The Integral Role of Chloride & With-No-Lysine Kinases in Cell Volume Regulation & Hypertension.

Chloride anions are the most abundant in humans. For many years, it has been believed that chloride is simply a counterion of all other cations, ensuring the electroneutrality of the extracellular space. Recent data suggests that chloride anions possess a broad spectrum of important activities that regulate vital cellular functions.

Molecular pathophysiology of Bartter's and Gitelman's syndromes.

Background: In the last two decades, progress in cytogenetic and genome research has enabled investigators to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms of inherited tubulopathies such as Bartter's and Gitelman's syndromes and helped physicians to better understand not only these two pathologic entities but also renal pathophysiology and salt sensitive hypertension.

Data Sources: Articles collected from PubMed and open access journals included original articles, research articles, and comprehensive reviews. They were evaluated by the authors with an special emphasis on originality and up to date information about molecular pathophysiology.

The loop of Henle as the milestone of mammalian kindey concentrating ability: a historical review.

The first description of the renal tubules is attributed to Lorenzo Bellini in 1662 and four years later Marcello Malpighi described the glomerulus. In 1842 Sir William Bowman described the capsule that surrounds the Malpighian body and its connection with the renal tubule and introduced the "excretory" hypothesis of urine formation. In the same year, Carl Ludwig introduced the "filtration-reabsorption" hypothesis of urine formation.

Is the dietary protein restriction achievable in chronic kidney disease? The impact upon quality of life and the dialysis delay.

The possible deleterious effect of meet consumption upon deterioration of renal disease was speculated from Lionel Beale as early as 1869. The first attempt to apply a very low protein diet in humans is attributed to Millard Smith who prescribed a diet consisting of 300 mg protein per day in a volunteer medical student for 24 days. Unfortunately, in early 20(th) century, prescribing very low protein diets among patients suffering from renal disease complicated with malnutrition and the medical practice of this era turned to the recommendation of high protein diets because it was believed that protein consumption is coupled with the strength of civilized man.

Metabolic syndrome risk factors and estimated glomerular filtration rate among children and adolescents.

The aim of this study was to seek the possible relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) and anthropometric indexes, lipids, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic syndrome risk factors among healthy children and adolescents. Sufficient evidence suggest that obesity is related with a novel form of glomerulopathy named obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) among adults, children, and adolescents. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated from serum creatinine in 166 healthy children and adolescents [79 males, 87 females; age 10.

Factors influencing blood pressure control in children and adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of increased blood pressure among children and adolescents and its relation with the anthropometric indexes, fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity indexes and lipid levels.

Background: Sufficient evidence suggests that the incidence of essential hypertension among children and adolescents is rapidly increased parallel to the incidence of obesity among these subjects.

Methods: We investigated 154 school-aged children; 77 males and 77 females, aged 11.

Insulin and human obesity.

The prevalence of obesity among modern communities increases dramatically and trends to achieve the characteristics of an epidemic. Obesity is the result of a sedentary life style and increased food intake, which characterises western communities. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia and the very frequent combination of obesity and NIDDM is characterised as "Diabesity".

Homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Mild to moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is very common among patients undergoing haemodialysis. There is sufficient evidence that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and or atheromatous disease in end stage renal failure patients. Vitamin supplementation such as vitamin B6, B12 or folate has been proposed to correct this metabolic disturbance and it is to be proved if this intervention benefit these patients, but there is no agreement whether oral folate supplementation is capable to normalize homocysteine levels in end stage renal failure patients.

Diabetic nephropathy in children and adolescents and its consequences in adults.

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a disease predominantly affecting children and young adults. Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in the number of patients with IDDM which has almost doubled the incidence per generation. Evidence suggests that autoimmunity plays an important role in its pathogenesis.

Effects of conventional vs. low-molecular-weight heparin on lipid profile in hemodialysis patients.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death in hemodialysis patients and seems to be related, at least in part, to lipid abnormalities. It has been suggested that in these patients low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is superior to conventional heparin because it causes less side effects and has beneficial effects on lipid parameters. Our study was carried out to examine the long-term effects of the replacement of conventional heparin by LMWH on the lipoprotein profile in a large group of hemodialysis patients.

Long-term effects of low molecular weight heparin on lipid parameters in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: The long-term effects of the replacement of conventional heparin by low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on lipid parameters were examined in a large group of hemodialysis patients.

Experimental Design: One-year prospective investigation.

Setting: Renal units.

Lipid parameters including Lp(a) in hemodialysis patients.

Chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients have a high incidence and prevalence of atherosclerotic disease which may be related to numerous atherosclerotic risk factors. Among them dyslipidemia plays a significant role. Elevated Lp(a) levels, which are strongly associated with atherosclerosis, have been reported recently in uremic patients.