Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Nephrology for February 2011. 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.
Educational Intervention for Skin Self-Examination Effective
FRIDAY, Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are receptive to performing skin self-examinations (SSE) and acting on recommendations from an education intervention when they discover a concerning skin lesion, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in the Archives of Dermatology.
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Radiation Puts Dialysis Patients at Higher Cancer Risk
FRIDAY, Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Many dialysis patients are exposed to high levels of radiation because of frequent medical imaging procedures, putting them at increased risk of cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Renoprotection Not Sufficient for Patients With Diabetes
FRIDAY, Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with type 1 diabetes and macroalbuminuria remain at high risk for developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) despite the increased use of renoprotective treatment, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Reduction in Nitric Oxide Activity May Cause Albuminuria
FRIDAY, Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- An increase in the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) may indicate deterioration of endothelial function by reduction of nitric oxide (NO) activity that is unrelated to changes in blood pressure, according to a study in the February issue of Diabetes.
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Dietary Patterns May Influence Kidney Health
THURSDAY, Feb. 24 (HealthDay News) -- A diet high in red and processed meats and sweets may lead to microalbuminuria and rapid kidney function decline, but a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may protect against rapid estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, according to research published in the February issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
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Aspirin May Lower Type 2 Diabetes Atherosclerosis Risk
TUESDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Low-dose aspirin therapy may lower the risk of atherosclerotic events in patients with type 2 diabetes with mild renal dysfunction, according to a study published in the February issue of Diabetes Care.
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Partial Nephrectomy Cuts Renal Cancer Death in Elderly
MONDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Older patients are less likely to die of renal cell carcinoma when treated with partial nephrectomy; however, they are less likely to undergo partial nephrectomy than are younger patients, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Low Pay for New Female Doctors Tied to Gender, Not Job
MONDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In 2008, male physicians who were newly trained in New York State made an average of $16,819 more than newly trained female physicians, compared to a $3,600 difference in 1999, according to a study published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
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Dialysis Patients Want More Information on Options
FRIDAY, Feb. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Many patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) feel they do not receive enough information about the various treatment options, particularly home-based therapies, according to the results of a survey published online Feb. 17 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Alleles Associated With Nephropathy Risk Identified
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have identified possible genetic pathways behind idiopathic membranous nephropathy in individuals of white ancestry; their findings have been published in the Feb. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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New U.S. Report on the Nation's Health 2010 Released
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics' 34th annual report, presenting the latest information on health status and determinants, utilization of health care, health care resources, expenditures, and a special feature on death and dying, was published Feb. 16.
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Most Recalled Medical Devices Given Lenient Approval
TUESDAY, Feb. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of medical devices recalled from 2005 to 2009 for risk of serious health hazard or death were approved by the less strict 510(k) process intended for devices considered low or moderate risk, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Researchers Explore Nature of Difficult Clinical Encounters
MONDAY, Feb. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Both patients and physicians can bring qualities to a clinical encounter that result in its being perceived as difficult, and patients involved in these types of encounters have worse short-term outcomes, according to research published online Jan. 25 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Test Approved to Monitor Levels of Kidney Rejection Drug
FRIDAY, Feb. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A new test to monitor blood levels of a drug used to prevent rejection in kidney transplant patients has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Public Sector Plays Big Role in Drug Research
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Public-sector research institutions (PSRIs) appear to play a bigger role in drug discovery than was previously thought, contributing to the discovery of about 10 to 20 percent of drugs approved for new drug applications since 1990, according to research published in the Feb. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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CT Imaging Determines Stone Burden Better Than X-Ray
THURSDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Computerized tomography (CT) determines proximal stone burden better than plain film X-rays do in patients with encrusted and retained ureteral stents, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Periodontal Disease, hs-CRP Synergistic in Hypertension
TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- In middle-aged adults with untreated hypertension, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and periodontal disease have a synergistic effect on levels of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), according to a study published in the January issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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