[Manufacturing waste of hemodialyzers decreases oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria isolated from rats].

Introduction: The persistence of manufacturing waste in hemodialysers is a neglected aspect of lack of hemodialysis biocompatibility. The effect of waste was tested on mitochondria isolated from rat liver.

Material And Methods: After throwing the first two liters of the rinse solution of hemodialysers, the third liter is lyophilized.

[Estimation of the glomerular filtration rate in elderly inpatients: comparison of four methods].

Purpose: High variability has been observed in the estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in older patients, according to the formula used and no single formula has been recommended to date. The aim of this study was to quantify the precision and accuracy of the GFR estimated by means of three formulas and the measurement of cystatin C.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted in an acute care geriatric unit.

Use of phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) hypervariable region 1 sequences to trace an outbreak of HCV in an autodialysis unit.

Hemodialysis patients are at high risk of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to investigate an HCV outbreak that occurred in an autodialysis unit by using epidemiological and molecular methods. Seroconversion to HCV antibody (anti-HCV) was observed in two patients over an 18-month period; two other patients had previously been recorded as anti-HCV positive.

Timing of nephrology referral: influence on mortality and morbidity.

To assess the influence of the timing of nephrology referral on the short- and long-term outcome of hemodialysis patients, we retrospectively studied 309 patients who had end-stage renal failure and entered the chronic hemodialysis program in Sainte-Marguerite University Hospital between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 1996. We excluded from the analysis five patients without available data on referral pattern and 34 patients with irreversible acute renal failure. Of the remaining 270 patients, 177 patients (58%) had an early referral (ER) 16 or more weeks before the start of dialysis, and 93 patients (31%) had a late referral (LR) of less than 16 weeks before dialysis.

TT virus infection in French hemodialysis patients: study of prevalence and risk factors.

The TT virus (TTV) is a recently discovered DNA virus which was first identified in patients with non-A to -G hepatitis following blood transfusion. In this study, we tested 150 attendees of two hemodialysis (HD) units of the public hospitals of Marseilles, France, for the presence of TTV genome by using a PCR-based methodology. The overall prevalence of TTV viremia was 28% (compared to 5.

Is hepatitis C virus-RNA detection by nested polymerase chain reaction clinically relevant in hemodialysis patients?

We have prospectively studied in hemodialysis (HD) patients the evolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia and the putative relationships between the viremia and the biological markers of liver disease. For each of 22 HD patients having detectable antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV+), we looked four times for serum HCV-RNA by nested PCR (N-PCR), in April and November 1992, November 1993 and May 1994. We checked the transaminases (Trans) and the gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma(GT)) levels on the same day as blood tests for the N-PCR.

Hepatitis C virus infection among chronic dialysis patients in the south of France: a collaborative study.

During the last quarter of 1992, 984 patients from 13 dialysis centers in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region in France participated in a multicenter cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence, the risk factors, and the clinical consequences of infection by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Serum samples were tested for anti-HCV antibodies using second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the case of a positive result, a combination test was performed using second-generation recombinant immunoblot (RIBA) or direct detection of HCV-RNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Abnormal calcitonin basal levels and pentagastrin response in patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis.

Hypercalcitoninemia has been reported in renal failure. Using a specific monomeric calcitonin (CT) immunoassay, we measured CT levels in 154 hemodialyzed patients. The relationship between CT and serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), gastrin, alkaline phosphatases, phosphate and calcium was studied.

[Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus: prevalence in a hemodialysis center and effect on bacteremia].

We evaluated nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in 114 hemodialysis patients by performing two nasal swab cultures at a one month interval. The incidence of bacteremia was then followed for one year.

Plasma endothelin in haemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin.

Predialysis plasma endothelin (ET) values were followed during the first 8 weeks of rHuEpo treatment in 12 patients on routine haemodialysis. Mean plasma ET was significantly increased in uraemic patients before rHuEpo (27.9 +/- 11.

Detection of hepatitis C infection by polymerase chain reaction among hemodialysis patients.

One hundred forty-five patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) at our institution were evaluated for the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Forty-three patients (29%) were found to have detectable antibodies to HCV using second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent and recombinant immunoblot assays. Forty positive patients (anti-HCV+) and 10 negative patients (anti-HCV-) were tested for direct detection of the HCV genome by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Nucleolus organizer regions in human lymphocytes as studied with premature chromosome condensation.

Non-stimulated human lymphocytes from peripheral blood usually contain only one ring-shaped nucleolus. Polyethyleneglycol-mediated cell fusion with mitotic Chinese hamster ovary cells induces premature chromosome condensation in human lymphocytes. Subsequent silver staining reveals that more than one nucleolus organizer region (NOR) is silver-positive and frequently participates in the formation of "satellite associations".

Genetic parameters, maternal ability and related selection criteria for unsupplemented Hereford range cows.

Data on 5,130 unsupplemented Hereford range cattle were used to evaluate genetic and phenotypic parameters of growth to 2 yr of age under extensive range conditions. From those data, records on 769 heifers saved as replacements were used to evaluate the relationship between growth and subsequent productivity expressed as most probable producing ability (MPPA). Variation in weight largely was due to the year effect.

Factors affecting and prediction of dystocia in Charolais heifers.

Calving difficulty at first and second parturition, using data recorded on 476 purebred Charolais heifers from a ranch in Southeastern Arizona, were analyzed by analysis of variance, step-wise multiple regression and discriminant analysis. Dystocia score (1 = no assistance through 4 = extreme difficulty) was the dependent variable with dam and calf effects independent variables. In this herd, 31.

Maternal influence on growth of laboratory rats.

Data from 2,089 laboratory rats utilized in selection experiments were used to estimate maternal influence on growth from weaning (21 d) to 16 wk of age. Adjustment factors were calculated for the effects of sex, generation, litter size, inbreeding of the dam and inbreeding of the offspring on the body weights. The effect of line of sire was included in the analysis of variance models.