Relationship between intraperitoneal pressure and the development of hernias in peritoneal dialysis: confirmation for the first time of a widely accepted concept.

Background: Intraperitoneal pressure (IPP) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an individual characteristic that can be modified by posture and intraperitoneal volume (IPV). It is considered one of the predisposing factors for complications in the abdominal wall, such as the appearance of hernias. No studies to date have confirmed this.

Effects of nebivolol and atenolol on central aortic pressure in hypertensive patients: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study.

Introduction: The main objective was to compare the mean change in augmentation index of hypertensive patients treated with nebivolol or atenolol.

Methods: Multicenter, double-blind randomized study conducted in six Spanish centers. We enrolled outpatients between the ages of 40 and 65 years with mild or moderate essential hypertension (systolic blood pressure, SBP ≥ 140 mmHg to ≤ 179 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure, DBP ≥ 90 mmHg to ≤ 109 mmHg after a 2-week run-in placebo period).

Membrane Bioincompatibility and Ultrafiltration Effects on Pulse Wave Analysis during Haemodialysis.

Membrane bioincompatibility was demonstrated by successive white blood cell counts and C3a generation. Pulse wave analysis was obtained by applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor) in a sequential way: basal, after 30 minutes with nul ultrafiltration, and after a complete dialysis with ultrafiltration. At 15 minutes of haemodialysis, significant decrease in leukocyte count occurred: 6801 ± 1186 versus 4412 ± 1333 (P < 0.

Effects of chronotherapy on blood pressure control in non-dipper patients with refractory hypertension.

Background: Refractory arterial hypertension (RAH) is frequently associated to a non-dipping blood pressure (BP) pattern; this profile has been shown to have a worse clinical prognosis. It is a common clinical practice that patients receive anti-hypertensive medication preferentially in the morning. Non-dipping could be related to the timing of anti-hypertensive drug administration.

Association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and high arterial blood pressure in the elderly.

Background: Vitamin D and calcium metabolism are involved in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial function and blood pressure (BP) regulation. Their physiopathology has been a matter of intensive clinical investigation with variable and sometimes contradictory results. Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in the general population, particularly among the elderly.

The safety of phosphate binders.

Disturbances of mineral metabolism occur during the early stages of chronic kidney disease. As renal function worsens, excess dietary phosphorus accumulates and blood levels increase, that can be clearly seen when the glomerular filtration rate has fallen below 30 ml/min/1.73 m2.

Usefulness of non-invasive tests for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection in patients undergoing dialysis for chronic renal failure.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection in chronic renal failure patients has been linked to peptic ulcer and gastric neoplasia after kidney transplantation. It may also contribute to the accelerated arteriosclerosis that is usual in this population. Few data are available on the usefulness of noninvasive diagnostic tests for H.

Post-infectious acute renal failure due to calciphylaxis--when processes go the wrong way round.

Calciphylaxis is a rare life threatening disorder of small- and medium-sized vessel calcification that leads to cutaneous necrosis. While its pathogenesis is uncertain, nearly all cases have been described in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis or following renal transplantation which is why the lesion has also been referred to as calcific uremic arteriolopathy. We describe a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis and normal renal function who developed calciphylaxis.

Safety and efficacy of sevelamer in the treatment of uncontrolled hyperphosphataemia of haemodialysis patients.

Background/aim: The treatment of hyperphosphataemia is of major importance in the management of patients on dialysis. Traditional phosphate binders can be associated with undesirable effects. Recently, a new non-absorbable phosphate-binding polymer, sevelamer hydrochloride, has been available.

BB genotype of the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism postpones parathyroidectomy in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Bsml vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism has been reported to influence the progression of secondary hyperparathyroidism but it is not known how much the genetic background contributes to the need for parathyroidectomy (PTx). We investigated the influence of VDR gene polymorphism on PTx in patients with different dialysis vintage.

Methods: We studied 121 parathyroidectomized HD patients ("PTx " group).