Nephrology News CME/CE

• Long-Term Use of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole May Reduce UTIs in At-Risk Children CME In a randomized trial, long-term, low-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole shows a consistent but modest treatment effect across subgroups of children with urinary tract infections.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Non-CV Mortality Also Important in Dialysis Patients CME Physicians may tend to overlook risk factors for noncardiovascular mortality in patients starting dialysis, since the emphasis in the past has always been on cardiovascular risk, researchers say.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: DepoDur, Neoral, Lexiva CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for morphine sulfate extended-release liposome injection, cyclosporine capsules and oral solution, and fosamprenavir calcium tablets and oral suspension.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Higher-Intensity Continuous Renal Replacement May Not Reduce Mortality Risk From Acute Kidney Injury CME In a randomized controlled trial in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, treatment with higher-intensity continuous renal replacement therapy did not reduce mortality rate at 90 days.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Intensified Blood Pressure Control May Improve Renal Function in Children With CKD CME In a randomized trial, intensified blood pressure control targeting 24-hour blood-pressure levels in the low range of normal was associated with a substantial benefit in renal function.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• FDA Approvals: Elitek, Fluarix, Votrient CME/CE The FDA has approved an expanded indication for rasburicase intravenous infusion, a pediatric use of a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, and pazopanib tablets for advanced renal cell carcinoma.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Serum, Cerebrospinal Fluid Urate May Predict Clinical Decline in Parkinson's Disease CME In a Parkinson's disease study, higher baseline concentrations of serum and cerebrospinal fluid urate were associated with slower rates of clinical progression.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Lack of Exercise Linked to Increased Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease CME Based on findings from this observational study, increased physical activity might have a survival benefit in patients with chronic kidney disease as well as in those without chronic kidney disease.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Dialysis Linked to Functional Decline in Nursing Home Residents With End-Stage Renal Disease CME In an uncontrolled study of nursing home residents with end-stage renal disease, dialysis initiation was associated with a substantial and sustained decline in functional status.
  Medscape Medical News CME,
• ACEIs More Likely Than Other Antihypertensive Drugs to Cause Hyperkalemia; Overall Risk Low in Nondiabetic Kidney Disease CME However, in nondiabetic patients with hypertensive chronic kidney disease treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, the risk for hyperkalemia is small.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake May Not Affect Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease CME Higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was not linked to worsening of estimated glomerular filtration rate or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in patients with chronic kidney disease.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Weight Loss May Help Preserve Renal Function in Obese Patients With Kidney Disease CME A systematic review and meta-analysis shows that weight loss achieved by diet and exercise is associated with decreased proteinuria and could prevent additional decline in kidney function.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis May Increase Risk for Chronic Dialysis but Not for Death CME Hospitalized patients with acute kidney problems requiring dialysis are at increased risk of receiving chronic dialysis once discharged but do not have an increased risk for mortality.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Unenhanced CT May Assist in Diagnosis of Children With Flank Pain CME In a retrospective study, unenhanced computed tomography played an important role in evaluating children with flank pain; approximately 15% of children with urolithiasis did not have hematuria.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Patients With CKD Should Be Screened Routinely for Depression CME A study shows that 1 in 5 patients with chronic kidney disease have a major depressive episode and that depression is independently associated with poor outcomes in patients receiving dialysis.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Warfarin Use in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease May Increase Stroke Risk CME Stroke risk was greatest in patients with end-stage renal disease who were prescribed warfarin for atrial fibrillation but who did not receive in-facility monitoring of international normalized ratio.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Alarm Symptoms May Alert General Practitioners to Clinically Relevant Diagnoses CME/CE A cohort study shows that for every 4 to 7 patients evaluated for hematuria, hemoptysis, dysphagia, or rectal bleeding, relevant diagnoses will be identified in 1 patient within 90 days.
  Medscape Medical News CME, August 2009
• DASH-Style Diet May Help Protect Against Kidney Stones CME In a prospective study, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet was associated with a marked decrease in risk for renal calculi.
  Medscape Medical News CME, August 2009
• FDA Approvals: Tyvaso, Invega Sustenna, Avastin CME/CE The FDA has approved treprostinil for exercise ability in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, paliperidone injection for schizophrenia, and bevacizumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
  Medscape Medical News CME, August 2009
• FDA Approvals: Onglyza and Colcrys CME/CE The FDA has approved saxagliptin tablets to control hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and oral colchicine for the treatment of familial Mediterranean fever and acute gout flares.
  Medscape Medical News CME, August 2009