Publications by authors named "Albania Calvetta"

Background: Malnutrition is an important risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, current malnutrition biomarkers seem unable to accurately estimate the role of malnutrition in predicting cardiovascular risk. Our aim was to investigate the role of the Subjective Global Assessment-Dialysis Malnutrition Score (SGA-DMS) compared to two well-recognized comorbidity scores-Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and modified CCI (excluding age-factor) (mCCI)-in predicting cardiovascular events in HD patients.

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Introduction:: Malnutrition is a well-recognized risk factor for all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, its role for arteriovenous fistulas outcome has not been exhaustively investigated. Our aim was to point out the impact of Subjective Global Assessment-Dialysis Malnutrition Score as independent predictor of arteriovenous fistulas thrombosis (vascular access thrombosis) and/or significant stenosis (vascular access stenosis).

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Aims: The role of metformin in the development of lactic acidosis (LA) in the setting of acute renal failure (ARF) is debated. Moreover, recent experiments suggested that metformin can also be nephrotoxic, but little clinical data exist about this topic. We sought to investigate these possible associations in a large cohort of patients with diabetes who developed ARF.

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Background: In a third of patients presenting with rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure (ARF), a biphasic plasma calcium profile may occur.

Methods: We report a case of rhabdomyolysis-induced ARF presenting hypocalcemia during oliguria, followed by a severe hypercalcemia in the polyuric phase. A hypocalcemia-induced acute increase of plasma parathyroid hormone in the early stage of ARF was followed by a down-regulation of parathyroid hormone, 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D and 25(OH) vitamin D during the renal function recovery, associated with an acute hypercalcemia.

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Background: Type 2 diabetes patients on chronic hemodialysis have a high prevalence of cardiovascular complications and often show a poor glycemic control. Single-spot glycemic measurements are not always meaningful, and the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value does not reflect short-term variations in glucose metabolism in this patient category. Therefore, to better understand their metabolic balance, we studied a group of diabetes patients on hemodialysis by a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system.

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Objective: To assess the safety of the non-ionic iso-osmolar contrast agent iodixanol on renal function in patients with monoclonal gammopathies undergoing CT.

Methods: We explored the effect of iodixanol on renal function in 30 patients with monoclonal gammopathies and 20 oncological patients with a normal electrophoretic profile (control group). The parameters used to estimate renal function were: serum creatinine, eGFR (determined 24 h before and 48 h after the administration of iodixanol), and urinary excretion of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) determined 2 h and 24 h after.

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