Dialysis is a compound word of dia and lysis– which means ‘through’ ‘splitting or loosening’. In chemistry, the term defines the process of separating particles within a liquid, based upon their ability to pass through a membrane. In medicine, we use the term when we remove impurities in the blood based upon their ability to pass through a membrance. Until now.
Continue reading New Use for Old Word?
As I’ve said, November is a big month for learning about new ideas in kidney transplant, replacement, and dialysis therapy. Today, we’ll discuss one of the newer innovations- a wearable artificial kidney, with its current design of 10 pounds and power supplied by 9 volt batteries.
Continue reading 24 hours or bust?
Yesterday, we discussed the fact that dialysis costs have been pretty static at around $ 30K a year for decades. Mostly because of the improvements to technology and therapy that folks like me developed over the years. And, because the US government pays for it- and sets the price. A system that often arouses grumbling among those providing the care.
It’s November- which means the big research about dialysis is discussed.
The ASN (American Society of Nephrology) meeting was one of the highlights of the year (about the same time as the annual meetings of the AIChE and ACS [American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Society])- plus the May meeting for ASAIO (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs) that provided lots of great opportunities to learn and network for me. (As I got older and could more easily travel overseas, the EDTA [European Dialysis and Transplant Association] garnered my attention, too.)
Continue reading Dialysis revisited
Is it fair to work for a new federal program, if it will personally benefit you? Even if it will truly benefit thousands of others? That is something with which I am struggling right now.
Continue reading Public Benefit and Personal Gain???
Ah, yes, you knew this would happen. At least if you truly thought about it.
Japanese scientists have cloned stem cells to produce viable kidneys. Ok, in rats. But still! This is the sort of research that our country feels is in contravention to some religious morality. (Why not just let those folks NOT perform the research themselves. We have many others who want to help our sick citizens!)
Continue reading Kidney Clone Ahead!!!!!!
It’s amazing what some kids can do. If you ever meandered the Westinghouse Science Fair floor (now the Intel Science Fair), with the best of 50 states’ high school ideas, you know what I mean. Sometimes, those things really make a difference in our world.
Continue reading From the minds of babes?
I apologize for some of the complexity that will be present in today’s blog. But, I have been using these terms for decades, and they are critical to understand the principles. I will try to explain them so you can see the issues.
Continue reading Dimensionless Nirvanna?
Cholesterol. If you are over the age of 35, I will bet you know your number- or dread the number and refuse to acknowledge it. But…
Continue reading Good cholesterol may not be so good…
I’ve followed diabetes mostly because it usually leads to kidney failure. And, that has been one of my prime interests for nigh 55 years now. And, if we can preclude this escalation, the quality of life one can have is pretty reasonable. Given that there are some 30 million folks with diabetes, that means there are a slew of folks who can also find themselves subject to kidney failure.
Continue reading Diabetes Patients Need IT (information technology)