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| AAKP News of the Month: Join AAKP for Kidney Beginnings: Live!
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Kidney Beginnings: Live is a FREE educational program designed to educate individuals about the basics of kidney disease and proper kidney care. Attendees receive complimentary educational materials, learn about kidney disease in a welcoming atmosphere and have the opportunity to have questions answered by local health care professionals.
Please continue to check the AAKP Web site for more upcoming locations and dates. |
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| Abnormal Blood Calcium Levels Deadly For Kidney Disease Patients |
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In a new study, abnormally high calcium levels were linked to higher death rates among patients particularly when high calcium levels were present for a prolonged period of time. Compared with patients with normal blood calcium levels, patients with abnormally high levels had a 31 percent increased risk of death. Those with low calcium levels had a 21 percent increased risk of death. The findings, appearing in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN), indicate the potential importance of finding drugs or other treatments that maintain normal blood calcium levels in non-dialysis patients. |
| Blood Pressure May Be Lowered by Raising Children |
 A new Brigham Young University study found parenthood is associated with lower blood pressure, particularly among women. The study involved 198 adults who wore portable blood pressure monitors for 24 hours. Parents scored 4.5 points lower than non-parents in systolic blood pressure and 3 points lower than non-parents in diastolic blood pressure. The effect was more pronounced among women, with motherhood corresponding to a 12-point difference in systolic blood pressure and a 7-point difference in diastolic blood pressure. Of course parenthood is not the only route to low blood pressure - daily exercise and a low-sodium diet also do the trick. The noteworthy aspect of the study is the idea that social factors may also protect physical health. |
| Submit Your Entry for the AAKP Artwork Contest |
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The deadline for submissions to the AAKP Artwork Contest is quickly approaching. Artwork must be submitted by February 26, 2010. The Artwork Contest is being held in honor of the upcoming National Kidney Month (March). The goal of this artwork contest is to allow individuals to demonstrate, through their artwork, how kidney disease has affected them and help raise awareness of this chronic disease.
Artwork is publicly judged during National Kidney Month and will be displayed on the AAKP Web site from March 15 - April 15. Winners are announced in April. Entries must adhere to the contest/artwork guidelines and be accompanied by an official entry form.
The top three selected pieces of artwork will be turned into all occasion greeting cards and be offered by AAKP as an Association fundraiser. Winners will receive a complimentary pack of their artwork greeting card along with an award certificate for their accomplishments. Please contact AAKP at (800) 749-2257 or info@aakp.org for questions. |
| Tickets Still Available for Medal of Excellence Award Dinner |
 Join AAKP as we honor Tom F. Parker, III, MD, 2010 AAKP Medal of Excellence recipient. The AAKP Medal of Excellence Award acknowledges a renal physician's significant contributions to the progress of patient education and disease treatment in the kidney community. Dr. Parker joins a long list of nephrologists who have excelled in his/her contributions to the renal community including patient care and patient education.
The Award Dinner is held Saturday, March 13 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Md, in conjunction with the Renal Physician Association's Annual Meeting. Dinner tickets are available for $99 each and can be purchased online or by calling (800) 749-2257. |
| Kidney Disease Drug Licensed In Asia |
Thanks in part to more than a decade of preclinical work by Dartmouth researchers, a Japanese biopharmaceutical firm, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, is preparing to develop and market throughout Asia a drug for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The drug, bardoxolone methyl, belongs to a family of anti-inflammatory compounds called triterpenoids, which chemist Tadashi Honda, PhD, began synthesizing at the Dartmouth laboratory in 1995. Researchers found synthetic triterpenoids can inhibit many kinds of tumor cells, suppress inflammation, and protect healthy, non-cancerous cells. The agreement gives Kyowa exclusive rights to develop and sell bardoxolone for CKD and related conditions in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea and southeast Asia. |
| Key Protein Helps Control Blood Pressure |
 University of Iowa researchers have shown that a protein channel helps nerve sensors in blood vessels keep blood pressure in check. Without the protein channel, known as ASIC2, the sensors are unable to send the brain the signals it needs to properly control blood pressure.
The finding, which was based in animal models, is important because it could be used to create new treatments to prevent high blood pressure. According to Dr. Frank Abboud, "By knowing more about what makes these sensors malfunction, we may be able to find ways to make them work properly and prevent high blood pressure." The study results appear in the journal Neuron. |
| Nationwide Recall of All GlucoPro Insulin Syringes |
Nipro Medical Corporation is initiating a nationwide recall of all GlucoPro Insulin Syringes. This does not include the GlucoPro syringe specific for use with the Amigo Insulin pump. These syringes may have needles that detach from the syringe. If the needle becomes detached from the syringe during use, it can become stuck in the insulin vial, push back into the syringe or remain in the skin after injection.
Consumers who have GlucoPro Insulin Syringes should stop using and return them to where-ever they purchased them to get their money back. This recall includes all product codes and lot numbers with expiration dates before Nov 1, 2011. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (305) 599-7174 x249. | |
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