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People experiencing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are expected to document considerable clinical information at home, yet timely and accurate data collection, and sharing of data with their health team is associated with challenges. Mobile health technologies present an opportunity to bridge home and hospital care. PDBuddy is a novel smartphone and web-based platform which guides people experiencing PD through their dialysis treatment. The platform was tested in a feasibility study with (n=33) people attending a Peritoneal Dialysis Clinic in Brisbane, Australia. The study evaluated adoption and satisfaction of the system among users (patients and clinicians), as well as infection rates. Findings indicate PD-Buddy to be a user-friendly solution that could expand access to, and improve, the quality of healthcare for people experiencing PD. It could reduce burdens for regional and remote populations, such as travelling to receive specialty care, and improve monitoring, timeliness, and communications with and within their care teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate iron related parameters in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on hemodialysis (HD). The study was carried out in Kidney Dialysis Center of Hawler Teaching Hospital in Erbil governorate. This study comprised (76) patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis and 41 healthy subjects as a control group of same ages. All hemodialysis patients were taking erythropoietin. The blood samples were taken from the patients before and after the process of hemodialysis for liver parameters and oxidative stress estimations. The results of this study showed lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, total bilirubin, total protein and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), while higher levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), direct bilirubin and malondialdeyhde (MDA) before analysis was seen. Hemodialysis causes increasing in AST, ALT, albumin, total bilirubin, total protein and decreasing in ALP, direct bilirubin MDA and TAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the high prevalence of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) amongst African Americans, this article will explore the significance of faith, spirituality, and coping in the management of mental health concerns with African Americans receiving hemodiaylsis. The findings of the study from which this article is drawn points to the identification and use of spiritual assessment tools as a guide for clinical social work practice. Spiritual assessments may help identify the strengths of spirituality in the development of positive coping skills in patients diagnosed with chronic or end stage illness within populations for whom spirituality may be a significant factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]