Nonisothermal reactors for the production of pure water from peritoneal dialysis waste waters.

The diffusion of peritoneal dialysis (PD) at home is somewhat restricted by the difficulty of transport and storage of a large amount of dialytic solutions. This problem is exacerbated in the case of hemodialysis. With the aim of producing pure water to be used in preparing the solution for peritoneal dialysis, or for hemodialysis in general, as one example, we purified the spent dialysate solution from PD.

[Daily short dialysis. First results in a group of patients in home dialysis training].

The preliminary data of a small group of voluntary patients in daily short dialysis according to Buoncristiani are reported. After only one month of therapy an increase of haemoglobin and of haematocrit was obtained so that it was possible to reduce the EPO dose. The arterial pressure was better controlled with a smaller dose of antihypertensive drugs, facilitated in one case by a marked reduction of the body weight.

[Conservative treatment of renal ptosis].

Background: Nephroptosis or floating kidney is an acquired, caudal displacement of one or both kidneys, with differing stages and etiology. It has been almost completely ignored over the past few years. The general tendency to regard nephroptosis as a urological pathology has prompted researchers to look for resolutive surgical treatment.

[Myocardial metabolism of calcium in heart failure: from physiology to new therapeutic perspectives].

Development of heart failure is associated with an impairment of intracellular calcium handling. The precise mechanisms involved are still obscure. When membrane depolarization occurs, a small amount of extracellular calcium enters the intracellular milieu through the L-type channels.

Daily Dialysis: Toward a New Standard in Well-Being.

Daily hemodialysis (DHD) is a promising option; however, logistic obstacles and clinical perplexities limit its dissemination. Understanding the mechanisms of, and the time until, the onset of improved well-being may help to quantify clinical advantages and to define the minimum length of a "trial" of daily dialysis. By following 30 patients treated in 4 centers, this study aimed to determine how long a period of time is needed until a patient experiences subjective improvement.

[Renal ptosis. Results of a national survey].

Background: Renal ptosis is the caudal acquired displacement of one or both of the kidneys, with different degree and etiology, considered as a urological pathology because of its urodynamic changes and, in the last years, almost completely neglected.

Methods: The aim of the work is to research a parenchymal involvement, through a close examination of our outpatient's record; compared with data from the literature on renal ptosis and with the results of a national questionnaire to specialists.

Results: The literature reports a largest incidence in females; in our cases, instead, the incidence is nearly the same.

[High-flux arteriovenous fistula at the anatomic snuffbox].

Based on 25 years of haemodialysis experience, the authors confirm the importance of arteriovenous fistula at the anatomic snuff-box by L-L anastomosis with vessel end-tie, and assert that, even using small vessels, through simple devices, it is possible to achieve high-flux vascular access, that can be employed also for high-efficiency treatments (HF, HDF). The advantages and the troubles of this vascular access are considered and also the reasons that lead to dropping this arterio-venous fistula too. The authors describe the surgical technique and the devices of the procedure, based on their case-reports of 131 arteriovenous fistulas at the anatomic snuff-box, immediately working in 95% of the cases and compatible with high-flux blood in 67% of cases.

[Protozoan infection (Blastocystis hominis) concomitant with Pseudomonas sp. peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)].

Case-report of protozoal infection (Blastocystis bominis) during Pseudomonas peritonitis in male patient with intestinal diverticulosis on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment for chronic renal failure (CRF). Microscopic morphology and cultural characteristics are summarized from current literature. Photographic images in phase contrast from fresh-observation of faeces and peritoneal fluid are reported.

[Renal ptosis: nephrologic consequences of an organ malposition].

Renal ptosis is the caudal acquired displacement of one or both of the kidneys, with different degree and etiology, considered as a urological pathology because of its urodynamic changes and, in the last years, almost completely neglected. The aim of the work is to research a parenchymal involvement, through a close examination of our outpatient record of cases, compared with data from the literature about renal ptosis. The literature reports the largest incidence in females; in our record of cases, instead, the incidence is nearly the same.

[Utilization of an electronic archive in the organization of clinical data from patients at a dialysis center].

Today multiple programs allow storing of clinical data not yet satisfactory to practical management of nephrological patients. This work presents an electronic case history realized for nephrologic hospitalized or out patients, both in dialysis and in maintenance treatment, processed on a data-base (Fourth Dimension of Apple- Macintosh) which uses a "fourth generation" programming language and allows a personal or a multiple choice and a full data protection. As well as the personal or a multiple choice and a full data protection.

[Socio-occupational adjustment in patients undergoing dialysis in the Piedmont region. Preliminary data derived from our questionnaire].

All working-aged patients in Piedmont receiving dialysis treatment were asked to fill in a questionnaire which aimed to highlight socio-working adjustment by assessing not only the optimal nature of dialytic treatment but also its repercussions in psycho-affective, socio-economic and cultural terms. The results of the study are reported together with preliminary comments.