Nephrology
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The impact of marathon running on kidney function has not been previously described. ⋯ Approximately 40% of marathon runners experience a transient rise in serum creatinine that meets criteria of AKI with a parallel elevation of cystatin C, and supportive elevations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule-1 in the urine. All biomarker elevations resolved by 24 h. These data suggest that AKI with a transient and minor change in renal filtration function occurs with the stress of marathon running. The impact of repetitive episodes of AKI with long-distance running is unknown.
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Previous studies have focused either on advance medical directives rather than advance care planning (ACP), or on patient's perspectives on ACP rather than those of the health-care providers. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes and experience of renal health-care professionals in Singapore on ACP for patients with end-stage renal failure. ⋯ Training of renal health-care professionals in ACP should aim to correct misunderstandings surrounding ACP, address potential barriers and impart communication skills. In particular, renal nurses will need encouragement to initiate discussions and be equipped with the skills to do so.
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Patients with end-stage kidney disease have significantly increased morbidity and mortality. While greater attention has been focused on advanced care planning, end-of-life decisions, conservative therapy and withdrawal from dialysis these must be supported by adequate palliative care incorporating symptom control. With the increase in the elderly, with their inherent comorbidities, accepted onto dialysis, patients, their nephrologists, families and multidisciplinary teams, are often faced with end-of-life decisions and the provision of palliative care. ⋯ This clarifies treatment pathways and reduces the ambiguity surrounding decision making. If conservative therapy or withdrawal from dialysis is chosen, each should be supported by palliative care. The objective of this review is to summarize published studies and evidence-based guidelines, core curricula, position statements, standards and tools in palliative care in end-stage kidney disease.
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The prognosis for HIV patients needing acute dialysis is uncertain. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, renal diagnoses and outcomes of HIV patients who underwent acute haemodialysis at Groote Schuur Hospital in the period 2002-2007. ⋯ There is a good chance of survival for HIV patients needing acute dialysis when the diagnosis is ATN, and when the CD4 count is more than 200 cells/mm3.
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Randomized controlled clinical trials represent the gold standard of research into health-care interventions but conducting a randomized trial requires careful planning, structures and procedures. The conduct of a clinical trial is a collaborative effort between investigators, participants and a range of professionals involved both centrally and locally in the coordination and execution of the study. In this article, the key steps to conducting a randomized controlled trial are summarized.