Dried Blood Spot Sampling for Monitoring Children With Immune-Mediated Glomerulopathies and After Kidney Transplantation.

Introduction: Monitoring kidney function and immunosuppressant levels in children post-kidney transplantation or those with glomerulopathies is challenging due to frequent venipunctures and clinic visits. Capillary dried blood spot sampling (DBS) offers a potential alternative.

Methods: In this prospective single-center study, 89 children (38% female and 62% male) requiring therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and kidney function assessment were enrolled.

Hands off Trans-Femoral Venous Intra-Abdominal Pressure Estimates in Children: Results of a Sobering Single-Center Study.

Background: For a long time, trans-femoral venous pressure (FVP) measurement was considered a simple alternative for estimating intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Since intravesical [IVP] and intragastric [IGP] pressure measurements are sometimes contraindicated for anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, FVP raised hopes, especially among pediatricians. Pediatric FVP validation studies have never been published; recent results from adult studies cast doubt on their interchangeability.

Continuous intra-gastral monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure in critically ill children: a validation study.

Background: In critically ill children, detection of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH > 10 mmHg) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS = IAH + organ dysfunction) is paramount and usually monitored through intra-vesical pressures (IVP) as current standard. IVP, however, carries important disadvantages, being time-consuming, discontinuous, with infection risk through observer-dependent manipulation, and ill-defined for catheter sizes. Therefore, we sought to validate air-capsule-based measurement of intra-gastric pressure (ACM-IGP).

Comparison of acute haemodynamic effects of dopexamine hydrochloride, dobutamine and sodium nitroprusside in chronic heart failure.

Dopexamine hydrochloride (Dopacard) is a new synthetic catecholamine compound, which possesses potent beta 2-adrenergic and DA1-dopaminergic agonistic properties. It is free of alpha-adrenergic activity, has no beta 1-adrenergic activity and is less potent at DA2-dopaminergic receptors than dopamine. In the present study the acute haemodynamic effects of dopexamine hydrochloride were compared to those of dobutamine and nitroprusside in 12 patients with idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy in an open crossover study.