The mechanism by which chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA) regulates sodium (Na(+))-chloride (Cl(-)) cotransporter (NCC) in the renal distal convoluted tubules remains unexplored. We examined the role of STE20/SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and with-no-lysine kinase 4 (WNK4) on expression of NCC in mouse models of CMA. CMA was induced by NH4Cl in wild type mice (WTA mice), SPAK, a...

Angiotensin II (A II), the main effector of the renin angiotensin system (RAS), plays a central role in the hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic mechanisms of chronic renal disease and is currently the main target of interventions aimed to prevent the onset and progression of chronic nephropathies to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In addition, to ameliorate glomerular hyperfiltration and size select...

In this review paper we would like to summarized the current knowledge concerning the  pathogenesis and treatment of ischemic nephropathy. Epidemiological data suggest that the prevalence of ischemic nephropathy increases, especially among older individuals. The pathogenesis of this disease is more complex than just narrowing of the renal artery due to atherosclerosis. Renin-angiotension s...

CASE HISTORY A 65-yr-old male, current smoker of .30 cigarettes?day (total smoking history 150 pack-yrs), who was working as a bus driver, presented at the Evangelismos Hospital (Athens, Greece) complaining of increasing breathlessness on exertion and dry cough during the past 2 months. He had no animal exposure and he hadn’t travelled abroad during the last few years. His medical history showe...

We have previously reported that mannitol strikingly increases blood flow to rat kidneys hypoperfused at 35-40mm Hg. This vasodilator effect is not due to volume expansion or alterations in plasma osmolality. We have tested the hypothesis that the vasodilatory effect of mannitol in the ischemic rat kidney is mediated by one of the vasoactive renal hormone systems: renin-angiotension, kallikrein...

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are an important class of materials for biomedical and electronics applications, with the nanowire diameter playing a fundamental role in device functionality. Here we present a method, based on light scattering intensity and ensemble electron microcopy (EM) measurements, that allows for a precise optical determination of a specific NW’s diameter within an accuracy of ...

The heart failure is one of leading cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. More than 5 million patients are suffering from chronic heart failure post myocardial infarction caused due to ischemic heart disease [1]. The disease develops over a period of time due to loss of cardiomyocytes. The condition is further aggravated due to complications related to obesity, hypertension, diab...