Active clinical trials for "Kidney Failure, Chronic"

As the resolution of the Brazilian Federal Council of Nursing (COFEN) sizing the framework of nursing professionals is essential to ensure the safety and quality of patient care. To achieve such goals actions are needed to evaluate the variety of tasks and performance specific to each area in nursing profession. The National Agency for Health Surveillance (ANVISA), through Board Resolution (RDC-154) determines that the nurse to patient ratio is 1 to 30 in hemodialysis and 1 to 50 on peritoneal dialysis, however these targets are not based on any evidence, and same apply to other Latin-American countries. Objective: To determine the appropriate nurse: patient ratio for peritoneal dialysis unit. Method: This research will be developed in two phases. The first with an observational design with descriptive and qualitative approach. There will be a focus group with experts in the field, to defined the activities and responsibilities of the peritoneal dialysis nurse, and produce a tool with a list of activities. A time-orientated score will be created. In the second stage a cross-sectional quantitative approach will be used. To apply the instrument from by direct observation of activities performed by nurses during their workday. With the instrument activities will be timed and the overall time of each nursing activity will be determined by multiplying the time spent by the total number of patients. It is expected tat this strategy will increase time on treatment and/or decrease dropout rates, by developing an easy test/ formula application to determine the correct ratio according to the peritoneal dialysis program. This tool will provide better outcomes for patients as well as allow for growth of peritoneal dialysis programs with qualified assistance and patient safety.

The aim of this prospective, randomized, controlled study is to investigate the effect of pretreatment with intravenous Alprostadil on the incidence of CIN in a high-risk population of patients with both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and CKD undergoing coronary angiography, and evaluate the influence of such potential benefit on short-term outcome.

Clinical measures of adipose tissue mass (BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) do not adequately explain the inter-individual and ethnic heterogeneity in diabetes. . There is a need to identify novel/universal markers of risk for diabetes (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). These biomarkers also can become additional outcome measures for an intervention such as pancreatic/kidney transplant. If biological markers show an improvement with an intervention before anthropometric changes occur, intermediate outcomes can be an encouraging finding for practitioners. This study will focus on the central question of "adipose tissue dysfunction" as mediator of metabolic complications of positive energy balance, independent of body fat content and distribution. This study will address the question of effect of hyperglycemia on adipose tissue function independent of body fat mass. This project will take advantage of unique expertise of our investigators to perform detailed metabolic studies in patients with diabetes who undergo pancreatic/kidney transplant. The results of the proposed study will provide support to the novel approach of identifying adipose tissue dysfunction, rather than obesity and fat distribution, as predictor of diabetes and CVD across all ethnic groups, age and gender. We will obtain necessary preliminary data for future grant submissions to support our central hypothesis and develop stronger interactions within and outside The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) with clinical investigators in the area of DM and its complications.

The study includes two study parts in which blood is collected from the patients. Study part A (observational study, already received positive ethics committee vote; Our sign: 12-330): Use of blood samples gathered during routine blood withdrawal Study part B (interventional study in the sense of additional blood samples but without an investigational product): Optional, for further pharmacokinetic questions: blood withdrawal with a maximum of 20 ml ( ten tubes of 2 ml each) within a maximal study length of four weeks. The primary objective of this study is to gain an overview about drug concentrations in plasma and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), in order to determine pharmacokinetics of drugs in patients. Any drug may be tested, however the initial focus is on antiinfective, antineoplastic, and antipsychotic drugs. Many published studies show that there is a profound lack of information on pharmacokinetics and interactions of many commonly used drugs in clinical routine, and that drug concentrations, if controlled by therapeutic drug monitoring, are not in the therapeutic range (provided that such ranges are known at all).

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which means that it is important to find out risk factors of CVD in order to prevent or treat it. In recent years, there has been more and more recognition of a very high prevalence of CV calcification in the ESRD population. Many observational cohort studies have shown that CV calcification in these patients can predict mortality, CV mortality and morbidity. Electrolyte imbalance is easily found in the ESRD patients which may result in vessel calcification. Calcification leads to arterial stenosis and increasing arterial stiffness and then heart afterload, both contribute to the development of CVD. Besides, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia pave the way for a chronic, immune-mediated vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease. These factors are prevalent in ESRD patients, which would also cause arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness and stenosis would increase the risk of CV events and mortality. Aortic pulse wave velocity is strongly associated with the presence and extent of atherosclerosis and constitutes a forceful marker and predictor of cardiovascular risk. At the same time, high prevalence of peripheral artery occlusion disease (PAOD) should also be found while arterial stiffness and stenosis, which would increase the condition of infection and gangrene. Thus, life safety and quality would be influenced severely and early detection might prevent future amputation. As compared with HD or pre-dialysis patients, uremic patients treated with PD have a higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Therefore, more studies to evaluate the condition of arterial stiffness and PAOD, especially in PD patients, are needed for future management and preventions of CV related morbidity and mortality.

An understanding of fluid changes that occur during hemodialysis (HD) with ultrafiltration (UF) is essential for determining the efficacy of HD, as well as for reducing complications related to hypovolemia or, conversely, chronic volume overload.

The purpose of this study is to compare renal toxicity of Iodixanol and Iopromide in patients with renal dysfunction.

This study will assess whether dietary fiber supplements can reduce the production of chemicals which are produced by colon bacteria and normally excreted from the body by the kidney, but build up in the body in patients on hemodialysis.

To investigate the relationship between dietary intake, body habitus, and endocannabinoid levels in end stage renal disease patients as compared to matched controls.

The aim of this post-marketing observational study is to obtain further data on the long term use, safety and efficacy of Zemplar as it is prescribed in the normal clinical setting and according to the approved Summary of Product Characteristics for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients in Greece.