After rising steadily for years, the incidence of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has begun a steady decline among Americans with diabetes due to improvements in treatment and care that is reducing risk factors, according to a new study. The decreasing trend was noted in all age groups and among both African American and Caucasian [Sign in to read the full article...]

The Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic at the University of California Medical Center is the first organization in the US to be certified under the Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care (DSC) Advanced Certification Program in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The program melds the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) clinical practice guidelines with the Joint Commission’s DSC to raise [Sign in to read the full article...]

Retired Master Sergeant Jane McWilliams became the first-ever female hand transplant recipient in the US on February 17. A team of military and civilian physicians performed the historic transplant, the 10th performed to date in the US, at Wilford Hall Medical Center at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. Sergeant McWilliams lost [Sign in to read the full article...]

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced legislation on March 19 that, if passed, will make it easier for Californians to register as organ donors, and will also create the nation’s first living registry for kidney transplants by establishing the California Living Donor Registry. The Governor was joined by Apple Co-Founder and CEO Steve Jobs and Senator Elaine [Sign in to read the full article...]

Stem cells may one day be a viable treatment for people suffering from severe asthma, according to a new study. Scientists borrowed the idea from the field of organ transplantation, where multipotent stem cells in the form of bone marrow transplants are already used to reduce the risk of rejection in patients who have receive [Sign in to read the full article...]