Renal medullary carcinoma is a rare type of cancer that affects the kidney. It tends to be aggressive, difficult to treat, and is often metastatic at the time of diagnosis. Most individuals with this type of cancer have sickle cell trait or rarely sickle cell disease, suggesting that the sickle cell trait may be a risk factor for this type of cancer. Signs and symptoms
In a case series of 34 patients, Davis and colleagues reported the following signs and symptoms:
macroscopically visible (gross) hematuria (60%)
abdominal or back/flank pain (50%)
significant weight loss (25%)Other researchers have reported a palpable renal mass or enlarged lymph nodes. Causes
The etiology of renal medullary carcinoma is still not completely understood. However, the majority of individuals diagnosed with this type of cancer have had sickle cell trait, in which the person carries one normal copy of the hemoglobin A gene (HbA) and one copy of the hemoglobin A gene harboring the genetic mutation found in sickle cell disease (HbS). These individuals do not have sickle cell disease but can manifest symptoms such as kidney damage over the course of their lives. The other genetic or environmental factors that contribute to the risk of renal medullary carcinoma are unknown. Mechanism
The finding that virtually all people affected by renal medullary carcinoma carry at least one copy of the HbS mutation suggests that sickle cell trait somehow predisposes to this type of cancer. The precise mechanism is unknown, but red blood cells with a sickle cell configuration have been identified in pathology specimens.
Magnesium gluconate is a compound with formula MgC12H22O14. It is the magnesium salt of gluconic acid. According to one study, magnesium gluconate showed the highest level of bioavailability of any magnesium salt which implies its viability as a supplement, although of the 10 salts studied, all increased magnesium levels significantly. This study did not include magnesium glycinate, which is one of the most bioavailable forms of magnesium.It has E number "E580". Use in medicine
There are data on the pharmacological properties of magnesium gluconate. Gluconic acid is the initial substrate for the reactions of pentose phosphate path of oxidation of glucose, so it was suggested that it may affect the energy metabolism of mitochondria. In Ukraine, magnesium gluconate, together with potassium gluconate in the drug Rhythmocor is used to treat heart disease. Pilot studies have shown efficacy in various cardiac arrhythmia. Whether these effects are from the influence of gluconic acid on the metabolism of the heart or from the influence of magnesium and potassium on osmotic pressure is unknown. == References ==