Dialysis patients at risk from 'enhanced' meats

Although lawmakers and consumer advocates have been fussing about publication of nutrient contents for fast foods and restaurant meals, a potentially bigger threat to health may lie in poorly labeled meats and poultry in the local supermarket. Many such products that are "enhanced" with water and other additives -- think the "plumped" chickens so disparaged in the clever Foster Farms ads -- contain levels of phosphorus and potassium that can be hazardous to dialysis patients and others with kidney disease, researchers reported online in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
The healthy kidney regulates blood levels of phosphorus and potassium, but the diseased kidney is typically unable to do so. High levels of either can lead to death. Dialysis removes them, but consuming extra quantities of them can make the process more difficult.

Dr. Richard A. Sherman and Dr. Ojas Mehta of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey randomly purchased uncooked meat and poultry from supermarkets, then tested them blindly for potassium and phosphorus concentrations. They found that that products labeled as "enhanced" had an average phosphate concentration 28% higher than that of additive-free products, and some had 100% more. Additive-free products all contained less than 387 milligrams of potassium per 100 grams of protein, and five of the 25 products with additives contained at least 692 mg per 100 grams. Though many of the enhanced products reported the presence of the additives on the labeling, eight of the 25 did not. The authors called for full labeling of the products, which is not required under federal rules.

The study was funded by grants from Dialysis Clinics Inc. and Genzyme.

-- Thomas H. Maugh II



Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/07/dialysis-patients-at-risk-from-enhanced-meats.html

Home nocturnal dialysis

Observational study suggests home nocturnal dialysis mortality similar to that with kidney transplantation.from Hypertension, Dialysis and Clinical Nephrology - Kidney Canadian Press: Researchers found survival for patients on night home hemodialysis was comparable to that of patients who had received kidney transplants from deceased donors. Principal investigator Dr. Christopher Chan of Toronto General Hospital says the study shows home hemodialysis provides a suitable alternative for patients who may not have access to a kidney transplant. The study is being published in the international September issue of Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.

Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/31419.php

110K buys a good kidney but not good health

100K buys recipient a good kidney, but not good health, and results in the death of a young Chinese girl.from Hypertension, Dialysis and Clinical Nephrology - Kidney CNN: The family's story is one of several that have come to light in recent weeks as part of a worldwide CNN investigation into what appears to be a widespread black market in human organs, a network now being probed by authorities in Israel and the United States. Nagauker went to China, where his daughter said he was taken to a rural hospital and given the kidney of an 18-year-old Chinese girl. Shai captured images on her cell phone of her father in what she described as a filthy hospital. The surgery went poorly, and the girl who donated the kidney died shortly after surgery, Shai said. "They gave her $5,000, and she died," she said.

Link:http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/09/02/organ.brokers/

Fresenius launches telemonitoring system for dialysis

Fresenius launches telemonitoring system for dialysis patients.from Hypertension, Dialysis and Clinical Nephrology - Kidney Reuters: The KidneyTel system combines home telehealth monitoring device technology with an integrated care management program specifically tailored to the kidney patient. KidneyTel provides interactive daily contact and education with dialysis patients by monitoring health issues through a series of interactive questions on key health risk areas. In addition, KidneyTel collects daily vital signs of blood pressure, weight, and blood glucose. This information is transmitted each day to the KidneyTel IT system and call center.

Houston woman finds kidney donor on Craigslist

HOUSTON – A woman’s post on Craigslist may have saved her life.

VIDEO: Houston Video | Breaking News | Houston, Texas | KHOU.com

BBC's Tomorrow's World on dialysis in 1965!

This inaugural edition of 'Tomorrow's World' includes three very different features. Derek Cooper, with help from consultant physician Dr Charles Fletcher, investigates new advances in kidney dialysis machines designed to work in the home and follows the range of opinions about this development....

See the programme here:

or http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/tomorrowsworld/8001.shtml