Urology News Kidney Function Decline Increases Risk Of Heart Failure And Premature Death Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST Declining kidney function is linked to a higher risk of heart failure, heart attack, peripheral arterial disease, and early death in individuals with or without kidney disease, according to a pair of studies appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings indicate that poor kidney function may raise an individual's risk for cardiovascular complications. Key Player Identified In Cascade That Leads To Hypertension-Related Kidney Damage Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST A key player in a cascade that likely begins with stress and leads to high blood pressure and kidney damage has been identified by researchers who say the finding may lead to better ways to control both. Medical College of Georgia researchers have found endothelin, a powerful blood vessel constrictor and inflammatory peptide, increases the number of T cells in the kidneys, which helps recruit other immune cells, causing inflammation and destruction. Small Increases In Phosphorus Mean Higher Risk Of Heart Disease Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST Higher levels of phosphorus in the blood are linked to increased calcification of the coronary arteries a key marker of heart disease risk, according to a study in an upcoming issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). "This may help to explain why even early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk that is not otherwise explained by traditional risk factors," comments Katherine R. Polycystins: Proteins That Regulate The Cellular Barometer Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST What is the role of proteins called polycystins in patients with polycystic kidney disease? A team of researchers from CNRS and INSERM, led by Eric Honore from the Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC, Universite de Nice Sophia Antipolis/CNRS) has elucidated the molecular and cellular mechanisms linked to polycystin malfunctions that cause this common hereditary disease. Does Prostate-specific Antigen Velocity Help In Early Detection Prostate Cancer? Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST The November issue of European Urology, the official journal of the European Association of Urology, features an article focussing on prostate specific antigen (PSA) velocity and early cancer detection. It has been suggested that changes in PSA over time aid prostate cancer detection. It is argued that a rapidly rising PSA may indicate a greater risk of diagnosis of prostate cancer even if PSA levels are low. |