[Manufacturing waste of hemodialyzers decreases oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria isolated from rats].

Introduction: The persistence of manufacturing waste in hemodialysers is a neglected aspect of lack of hemodialysis biocompatibility. The effect of waste was tested on mitochondria isolated from rat liver.

Material And Methods: After throwing the first two liters of the rinse solution of hemodialysers, the third liter is lyophilized.

[Estimation of the glomerular filtration rate in elderly inpatients: comparison of four methods].

Purpose: High variability has been observed in the estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in older patients, according to the formula used and no single formula has been recommended to date. The aim of this study was to quantify the precision and accuracy of the GFR estimated by means of three formulas and the measurement of cystatin C.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted in an acute care geriatric unit.

Use of phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) hypervariable region 1 sequences to trace an outbreak of HCV in an autodialysis unit.

Hemodialysis patients are at high risk of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to investigate an HCV outbreak that occurred in an autodialysis unit by using epidemiological and molecular methods. Seroconversion to HCV antibody (anti-HCV) was observed in two patients over an 18-month period; two other patients had previously been recorded as anti-HCV positive.

Timing of nephrology referral: influence on mortality and morbidity.

To assess the influence of the timing of nephrology referral on the short- and long-term outcome of hemodialysis patients, we retrospectively studied 309 patients who had end-stage renal failure and entered the chronic hemodialysis program in Sainte-Marguerite University Hospital between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 1996. We excluded from the analysis five patients without available data on referral pattern and 34 patients with irreversible acute renal failure. Of the remaining 270 patients, 177 patients (58%) had an early referral (ER) 16 or more weeks before the start of dialysis, and 93 patients (31%) had a late referral (LR) of less than 16 weeks before dialysis.