BACKGROUND Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with the development of renal metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis per se may represent a trigger for progression of CKD. Renal acidosis of CKD is characterized by low urinary ammonium excretion with preserved urinary acidification indicating a defect in renal ammoniagenesis, ammonia excretion or both. The underlying molecular mec...

The mammalian rhesus (Rh) proteins that carry the Rh blood group antigens of red blood cells are related to the ammonium channel (Amt) proteins found in both pro- and eukaryotes. However, despite their clinical importance the structure of the Rh antigens is presently unknown. We have constructed homology models of the human Rh proteins, RhD and RhAG using the structure of the Escherichia coli a...

BACKGROUND In Spanish public hospital Reproduction Units it is very problematic to perform programmed intrauterine insemination (IUI) on weekends, if indicated. Small previous pilot studies suggest that using a GnRH antagonist to avoid an LH weekend surge would allow to perform IUI on the following Monday, not impairing the expected pregnancy rate. METHODS Between 1st January 2007 and 31st De...

Relative to the gills, the mechanisms by which the kidney contributes to ammonia and acid-base homeostasis in fish are poorly understood. Goldfish were exposed to a low pH environment (pH 4.0, 48 h), which induced a characteristic metabolic acidosis and an increase in total plasma [ammonia] but reduced plasma ammonia partial pressure (PNH3). In the kidney tissue, total ammonia, lactate and intr...