Using steroids for bodybuilding can damage kidney functionOctober 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Anabolic steroids, taken by some athletes to gain muscle mass and strength, can destroy kidney function, says a new study. The study revealed that the habitual use of steroids has serious harmful effects on the kidneys that were not previously recognized.
Shiloh Pepin, girl born with rare condition called 'mermaid syndrome,' dies in Maine at age 10October 24th, 2009 Maine girl with 'mermaid syndrome' dies at 10PORTLAND, Maine — Shiloh Pepin, a girl who was born with fused legs, a rare condition often called "mermaid syndrome," and gained a wide following on the Internet and national television, has died. She was 10. Doctors had predicted she would only survive only for days after her birth at the most, but the girl, described by her mother as "a tough little thing," died at Maine Medical Center on Friday afternoon, hospital spokesman John Lamb said.
Heart test found safe for pre-transplant kidney patientsOctober 19th, 2009 LONDON - A test that screens whether a patient's heart is healthy enough for a kidney transplant is not as dangerous as once thought, a new study reveals. It indicates that the test, called coronary angiography, does not cause a decline in kidney function for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can help determine when to schedule a patient for a transplant.
Working mums 'don't harm kids' mental development'October 18th, 2009 LONDON - A new study has found that mothers who work during infancy do not necessarily harm their children's mental development. In the survey published last month by the Institute of Child Health, 17,000 Britons and their children, born mainly in the 1990s, were observed.
Gene linked to human kidney aging identifiedOctober 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a novel study, researchers claim to have identified a gene linked to human kidney aging. Kidneys age at different rates, such that some people show little or no effects of kidney aging whereas others show rapid functional decline.
Exercise improves survival in kidney disease patientsOctober 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Staying active may help extend the lives of people with kidney disease, says a new study. According to the study, appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN), exercise has significant health benefits for individuals with kidney dysfunction.
Researchers pinpoint how micro antennas heal kidneysOctober 7th, 2009 SYDNEY - Researchers have shed new light on how microscopic antennas in the kidneys heal the organ. The study led by James Deane, researcher at the Centre for Inflammatory Disease at the Monash Medical Centre, showed how kidney repair processes are controlled and help explain the cause of polycystic kidney disease (enlarged kidneys containing many cysts), a potentially fatal condition.
FDA notes liver damage risks with GlaxoSmithKline's kidney cancer drugOctober 1st, 2009 FDA questions safety of Glaxo kidney cancer drugWASHINGTON — Federal regulators said Thursday an experimental kidney cancer drug from GlaxoSmithKline may cause liver problems, potentially outweighing its ability to slow the disease. London-based Glaxo wants the Food and Drug Administration to approve its pazopanib pills for advanced kidney cancer, a rare but deadly form of the disease.
How infant pain has repercussions in adulthoodSeptember 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers at Georgia State University have thrown light on how pain in infancy alters the brain's ability to process pain in adulthood. The study has now indicated that infants who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) show altered pain sensitivity in adolescence.
Indian American finds weight loss is good for kidneysSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Shedding pounds can help patients of kidney diseases protect their health, says a new study led by an Indian American. More than a third of US adults are either obese or overweight.
Weight loss can prevent kidney disease progression in obese patientsSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Shedding extra pounds can preserve kidney function in obese people with kidney disease, according to a new study led by Indian origin scientist from Cleveland Clinic. Weight loss can improve a number of health problems, like it can improve control of diabetes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reduce the effects of heart disease.
Stem cell transplantation may correct rare genetic disorder in kidsSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scripps Research Institute scientists have offered new hope for parents whose children suffer from the rare genetic disorder 'cystinosis' by showing through an experiment on mice that stem cell transplantation can successfully correct the defect. "After meeting the children who suffer from this disease, like an 18-year-old who has already had three kidney transplants, and the families who are desperately searching for help, our team is committed to moving toward a cure for cystinosis, a lysosomal storage disorder.
New heart pump needs no wiresSeptember 16th, 2009 SYDNEY - Heart pumps, hooked with wires to power themselves, end up seriously infecting nearly 40 percent of patients. Scientists have now developed the technology to power heart pump wirelessly thus saving thousands of lives, and eventually offering an alternative to heart transplants.
Chronic kidney disease patients 'at increased depression risk'September 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - 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.
Dentures, drooping and death: 'Assisted Living: The Musical' delves into the comedy of agingSeptember 2nd, 2009 Musical finds comedy in aging, dentures and deathNAPLES, Fla. — A musical in Florida about death, drooping, dentures, and other topics of aging is finding a strong following.
