Veterans more likely to start hemodialysis with an arteriovenous fistula.

Hemodialysis via arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality when compared to alternative vascular accesses, yet few patients in the United States start dialysis with AVFs. Recent studies have demonstrated higher quality of care for many conditions in Veterans Affairs' Medical Centers (VAMC); however, differences in quality of vascular access care are unknown. We used patient-level data (6/05-5/06) from Medicare claims (n = 25,912) to compare the proportions of AVF among incident patients at VAMC-affiliated (n = 20) and unaffiliated dialysis (n = 1631) facilities.

Perioperative outcomes among patients with end-stage renal disease following coronary artery bypass surgery in the USA.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring chronic haemodialysis who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) are at significant risk for perioperative mortality. However, the impact of changes in ESRD patient volume and characteristics over time on operative outcomes is unclear.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (1988-03), we evaluated rates of CABG surgery with and without concurrent valve surgery among ESRD patients and outcomes including in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay.

Apoptosis induced by adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transfer in human glioma correlates with site-specific phosphorylation.

Therapeutic replacement of the p53 gene using an adenovirus vector (Ad-p53) may be an effective alternative to conventional therapies for the treatment of glioma. We have previously demonstrated that the introduction of Ad-p53 into glioma cells containing mutant p53 induces apoptosis, whereas glioma cells containing wild-type p53 are resistant. However, Ad-p53 will enhance the radiosensitivity of wild-type p53 glioma cells by increasing their tendency for apoptosis.