Urinary Epidermal Growth Factor Reflects Distal Tubular Mass and is Associated with Hypertension, Serum Magnesium, and Kidney Outcomes.

Background: Epidermal growth factor is expressed in the distal tubule and secreted in urine (uEGF) after cleavage of membrane-bound pro-EGF. Lower uEGF is associated with kidney disease progression. EGF also plays a role in the regulation of serum magnesium and blood pressure, but whether uEGF is associated with these parameters is unknown.

The metalloproteinase PAPP-A is required for IGF-dependent chondrocyte differentiation and organization.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling is required for proper growth and skeletal development in vertebrates. Consequently, its dysregulation may lead to abnormalities of growth or skeletal structures. IGF is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes.

Accuracy of Cranial Shape Measurements Using Smartphones: A Prospective Study.

Objective: Prospectively validate the accuracy of smartphone-based digital cranial measurements for the diagnosis and treatment of deformational plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (DPB), compared with calipers used in the standard of care.

Design/methods: Bird's-eye-view head photos were captured via smartphone, and their heads were measured with hand calipers by an expert user. CI/CVAI/CVA were calculated from photos and caliper measurements, and from 3D photogrammetry of the head as ground truth.

Genetic deletion of the kidney sodium/proton exchanger-3 (NHE3) does not alter calcium and phosphate balance due to compensatory responses.

The sodium/proton exchanger-3 (NHE3) plays a major role in acid-base and extracellular volume regulation and is also implicated in calcium homeostasis. As calcium and phosphate balances are closely linked, we hypothesized that there was a functional link between kidney NHE3 activity, calcium, and phosphate balance. Therefore, we examined calcium and phosphate homeostasis in kidney tubule-specific NHE3 knockout mice (NHE3 mice).