Influence of convection on small molecule clearances in online hemodiafiltration.

Background: Dialysis efficacy is mostly influenced by dialyzer clearance. Urea clearance may be estimated in vitro by total ion clearance, which can be obtained by conductivity measurements. We have previously used this approach to assess in vitro clearances in a system mimicking predilutional and postdilutional online hemodiafiltration with a wide range of QD, QB, and ultrafiltration rates.

Precise quantification of dialysis using continuous sampling of spent dialysate and total dialysate volume measurement.

The "gold standard" method to evaluate the mass balances achieved during dialysis for a given solute remains total dialysate collection (TDC). However, since handling over 100 liter volumes is unfeasible in our current dialysis units, alternative methods have been proposed, including urea kinetic modeling, partial dialysate collection (PDC) and more recently, monitoring of dialysate urea by on-line devices. Concerned by the complexity and costs generated by these devices, we aimed to adapt the simple "gold standard" TDC method to clinical practice by diminishing the total volumes to be handled.

[Detection of liver metastases from digestive cancer. Value of alkaline phosphatases, their macromolecular isoenzyme and of ceruloplasmin].

In order to improve the non aggressive diagnosis of hepatic metastasis from digestive neoplasm, the authors analyzed the following biological parameters: aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase and lacticodehydrogenase isoenzymes, gammaglutamyl-transpeptidase, conjugated and total bilirubin, C-reactive protein, type A, G, M immunoglobulins, C3 complement factor, alpha-1 acidic glycoprotein (orosomucoid), haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin, prealbumin, ferritin. This work included 54 patients with digestive tract cancer (esophageal, gastric, colic, rectal, anal localizations), divided in two groups: M- (n = 27), without hepatic metastasis), and M+ (n = 27, with histological confirmed hepatic metastasis). The Mann-Whitney test showed significant differences for 12 parameters between the 2 groups.

Treatment with vigabatrin may mimic alpha-aminoadipic aciduria.

Purpose: We describe a secondary effect of treatment with vigabatrin (VGB). A significant increase in alpha-aminoadipic acid (AAA) occurred in plasma and urine of VGB-treated children, thus mimicking a known rare metabolic disease, alpha-aminoadipic aciduria (AAAuria).

Methods: We studied eight children, aged from 3 months to 5 years, who were receiving VGB for drug-resistant partial epilepsies.

Major hyperpipecolataemia in a normal adult.

We describe the fortuitous discovery of a 44-year-old man with a very high hyperpipecolataemia (250 mumol/L; normal < 2.5). This patient has none of the clinical features seen in peroxisomal diseases, he is a strictly normal intelligent adult.

[Assessment of musculoskeletal disorders using a questionnaire].

The standardized illustrated questionnaire on musculoskeletal disorders of the Japanese Committee on Occupational Cervico-branchial Disorders was translated into German. This questionnaire, composed of 37 items about the occurrence (never/seldom, occasionally, almost daily) of symptoms (pain, stiffness, fatigue) in twelve body regions, was used together with medical examinations (pressure points), and further information was gathered on the consumption of analgetics and medical visits prompted by musculoskeletal symptoms. The questionnaire's reliability and validity were tested in 644 persons from twelve occupational groups within the service sector.

High levels of c-fos proto-oncogene expression in normal human adult skin.

The proto-oncogene c-fos is thought to play an important role in the modulation of cell growth and differentiation. In normal tissues that have been studied to date, c-fos expression has been found to be regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Actually, little is known about its expression in normal human adult skin (NHAS).

Inhibitory effect of the C-terminal octapeptide of oxyntomodulin on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in man.

The effect of the C-terminal octapeptide of human oxyntomodulin (KA-8) on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion was studied versus placebo in eight human volunteers after an overnight fast, using a double-blind randomized protocol. KA-8 (7.5 nmol/kg body weight) was bolus-injected at a plateau stimulation obtained with pentagastrin (3 micrograms/kg/h).

[Health care needs, brain functional ability, social behavior and social attendant circumstances of elderly patients in community and institutionalized geriatric care in the city of Zurich].

All aged persons being helped by community nursing-services, the house-helper service, the housekeeper service, or living in a home for the aged or in an apartment for seniors in a representative area of the city of Zurich are compared to all patients in nursing-homes of the city. This study included the size of social network measured by the number of different regular visitors, the number of different medications taken daily, the cognitive abilities measured by the Mini Mental Status, the activities of daily living and the social skills rated by the care-givers as well as the intensity of the care given. The groups were similar in age and sex-distribution but the nursing-home patients differed significantly in all other parameters from the others.

[Cytometric analysis of the DNA content of the thymus, spleen and liver in C57BL/6 mice].

Flow cytometric analysis of cell DNA content in the mouse C 57 BL/6 shows better results with fine needle aspiration than with mechanical dissociation of the tissues. There is no difference fresh and deep frozen stored tissues. In the liver, it has been found two cell populations with different DNA content including diploid and tetraploid cell lines.

[Aerobic capacity estimated from heart rate under submaximal load: an indicator of complaints, personality, personal activity and social status].

In 34 young females (mean: 21 years, range 18-30), working with VDTs, maximum aerobic capacity (MAC) was estimated by use of a cycle ergometer and Astrand's nomogram. MAC correlated with musculoskeletal complaints (-.29, p less than .

[Partial splenic resections and Nd-YAG laser].

Eleven partial splenectomies are performed in pigs. Simultaneous section and hemostasis are obtained with continuous 80 W power shoot. There is no hemorrhagic or septic complication and normal splenic weight is recovered in 5 months.

[Hepatic resections using an Nd YAG laser. Anatomic and biological results of an experimental study].

Experimental hepatic resections were performed with a Nd YAG laser in 32 New-Zealand rabbits. The beam was simply transmitted by a quartz fiber of 4 degrees 2 and 8 degrees in divergence for the full angle, without any focalization. Section was possible at a power output superior to 20 W requiring short cutting time.

Hepatic resection with an Nd:YAG laser in pig.

Eleven hepatic resections were performed by means of a divergent Nd:YAG laser. The beam was transmitted through a fiberoptic delivery system without any handpiece. The shortest resection time and most limited ischemic damage (4 mm) were obtained with 80-W power shoots and a low divergent beam (4 degrees 2 for full angle).

[Hypoxemia in hemodialysis: hemodynamic mechanism? Hemodynamic and spirometric study using acetate and bicarbonate buffers].

The background of this study is the occurrence during acetate hemodialysis (HDA) of arterial hypoxemia associated with well described vasodilatator hemodynamic changes. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between these 2 phenomena. Eleven patients (7 males, 4 females, mean age 54 years) were compared in a protocol of HDA and bicarbonate hemodialysis (HDB) as regards their cardiac output measured by the dye dilution method, blood gases and respiratory gas measurements made at the bedside.

Middle molecule accumulation in uremia: an "extra uremic factor".

To evaluate middle molecule (MM) accumulation in relation with patients' well-being, plasma MM were analyzed in 115 uremic patients by using the two-step chromatographic technique described by Fürst et al. Unexpectedly, most of the patients exhibited small or undetectable subpeaks 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d. However, patients on regular dialysis treatment tend to present higher MM concentrations when a complication, such as infection, hyperparathyroidism, symptomatic neuropathy, or intercurrent disease occurs and peak 7d was very prominent after radio-contrast media administration.

[Kinetics of ultrafiltration in peritoneal dialysis with long dialysate dwell: an "in situ" study (author's transl)].

In order to measure in situ the kinetics of peritoneal ultrafiltration in peritoneal dialysis (PD) with long dialysate dwell, a colorimetric method using autologous hemoglobin as a marker added to the dialysis fluid was evaluated in 10 patients on PD for periods ranging from 2 weeks to 20 months. Four different dialysate formulae were successively tested in the same patient. The results expressed as normalised ultrafiltration coefficient (UFK, ml/min/1.

Aluminium transfer in bicarbonate dialysis using a sorbent regenerative system: an in vitro study.

Because of the known presence of aluminium oxide in the Redy cartridge and the increased solubility of aluminium (A1) in alkaline solution, an in vitro study was performed to measure the release of A1 from the Redy cartridge and its potential transfer across a dialyser membrane. The use of bicarbonate rinsed Redy cartridges was associated with significant release of A1 and its subsequent transfer across the cellulose acetate membrane. Bicarbonate dialysis with the Redy system is not recommended for maintenance haemodialysis.