Prevention of dialysis hypotension episodes using fuzzy logic control system.

Background: Automatic systems for stabilizing blood pressure (BP) during dialysis are few and only control those variables indirectly related to BP. Due to complex BP regulation under dynamic dialysis conditions, BP itself appears to be the most consistent input parameter for a device addressed to preventing dialysis hypotension (DH).

Methods: An automatic system (ABPS, automatic blood pressure stabilization) for BP control by fluid removal feedback regulation is implemented on a dialysis machine (Dialog Advanced, Braun).

Sclerosing peritonitis: a nosological entity.

The peritoneal histology of 224 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients without sclerosing peritonitis (SP) and of 39 PD patients with SP was evaluated. Of the 224 patients, 180 showed simple sclerosis (SS). In these subjects, slight thickness of sclerosis (10 - 70 microm), slight parvicellular infiltration (5/180), slight arterial thickening with no vessel occlusion (19/180), and slight tissue calcification (1/180) were observed.

Omental milky spots and peritoneal dialysis--review and personal experience.

Background: Little research has been dedicated to milky spots (MS), except for their role in oncology. In the field of peritoneal dialysis (PD), studying MS could help in understanding peritoneal defenses.

Methods: We reviewed the methods for detecting and counting omental MS and studied modifications induced by chemical and inflammatory stimuli.

Ossification of the peritoneal membrane.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients rarely develop sclerosing peritonitis (SP), a severe, life-threatening condition of unknown pathogenesis. Ossification of the peritoneum (PO) is a rare occurrence, which has, however, been reported in PD patients with SP.

Objective: To investigate etiopathogenetic correlations between PO and SP by histopathological examination.

The self-locating catheter: clinical experience and follow-up.

Background: The self-locating catheter invented by Nicola Di Paolo has been used increasingly in Italy and elsewhere since 1994, with about a thousand patients currently implanted every year. Twelve grams of tungsten inserted into the tip of the conventional Tenckhoff catheter during extrusion does not significantly change its form, but suffices to keep the tip firmly in the Douglas cavity.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to confirm our preliminary results in a large population of peritoneal dialysis patients.