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November 2006 Issue of Renal And Urology News

Editor's Letter

Going Beyond Machines

Most patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are consigned to life on dialysis. Most undergo in-center hemodialysis three times a week, greatly diminishing their quality ...

World Literature Review

Heart Screening Justified In Diabetic Nephropathy Patients

Patients with diabetic nephropathy who are candidates for kidney or kidney- pancreas transplantation should be screened routinely with coronary angiography, researchers in Norway conclude.

Q2W Dosing of Darbepoetin Alfa is Safe and Effective

Darbepoetin alfa administered once every two weeks (Q2W) safely and effectively treats anemia in hemodialysis patients without having to increase the dose, according to researchers ...

Heavy Weight Increases Renal Graft Loss Risk in Asians

Higher BMI is associated with an increased risk of renal graft loss in Asian transplant recipients, researchers in Hong Kong report.

Acute Graft Pyelonephritis Raises Complication Risks

Acute graft pyelonephritis (AGPN) increases the risk of bacteremia, acute rejection, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, but it does not independently contribute to poor graft or ...

FDA News

Sensor-Based BP Monitor Cleared

Medwave Inc., of Danvers, Mass., has received clearance to market Fusion, the first completely sensor-based monitor to evaluate BP and vital signs.

Data Submitted for Advanced Renal Cancer Drug

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for Torisel (temsirolimus) for treating advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Approvable Letter Issued for Incontinence Implants

Uroplasty, Inc., of Minnetonka, Minn., announced that it has received an approvable letter from the FDA following the agency's scientific review of the safety and ...

New Labeling to Indicate Lowering of "Bad" Cholesterol

Merck and Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals have received approval to include new data in their label for Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin), which the two companies co-market.

Careful Patient Monitoring Advised for Bleeding Inhibitor

The FDA has issued interim recommendations for using Trasylol (aprotinin injection) until a study determines if the drug increases the likelihood of death, serious kidney ...

Legal Issues

When a Doctor Must Testify Against His Will

Dr. U, age 48, an experienced urologist, does both endoscopic and open abdominal surgery. As his experience accumulated, his reputation for "fixing the hard cases" ...

Malpractice News

No More Surgical Sponges Left Behind?

A new study points to a promising technology for detecting gauze sponges left inside a surgical patient. Nearly two thirds of the approximately 3,000 annual ...

Bladder Cancer Patient Awarded $3.4 Million

A jury has awarded a southern California man $3.4 million in a case involving a doctor who failed to diagnose his bladder cancer in a ...

Florida Patients May Be Asked to Sign Away Rights

Under a new Florida Medical Association (FMA) program, physicians may start asking patients to sign documents limiting the amount of money they could seek in ...

Renal Nutrition Update

Kidney Diseases, Elevated BMI Linked

AMERICA'S obesity epidemic continues unabated and has spread to other places where the Western diet prevails. Every new health survey shows that heaviness and obesity ...

General News

Bacteria for Hyperoxaluria?

A German pilot study found that Oxalobacter formigenes bacteria may be a viable treatment option for primary hyperoxaluria type 1.

BP Drug Combo May Raise Renal Risks

SEATTLE—Patients with congestive heart failure may have an increased risk of adverse events when taking combination therapy with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors.

CMV Prophylaxis May Benefit Tx Patients

BOSTON—Cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) remains an important problem for solid-organ transplant recipients. Available data support either universal prophylaxis against the virus or pre-emptive therapy, according to ...

Enlarged Kidneys Predict Nephropathy

RENAL HYPERTROPHY is a major factor in the development of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Endoscopic Injections Could Improve VUR

ENDOSCOPIC injection of hyaluronic acid/dextranomer (NASHA/Dx) gel can be considered as a first-line option for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children, researchers say.

Cover Articles

Artificial Kidneys Advance

NEW YORK—Despite many advances over the years, dialysis and transplantation remain imperfect solutions to renal replacement. One of every five dialysis patients dies every year, ...

Acute Renal Failure: Finally, Some Progress

Acute renal failure (ARF) mortality remains stubbornly high, especially among patients in the ICU. The history of ARF is marked by high-profile failures, persistent clinging ...

Intra-Renal Drug Infusion Shows Promise

SEATTLE—Researchers in California have shown that nesiritide directly increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF).

Review articles

Diabetic Nephropathy Care Is Lacking

KIDNEY DISEASE linked to diabetes, hypertension, and obesity is increasing throughout the world. It is estimated that diabetes leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) accounts ...