[The Kidney and Comprehensive Medicine in Humans.]

The organs of the body do not only function independently. Various organs work together to form a net- work, and it has been suggested that this is how homeostasis is maintained in the human body. The kidneys play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis through regulating processes such as metabolism and endocrine activity. In fact, the onset, progression, and chronic nature of kidney disease leads to the development of cardiovascular disease that can itself lead to systemic organ damage. We refer to this attempt to elucidate such a bodily network as the "Comprehensive Medicine in Humans" study. We hope to reveal such mecha- nisms, and develop new diagnostic and treatment methods. We previously reported on nephro-vascular and nephro-pulmonary networks. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, even when not suffering from diabe- tes mellitus, have been shown to exhibit a progression in atherosclerosis. Furthermore, a decline in the kidney function is closely linked to a decline in the pulmonary diffusion capacity. It has therefore been sug- gested that networks exist involving the kidneys and various other organs. Increasing CKD rates in a highly aged society, along with accompanying illnesses, can be understood from a whole-body network perspective. We aim to gain knowledge that can aid in disease prevention, as well as help develop new diagnostic methods and treatments for patients suffering from kidney disease.