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Commonly prescribed drugs used to treat high blood pressure have been shown to, over time, wreck the kidneys' ability to filter and purify blood, but exactly how that dangerous side effect unfolded has been a riddle. Researchers say they've solved the mystery. Researchers found that the drugs essentially rewire the kidneys to do something other than the important work of filtering blood. The kidneys start producing more of a hormone called renin; nerve endings grow excessively; cells lining the kidneys' tiny blood vessels get too large; scars form and spread; and inflammation sets in, which "can take a terrible toll...

A potential COVID-19 survival benefit is suggested in association with initiation or continuation of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I), an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), or metformin for hospitalized patients, according to a study published in the December issue of The BMJ. Arthur W. Wallace, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues classified patterns of ACE-I, ARB, beta-blocker, metformin, famotidine, and remdesivir use and captured mortality among 9,532 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. The researchers found that discontinuation of an ACE-I was associated with an elevated risk for death (odds ratio, 1.4), while the risk for death was reduced in association with initiating or...