Temporal association between the incidence of foot ulceration and the start of dialysis in diabetes mellitus.

Background: The aim of this study was to seek a temporal association between the start of renal replacement therapy (RRT) and the first recorded foot ulcer in diabetes.

Methods: Details of all patients with diabetes who had received RRT were extracted from the renal database and were cross-checked with the database held in the specialist foot clinic. The date of onset of first registered foot ulcer was taken and compared with the date of onset of RRT.

Gender and age differences in plasma carnitine, muscle strength, and exercise tolerance in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Haemodialysis patients have impaired exercise tolerance that may be related to impaired carnitine availability and/or alterations in carnitine metabolism. As carnitine metabolism is sex- and age-related, we examined plasma free and esterified carnitine concentrations, muscle strength, and estimated exercise tolerance in female (n=51) and male (n=63) patients of different ages (18-86 years).

Methods: Concentrations of free carnitine and acetylcarnitine were determined in the plasma of patients.