Are corticosteroids or end-stage renal failure associated with an afebrile presentation of Gram-negative bacteraemia?

Objectives: Assertions regarding afebrile presentation of sepsis frequently lead to superfluous antibiotic treatment. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for afebrile presentation of bacteraemia, focusing on glucocorticoid (GC) treatment and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with bacteraemia caused by common Gram-negative bacteria in one hospital.

[HEMODIALYSIS: PRESENT INNOVATIONS FOR PATIENTS' FUTURE].

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Survival of ESRD patients depends on renal replacement therapies, such as kidney transplantation and dialysis. Due to the shortage of potential kidney donors and patients' comorbidities, dialysis is the major therapeutic option offered to such patients.

High plasma high-density lipoprotein levels, very low cardiovascular risk profile, and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.

Background: Low plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, recently several studies have questioned the protective role of high plasma HDL levels.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate HDL functions in women with high plasma HDL cholesterol and very low risk profile with relation to subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (ATS).

[The importance of ACE2 in regulating the cardiovascular system].

A recently discovered homologue of the angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE2, insensitive to ACE inhibitors, was found in rodents and humans. ACE2 is expressed mainly in the vasculature, heart and kidney. ACE2 removes a single amino acid of the carboxy terminal of peptides.