Early urinary markers of target nephron segments as studied in cadmium toxicity.

A number of chemicals may adversely affect one or more of the anatomical structures of the kidney, such as the glomerulus, the tubular apparatus, the medullary, or interstitial cells. To recognize subclinical renal dysfunction, a battery of new, non-invasive tests was applied in comparison to established ones. The study on cadmium exposed subjects, performed within the framework of a collaborative European research project, exemplifies the concept of target selectivity within a nephron.

Markers of early renal changes induced by industrial pollutants. III. Application to workers exposed to cadmium.

Cadmium (Cd) was the third heavy metal investigated in the European collaborative research project on the development and validation of new markers of nephrotoxicity. Fifty workers exposed to Cd and 50 control workers were examined. After application of selection criteria 37 workers (mean age 43) exposed to Cd for an average of 11.

Glycation of serum albumin and its role in renal protein excretion and the development of diabetic nephropathy.

The present study was designed to investigate whether microalbuminuria at the onset of diabetic nephropathy might be partially due to the glycation of serum albumin. It is postulated elsewhere (Ghiggeri et al., Proc.