Effect of different synthetic membranes on laboratory parameters and survival in chronic haemodialysis patients.

A number of studies suggested that the type of dialysis membrane is associated with differences in long-term outcome of patients undergoing haemodialysis, both in terms of morbidity and mortality. In the majority of dialysis units, synthetic membranes are being used. However, no studies are available so far for comparison between different biocompatible membranes.

Influence of genetic polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system on IgA nephropathy.

Background: We evaluated the impact of the three major genetic polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system [angiotensinogen (AGT) gene M235T, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene-I/D and angiotensin II-type 1 receptor (AT1R) gene A1166C polymorphisms] as risk factors in IgA nephropathy.

Methods: The clinical course of 107 patients with biopsy proven IgA nephropathy followed up for 6.6 +/- 5.

Tolerability and efficacy of multidose epoetin beta (Reco-Pen) for subcutaneous administration in patients with anemia due to renal failure.

Aims: To assess the tolerability, safety and efficacy of the epoetin beta multidose cartridge formulation, self-administered subcutaneously via a pen device (Reco-Pen), in adult patients with renal anemia.

Methods: Patients receiving maintenance epoetin therapy were switched to the subcutaneous (SC) multidose formulation of epoetin beta (NeoRecormon). The frequency of adverse events, local tolerability, and changes in blood pressure and laboratory variables were recorded.

Smoking as a risk factor for end-stage renal failure in men with primary renal disease.

Background: It is not known whether smoking increases the risk of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in patients with primary renal disease.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multicenter case-control study including 582 patients from nine centers in Germany, Italy and Austria. The diseases investigated were IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA-GN) as a model of inflammatory renal disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) as a model of non-inflammatory renal disease.

Alterations of polymorphonuclear leukocyte glycogen metabolism and glucose uptake in dialysis patients.

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are activated during extracorporeal circulation. An indicator of PMN activation may be the glycogen-degrading enzyme phosphorylase. It is unknown whether dialysis therapy may influence PMN carbohydrate metabolism.

[Kaposi's sarcoma after kidney transplantation].

A Kaposi's sarcoma of the skin with nodular and follicular lesions but no visceral involvement developed in a 44-year-old man nine months after transplantation of an haplo-identical kidney (a relative as donor). He was on an immunosuppressive regimen of daily 10 mg methylprednisolone and 2.5 mg/kg cyclosporin A.

Effect of phosphate depletion on gluconeogenesis in isolated rat hepatocytes.

In isolated hepatocytes of rats with advanced phosphate depletion (serum Pi in controls: 8.79 +/- 0.16 mg/dl; Pi depletion: 2.

Cardiac function in experimental uremia.

In acutely uremic animals, the contractile force of the heart is consistently increased; such an increase can be dissociated from changes of afterload or catecholaminergic drive. It is associated with diminished sarcolemmal Na,K-ATPase activity in the heart which, in turn, may be related to increased levels of endogenous digitalis-like substances (endigens) that have been postulated to represent a natriuretic factor. In patients with chronic uremia, myocardial contractility is usually normal, but occasionally there may be heart failure unrelated to pre-existing hypertension, coronary heart disease, anemia, fluid overload, or other recognizable factors.

Glycogen metabolism in phosphorus-depleted rats.

Glycogen content as well as the enzymes of glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis were examined in myocardium, skeletal muscle, liver and kidneys of rats with dietary phosphorus deprivation. Myocardial glycogen content was decreased and this was accompanied by activation of the enzymes of glycogenolysis and inhibition of the enzymes of glycogen synthesis. Beta blockade (nadolol) abolished the effect of phosphorus depletion (PD) on myocardial glycogen metabolism, documenting that the effect of PD is mediated, at least in part, by increased sympathetic activity.

Dysfunction of the adrenergic system in phosphate depleted rats.

Plasma catecholamines and vascular response to noradrenaline were studied in phosphate depleted rats. Phosphate depletion was induced in rats by dietary phosphorus deprivation for 6 weeks. Basal plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine were elevated in phosphate depleted rats compared to pairfed control rats.

Diminished response of ovarian cAMP to luteinizing hormone in experimental uremia.

In prepuberal female rats with acute bilateral nephrectomy or chronic subtotal nephrectomy, the increase of ovarian cAMP concentration in response to submaximal doses of luteinizing hormone (LH 10 micrograms) and human chorionic gonadotropine (hCG 2.5 IU) was diminished (CO + 2.5 IU hCG 488 +/- 49 pmoles cAMP/mg protein; NX + 2.

Effect of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and growth hormone on cAMP content of growth cartilage in experimental uraemia.

The response of proximal tibial growth cartilage cAMP content to different hormonal stimuli, i.e. parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and somatotropic hormone was evaluated in rats with bilateral or subtotal nephrectomy.

Haemodynamics and myocardial metabolism of phosphorus depleted dogs: effects of catecholamines and angiotensin II.

The responses of arterial pressure and myocardial contractile force (VPM) to infusion of angiotensin II, noradrenaline and orciprenaline were examined in twelve dogs during a control phase, after 30 days of dietary phosphorus deprivation and after 21 days of phosphorus repletion. In the phosphorus depletion period, animals had low skeletal and heart muscle Pi content, low magnesium, ATP and creatine phosphate in skeletal and heart muscle with no change of ADP, AMP or energy charge. In the basal state, VPM was diminished with no change of end-diastolic and systolic pressure.