Serological Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Hemodialyzed Patients and the Association with Later COVID-19 Positivity.

Background: The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine may differ in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to determine the degree of serological response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the population of dialysis patients and its association with later SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Methods: A blood sample was taken for the determination of COVID-19 serological status (IgG antibodies) in 706 dialysis patients 16 weeks after vaccination with the second dose (Pfizer-BioNTech).

[Treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease--position statement of the Croatian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation and review of the KDIGO and ERPB guidelines].

Renal anemia is the result of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and deteriorates with disease progression. Anemia may be the first sign of kidney disease. In all patients with anemia and CKD, diagnostic evaluation is required.

Visfatin is not associated with inflammatory markers in patients on hemodialysis.

Background: Cardiovascular events are a major cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease. Endothelial dysfunction represents a key event in atherosclerosis development and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of different forms of cardiovascular disease, including chronic kidney disease. In recent years, visfatin, a ubiquitous adipokine, has been described as a potent marker of endothelial inflammation and dysfunction.

Bilateral Pseudomonas aeruginosa endogenous endophthalmitis in an immune-competent patient with nosocomial urosepsis following abdominal surgery.

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a vision-threatening condition that results from hematogenous spread of infection to the eye, originating from a distant primary focus. It is considered as a rare entity that predominantly occurs in immune-compromised patients. We present a case of a critically ill immune-competent patient who underwent abdominal surgery later followed by nosocomial urosepsis complicated with bilateral Pseudomonas aeruginosa endogenous endophthalmitis that resulted in blindness.

[Pregnancy in patients treated with hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: review of the literature and management guidelines].

Pregnancy in patients suffering from chronic renal disease is still a rare phenomenon due to a number of factors that impair fertility in such patients, in spite of a number of new treatment techniques that have been introduced recently, e.g. renal replacement therapy with biocompatible dialysis membranes, highflux dialyzers, erythropoietins, and new types of peritoneal dialysis and higher level of care for such patients.

[The impact of heparin bolus from dysfunctional lumen of dual lumen central venous catheter on activated partial thromboplastin time during hemodialysis: is additional heparinization necessary?].

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the heparin bolus, which was administered to a patient due to incapability to aspire heparin from the dysfunctional lumen of dual lumen central venous catheter (CVK), on activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values during hemodialysis (HD), as well as to determine the need of additional administration of heparin during HD.

Patients And Methods: The first group of examinees consisted of 19 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on whom the dual lumen CVK was applied as temporary vascular access, whereby the aspiration of heparin from one of its lumens was impossible. Prior to HD, a coagulogram was determined for all the patients.

Survival analysis of 314 episodes of sepsis in medical intensive care unit in university hospital: impact of intensive care unit performance and antimicrobial therapy.

Aim: To evaluate epidemiology of sepsis in medical intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital, and the impact of ICU performance and appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy on survival of septic patients.

Methods: Observational, partly prospective study conducted over 6 years assessed all patients meeting the criteria for sepsis at ICU admission at the Sisters of Mercy University Hospital. Clinical presentation of sepsis was defined according to 2001 International Sepsis Definitions Conference.

[Is transfusion of a single dose of concentrated erythrocytes poor clinical practice?].

The aim of the study was to determine whether a single unit of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a true criterion of poor patient care. Medical records of 148 patients, 76 (51.4%) males, 72 (48.

[Recirculation of urea and dialysis efficiency using dual-lumen dialysis catheters in various locations: may the venous lumen of the catheter be used as the arterial lumen and vice versa?].

Aim: To measure percentage of urea recirculation in hemodialysis by a dual-lumen central venous catheters of various localisations (e.g. jugular, subclavian and femoral), and also in cases when the venous lumen of the catheter is used as arterial lumen, and vice versa, and under these conditions to evaluate the efficiency of hemodialysis based on the measurements of urea reduction ratio.

Clinical and neurohumoral response to posture, physical exercise, and ascites treatment in Child-Pugh C liver cirrhosis: randomized prospective trial.

Aim: To assess clinical and neurohumoral response to posture, physical exercise, and ascites treatment in patients with Child-Pugh C liver cirrhosis and tense ascites.

Method: Fifty patients with Child-Pugh C liver cirrhosis and tense ascites were randomly allocated into 5 groups. Thirty patients were treated with paracentesis of 6 L of acites paralleled by plasma volume expansion with 200 mL of 20% low sodium albumin (10 patients), 600 mL fresh frozen plasma (10 patients), or 900 mL solution of synthetic gelatine (10 patients), ie, doses with comparable oncotic power, and bed rest for 24 h before and after the procedure.

Intensive care units in Croatia: 2001 survey.

Aim: To establish a framework for the Intensive Care Units (ICU) Register in Croatia, and examine the relation between their present organization and medical practices and their outcome performances.

Methods: The survey of a total of 123 ICUs in Croatia was conducted between February 1 and October 31, 2001. Census questionnaires were filled out by ICU chiefs of staff.