Acute kidney injury in acute Q fever.

Coxiella burnetii infection is not known to involve directly the kidneys. Kidney injury associated with Q fever usually manifests in the setting of chronic infection or endocarditis with development of immune complex deposition. Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the context of acute Q fever infection may be more pathologically heterogeneous.

Urine and serum midkine levels in an Australian chronic kidney disease clinic population: an observational study.

Background And Objectives: The cytokine midkine (MK) is pathologically implicated in progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its systemic consequences and has potential as both a biomarker and therapeutic target. To date, there are no published data on MK levels in patients with different stages of CKD. This study aims to quantify MK levels in patients with CKD and to identify any correlation with CKD stage, cause, progression, comorbid disease or prescribed medication.

Atypical fractures associated with bisphosphonate use post-renal transplantation.

Bone disease is a major cause of morbidity post renal transplantation. The authors present a case of adynamic bone disease and atypical fractures associated with the use of bisphosphonates following renal transplantation. The uncertain role of parathyroidectomy and bone mineral density scans is also reviewed.

Impact of non-traditional phosphate binders and cinacalcet on haemodialysis patient biochemistry, pill burden and cost.

Aim: The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) commenced cost subsidization for haemodialysis patients of sevelamer in December 2007, cinacalcet in July 2008 and lanthanum in May 2009. To determine the impact of PBS listing of these medications, we performed a single centre cross-sectional, longitudinal study.

Methods: Dialysis parameters and biochemistry were prospectively collected at 6 monthly intervals for all prevalent haemodialysis patients from October 2007 to April 2010.

The impact of automated eGFR reporting and education on nephrology service referrals.

Background: Serum creatinine concentration is an unreliable and insensitive marker of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To improve CKD detection, the Australasian Creatinine Consensus Working Committee recommended reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula with every request for serum creatinine concentration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of automated laboratory reporting of eGFR on the quantity and quality of referrals to nephrology services in Southeast Queensland, Australia.

A quantitative review of the use of FDG-PET in the axillary staging of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canadian women. It is an important source of morbidity and mortality in today's society and confers risk to the patient both in terms of the disease itself and the treatment of the disease. Axillary lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor for determining breast cancer survival and it guides the treatment of the disease based on the disease stage.

Cost effectiveness of positron emission tomography in Canada.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown to be cost effective for the staging of stage I and II breast cancer, recurrent colorectal cancer and non small cell lung cancer. This study determines a required catchment size for the management of these three cancers based on a breakeven analysis.

Material/methods: Cost effectiveness analysis is used to determine the cost savings of introducing PET into the diagnostic algorithm for the staging of stage I and II breast cancer, recurrent colorectal cancer and non small cell lung cancer.

Cost-effectiveness of positron emission tomography in breast cancer.

Purpose: In this study, we used quantitative decision tree modeling to assess the cost-effectiveness of a positron emission tomography (PET)-based management scenario for breast cancer in Canada.

Procedures: Two patient management scenarios were compared (with and without PET). A metaanalysis of studies for the accuracy of PET in staging breast cancer was conducted.

Lymphoproliferative disease after renal transplantation in Australia and New Zealand.

Background: Lymphoproliferative disease is a common and serious complication of organ transplantation. It is well documented that the risk of its development increases with the level of immunosuppression. Less is known about its incidence, prevalence, timing, and prognosis.

Randomized trial of FX high flux vs standard high flux dialysis for homocysteine clearance.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in the end-stage renal disease population. Novel risk factors such as homocysteine (Hcy) are of considerable interest in this group as hyperhomocysteinaemia is highly prevalent in the setting of renal impairment. Folic acid-vitamin B group therapies are only partially effective treatments.

Comparison between a low glycemic load diet and a Canada Food Guide diet in cardiac rehabilitation patients in Ontario.

Background: A high dietary glycemic load is associated with an increased risk of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a low glycemic load diet on cardiac rehabilitation patients.

Methods: One hundred twenty patients who were advised to follow a low glycemic load diet were evaluated and compared with 1434 patients who were advised to follow the principles of Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating for People Four Years and Over as part of the Ontario Cardiac Rehabilitation Pilot Project.

Cost-effectiveness of positron emission tomography for non-small cell lung carcinoma in Canada.

Background: Several studies over the past decade have demonstrated that 2-fluoro-2-D-[18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is more accurate than computed tomography (CT) for the staging of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This study uses quantitative decision tree modeling and sensitivity analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of both a CT- and a CT+PET-based management strategy for staging NSCLC in Canada. Both management costs and life expectancy are determined.

Predictors of decline of residual renal function in new peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the risk factors for decline of residual renal function (RRF) in an incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) population.

Design: Prospective observational study of an incident PD cohort at a single center.

Setting: Tertiary-care institutional dialysis center.

Deposition of cigar smoke particles in the lung: evaluation with ventilation scan using (99m)Tc-labeled sulfur colloid particles.

Unlabelled: This study examined the degree to which cigar smokers inhale when they smoke cigars. A second objective was to assess the level of association between self-reported inhalation and observable cigar particle deposition in the lung. We hypothesized that cigar smokers with a history of cigarette smoking would show a greater amount of smoke deposition than would cigar smokers with no history of cigarette smoking.

A randomized controlled trial of topical exit site mupirocin application in patients with tunnelled, cuffed haemodialysis catheters.

Background: Central venous catheters are frequently needed for the provision of haemodialysis, but their clinical usefulness is severely limited by infectious complications. The risk of such infections can be reduced by topical application of mupirocin to the exit sites of non-cuffed catheters or by the use of tunnelled, cuffed catheters. Whether mupirocin offers any additional protection against infection in patients with tunnelled, cuffed haemodialysis catheters has not been studied.