Dialysis & CKD Blog Report 2/16

By Miriam Lippel Blum

Each day when I click on a blog link I never know what I will see and what I will need to share with you.  Today I must share some sad news.  Yesterday, when I opened Renal Fellows Network blog I learned of the untimely death of its writer and founder, Nathan Hellman, MD, PhD. Dr. Hellman was only 36 years old, married with two children, and a brilliant nephrology fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital.  Through his blog he educated many fellow physicians and dialyzors worldwide regarding important concepts and issues in nephrology.  He was a great teacher.  I learned something new every time I visited his blog.  The death of this fine young physician is a loss to the entire renal community and our hearts go out to his family, colleagues, and friends.

Here are the CKD related blogs updated since my last report on 2/13. If you have or know of a blog that should be on the list let Bill know. Comments in parentheses are my reactions or opinions.

• Dialysis from the sharp end of the needle Peter updates us on statistics and realities of the H1N1 virus and how the CDC let down the children of the USA;  the blog report.
• Kamal Shah's Blog Kamal needs to get some special bloodwork done in Italy that will help him decide whether to attempt a transplant or not.  He finds out that transporting blood samples from India to Italy is a big deal and expensive.
• Kaply, Inc. Tracy loves French, would like to live in Canada except it's too cold, and is unimpressed with the NBC coverage of the Olympics; she describes how she would celebrate Chinese New Year if we came to visit her in Seattle. (We're all coming, Tracy, but I'm definitely not going to eat chicken feet!)
• Toastiest posts a photo of the ceiling of his nocturnal dialysis clinic and writes that he hates this place.
• Hasten down the wire Michael chastens another journalist for evangelizing instead of accurately reporting facts.
• Paddling on Dialysis for Kidney Health Erich "confesses" his good intentions to exercise on Valentine's Day were thwarted, he has to visit the "butt surgeon" and definitely is not happy about it, he is looking for volunteers to paddle a little on the river with him during his boating excursion.
• The inner game of PKD Richie explores questions to ask oneself to help gain focus on what one wishes to get out of life.
• The Life of a 20-Something With Lupus Flo is feeling weak and has pain in her upper arms, she's very frustrated with it and not being able to be at school.
• Becky Perry reviews Walking on Broken Glass by Christa Allan.
• Transplant, Tantrums, & Tiaras Holly does more campaigning for organ donation at a roadshow in Liverpool; describes a night away with friends in Huddersfield.
• On the Road to a Lupus Cure A study of identical twins suggests environmental factors might influence the development of lupus.
• Really, I'm as Old as I Feel? Rob shares the story of his and Anny's struggles with infertility that eventually led to their beloved daughter, Abby.
• I Am. Are you? has photos from a donor family video shoot.
• Chronic Chick Talk has been having technical problems with her blog, hopes it will be fixed soon; is thinking about buying a Dell computer printer because the ink cartridges are inexpensive and her daughter who is being homeschooled uses up a lot of ink..
• Lupus and Humor Since naltrexone is not working for her, Carla returns to using acupuncture and chi-gung for her lupus.
• Dialyse This Cassie is in the hospital, dialysis-caused hemolysis suspected; Cassie is out of the hospital now and looking forward to real food.
• Bud's Ramblings Bud wonders if anyone eats starfruit and shares some information about it (IMPORTANT WARNING: Anyone with significant CKD and certainly CKD5 should NEVER eat starfuit.  It has natural chemicals that do not dialyze out. Consumption by those with kidney failure can produce hiccups, vomiting, nausea, and mental confusion. Fatal outcomes have been documented in some patients. Here is o link to one article about starfruit dangers.)
• Linda Gromko MD kidneycare Linda commends a NxStage technical service representative who helped with a problem, points out the qualities that made his communication so helpful and supportive.
• Renal Fellow Network has an obituary for Nathan Hellman, MD, creator of this blog. A memorial service will be held on Wed. Feb 17 at 2:00 PM at Massachusetts General Hospital.  There is contact information should you wish to contribute to a memorial fund.
• Uremic Frost has a MedPage audio commentary on the NEJM study on AV graft stenting.
• Renal tsar's blog The UK's National Imaging Board issued good practice recommendations for acute kidney injury.
• Pediatric Nephrology writes about the loss of Dr. Nathan Hellman.
• Kidney Doc Talk is another new blog to our list. It is written by Shalini Mundra, MD, who is a nephrologist blogging for non-nephrologists.  In the latest post,  the question of "Why do some dialysis patients with failed renal transplants remain on immunosuppressants?" is explored.
• Medicine is a Why? How? When? What?  This new blog highlights questions and answers as they occur to a renal fellow, Deepak, during his nephrology practice. The last two posts concern PD peritonitis, and concepts he gleaned from reading a dialysis technical manual.
• Jean Louis Clemendot (Newest posts are in French at the bottom of the page, copy and paste into Google Translate) This is also a new blog to the list and follows the nautical adventures of PD dialyzor, Jean-Louis Clemendot, who recently completed a solo trip across the Atlantic.  In his latest post, he writes about some of the media and dialysis conference events he has participated in recently.  He is also planning to sail in the Pacific soon.  He gets a check-up at the hospital and gets the medical green light for further adventures.  He points out that it is the doctor's responsibility to inform patients about the risks of their condition but that's all. The patient, once informed, will choose to live the life he wants, but in return, is solely responsible for what may happen to him because of that choice. (I fully agree with that.) That said, Jean-Louis turns to what is really important to him..a discussion of the possible impact that the El Nino weather phenomenon may have on his sailing plans for the Pacific.
• Kidney Notes - Exploring the Intersection of Medicine and Technology has a link to the Renal Fellows Network obituary for Nathan Hellman.
• Lemonade and Kidneys Ruth dreams that her next career move is going to be to co-produce, with George Clooney, a film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novella "May Day" and that she and  Jude Law have begun scouting locations. (Nice dream!)
• Rob and Danielle's Kidney Blog Danielle and Rob decided to sign up to run in the upcoming UNC Kidney Center Kidney Kare 5K run, Danielle reflects on why she wants to get in shape.
• ....And Bells on Her Toes Alex hears a strange transplant story from a repairman; Kelly sees a hawk in a tree near her home and takes a photo of it.
• Jenna Franks Jenna just celebrated her 3rd kidneyversary, but unfortunately is having a rejection episode.  The doctors don't expect the kidney to recover and she will likely eventually return to dialysis or have another transplant. (Our hearts go out to you as you deal with this disappointment.)
• Living with PKD Heather is late for yoga, goes into the gym to use a treadmill, finds out that midriff tops are not allowed.
• Michael W. Newman Michael has redesigned his website.He has now added a help line for people who are in financial difficulty. He offers to help any dialysis patients, and will give advice free of charge. On his blog he is starting a section to discuss heart disease and how to help yourself during an emergency.
• Life on Dialysis Samiir describes an extended trek to the most beautiful place he had ever been to - Sudhagad; he continues writing about his adventure, finds questionable water but they cooked with it, slept well and saw a gorgeous sunrise (there are photos); on the descent they find some potable water, get lost, but eventually find their way down and home; a post about cameras and which ones he likes.
• Encompass Network Partners Interventional cardiologists at Hunterdon Medical Center are now treating patients using a newly FDA-cleared device, the Jetstream Atherectomy System, that clears away and removes potentially deadly artery clogging plaque in leg arteries for those suffering from peripheral arterial disease.
• Nephrosphere While sirolimus has been thought to be a safer immunosuppressant than cyclosporine or tacrolimus from the point of view of nephrotoxicity. This AJKD study suggests otherwise, with an increased risk of low-grade proteinuria and tubular damage.

Comments

[kidney diet expert]

I never really understood the severity of kidney disease and the affects it has on ones quality of life. My wife's uncle lived almost 25 years with a kidney transplant from his sister. I think it's important for people who are predisposed to this disease to start early on a good kidney diet and learn how to treat your kidneys properly by eating the right foods.

[Chris the Kidney Stone Guy]

Sorry to hear of the passing of such an expert in the field of kidney health. As one who had his own experience with kidney weaknesses which led to kidney stones, I have become a strong advocate of multifaceted approaches to regain and maintain kidney health which include the use of the appropriate whole foods.