, suggests a new study.

“Because patients in the early stages of chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for clinical depression, we as nephrologists should consider screening our patients for depression in clinic,” said Dr. Susan Hedayati, assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and a staff nephrologist at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Centre.

Previous studies have shown that depression rates in the general community are 2 percent to 4 percent; among diabetes patients, 11 percent; among congestive heart failure patients, 14 percent; and among coronary artery disease after heart attack patients, 16 percent.

“Chronic kidney disease patient depression numbers may be higher due to the presence of the same simultaneously occurring conditions that resulted in progressive kidney disease, such as diabetes and atherosclerotic vascular disease,” said Hedayati.

“Alternatively, patients such as diabetics, who are depressed, may develop progressive kidney disease because of non-adherence to medications and physicians’ advice,” she added.

During the study, the researchers recruited 272 participants, who underwent a structured clinical interview to determine if they had a current major depressive episode.

They found 21 percent participants to be depressed. The mean age of depressed patients was about 65; two were women; and nearly 56 percent were white. All patients were veterans.

The researchers also found that diabetic patients were twice as likely to be depressed as those without diabetes; 63 percent of patients had at least three other medical conditions; and 41 percent had at least four other diseases.

Hedayati is now conducting the Chronic Kidney Disease Antidepressant Sertraline Trial (CAST) to determine whether antidepressant medication would be tolerated in kidney-disease patients and whether such treatment can improve depression.

The study appears in American Journal of Kidney Diseases. (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Low-salt diet protects the kidneys

May 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Heidelberg, Germany – People sensitive to salt can best protect their kidneys by consuming as little sodium as possible, a German nephrology association said.

Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure in some people, and this in turn can damage the kidneys, the Heidelberg-based association said. A higher sodium content in the blood causes the blood vessels to constrict. This increases the pressure in the vascular system and affects the kidneys as well.

Chronic kidney disease is often due to high blood pressure, especially when the condition is not recognized and not treated early enough. On the other hand, high blood pressure can also accompany and result from chronic kidney problems.

To rule out the presence of kidney disease, the experts recommend regular blood pressure tests, and people with high blood pressure should have their kidney function tested regularly. (dpa)

Filed Under: Health News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Novel genetic risk factors for kidney disease identified

May 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, May 11 (ANI): Scientists have found three genes with common mutations that are associated with altered kidney disease risk.

One of the discovered genes, the UMOD gene, produces Tamm-Horsfall protein, the most common protein in the urine of healthy individuals, which was recently found to be linked with chronic kidney disease risk.

Chronic kidney disease is characterized by reduced kidney function or kidney damage. Its progression may lead to kidney failure, and the need for dialysis or transplantation.

It also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, mortality and medication side effects.

For the study, the researchers conducted genome-wide association studies of more than 20,000 people enrolled in four large population-based studies of cardiovascular disease risk factors, and even replicated their findings in another 20,000 participants.

Out of more than 2,500,000 genetic variants that were evaluated for each study participant, only three genes, UMOD, SHROOM3, and STC1 were found to be novel risk genes for reduced kidney function and chronic kidney disease.

“Previous research showed that rare mutations in the UMOD gene cause hereditary forms of severe kidney disease. Our research indicates that a common genetic variant with a frequency of 18 percent in populations of European ancestry is associated with about 25 percent lower risk of chronic kidney disease,” Nature magazine quoted Dr. Anna Kottgen, a researcher at Johns Hopkins and lead author of the study, as saying.

“We have known for a long time that a higher level of proteins, such as albumin, which aren’t usually present in urine, is a risk factor for kidney disease and its progression. The UMOD finding suggests that Tamm-Horsfall protein, which is thought to be a normal part of the urine, deserves attention since its genetic variation relates to risk,” said Dr. Josef Coresh, professor at Johns Hopkins.

He added: “For all three genes the findings are novel and suggest brand new areas for investigation including the need for developing methods to measure levels in urine or blood.”

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Genetics. (ANI)

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Low blood sugar may be dangerous for kidney disease patients

May 8, 2009 By 1 Comment

Washington, May 8 (ANI): Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, could turn out to be a serious health threat for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study.

The findings of the study indicate that hypoglycemia may be responsible for some portion of the excess heart-related deaths seen in CKD patients.

Glucose control is the key to preventing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in CKD patients with diabetes.

But managing diabetes in CKD patients could be complicated because patients’ reduced kidney function can influence how they react to anti-diabetes medications.

The problems in diabetes management could predispose CKD patients to episodes of hypoglycemia-a condition characterised by dizziness, disorientation, slurred speech, convulsions, and death.

Led by Dr. Jeffrey C. Fink of the University of Maryland Medical System, the study examined the incidence of hypoglycemia among CKD patients to determine whether the condition might contribute to the patients’ deaths.

The researchers assessed the incidence of hypoglycemia in CKD patients relative to non-CKD patients, both with and without diabetes. They also examined the association of hypoglycemia with subsequent near term deaths (one day after blood glucose measurement).

For the analysis, the researchers collected information from 243,222 individuals who were being cared at the Veterans Health Administration, and found that the incidence of hypoglycemia was higher in patients with CKD, both among patients with diabetes and among those without.

The risk of hypoglycemia was highest in individuals with both CKD and diabetes.

Hypoglycemia increased patients’ risk of dying in the near term, and the researchers claimed that there was a reduced risk of near term death in individuals with CKD relative to those without.

And they said that the attenuation in the risk of death might relate to an increased quality of care in these patients with CKD relative to diabetic patients without CKD.

“The association of hypoglycemia with one-day mortality underscores the significance of this metabolic disturbance in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease,” said Fink.

The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why American Indians have higher rates of cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases

April 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, April 16 (ANI): Scientists at the University of North Carolina Kidney Center have come up with an explanation as to why American Indians at a greater risk of developing proteinuria – a condition that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) – than other groups.

Dr. Amy Mottl and her colleagues say that these differences exist as genetic variation likely accounts for part of their increased risks.

During a study, Amy and her colleagues tried to find out whether they could identify the genetic causes of American Indians’ increased risk for proteinuria.

Studying about 3,500 individuals from 13 American Indian tribes enrolled in the Strong Heart Family Study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the researchers found multiple chromosomal regions that may possess genes that influence variation in proteinuria, especially in the setting of diabetes or hypertension.

Amy said that the findings of her team were preliminary, and that further research was required to detect which genes influence one’s proteinuria risk.

“Further exploration of the candidate genes underlying the chromosomes implicated in our study is warranted,” the authors wrote.

The researchers believe that their work may be helpful in advancing scientists’ understanding as to how proteinuria arises, and, thereby, enable the development of new strategies for prevention and treatment.

While this study focused on American Indians, its findings likely apply to the general population as well, where the prevalence of proteinuria is rising.

The study has been published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). (ANI)

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Proteins found in garden pea may help fight high BP, kidney disease

March 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Mar 23 (ANI): Researchers in Canada have found that proteins from a common garden pea could be used as a food additive or new dietary supplement to fight high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Researchers said that the study is the first to report that a natural food product can relieve symptoms of CKD.

“In people with high blood pressure, our protein could potentially delay or prevent the onset of kidney damage. In people who already have kidney disease, our protein may help them maintain normal blood pressure levels so they can live longer,” said study presenter Rotimi Aluko, Ph.D., a food chemist at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada.

Working with University of Manitoba colleague Harold Aukema, Ph.D., Aluko purified a mixture of small proteins – called pea protein hydrolysate – from the yellow garden pea.

The researchers fed small daily doses of the protein mixture to laboratory rats with polycystic kidney disease, a severe form of kidney disease used as a model for research on CKD.

At the end of the 8-week-long study period, the protein-fed rats with kidney disease showed a 20 percent drop in blood pressure when compared to diseased rats on a normal diet.

“This is significant because a majority of CKD patients actually die from cardiovascular complications that arise from the high blood pressure associated with kidney malfunction,” Aluko said.

In both rats and humans with polycystic kidney disease, the condition causes urine output to be severely reduced and the kidneys are unable to properly remove dangerous toxins.

The researchers showed that their pea extract caused a 30 percent boost in urine production in the diseased rats, bringing their urine to within normal levels.

Scientists do not know exactly how the pea extract works. However, it appears to boost production of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), a protein that boosts kidney function, the researchers said.

The study will be presented at the American Chemical Society’s 237th National Meeting. (ANI)

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Kidney patients walk ramp at fashion event in New Delhi

March 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 14 (ANI): Dazzling lights, reverberating music and an atmosphere filled with triumph when patients with kidney disorders walked the ramp in traditional Indian ensembles here last evening.

Organised by Fortis at New Delhi, the show was part of celebrations to commemorate the World Kidney Week that Fortis is observing.

The show was an attempt to provide a platform to the patients to showcase their will to live and fight against kidney disorders.

It was also an attempt to break the myth that kidney disorders can put an end to a person’s normal life.

“Many people believe that patients with kidney failure have no real life and that probably is the end of life. This fashion show demonstrates that patients with kidney failure and kidney transplantation can lead a normal life just like any other person,” said Vijay Kher, Director, Nephrology and Renal Transplant Services, Fortis Hospital.

Walking the ramp in exquisite and dazzling outfits, these patients were radiant with joy as they exuded self-confidence on ramp.

They said they wanted to show that a kidney ailment does no cripple you for life.

“I just walked down the ramp just to show that after transplant life does not end. You have certain restrictions, but accordingly you can do whatever you want to do,” said Rajat, a kidney transplant patient.

There has been a tremendous increase in the kidney related disorders and a large number of youngsters are also reporting chronic renal failures.

According to reports, million of people die prematurely every year of kidney failure or heart attacks and strokes linked to chronic kidney disease. (ANI)

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Cycle rally marks World Kidney Day in Pune

March 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Pune, Mar 12 (ANI): Over 50 enthusiasts cycled down the streets of Pune today to raise awareness about various kidney ailments among citizens on the occasion of World Kidney Day.

World Kidney Day, the complication that can be associated with it focuses on the importance of kidneys in the human system.

Celebrated on the second Thursday of March every year, the campaign is observed in around 100 countries.

Organised by the Mauli Sewa Pratishthan, a self help group, the cycle rally saw health enthusiasts cycling their way to fitness and spreading awareness about various kidney ailments.

“We want to spread the message among the people, that if they are suffering from any kidney problem there is still hope for them. We want to make them aware of all the facilities and treatments available to them,” said Shubh Vibhor, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rubihall Clinic Hospital Pune.

According to reports, millions of people die prematurely every year of kidney failure or heart attacks and strokes linked to chronic kidney disease. (ANI)

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