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Sexual dysfunction (SD) is common in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, affecting their quality of life. Sexuality is not a subject that patient's, particularly Muslim women, discuss when they require assistance. They need to develop strategies to cope with SD. The qualitative study explored how Muslim women with ESRD cope with SD. A phenomenological approach was adopted and data were collected using semistructured individual interviews. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 participants from two southern regional hospitals in Thailand between September and December, 2018. Recruitment continued until data saturation was reached. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's phenomenological approach. Participants were aged between 30 and 63 years (mean = 45.25, SD = 8.50). Ten were receiving haemodialysis (HD) and 10 were receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Five themes were identified: (1) receiving compassion and understanding from their partner, (2) being afraid of sin if not taking responsibility as a wife's role, (3) denying and ignoring sexuality, (4) being patient to keep their family together and (5) accepting SD associated with God's will. The findings suggest that understanding Islamic views on SD and how the religion's beliefs and practices influence SD and the way Muslim women cope with it. Hence, it is critical in opening lines of communication with patients and their partners to help them cope with SD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney disease is a global public health problem, affecting over 750 million persons worldwide. The burden of kidney disease varies substantially across the world, as does its detection and treatment. In many settings, rates of kidney disease and the provision of its care are defined by socio-economic, cultural, and political factors leading to significant disparities. World Kidney Day 2019 offers an opportunity to raise awareness of kidney disease and highlight disparities in its burden and current state of global capacity for prevention and management. Here, we highlight that many countries still lack access to basic diagnostics, a trained nephrology workforce, universal access to primary health care, and renal replacement therapies. We point to the need for strengthening basic infrastructure for kidney care services for early detection and management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease across all countries and advocate for more pragmatic approaches to providing renal replacement therapies. Achieving universal health coverage worldwide by 2030 is one of the World Health Organization's Sustainable Development Goals. While universal health coverage may not include all elements of kidney care in all countries, understanding what is feasible and important for a country or region with a focus on reducing the burden and consequences of kidney disease would be an important step toward achieving kidney health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are at greater risk of acquiring chronic hepatitis B or C and subsequently development of liver disease. The aim of the study was to assess liver fibrosis by transient elastography (TE) and look for factors associated with change in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with one session of hemodialysis (HD).Methods: Consecutive ESRD patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) with suspected liver disease were enrolled. They underwent LSM by TE before and after one session of HD. Bioelectric impedance analysis was done to evaluate the volume status at the time of TE.Results: Sixty-eight patients with mean age of 40 ± 14 years were included. There was a significant reduction in LSM after HD (18.5 [95% CI 14.8-23.1] vs. 11.2 [95% CI 8.8-13.7] kPa, p < 0.001), with a mean LSM reduction of 7.2 [95% CI 5.25-9.19] kPa. On stratification in two groups by net ultrafiltration during HD (> or < 2.5 liters [L]), change in LSM was substantially higher in patients when total fluid removed was > 2.5 L (8.6 [95% CI 5.7-11.5] vs. 5.1 [95% CI 2.9-7.5], p = 0.05). In 18 patients who underwent liver biopsy, LSM after HD performed better at detecting significant fibrosis, with area under receiver operating characteristics curve 0.71 [95% CI 0.46-0.97], versus 0.64 [95% CI 0.38-0.90], respectively. An LSM value of 12.2 kPa after HD was 71% sensitive and 74% specific for detection of significant fibrosis (≥ F2), while values less than 9 kPa ruled out significant fibrosis with a sensitivity and specificity of 37 and 100%, respectively.Conclusion: LSM by TE decreases significantly after HD in patients with ESRD on long-term MHD. Hence, TE should be done after HD for accurate assessment of liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to lower complication rates in comparison to central venous catheter (CVC) arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are now the preferred hemodialysis access. Recommendations for the first access cannulation range from 6 to 12 weeks, which could lead to temporary or even permanent preference for CVC while awaiting the maturation of the newly created AVF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of first cannulation of AVFs on primary (PP) and secondary (SP) patency rates in children on hemodialysis (HD). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 42 pediatric patients with a median age of 14 (range 7-17) years. At the time of surgical AVF creation 21 patients (end-stage renal disease) were still on HD via CVC or peritoneal catheter, while 21 were pre-emptive with initiation of HD expected within a few weeks. All patients received an AVF by the same experienced surgeon between February 1993 and May 2014. Primary failure (PF) was defined as the inability to use the AVF even once due to absent maturation or occlusion within 4 weeks after creation. PP was defined as the interval from time of access placement to any intervention designed to maintain or reestablish patency, to access thrombosis or the time of measurement of patency, while SP was defined as the total lifespan from creation to access abandonment, end of follow-up or loss. Results: Primary failure was observed in six (14.3 %) of 42 AVFs (all radiocephalic fistulas) within the first 10 days after cannulation. Excluding PF, the PP/SP rates at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months were 100/100, 91/99, 86/98, 76/95, 55/85 and 44/77 %, respectively. There was a significant decrease in PP when first cannulation was performed within the first 30 days after creation compared to first cannulation performed after 30 days ( p = 0.004). In terms of PP/SP outcome and timing of the first cannulation, there was no significant difference in thee outcome of PP/SP between first cannulation within the first 45 days after creation and that after 45 days ( p = 0.091/0.883). Conclusions: The findings suggest that cannulation of AVF within 30 days after surgical creation reduces PP, while SP may be influenced less by time until cannulation. We also found no significant differences in PP after maturing periods of >45 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite uncertainty about their effectiveness in chronic dialysis patients, statin use has increased in recent years. Little is known about the demographic, clinical, and geographic factors associated with statin exposure in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Objective: To analyze the demographic, clinical, and geographic factors associated with use of statins among chronic dialysis patients. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Setting: Prevalent dialysis patients across the U.S. Participants: 55,573 chronic dialysis patients who were dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare services during the last four months of 2005. Methods: Using Medicaid prescription drug claims and United States Renal Data System core data, we examined demographics, comorbid conditions, and state of residence using hierarchical logistic regression models to determine their associations with statin use. Intervention: Prescription for a statin. Outcome Measures: Factors associated with a prescription for a statin. Results: Statin exposure was significantly associated with older age, female sex, Caucasian (versus African-American) race, body mass index, use of self-care dialysis, diabetes, and comorbidity burden. Moreover, there was substantial state-by-state variation in statin use, with a greater than 2.3-fold difference in adjusted odds ratios between the highest- and lowest-prescribing states. Conclusions: Among publicly insured chronic dialysis patients, there were marked differences between states in the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors above and beyond patient characteristics. This suggests substantial clinical uncertainty about the utility of these medications. Understanding how such regional variations impact patient care in this high-risk population is an important focus for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 12-week intradialytic progressive resistance training (PRT) regimen on circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Forty-nine patients (62.6 ± 14.2 years) were recruited from the outpatient hemodialysis unit of the St. George Public Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Patients were randomized to: PRT + usual care (n = 24) or usual care control (n = 25). The PRT group performed two sets of 10 exercises at high intensity using free-weights, 3 times per week for 12 weeks during dialysis, while the control group did not exercise. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1b, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10, and interleukin-12 were measured in serum before and after the intervention period. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), intramuscular lipid, intermuscular adipose tissue, and subcutaneous and total thigh fat, evaluated via computed tomography of the non-dominant mid-thigh, were also collected at both time points. All cytokines were significantly elevated in the total cohort at baseline compared with normative data. There were no cytokine changes over time or between groups (p > 0.05). In secondary analyses pooling the groups, changes in logIL-6 and IL-8 were inversely related to changes subcutaneous thigh fat (p < 0.05) while changes in logIL-6 were also inversely related to changes in thigh muscle CSA, and total thigh fat (p < 0.03). These data suggest that 12 weeks of intradialytic progressive resistance training does not improve circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory markers. Further research is required to elucidate the implications and mechanisms of the relationships between IL-6 and IL-8 and body composition in ESRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quiz concerning the case study of a 15-year-old Saudi Arabian boy presented with painless hard subcutaneous swellings in his fingers with intact overlying skin is presented.