Ana Marta Gomes

Infections are major complications in peritoneal dialysis (PD) with a multifactorial etiology that comprises patient, microbial and dialytic factors. This study aimed at investigating the contribution of microbial biofilms on PD catheters to recalcitrant infections and their interplay with PD related-factors. A prospective observational study was performed on 47 patients attending Centro Hospitalar of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho to whom the catheter was removed due to infectious (n = 16) and non-infectious causes (n = 31). Microbial density on the catheter was assessed by culture methods and the isolated microorganisms identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight intact cell mass spectrometry. The effect of conventional and three biocompatible PD solutions on 16 Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS) and 10 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains planktonic growth and biofilm formation was evaluated. Cultures were positive in 87.5% of the catheters removed due infectious and 90.3% removed due to non-infectious causes. However, microbial yields were higher on the cuffs of catheters removed due to infection vs. non-infection. Staphylococci (CNS and Staphylococcus aureus) and P. aeruginosa were the predominant species: 32% and 20% in the infection and 43.3% and 22.7% in the non-infection group, respectively. In general, PD solutions had a detrimental effect on planktonic CNS and P. aeruginosa strains growth. All strains formed biofilms in the presence of PD solutions. The solutions had a more detrimental effect on P. aeruginosa than CNS strains. No major differences were observed between conventional and biocompatible solutions, although in icodextrin solution biofilm biomass was lower than in bicarbonate/lactate solution. Overall, we show that microbial biofilm is universal in PD catheters with the subclinical menace of Staphylococci and P. aeruginosa. Cuffs colonization may significantly contribute to infection. PD solutions differentially impact microbial species. This knowledge is important for the development of infection diagnosis, treatment and preventive strategies.

Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, caused by deficiency or absence of the alpha-galactosidase A activity, with a consequent glycosphingolipid accumulation. Biomarkers and imaging findings may be useful for diagnosis, identification of an organ involvement, therapy monitoring and prognosis. The aim of this article is to review the current available literature on biomarkers and imaging findings of AFD patients. An extensive bibliographic review from PubMed, Medline and Clinical Key databases was performed by a group of experts from nephrology, neurology, genetics, cardiology and internal medicine, aiming for consensus. Lyso-GB3 is a valuable biomarker to establish the diagnosis. Proteinuria and creatinine are the most valuable to detect renal damage. Troponin I and high-sensitivity assays for cardiac troponin T can identify patients with cardiac lesions, but new techniques of cardiac imaging are essential to detect incipient damage. Specific cerebrovascular imaging findings are present in AFD patients. Techniques as metabolomics and proteomics have been developed in order to find an AFD fingerprint. Lyso-GB3 is important for evaluating the pathogenic mutations and monitoring the response to treatment. Many biomarkers can detect renal, cardiac and cerebrovascular involvement, but none of these have proved to be important to monitoring the response to treatment. Imaging features are preferred in order to find cardiac and cerebrovascular compromise in AFD patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) for the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), peak cough flow (PCF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), fatigue severity scale (FSS), and London chest activities of daily living scale (LCADL) in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) after rehabilitation. METHODS: Inpatients with SCI from 2 rehabilitation centers participating in a daily rehabilitation program were recruited. The NPRS, PCF, PEF, FSS, and LCADL were collected at baseline and discharge. The global rating of change scale was performed at discharge. MCIDs were calculated using anchor (linear regression, mean change, and receiver operating characteristic curves) and distribution-based methods (0.5 times the baseline SD, standard error of measurement, 1.96 times standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change) and pooled using arithmetic weighted mean. RESULTS: Sixty inpatients with SCI (36 males; 54.5 [15.9] years) participated. On average their rehabilitation program lasted 7.3 (1.7) weeks. Pooled MCID estimates were 1.6 points for the NPRS, 69.8 L/min for the PCF, 77.4 L/min for the PEF, 1.1 points for the FSS, and 1.4 points for the LCADL. CONCLUSION: Established MCIDs for NPRS, PCF, PEF, FSS, and LCADL will help health professionals to interpret results and guide rehabilitation interventions in patients with SCI. IMPACT: Health professionals and researchers may now use -1.6 points for the NPRS, 69.8 L/min for the PCF, 77.4 L/min for the PEF, 1.1 points for the FSS, and 1.4 points for the LCADL to interpret if changes in pain, cough intensity, expiratory flow, fatigue and activities of daily living after rehabilitation of patients with SCI have been clinically relevant.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome may be associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection but it occurs in advanced stages of human immunodeficiency virus disease. As in other forms of hemolytic uremic syndrome plasmapheresis seems to be the treatment of choice. The authors present an unusual case of hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with acute human immunodeficiency virus infection in a 38 year-old black male. The patient was admitted with fever, asthenia, nausea, diarrhea, and reduced urinary output. He was found to have anemia, thrombocytopenia and severe renal failure. Hemolytic uremic syndrome was diagnosed and he was started on plasmapheresis and hemodialysis. Serological tests were consistent with acute human immunodeficiency virus infection: the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for human immunodeficiency virus was weakly positive, Western Blot test was negative and human immunodeficiency virus RNA quantification was positive, with > 1,000,000 copies/microl. After 4 daily treatment sessions, patient's clinical condition improved and hemoglobin, platelets, lactic dehydrogenase and renal function normalized.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the dialysate sodium concentration during a peritoneal equilibration test (PET) provides information on the rates of water and solute transport through different membrane pathways. A hypertonic (3.86%) glucose-based dialysate may enhance the accuracy of analysis. There are still gaps in our knowledge regarding this question, in the clinical setting. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the categorization of the sodium sieving effect in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients by 2.27% and 3.86% PETs, and to disclose clinical correlates of this phenomenon. Method. Ninety PD patients underwent prospectively 2.27% and 3.86% modified (dialysate samples at 0, 60, 90, 120 and 240 min) PETs, in a random order. We searched for differences in the time profiles of sodium sieving and its categorization. We correlated sodium sieving with ultrafiltration (UF) and solute transport capacity, as also with selected clinical and demographic variables, using a multivariate approach. RESULTS: The maximum dip in the dialysate sodium concentration (11.1 mM/L, 3.86% versus 7.1 mM/L, 2.27%, P < 0.001) was most common after 90 min in the 3.86% PET, with the 2.27% test somewhere between 60 and 90 min. Low sodium sieving (defined by a dip <5 mM/L at 60 min) was observed in 8.9% of the patients in the 3.86% test. The same limit categorized 34.4% of the patients as low sieving in the 2.27% test (100.0% sensitivity and 72.0% specificity, using 3.86% as a reference). UF and D/P(240 min) creatinine were independent predictors of the sodium sieving effect in both tests. Moreover, multivariate analysis disclosed a consistent inverse correlation between GFR and sodium sieving in both the 2.27% (B = -0.23, 95% CI -0.40, -0.07, P = 0.006) and 3.86% PET (B = -0.46, 95% CI -0.65, -0.26, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The standard 2.27% PET permits some categorization of sodium sieving in PD patients. However, the information provided by this test lacks the discriminatory capacity of the 3.86% PET, which should be considered the one for reference for this purpose. GFR keeps a consistent inverse correlation with the intensity of sodium sieving in both the 2.27% and 3.86% PET.