|
Kidney Foundation of Canada Funded Study Identifies Barriers to Living Kidney Donation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A study published in Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation by a group of Albertan researchers led by Ms. Lianne Barnieh, supported by a Kidney Foundation Allied Health Doctoral Fellowship, explored for the first time in Canada the barriers to living kidney donation for eligible kidney transplant patients. The most frequently reported barriers identified by potential recipients were not knowing how to ask someone for a kidney and fear either for themselves (the transplant not functioning) or donor (future health implications). Kidney disease patients who understood the living donation process or that the donation did not pose significant long-term risk to the donor were more likely to have had discussions with potential donors Dr. Barnieh’s study suggests “that providing appropriate information about living donation, which can be delivered within a structured educational intervention, could influence the decision to discuss and seek a living donor.” “This is an extremely important study”, says Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. “The more we understand people’s perceptions, belief and behaviors in the organ donation process the better we can design educational programs to empower people regarding organ donation.” For more information on The Kidney Foundation of Canada contact Wim Wolfs, National Director Research, at 514-531-2212 (cell.) or wim.wolfs@kidney.ca. View the article in Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation
|
|
|
Kidney Foundation Funded Study Finds That Vitamin B May Be Harmful For Kidney Patients With Diabetes
|
|
|
|
|
|
In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by Dr. Andrew House of the University of Western Ontario, patients with diabetic nephropathy taking high doses vitamin B showed a decrease in kidney function and were at increased risk for heart attacks and stroke.
Patients with diabetes normally have higher homocysteine (an amino acid that increases clotting of the blood) levels and often take vitamin B supplements, which seem to lower homocysteine levels. Studies have shown that too much homocysteine in the blood is related to higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
Dr. House and colleagues think that because vitamin B is water soluble, healthy people would excrete excess vitamin B in the urine. However individuals with reduced renal function would not be able to do so, perhaps causing the adverse affects seen in this study.
“This is an extremely important study”, says Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. “People with kidney disease often take vitamins assuming they must be safe and good for their health. People with kidney disease should talk to their doctor before taking over-the-counter supplements.”
For more information on The Kidney Foundation of Canada contact Wim Wolfs, National Director Research 514-531-2212 (cell.) or wim.wolfs@kidney.ca.
View the article in Journal of American Medical Association
|
|
|
Canadian Study Finds Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Could Increase Early Disease Management and Public Health
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn and colleagues of the Alberta Kidney Disease Network, the reporting of estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) – a measurement of the kidney’s ability to filter waste products - increased first time visits to kidney specialists, especially for middle aged to elderly patients, patients with more severe kidney dysfunction and those with co-morbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes. This news is notable because Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is an important and increasing public health problem that could be more effectively addressed and treated by early patient and physician awareness. In fact, early detection and appropriate interventions could stem chronic kidney disease progression - or even reverse it. “An extremely important measurement of kidney function is estimated GFR”, says Paul Shay, National Executive Director, The Kidney Foundation of Canada. “People at risk for kidney disease should know their GFR just as people at risk for cardiovascular disease know their blood pressure.” A low GFR is an indication of reduced kidney function. Estimated GFR is calculated using a formula based on age, gender and the result of a blood test (serum creatinine) to estimate kidney function. Creatinine is a natural waste product of body muscle. High levels in the blood or serum tests coupled with other risk factors, is an important indicator of an individual’s kidney health or possible kidney damage. This Canadian study, funded by The Kidney Foundation of Canada and the KRESCENT Program and published in March 2010, is based on information of more than 1,000,000 adults in a province-wide (Alberta) database. The same research group published an earlier study that showed a lower eGFR is associated with an increased risk of negative outcomes (see story “Reduced kidney function with proteinuria associated with increased risk of kidney failure”). Together these studies underscore that CKD is common and requires referral to a specialist. The Kidney Research Scientist Core Education National Training (KRESCENT) Program focuses on the training of world class scientists. It was created in 2005 through a special contribution of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Society of Nephrology and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. A unique program, KRESCENT is characterized by: the recruitment of trainees from multiple disciplines, for involvement in a national curriculum; career development support at the (post-) doctoral level including the first Faculty appointment and ongoing mentorship; and the development of collaborative research and knowledge translation across research themes.
For more information on The Kidney Foundation of Canada or the KRESCENT Program, contact Wim Wolfs, National Director Research 514-531-2212 (cell.) or wim.wolfs@kidney.ca. View the article in Journal of American Medical Association
|
|
|
Reduced Kidney Function with Proteinuria Associated With Increased Risk of Kidney Failure
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Patients with high levels of protein in the urine (proteinuria) coupled with at least one other marker of reduced kidney function had a higher risk of death, heart attack and progression to kidney failure according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) co-authored by Dr. Matthew James. Dr. James is a Post-Doctoral Fellowship recipient of the landmark Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training (KRESCENT) Program made possible by The Kidney Foundation and a team of collaborators.
This Canadian study, published in February 2010, is based on information from nearly a million (902,985) adults in a province-wide (Alberta) database and proves significant for both its size and findings. Current guidelines for the classification and staging of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are based on estimated glomerular filtration rate or eGFR (a measure of the severity of kidney damage) without explicit consideration of the severity of coexistent proteinuria. The authors note: ''our findings do suggest that risk stratification performed in terms of eGFR alone is relatively insensitive to clinically relevant gradients in risk.''
Presently, chronic kidney disease is classified in five (5) different stages based on eGFR. This classification scheme has been very helpful in educating both medical professionals and the general public on CKD incidence and the implications of CKD in terms of early identification and management of persons with the disease.
The five stage classification, however, has been questioned for not including the presence and severity of proteinuria, a condition in which urine contains an abnormal amount of protein. Proteinuria is an important indicator of CKD associated with negative outcomes.
Not everyone progresses from stage 1 to stage 5. Research is ongoing to better understand the factors that cause kidney failure and to identify individuals who are at particular risk for it.
“This is an important study,” says Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. “The Kidney Foundation is interested in a better understanding of chronic kidney disease. The study demonstrates the importance of proteinuria. The Kidney Foundation is proud to support relevant research and those who perform it. These kinds of findings contribute in a significant way to a pool of knowledge that cumulatively has practical implications for both clinical care and research.”
The KRESCENT Program was created through a special collaboration of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Society of Nephrology and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The KRESCENT Program focuses on the training of world class scientists. It is a unique program characterized by: the recruitment of trainees from multiple disciplines, for involvement in a national curriculum, supports the career development at the (post-) doctoral level and the first Faculty appointment, with ongoing mentorship support, and fostering the development of collaborative research and knowledge translation across research themes.
For more information on the KRESCENT Program or The Kidney Foundation of Canada, contact Wim Wolfs, National Director Research (514) 531-2212 (cell.) or wim.wolfs@kidney.ca
View the article in Journal of American Medical Association
|
|
|
The Kidney Foundation and Dietary Salt Reduction
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 27, 2010 - The Foundation is proud to partner in the Sodium Reduction Research Workshop organised by the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Institutes for Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and Cardiovascular and Respiratory Health. The Workshop was held January 25 and 26 in Toronto and evaluated the strengths, gaps and opportunities in research capacity in Canada for sodium reduction research. It aims to develop the research agenda for sodium reduction that will support the Health Canada Workgroup on Sodium Reduction.
“Consuming more salt than we need can lead to high blood pressure,” says Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, a member of Hypertension Canada, “and after diabetes, hypertension is the most common cause of kidney failure. So it stands to reason that if you care about your health, you’ll want to put a halt on the salt.” The benefits of dietary salt intake reduction were underscored in an editorial published in the New England Journal of Medicine accompanying a landmark study on the public health benefits of dietary salt reduction. The study by Dr. Bibbins-Domingo (University of California, San Francisco) concluded that a 3 gram per day reduction in dietary salt would reduce the annual number of deaths from any cause by 44,000 to 92,000 in the United States. Lowering salt intake would result in small but measurable reduction in blood pressure. The NEJM editorial also stated that that there is evidence that salt reduction may reduce end-stage kidney disease.
Read the editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine
Read Dr. Bibbins-Domingo's article in the New England Journal of Medicine
|
|
|
Canadians Support Increase in Medical Research Funding
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 19, 2010 - A recent Angus Reid survey, conducted on behalf of six health organizations, found that most Canadians would support increased government funding for health and medical research because they believe breakthroughs are possible within 10 to 20 years. Results of the "Canada Speaks! 2010: Canadians Go for Gold in Health and Medical Research" survey are available at: http://www.canadaspeaks2010.ca/content.php?sec=3
More coverage of the survey available at:
http://www.news.tradingcharts.com/futures/5/3/134155835.html
|
|
|
Acute Kidney Injury Increases Long-Terms Risk of Death
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 23, 2009 - Patients with sudden loss of kidney function, called acute kidney injury (AKI), are more likely to die prematurely after leaving the hospital—even if their kidney function has apparently recovered, according to a study by Dr. Jean-Phillipe Lafrance, a KRESCENT Post Doctoral Fellowship recipient. "Our study found that risk of death remains elevated long after the acute kidney injury," comments Jean-Phillipe Lafrance.
Dr. Lafrance has returned to the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal after finishing his Fellowship at the Boston University School of Public Health. His Fellowship research led to the publication of an article focusing on Acute Kidney Injury and the risk of death in the Journal of American Society of Nephrology.
View Dr. Lafrance’s article in Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Download the full press release (pdf)
|
|
|
2009 Medal for Research Excellence Awarded to Dr. Susan E. Quaggin
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 11, 2009 – Dr. Susan E. Quaggin has been awarded The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s 2009 Medal for Research Excellence for exceptional work that has extensively improved the lives of people living with kidney disease.
As a clinician-investigator, Dr. Quaggin develops research questions of major importance through her observations and work with patients at St. Michael’s Hospital. She runs her own lab at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto where she performs groundbreaking work.
 “Sue Quaggin is an extensively published, accomplished and talented young scientist in the flourishing phase of her career,” notes Dr. Andras Kapus, associate professor at the research institute of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “She has rendered immense service to the field of nephrology and to people with kidney disease. We look forward to what she will achieve in the years to come.’’
Each year The Kidney Foundation of Canada awards The Medal for Research Excellence to honour a Canadian researcher whose work is recognized by their peers for having improved the treatment and care of people living with kidney disease and related conditions.
Download the full press release (pdf)
Read our newsletter Let's Talk Research for more researcher profiles (pdf)
|
|
|
New Canadian Research Helps Doctors Care for Kidney Patients
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
October 9, 2009 – Research funded by The Kidney Foundation of Canada and led by kidney specialists at Lawson Health Research Institute and London Health Sciences Centre will make it possible for doctors to quickly and effectively access information relevant for patient care. These research findings have been released this week in the print version of the renowned British Medical Journal (BMJ).
“Our study shows that MEDLINE, the database most used by doctors to guide patient care, can be filtered in a reliable manner for patient relevant information,” says Dr. Amit Garg, a London Health Sciences Centre nephrologist and epidemiologist, Lawson scientist, associate professor with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario and Clinician Scientist with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Previous attempts to filter the database for a clinical discipline have been limited.
“Using filters is like screening for disease in high risk populations,” says Dr. Garg. “Instead of searching the entire MEDLINE database, doctors can now perform their search within a set of articles relevant to the discipline, such as kidney or kidney disease. Our best renal filters exceeded 97% sensitivity and specificity so they can now be programmed into the system, available for everyone to use – not just renal specialists.’’
Download the full press release (pdf)
Read Dr. Garg's article in British Medical Journal
|
|
|
KFOC Fellowship Recipient Publishes Study Results
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 21, 2009 - Dr. Josée Bouchard, a KFOC Fellowship recipient (July 2007 to June 2009), has returned to Hôpital Sacré-Coeur in Montreal after finishing her Fellowship at the University of California San Diego. Her Fellowship research has led to the publication of an article focusing on critically ill patients suffering from acute kidney injury and the effect of fluid accumulation on their outcomes.
Despite progress in intensive care delivery and dialysis support, there has not been much improvement in survival of acute kidney injury patients. Dr. Bouchard's study shows that fluid accumulation may aggravate the increased mortality in dialyzed and non-dialyzed patients with acute kidney injury. Randomized controlled trials are now needed to confirm whether the fluid accumulation was a result of a more severe renal injury or a factor contributing to its cause. Dr. Bouchard worked with members of the Program to Improve Care in Acute Renal Disease (PICARD) Study Group to complete the project informing her publication.
View Dr. Bouchard’s article in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
View the editorial on Dr. Bouchard's article in Nature Reviews Nephrology
Now a Montreal-based nephrologist and clinical researcher, Dr. Bouchard is involved in a multicenter prospective study on acute kidney injury including patients from Hôpital Sacré-Coeur, University of California San Diego and 3 medical centers in the state of New York. Other centers from South America, Europe and Asia will join their group over the next months.
|
|
|
Dr Catherine Whiteside To Be Awarded 2009 May-Cohen Award
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 19, 2009 - Dr. Catharine Whiteside, the Foundation’s 2007 awardee of the Medal for Research Excellence, will receive the Canadian Medical Association 2009 May-Cohen Award for Women Mentor.
Download the press release from the Canadian Medical Association (pdf)
Read our profile on Dr. Whiteside
|
|
|
Quality of Life of Dialysis Patients Focus of Foundation-funded Documentary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 15, 2009 - A two-year study (2006-2008) funded by The Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Donner Canadian Foundation, “Living with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD): Multiple perspectives on suffering and healing” has resulted in a feature-length, patient-centred documentary film about what it is like to live with kidney failure. Led by Dr. Thomas Hutchinson and Dr. Dawn Allen of McGill University, the project began as a discussion between patients and health professionals. Living With Kidney Failure draws on video data from focus group discussions, biographical interviews, and observation in dialysis units to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease and to promote a better understanding of its quality-of-life implications for people who live with this chronic illness. Watch the documentary Living With Kidney Failure
|
|
|
Foundation-Funded Research with Important Implications
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 3, 2009 - A team of researchers at The University of Western Ontario, led by Joaquin (Quim) Madrenas of the Robarts Research Institute, has discovered some processes that reduce the lethal effects of toxins from superbugs, allowing humans and microbes to co-evolve. This discovery may lead to novel alternatives to antibiotics that specifically target the toxic effects of these superbugs. The findings are being published in the journal Nature Medicine and are now available online.
View press release (pdf)
View Dr. Madrenas article in Nature Medicine
Dr. Madrenas' research was funded by The Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and was featured in Let's Talk Research vol. 1 (pdf)
|
|
|