Department of Nephrology and Hypertension

Head of the Office: Tatemitsu Rai, MD, PhD

Message from the Head of the Department

    

     With the global advancement of longevity, it has become of great importance and interest to cope with the changes in needs for medical care. In order to maintain general activity and productivity in the aging society, it is essential to promote the health of elderly population and improve their physical and mental capacities. In aged subjects, cardiovascular diseases and organ failures are the major causes hampering their social activity. It has become well recognized that hypertension and renal disorders such as proteinuria and reduced renal function greatly contribute to the development of cardiovascular and renal diseases requiring medical care resources and leaving disabilities in the elderly. Therefore, we keep in mind that our task has important implications for constructing a healthy and productive society in the future generation.

Activities

1. Research

  • Analysis of relationships of uric acid metabolism and the risks of renal and cardiovascular disorders.
  • Implications of endothelial function and progenitor cells in the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease.
  • Significance of renal gluconeogenesis in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
  • Evaluation of the effects of revascularization on long-term prognosis of renovascular hypertension.
  • Analysis of early-stage alterations of cardiac functions and structures in hypertension and renal diseases.


2. Clinical

  • Histological diagnosis of primary and secondary glomerular diseases.
  • Immunological treatment of renal diseases such as nephrotic syndrome.
  • Management of hypertension and chronic kidney diseases.
  • Screening and diagnosis of secondary hypertension.
  • Induction and maintenance of renal replacement therapy.
  • Catheter reconstruction of vascular access for hemodialysis.


3. Education
School of Medicine:

1st year Early experience of clinical practice
3rd year Cardiology and Angiology:
　Physical examination
   Hypertension
   Electrocardiography
   Echocardiography
Nephrology and Urology:
   Acid-base balance
   Electrolyte homeostasis
   Acute kidney injury
   Chronic kidney disease
   Glomerulonephritis
   Nephrotic syndrome
4th year Symptomatology:
　Hematuria, proteinuria and edema
   Dehydration
  Proteinuria and hematuria
Medical examination skills:
  Physical examination of the chest
   Heart sound
   Electrocardiography
5th year Clinical clerkship:
  Core internal medicine
  Renal diseases and hypertension
6th year Advanced clinical clerkship:
　Renal diseases and hypertension

Concentrated review:
　Hypertension
　Glomerular disease
   Chronic Kidney disease

Research Field

Renal and vascular histology and pathology
Biology of vascular and renal cells
Molecular biology of renal and cardiovascular systems including gene analysis
Monitoring of blood pressure and hemodynamic parameters
Analysis of the effects of pharmacological treatment in animal models of hypertension and renal diseases
Evaluation of the effects of nonpharmaological and pharmacological therapy in patients with hypertension and renal diseases

Academic Society Activities

Japanese Society of Nephrology
Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy
Japanese Society of Hypertension
Japanese Circulation Society
International Society of Nephrology
International Society of Hypertension
American Society of Nephrology
American Heart Association
American College of Cardiology

Faculty

Professor Tatemitsu Rai, MD, PhD
Professor Akihiro Tojo, MD, PhD
Associate Professor Takeaki Honda, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Yoshiki Murayama, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Takehiro Ohira, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Masahito Furuichi, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Jun Hirao, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Mayu Uematsu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Makoto Abe, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Akira Ishimitsu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Akiko Kaiga, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Shohei Yokoyama, MD
Assistant Professor Haruna Arakawa, MD
Assistant Professor Yuka Sato, MD

Characteristics of the section

     Our department aims to develop human resources competent to the comprehensive management of a wide range of renal diseases from microalbuminuria to end-stage renal disease. This includes prevention, diagnosis and treatment targeting to yield the best prognosis of patients in the lifetime. We also place emphasis on the treating risk factors for renal and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia.

     After the completion of the initial two-year internship clinical training, our department provides three-year educational program for the specialty of internal medicine certified by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. Along with this program, training courses are also launched to learn skills and knowledge required for the specialists of nephrology, hypertension and blood purification certified by Japanese Society of Nephrology, Japanese Society of Hypertension and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.

Contact

Department of Nephrology and Hypertension
Dokkyo Medical University
Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, 321-0293 Japan

email： junnai@dokkyomed.ac.jp