Home

HDCN News Archive
Click on the RSS feed button to see details of the latest stories. You also can import this feed to my.yahoo or to your newsreader. Caution: Many archived news links expire quickly from parent sites.
J23	NEJM: Genetic mutation associated with most patients who develop myopathy on high-dose statins.
J23	Texas ESRD Network hurricane resource site
J23	Hurricane Dolly now at south Texas coast.
J23	How bacterial biofilms use chemical weapons against amoebas
J23	Scientists isolate compound in saliva that speeds wound healing.
J22	Dr. Arnold Kim gives up nephrology practice to attend to his Mac blogging site and other projects.
J22	As travel costs rise, more meetings go virtual.
J22	House Appropriations Subcommittee increases proposed FDA budget by more than 20% to over 2 billion dollars per year.
J22	Vagal nerve stimulation suppresses spleen production of TNF: A brain to immune system connection?
J22	New type of chlorine-tolerant membranes developed for desalination.
J22	The cold, cruel facts?: Disease prevention programs may not lower costs in the long run?
J22	Ezetimibe plus simvastatin drug trial shows no effect on aortic valve stenosis progression.
J22	Prostate cancer drug abiraterone hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of advanced disease.
J22	Ice-tea aficionado develops kidney stones
J22	Woman who claimed water-loading diet caused brain damage due to seizures wins lawsuit.
J21	Dr. Joseph Letteri, an expert in kidney treatment; in memoriam
J21	Advance lowers risk of rejection of animal tissues.
J21	Anti-bacterial actions of cranberry juice explained by its action on fimbriae.
J21	Adding calcium hydroxide to seawater may reverse global warming.
J21	Drug industry: No more free pens, pads, or mugs for docs.
J21	Singapore mulls legal kidney trading.
J21	FDA finds incriminated Salmonella strain on jalapeno peppers
J19	Off-topic weekend fun and games: Frogger
J19	Human blood vessels grown in mice
J18	In-center nocturnal dialysis in Colorado in the news.
J18	Donor nephrectomy via umbilical incision shortens donor post-op recovery time.
J18	Jonathan Himmelfarb to lead new Kidney Research Institute based in Seattle.
J17	Low-carb vs. low-fat supporters fight over importance of NEJM study on NY Times blog.
J17	FDA retracts Salmonella-related warning against eating raw tomatoes. Peppers still a potential risk factor.
J17	Genetic variant identified that increases risk of elevated triglycerides fourfold in Asian Americans.
J17	Peptidoglycans from gut bacteria may induce C. albicans to transform into infectious variant.
J17	Radiocontrast nephropathy studies may overestimate risk of AKI, since creatinine often increases in controls patients, also.
J17	U.S. population keeps getting fatter; esp. Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
J17	FDA safety recall: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate contaminated with yeast.
J17	AHA to launch new journal focusing on cardiovascular outcomes trials and methodology.
J17	Whole fruits and fruit juices have opposite effects on diabetes risk in Nurses' Health Study
J17	Atkins was right after all. NEJM study confirms benefits of low-carb and Mediterannean diets vs. low-fat diet.
J17	NEJM study shows that IVIG plus rituximab increases transplant success rates in HLA-sensitized patients.
J16	Doctors hopeful that improved blood thinners are on the horizon: Three new candidates.
J16	Annals: Low molecular weight heparin for 7 days better than stockings after arthroscopic knee surgery.
J16	Has the Achilles heel of the HIV virus been located?
J16	Cyclosporine increases expression of VEGF. Is this a mechanism for post-transplant cancer risk?
J16	Congress overrides Bush veto on Medicare bill that prevents physician payment cuts.
J15	Are kidney transplants performed at night less successful? A small European study suggests this possibility.
J15	GAO recommends prior authorization by Medicare of physican office-based diagnostic imaging tests.
J15	Bush to veto Medicare physician's pay patch bill today; Congress set to override.
J14	Will global warming spark a rise in kidney stone incidence?
J14	Ortho Biotech and Amgen resolve antitrust lawsuit.
J14	Japanese build DNA sewing machine.
J14	Sodium phenyl butyrate (PBA) may prolong life of pancreatic beta cells in type 2 diabetes.
J14	Nurses struggle with implications of new CMS policy re non-reimbursable adverse events.
J14	Track the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games
J14	CKD screening shows that a high percentage of Australia's indigenous population has kidney disease.
J14	FDA warning: Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with avastin plus sunitinib.
J14	Amgen's osteoporosis drug denosumab found effective in maintaining bone density in prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation.
J13	Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor SAHA found to have anti-immune effects in graft vs. host disease.
J12	Off-topic: weekend fun and games: The Memory Game
J12	Triathlon athlete and dialysis patient Shad Ireland in the news.
J12	Pioneering heart surgeon Michael DeBakey dies at age 99.
J11	Dialysis patients in Scotland can access their lab results on-line.
J11	FDA lists May 2008 labeling changes: Aranesp (tumor progression) and CellCept (lymphoma and PML risk)
J11	Angiodynamics recalls its Centros dialysis catheter due to inadequate cuff attachment.
J11	U.S. News issues its annual rankings of hospitals by specialty.
J11	White House threatens to veto bill rescinding physician Medicare payment cuts. Does the Senate have the votes to override?
J11	Scientists image prostate cancer that has metastasized to pelvic lymph nodes.
J10	Aspirin may benefit patients with osteoporosis: a possible mechanism identified.
J10	Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors protect ischemic tissue from injury.
J10	Computational biology approach leads to better understanding of immune response to presented antigen.
J10	Time of day affects antibody response to vaccination in men, but not women. Morning is best.
J10	U.S. National Public Radio examines health care system in 5 European countries.
J09	New form of Creutzfeld-Jakob-type of dementia discovered in the United States - no obvious cause.
J09	Salmonella outbreak continues: jalapeno peppers now thought to be a cause.
J09	Medicare bill that rescinds physician payment cuts passes in Senate with veto-proof majority.
J09	ESRD Network 14 (Texas) alert regarding contamination of at least one lot of Morton salt pellets by sodium ferrocyanide.
J09	Androgen-deprivation therapy does not help when given to older men with localized prostate cancer vs.watchful waiting alone..
J09	Fresenius signs sublicensing agreement with Luitpold to use Venofer in United States patients.
J08	Phosphate in CKD conference; September 26, 2008 in New York City.
J08	Stanford researchers find molecule that kills kidney cancer cells, STF-62247.
J08	Farm-raised tilapia fish has relatively low levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
J08	Fish oil plus red yeast lower cholesterol to the same extent as statin therapy.
J08	Transplant tourists running out of destinations.
J08	FDA adds boxed warning on risk of tendon rupture associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
J08	Overweight patients trying to lose weight lose twice as much if they keep a food diary.
J08	HDCN: Causes of stone disease, including nanobacteria; ASDIN: Part 4 vascular access; PGE: Reactive oxygen species talks; NNJ: Knowledge expectations and depression treatment; FA: Ionized calcium and CKD in the elderly.
J07	Swiss study suggests an 8% increase in failure rate when a male kidney is given to a woman recipient.
J07	Medicare double delay: Senate fails to act and CMS holds physician claims.
J07	Dr. Allen Alfrey, discoverer of the cause of aluminum-related dialysis dementia, in memoriam.
J07	Fresenius Medical buys heparin-maker APP pharmaceuticals.
J03	NEJM: Scanning the blood for circulating tumor cells using DNA technology helps guide treatment of metastatic disease.
J03	VA/NIH study of dialysis dose in acute kidney failure published in NEJM
J03	Statins spur glial progenitor cells to develop into oligodendrocytes.
J03	Pfizer will no longer work directly with for-profit CME companies.
J03	Novel antibiotic ceftobirole kills even the most resistant Staph. aureus.
J03	CMS releases 2007 ESRD Clinical Performance Measures report (.pdf)
J03	Secondary analysis of CHOIR data suggests that high EPO doses, rather than high Hb per se, associated with mortality.
J03	FDA panel recommends that all new diabetes drugs be screened for cardiovascular risk.
J02	New orally active, broad-spectrum angiogenesis inhibitor may be useful against many cancers.
J02	Secret of herpesvirus latency discovered in strands of microRNA.
J01	Caffeine intake increases rate at which muscle replenishes glycogen stores after exercise.
J01	Indocyanine green plus laser light kills even resistant bacteria; application to wound infections.
J01	Medicare proposes changes for dialysis reimbursement.
J01	More on the physician Medicare payment cut battle in the Congress.
J01	FDA may start focusing more on software reliability in medical devices.
J01	Bills pending in Congress would remove Supreme Court shield for medical device manufacturers.
J01	Doxycycline-inhibitable protease activity increased in SHR rats; this also may explain various aspects of metabolic syndrome.
J30	Doctors get temporary reprieve on Medicare cuts.
J30	Cancer cure strategy in mice to be tested in humans: transfusion of allogeneic cancer-killing leukocytes.
J30	Volcanoes turn out to be an important source of mercury pollution.
J30	Calcium supplementation alone does not reduce hip fracture risk in the elderly (new meta-analysis)
J30	AHA publishes cookbook focusing on healthy soul food recipes
J30	Sudden hearing loss associated with increased risk of future stroke.
J30	AHA launches hearthub.org, a website for patients.
J30	Prevalence of silent cerebral infarction in healthy (mean age 62) people at 11% in MRI study.
J30	AMA delegates oppose CMS no pay policy for "preventable" conditions that develop during hospital stay.
J28	Mortality rates similar at for-profit and not-for-profit dialysis chain patients; former use more EPO and IV iron.
J28	Bill to approve pathway for FDA approvals of biosimilars advocated as saving billions of dollars.
J28	Senate fails to take up legislation that would delay Medicare physician fee cut.
J28	FDA/Roche: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) warnings added to mycophenolate labeling.
J26	Fructose, but not glucose, increases visceral adipose tissue and triglycerides, and lower insulin sensitivity.
J26	Testing of athletes for illicit EPO use has high rate of false negatives.
J26	Gastric vagal block surgery less invasive, than bariatric surgery, but also effective in causing weight loss.
J26	Two siRNA in the Phase I/II pipeline for kidney disease, one for delayed graft function, the other for AKI
J26	Cethromycin for community-acquited MRSA.
J26	Allen Nissenson hired as Chief Medical Officer of DaVita
J25	R provides open access software for statistical analysis and graphing of results.
J25	House Medicare bill and the politics of competitive bidding for medical equipment
J25	Off topic - new technology: Compressed air cars on the near horizon (watch video)
J25	House votes to block cut in physician Medicare fees.
J25	MRSA skin infections becoming commonplace in healthy athletes.
J25	Site indentified at which microRNAs may down-regulate immune response.
J25	Impending Medicare reimbursement cuts may affect delivery of care
J25	African Americans excrete less potassium in the urine, and it's not all due to dietary intake.
J25	Excessive amounts of lead found in indoor/outdoor carpeting and artificial grass.
J25	Radiofrequency equipment ID tags can halt dialysis machines, change ventilator settings, alter syringe pump performance in the ICU.
J25	Obesity drug rimonabant approved for NHS use in England and Wales.
J25	Breast-cancer gene BRCA2 linked to much shorter survival after prostate cancer.
J24	Take your meds and have a chance at winning the lottery.
J24	House reps Dingell and Barton plan bill pushing nationwide adoption of electronic medical record systems.
J23	Some academic sites offering on-line second opinion services.
J23	Brouhaha over inclusion of Social Security numbers on Medicare ID cards: Would take 8 years to change?
J23	Rapamycin may impact retardation in tuberous sclerosis and might be useful in treating autism.
J23	New source of cardiac stem cells found in the epicardium
J21	Might Tai-Chi benefit CKD patients who can't sleep well?
J20	ANNA Monthly enewsletter, June, 2008
J20	Abbott Labs research grant solicitation on VDRA: Deadline is June 30th.
J20	ASN: Renal Express, June issue.
J20	Stem cells give old muscles new pep
J19	Some pathogenic bacteria use nanosyringe to inject host cells with toxins.
J19	Might exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation be beneficial?
J19	Is fluoride in drinking water safe for patients with CKD?
J19	FDA cautions about increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia who had been treated with antipsychotic drugs
J19	Investigation of deaths at Lufkin dialysis center: How alleged criminal activity was uncovered.
J18	DNA-modified bacteria eat plant waste and excrete fuel oil.
J18	Computer generated warfarin dosing as effective as dosing by expert prescribers.
J18	HHV-8 herpes virus linked to ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes in Africa.
J18	HDCN: Genetics of FSGS; More ASDIN talks; PGE course audiofiles on reactive oxygen species.
J17	Big breakfast diet more effective than low-carb diet in maintaining weight loss.
J17	Diabetes doubles the risk of hearing loss.
J16	Transportation fees impact some Canadian diaysis patients.
J16	British Medical Journal hosts interchange of views on appropriateness of paying live organ donors.
J16	Patients only rarely use online ratings to pick physicians.
J16	Do patients with combined liver/kidney transplants really need the kidney portion?
J16	Eating in response to stress? Ghrelin could be the reason why.
J16	Studies with fat cells suggest that resveratrol may help combat obesity.
J16	Etanercept slows cyst formation in a mouse model of PKD via inhibiting TNF-alpha.
J13	Senate Republicans block debate on Baucus bill, that would have delayed Medicare payment cuts.
J13	FDA and EMEA to consider biomarkers of renal injury in animal studies evaluating renal safety of new drugs.
J12	Baxter avian flu vaccine shows promise in early testing.
J12	XBP1, stimulated by a high-carb diet, may be a new target for treatment of dyslipidemias.
J12	Sequential treatment of lupus in women with cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate preserves ovarian function.
J12	Patch-based vaccine effective against traveler's diarrhea.
J12	A subgroup of retinal cells linked to circadian cycle resetting and insomnia.
J12	FDA approves generic form of ramipril made by Lupin pharmaceuticals.
J11	Vitamin D protects heart-failure-prone rats against heart failure when fed a high-salt diet.
J11	Lupus more severe, and nephritis more common, in patients with Southern European ancestry.
J11	Fresenius helps to provide dialysis supplies to China earthquake victims.
J11	CMS gives researchers access to parts of the Medicare prescription drug benefit database.
J11	FDA: Concern about potential cancer risk in users of Regranex (becaplermin) gel (used to help heal foot ulcers in diabetics).
J11	ANNA releases new editions of its Certification Review Guide and Core Curriculum
J11	The American Heart Association translates key parts of its website to Spanish, Vietnamese, and simplified Chinese.
J11	Doctor of nursing practice degree - will this grant clinical privileges similar to that of an MD?
J10	Rosiglitazone may slow progression of diabetic eye disease.
J10	Would the proposed Baucus bill threaten smaller dialysis providers?
J10	Baucus unveils Medicare payment reform legislation that would impact on ESRD reimbursement.
J10	Study suggests existence of more than one stem cell population in a single organ (intestinal tract)
J10	One more argument against smoking: Increased risk of age-related hearing loss.
J10	Etanercept plus exenatide increases efficacy of islet cell transplants over the standard Edmonton protocol.
J10	Eating diet rich in oily fish associated with markedly reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration.
J10	Large Australian RCT specifically shows that lowering HbA1C in diabetics to a 6.5% target protects the kidney.
J10	NEJM: Full text of ADVANCE trial, which showed a benefit of intensive glucose control (HbA1C to 6.5%)
J09	NEJM: Glycemic control in the ADVANCE vs. ACCORD trials (editorial)
J09	NEJM: ACCORD trial results published (full text): Intensive blood glucose lowering in diabetes may worsen outcomes.
J09	Myeloma drug Velcade (bortezomib) shows promise in treating lupus in an animal model.
J09	Observational study associated low 25-D levels with poor CV outcomes in peritoneal dialysis patients.
J09	High blood levels of 25-vitamin D may increase risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
J09	VA diabetes trial reports at ADA. Lowering HbA1c below 7% associated with a trend for improved CV outcomes.
J09	115 year old woman found to have essentially normal brain on autopsy, with no evidence of Alzheimer's disease.
J09	Search abstracts being presented at the 2008 American Diabetes Association meeting.
J09	Study suggests benefits of a short nap for night-shift healthcare workers.
J06	Why the two diabetes trials of aggressively lowering HbA1c came up with different results.
J06	High-protein weight loss diet protects against the bone loss seen with standard low-fat higher carb diets.
J06	Nephros completes trial of clip-on hemodiafiltration module and high-efficiency b2-M hemodiafilter.
J06	Mechanism of action of niacin to increase HDL levels discovered.
J05	HHS releases comprehensive plan to speed nationwide adoption of health information technology.
J05	FDA: More on the ongoing review of TNF-blockers and cancer risk.
J05	Is your health record already on-line on your health insurer's website? If so, how tightly is this protected?
J05	Alcohol ingestion cuts risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 50%.
J05	Study in mice suggests resveratrol has marked cardioprotective effects.
J05	NEJM: Heparin contaminated with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate causes anaphylaxis via kallikrein activation.
J05	NEJM: Aliskiren plus losartan lowers proteinuria in diabetics.
J04	FDA reviewing reports of increased cancer risk associated with TNF- blocking drugs.
J03	ASN Renal Express Newsletter, June 3rd.
J03	Antibacterial wipes can actually spread drug-resistant bacteria if used on more than one surface.
J03	Salmonella outbreak in 9 states linked to raw tomatoes.
J03	HDCN Update: PAD in CKD; Rheumatology in CKD; More RRI, ASDIN, and RPA talks; PGE Renal Tx. part 2; Articles: Lipid management and remission clinic
J03	ASN 2008 Renal Week abstract deadline extended to June 9th.
J03	Nova (R) renal - a contrast-free method for visualization of renal perfusion on MR scans.
J03	Magnetic control mechanism developed to steer swallowed mini-cameras for better GI tract images.
J03	Artificial blood vessel creation from smooth muscle cells makes major advances.
J03	NIH to fund research into bacteria colonizing various parts of the human body.
J03	Ultrasmall bacteria that can pass through dialysis filters identified in deep Greenland ice cores.
J03	USC researchers identify gene that controls blood glucose levels.
J03	Senate Bill would delay Medicare payment cuts to physicians.
J02	Links fixed to .mp3 files for the 2008 Renal Research Institute meeting talks
J02	Taiwanese study links water chlorination to birth defects.
J02	Genetically engineered regulatory T-cells used to control inflammatory bowel disease in mice.
J02	Cubing and then boiling potatoes markedly reduces their content of potassium and other minerals.
M31	Journal of Renal Care journal club: Buttonhole method of cannulating AV fistulas - the new gold standard?
M31	Fomer nurse at dialysis center arrested regarding question of injecting bleach intravenously into a patient.
M30	Cause of clubbing of the fingers in lung disease found - 15-HPGD.
M30	Whole milk as effective as 0.1% barium as GI contrast agent for CT.
M29	Diabetes Tech and Therapeutics journal supplement focuses on self-monitoring of blood glucose.
M29	Prucalopride shows promise in treating patients with severe constipation.
M29	Dehydrated tomatoes markedly lower prostate tumor growth in an animal model.
M29	New microsphere-based vaccine for type 1 diabetes to be tested in humans. It reverses diabetes in mice.
M28	Hope for stroke victims. Monkeys control prosthetic arm using brain waves to feed themselves.
M28	ADA Scientific Sessions start June 6th. Search abstracts at this link.
M28	Study suggests that salsalate may be of benefit in type 2 diabetics.
M28	RIP140 molecule involved in tumor cachexia, fatty liver, and associated inflammation.
M27	AMAG Pharmaceuticals signs agreement with 3SBio to commercialize ferumoxytol in China.
M27	Louisiana Senate passes bill that would shield disaster responders from civil liability lawsuits.
M27	Study suggests that RDA for children for cholecalciferol should be 2,000 IU/day, rather than 200 IU/day.
M27	New scoring method for coronary artery calcification that takes into account extent of calcium coverage.
M27	High-flavonoid cocoa can be a boost for diabetics.
M27	Should HbA1c be used instead of plasma glucose to screen for diabetes?
M27	Brooke Army medical center experimenting with stem cell treatment to regrow lost body parts.
M26	2008 American Transplant Congress to meet in Toronto starting May 31. Abstracts at this link.
M26	Qualitative changs in gut microflora affect insulin resistance.
M26	Six vs. three meals per day has no impact on weight loss.
M23	Automated CPR machine helps save lives.
M23	FDA to use Medicare claims data to monitor drug side effects once drugs have been marketed.
M22	Biotech company to hold auction for people who want to clone their pet dog.
M22	FDA approves gut opioid antagonist Entereg, for use to prevent postoperative ileus.
M22	It's official: Home BP monitoring is now the standard of care.
M21	CMS launches hospital comparison website.
M21	President Bush signs genetic anti-discrimination act (GINA) into law.
M21	Genetic researchers identify numerous genes involved in synthesis and storage of fat in cells.
M21	After heart attack, bivalirudin better than heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
M21	Former Amgen executive Dr. Robert Brenner moves to AMAG.
M21	Modest red wine (but not beer) ingestion actually may lower risk of NAFLD - non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
M21	Protein structure is deciphered of steap3, a protein that regulates iron absorption in the gut.
M21	Denosumab (target of which is RANK ligand) increases bone mineral density more than continued alendronate treatment in postmenopausal women.
M20	Small adrenal masses found incidentally on computed tomography almost exclusively benign.
M20	NEJM: Palevsky-VA/NIH study shows that daily HD or more intense CRRT of no benefit in acute kidney injury
M20	Investigation into dialysis center deaths focuses on temporary use of 1.0 K dialysate concentrate.
M20	Google health now accepting patient information.
M19	Results of VA/NIH study on dialysis dose in acute kidney injury to be presented tomorrow, May 20th, in Toronto at ATS2008.
M19	A new discovery regarding pathogenesis of lupus - abnormal editing of genes.
M19	Vaccine targeting amyloid beta protein prevents Alzheimer's disease in mice.
M19	Silver-coated endotracheal tube use dramatically reduces resistant infections in ICU patients.
M19	Protein that mimics phagocyte defensins effective against resistant bacteria on in vitro testing.
M19	Two California patients may have been rejected for liver transplant because of medical marijuana use.
M19	Breast cancer risk gene BRCA2 now also tied to prostate cancer risk.
M19	American Society of Hypertension Annual Meeting (May 14-17) - abstracts at this link
M19	Capsaicin plus a derivative of lidocaine cause pain relief without numbness. Will it work for cannulation pain?
M19	Didusch center historical exhibit on Women Healers (7.5 mb .pdf file)
M18	Nephrology nurse practitioner and physician assistant meeting to be held July 17-18 in Arlington, VA.
M18	Didusch center for urologic history collections
M18	New superdrug may be useful against MRSA superbugs.
M17	FDA issues warning about birth defects in infants when mother took mycophenolate (MMF) during pregnancy.
M17	Is marrying your first cousin truly dangerous in terms of offspring? A critical examination of the data.
M17	FDA convenes to examine impact of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical, and now, medical device, advertising.
M17	Patient deaths at dialysis unit may have been caused by an employee with criminal intent.
M17	Former head of UCLA cadaver program indicted for selling body parts on the side, profiting directly from sales.
M16	Everolimus significantly delays progression of kidney cancer.
M16	Salmonella infection in people linked to exposure to dry dog food.
M16	View abstracts, posters being presented at the American Urologic Association annual meeting, May 17-22.
M16	Lymphocytic choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) - infected transplant organs cause 1 death and 1 serious injury at Boston-area hospital.
M16	Heparin-coated thoracic drainage catheters being recalled because of OSCS contamination.
M16	MMWR: CDC recommends herpes zoster vaccine for all persons over age 60.
M16	Is on-line hemodiafiltration finally coming to the U.S.?
M16	Small molecule found that can disassemble amyloid proteins associated with Alzheime