Effect of Ursodeoxycholic Acid on Peritoneal Function in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis
End-Stage Kidney DiseasePeritoneal fibrosis is one of the major causes of technical failure in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) for long period of time. Although the exact mechanisms of peritoneal damage during PD still remain unclear, generation of Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress may be responsible for progressive membrane dysfunction. Ursodeoxycholic acid (URSA) is a powerful inhibitor of ER stress to protect peritoneal fibrosis in peritoneal dialysis in the investigators in-vitro study. In this study the researchers investigated the hypothesis that URSA protect peritoneal membrane damage.
Tolerance Induction in Living Donor Kidney Transplantation With Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation...
End Stage Renal DiseaseKidney transplantation (KT) requires a life-long immune suppression (IS). It has been well-known that long-term IS inevitably causes various complication e.g. infection, toxicity, diabetes, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis of hip joint, cataract, acne, and malignancies and so on. Tolerance induction showing graft function without maintenance IS has been considered as a final solution in the transplantation recipients. Tolerance induction can be achieved in KT recipients with donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In this study, adult patients (18 and more years of age) with a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haplotype match donor are enrolled. Patients receive preconditioning treatment for HSCT 1week prior to KT. Bone marrow is harvested from donor under general anesthesia at the time of nephrectomy for transplantation in donor. Donor BM is infused immediate post-transplantation at intensive care unit (ICU). Immunologic measurements including microchimerism study and protocol biopsy will be followed at several time points. IS will be tapered slowly and withdrawn over a period of several months.
RAAS Inhibitor Drugs in Dialysis Patients
HypertensionEnd Stage Renal DiseaseHypertensive haemodialysis patients are at high risk for cardiovascular events. This study was undertaken to ascertain whether the upstream of aliskirne, a direct renin inhibitor improves mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in these high-risk population.
Nasal Tea Tree Oil for the Prevention of Infections in PD Patients
End Stage Renal Failure on DialysisThis study will compare the use of tea tree oil as a topical nasal antiseptic to prevent infections in patients that need renal dialysis. A maximum of fifty subjects will be recruited and will be assessed for signs of infection once per week for the first 6 weeks and then every 4 weeks until week 26. They will also be checked for nasal carriage of 'Golden Staph' when they enroll in the trial. The subjects will complete the trial if they have 26 weeks infection-free or if they have an infection during that period
Sirolimus Use in Angioplasty for Vascular Access Extension
End Stage Renal DiseaseVenous StenosisDialysis patients presenting for angioplasty intervention for graft failure will be randomized to receive either Sirolimus or not receive Sirolimus (standard of care) to assess the time from primary failure or angioplasty intervention to second or next angioplasty intervention or graft failure.
Effects of On-Line Hemodiafiltration(HDF) on Vascular Health in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
End Stage Renal DiseaseHemodialysisThe purpose of this study is to determine whether on-line hemodiafiltration ameliorate the endothelial dysfunction compared with the low flux hemodialysis in end stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
N-Acetylcysteine in Heart Failure With Coexistent Chronic Renal Failure
Heart FailureCongestive2 moreTreatment with n-acetylcysteine in patients with heart failure and chronic renal failure leads to improvements in vascular function and in renal function.
Use of Ointments in Prevention of Catheter Related Infections in PD
End Stage Renal DiseasePeritoneal dialysis (PD) is used for the treatment of end-stage renal disease in approximately 25% of patients requiring dialysis in Canada. The most common complication is bacterial infection or 'peritonitis'. Peritonitis causes severe acute abdominal pain and may lead to failure of peritoneal dialysis treatment, hospitalization or death, particularly if left untreated. Amongst the strategies used to prevent peritonitis, patients are instructed on the regular use of a prophylactic ointment around the point where the catheter exits from the body. At the present time most centers in Canada routinely prescribe mupirocin ointment for use at the exit site, however newer ointments have become available. One such ointment is Polysporin Triple. The aim of this study is to determine if catheter related infections can be significantly reduced by the routine application of Polysporin Triple in comparison to mupirocin ointment. A multi-centre, randomized, double blind, controlled study is proposed. Participants will be randomized to either mupirocin or Polysporin Triple and followed for 18 months or until the first catheter related infection, death or catheter removal. The difference in catheter related infection rates will be compared between the two groups. We anticipate the results of this study will allow clinicians to prescribe the ointment most likely to reduce infections. By doing so this will reduce the complication rate associated with peritoneal dialysis and, ultimately improve survival.
Multidisciplinary Inpatient Palliative Care Intervention
Cerebrovascular AccidentCancer16 morePalliative care is believed to improve care of patients with life-limiting illnesses. This study evaluated the impact of a multi-center randomized trial of a palliative care team intervention on the quality and cost of care of hospitalized patients. Study subjects were randomized to intervention or usual care. At study end, patients receiving the palliative care intervention reported greater patient satisfaction with their care. Intervention patients also had significantly fewer ICU admissions and lower total costs for care 6 months past their hospitalization. Intervention patients completed more advance directives and had longer hospice stays.
An Investigation of N-acetylcysteine and Fenoldopam as Renal Protection Agents for Cardiac Surgery...
Kidney FailureAcute3 morePatients with abnormal kidney function are at increased risk for complications following heart surgery, including worsening kidney function possibly requiring dialysis, a prolonged stay in the critical care unit and hospital, and the increased risk of death. Prior attempts at kidney protection for heart surgery patients have had mixed results. Two medicines, fenoldopam and N-acetylcysteine, have been shown to protect kidney function in other circumstances that cause kidney stress. The purpose of this study is to determine whether these medications will help to maintain the function of diseased kidneys during heart surgery.