Predictors of survival and functioning of arteriovenous fistula in patients on hemodialysis during a one-year follow-up.

Introduction: The mortality rate of hemodialysis patients is extremely high and it is significantly affected by vascular access dysfunction. Our research aimed to determine predictive parameters of arteriovenous fistula functioning and survival in a one-year follow-up period.

Methods: The research was organized as a prospective, one-year study, which included 120 dialysis patients who were followed for one year.

The Predictive Significance of Doppler Parameters on the Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation for Hemodialysis-A Single Center Experience.

Background: Doppler ultrasound examination of blood vessels has a significant role in planning and identifying parameters that affect the functioning and maturation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Our goal was to determine the predictive parameters of Doppler ultrasound, measured at different time distances, which affect the maturation of AVF for hemodialysis.

Materials And Methods: The research was a retrospective cohort study.

Origin of Magnetism in a Supposedly Nonmagnetic Osmium Oxide.

A supposedly nonmagnetic 5d^{1} double perovskite oxide is investigated by a combination of spectroscopic and theoretical methods, namely, resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, magnetic circular dichroism, and multiplet ligand-field calculations. We found that the large spin-orbit coupling admixes the 5d t_{2g} and e_{g} orbitals, covalency raises the 5d population well above the nominal value, and the local symmetry is lower than O_{h}. The obtained electronic interactions account for the finite magnetic moment of Os in this compound and, in general, of 5d^{1} ions.

Musculoskeletal Diseases as the Most Prevalent Component of Multimorbidity: A Population-Based Study.

: Due to their high frequency, common risk factors, and similar pathogenic mechanisms, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are more likely to occur with other chronic illnesses, making them a "component disorder" of multimorbidity. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity and to identify the most common clusters of diagnosis within multimorbidity states, with the primary hypothesis that the most common clusters of multimorbidity are MSDs. : The current study employed data from a population-based 2019 European Health Interview Survey (EHIS).

Physical Exercise of Patients on Hemodialysis, Optimistic or Pessimistic.

Chronic kidney disease leads to significant functional limitations and severe disability, which requires the application of an appropriate physical rehabilitation strategy that helps patients achieve social well-being and significant health benefits. Data sources MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science were electronically searched, by using search terms: physical exercise, hemodialysis, barriers, risks of exercise, expected benefits. The contraindications for exercise are recent myocardial infarction, uncontrolled arrhythmia and hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, unregulated diabetes mellitus, the presence of neurological and muscular dysfunctions, malignancies, and pregnancy.

Cryogenic probe for low-noise, high-frequency electronic measurements.

The design and performance of a low-noise, modular cryogenic probe, which is applicable to a wide range of measurements over a broad range of working frequencies, temperatures, and magnetic fields, is presented. The design of the probe facilitates the exchange of sample holders and sample-stage amplifiers, which, combined with its characteristic low transmission and reflection loss, make this design suitable for high precision or low sensitivity measurements. The specific example of measuring the shot noise of magnetic tunnel junctions is discussed.

Analysis of Serum Inflammatory Markers in Cognitive Impairment among Acute Ischaemic Stroke Patients.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that changes in the expression of certain inflammatory biomarkers are associated with cognitive impairment (CI), but only a limited number of studies were conducted in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The present study aimed to evaluate the potential association between serum levels of several inflammatory markers and cognitive impairment in AIS patients. These markers included interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell (WBC) count.

Prognostic Power of Pulmonary Arterial Compliance Is Boosted by a Hemodynamic Unloading Test With Glyceryl Trinitrate in Heart Failure Patients With Post-capillary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an established risk factor in patients with heart failure (HF). However, right heart catheterisation (RHC) and vasoreactivity testing (VRT) are not routinely recommended in these patients.

Methods: The primary objective of the present study was to explore the impact of VRT using sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) on transplant/ventricular assist device-free survival in HF patients with post-capillary PH.

Discordance between estimated and measured changes in plasma volume among patients with acute heart failure.

Aims: In acute heart failure (AHF), changes of venous haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, haematocrit (Hct), and estimated plasma volume (ePV) have been proposed as surrogates of decongestion. These estimates are based on the theoretical assumptions that changes of Hb concentrations and Hct are driven by the intravascular volume status and that the intravascular Hb pool remains stable. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of changes of measured plasma volume (mPV) with changes of Hb, Hct, and ePV in AHF.

Thermal Interferometry of Anyons in Spin Liquids.

Aharonov-Bohm interferometry is the most direct probe of anyonic statistics in the quantum Hall effect. The technique involves oscillations of the electric current as a function of the magnetic field and is not applicable to Kitaev spin liquids and other systems without charged quasiparticles. Here, we establish a novel protocol, involving heat transport, for revealing fractional statistics even in the absence of charged excitations, as is the case in quantum spin liquids.

The Significance of Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Levels in Cognitive Impairment among First-Ever Acute Ischaemic Stroke Patients.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) frequently results in the development of cognitive impairment, which quite often persists. The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of cognitive impairment are only partially elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) serum levels with cognitive impairment in AIS patients.

Exercise Hemodynamic Profiling Is Associated With Outcome in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair.

[Figure: see text].

Exercise hemodynamics in heart failure patients with preserved and mid-range ejection fraction: key role of the right heart.

Objective: We sought to explore whether classification of patients with heart failure and mid-range (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) according to their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) identifies differences in their exercise hemodynamic profile, and whether classification according to an index of right ventricular (RV) function improves differentiation.

Background: Patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF have hemodynamic compromise on exertion. The classification according to LVEF implies a key role of the left ventricle.

Serum creatinine and cystatin C-based estimates of glomerular filtration rate are misleading in acute heart failure.

Aims: We aimed to test whether the endogenous filtration markers serum creatinine or cystatin C and equation-based estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on these markers appropriately reflect changes of measured GFR in patients with acute heart failure.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study of 50 hospitalized acute heart failure patients undergoing decongestive therapy, we applied an intravenous visible fluorescent injectate (VFI), consisting of a low molecular weight component to measure GFR and a high molecular weight component to correct for measured plasma volume. Thirty-eight patients had two sequential GFR measurements 48 h apart.

Evaluation of structured data from electronic health records to identify clinical classification criteria attributes for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Our objective was to develop algorithms to identify lupus clinical classification criteria attributes using structured data found in the electronic health record (EHR) and determine whether they could be used to describe a cohort of people with lupus and discriminate them from a defined healthy control cohort.

Methods: We created gold standard lupus and healthy patient cohorts that were fully adjudicated for the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) and European League Against Rheumatism/ACR (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria and had matched EHR data. We implemented rule-based algorithms using structured data within the EHR system for each attribute of the three classification criteria.

Are There Differences in Arteriovenous Fistulae Created for Hemodialysis between Nephrologists and Vascular Surgeons?

Objective: Many studies have reported insufficient support from surgical services, resulting in nephrologists creating arteriovenous fistulas in many centers. The aim of this study was to compare risk factors of arteriovenous fistula dysfunction in patients whose fistulas were created by nephrologists versus vascular surgeons.

Methods: This was a retrospective, analytical study of interventions by nephrologists and vascular surgeons during a period of 15 years.

[Heart failure protection by SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: evidence and possible mechanisms : A systematic review].

Background: Renal sodium-glucose cotransporter‑2 (SGLT2) inhibitors seem to have a cardioprotective effect beyond the antidiabetic effect. The underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Methods: Selective search in PubMed with a focus on heart failure endpoints and possible mechanisms of action.

Survival of Patients on Hemodialysis with Erectile Dysfunction.

In patients on hemodialysis, erectile dysfunction is an independent mortality factor. This study aimed to determine the risk factors that affect the survival of hemodialysis patients with erectile dysfunction. During a seven-year period, erectile dysfunction was identified among the fatalities reported in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis, on the basis of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.

First principles calculations of the electric field gradient tensors of BaNaOsO, a Mott insulator with strong spin orbit coupling.

We present first principles calculations of the electrostatic properties of BaNaOsO(BNOO), a 5dMott insulator with strong spin orbit coupling (SOC) in its low temperature quantum phases. In light of recent NMR experiments showing that BNOO develops a local octahedral distortion that is accompanied by the emergence of an electric field gradient (EFG) and precedes the formation of long range magnetic order (Lu201714407, Liu2018224103; Liu2018863), we calculated BNOO's EFG tensor for several different model distortions. The local orthorhombic distortion that we identified as most strongly agreeing with experiment corresponds to a Q2 distortion mode of the Na-O octahedra, in agreement with conclusions given in (Liu2018224103).

Plasma Kynurenine Predicts Severity and Complications of Heart Failure and Associates with Established Biochemical and Clinical Markers of Disease.

Background: Kynurenine, a metabolite of the L-tryptophan pathway, plays a pivotal role in neuro-inflammation, cancer immunology, and cardiovascular inflammation, and has been shown to predict cardiovascular events.

Objectives: It was our objective to increase the body of data regarding the value of kynurenine as a biomarker in chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: We investigated the predictive value of plasma kynurenine in a CHF cohort (CHF, n = 114); in a second cohort of defibrillator carriers with CHF (AICD, n = 156), we determined clinical and biochemical determinants of the marker which was measured by enzyme immunoassay.