Cryptorchidism in mental retardation

We surveyed 148 institutionalized male subjects to study the prevalence of cryptorchidism among mentally retarded individuals. Of the patients 121 (81.7 per cent) were profoundly (intelligence quotient 19 or less), 21 severely (20 to 35), 5 moderately (36 to 51) and 1 mildly (65) retarded. Patient age ranged from 1 to 36 years (mean 13.6 means). According to the etiology of the mental retardation the cases were classified into 6 categories: chromosomal aberrations, single gene disorders, polygenic conditions, teratogen-induced anomalies, perinatal/postnatal injuries and idiopathic mental retardation. Cryptorchidism was found in 44 individuals (39.7 per cent), and was bilateral 3.4 times more often than unilateral. Cerebral palsy occurred in 88 patients. There were 36 patients with cryptorchidism and cerebral palsy, representing 41 per cent of the patients with cerebral palsy and 81.8 per cent of the cryptorchid group (p equals 0.0006). Among the noncryptorchid male subjects 52 (50 per cent) had cerebral palsy. Epilepsy also was more frequent in the cryptorchid group (p equals 0.0333). The cryptorchid and noncryptorchid groups did not show a significant difference in the etiology of mental retardation except in the perinatal/postnatal category in which cryptorchidism was more frequent (p equals 0.025), and in the polygenic category in which all 9 patients were noncryptorchid. This study shows a high prevalence of cryptorchidism in individuals with profound and severe mental retardation, and particularly in those having cerebral palsy.     

Attention and mental processing speed in hemodialysis patients

It has remained unclear whether well-dialyzed patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) show persisting neurocognitive deficits, especially in tasks that depend on sustained attention or psychomotor speed. We administered a battery of six attentional measures to 10 stable hemodialysis (HD) patients (age, 61+/-16 years; education, 12.4+/-3.8 years; Kt/V, 1.35+/-0.07) and 10 matched controls with normal renal function (age, 62+/-10 years; education, 11.6+/-1.0 years; estimated creatinine clearance, 92+/-25 mL/min). Results of the Trailmaking Test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, Stroop Test, Digit Span, Continuous Performance Test (CPT), and Gordon Diagnostic System did not differ between groups. We conclude it is unlikely that well-dialyzed patients with ESRD manifest significant uremic neurocognitive deficits in the functional spheres related to sustained attention or mental processing speed.     

Differences of prognosis in hemodialysis patients with different quality of life

Objective To compare the one-year survival rates of maintenance hemodialysis(HD) patients with different quality of life, and analyze related factors affecting the prognosis ofpatients. Methods Patients on hemodialysis for at least 3 months were enrolled. A short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were used to evaluate the quality of life and quality of sleep. To observe one-year all-cause mortality and Cox regression model was used to analyze the factors associated with survival outcomes. Results A total of 159 patients undergoing hemodialysis were included, in which 136 patients completed the follow-up after one - year observation. The one - year survival rate in patients with both high physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores was significantly better than the patients with low PCS and MCS scores (P ﹤ 0.05). PCS, hemoglobin and serum albumin were the protection factors for HD patients. Conclusions Quality of life is strongly associated with prognosis in HD patients. Enhancing quality of life is of clinical significance in the improvement of HD patients' survival rate.     

Treatment with antidepressive drugs improved quality of life in chronic hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Despite some improvements in dialysis therapies, depression still remains an important problem in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of depression and its treatment with quality of life (QOL) in HD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 97 HD patients (52 male, 45 female, mean age 55 +/- 16 years) were enrolled. All patients had been dialyzed for more than 6 months. In order to evaluate QOL of the patients, a short form of Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36) was used. Depression was assessed by using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Patients who had BDI score > or = 15 were diagnosed as to have depression. Patients with depression received antidepressive treatment (sertralin HCl, 50 mg/day) for an 8-week period. After 8-week antidepressive treatment, all biochemical analysis, SF-36 and BDI were performed again. RESULTS: 40 patients (20 male, 20 female, mean age 56 +/- 14 years) had depression. All parameters related to QOL were significantly decreased in patients with depression as compared to patients without depression. Severity of depression was correlated with QOL parameters. After 8 weeks of treatment, as parallel to changes in BDI, QOL parameters improved in patients with depression. CONCLUSION: Decrease in QOL, associated with depression and antidepressive treatment, improves QOL in HD patients. Hemodialysis patients should be followed-up closely for presence of depression. Treatment of depression with antidepressive drug regimen would lead to relieve the symptoms related to depression and improvement of QOL in these patients. Antidepressive treatment should be required more often than we prescribe in routine clinical practice now.     

Chronic inflammation and water quality in hemodialysis patients

Chronic inflammation, the associated cardiovascular disease, and attendant high mortality remain huge problems in the HD population. Determining the predominant causal factors in the triggering and maintenance of this inflammatory state is of paramount importance in formulating treatment strategies for individuals and for centers. In most cases, causation is multifactorial and several different areas of the HD process need to be considered. In this respect, the water system in HD centers is certainly one parameter that demands careful design, rigorous monitoring and strict adherence to effective disinfection protocols. In this way it may be possible not only to reduce levels of inflammatory markers, but to improve performance in other clinical areas, such as EPO therapy, and perhaps outcomes in the HD population.     

The implications of water quality in hemodialysis

Water used in dialysis requires additional treatment to minimize patient exposure to potential contaminants that may be present in drinking water. Although standards for the chemical purity of water are in existence and have eliminated many of the problems seen in renal units in the 1970s, some problems remain, and the importance of newer contaminants arising from changes in water treatment at the municipal level are being recognized. Despite this, recent surveys have indicated considerable shortcomings in compliance with chemical standards. The water quality used in the preparation of dialysis fluid also requires minimal bacterial content. Staff working in renal units are frequently unaware of the level of microbiologic contamination in their dialysis fluid arising from the presence of biofilm in the dialysis machines and the water distribution network. Bacterial fragments generated by such biofilms are able to cross the dialysis membrane and stimulate an inflammatory response in the patient. Such inflammation has been implicated in the mortality and morbidity associated with dialysis. The desire to improve treatment outcomes has led to the application of more stringent standards for the microbiologic purity of dialysis fluid and to the introduction of ultraclean dialysis fluid into clinical practice.     

长程血液透析对维持性血液透析患者生活质量的影响

目的 研究长程血液透析(LSHD)对维持性血液透析(MHD)患者生活质量的影响.方法 选取首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院血液净化中心40例MHD患者,通过问卷调查和收集临床资料相结合的方法,进行前瞻性配对临床研究.根据临床资料、检验指标、睡眠质量将患者配对分组为普通透析(HD)组和LSHD组,各20例,进行6个月的临床试验,观察两组患者临床表现、生化指标及生活质量的情况.结果 LSHD组的Kt/V(1.73±0.36比1.41±0.23,P＜0.05)、血红蛋白[(124.67±9.08)比(110.55±9.01) g/L,P＜0.01]、血清白蛋白[(45.01±2.66)比(39.28±2.63) g/L,P＜0.01]显著高于HD组 ;血压控制比例(14/20比5/20,P=0.010)和睡眠质量(16/20比5/20,P=0.001)显著优于HD组 ;生活质量SF-36评分显著高于HD组(P＜0.05),差异均有统计学意义.结论 长程透析可以改善MHD患者睡眠质量、营养状况,从而改善生活质量.     

Psychosocial factors and quality of life in young hemodialysis patients with low comorbidity

BACKGROUND: The current predominance of older patients, diabetic patients and high-comorbidity patients among the hemodialysis (HD) population has probably influenced the definition of the effects of renal disease on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and these effects can be different in the patient subgroup without these characteristics. This multicenter study aimed to assess HRQOL in non-diabetic HD patients, aged < 65 yrs and with low comorbidity, and to study the effects of the demographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics on their HRQOL. METHODS: 117 patients from 43 Spanish HD centers participated in the study. Patients completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form questionnaire (KDQOL-SF) and screening for depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and social support. Various sociodemographic and clinical variables were also recorded. RESULTS: HD patients' HRQOL showed a profile similar to that of the general HD population, with low physical health scores, but normal mental health scores. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that gender, older age, non-working status, low social support and low levels of hemoglobin (Hb), Kt/V or protein catabolic rate (PCR), had a negative effects, but these effects were of relatively small magnitude and appeared only in some scales. The most important independent predictors of HRQOL were anxiety state and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In non-diabetic HD patients, aged < or = 65 yrs and with low comorbidity, psychological factors (anxiety state and depressive symptoms) are crucial HRQOL determinants. These variables should be considered when assessing HRQOL in HD patients with these demographic and clinical characteristics.     

持续质量改进减少维持性血透导管相关感染的效果观察

持续质量改进是在全面质量管理基础上发展起来的一种质量管理理论,以系统论为理论基础,强调持续的、全程的质量管理,在注重终末质量的同时更注重过程管理和环节控制,已广泛应用于临床护理[1].随着老年及糖尿病肾病患者增加,其外周血管条件限制使动静脉内瘘难以建立或难以维持者增多,长期颈内静脉留置导管常作为理想的血管通路选择.     

Sexual function and mental distress status of patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis

There were changes in the sexual functioning of the patient with ESRD after starting hemodialysis. This was marked by decrease in the sex urge, the frequency of intercourse, and the level of satisfaction. The majority of the male patients reported some amount of morning erection, indicating reasons other than physiologic reasons for their sexual dysfunction. The level of mental distress was very low, and younger patients may suffer from a higher level of mental stress. Intervention through individual counseling and sex therapy may be beneficial to most of these patients.     

Racial differences in health-related quality of life among hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND; Despite technical progress in therapy, hemodialysis patients continue to report health-related quality of life (HRQOL) substantially lower than that of the general population. While African Americans with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) survive longer than members of other races, few studies have compared the HRQOL of African Americans with that of non-African Americans. METHODS: We examined differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and HRQOL variables by race. A multiple regression model assessed the extent to which race was associated with differences in HRQOL scores after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Racial differences in the relationship between comorbid disease severity and HRQOL were explored. RESULTS; In adjusted models, African Americans had higher scores in the Index of Well-Being and burden of kidney disease, but lower scores in cognitive function (all P < 0.05). For scales reflecting symptoms and effects of kidney disease, sleep quality, and the Physical Component Summary, the fall in HRQOL with increasing comorbidity was significantly greater in non-African Americans (all P < 0.05). After adjustment, there were no racial differences in scores on the Mental Component Summary, social support, dialysis staff encouragement, or patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, ESRD is the only chronic illness for which African Americans report significantly better psychologic well being and a lower burden of disease than non-African Americans. Further research is needed to understand whether these experiences affect health care utilization, medical decision making, and patient survival. Clarification of the reasons for race differences may suggest measures to improve HRQOL for all patients with ESRD.     

Anesthetic management of a morbidly obese patient with mental retardation

We report successful anesthetic management of a morbidly obese patient with mental retardation employing inhalation induction with sevoflurane in sitting position and epidural catheterization using ultrasound sonography. Inhalation induction with sevoflurane keeps spontaneous respiration and induction in sitting position may provide a greater margin of safety for airway control. Therefore, this method of induction is useful for morbidly obese patient. Regional anesthesia in an obese patient can be technically challenging because of difficulties in identifying the useful body landmarks. We successfully used ultrasound sonography to identify spinous process and could insert an epidural catheter at the right place.     

高通量透析对尿毒症维持性血液透析患者血管内皮功能的影响

目的 探讨高通量血液透析( high-flux hemodialysis,HFHD)对尿毒症维持性血液透析患者血管内皮功能的影响.方法 采用自身对照研究,选取33例维持性常规低通量血液透析的尿毒症患者,接受HFHD治疗6个月.治疗前(0个月)及治疗6个月分别采血测定血脂、白介素-6(IL-6)、超敏C反应蛋白(hsCRP)、糖基化终末产物(AGEs)和β2-微球蛋白(β2-MG)水平,同时采用高分辨血管外超声检测肱动脉血流介导的内皮依赖性血管舒张功能( flow-mediated dilation FMD).分析比较HFHD对上述指标的影响及其相关性.结果 HFHD治疗后,患者高密度脂蛋白升高、胆固醇及低密度脂蛋白水平下降,IL-6、32-MG、AGEs水平降低,均具有统计学差异;FMD较治疗前有上升趋势(6.61％±4.93％,6 85％±4.4％),但无统计学意义;相关性分析显示FMD与高密度脂蛋白呈正相关,与β2-MG呈负相关(r值分别为0.323和-0.328,P＜0.05).结论 HFHD可改善尿毒症维持性血液透析患者脂质代谢,升高高密度脂蛋白,降低胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白;同时增加炎症介质,糖基化终末产物及β2-微球蛋白的清除;HFHD能够延缓血液透析患者血管内皮功能损伤,可能与有效清除炎症介质,降低氧化应激和改善脂质代谢相关.     

Effect of high-flux hemodialysis on quality of life and neuropsychological function in chronic hemodialysis patients.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of high-flux hemodialysis on quality of life, intra- and interdialytic symptoms and neuropsychological function. The study was double-blind single cross-over with random allocation to order of treatment. The patients were stable adult hospital hemodialysis patients. Both the conventional and high-flux membranes were cellulose acetate, the dialysate was bicarbonate, and dialysate sodium was held constant. The high-flux membrane had an ultrafiltration rate of 15 ml/h/mm Hg transmembrane pressure, a B12 clearance of 88 ml/min and a beta 2-microglobulin clearance of 11.4 ml/min. The values of the conventional membrane were 3.5-5.0, 34-45 and negligible. Each treatment period was 4 months. Twenty-two patients completed both phases of the cross-over. The KT/V value was higher during high-flux than conventional treatment; 1.42 versus 1.27(p < 0.05). There were no differences between high-flux and conventional treatment with respect to quality of life. Symptoms during dialysis were less severe during high-flux than conventional treatment for 12/14 items. Only 3 items reached statistical significance (0.05 > p > 0.01) and none were clinically significant. Symptoms between dialyses were less severe during high-flux than conventional treatment for 18/20 items. No single item had a statistically significant improvement but 3 had clinically important improvement. Among the 23 neuropsychological variables, none demonstrated statistically significant changes.     

健康教育对长期血液透析患者生活质量的影响

目的:探讨长期血液透析患者生活质量的提高.方法:对2008年1月-2009年6月进行血液透析的65例患者进行健康教育.结果:本组65例患者均由住院转为门诊透析,回家后除生活自理外,还能做力所能及的工作.结论:健康教育使长期血液透析患者的生活质量提高,增强战胜疾病的信心,延长其生命,同时密切了护患关系.     

Health-related quality of life in patients on peritoneal dialysis in Serbia: comparison with hemodialysis

Abstract:  Patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important indicator of the effectiveness of the medical care they receive. Patients who reach end-stage renal disease are older and have a considerable extent of comorbidity. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate HRQoL in patients at the initiation of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment (incident cohort) and in patients on long-term CAPD therapy (prevalent cohort), and (ii) to compare influence of comorbidity on HRQoL in CAPD and hemodialysis (HD) patients. In a cross-sectional study we enrolled 99 CAPD and 192 HD patients. HRQoL was assessed with the 36-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). HRQoL summary scales in both incident and prevalent groups of CAPD patients were similar for physical component summary score (PCS) and for mental component summary score (MCS). Generally, higher values were found in mental health domains in comparison to PCS. In the incident group of patients, 1 year of peritoneal dialysis treatment was associated with a slight improvement in both PCS and MCS, but statistical significance ( P  < 0.05) was found in the role-physical limitation (RP), bodily pain (BP), and vitality (VT) scales only. CAPD patients with the highest disease severity (Index of Disease Severity [IDS]-3) and physical impairment (Index of Physical Impairment [IPI]-2) scored significantly higher parameters of HRQoL than HD patients. Comorbidity had negative influence on HRQoL, but statistically significant correlation has been found in HD patients only. In conclusion, comorbid conditions had negative correlation with parameters of HRQoL in both CAPD and HD patients. One year after starting CAPD, patients reported better scores in some domains, especially in RP, BP, and VT scales. Assessment of HRQoL and comorbidity might be useful in clinical practice in the follow-up of patients treated with both CAPD and HD.