XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
  Dialysis
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
 
 India
Search

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2006 - 12:32:53 PM

Nephrology Channel
subscribe to Nephrology newsletter

Latest Research : Nephrology

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Unique therapeutic strategy for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Jun 12, 2005 - 5:42:00 AM, Reviewed by: Dr.

"Understanding why patients develop cachexia is important because it is associated with very high mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease,"

 
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Doernbecher Children's Hospital have uncovered a unique therapeutic strategy to combat cachexia -- severe malnutrition and physical wasting away -- in children and adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study is published in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Although the exact cause of cachexia -- a common life-threatening complication of CKD, cancer, AIDS and heart failure patients -- is unknown, Doernbecher researchers found elevated levels of leptin, a hormone that is produced by fat cells and plays a role in weight regulation, may be the cause. Leptin signals through the hypothalamic melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4-R) pathway in the brain, and blocking this pathway may be an important avenue for treatment, they report. The study was conducted in mice.

"Understanding why patients develop cachexia is important because it is associated with very high mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease," said study investigator Robert Mak, M.D., professor of pediatrics in the OHSU School of Medicine and head of pediatric nephrology, Doernbecher Children's Hospital. "Through this research, we have found a novel therapeutic strategy to combat this life-threatening complication of chronic renal disease, which affects more than 10 percent of the population and costs $40 billion each year to treat."

In an accompanying editorial commentary, William Mitch, M.D., past president of the American Society of Nephrology and Edward Randall Distinguished Chairman in Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, wrote that this study "provides a quantum increase in our understanding of CKD-associated anorexia."
 

- June issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation
 

www.ohsu.edu

 
Subscribe to Nephrology Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 

Other OHSU investigators involved in the research include: Wai Cheung, postdoctoral fellow in pediatrics, School of Medicine; Pin Xuan Yu, research assistant, Vollum Institute; Brian Little, senior research assistant in pediatrics, School of Medicine; Roger Cone, Ph.D., senior scientist in the Vollum Institute; and Daniel Marks, M.D., assistant professor of medicine (pediatric nephrology), School of Medicine.



Related Nephrology News

Kidney stones? Have some orange juice!!!
NOTCH2 gene mutations linked to Alagille syndrome
Fetal hydronephrosis mystery solved
Alport Syndrome: From Pathogenesis to a Potential Therapy
Meckel-Gruber syndrome gene identified- a help to understand polycystic kidney disease
Dialysis patients may be overmedicated
Mycophenolate mofetil may be more effective in inducing lupus nephritis remission
Dialysis patients often have close family members also on dialysis - Study
Prognosis Improving For Diabetics With End Stage Renal Disease
Osmolytes critical to survival of kidney cells


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us