Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Nephrology for August 2008. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Lancet Supports WHO Report on Health Inequality
FRIDAY, Aug. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The final report by the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Determinants of Health contains a strong mandate for reducing global inequalities in health care, according to an editorial published in the Aug. 30 issue of The Lancet.
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Outlook Mixed on US Presidential Candidates' Health Plans
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The health care plans proposed by John McCain and Barack Obama would have uncertain effects on health care coverage in America, but potential problems with each plan are evident, according to a perspective piece in the Aug. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Preeclampsia Link to End-Stage Renal Disease Studied
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Women with preeclampsia have a low absolute risk of developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but preeclampsia in a first pregnancy predicts an increased risk of ESRD during subsequent pregnancies, according to a report published in the Aug. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Seniors Likely to Find Medicare Health Web Site Unusable
TUESDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Even older adults with computer skills may have difficulty using the Medicare.gov Web site to determine eligibility for services and enroll in a drug plan, according to a research letter published in the Aug. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Autoantibody Target of Vascular Disease Identified
FRIDAY, Aug. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Many patients with an autoimmune inflammatory vascular disease have antibodies against plasminogen, which reduces its conversion to plasmin and delays clot lysis, according to research published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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ACE Inhibitor/ARB Combination Worsens Major Renal Outcomes
FRIDAY, Aug. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The combined use of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan in patients with high cardiovascular risk is associated with worsened major renal outcomes compared to these drugs as monotherapy, researchers report in the Aug. 16 issue of The Lancet.
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Low Birth Weight Linked to Salt Sensitivity in Children
FRIDAY, Aug. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Low birth weight children and those born small for their gestational age are likely to be salt sensitive, according to study findings published online Aug. 11 in Hypertension.
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Treatments to Prevent Contrast Nephropathy Compared
THURSDAY, Aug. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Hydration with saline or sodium bicarbonate is similarly effective in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary angiography or intervention, researchers report in the Aug. 19 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Gene Mutation May Explain Eye Disease in Dachshunds
TUESDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- A gene mutation may be responsible for cone-rod dystrophy in the standard wire haired dachshund, according to research published online Aug. 7 in Genome Research.
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Nephrotic Syndrome Remission Linked to Improved Sodium
FRIDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) -- In patients who achieved remission of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) with rituximab, the remission was associated with improved sodium homeostasis and kidney hemodynamics, according to research published online Aug. 6 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Over 1 Billion U.S. Doctor, Hospital Visits Logged in 2006
THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- In 2006, patients made an estimated 1.1 billion visits to physician offices and hospital emergency and outpatient departments in the United States, which was an average of four visits per person, according to health care statistics released Aug. 6 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Growth Factor Shows Promise As Kidney Disease Biomarker
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who are about to undergo hemodialysis who have increased levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) are at higher risk of mortality, researchers report in the Aug. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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International Issue of Torture Complicity Analyzed
FRIDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) -- More than 100 countries condone the use of torture and have often recruited the medical community as participants without consequence, according to an editorial published online July 31 in BMJ.