1. Context
The 11th anniversary of the world kidney day will take place on March 10th 2016, with the participation of the international society of nephrology (ISN) and the international federation of kidney foundations (IFKF). Subsequent to its beginning in 2006, world kidney day has become the most successful attempt ever mounted to raise knowledge of decision-makers and the general public regarding the magnitude of renal disease (1).
2. Evidence Acquisition
2.1. World Kidney Day and Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic renal failure is a progressive loss of renal function over a period of months or years (2-7). Each of the kidneys has around a million tiny filters, called nephrons. If nephrons are injured, they stop functioning. The healthy kidney can take on the extra work for a while. However, if the injury continues, more and more nephrons will be blacked. After a certain point, the nephrons that are left cannot filter the blood adequate enough to stay healthy. When renal function falls below a certain point it is called renal failure. Renal failure influences the whole body and can make the involved person feel very sick. Untreated renal insufficiency can be life-threatening (5-7). It should be reminded that early chronic renal failure has no signs or symptoms (8-10). Also, chronic renal disease usually does not go away. Likewise, renal disease can be treated (9-11). Additionally, blood and urine tests are periodically applicable to check for renal diseases. Unfortunately, renal failure can progress to end-stage kidney failure. Hence, the first concern of undetected chronic renal failure is the risk of developing progressive loss of renal function that can lead to permanent renal failure, which requires regular dialysis therapy or a renal transplant. Importantly, the second significance of chronic renal failure is that, it increases the risk of premature death from associated heart disease such as heart attacks or strokes. People who appear to be healthy yet are then found to have chronic renal failure are at an increased risk of premature death from heart disease regardless of whether they ever develop renal failure (11). Renal disease can influence people of all ages and races (12, 13). Around 10% of the world's population suffers from chronic renal failure, and this proportion can increase to as high as 50% for those above the age of 75 years (14). It should be noted that hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the most common causes of chronic renal failure (15). Hypertension causes only over a quarter of all cases of renal failure. Diabetes mellitus has been recognized as the cause of around one-third of all cases and is the commonest cause of end-stage kidney failure in most developed countries (16-19). Other less common situations include various glomerulonephritis, or pyelonephritis (20). Sometimes chronic renal failure is inherited, such as in autosomal dominant polycystic disease (ADPKD) or the result of long-lasting obstruction of the urinary system like enlarged prostate or renal stones (21). Moreover, various medications can cause chronic renal failure, particularly analgesics if used over a long time (22, 23). The proportion of older people in the general population is steadily growing globally, with the most rapid development in low or middle-income countries. However, aging of the population also has significant implications for the society. Since the prevalence of chronic renal failure is higher in older populations, the health impact of population aging is a concern (24). In 2013, world kidney day concentrated on the impact and consequences of acute renal failure (25-28), while in 2014, the World Kidney Day, focused on chronic renal failure and aging (29).
2.2. World Kidney Day and Acute Kidney Injury
As an annual global alertness and education event, the 2013 world kidney day focused on increased awareness of acute renal failure among hospital staff and physicians and the necessity for a public awareness campaign to clarify this hazardous situation and make ‘kidney attack’ recognizable for the community, similar to that conducted by stroke and heart attack campaigns. Currently, acute renal failure is inefficiently directed in clinical education and training, and mainly ignored by people (30). This has resulted wasted occasions to diminish risk, increased lengths of hospital stay, delayed diagnosis and poor management, which together attribute to strengthen health care costs (31). In 2013, by focusing on ‘kidney attack’, the world kidney day pursued to promote awareness of acute renal failure and provoke education, policy development and discussion, for the improvement of prevention and therapy of this major renal disease alongside the world (32).
2.3. The World Kidney Day 2016
The 2016 world kidney day will focus on chronic renal failure in disadvantaged populations. In fact, various recent investigations have shown that the augmented burden of chronic renal failure in disadvantaged populations is due to both global circumstances and population-specific matters. Low socioeconomic condition and poor access to care attribute to health-care differences and worsen the negative impacts of genetic or biologic predisposition. Provision of appropriate kidney care to these individuals necessitates a two-pronged modality, firstly to expand the reach of dialysis and secondly application and consideration of cost-effective prevention approaches. Additionally, renal transplantation should be encouraged by expanding deceased donor transplant plans and use of inexpensive generic immunosuppressive medications (33). While in chronic renal failure the impairment of the kidneys is usually permanent, modalities should be put in place to help slow-down chronic renal failure and save the injury from getting worse. To reach this aim, we should encourage controlling of blood sugar in patients with diabetes (34-36). Additionally, we should keep the blood pressure at an appropriate level (36-38). Moreover, to encourage eating a heart healthy diet such as a diet low in salt and fat, we should encourage exercising most days of the week. Furthermore, the patients should be reminded to keep a healthy weight and withdraw from smoking or use tobacco. Finally, the patients should notify their physicians regarding all their medications (39-43).
2.4. Hazardous and Beneficial Effects of Herbal Drugs on the Kidney
In recent years much attention has been directed toward potential beneficial effects of herbal drugs on morphology and function of kidneys (44-49). However, it should be reminded that herbs might have direct toxicity for renal tissue. This toxicity is thought to result from progressive fibrosis of the kidney interstitium and damage to the renal tubular cells (50). Some herbs can have anti-inflammatory effects, mediated by alteration of prostaglandin synthesis (51), and even influence angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (52, 53), hence, patients who innocently take large quantities of herbs, with these effects, may experience a decline in kidney function (53). It should be noted that various patients are taking a variety of drugs for blood pressure, and often for blood glucose control (36, 54-57). Herbs also might potentiate the consequences of the patient's drugs (36, 56). Although they may be beneficial in allowing the patients to taper their pharmaceutical agents, however, they should be used with caution, and with the notification of the patient's primary physician (58). Despite these concerns, it should be noted that plant products could produce tremendous benefits for patients with kidney failure, if administered judiciously (59, 60).
3. Results
Several herbs have been detected to be kidney protective in animal models of drug toxicity (61-65). After administration of a nephrotoxic agent, it is supposed that tubule cells die and the medulla becomes ischemic, ensuing in the generation of free radicals by remaining viable cells (66). Several herbal drugs with potent antioxidant properties have been shown to be capable of preventing injury by scavenging oxygen radicals in known circumstances (67-74), where kidney toxicity may result, such as administration of nephrotoxic drugs or exposure to radiocontrast agents (70-74). These medicinal plants primarily affecting as a specific kidney antioxidants and also act as anti-proliferative in vivo. There is also many evidences of being beneficial in various renal disease or glomerulopathies in vivo (70). In fact, in the recent years, an increasing proportion of people have been taking complementary and alternative medicines (75-77). Herbal drug therapy appears most promising, thus necessary toxicity investigations should be conducted on these therapies (78, 79). Recent investigations have detected that several herbal drugs may exert renal toxicity by their inherent properties. If detected to have some quantity of toxicity, the risks might be weighed against the profits and decisions can be made regarding their continued availability, in a fashion similar to that presently performed for nephrotoxic pharmaceutical substances (76). Therefore, a diet rich in vegetables and fruits significantly diminishes the risk of cardiac diseases, type II diabetes mellitus, various types of carcinoma, Alzheimer's disease, obesity and kidney toxicity. This consequence can be further augmented by consuming nuts, wholegrain foods, and certain oils (omega-3 oils). Diets low in fat and high in fiber may diminish heavy metal risks alongside their other benefits (76-79). High antioxidant herbal foods and sulfur compounds could be protective against heavy metal toxicity in addition to other benefits like decreasing risk of renal failure. Indeed, for the treatment of chronic renal disease, diet is an important part of the treatment. Notably, the inherent properties of the herbs are not the only source of herb-associated kidney disorders, as herb-drug interactions, mistakes in dosage and identification, and contaminants within the mixture are all subjects of concern. Hence, strict controls on the presence of contaminants within herbal drugs, labeling of dosages and contraindications, and manufacturing techniques should be kept to guarantee the safety of those consuming herbal remedies (76).
4. Conclusions
The general message of the world kidney day is a concerted knowledge against an illnesses that leads to end-stage kidney failure, through better education, improved economic opportunity, increasing community outreach and access to protective medicine for individuals at highest risk, which could end the unacceptable relationship between chronic renal failure and disadvantage in these societies. Annually, the world kidney day reminds us that renal disease is common and harmful yet in many cases treatable. The task of the world kidney day is to develop consciousness so that everybody cares for his or her kidneys and checks to assess if they are at risk for renal disease. Prevention of renal disease, prompt recognition, and following renal protection are serious goals of the world kidney day.
