The Decrease in Serum Total Cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentrations With the Initiation of Hemodialysis Despite a Concomitant Increase in Serum Albumin Concentrations.

Background and objective Hemodialysis patients often have lower serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol concentrations compared to the general population. It is unclear if this is due to a persistent decline in the values due to kidney disease or if the hemodialysis itself is contributing to the lower values. It is often assumed that malnutrition and anorexia are the main causes of the low lipid concentration in hemodialysis patients.

Virtual Interviews at Graduate Medical Education Training Programs: Determining Evidence-Based Best Practices.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the nation's health care system, including on graduate medical education (GME) training programs. Traditionally, residency and fellowship training program applications involve in-person interviews conducted on-site, with only a minority of programs offering interviews remotely via a virtual platform. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is anticipated that most interviews will be conducted virtually for the 2021 application cycle and possibly beyond.

Strategies to Prevent Peritonitis after Procedures: Our Opinions.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients are at increased risk of peritonitis following elective colonoscopy and other potentially invasive dental or gynecological procedures. The increased risk of iatrogenic peritonitis is attributed to procedure-related factors such as instrumentation, biopsies, tissue injury, and peri-procedural bacterial contamination. Also contributory are patient-related factors such as the effect of the immunocompromised status of end-stage renal disease and the presence of intraperitoneal dialysate on the disruption of natural host defense mechanisms.

ANCA associated vasculitis: experience of a tertiary care referral center.

Background And Objectives: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis is a small vessel vasculitis with insufficient epidemiologic estimates in the United States. We aimed to determine demographic and clinical features of ANCA associated vasculitis patients presenting to a large tertiary care referral center in Upstate New York. Design, setting, participants, and measurements: A retrospective analysis of cases with pauci-immune GN on renal biopsy and clinical diagnosis of ANCA vasculitis presenting over 11 years was conducted.

IL-1 Inhibition and Vascular Function in CKD.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in patients with CKD who exhibit chronic systemic inflammation. Because chronic inflammation contributes to vascular dysfunction, blocking inflammation may reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with CKD. In a two-site, double-blind trial, we randomized 42 adult patients with stage 3-4 CKD who were already receiving optimal background therapy to receive either IL-1 trap rilonacept or placebo for 12 weeks.

Automated cyclers used in peritoneal dialysis: technical aspects for the clinician.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a widely accepted and increasingly popular form of dialysis. The invention and technological advancement of the PD cycler further makes PD a convenient option. Prescription-specific parameters are entered into the cycler, which then automatically carries out the steps involved in continuous cycling PD.

Educating and informing patients receiving psychopharmacological medications: are family physicians in Pakistan up to the task?

Introduction: Studies have shown a high prevalence of psychiatric illnesses among patients in primary health care settings. Family physicians have a fundamental role in managing psychiatric illness with psychopharmacological medications. Providing information about the disease, its management and the potential adverse effects of the medications is an important part of the management of mental illnesses.