IAHN
Editor-in-Chief: Janusz Ostrowski
IAHN Bulletin is the official E-Newsletter of the International Association for the History of Nephrology
INTRODUCTION
Dear Friends,
It
is
our
pleasure
to
present
you
with
the
7th
issue
of
the
IAHN
Bulletin.
Since
the
last
one
was
out
six
months
ago,
all
of
us
have
been
busy
working
in
the
hope
of
the
improvement
in
the
worldwide
pandemic
situation.
As
it
is,
though,
following
a
short
spell
of
relief
in
the
summer,
we
are
now
experiencing
its
fourth
wave
crippling
virtually
the
whole
globe.
Not
only
is
this
situation
down
to
some
new
mutations
of
the
virus,
but
also,
at
least
in
some
parts
of
the
world,
insufficient
numbers
of
vaccinations.
As
several
countries
have
decided
to
introduce
more
or
less
stringent
restrictions,
a
blanket
lockdown
included,
the
operation
of
our
Association
has
had
to
slow
down,
resulting
in
a
smaller
number
of
papers
submitted
for
publication.
Considering
the
difficult
situation,
an
online
meeting
of
the
IAHN
Council
was
held
in
September
earlier
this
year
to
discuss
the
next
Congress
provisionally
scheduled
for
June
or
September
2022
in
Istanbul, Turkey.
Nevertheless,
with
Christmas
and
the
New
Year
coming
up,
we
all
remain
hopeful
for
a
much
better
future.
I
take
this
opportunity
to
wish
all
our
members,
supporters
and
readers
a
lot
of
health,
peace
and
a
rapid
return
to
the
pre-
pandemic normality. May we see again in person soon!
Janusz Ostrowski
Bulletin
No. 7, December 2021
www.iahn.info
Janusz Ostrowski
Professor,
Centre of Postgraduate
Medical Education,
Warsaw, Poland
janusz.ostrowski@cmkp.edu.pl
Board of the International Association for the History of Nephrology
Iwannis Stefanidis – President
Janusz Ostrowski – Past President
Ayse Balat – President Elect
Vincenzo Savica – Treasurer
Natale G. De Santo - (ex officio)
Councillors:
OBITUARIES
GOUT A PONTIFF DISEASE
Professorial Roles
In
1969
he
became
Assistant
and
later,
Associate
Professor
of
Nephrology
at
the
University
of
California,
San
Francisco.
In
1972
he
moved
to
the
University
of
Colorado,
Denver
as
Head
of
the
Division
of
Renal
Diseases
and
Hypertension.
This
was
the
start
of
a
development
programme
which,
over
the
next
30
years,
achieved
enormous
success.
He
promoted
training
of
Fellows
in
renal
medicine
and
research.
He
was
especially
involved
in
the
mentorship of Fellows-ultimately over 200 passed through his department.
His
research
work
extended
beyond
nephrology
into
cardiology,
liver
disease
and
pregnancy.
A
Spanish
hepatologist
described
Schrier
as
“one
of
the
greatest
nephrologists
of
all
time”
(2)
noting
Bob’s
findings
that
in
cirrhosis,
fluid
retention
related
to
under-filling
of
the
arterial
circulation
secondary
to
increases in vasodilators, especially nitric oxide. This led to the now standard treatment for the Hepato-Renal Syndrome (3).
In
1976
he
became
Chair
of
Medicine,
a
post
he
held
for
26
years-the
longest-serving
chairman
of
a
Division
of
Medicine
in
the
USA.
He
built
up
the
faculty
membership
from
75
to
over
500,
and
increased
annual
research
funding
from
$3
million
to
nearly
$100.
He
attracted
uninterrupted,
competitive
funding
from
the
National
Institutes
of
Health
for
45
years
and
generated
endowments
for
30
chairs
in
various
branches
of
Medicine.
His
sectional
heads
were highly qualified specialists in areas including respirology, cardiology, oncology, haematology and internal medicine.
Beyond
these
achievements
he
maintained
a
very
active
research
profile,
took
part
regularly
in
clinical
Nephrology,
and
was
always
a
dedicated
family
man.
He
developed
training
programmes
for
medical
students,
junior
doctors
and
researchers.
His
home
was
regularly
the
site
for
mentoring
these
people
at weekends.
In
his
lifetime
Bob
published
over
1000
scientific
papers
and
edited,
authored
or
co-authored
over
50
books.
Of
note
were
some
of
the
most-referred-to
books
on
Nephrology,
especially
his
giant
reference
book
“Diseases
of
the
Kidney
and
Urinary
Tract”,
recognised
as
the
most
comprehensive
textbook
of
its kind ever published.
Medical Societies/ The International Society of Nephrology.
Given his medical and scientific status, not surprisingly, Bob was a member of many societies. At varying times, he was President of the Association of
American Physicians, the American Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN, 1995-97).
He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 1989, made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians UK in 1998, and Honorary
Member or Professor of the societies of nephrology of South Africa, Paris, Germany, Beijing, Africa, Poland, Thailand, Columbia and Slovakia.
During his long period with the ISN he promoted global development of nephrology. He launched the ISN Fellowship
Program
whereby
physicians
in
under-developed
countries
were
sponsored
to
train
in
nephrology
for
2
years
at
established
renal
centres;
over
600
doctors
passed through this
programme, most returning to their own countries to care for renal patients and teach others. He developed the Sister Renal Centers Program which links
developing kidney units with established units. By 2014 there were over 50 pairings worldwide; the most productive receive the Robert W Schrier Award
at ISN World Congresses.
Post-Retirement
“Retirement”
is
an
inappropriate
term
in
relation
to
Bob
Schrier.
After
2002
Bob’s
main
academic
activity
related
to
Autosomal
Polycystic
Kidney
Disease
(APKD).
He
continued
to
research
mechanisms
of
salt
and
water
retention
in
heart
failure,
liver
disease,
kidney
disease
and
pregnancy.
His
long-
term
interest
in
fluid
balance,
oedema,
hyponatraemia
continued,
along
with
other
renal
disorders.
Diabetes
mellitus-another
major
cause
of
kidney
failure-also
featured
strongly
in
his
research.
He
continued
active
mentorship
and,
aged
75
years,
this
was
recognised
with
a
major
award
for
Academic
Mentorship.
Between
2003
and
2018
he
had
177
publications;
63
related
to
APKD,
fluid
balance
(44),
fluid
retention
in
heart
failure,
cirrhosis
and
pregnancy
(18)
and
diabetes (16).
Outside
of
medicine
he
pursued
an
interest
in
American
history,
writing
and
lecturing
on
the
political
and
medical
events
in
the
lives
of
20th
century
US
Presidents
(4),
and,
separately,
about
the
lives
of
famous
world
leaders-
Lincoln,
Gandhi,
Mandela
and
Luther
King
(5).
A
later
book
was
his
Memoirs,
entitled “Life’s Lessons Learned” (1).
In 2012 at the age of 76 he became Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Some Quotes
Bob
-
one
of
his
favourite
quotes
was
from
George
Bernard
Shaw:”
Some
men
see
things
as
they
are
and
ask
‘Why?’.
Others
dream
of
things
that
never
were and ask ‘Why not?’.
Thomas
Berl—Bob’s
successor
at
Colorado:
“His
most
enduring
legacy
may
be
his
commitment
to
mentor
the
large
number
of
fellows
and
scientists
who
spent from weeks to years in his research programme” (6).
Bob, on his wife Barbara— “Her legacy, as leader of our family, dwarfs anything that I have ever done” (1).
Barbara on Bob—after his passing: “Bob sought the best in others and gave the best he had” (6).
Bob Schrier: sportsman, doctor, researcher, leader, husband, father. A giant, physically, medically and academically.
Dr Malcolm Phillips
References
1.
Life’s Lessons Learned: My Memoirs, Schrier R W. 2014. Pub: Create Space Independent Publishing Platform USA.
2.
Robert W Schrier: an influential observer from outside Hepatology (Obit). Gines P. 2021. J Hepatol 74,1281-1282
3.
Renal Failure in Cirrhosis Gines P, Schrier R W. 2008. New Engl J Med Sep 24, 361 (13), 1279-1290.
4.
Profiles
of
American
Presidents
in
the
Twentieth
Century:
Merits
and
Maladies,
Schrier
R
W.
2011.
Pub:
Create
Space
Independent
Publishing
Platform USA.
5.
Moral
Courage:
Abraham
Lincoln,
Mahatma
Ghandi,
Nelson
Mandela,
Martin
Luther
King
Jr,
Schrier
R
W
2012.
Pub:
Create
Space
Independent
Publishing Platform USA.
6.
In Memoriam: Robert W Schrier 1936-2021, Berl T, Linas S. 2021. Kid Intl 99, 1042-1044
Robert William Schrier (1936-2021).
Renowned and respected nephrologist. Missed by us all.
Robert
Schrier-Bob-
was
born
in
Indianapolis
in
1936.
His
mother
was
a
nurse,
his
father,
a
printer
who
died
when
Bob
was
3
years
old.
He
had
a
glittering
career
in
Medicine
becoming
a
world
leader
in
Nephrology.
He
was
universally
liked
and
respected.
He
died
in
January
2021,
leaving
a
wife,
4
children,
13
grandchildren
and
2
great-
grandchildren
Early Days
His
college
education
started
in
Indianapolis
at
De
Pauw
University
where,
in
1957,
he
received
his
Bachelor’s
Degree.
There
he
met
Barbara,
his
wife-to-be,
who
he
married
in
1959.
The
marriage
lasted
almost
62
years.
In
1957,
he won a Fulbright Scholarship which took him to Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
From
school
age
he
was
recognised
as
a
talented
basketball
and
baseball
player.
Such
was
his
involvement
in
these
sports
that
he
admits,
in
his
Memoirs
(1),
he
managed
to
fit
in
a
game
of
baseball
on
his
wedding
day.
He
recited
his
vows
on
time-
but
it
was
a
very
close
call!
He
considered
a
career
in
basketball
but,
happily
for
the
world
of
Medicine, chose to go to Indiana University Medical School. He graduated MD in 1962.
His
first
medical
position
was
at
Marion
County
General
Hospital,
followed
by
2
years
residency
at
the
University
of
Washington,
School
of
Medicine,
Seattle.
This
was
followed,
in
1965,
by
a
Fellowship
at
Harvard
at
the
Peter
Bent
Brigham
Hospital
where
his
research
was
in
Endocrinology
and
Metabolism.
This
was
the
start
of
what
became
his
lifelong
interest-the
renal
regulation
of
salt
and
water.
In
1966
he
entered
the
army,
working
at
the
Walter
Reed
Hospital
and
the
Army
Institute
of
Research.
That
year
he
met
Hugh
de
Wardener,
Professor
of
Medicine,
Charing
Cross
Hospital,
London,
who
invited
him
to
work
with
him
on
the
renal
mechanisms
of
sodium
transport.
Bob
travelled to London in 1967. After 10 months he returned to USA to complete military service.
Dr Malcolm Phillips
Nephrologist and Medical
Director Charing Cross Hospital,
London (retired)
Andrzej Oko
President of the Polish
Society of Nephrology
Figure 1. Professor Alicja Grzegorzewska
(Photo. Janusz Ostrowski)
The
kidney
may
cause
hyperuricemia,
but
is
also
the
target
of
hyperuricemia
(calculi,
renal
disease,
and
its
progression).
At
onset,
gout
affects
one
joint,
frequently
the
metatarsophalangeal
joint
of
the
great
toe,
that
is
self-limited
and
heals
within
two
weeks.
Flare-ups
subsequently
affect
two
or
more
joints,
becoming
a
chronic
disease
when
tophi
and
erosions
of
the
joint
appear.
Risk
factors
are
disease
with
high
cell
turnover
and
high
intake
of
purine
rich
foods
(meat,
crustaceans,
alcohol,
syrup
containing
fructose).
It
increases
with
age
and
women
become
hyperuricemic
after
menopause.
It
affects
patients
with
hypertension,
diabetes
mellitus,
chronic
kidney
disease.
The
diagnosis
is
made
by
demonstrating
sodium
monourate
crystals
in
a
joint
by
polarization
microscopy
or
fine
needle
aspiration
of
tophi.
The
prevalence
is
1%
in
Italy
and
in
France,
2.5%
in
United
Kingdom,
Spain,
Netherland,
3.9%
in
the
USA
and
1%
in
China.
It
is
rare
in
Portugal,
Czech
Republic,
former
Soviet
Union,
Turkey,
Malaysia,
Japan,
Korea,
African
countries.
The
prevalence increases in senior citizens of 70-80 years of age.
Gout
is
the
oldest
recorded
inflammatory
arthritis
to
affect
humankind,
with
roots
stretching
back
to
2640
BC.
It
has
been
known
as
“the
unwalkable
disease”(Hippocrates),
for
which
protection
was
granted
by
the
Goddess
Artemis
Podagra.
Its
heritability
was
recognized
by
Galen
(AD
129-c216)
and
by
by
Aretheus
(AD
c150-200)
in
On
the
Causes
of
acute
and
chronic
diseases.
Soranus
of
Ephesus
(floruit
98-138
AD)
described
tophi
that
were
widely
discussed by the Byzantine physician Alexander of Tralles AD 525-605) who illustrated the virtues of Cholchicum autumnale (meadow saffron).
Many
other
Greek
and
Byzantine
authors
(2)
have
written
on
podagral,
derived
from
the
Greek
stems
poûs
(foot)
and
agra
(seizure.
Oribasius
(c.320-400
CE)
wrote
that
gout
affects
the
feet,
whereas
arthritis
affects
other
joints
and
suggested
to
use
a
mixture
of
germander
and
white
centaury
known
as
Remedy of Proclu.
Aētius
Amidenus
(6th
Century
AD)
in
De
Morbis
acutis
et
chronicis)
pointed
out
the
similarity
of
podagral
with
arthritis
and
sciatica
due
to
a
humour
entering
in
the
nerve
and
then
reaching
the
joints
(9.
Demetrius
Pepagomenus
wrote
on
the
chronicity
of
gout
a
disease
caused
by
a
functional
deficit
of
bile and phlegm (whereas Johannes Actuarius (1275-1328) supported the concept that the effect of the bad humor had its origin in age and a lifestyles.
It
has
been
known
as
“the
rich
man’s
disease”,
“the
patrician
malady“
“a
disease
of
plenty”,
“disease
of
the
lords
and
lord
of
disease”,
“disease
of
affluence”,
“disease
conferring
a
badge
of
nobility”,
“the
disease
increasing
the
social
status
of
those
affected”,
“disease
of
Western
Society
”,
and
also
,
“a
life-style
disease”,
and
“a
patrician
malady
no
more”.
Its
name
derives
from
the
Latin
word
gutta
(drop)
to
indicate
the
drop
of
a
humour
in
excess
precipitating
in
the
joint.
Gutta
was
originally
coined
by
Randolphus
Bocking
(1197/1258)
who
pointed
to
the
excess
of
one
humour.
Garrod
made
seminal
experiments
on
the
role
of
uric
acid
(1848).
Having
found
a
cure
for
the
disease—allopurinol,
still
the
most
used
―
Gertrud
B.
Elion
(1918-
1999) and George H. Hitchings ( 1905-1998) received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1988.
We
have
studied
gouty
stone
disease
in
popes,
who
being
persons
of
affluence
and
distinction,
have
traditionally
had
a
mean
life
span
exceeding
those
of
their contemporaries.
Scarce
data
on
gouty
popes
are
available.
This
is
surprising
since
popes
by
definition
are
persons
of
affluence
and
distinction
and
have
a
life
expectancy
that
by
far
exceeds
those
of
their
contemporaries.
In
fact,
from
the
17th
to
the
21st
centuries,
it
has
been
in
the
range
of
75
to
79.3
years
(3),
and,
as
mentioned
before,
hyperuricemia
increases
up
to
70-
80
years.
Furthermore,
the
lives
of
popes
from
the
year
1000
onwards
have
been
scrutinized
thoroughly
since
the
Popes
have
been
active
protagonists
of
history
in
Europe
and
beyond,
so
their
lives
not
only
attracted
the
attention
of
their
physicians, but also historians since the number of references is enormous.
In
December
1934
Lorenzo
Gualino
(4)
dedicated
to
“gouty
syndrome
“
a
very
extensive
and
documented
section
of
“Storia
Medica
dei
Romani
Pontefici
/
Medical
history
of
Roman
Pontiffs”
identifying
19
gouty
popes
ruling
the
Catholic
Church
in
the
years
590
to
1758,
whereas
a
2003
monograph
by
Ceccarelli
described
11
gouty
popes
in
the
years
1492-1903
(5),
Furthermore,
in
a
2006
paper
on
deaths
of
popes,
Retieff
and
Ciliers
identified
a
group
of
eight
gouty
popes
reigning
in
the
years
590-1830
(3).
Finally,
Giorgio
Cosmacini
in
a
book
on
the
link
between
medicine
and
papacy (6) published in 2017, identified 8 gouty pontiffs reigning in the years 999 to 2013.
The
above
studies,
apart
from
that
by
Gualino,
lack
systematic
investigations
on
the
prevalence
of
gout
in
popes,
do
not
take
into
consideration
the
environmental
conditions,
dietary
habits,
or
attitudes
towards
physical
activity.
They
lack
precise
descriptions
of
the
disease
presentation
at
the
first
attack
and
of
the
subsequent
flare-ups,
do
not
address
the
intercritical
periods
between
flares,
nor
inform
about
association
with
nephrolithiasis,
renal
pain,
and
urinary
sepsis.
The
chronic
effects
of
gout
on
the
quality
of
life
of
the
popes,
the
remedies
they
received
by
the
archiaters
and
personal
physicians
and
the
causes
of
death
were
not
globally
addressed.
Finally,
the
available
list
of
gouty
popes
is
incomplete,
and
suggests
that
there
might
be
gouty
popes
not
yet
identified.
Therefore,
we
have
embarked
in
a
series
of
studies
aiming
to
define
the
natural
history
of
gout
in
popes
with
special
interest for their renal stone disease and the causes of death.
Preliminary
data
were
presented
at
various
congresses
(7-11)
and
finally
a
review
was
recently
published
(12).
Data
were
obtained
on
the
largest
series
of
gouty popes (no. 25) ever studied, along with the disease presentation, its time-course and the causes of death (12).
Methods
We
have
studied
the
clinical
narratives
of
all
gouty
popes
identified
by
Gualino,
Ceccarelli,
Retief
and
Ciliers
and
by
Cosmacini
(3-6))
and
additionally
searched
for
all
gouty
popes
from
St.
Peter
(34
AD)
to
Bergoglio
(2014).
We
have
scrutinized
the
histories
of
popes
of
Bartolomeo
Sacchi―known
as
Platina―(1421-1481),
Luigi
Gaetano
Marini
(1782-1815),
Giuseppe
de
Novaes
(
1736-1821)
Leopold
von
Ranke
(1795-1896),
Mathieu-Richard
Auguste
Henrion
(1805-
1862),
the
recent
monographs
of
Claudio
Rendina,
Peter
G.
Maxwell-Stewart,
and
Wendy
J.
Reardon
)
and
some
online
encyclopedias.
Gout
was
diagnosed
through
the
clinical
narrative
pointing
to
an
acute
painful
condition
of
the
big
toe
(podagra)
,
its
onset
at
night,
its
recurrence
over
the
years.
Importance
was
given
to
the
association
with
fever,
flank
pain,
sands,
stones,
tophi,
difficulties
in
standing
and
walking
the
need
of
special
chairs
the
impossibility
to
cope
with
papal
duties
and
absence
at
special
celebrations
of
liturgical
year.
Chiragra
was
identified
by
acute
and
recurrent
painful
attacks
of
inflammation
of
the
joints
of
the
hands
presenting
with
swelling,
tenderness,
redness,
and
limited
function
(functio
laesa).
Notes
were
taken
about
chronic
deformation
of
the
hands
and
the
difficulties
in
bringing
drinks
and
foods
to
mouth,
riding
,
and
celebrating
mass.
The
study
was
completed
by
analysis
of
data
on
obesity,
quality
and
quality
of
foods
and
drinks,
the
visits
to
spas
for
baths
and
special
waters,
and
the
suggestions
of
archiaters
and
special consultations with great physicians.
Results
We report herewith 4 case histories that can be found in the depository of data related to the recent review (12).
Boniface VIII (1294-1303).
He
was
born
Benedetto
Caetani
at
Anagni
c.1230.
He
was
elected
Pope
after
the
withdrawl
of
Celestine
V,
and
is
considered
one
of
the
greatest
popes
although
Dante
Alighieri
charged
him
with
simony
and
nepotism.
“He
was
chronically
affected
by
gout
and
renal
stone
disease
-
podagra,
chiragra
-
and
by the fear for death, and the search for therapies to prolong life.
Cosmacini says ”podagroso e gottoso… the Pope is affected by arthritis and renal disease due to overeating rich foods (straricca in Italian) such as meat“.
Boniface
enrolled
fourteen
archiaters,
among
them
Taddeo
Alderotti
(1223-1295),
Pietro
da
Abano
(1257-1315),
Anselmo
da
Bergamo
(artis
physicae
professor),
Simone
of
Genova
(author
of
Clavis
sanationis),
Accursino
from
Pistoia,
Manzia
from
Fabriano,
Gugliemo
da
Brescia,
Angelo
da
Camerino
and Campano da Novara (Magister Campanus), the naturalist he too affected by renal stone disease.
Boniface
was
the
founder
of
the
Holy
Year
in
1300
and
of
the
University
La
Sapienza
in
Rome
(Bulla
of
April
29,
1303).He
authored
the
Bulla
detestandi
feritatis/dissection
(September
27,
1299).
For
this
Bulla
during
the
subsequent
centuries
he
was
wrongly
accused
even
by
Herman
Boerhaave
and Albrecht von Haller of slowing the advancement of medicine by impeding progress in anatomy.
Sixtus IV (1471-1484).
Born
Francesco
della
Rovere
in
1414,
he
is
remembered
for
the
splendor
of
the
Sistine
Chapel
(he
hired
Verrocchio,
Botticelli,
Pinturicchio,
Perugino,
Ghirlandaio, Melozzo).
He also promoted the foundation of the Hospital Santo Spirito, and the development of the Vatican Library. He nominated as its
director Bartolomeo Sacchi, known as Platina, as shown by a painting of Melozzo in the Vatican Museum.
SIXTUS
IV
is
very
important
for
the
short
apostolic
letter
(littera
in
forma
brevis)
to
the
President
of
the
University
of
Tubingen
who
had
inquired
about
the
possibility
of
utilizing
the
bodies
of
executed
people
to
learn
anatomy.
“We
give
you
the
permission
to
utilize
the
corpses
of
executed
persons to dissect them”(April 4, 1582).
CLEMENT VIII (1592-1605).
Born
Ippolito
Aldobrandini,
he
was
the
pope
who
convicted
Giordano
Bruno.
He
suffered
frequent
attacks
of
gout
of
the
foot,
especially
the
great
toe.
He
had
arthritis
and
nephritis.
His
pallor
makes
a
diagnosis
of
chronic
kidney
disease
probable.
His
physician
prescribed
drinking
a
lot
of
liquids.
In
the
last
months
he
had
various
attacks
of
“podagra,
flank
pain,
with
insomnia
and
lack
of
appetite”.
In
January
1605
he
had
stroke,
loss
of
word,
delirium,
somnolence, compulsive drinking, amnesia. He died of cerebral hemorrhage (mal di goccia, cerebral extravasation
Lifestyles of gouty popes
Gregory I Magnus chose modesty in every aspect of life, even his horses and his mounts were modest.
Some
were
frugal,
such
as
Pius
II,
Pius
III,
Gregory
XV,
Innocent
XI,
Benedict
XIV,
Benedict
XV
and
Gregory
I
Magnus
who
ate
cabbages
and
died
malnourished.
Benedict
XIV
was
a
sober
eater
and
dined
with
cinnamon
flavored
water.
Some
popes
gave
special
importance
to
food:
Julius
III
invested
in
foods
and
wines
no
less
than
8,000
ducats
per
month.
Boniface
VIII,
Julius
I
and
Julius
III
were
voracious
eaters.
Pius
IV
used
to
eat
five
time
a
day.
Gregory I, Magnus, Pius II, Honorius IV and Pius III, despite their attitudes toward foods, used to fast in sign of penitence.
Pius
IV
and
Julius
II
enjoyed
drinking
wine.
Pius
II
mixed
it
with
water.
Nicholas
V,
a
sober
drinker,
had
on
his
table
“two
small
jugs
with
a
wide
body
and
a
narrow
neck
-one
for
red
wine
and
the
other
for
white
wine”.
But
he
really
used
them
to
offer
wine
to
his
important
visitors
from
France,
Germany
and
Hungary
who
might
appreciate
the
value
of
the
wine.
Pope
Benedict
XIV
drank
a
small
amount
of
wine
from
Montepulciano
at
lunch
and
preferred
to drink water with cinnamon for the rest of the day.
Julius II loved exercise “motion maintains health and drives out disease, I don’t want to die bedridden”.
Boniface
VIII,
Clement
VI,
Callixtus
III,
Nicholas
V,
Pius
II,
Sixtus
IV,
Pius
III,
Julius
II,
Marcellus
II,
Clement
VIII,
Gregory
XV,
Pius
IV,
Clement
X,
Innocent
X,
Innocent
XI,
Clement
XII
had
narratives
of
podagra,
chiragra,
sands,
renal
stone
disease,
flank
pain,
disury,
with
or
without
fever,
small
Kidneys
and/or
stones
at
autopsy.
Benedict
XIV,
needed
bladder
catheterization
every
two
and
half
hours,
a
procedure
that
was
performed
by
his
physician Peter Pozio.
Renal disease in gouty popes
As
reported
elsewhere
(12)
25
of
264
popes
(Table
1,
Figures
1-5)
were
found
gouty
(9.47%);
68%
had
renal
disease;
70.6%
underwent
a
renal
death;
58%
had
risk
factors,
25%
had
comorbidities),
84%
had
inability
to
perform
duties.
Renal
disease
did
not
affect
age
at
death
and
inability
to
perform
duties. Now gout is no longer a papal disease.
A
total
of
7
out
25
popes
(28%)
died
of
stroke
or
after
one
or
more
bouts
of
transient
ischemic
attack:
Marcellus
II
at
54,
Sergius
II
at
57,
Sixtus
IV
and
Clement
VIII
at
70,
Honorius
IV
at
77,
Innocent
XII
at
85,
Clement
XII
at
88:
Various
TIA
before
death.
Hyperuricemia
as
a
risk
factor
for
stroke
has
long
been
debated.
Recently
hyperuricemia
was
shown
to
be
a
significant
risk
of
stroke
(and
that
the
risk
is
equal
to
that
of
diabetes
mellitus.
This
is
not
surprising
since
chronic
kidney
disease
may
cause
hyperuricemia,
and
in
addition,
gout
is
associated
with
a
high
incidence
of
CKD,
with
disease
progression to end-stage kidney disease (12).
Gout and the Theory of Epidemiological Transition
Thus,
gout
had
a
high
prevalence
in
popes
and
was
practically
absent
in
the
population.
This
may
be
well
explained
by
means
of
the
Theory
of
Epidemiological
Transition.
The
theory
was
advanced
in
a
landmark
paper
of
Abdel
R.
Omran
“after
the
conquest
of
infectious
disease”
and
the
emergence
of
degenerative
and
“man-made
diseases”,
after
World
War
II
(13).
Using
demographical
tools,
Omran
analyzed
the
changing
patterns
of
population
age
distribution
in
relation
to
changes
in
mortality,
fertility,
life
expectancy,
causes
of
death.
The
theory
has
been
updated
frequently,
and
finally
poverty
has
been
taken
into
consideration
along
with
incomes
and
education.
It
is
evident
that
the
rich
well
educated
class
adopted
intemperant
lifestyles
as
did
poorly
educated
classes;
however,
the
rich
educated
class
when
made
aware
of
risks
have
adopted
healthy
lifestyles,
a
goal
presently
missed by the poor and less educated populations at greater risk (14).
Acknowledgements
Joseph
Sepe
MD,
Professor
of
Biological
Sciences,
University
of
Maryland
Global
Campus,
USA,
Adjunct
Professor—Department
of
Mathematics
and
Physics University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy for English revision.
References
1.
Dalbeth
N,
Choi
HK,
Joosten
LAB,
Khanna
PP,
Matsuo
H,,
Fernando
Perez-
Ruiz
F
and
Stamp
LK
(2019).
Gout.
Nature
Reviews
Disease
Primers
5:69 doi.org/10.1038/s41572-019-0115-y
2.
Savica
V,
Santoro
D,
Ricciardi
B,
Ricciardi
CA,
Calo
LA,
Bellinghieri
G.
Morbus
dominorum:
gout
as
the
disease
of
lords.
J
Nephrol.
2013
Dec
23;26(Suppl. 22):113-116. doi: 10.5301/jn.5000349. Online ahead of print.PMID: 24375354
3. Retief FP, Cilliers L (20005). Disease and causes of death among popes. Acta Theologica S233-S246
4. Gualino L. Storia medica dei Romani pontefici. Minerva Medica, Torino1934
5. Ceccarelli G (2001). La salute dei pontefici. Da Alessandro VI a Leone XIII (1492- 1503). Ancora, Milano
6. Cosmacini G (2018). La medicina dei papi. Laterza, Roma
7.
De
Santo
NG,
Bisaccia
C,
De
Santo
LS
(2019).
Causes
of
death
due
to
disease
of
the
genito-urinary
system
and
of
the
heart
among
264
popes
in
the
years
65-2005
AD:
First
approach
.Nephrology
Dialysis
Transplantation,
Volume
34,
Issue
Supplement_1,
gfz103.SP804,
https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfz103.SP804. Published:13 June 2019
8.
De
Santo
NG,
Bisaccia
C,
De
Santo
LS
(2019).
Deaths
caused
by
cardiorenal
disease
among
264
popes
from
St.
Peter
to
St.
John
Paul
II.
Hellenic
Nephrology 31: 158.
9.De Santo NG, Bisaccia C, De Santo LS (2020). Papal deaths caused by cardiorenal disease. First Approach. Arch Hell Med 37(S2): 177-181
10.
Bisacccia
C,
De
Santo
LS,
De
Santo
NG
(2020).
Gout
a
papal
disease:
a
study
in
20
pontiffs
(540-1830.
Nephrology
Dialysis
Transplantation,
Volume
35, Issue Supplement_3, gfaa144.P1836, https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfaa144.P1836
11.
De
Santo
N,
Bisaccia
C,
De
Santo
(2021).
Renal
stone
disease
in
193
pontiffs
from
Vigilius
to
Pius
VIII.
(537-1830).
Nephrology
Dialysis
Transplantation . DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfab105.001
12.
De
Santo
NG,
Bisaccia
C,
De
Santo
LS.
Gout:
a
papal
disease-a
historical
review
of
25
gouty
popes
(34-2005
AD).
J
Nephrol.
2021
Oct;34(5):1565-
1567. doi: 10.1007/s40620-021-01117-8. Epub 2021 Jul 28. PMID: 34319565.
13.
Omran
A
R.
The
epidemiologic
transition.
A
theory
of
the
Epidemiology
of
Population
Change,
Milbank
Memorial
Fund
Quarterly
1971;
49(4).
509-
538
14.
Pearson
TA.
Education
and
income:
double
edged
swords
in
the
epidemiologic
transition
of
cardiovascular
disease.
Ethnicity
&
Disease
2003;
13:
S2-
158-S2-163
Table 1 – Gouty pontiffs.
Figure 1 – Popes reigning in the years 590-604.
Figure 2 – Popes reigning in the years 1294-1303.
Figure 3 – Popes reigning in the years 1471 – 1484.
Figure 4 – Popes reigning in the years 1559-1676.
Figure 5 – Popes reigning in the years 1676-1830.
The all-online 10th Top Nephrological Trends Congress was held on October 8-9, 2021 in Poznań, Poland. Ever since its beginning, the congress has been
organised
by
Professor
Andrzej
Oko,
the
Head
of
the
Department
of
Nephrology,
Transplantology
and
Internal
Medicine
at
the
Medical
University
of
Poznań,
and
the
current
President
of
the
Polish
Society
of
Nephrology.
The
rich
programme
included
members
of
the
IAHN
from
Poland.
Professor
Bolesław
Rutkowski
was
the
chairman
of
one
of
the
scientific
sessions,
while
prof.
Przemysław
Rutkowski
gave
a
lecture
entitled
“Epigenetics
in
the
service
of
medicine”.
Moreover,
the
author
of
this
information
gave
a
lecture
on
an
outstanding
Polish
internist
at
the
turn
of
the
19th
and
20th
centuries,
prof.
Anastazy
Landau.
The
lecture
was
titled
“Professor
Anastazy
Landau
(1876-1957)
and
his
contribution
to
the
development
of
nephrology”.
Top
Nephrological Trends is one of the Polish highest rated conferences in nephrology.
Janusz Ostrowski
10th TOP NEPHROLOGICAL TRENDS
On
October
11,
2021,
the
inauguration
of
the
academic
year
took
place
in
a
hybrid
formula
at
the
Medical
University
of
Gdańsk.
The
ceremony
was
honoured
by
the
presence
of
the
Minister
of
Health
of
Poland,
Adam
Niedzielski.
During
the
celebration
the
title
of
Aesculapius
Gedanensis
was
awarded
to
prof.
Bolesław
Rutkowski.
The
dignity
–
an
Honorary
Professor
of
the
Medical
University
of
Gdańsk,
has
been
awarded
since
2018
in
recognition
of
outstanding scientific achievements or merits for the development of the University.
Having
received
the
title,
Professor
Bolesław
Rutkowski
gave
a
lecture
entitled
“Chronic
Kidney
Disease:
a
Pandemic
of
the
21st
Century”
and
the
next
issue
of
Gazeta
GUMed
(Gdańsk
Medical
University
Newspaper)
featured
a
wide
coverage
of
the
ceremony.
Professor
Bolesław
Rutkowski
is
a
long-
term
Head
of
the
Department
of
Nephrology,
Tansplantology
and
Internal
Medicine
of
the
Medical
University
of
Gdańsk,
a
former
President
of
the
Polish
Society
of
Nephrology,
a
long-standing
former
national
consultant
in
the
field
of
nephrology,
who
has
enjoyed
many
titles
and
awards
and
has
served
many
important
roles
in
the
world
of
medicine:
the
Distinguished
Medal
of
the
National
Kidney
Foundation
(NKF),
Distinguished
Fellowship
of
ERA-
EDTA,
Former
President
and
Honorary
Member
of
the
IAHN
to
name
just
a
few.
Professor
Bolesław
Rutkowski
is
recognised
by
the
community
of
nephrology as one of the greatest scientific authorities in Poland.
Janusz Ostrowski
PROFESSOR BOLESŁAW RUTKOWSKI
Figure 2. Professor Bolesław Rutkowski
(photo. Janusz Ostrowski)
It
was
back
in
2000
when
the
first
Katowice
Seminars
“Advances
in
nephrology
and
hypertension”
was
held.
The
21st
edition
of
this
extremely
popular
and
presenting
a
superb
scientific
level
event
took
place
earlier
this
autumn.
To
date,
every
year,
the
most
renowned
representatives
of
the
world
of
nephrology
have
shown
up
in
Katowice
and
it
was
no
different
this
time.
The
participants
had
a
pleasure
to
hear
Prof.
Natale
De
Santo
who
not
only
gave
a
fascinating
lecture,
but
also
received
the
honorary
membership
of
the
Polish
Society
of
Nephrology.
From
the
very
beginning,
the
seminars
have
been
organised
by
Professor
Andrzej
Więcek,
the
Head
of
the
Department
of
Nephrology,
Transplatation
and
Internal
Medicine,
Medical
University
of
Silesia.
Professor Andrzej Więcek is the former President of the Polish Society of Nephrology and the ERA-EDTA, and an honorary member of the IAHN.
Due
to
the
pandemic
restrictions,
this
year’s
seminar
was
held
on
November
25-27
in
a
hybrid
form.
The
first
session
was
marked
by
an
active
participation
of
IAHN
members.
Prof.
Przemysław
Rutkowski
gave
a
lecture
on
“Green
Nephrology
-
the
needs
and
possibilities
of
environmental
protection
in
nephrology”,
prof.
Bolesław
Rutkowski
presented
the
lecture
“Gender
and
chronic
kidney
disease”,
and
prof.
Janusz
Ostrowski
discussed
“The
discoveries
in
the
morphology
and
physiology
of
the
kidneys.
Views
on
tubulo-glomerular
feedback”.
The
former
President
of
the
European
Renal
Association,
prof.
Raymond
Vanholder
also
participated
in
the
seminar
that
was
again
highly
evaluated
by
all
the
participants.
It
is
generally
hoped
that
the next one will be live.
Janusz Ostrowski
21 KATOWICE SEMINAR “Progress in nephrology and hypertension”
Figure 1. Professor Przemysław Rutkowski
Figure 2. Professor Bolesław Rutkowski
Figure 3. Professor Janusz Ostrowski
Figure 2. Professor Alicja Grzegorzewska
(Photo. Janusz Ostrowski)
Natale G. De Santo, MD
Emeritus Professor,
University of Campania
Luigi Vanvitelli,
Naples, Italy
Figure 1. Professor Robert Wiliam Schrier
Professor Alicja Grzegorzewska (1949-2021)
Alicja
Grzegorzewska
was
born
on
18th
November
1949.
She
graduated
from
medical
studies
in
the
Doctors’
Department
of
the
Medical
Academy
in
Poznań,
Poland
in
1973.
Three
years
later,
she
obtained
her
I-degree
specialisation
in
internal
medicine,
followed
by
the
II-degree
in
nephrology
in
1979.
Only
2
years
later,
in
1981,
she
obtained
her
PhD
title
in
medicine
following
a
dissertation:
Research
on
uric
acid
excretion
during
peritoneal
dialysis
in
patients
with
chronic
kidney
disease.
In
1989,
she
received
the
title
of
a
habilitated
doctor
in
medical
sciences
on
basis
of
her
work:
The
comparison
of
some
pharmacological
and
conventional
methods
to
increase
the
efficiency
of
peritoneal dialysis sessions. She became professor in 1997.
Earlier, in 1990, she spent a year working at Dalton Research Center at the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
In
1996-1997,
she
held
the
position
of
the
Head
of
the
Faculty
and
Clinic
of
Nephrology
at
the
Medical
Academy
in
Poznań, Poland.
A.
Grzegorzewska
was
a
supervisor
of
14
doctoral
programmes,
including
6
completed
with
honours,
and
15
master
programmes.
Additionally,
she
supervised
5
completed
specialisation
programmes
in
nephrology.
Her
list
of
scientific
achievements was rather impressive and her expertise in peritoneal dialysis was hard to match.
The short list of international and Polish journals in which she published includes Kidney International, Nephrology
Dialysis
&
Transplantation,
Journal
of
Artificial
Organs,
Peritoneal
Dialysis
Bulletin,
Peritoneal
Dialysis
International,
Nefrologia
i
Dializoterapia
Polska
(Polish
Nephrology
and
Dialysis
Treatment),
Polskie
Archiwum
Medycyny
Wewnętrznej
(Polish
Archives
of
Internal
Medicine),
Przegląd
Lekarski
(Doctor’s
Review).
Her
total
Impact
Factor
stood at 105.
Prof.
Alicja
Grzegorzewska
was
the
Chairperson
of
the
Organising
Committee
of
the
5th
Congress
of
the
Polish
Society
of
Nephrology
and
the
President
of its Poznań Branch for two terms. In the years 2002-2007 she was a Medical Consultant in the field of Nephrology for the Greater Poland Voivodeship.
She was a member of the Polish Society of Nephrology and the ERA-EDTA.
For
her
remarkable
achievements,
she
has
received
many
awards
and
distinctions:
individual
awards
of
the
Minister
of
Health
in
Poland,
scientific
and
didactic awards of the Rector of the Medical University in Poznań. In 2013 she became an ERA-EDTA Distinguished Fellow (FERA).
Professor Alicja Grzegorzewska died on November 16, 2021.
Andrzej Oko
Janusz Ostrowski
Natale Gaspare De Santo1, Carmela Bisaccia2, Luca S. De Santo3
1University
of
Campania
Luigi
Vanvitelli,
Naples,
2Mazzini
Institute,
Naples,
3Division
of
Heart
Surgery,
Department
of translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples. All in Italy.
Introduction
Gout
is
a
common,
complex,
systemic
and
well-studied
form
of
chronic
inflammatory
arthritis
in
adults
(1)
for
which
many
options
are
now
available.
It
is
due
to
deposition
of
sodium
monourate
crystals
in
peripheral
joints
and
periarticular tissues driven by hyperuricemia at or above 6.8 mg/dl. Hyperuricemia is caused by genetic, environmental
factors
as
well
as
by
urate
transporter
dysfunction
in
the
gut
and
in
the
kidneys.
Hyperuricemias
are
due
to
either
renal
overload,
renal
underextretion
or
a
combination
of
both
Renal
overload
may
be
due
to
overproduction
by
dietary
purines,
endogenous
purine
synthesis,
purine
breakdown
and
purine
salvage
(Hypoxanthine-guanine
phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency and 5-Phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphatedeficiency).
Cristal
deposition—activates
a)
the
NOD-like
receptor
protein
3
(NLRP3)
inflammasome
causing—via
caspase-
1—release of the cytokine IL-1β and b) activates proteinase 3 and elastase.
The
kidney
may
cause
hyperuricemia,
but
is
also
the
target
of
hyperuricemia
(calculi,
renal
disease,
and
its
progression).
At
onset,
gout
affects
one
joint,
frequently
the
metatarsophalangeal
joint
of
the
great
toe,
that
is
self-
limited
and
heals
within
two
weeks.
Flare-ups
subsequently
affect
two
or
more
joints,
becoming
a
chronic
disease
when
tophi
and
erosions
of
the
joint
appear.
Risk
factors
are
disease
with
high
cell
turnover
and
high
intake
of
purine
rich
foods
(meat,
crustaceans,
alcohol,
syrup
containing
fructose).
It
increases
with
age
and
women
become
hyperuricemic
after
menopause.
It
affects
patients
with
hypertension,
diabetes
mellitus,
chronic
kidney
disease.
The
diagnosis
is
made
by
demonstrating
sodium
monourate
crystals
in
a
joint
by
polarization
microscopy
or
fine
needle
aspiration
of
tophi.
The
prevalence
is
1%
in
Italy
and
in
France,
2.5%
in
United
Kingdom,
Spain,
Netherland,
3.9%
in
the
USA
and
1%
in
China.
It
is
rare
in
Portugal,
Czech
Republic,
former
Soviet
Union,
Turkey,
Malaysia,
Japan,
Korea, African countries. The prevalence increases in senior citizens of 70-80 years of age.
Figure 1. Professor Bolesław Rutkowski
(photo. Janusz Ostrowski)
PROFESSOR MOMIR POLENAKOVIC (1939-2021)
Professor
Momir
Polenakovic
MD
was
born
on
April
26th,
1939
in
Skopje
in
the
intellectual
family,
where
the
atmosphere
of
research
was
present
almost
each
day.
His
father
was
a
Professor
at
the
University
of
Sts.
Cyril
and
Methodius
in
Skopje,
and
also
one
of
the
founders
of
the
Macedonian
Academy
of
Sciences
and
Arts
and
its
first
Vice
President.
Momir
Polenakovic’s
mother
was
one
of
the
founders
of
the
first
Ethnographical
Museum
in
Skopje
and
in
Macedonia after the Second World War (1).
Professor Momir Polenakovic died in Skopje on March 6th, 2021.
Professor
Polenakovic
graduated
at
the
Medical
Faculty
of
the
Sts.
Cyril
and
Methodius
University
in
Skopje
and
received
his
M.D.
degree
in
1963.
He
was
the
best
student
of
the
generation
at
the
Medical
Faculty
of
the
Sts.
Cyril
and
Methodius
University
in
Skopje.
Already
during
this
time
he
was
very
active
and
in
the
period
of
1958-63
he
was
a
member
and
subsequently
a
Head
of
the
International
Cooperation
Department
of
the
Student
Association
of
the
Medical
Faculty
in
Skopje
(2).
After
completion
of
his
medical
learning,
he
continued
his
education
at
the
Clinic
of
Internal
Medicine
and
Nephrology
in
Skopje
and
at
the
Military
Medical
Academy
in
Belgrade,
Serbia.
Professor
Polenakovic
was
also
appointed
for
one
year
as
a
fellow
at
Northwestern
University
in
Chicago
(USA).
During
this
time
he
was
invited
to
give
lectures
at
the
University
of
California,
Los
Angeles
(UCLA),
the
University
of
San
Diego
– Scripps Clinic, at the Harvard Medical School, Boston and in the National Institute of Health (NIH).
In
1969
he
became
Assistant
and
later,
Associate
Professor
of
Nephrology
at
the
University
of
California,
San
Francisco.
In
1972
he
moved
to
the
University
of
Colorado,
Denver
as
Head
of
the
Division
of
Renal
Diseases
and
Hypertension.
This
was
the
start
of
a
development
programme
which,
over
the
next
30
years,
achieved
enormous
success.
He
promoted
training
of
Fellows
in
renal
medicine
and
research.
He
was
especially
involved
in
the
mentorship of Fellows-ultimately over 200 passed through his department.
In
1977
he
defended
his
Ph.D.
thesis
based
on
the
study
entitled:
“Clinical
and
immunological
evaluation
of
pathological
events
in
renal
glomeruli”,
becoming
an
assistant
Professor.
In
1983
he
became
an
associate
Professor
and
in
1988
a
full
Professor
of
internal
medicine
at
the
Medical
Faculty,
University
“Sts.
Cyril
and
Methodius”,
Skopje
(3).
He
was
also
elected
as
a
Vice
Dean
of
the
Medical
Faculty,
University
Sts.
Cyril
and
Methodius,
Skopje
from 1982-1984.
From
1990
to
1997
Professor
Polenakovic
was
a
head
of
the
Department
of
Nephrology,
University
“Sts.
Cyril
and
Methodius”
in
Skopje.
At
that
time,
Department
of
Nephrology
in
Skopje
became
one
of
the
first
“centres
of
excellence
“
in
Eastern
Europe
where
many
young
nephrologists
received
their
clinical
training
and
the
first
dialysis
in
Macedonia
in
patients
with
acute
(1965)
and
chronic
(1971)
renal
failure
was
performed.
Additionally
the
first
percutaneous
kidney
biopsy
in
Macedonia
was
made
in
1970
and
first
successful
kidney
transplantation
was
performed
in
his
Department
in
1977.
Professor
Polenakovic
was
the
first
who
in
1962
wrote
about
the
Balkan
Endemic
Nephropathy
epidemic
in
the
English
language
and
suggested
originally,
that
environmental
factors
may
cause
renal
diseases (1).
In
1997
he
was
elected
as
a
member
of
the
Macedonian
Academy
of
Sciences
and
Arts
where
he
served
as
a
Vice
President
from
2004
to
2007.
In
2015
Professor
Polenakovic
retired
but
still
remained
very
active
and
from
2011
until
2017
he
was
appointed
as
a
Head
of
the
Research
Centre
for
Genetic
Engineering
and
Biotechnology
“Georgi
Efremov” of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (3).
Professor
Polenakovic
published
more
than
250
articles
registered
in
the
Medline,
mainly
focused
on
glomerulonephropathies,
tubulointerstitial
diseases
(especially
Balkan
Endemic
Nephropathy),
diabetic
nephropathy,
polycystic kidney disease, chronic renal failure, dialysis and plasmapheresis.
Professor Andrzej Więcek
Head of the Department of Nephrology,
Transplantation and Internal Medicine,
Medical University of Silesia,
Katowice, Poland
Professor
Momir
Polenakovic
was
very
active
and
instrumental
in
creation
of
nephrological
societies
and
organizations
within
the
Balkan
countries,
especially
within
the
former
Yugoslavia.
In
1970
Professor
Momir
Polenakovic
together
with
Prof.
Hrisoho
founded
the
Macedonian
Nephrology
Society
of
the
Macedonian
Medical
Association.
Few
years
later,
Professor
Polenakovic
was
involved
in
the
creation
of
the
Yugoslav
Nephrology
Association
established
in
1975
in
Nis,
Serbia
(2).
In
1992
Professor
Polenakovic
created
the
Macedonian
Society
of
Nephrology,
Dialysis,
Transplantation
and
Artificial
Organs
(MSNDTAO)
and
was
President
of
this
Society
in
the
period
1992–2011,
and
later
on
a
lifetime
honorary
President.
In
1993,
the
First
Congress
of
the
MSNDTAO
was
organized
in
Ohrid
under
the
Presidency
of
Professor
Polenakovic.
During
this
Congress
for
the
first
time
the
idea
to
launch
the
Balkan
Association
of
Nephrology,
Dialysis,
Transplantation
and
Artificial
Organs
(BANTAO)
was
announced.
Professor
Polenakovic
was
not
one
of
the
founders
but
later
on
he
became
a
President
of
BANTAO
from
1997
until
1999
(2).
His
national
and
international
activity
was
appreciated
and
he
was
elected
a
President
of
the
Macedonian
Medical
Association
for
the
period
from
1984
until
1986,
later
on
as
a
President
of
the
Macedonian
Society
for
Basic,
Clinical
Immunology
and
Allergology
in
the
period
1992–1996.
Additionally,
during
the
period
1985–1989
he
was
elected
a
President
of
the
Yugoslav
Society
of
Nephrology
(2).
These
activities
were
also
acknowledged
by
European
nephrology
community
and
Professor
Polenakovic
was
elected
as
a
Council
Member
of
the
ERA-EDTA
for
the
period
1989–1991.
Together
with
the
Yugoslav
Society
of
Nephrology
he
was
involved
in
the
preparation
of
the
XXVIII
ERA-EDTA
Congress,
September
1-4,
1991
in
Belgrade,
as
a
Secretary
General
(Prof.
V.
Petronjic
was
the
Congress
President
at
this
time).
Unfortunately,
due
to
the
Balkan
war,
Yugoslavia
was
divided
into
several
countries
and
the
Congress
was
moved
to
Rimini
in
Italy,
November
6-9,
1991
(2).
From
1997
to
2005
Professor
Polenakovic
served
as
a
member
of
the
Board
of
Governors
of
the
European
Society
for
Artificial
Organs (ESAO) and in 2010 he organized in Skopje very successful XXXVII Congress of ESAO (2).
In
2013
Professor
Polenakovic
received
several
international
recognitions,
namely
he
became
a
Distinguished
Fellow
of
the
European
Renal
Association
(ERA-EDTA) and additionally he received the ISN Pioneer Award for the region of Central and Eastern Europe.
On
September
26th
–27th,
2014,
International
Nephrology
Days
were
organized
in
honour
of
the
75th
anniversary
of
Professor
Momir
Polenakovic
and
50
years
of
his
scientific
work.
During
this
Conference
he
received
a
certificate
from
the
ERA-EDTA
“for
his
important
role
in
the
development
of
nephrology
in
the
Balkan
region
and
his
constant
support
for
ERA-EDTA,
especially
at
the
occasion
of
the
1991
ERA-EDTA
Congress
when
he
gave
his
full support to the ERA-EDTA even in extremely difficult circumstances”.
It
is
also
important
to
mention
that
Professor
Polnekovic
was
an
exceptional
person
with
a
very
warm
and
human
attitude
to
all
whom
he
met.
His
splendid
organizational
skills
were
recognized
and
respected
by
scientists
and
friends
not
only
from
all
Balkan
countries
but
also
from
all
over
the
world.
He was one of the true pioneers in a worldwide nephrology.
Andrzej Więcek
Goce Spasovski
Janusz Ostrowski
References:
1.
Spasovski G., Stojceva-Taneva O.: Momir H. Polenakovic - Founder of the Nephrology Associations in the Republic of Macedonia. Pril (Makedon
Akad Nauk Umet Odd Med Nauki), 2015, 36(2), 39-84.
2.
Serafimoski V.: Contribution of Academician Momir Polenakovic to the Development of Nephrology in the Republic of Macedonia. Pril (Makedon
Akad Nauk Umet Odd Med Nauki), 2015, 36(2), 19-37.
3.
Spasovski G.: "Life is a Great Illusion, Achievements Stay Forever!" Momir H. Polenakovic (1939-2021) Pril (Makedon Akad Nauk Umet Odd
Med Nauki). 2021, 42(2), 25-26.
Figure 1. Professor Momir Polenakovic
Figure 2. Prof. Momir Polenakovic (right), Prof. Goce Spasovski
Professor Goce Spasovski
University Department of Nephrology
Medical Faculty
University St. Cyril and Methodius,
Skopje, N. Macedonia