OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible effects of different concentrations of ionized sodium (NaI) on peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF) rate using lactate (Lac) and lactate/bicarbonate (Lac/Bic) dialysis solutions. DESIGN Two random consecutive (after an interval of 48 hours) peritoneal equilibration tests (PETs) were performed in 13 patients (4 males and 9 females) on regular continuous ambulat...

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients. Recently, circulating endotoxin is found to associate with the systemic inflammatory state and cardiovascular disease of dialysis patients. Previous studies showed that the use of ultrapure dialysate for hemodialysis could reduce the exposure to exogenous endotoxin. We studied the effect of usi...

The use of dialysis fermentation with the continuous extraction of the dialysate has resulted in a twofold increase in the cycloheximide titer due to relief from product inhibition. Continuous extraction of the dialysate has eliminated the necessity for large reservoir volumes of fermentation medium normally used in dialysis fermentation. The apparatus used in this procedure is described.

BACKGROUND We aim to explore if disease severity score (DSS) at onset is associated with dialysate white cell counts, the severity of causative organisms and the risk for treatment failure of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis in an adult PD cohort. METHODS Our prospective cohort study recorded all peritonitis episodes between 2008 and 2010. The DSS, demographic data and clinical...

Plasma concentration of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (IPTH) was measured in 18 patients who had been on a hemodialysis program for longer than 6 months. A negative correlation was found between the predialysis plasma concentration of IPTH and the mean concentration of calcium in the dialysate previously used: plasma concentrations of IPTH were higher in patients dialyzed against a calcium...

High-efficiency (HE) and high-flux (HF) hemodialysis are becoming increasingly popular methods for treating patients with chronic renal failure because they reduce the time required for dialysis treatment. HF and HE dialyzers require bicarbonate dialysate, often prepared from concentrates that can support bacterial growth with endotoxin production. There is a concern that endotoxins or bacteria...