Are we taking proper care of living donors? A follow-up study of living kidney donors in Poland and further management proposal.

Objective: The first kidney transplantation was performed in Poland in 1966. Since that time approximately 11,000 patients have undergone the procedure, but most of them have received the kidney from deceased donors; only 342 procedures utilized living donors (LD; 2.7%).

Dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with high-dose angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor for nephroprotection: an open, controlled, randomized study.

Objective: Despite the proven effectiveness of combination therapy with an angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs) for the prevention and treatment of kidney disease, it has not proved possible to inhibit the progress of chronic nephropathies completely. To improve renal outcome one may consider using increased dosages of ACEI above those usually recommended for hypertension.

Material And Methods: A randomized, open, controlled study was conducted to evaluate the influence of two combination therapies on proteinuria, markers of tubular injury and renal fibrosis.

Current diagnostic evaluation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Despite changing epidemiology of chronic kidney disease, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most prevalent causes of end stage renal disease. The first symptoms of the disease occur usually in the 3rd or 4th decade of life, however, it can often be diagnosed much earlier. Advances in the understanding of the disease may lead, in the near future, to slowing the progression of ADPKD in asymptomatic individuals.

[Modern treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease].

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common causes of end stage renal failure (ESRF). Nevertheless, until now the standard therapy of ADPKD consists merely of nephroprotection and treatment of complications. In the sixth decade of life in about 50% of patients renal replacement therapy is initiated.

Impact of posttransplant diabetes mellitus on graft function in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients after kidney transplantation.

Introduction: Posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) remains the significant clinical problem and impairs the quality of life of renal transplant recipients. Negative influence of PTDM on graft function is associated with chronic allograft nephropathy, systemic infectious complications, recurrent infections or urinary tract infections. Some earlier studies suggest that patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) are at special risk of developing PTDM.

[Genetic predisposition to systemic complications of arterial hypertension in maintenance haemodialysis patients].

Unlabelled: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of a high morbidity and mortality in patients on renal replacement therapy and is responsible for about 50% of deaths. Hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular events in the general population as well as in haemodialysed (HD) patients. The hypertension in HD patients is caused by excess extracellular fluid volume (ECV) on the other hand hypertension resistant to normalization of ECV may result from the accelerated activity of the systemic and local--vascular renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system (RAAS).

The effect of N-acetylcysteine on proteinuria and markers of tubular injury in non-diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease. A placebo-controlled, randomized, open, cross-over study.

Background: Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and/or angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonists (ARB) constitutes a strategy in the management of patients with chronic kidney disease. There is still no optimal therapy which can stop the progression of chronic kidney disease. Antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) have been reported as a promising strategy in this field.

[Pentoxifylline old drug or new hope for nephrology?].

Pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system (RAAS) constitutes a cornerstone strategy in the management of patients with chronic nephropathies with proteinuria and with chronic renal failure. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) as well as angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonists have been shown to decrease proteinuria, reduce the local renal inflammatory processes and slow the progression of renal insufficiency. Despite recent progress, there is still no optimal therapy that would stop progression of renal disease.

[Program of early diagnosis of chronic renal disease in children--SopKard 15 nephrological project].

The Sopot Program of Cardiac Infarct and Stroke Prevention--SopKard 1999-2009 was established for health promotion to decrease cardio-vascular diseases mortality. To serve these purposes a new project SopKard 15 for adolescents was created. The main aim of SopKard 15 is evaluation of health status with particular attention to risk factors of civilization diseases, with chronic kidney disease (CKD) among them.

[Clinical state of a patient with nephrotic proteinuria successfully treated with combined therapy with angiotensin II receptor antagonists and angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors and pentoxifylline].

Pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system (RAAS) constitutes a cornerstone strategy in the management of patients with chronic nephropaties and proteinuria. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) as well as angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonists (ARA) have been shown to decrease proteinuria, reduce the local renal inflammatory processes and slow the progression of renal insufficiency. Despite recent progress, there is still no optimal therapy which inhibits progression of renal disease.

Early detection of chronic kidney disease: results of the PolNef study.

Background: Continuous increase in the number of patients with end-stage renal disease demands early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of the present study was to diagnose CKD in its earliest stages in a randomly selected population using a diagnostic algorithm developed by the working group.

Methods: An algorithm for the diagnostic procedure was created to identify patients with CKD requiring further nephrological care.

Feedback inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis by dietary cholesterol in experimental chronic renal failure.

Objective: Enhanced liver cholesterol synthesis is present in experimental chronic renal failure (CRF), even though cholesterol concentrations in blood and liver are increased, suggesting that CRF results in disturbed cholesterolegenesis feedback regulation.

Design: This study sought to elucidate whether dietary cholesterol exerts inhibitory effects on liver cholesterologenesis in CRF rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were used.

Palliative care in nephrology.

The goal of palliative care is to achieve good quality of life for patients with chronic life-limiting illnesses, and their families, through assessment and management of physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems and needs. Patients with kidney diseases present a particular target of such care from the time of diagnosis to the time of family bereavement family. End-stage renal disease is associated with limited life expectancy, high morbidity and considerable burden of symptoms especially in elderly patients.

Current management of secondary hyperparathyroidism: a multicenter observational study (COSMOS).

Study Aims: To survey bone mineral disturbances in the hemodialysis (HD) population in Europe and current clinical practice in Europe for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in HD patients.

Primary Objectives: First, to estimate the prevalence of Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guideline achievement in a representative sample of European hemodialysis subjects. As part of this objective, we will investigate the prevalence of achievement by type of dialysis, type of center and time on dialysis (less than or greater than 1 year).

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in central and eastern europe.

Background: The world population suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is growing. The epidemiology of ESRD is relatively well documented, but data on chronic kidney disease (CKD) are missing, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Early detection of CKD is important because it allows introduction of the therapy that slows the progression of CKD.

[Life threatening drug-induced hyperkaliemia--case report].

Patients with congestive heart failure are at increased risk of hyperkalemia due to coexisting morbidities and usage of multiple medications that impair potassium excretion--such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or spironolactone. Because of the risk of this disturbance, knowledge of causation and prevention is mandatory. We described 3 patients with life threatening hyperkalemia (>8.

Triple pharmacological blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in nondiabetic CKD: an open-label crossover randomized controlled trial.

Background: Agents inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system have an important role in slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease. We evaluated the hypothesis that the addition of an aldosterone receptor antagonist to an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and angiotensin II type 1 (AT-1) receptor blocker (ARB) (triple RAAS blockade) may provide an additional benefit compared with an ACE inhibitor and ARB (double RAAS blockade).

Design: Randomized open controlled crossover study.

[The conjugated linoleic acids in prevention and treatment of obesity].

The results of up-to-date performed experimental studies indicated that conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) contained in diet lead to significant both adipose tissue and body mass decrease. It suggests that the CLA-rich diet or CLA-contained medicines can be useful in prevention and treatment of obesity in humans. The CLA-contained medicines are more and more popular, therefore the principle aim of this review is a description of CLA chemical structure, presence in natural products and moreover, their potential influence on adipose tissue mass in humans.

The prevalence of methamphetamine and amphetamine abuse in North America: a review of the indicators, 1992-2007.

Introduction: This paper reviews epidemiological information about methamphetamine production and use in North America.

Methods: Information is drawn from a range of sources, including, but not limited to, historical accounts, peer-reviewed papers, population surveys and large national databases.

Results: Methamphetamine and amphetamine use in North America is characterised by geographic variations, with different types of the drug, different routes of administration and different types of users at various times.

The rise in treatment admissions for methamphetamine use in Los Angeles County from 2001 through 2005.

Drug use trends for people entering county-funded treatment programs from 2001 through 2005 were investigated. The sample was drawn from outpatient counseling, residential treatment, and daycare habilitative programs. Findings center on the rising number of admissions to treatment programs for primary methamphetamine (MA) use, with a focus on participant gender, age, and race/ethnicity.