Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma in kidney allograft recipients-A case series and review of the literature.

Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are common inhabitants of the human genital tract. Increasingly, serious and sometimes fatal infections in immunocompromised hosts have been reported, highlighting their pathogenic potential. We reviewed the clinical impact of positive Ureaplasma spp.

A prospective observational study comparing a non-operator dependent automatic PWV analyser to pulse pressure, in assessing arterial stiffness in hemodialysis.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) accelerates vascular stiffening related to age. Arterial stiffness may be evaluated measuring the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) or more simply, as recommended by KDOQI, monitoring pulse pressure (PP). Both correlate to survival and incidence of cardiovascular disease.

Frequency and severity of pain and symptom distress among patients with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis.

Question Under Study: Data on pain management in haemodialysis patients with end-stage renal disease are scanty. Our study aimed to collect information on the frequency and severity of pain and symptom distress among long-term dialysis patients in southern Switzerland.

Methods: Patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5, on dialysis, treated in five nephrology units in southern Switzerland, who had given informed consent and were able to complete the survey, were interviewed to assess pain and correlated symptoms using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Brief Pain Inventory and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System.

Z = 50 shell gap near 100Sn from intermediate-energy Coulomb excitations in even-mass 106-112Sn isotopes.

Rare isotope beams of neutron-deficient 106,108,110Sn from the fragmentation of 124Xe were employed in an intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation experiment. The measured B(E2,0(1)(+)-->2(1)(+)) values for 108Sn and 110Sn and the results obtained for the 106Sn show that the transition strengths for these nuclei are larger than predicted by current state-of-the-art shell-model calculations. This discrepancy might be explained by contributions of the protons from within the Z = 50 shell to the structure of low-energy excited states in this region.

Measurement of excited states in (40)Si and evidence for weakening of the N=28 shell gap.

Excited states in (40)Si have been established by detecting gamma rays coincident with inelastic scattering and nucleon removal reactions on a liquid hydrogen target. The low excitation energy, 986(5) keV, of the 2(1)(+) state provides evidence of a weakening in the N=28 shell closure in a neutron-rich nucleus devoid of deformation-driving proton collectivity.

Probing shell structure and shape changes in neutron-rich sulfur isotopes through transient-field g-factor measurements on fast radioactive beams of 38S and 40S.

The shell structure underlying shape changes in neutron-rich nuclei near N = 28 has been investigated by a novel application of the transient-field technique to measure the first-excited-state g factors in 38S and 40S produced as fast radioactive beams. There is a fine balance between proton and neutron contributions to the magnetic moments in both nuclei. The g factor of deformed 40S does not resemble that of a conventional collective nucleus because spin contributions are more important than usual.

Vancomycin-induced hypersensitivity reaction with acute renal failure: resolution following cyclosporine treatment.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms or DRESS syndrome is a distinct severe drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction characterized by skin rash, fever, eosinophilia and visceral involvement. The latter leads to a 10% mortality rate, with interstitial nephritis occurring in about 10% of the cases. The outcome is usually favorable after withdrawal of drug therapy; systemic corticosteroid therapy may hasten the recovery, although there are no data from prospective, randomized trials evaluating the efficacy of this approach.

Pharmacokinetics of N-acetylcysteine following repeated intravenous infusion in haemodialysed patients.

Objective: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic agent with anti-oxidant properties. It might have potential positive effects in renal patients and, therefore, its pharmacokinetics and safety in haemodialysis was investigated.

Methods: Twelve dialysis patients received 2 g NAC (10 ml NAC 20% solution i.

Methodologic challenges of randomized controlled studies on in-home comprehensive geriatric assessment: the EIGER project. Evaluation of In-Home Geriatric Health Visits in Elderly Residents.

Previous controlled studies have shown that preventive home visits are a promising method for disability prevention in elderly persons; however, due to the lack of data on cost effectiveness and optimal intervention methods, there is still debate on their usefulness. Therefore, additional controlled studies must use new methods to resolve these unanswered issues. We present a novel approach used in the project EIGER (Evaluation of In-Home Geriatric Health Visits in Elderly Residents), an ongoing randomized controlled trial of preventive home visits in community-residing persons aged 75 years and older in Bern, Switzerland.

Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of piretanide in patients with congestive heart failure.

The efficacy and pharmacokinetics of the diuretic piretanide were studied in two groups of six patients hospitalized for congestive heart failure. A dosage of 2 x 6 mg day-1 to 2 x 12 mg day-1 of intravenous piretanide for 7 days was sufficient to abrogate most symptoms of cardiac insufficiency. When compared with another group of healthy volunteers, patients with congestive heart failure had reduced total body clearance of piretanide of about 50% which was attributable to a diminished renal but not non-renal clearance.

[Plasmapheresis therapy in Guillain-Barré polyneuroradiculitis].

The outcome of Guillain-Barré polyneuritis is not always benign. Since no therapy of proven effectiveness is available and an immunologic etiology is presumed, plasma exchange treatment has been repeatedly used. We report on three patients with severe polyneuritis who were unable to walk.

Effects of low-dose 'factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA)' in resistant haemophilia.

Possible effects and side-effects of 'factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA)' were tested on 7 haemophiliacs with high-titre antibody to factor VIII (resistant haemophilia). FEIBA was administered both to hospitalised patients and as part of a home therapy programme. Serious side-effects, attributable to FEIBA, were one episode of hypersensitivity and, possibly, hepatitis.