Free Republic

Exposure to trihalomethanes—especially brominated trihalomethanes—in residential community water supplies (CWS) is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online July 2. Danielle N. Medgyesi, Ph.D. and colleagues conducted a prospective cohort study to examine long-term exposure to trihalomethanes in residential CWS and its association with CKD risk using data from the California Teachers Study, including female teachers and administrators enrolled between 1995 and 1996 with data linked to mortality and health care records. The study sample included 89,320 female participants with 6,242 cases of CKD. The researchers observed a clear exposure-response association...

The drug tirzepatide improved kidney function and cardiovascular outcomes among patients with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared with placebo at one year, according to featured clinical research. In the new analysis of data from the SUMMIT trial, researchers focused on patients with obesity, chronic kidney disease and HFpEF. HFpEF occurs when the heart muscle cannot enlarge sufficiently to accommodate the blood it receives, causing pressure in the heart to become elevated. Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys do not filter waste from the blood as they should, leading to a buildup of toxins. Tirzepatide...

New research has found that a diet rich in diverse plant foods can significantly benefit people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kelly Lambert said the research demonstrates that a simple dietary intervention can lead to substantial improvements in gut health and reduce harmful toxins in the blood and urine. The research is the first of its kind globally to show the positive effects of a plant-dominant diet on CKD patients. The study involved participants consuming more than 30 different types of plant foods each week, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. The research team...

A research team has discovered that C-reactive protein (CRP) can exacerbate kidney inflammation caused by diabetes, also known as diabetic kidney disease (DKD), through a Smad3-NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent mechanism. Therefore, future research targeting CRP or the Smad3-NLRP3 mechanism may provide new treatment directions for DKD. CRP is an inflammatory protein whose level rises rapidly when the body undergoes an inflammatory response, making it a commonly used clinical marker for inflammation. Recent studies have shown that CRP exacerbates kidney inflammation and fibrosis through the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway, worsening DKD. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a key factor driving kidney inflammation,...

Gestational exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with an increased risk for childhood chronic kidney disease (CHD), although the association is not seen in sibling comparisons, according to a study. You-Lin Tain, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues examined the association between gestational exposure to NSAIDs and the risk for CKD in childhood in a cohort study involving 1,025,255 children born alive in Taiwan from Jan. 1, 2007, to Dec. 31, 2017, with follow-up until Dec. 31, 2021. The study included 163,516 singleton-born children whose mothers used at least one dispensing of an NSAID during pregnancy. The researchers observed a...

Higher intake of total, animal, and plant protein is associated with lower mortality in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study. Adrián Carballo-Casla, Ph.D. and colleagues examined associations of total, animal, and plant protein intake with all-cause mortality in older adults with mild or moderate CKD. The analysis included 8,543 community-dwelling adults ≥ 60 years. The researchers found that higher total protein intake was associated with lower mortality among participants with CKD (adjusted hazard ratio for 1.00 versus 0.80 g/kg/day: 0.88; for 1.20 versus 0.80 g/kg/day: 0.79; for 1.40 versus 0.80 g/kg/day, 0.73). For plant and...

For individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) treatment is associated with a reduced risk for kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT) but not death. Elaine Ku, M.D. and colleagues examined the association of ACEi or ARB treatment initiation with rates of KFRT and death using data from completed randomized controlled trials from 1946 through Dec 31, 2023. Data were included for 1,739 participants from 18 trials, and of these patients, 35.9 and 7.6 percent developed KFRT and died, respectively, during a median follow-up of 34 months. The researchers found that the...

Among adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, infusion of amino acids reduces the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI), according to a study published online. Giovanni Landoni, M.D. and colleagues examined the efficacy of amino acids in reducing the occurrence of AKI after cardiac surgery. The analysis included 3,511 adult patients who were scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who were randomly assigned to receive an intravenous infusion of either a balanced mixture of amino acids (2 g per kilogram of ideal body weight per day) or placebo (Ringer's solution) for up to three days. The researchers found that...

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risks for cardiovascular mortality and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in patients with early-stage disease, according to a study. Yanhong Lin and colleagues examined the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) deficiency on cardiovascular mortality and kidney outcomes in patients with early-stage CKD. The analysis included 9,229 adult patients with CKD (stages 1 to 3) from 19 medical centers across China (January 2000 to May 2021). The researchers found that compared with patients having 25(OH)D ≥20 ng/mL, a there was a significantly higher risk for cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio, 1.90) and CKD progression (hazard...

Combining a low dose of blood pressure medication with a higher intake of dietary-resistant starch might help stave off diabetic kidney disease, according to results from a new animal study. "Our study suggests that combining dietary interventions with a low dose of established medications for diabetic kidney disease management can provide a more feasible and lower side-effect alternative for patients to implement and improve their health outcomes by helping maintain their kidney integrity," said Claudia Carrillo. Dietary-resistant starch is found in unripe bananas, cooked and cooled potatoes, legumes and whole grains. This type of carbohydrate ferments in the large intestine,...

Findings from researchers show high blood levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) predict future risk of developing chronic kidney disease over time. The findings build on more than a decade of research related to the gut microbiome's role in cardiovascular health and disease, including the adverse effects of TMAO, a byproduct formed by the gut bacteria from nutrients abundant in red meat, eggs and other animal source foods. The large-scale study measured blood levels of TMAO over time in two large NIH populations and followed the kidney function of more than 10,000 U.S. adults with normal kidney function at baseline over...

14% of American adults are affected by chronic kidney disease – and anyone in that category should be very careful about how much watermelon they eat. A new series of case studies examines how a favorite fruit can cause life-threatening issues. There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a slurpy bite of watermelon on a hot day. With the US watermelon season fast approaching, many are looking forward to eating the naturally sweet fruit. And because watermelon is made up of 92% water, nothing in it can cause health problems, right? Not quite. A collection of three case studies recently published...

Researchers have uncovered a mechanism by which a hormone can protect the blood vessels in the kidneys from the damage caused by diabetes. In doing so, the team has identified a potential early treatment strategy to prevent or slow progression of kidney disease in people with diabetes. Kidney damage from diabetes usually happens slowly over many years. One of the ways damage can be caused is by disruption of the glycocalyx—a thin gel-like layer lining the surface of the blood vessels forming part of the tiny filters of the kidney ('glomeruli')—due to high blood sugar levels over a long period...

Glucagon, a hormone best known for promoting blood sugar production in the liver, also appears to play a key role in maintaining kidney health. When researchers removed receptors for this hormone from mouse kidneys, the animals developed symptoms akin to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Researchers have discovered that cells in the pancreas produce glucagon when blood sugar, or glucose, dips below a certain threshold. This hormone migrates through the bloodstream to receptors on the surface of liver cells, prompting the liver to produce glucose that fuels cells throughout the body. More recent research has shown that the kidneys also bear...

Britain’s AstraZeneca has agreed to pay $425 million to settle about 11,000 lawsuits in the United States that claimed its heartburn drugs Nexium and Prilosec caused chronic kidney disease. AstraZeneca did not admit wrongdoing under the settlement, part of broader litigation against makers of a class of heartburn drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). “Today’s settlements are a significant victory for the thousands of patients who suffered kidney injuries as a result of using” the drugs, the plaintiffs’ attorney Chris Seeger said in a statement. A single lawsuit is still scheduled to go to trial in April in Louisiana, according...

Patients with acute kidney injury requiring outpatient dialysis after hospital discharge receive the same care as those with the more common end-stage kidney disease, according to a study. But while patients with the latter diagnosis—typically caused by long-standing hypertension or diabetes—must remain on lifelong dialysis or receive a new kidney, some patients on dialysis for acute kidney injury have the potential to recover, the researchers reported. Acute kidney injury may result from acute infection or shock, causing reduced blood flow to the kidneys, as well as major surgeries and chemotherapy agents that are toxic to the kidneys. Researchers tracked data...

Urine levels of adenine, a metabolite produced in the kidney, are predictive and a causative biomarker of looming progressive kidney failure in patients with diabetes, a finding that could lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention, researchers reported. The study results are significant because until now, the most important marker for kidney disease has been protein (or albumin) in the urine. Up to half of diabetes patients who develop kidney failure never have much protein in their urine. As 90% of patients with diabetes (more than 37 million patients in the U.S.) remain at increased risk despite low levels of albumin...

Chronic kidney disease is a growing problem. Now, a study reveals that a protein known for treating cardiovascular diseases also counteracts a mechanism in the kidney that reabsorbs proteins. This could potentially lead to new treatment options. A study suggests that the cardiovascular system may open up a treatment strategy. Kathrin Weyer, explains: "We have found that a protein called PCSK9, which influences the cholesterol level in the blood and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, has completely new and unexpected effects in the kidneys. In the study, we can see that PCSK9 regulates a receptor in the kidneys that...

A lower-carbohydrate and lower-sugar diet could increase life expectancy for adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research. Replacing carbohydrate with protein and/or replacing sugar with non-sugar carbohydrate seems to reduce mortality risk, the study found. Current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the general population recommend a low fat/low carbohydrate diet, making protein the primary energy source. However, the WHO recommends a low protein diet for those with CKD as high levels of protein are thought to accelerate kidney deterioration. CKD is a common condition, affecting around 15% of people. An optimal diet can effectively prevent CKD from...

Fresh insights into a protein that causes damage in kidneys and hearts could open up new treatment options for chronic kidney disease. In a study in mice, scientists found scarring in kidneys and hearts was driven by a protein called Indian Hedgehog (IHH), which is produced and released by a subset of cells in aged and injured kidneys. Experts say further studies are needed to explore therapies to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD)—a condition that affects 10 percent of the world's population. CKD is a term used to cover any form of kidney disease that continues for more than a...