Artificial kidney created

Artificial kidney created         Washington, In what's being hailed as a major scientific breakthrough, an Indian-origin researcher-led team claims to have created the world's first implantable "artificial kidney", no larger than a coffee cup.   Mr. Shuvo Roy and colleagues at the University of California have developed the artificial kidney that they say not only filters toxins out of bloodstream, but also uses human kidney cells to perform other vital functions like regulating blood pressure and producing vitamin D. The device tested on animals awaits human trials.   "The new kidney doesn't just filter toxins. It has metabolic functions and hormonal functions, and dialysis does not capture these abilities," Ms Roy recently said. FA