Bmc Nephrol
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and systemic inflammation are risk factors for sepsis. While often viewed as a marker of chronic kidney disease, Cystatin C (Cyst-C) may also reflect systemic inflammation. We sought to determine the association between elevated baseline Cyst-C and long-term rates of community-acquired sepsis, and to determine if this relationship is influenced by traditional markers of CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], albumin-to-creatinine ratio [ACR]) and inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]). ⋯ Elevated Cyst-C is associated with increased long-term rates of community-acquired sepsis, independent of abnormal eGFR, ACR or hsCRP. Cyst-C may play a role in long-term sepsis risk prediction and prevention.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
NephroCheck data compared to serum creatinine in various clinical settings.
Acute kidney injury is frequently observed at the intensive care unit, after surgery, and after toxic drug administration. A rise in serum creatinine and a fall in urine output are consequences of much earlier injury to the most sensitive part of tubular cells located at the proximal tubule. The aim of the present study was to investigate the course of two cell-cycle arrest urinary biomarkers compared to serum creatinine in four clinical settings: ischemic reperfusion injury, cardiac failure, severe acute kidney injury, and chemotherapy-induced kidney injury. ⋯ This bedside test detects biomarkers of renal injury. A rapid decline in AKIRisk was associated with the restoration of kidney function, whereas a prolonged high AKIRisk score was associated with end-stage renal disease. However, the dynamics seem to differ, depending on the cause and the extent of injury. Further studies will be needed to clarify the issue.
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Burn patients with AKI have a higher mortality, rapid diagnosis and early treatment of AKI are necessary. Recent studies have demonstrated that urinary KIM-1 and IL-18 are potential biomarkers of early-stage AKI, however, changes in urinary KIM-1 and IL-18 levels are unclear in patients with burns. The aim of our study was to determine whether combined KIM-1 and IL-18 are more sensitive than traditional markers in detecting kidney injury in patients with burns. ⋯ Our results suggest that urinary KIM-1 and IL-18 may be used as early, sensitive indicators of AKI in patients with burns of varying degrees and provide clinical clues that can be used in early prevention of AKI.
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Observational Study
Acute kidney injury among adult patients with sepsis in a low-income country: clinical patterns and short-term outcomes.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of sepsis. We determined the prevalence of AKI among adult patients with sepsis on the medical wards in a low-income country and described their clinical pattern and outcomes at discharge. ⋯ The prevalence, morbidity and mortality due to AKI among sepsis patients in Uganda is very high and limited access to dialysis and ICU care is a major factor in poor outcomes for these patients.
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Provision of exceptional medical care is a goal for the medical profession because this is what the public needs and deserves. Academic medical centers that value excellent clinicians may have the best chance to recruit and retain these faculty members. When our institution hoped to launch the Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence to measure and reward master clinicians, a critical first step was to use rigorous methods to develop a definition of clinical excellence. Published papers have illustrated that this general definition of clinical excellence is applicable to fields of psychiatry, cardiology, and pediatrics. In this manuscript, we apply the definition of clinical excellence to nephrology. Using the same framework, we reviewed the literature to find clinical cases and exemplary nephrologists that highlight the specific domains. This collection of reports in nephrology illustrates that the definition of clinical excellence set forth by the Miller Coulson Academy is highly applicable to physicians caring for individuals with kidney disease. Relating the definition of clinical excellence to renal medicine is worthwhile in that it can help to exemplify the model to which physicians and trainees may seek to aspire. ⋯ Many examples of clinical excellence in renal medicine can be found in the published medical literature. The domains of clinical excellence, described by the Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence, apply very well to the field of nephrology.