GIT (Glucose Infusion Test): polycentric evaluation of a new test for vascular access recirculation.

Introduction. Vascular access recirculation (AR), which is often unacknowledged, remains an important cause of inadequate dialytic dose. The glucose infusion test (GIT) is a new method for detecting and quantifying AR.

Correlation between pentosidine and endothelin-1 in subjects undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which accumulate in the blood and tissues of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing chronic hemodialysis, play an important role in the pathogenesis of uremic complications. Endothelin 1 (ET1), a 21-amino acid peptide with vasoconstricting and mitogenic properties, is an important factor in the endothelial dysfunction occurring in uremia. The circulating levels of both AGEs and ET1 have been reported to be increased in chronic renal failure.

Vitamin E-coated filter decreases levels of free 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal during haemodialysis sessions.

Uraemic subjects undergoing chronic haemodialysis show increased oxidative stress. The use of non-biocompatible filters and reduced antioxidative defences are important sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) release. The highly oxidative environment accelerates the onset and progression of tissue damage and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Online convective therapies: results from a hemofiltration trial.

With the introduction of the on-line preparation of dialysis fluids, the hemofiltration technique, which has never had a widespread diffusion in its old version with the infusion bags, has gained a new interest. We planned a prospective, randomized, 3-year-long study comparing survival and morbidity in ultrapure bicarbonate dialysis (BD) with on-line predilution hemofiltration (HF). Since comorbidity is one of the main factors limiting survival, the study was addressed to patients with a severe degree of comorbidity.

Kidney protein dynamics and ammoniagenesis in humans with chronic metabolic acidosis.

To evaluate the effects of chronic metabolic acidosis on protein dynamics and amino acid oxidation in the human kidney, a combination of organ isotopic ((14)C-leucine) and mass-balance techniques in 11 subjects with normal renal function undergoing venous catheterizations was used. Five of 11 studies were performed in the presence of metabolic acidosis. In subjects with normal acid-base balance, kidney protein degradation was 35% to 130% higher than protein synthesis, so net protein leucine balance was markedly negative.