Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and the Causative Role of Aristolochic Acid.

Balkan endemic nephropathy is a chronic tubulointerstitial disease with insidious onset, slowly progressing to end-stage renal disease and frequently associated with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UTUC). It was described in South-East Europe at the Balkan peninsula in rural areas around tributaries of the Danube River. After decades of intensive investigation, the causative factor was identified as the environmental phytotoxin aristolochic acid (AA) contained in Aristolochia clematitis, a common plant growing in wheat fields that was ingested through home-baked bread.

[Satirical revues produced by the students in medicine of the Université libre de Bruxelles from 1944 to 2014].

The paper deals with the content of the 10 satirical revues organized by the students in medicine of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) from 1944 to 2014. That analysis allows identifying the events as well the figures which have left their mark in the Faculty of medicine of ULB during this period, at least according to the view of the students.

[Alternative medicines and "Evidence-Based Medicine" a possible reconciliation?].

The contrast between the efficiency of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), a scientific fact, and the popularity of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) is a paradox of the art of healing. EBM is based on the paradigm of positivism and materialism while CAM are based on those of relativism and vitalism. These paradigms are diametrically opposed and the aim of an integrative medicine is aporetic.

[Aristolochic acid nephropathy ("Chinese herb nephropathy")].

Aristolochic acid nephropathy is a renal disease of toxic origin characterized by a progressive interstitial fibrosis and frequently associated with urinary tract cancer. It was initially reported in Belgium after the intake of slimming pills containing root extracts of a Chinese herb, Aristolochia fangchi. In the following decades, numerous cases have been reported worldwide, particularly in Asian countries.

The epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of aristolochic acid nephropathy: a narrative review.

It has been 20 years since the first description of a rapidly progressive renal disease that is associated with the consumption of Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid (AA) and is now termed aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). Recent data have shown that AA is also the primary causative agent in Balkan endemic nephropathy and associated urothelial cancer. Aristolochic acid nephropathy is associated with a high long-term risk for renal failure and urothelial cancer, and the potential worldwide population exposure is enormous.