Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems
Published on: August 17, 2022
Risk Factors and Mechanisms Underlying Cross-Shift Decline in Kidney Function in Guatemalan Sugarcane Workers
Cecilia J Sorensen1, Jaime Butler-Dawson, Miranda Dally
1Center for Health, Work & Environment (Dr Sorensen, Dr Butler-Dawson, Ms Dally, Ms Krisher, Ms Tenney, Dr Newman); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine (Dr Sorensen, Dr Lemery); Colorado Consortium on Climate Change and Human Health (Dr Sorensen, Dr Butler-Dawson, Ms Dally, Ms Krisher, Dr Johnson, Dr Lemery, Ms Tenney, Dr Newman); Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (Dr Butler-Dawson, Ms Dally, Ms Krisher, Ms Tenney, Dr Newman), Colorado School of Public Health; Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension (Dr Griffin, Dr Johnson); Pantaleon, Guatemala (Mr Asensio); Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Newman), University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.
Objective:
Identify early biomarkers and mechanisms of acute kidney injury in workers at risk of developing chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu).
Methods:
We assessed cross-shift changes in kidney function and biomarkers of injury in 105 healthy sugarcane workers. We obtained pre-harvest clinical data as well as daily environmental, clinical, and productivity data for each worker.
Results:
The average percent decline in cross-shift estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 21.8% (standard deviation [SD] 13.6%). Increasing wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), high uric acid, decreased urine pH, urinary leukocyte esterase, and serum hyperosmolality were risk factors for decline in kidney function.
Conclusions:
Sugarcane workers with normal kidney function experience recurrent subclinical kidney injury, associated with elevations in biomarkers of injury that suggest exposure to high temperatures and extreme physical demands.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanical Protein Functions
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
Magnetic Declination
Mechanical Protein Function
Conservation of Declining Populations
Crossing Over
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process...

