Determinants of successful arteriovenous fistulae creation including intraoperative transit time flow measurement.

Background: The prevalence of hemodialysis patients is increasing, and it is important to create the arteriovenous fistula as early as possible to avoid hemodialysis by central venous catheter. International guidelines recommend arteriovenous fistula as the vascular access of first choice. Arteriovenous fistulae are associated with a failure rate of 23%.

[Neurological events in patients with atrial fibrillation: outcome and preventive practices].

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with neurologic events (transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke). The objective of the present study was to determine the outcome of patients with neurological events and atrial fibrillation (AF) in comparison with patients in sinus rhythm (SR), and to investigate the primary and secondary prevention practices in patients with neurological events and AF.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective, observational, single center study in a large public, university-affiliated hospital all patients admitted between 1/97 and 1/98 with acute neurologic events were registered (n = 369).

Thrombospondin measured in whole blood--an indicator of platelet activation.

Abnormal platelet activation may be involved in prethrombotic states and lead to thromboembolism. When platelets become activated, they release thrombospondin (TSP) from their alpha-granules which binds mainly to the surface of activated platelets, platelet-derived microparticles and other blood cells. To determine bound as well as free TSP in a single assay, we developed an indirect ELISA to measure TSP in fixed whole blood.