[Acid-base disturbances in intensive-care patients].

Background: Acid-base disturbances may cause a variety of symptoms, multi-organ failure and compromised immune defense. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of acid-base disturbances in intensive-care patients.

Material And Method: The article is based on a non-systematic search in Pub Med, a textbook on intensive care and the authors' clinical experience.

Intermittent saline flushes during haemodialysis do not alleviate coagulation and clot formation in stable patients receiving reduced doses of dalteparin.

Background: Heparin-free haemodialysis (HD) with intermittent saline flushes (ISF) in patients with bleeding risk is widely used. The aim of this study was to investigate if ISF reduce coagulation and clotting in stable patients receiving reduced doses of dalteparin.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were stable chronic HD patients >or=18 years of age and haemoglobin >or=11 g/dl.

Vitamin D deficiency, bone mineral density and weight in patients with advanced pulmonary disease.

Objective: To study the influence of underweight, body composition and vitamin D deficiency on bone mineral density in patients with advanced pulmonary disease.

Design: Cross-sectional study with time span for inclusion set at 5 years.

Setting: The clinical work and biochemical analyses were carried out at Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Norway.

Vitamins A and E in serum in relation to weight and lung function in patients with advanced pulmonary disease.

The objective of the study was to examine whether serum concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-tocopherols (vitamin E) are affected by underweight and weight gain. The analysis was carried out in underweight (n = 42, of whom 24 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and normal-weight (n = 29, of whom 16 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) candidates for lung transplantation before and after dietary intervention for weight gain. In all the patients, serum concentrations of retinol at baseline and changes in retinol were positively associated with body mass index (unstandardized regression coefficient, b = 0.

A study of intensified dietary support in underweight candidates for lung transplantation.

Background: No data is available on dietary intervention in candidates for lung transplantation and on the effect of different strategies for dietary support in this cohort.

Aim: We therefore wanted to evaluate the effects of intensified nutritional support compared with simple support on energy intake and nutritional status.

Method: Our participants were underweight (n = 42) and normal-weight (control group, n = 29) candidates for lung transplantation.