In May, we saw revolutionary new devices, trials that show promise for the future of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the role of medication in nephrology, with a point of view article examining the TELEGRAFT graft, two articles examining semaglutide (Novo Nordisk), and a profile looking back on a career that spans six decades.
Jes S Lindholt, Thomas Emil Andersen and Martin Alm write together about TELEGRAFT, a prospective future graft solution that is being developed for the use in home haemodialysis and bypass surgery patients, what the issues are that they hope the graft solution can overcome, and how they intend the graft to do so.
In a recent research letter published in the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, a group of researchers—led by Koen van der Bogt (Haaglanden Medical Centre [HMC], The Hague, The Netherlands)—discuss the PINCH trial and its hypothesis that preoperative exercise may result in larger blood vessel diameters at the time of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation, aiding in the surgical formation of forearm AVFs.
With a career spanning 60 years, a passion for music and photography, and a wealth of experience in teaching and leading the future clinicians of his field, clinical professor at University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, USA) Gerald Beathard speaks to Renal Interventions about his career in interventional nephrology (IN), those that helped him at the beginning of his career and what he feels the future of IN should look like.
Novo Nordisk announced via press release the headline results from the kidney outcomes trial FLOW, coming after the decision to stop the trial early due to efficacy that was announced on 10 October 2023, based on a recommendation from an Independent Data Monitoring Committee.
The Vascular Access Controversies Masterclass at this year’s Charing Cross (CX) International Symposium (23–25 April, London, UK) was the setting for a Great Debate titled “EndoAVFs are a failed experiment” which saw four physicians—Tobias Steinke (Schön Klinik Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany), Robert Shahverdyan (Asklepios Klinik Barmbek, Hamburg, Germany), Shannon Thomas (Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia), and Monnie Wasse (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA)—present cases, either for or against the motion.
A bipartisan bill has recently been introduced to the US House of Representatives by Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)—with a companion bill expected to be introduced soon in the Senate. The Improving Access to Home Dialysis Act (HR-8075) aims to increase access to care and improve outcomes for patients on dialysis, which has garnered support from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).
Healionics Corporation announced via press release that it has been awarded a US$1.25 million Small Business Innovation Research grant by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), in order to support the commercialisation of its STARgraft vascular graft.
Wei Li (Syracuse VA Medical Center, SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse, USA, and Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock, USA) and Aiyu Zhao (Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, USA) write together about the origins of renal denervation (RDN), the complications and challenges that can often accompany the new therapeutic intervention, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to combat these issues effectively.
A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has demonstrated that semaglutide (Novo Nordisk) significantly reduces the risk of major kidney disease events, cardiovascular outcomes, and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The landmark trial, presented at the 61st European Renal Association (ERA) congress (23–26 May, Stockholm, Sweden), will pave the way for new treatment strategies and offer hope to millions of patients globally, researchers have claimed.
During the Renal Interventions Controversies programme that took place on the first day of the recent Charing Cross (CX) International Symposium (23–25 April, London, UK), there was a wide range of education and audience debate provided, covering topics such as the underutilisation of tools currently available, a roundtable discussion of international approaches to issues in vascular access, whether nutcracker syndrome is ‘real’, as well as the role of renal denervation in the current treatment paradigm.
