Episode 17: NephMadness 2026 & Genetics & PKD Masqueraders & Fabry

It’s Episode 17 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with NephMadness writers Dr. Steven Clapp & Dr. Alyssa Steitz, and Director of Rare Genetic Kidney Diseases at the University of Alabama Birmingham, Dr. Eric Wallace. We discuss the fierce NephMadness 2026 Genetics Region competitors: Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Masqueraders & Fabry Treatment. How can we spot the PKD wanna-bes? What's new in the treatment of Fabry disease? And how do you say Fabry? Fab-ray? Fab-ree? Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks for NephMadness 2026. Before you make your picks, check out the Genetics Region scouting report here. Or flip a coin or pick your favorite region image. Submit your NephMadness brackets at nephmadness.com (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Steven Clapp, Alyssa Steitz, Eric Wallace

It’s Episode 16 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with transplant nephrologist Dr. Swee Levea & transplant surgeon (and obesity medicine specialist!) Dr. Babak Orandi and discuss the obesity in kidney transplant recipients and kidney transplant donors! Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks (except any Blue Ribbon Panelists) for NephMadness 2025. Before you make your picks, check out the Obesity & Kidney Transplant Region here. Or flip a coin.Submit your NephMadness brackets here (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Swee Levea, Babak Orandi

It’s Episode 15 of The Nephron Segment! We sit down with David Rush: rapper, singer, songwriter, motivational speaker, kidney patient, kidney advocate, and 2022 recipient of the American Society of Nephrology President's Medal. He shares his inspiring journey with kidney disease, which began in 10th grade right before football season - and journey through which he has been able to complete a 52 city tour with Pitbull. If you don't already know, you'll learn what a battle rap is, what a home hemodialysis machine sounds like while it's warming up, and where the name Rush comes from. Check out is debut single "Shooting Star" (from 2008) hereNephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: David Rush 1:11: David Rush3:39: Alonzo Mourning4:16: Sock it to Kidney Disease9:38: Kidney Care Options10:37: Battle Rap11:42: Shady Records12:33: Nems14:22: 2009 Tour Poster25:10: American Kidney Fund 2023 Summit29:12: American Society of Nephrology President's Medal32:46: David Rush on Spotify

It’s Episode 14 of The Nephron Segment! Join us as we chat with Dr. Mehmet Sukru Sever and Dr. Rasha Rashan and discuss disaster nephrology and kidney care during crises. To summarize Dr. Sever tells us "disasters are inevitable. And All countries around the globe are at risk of disasters, either natural or man made." We discuss what we might learn from prior disasters, what do expect in the future, and what we should do, as a nephrology community, to prepare for the worst.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests:  Mehmet Sukru Sever, Rasha Rashan1:44: Marmara earthquake (1999)2:35: Bingöl earthquake (2003)2:44: Bam earthquake (2003)2:57: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)4:07: Some of Dr. Sever's Papers4:35: "Destructive Disasters, trauma, crush injury, and beyond" 9:42: Kidney News 2024 Special Section13:10: "Disasters & Kidney Care: Pitfalls and Solutions" (Nature Reviews Nephrology 2023)16:31: "An Overlooked, Possibly Fatal Coronavirus Crisis: A Dire Need for Kidney Dialysis" (New York Times 2020)19:23: "Nephrology Care in Challenging Circumstances: A Patient's Perspective" (Kidney News 2024)19:59: Syrian refugee crisis22:08: Refugees & asylees in the United States25:49: National Kidney Foundation's "Emergency Resources" 26:35: Announcement: ASN, ISN, ERA Collective Effort (2023)29:06: "Planet Sets Record for Hottest Day Twice in a Row" (2024)29:12: A review of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu)29:49: UEFA Euro 2024

It’s Episode 13 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with transplant nephrologist Dr. Roslyn Mannon & transplant hepatologist Dr. Elizabeth Aby and discuss all things dual-organ transplantation: liver-kidney, pancreas-kidney, kidney after liver, kidney after pancreas, or even kidney alone?! Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks for NephMadness 2024.And to be clear, Dr. Mannon supported the Kansas City Chiefs before their Super Bowl 58 win.Submit your NephMadness brackets here (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Roslyn Mannon, Lizzie Aby

In Episode 12, Dr. William Cushman, co-investigator of the 2015 SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention) Trial, joins us for a discussion all about hypertension trials, their long history, and what's ahead for research in this space. Too young to remember SPRINT or looking for a "CliffsNotes" of HTN trials? This episode's for you!Here's a Renal Fellow Network post from 2017 with a link to a cheat sheet of hypertension clinical trial.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: William Cushman, Medical Director & Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of TennesseeLinks from the Show:00:41: Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (2015)02:17: VA Cooperative Study (1967)05:13: ACCORD Study (2010)06:30: SPRINT MIND (2019)08:40: Framingham Heart Study (Started 1948)11:27: Attended vs. unattended blood pressure – learnings beyond SPRINT (2021)14:03: Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program Study (1989)14:05: Hypertension Detection & Follow Up Program (1979)15:32: JNC 8 Guidelines (2014)16:01 AHA/ACC Guidelines (2017)17:54: Syst-Eur (Treatment of HTN in Patients > 60 y, 1998)17:54: HYVET (Treatment of HTN in Patients > 80 y, 2008)18:01: Syst-China (2000)22:18: AAFP HTN Guidelines (2022)22:40: KDIGO HTN Guidelines (2021)25:37: ALLHAT Study (2002)32:22: Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes Trial (SPS3, 2013)

In Episode 11, guests Jordy Cohen & Samir Parikh (and members of the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week Education Committee) join us for a discussion about Kidney Week 2023 and their careers as physician-scientists. They discuss their journeys to their current careers, what inspired them to pursue nephrology ("beautiful ribbons of anti-GBM"), and share their advice for trainees. For more on Kidney Week 2023, here's a Doximity op-ed.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Jordy Cohen, Samir ParikhLinks from the Show:02:03: PLA2R & Membranous Nephropathy (2009)04:03: Sflt-105:05: FLOW & GLP-105:55: ACC HTN Guidelines (2017)09:33: Bill McKibben Plenary: Too Hot & Inhuman Temperatures10:45: Climate change & heat stress nephropathy11:00: Ardem Patapoutian Plenary: How Do You Feel? The Molecules that Sense Touch 13:03: Obesity & RAS Activation (Mice)

Episode 10: Green Nephrology (April 20, 2023)On Episode 10, we celebrate Earth Day with guests Dr. Katherine Barraclough & Dr. Megha Salani who share with us the startling amount of waste that both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis generate, what climate change means for kidney disease, and what we can do to protect our planet and "go green." They also share how they became interested in the burgeoning field of green nephrology, in addition to the considerable carbon footprint associated with KRT. We delved into the pathogenesis of heat induced kidney injury and how climate change is now considered a public health emergency. Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk Guests: Katherine Barraclough, Megha SalaniNephMadness 2020: Green Nephrology RegionNephMadness 2020: The Time for Nephrologists to Tackle Climate Change is NowLinks from the Show:03:57 Waste associated with hemodialysis treatments 04:31 Carbon footprint generated by plastic waste in dialysis units05:34 Pursuing environmentally conscious dialysis 09:43 Innovative solutions to recycle plastic generated from treatments10:56 Climate change and chronic kidney disease11:10-Association between high temperature and acute kidney injury12:21 Climate change: A Public Heath Emergency13:08 Climate related increase in kidney stones16:22 Solar power assisted dialysis 17:02 Incorporating training in environmental sustainability in medical education21:07 The ISN Green Nephrology Initiative 

On Episode 9, guests Dr. Mitchell Lunn and NephMadness 2023 Transgender Health Region writer Dr. Sehrish Ali join us for a discussion of why the 2 teams in this region should win this year's NephMadness crown: Kidney Care for the Transgender Patient and Gender Affirming Care. We discuss what gender affirming care really means, challenges of glomerular filtration rate estimation in those who are transgender, 3 categories of transitioning: social, medical, & surgical - and that there is no singular transition path for transgender people. Our guests and the Nephrons also share their bracket picks for this region. Which team is your pick? Submit your brackets and try to match the Blue Ribbon Panel's bracket at nephmadness.com by the end of March 2023. Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Mitchell Lunn, Sehrish AliLinks from the Show:02:13 Growing awareness for gender-affirming care03:15 Lack of evidence based guideline on assessing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients receiving gender affirming hormonal therapy (GAHT)05:12 Effect of GAHT on kidney function06:42 Creating a welcoming environment for the patient09:17 Addressing patients with the correct pronoun11:50 Health surveys offering limited assessment of gender identity16:57 Lack of post graduate medical training in addressing disparities in LGBTQ+ community 22:50 Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in transgender individuals on GAHT25:54 The effect of gender affirming medical interventions on improving mental health 26:27 Gender affirming surgery

On Episode 8, guests Dr. L Parker Gregg and patient advocate Nichole Jefferson join us for a conversation about the importance of mental health in patients with kidney disease. Nichole shares with us the importance of attention to mental health and her journey from hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis to 2 kidney transplants. We also discuss recent and upcoming research in this area. Links from the Show:04:05:  Rates of depression among patients with kidney disease06:10:  National estimates of mental health needs among adults with chronic kidney disease06:41: The overlap of uremia and depression09:28: The transition from dialysis to transplant13:48: The CAST trial: effect of sertraline in patients with chronic kidney disease14:42: The ASCEND trial: cognitive behavioral therapy vs sertraline in patients on hemodialysis17:46: Adverse effects associated with antidepressant use in patients with chronic kidney disease21:16: Resources for support for patients with kidney disease23:06 CONCORD study: Combination of Novel Therapies for CKD Comorbid Depression