Early as compared to late initiation of twice-weekly hemodialysis and short-term survival among end-stage renal disease patients.

Introduction: The impact of timing of hemodialysis (HD) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated with twice-weekly HD remains unclear. We aimed to determine the effects of late initiation of HD on short-term mortality and hospitalization.

Methods: A multicenter cohort study was conducted in 11 HD centers in Northeastern Thailand (HEmodialysis Network of the NorthEastern Thailand study group).

Dialysis dose and risk factors for death among ESRD patients treated with twice-weekly hemodialysis: a prospective cohort study.

Background/aims: We aimed to define the dosing and risk factors for death in patients undergoing twice-weekly hemodialysis.

Methods: A prospective multi-center cohort study was conducted with one-year observation. Patients treated with twice- or thrice-weekly hemodialysis were identified.

Mineral metabolism and outcomes in chronic kidney disease stage 2-4 patients.

Background: Marked hyperphosphatemia, hyperparathyroidism and 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency are associated with mortality in dialysis patients. Such data in chronic kidney disease stage 2-4 population are limited. It has been suggested that high-normal serum phosphate predicts worse renal and patient outcomes.

Sodium thiosulfate delays the progression of coronary artery calcification in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is prevalent among haemodialysis patients and predicts cardiovascular mortality. In addition to modifying traditional cardiovascular risk factors, therapy aimed at lowering serum phosphate and calcium-phosphate product has been advocated. Sodium thiosulfate, through its chelating property, removes calcium from precipitated minerals decreasing calcification burden in calcific uraemic arteriolopathy and soft tissue calcification.

Urinary risk factors for recurrent calcium stone formation in Thai stone formers.

Objective: To survey the urinary risk factors associated with recurrent calcium stone and the contribution of renal tubular acidosis to the prevalence of recurrent calcium stone formation in Thai recurrent stone formers.

Material And Method: There were 86 consecutive recurrent calcium stone formers. Three-day dietary record, serum biochemical parameters, first morning urine pH, and two 24-hour urine collections were obtainedfrom each subject.

Causes of hypocitraturia in recurrent calcium stone formers: focusing on urinary potassium excretion.

Background: Multiple factors associated with hypocitraturia have been identified. However, limited studies addressing the causal relationship to hypocitraturia are available. We therefore conducted this study to determine factors associated with hypocitraturia and show their causal relationship in recurrent calcium stone formers.

Effects of calcium supplements on the risk of renal stone formation in a population with low oxalate intake.

It has been speculated that calcium supplement in subjects with low oxalate intake might increase the risk of calcium stone formation due to an increase in calcium absorption without a significant reduction in oxalate absorption. There have been no human studies addressing specifically the effects of taking calcium supplements in populations whose dietary oxalate is low. This study was conducted to determine the effects of calcium supplements on the risk of calcium stone formation in a population with low oxalate intake.

Risk factors for development of decreased kidney function in a southeast Asian population: a 12-year cohort study.

End-stage kidney disease has become an increasing burden in all regions of the world. However, limited epidemiologic data on chronic kidney disease in Southeast Asian populations are available. Therefore, a cohort study over a period of 12 yr (1985 to 1997) in 3499 employees of the Electric Generation Authority of Thailand, aged 35 to 55 yr, was conducted to determine the prevalence of decreased kidney function and risk factors associated with future development of decreased kidney function.

Incomplete renal tubular acidosis and bone mineral density: a population survey in an area of endemic renal tubular acidosis.

Background: 'Primary' osteoporosis has been associated with a high incidence of a renal acidification defect, incomplete renal tubular acidosis (iRTA). An acid loading test, to exclude the defect, has been recommended for inclusion in the work-up of osteoporosis. However, there is no community-based study to confirm its utility.

Alteration of noncollagenous bone matrix proteins in distal renal tubular acidosis.

Our previous report on bone histomorphometry in patients with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) revealed decreased bone formation rate (BFR) when compared to healthy subjects. The abnormality improved significantly after alkaline therapy. The modest increase in osteoblastic surface, after correction of metabolic acidosis, could not explain the striking improvement in bone formation, suggesting additional influence of metabolic acidosis on osteoblast function and/or bone matrix mineralization.

Schedule of taking calcium supplement and the risk of nephrolithiasis.

Background: Variation in the timing of calcium supplement may affect gastrointestinal absorption of both calcium and oxalate differently and may associate with variable risk of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. There are few human studies addressing specifically the appropriate time for taking calcium supplement. Therefore, this study was performed to compare calcium bioavailability and the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation for calcium supplement taken with meal vs.

Abnormalities in bone mineral density and bone histology in thalassemia.

Unlabelled: This study demonstrated that there was extensive iron staining on trabecular surface and marked reduction in trabecular bone volume without significant alteration in bone formation and bone resorption rates as well as significant reduction in bone mineral density in 18 thalassemic patients. Serum IGF-I was reduced and may modulate the reduction of bone mass.

Introduction: Bone histomorphometric studies in thalassemia to show alterations in bone histology and their relationship to biochemical parameters are very limited.

Bone histomorphometry in children and adolescents with beta-thalassemia disease: iron-associated focal osteomalacia.

Thalassemia/hemoglobinopathy is a hereditary disease that causes chronic anemia and increased erythropoiesis. Consequently, an expansion of bone marrow spaces may contribute to osteopenia/osteoporosis. However, the pathogenesis of bone changes is not yet known.

Ceftriaxone compared with sodium penicillin g for treatment of severe leptospirosis.

A prospective, open-label, randomized trial at Khon Kaen Hospital (Thailand) was conducted from July 2000 through December 2001 to compare the clinical efficacies of ceftriaxone and sodium penicillin G for the treatment of severe leptospirosis. A total of 173 patients with severe leptospirosis were randomly assigned to be treated with either intravenous ceftriaxone (1 g daily for 7 days; n=87) or intravenous sodium penicillin G (1.5 million U every 6 h for 7 days; n=86).

Bone histology and bone mineral density after correction of acidosis in distal renal tubular acidosis.

Background: The association between chronic metabolic acidosis and alterations in bone cell functions has been demonstrated in vitro and in animal studies. However, the causal role of acidosis and the effects of alkaline therapy on bone histology and bone mineral density in chronic metabolic acidosis have never been systematically demonstrated in humans. This study was conducted to examine the alterations in bone mineral density and bone histology before and after correction of acidosis among patients with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) METHODS: Correction of metabolic acidosis by potassium citrate was done in non-azotemic dRTA patients, 6 females and 4 males, who had never received long-term alkaline therapy before enrolling into this study.

Prognostic factors of death in leptospirosis: a prospective cohort study in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Objectives: To determine the prognostic factors of death in leptospirosis.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. One hundred and twenty one patients with clinically compatible leptospirosis, serologically confirmed, were recruited in this study.

Dosage of potassium citrate in the correction of urinary abnormalities in pediatric distal renal tubular acidosis patients.

Potassium citrate is an alkaline agent that has been recommended for the prevention of nephrolithiasis in distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA). Information on the effectiveness and the optimal dose of potassium citrate in the correction of urinary abnormalities in pediatric distal RTA is limited, however. We conducted this study to determine the effectiveness and the optimal dose of potassium citrate for the correction of urinary abnormalities and the prevention of nephrolithiasis in children with distal RTA.

Risk of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in postmenopausal women supplemented with calcium or combined calcium and estrogen.

Background: Recent studies showed that postmenopausal women lost less bone mass when supplemented with calcium or estrogen therapy. However, the safety of the treatments in terms of the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation is unknown. We therefore conducted this study to determine the alteration in calcium oxalate supersaturation after calcium supplement or after combined calcium and estrogen therapy in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.