September 22, 2009

Quick Links: My Favorites: Renal Week Program \| ASN Publications

ASN Reminders: CME Credit: BRCU | Grant Deadlines

To eGFR or not to eGFR? That is the question for physicians trying to identify the millions of Americans living with CKD.

In this insightful podcast episode, William Bennett, MD, FASN, Editor of ASN’s Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) speaks with Richard Glassock, MD, about the pros and cons of this test.

Dr. Glassock notes that “the introduction of the concept of eGFR by equations such as Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) has had a dramatic increase on the awareness of CKD,” but he also expresses concern that the equation “has resulted in an increase in false positive diagnoses of CKD, as well as the number of possibly unnecessary referrals to nephrologists.” The interpretation of eGFR from serum creatinine values occurs frequently in clinical practice, and physicians need to understand the potential pitfalls and inaccuracies as well as benefits in order to provide optimum patient care.

Running Time: 32 minutes

Click here to visit the ASN Kidney News Podcast webpage

Note: ASN Kidney News Podcast Episodes can now be streamed directly to your iPhone.

Housing registration deadline: September 25, 2009. Please Register Now.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend Renal Week 2009

1. Education and CME Credits
Learn from outstanding courses that cover broad areas in kidney disease. This year's program is designed to appeal to all Renal Week participants.

2. Networking
Network among more than 13,000 participants from around the globe. Renal Week offers the greatest opportunity for professional development in the world of nephrology.

3. Faculty
Benefit from internationally renowned speakers selected for their expert teaching skills and highly rated presentations in the past. Renal Week assembles the most renowned faculty in the field.

4. Special Lectures
Listen to cutting-edge lectures from some of the greatest minds in science. Nobel Laureate Roger Tsein, PhD, Bruce Beutler, MD, Tony Pawson, PhD, and Kri Stefansson, MD, are some of the prominent speakers for this year's meeting.

5. Location
Relax and enjoy the most favored Renal Week location. San Diego provides a wide assortment of activities for the adventurous and a picturesque paradise for those who prefer to relax.

In honor of the ASN 50th anniversary in 2016, the Society is exploring archival options to help celebrate this special occasion. ASN seeks volunteers to assist the Society in identifying ASN members in pictures and in reviewing additional materials.

If you know the names of the members in the photos shown below, please help provide the key to unlock ASN history and send an email to Shari Leventhal, Senior Manager of Communications to sleventhal@asn-online.org with the names of the individuals. Please also indicate if you are interested in assisting in future archival endeavors as ASN prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.


Identified persons in photo #2: center, Thomas E. Andreoli, MD; far right, Robert W. Schrier, MD.

ASN now offers the ability to create your own personalized list of 'Favorites' from the Renal Week program. Simply click the 'Add to Favorites' button from any session details page to save the information to your custom itinerary. Your list can be sorted, exported to Microsoft Word/Excel, and accessed from any computer, smart phone, or internet-capable PDA.Visit your 'My Favorites' page by clicking here or access it from the Renal Week webpage side menu under 'Program Information'.

In addition, you can send session information from the Renal Week program to a friend or colleague with the 'Email to a Friend' feature. This button is located on all session details pages and is available to anyone with an ASN account.

Click on the ASN “Online CME Center” and claim continuing medical education (CME) credit for the 2009 Board Review Course and Update at www.asn-online.org/cme. BRCU Badge/Registration ID and ASN member number are required to claim credit.

Complete the evaluation to claim CME Credit; no credit is awarded for completing the practice examination. For assistance, please contact ASN CME Coordinator Angela Kim at akim@asn-online.org or (202) 659-0599, ext 124.

The ASN Student Scholar Grant enables selected medical students with an interest in either basic or clinical research to spend 10-52 weeks engaged in continuous full-time research. An award period can be a summer, semester, academic year, or any other 10-52 week period of continuous full-time research. For more information, please visit the Student Scholar Grant page of the ASN website.

The ASN Researcher Travel Support Program helps ASN members and ASN-sponsored post-doctoral research fellows attend focused scientific meetings that broaden the exposure of the applicant to other disciplines or scientists with which the applicant would not otherwise interact. For more information, please visit the ASN Researcher Travel Support Program page of the ASN website.

Application Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2009

JASN

It Pays to be Careful Post-Kidney Transplant (September 15, 2009)

For kidney transplant recipients, infection with a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) may lead to devastating complications. New research suggests that extending the period of preventive treatment after kidney transplantation can reduce the risk of CMV disease.
-View the full study (pdf)

ASN Committed to Managing Conflicts of Interest (August 21, 2009)

Twenty-six million Americans suffer from kidney disease, and for decades nephrologists in academia, practice, and industry have enhanced their quality of care. To ensure that partnerships between the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and industry continue to improve kidney health, ASN leaders convened the Committee on Corporate Relations in 2008. Publications resulting from this committee’s efforts set will help guide medical societies and industry in their efforts to advance patient care, research, and education.
-View the full study (pdf) and Editorial (pdf)

Blood Thinner Causes Stroke in Some Dialysis Patients (August 21, 2009)

The blood thinner warfarin can prevent strokes in most individuals with abnormal heart rhythms, but the drug may have the opposite effect in kidney disease patients on dialysis. The results suggest that warfarin should be prescribed with caution in patients with kidney failure.
-View the full study (pdf)

An Apple a Day Keeps Kidney Stones Away (August 10, 2009)

Researchers have found another reason to eat well: a healthy diet helps prevent kidney stones. Loading up on fruits, vegetables, nuts, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, while limiting salt, red and processed meats, and sweetened beverages is an effective way to ward off kidney stones. Because kidney stones are linked to higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, increased body weight, and other risk factors for heart disease, the findings have considerable health implications.
-View the full study (pdf)

CJASN

Weight Loss is Good for the Kidneys (September 14, 2009)

Losing weight may preserve kidney function in obese people with kidney disease. Taking off the pounds could be an important step kidney disease patients can take to protect
their health.
-View the full study (pdf)

Hello 'Wearable Kidney,' Goodbye Dialysis Machine (August 17, 2009)

Researchers are developing a Wearable Artificial Kidney for dialysis patients. The device—essentially a miniaturized dialysis machine, worn as a belt—weighs about 10 pounds and is powered by two nine-volt batteries.
-View the full study (pdf)

Increasing the Number of Kidney Transplants (August 14, 2009)

A single kidney from a very young deceased donor maintains the health of an adult with kidney failure.
-View the full study (pdf)

Chronic Kidney Disease Profoundly Impacts Quality of Life (July 24, 2009)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can significantly lessen patients'quality of life. Certain types of patients—women, diabetics, and those with a history of heart complications—are most affected. These findings indicate that medical care for CKD patients should include strategies to lessen the negative impact of CKD on quality of life.
-View the full study (pdf)

Fresh Meats Often Contain Additives Harmful to Kidney Disease Patients (July 16, 2009)

Uncooked meat products enhanced with food additives may contain high levels of phosphorous and potassium that are not discernable from inspection of food labels. This can make it difficult for people to limit dietary phosphorous and potassium that at high levels are harmful to kidney disease patients.
-View the full study (pdf)

NephSAP
September 2009

Interventional Nephrology
Arif Asif, MD and Anil Agarwal, MD

Access the online version of the exam
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

ASN Kidney News

Current Issue: July 2009

Online Version

The Changing Nephrology Workforce: This issue of ASN Kidney News examines what factors drive students toward—or away from—careers in nephrology. How will workforce changes affect patient care and advances in research? The ASN Kidney News special section examines training programs, international medical graduates, women in nephrology, and workforce challenges in pediatric nephrology.
Policy Update: 2009 State Short Session Wrap-up
Practice Pointers: Maintenance of Certification
Trends in Medical Education: Transplant Nephrology Fellowships