Human Kidney Cells

London, March 25 (IANS): A team of scientists have for the first time demonstrated that plastic particles from our day-to-day lives such as water bottles, grocery bags, toys and disposable cutlery, among others, can end up in our bloodstream in detectable levels. The research, published in the scientific journal Environment International, shows that miniscule pieces of plastic from our living environment are absorbed into the human bloodstream. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, and polymers of styrene were the most common types of plastic found in the blood samples, followed by poly(methyl methacrylate). Polypropylene was also analysed but the concentrations were too low for an accurate measurement. PET is commonly found in soda and water bottles; containers; polyethylene in bottles for milk and household cleaners; blow-extruded grocery bags, caps, and toys while polymers of styrene are found in disposable cutlery, plastic models, CD's and DVD cases. "We have now proven that our bloodstream, our river of life as it were, has plastic in it," said ecotoxicologist Heather Leslie from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. The team developed an analytic method for establishing the trace level of micro and nanoplastic particles in human blood. The study included 22 participants, whose blood was examined for the presence of five different polymers, the building blocks of plastic. Three-quarters of the test subjects appeared to have plastics in their blood, the team said. While earlier indicators for this came from laboratory experiments, the new research shows that people absorb microplastics from their environment in their everyday lives and that the amounts are measurable in their blood. The overall concentration of plastic particles in the blood of the 22 donors amounted to an average of 1.6 microgram/millilitre (ug/ml), which is comparable to a teaspoon of plastic in 1,000 lts of water (10 large bathtubs). A quarter of the tested donors had no detectable quantities of plastic particles of any type in their blood. "This dataset is the first of its kind and must be expanded to gain insight into how widespread plastic pollution is in the bodies of humans, and how harmful that may be. With this insight we can determine whether exposure to plastic particles pose threat to public health," said analytical chemist Marja Lamoree from the varsity. The team now wants to address how easy it is for these particles to move from the bloodstream into tissues such as in organs like the brain. (agency) Read More► Why Some Respiratory Infections Persist Despite Proper Treatments

लखनऊ के किंग जॉर्ज मेडिकल यूनिवर्सिटी (केजीएमयू) के विशेषज्ञों के अनुसार, आंखों और पैरों के आसपास सूजन, एनीमिया और कभी-कभी सिरदर्द और उल्टी, क्रोनिक किडनी रोग (सीकेडी) के शुरूआती चेतावनी संकेत हो सकते हैं। नेफ्रोलॉजी विभाग के कार्यवाहक प्रमुख प्रो विश्वजीत सिंह ने कहा कि क्रोनिक किडनी रोग का प्रारंभिक अवस्था में पता लगाना मुश्किल है क्योंकि इसके छिपे हुए लक्षण हैं। लगभग 60 प्रतिशत रोगी बीमारी के अंतिम चरण में जान पाते हैं। उस समय तक, डायलिसिस या अंग प्रत्यारोपण ही एकमात्र विकल्प बचता है। उन्होंने चेतावनी दी कि अगर किसी को अंगों (विशेषकर आंखों और पैरों) में सूजन, कम हीमोग्लोबिन, कभी-कभी सिरदर्द और उल्टी होती है, तो नेफ्रोलॉजिस्ट से परामर्श लेना चाहिए, खासकर अगर उन्हें उच्च रक्तचाप या मधुमेह है। प्रोफेसर सिंह ने कहा कि यदि किसी रोगी का प्रारंभिक अवस्था में निदान किया जाता है, तो इसे दवाओं द्वारा प्रबंधित किया जा सकता है। नेफ्रोलॉजिस्ट डॉ लक्ष्य कुमार ने कहा कि पिछले कुछ वर्षों में क्रोनिक किडनी रोग की संख्या बढ़ रही है क्योंकि भारत में हर तीसरे व्यक्ति को उच्च रक्तचाप है। इनमें से 60 प्रतिशत से अधिक नहीं जानते कि उन्हें यह बीमारी है। और अन्य जो जानते हैं, केवल 50 प्रतिशत ही अपनी दवाएं लेते हैं। इसलिए, लगातार उच्च रक्तचाप के कारण, गुर्दे की छोटी रक्त वाहिकाएं क्षतिग्रस्त हो जाती हैं। डॉ कुमार ने कहा कि हालांकि, स्वस्थ आहार, तनाव प्रबंधन और नियमित व्यायाम का पालन करके लोग क्रोनिक किडनी रोग से बच सकते हैं। यह भी पढ़े► देश में 57 प्रतिशत महिलाएं एनीमिया की शिकार

Kidney disease usually remains silent for a longer period of time, delaying diagnosis and treatment which can at times result in life-threatening conditions, said experts on Thursday on the occasion of World Kidney day, advising regular screening. World Kidney Day is a global campaign observed annually on March 10. It is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of the kidneys. Kidneys play a pivotal role in the body. They not only purify the blood of various metabolic waste, but also it helps in regulating blood pressure, maintaining health of the bones, normal haemoglobin (essential for transferring oxygen in the blood from lungs to the tissues), among others. The common symptoms of kidney disease include fatigue and tiredness, high blood pressure, swelling on feet, puffiness of face, urinary abnormalities, among others. "Kidney disease may be silent in many patients in the initial stages and be manifested when the disease becomes advanced. Many times the patient may become symptomatic (only) when the disease is advanced," Dr Amit Gupta, Director & HOD, Nephrology and Kidney transplant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Lucknow, told IANS. "Kidneys can be a asilent killer' because kidney disease usually remains silent for a longer period of time. But regular and routine investigations can detect the kidney disease well in time and can be managed before hampering the health of the patient," added Dr P.N. Gupta, Director & HOD, Nephrology, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) - a progressive kidney failure over months to years - is majorly caused by diabetes and hypertension. Individuals with a long standing history of diabetes, hypertension, frequent usage of painkillers and family history of kidney disease are more prone to developing CKD, and these must be "screened regularly". People at risk should monitor their kidney functions by doing blood and urine tests once in 6 to 12 months, Gupta said. According to Dr Parth Rana, director of Netralaya Hospital, Ahmedabad, "Approximately 50 per cent patients who have diabetic retinopathy (DR is diabetes complication that affects eyes) suffer from chronic kidney diseases (CKD)". In India, over 62 per cent CKD diseases are due to diabetes and diabetic retinopathy affects 18 per cent diabetic population in urban India. "The prevalence of CKD and DR increases proportionally to the disease duration in Type 2 Diabetes. Additionally, as CKD and DR share common risk factors such as smoking, poor glycemic control, systolic hypertension, or dyslipidemia, development of DR may predict development and progression of CKD," Rana told IANS. The common thread between CKD and Diabetic retinopathy is the damage caused by high sugar levels to small blood vessels in the body, he explained. Patients with CKD are also at a higher risk of age-related ocular diseases. Age-related ocular diseases such as cataract, retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, are leading causes of blindness in middle aged and elderly adults. Further, Covid also contributed to an increase in kidney problems among patients already suffering. Multiple studies have shown that individuals with kidney failure are at an increased risk for Covid severity; while others showed that those undergoing dialysis are likely to mount weaker antibody responses after vaccination. "It is well known that patients with CKD are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality secondary to Covid infection," said Dr Salil Jain, Director & HOD, Nephrology & Renal Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram. "There was approximately 30 per cent mortality rate in patients on hemodialysis during the second wave as compared to a normal population where the mortality rate was 10 per cent," he added. In hemodialysis, a machine filters wastes, salts and fluid from the blood when the kidneys are no longer healthy enough to do this work adequately. To keep kidney disease at bay, one should drink plenty of fluids, avoid medicines which are potentially harmful to the kidneys such as pain killers or indigenous medicines, maintain good control of blood pressure and diabetes, stop smoking, reduce salt intake, and maintain adequate physical activity, the experts advised. Read More► Swelling Around Eyes, Anaemia Could be Signs of Kidney Malfunction: KGMU

Swelling around the eyes and legs, anaemia and occasional headache and vomiting, could be early warning signals of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to experts at Lucknow's King George's Medical University (KGMU). Officiating head of nephrology department Prof Vishvajeet Singh said: "Chronic kidney disease is hard to detect in its early stages because of its veiled symptoms. Nearly 60 per cent of the patients come at the end-stage of disease. By that time, dialysis or organ transplant is the only option left." He cwarned that if anyone witnessed swelling in limbs (especially eyes and legs), low haemoglobin, occasional headache and vomiting, he or she must consult a nephrologist, especially if they have hypertension or diabetes too. "If a patient is diagnosed at an early stage, it can be managed by medicines," said Prof Singh. Nephrologist Dr Lakshya Kumar said" "Chronic kidney disease numbers are increasing over the years because every third individual in India has hypertension. Of these more than 60 per cent do not know that they have it. And others who know, only 50 per cent end, up taking their medicines. Hence, due continuous high blood pressure, the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys get damaged." However, people could avoid chronic kidney disease through following a healthy diet, stress management and regular exercise, Dr Kumar added. Chief medical superintendent, Prof S.N. Shankhwar informed that low haemoglobin or severe anaemia could be because kidneys are not producing enough of the hormone erythropoietin. Read More► 90% people lost some degree of vision due to pandemic: Experts