Weekend Effect in Acute Pancreatitis-Related Hospital Admissions in the United States: An Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the difference in overall outcomes between weekend admissions for acute pancreatitis (AP) and weekday admissions.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2012, data were extracted from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample on adult patients with AP. Exclusion criteria were applied for chronic pancreatitis and other pancreatic and biliary malignancies.

Secondary systemic amyloidosis in inflammatory bowel disease: a nationwide analysis.

Background: Secondary systemic amyloidosis (SSA) is a rare but severe complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, predictors of complications, and in-hospital mortality of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC) who develop SSA.

Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample, we identified patients hospitalized for IBD and SSA between 2004 and 2012.

In-Hospital Mortality in Cirrhotic Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Treated with Hemodialysis Versus Peritoneal Dialysis: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Cirrhotic patients often develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring renal replacement therapy in the form of hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Studies comparing the outcomes and difference in in-hospital mortality between these 2 groups, particularly among those with ascites, are sparse. We set our objective to determine the dialysis modality with a better in-hospital survival rate among cirrhotic patients with ESRD (ESRD-cirrhosis).

Device-Based Therapy for Drug-Resistant Hypertension: An Update.

Drug-resistant hypertension (RH) remains a significant and common cardiovascular risk despite the availability of multiple potent antihypertensive medications. Uncontrolled resistant hypertension contributes substantially to excessive cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that sympathetic nervous system over-activity is the main culprit for the development and maintenance of drug-resistant hypertension.

Variability in monthly serum bicarbonate measures in hemodialysis patients: a cohort study.

Background: Some nephrologists have advocated an individualized approach to the prescription of bicarbonate hemodialysis. However, the utility of monthly serum bicarbonate levels for guiding and evaluating such treatment decisions has not been evaluated. We sought to define the variability of these measurements and to determine factors that are associated with month-to-month variability in pre-dialysis serum bicarbonate.