American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation
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Administration of contrast agents can cause a decrease in renal function and, occasionally, end-stage renal disease. Liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is an intracellular carrier protein of free fatty acids that is expressed in proximal tubules of the human kidney. Whether urinary excretion of L-FABP can predict the occurrence of contrast medium-induced nephropathy was studied. ⋯ Urinary L-FABP level can serve clinically as a predictive marker for contrast medium-induced nephropathy.
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The primary study aim is to determine whether ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels predict mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The secondary aim is to determine characteristics of patients with elevated IMA levels. ⋯ IMA level predicts mortality in patients with ESRD. Patients with elevated levels have larger LV size, decreased systolic function, and greater estimated LV filling pressures.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Families' and physicians' predictions of dialysis patients' preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments in Japan.
Substituted judgment traditionally has been used often for patient care in Japan regardless of the patient's competency. It has been believed that patient preferences are understood intuitively by family and caregivers. However, there are no data to support this assumption. ⋯ Our study suggests that patients who want to spend their end-of-life period as they want should leave better advance directives.