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Background/Aim. The absence of clear guidance in the definition, diagnostics, and indications for renal replacement treatment (RRT) is present. The aim of this study was to help outlining future clinical work in improving the treatment outcome and reducing complications of acute kidney injury (AKI) based on the current clinical practice. Methods. The questionnaires were distributed among physicians of different specialties who participated voluntarily and anonymously. The questionnaire was drawn up in accordance with the standard clinical practice. Results. We conducted a multicentric web survey among nephrologists (46.8%) and other physicians in Serbia. The sample consisted of 119 participants, out of which 78.9% filled out the survey forms correctly and were, therefore, included in the analysis. Most of them responded that the nephrologist indicates (76.8%) and prescribes (74.5%) continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The application of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2 criterion for “early” start of CRRT used 74.5% of the respondents, and 91.5% of them started “late” initiation of CRRT in the presence of complications associated with AKI or poor response to conservative treatment. Regarding the clinical experience of the respondents, 74.5% of them marked the “early” start of CRRT within 12 hours, whereas 56.4% of them considered the start of CRRT after 48 h as “late”. The most commonly used modality was continuous venous hemodiafiltration (37.6%). Most participants used heparin as an anticoagulant (95.7%) with an average life span of filters less than 24 h (71.3%) and 25 mL/kg/h efficiency target dialysis effluent dose (45.2%) during CRRT. The most common complications of CRRT were hypotension (55.3%) and catheter-related infections (29.8%). Conclusion. The “early” start of CRRT is considered favorite by the majority of the participants. According to the obtained data, standardization of the strategy in the diagnostics and treatment of AKI is necessary.

nema

Background/Aim. Hypervolemia is an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients treated with regular hemodialysis. There is still no reliable method for assessing the status of volemia in these patients. The aim of the study was to assess the status of volemia in patients treated with regular hemodialysis by measuring the parameters of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and bioimpedance. Methods. The effect of hemodialysis treatment on ultrasound parameters of the IVC, as well as on the parameters measured by bioimpedance, was examined before and after hemodialysis. The values of the N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured both before and after hemodialysis. Forty-five patients were involved in this non-interventional cross-section study, including the patients treated with standard bicarbonate dialysis. According to the interdialytic yield, the patients were divided into three groups: I (up to 2,000 mL), II (2,000–3,000 mL), and III (over 3,000 mL). Results. The values of the IVC parameters and the parameters measured with bioimpedance were significantly lower after treatment with hemodialysis (p < 0.005). The third group of patients had a significantly higher total fluid volume in the body com-pared to the group I, as well as a significantly greater volume of extracellular fluid (p < 0.005). The significantly lower values of NT-proBNP in all groups (p < 0.005) were detected after hemodialysis. After treatment with hemodialysis, a positive correlation was observed between the concentration of NT-proBNP in the serum and the extracellular/intracellular water ratio. However, the correlation between NT-proBNP concentration and total fluid measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion. Measurement of the IVC ultrasound parameters and volemia parameters using bioimpedance significantly contributes to the assessment of the status of volemia. Nevertheless, it cannot be used as a separate parameter, only in combination with all other methods.

nema

The paper of these authors represents an empirical research of explorative type, realized with the aim to comprehend attitudes of secondary school pupils, and students of Serbian nationality, on the everyday life in Kosovo and Metohia. The research was carried out by the use of focus-group research technique. The results indicate on the non-satisfaction of social life, first of all, by using Facebook. Although the popularity of Facebook network with young Serbs in Kosovo and Metohia only the part of general world Facebook mania, Facebook and Internet have got specific weight in general; thy represent at the same time an escape from the restrained, closed, narrow, poor, and dull area as Kosovo and Metohia today looks like for Serbs; they are their insight into the world through wire, and the possibility to communicate with 'theirs'. The desire for leaving is dominantly noticeable from the place of origin, which is prominent with the respondents from enclaves, and the absence of clear perspective of life in Kosovo and Metohia. Although explorative, the research indicated to the numerous negative appearances of socialization of youth in postconflict area due to which the authors believe it is indispensable to realize much larger and comprehensive researches on the theme of specificity of everyday life of youth in the Southern Serbian province.

This paper represents the result of explorative research with the aim to look into the attitudes of students and secondary-school pupils of Serbian nationality on the life perspectives in Kosovo and Metohia. In the first part of the paper the authors talked on everyday life, which in the conditions of Serbian society destruction in the last decade of the 20th century, had become a respectable field within social sciences. The authors see the everyday life of youths as attractive and priority theme to be researched, should relevant conclusions on the perspectives of youths life in post-conflict surrounding were desired. In this paper conditions and personal experience of education in post-war society were researched, whereas in the second part it was talked on the feeling of (non)security due to life conditions in Kosovo and Metohia. The research was carried out by the use of focus-group technique. Among the respondents there was an emphasised need to leave from the origin place in the peaceful parts of Serbia. That tendency is more present with the respondents from villages/enclaves, which are to see the northern Kosovska Mitrovica as peaceful part of Serbia as well, whereas the respondents originally from the north of the province are speaking on the leaving to Belgrade and other university centres with the aim to escape from political everyday life. The research also shows the prominent dissatisfaction of the young Serbs with everyday life, spare time, perspectives which are not to be seen, due to which the authors believe it is necessary to carry out the research with greater sample and by the use of complementary techniques in the future, and with the aim of more thorough acquaintance of scientific publicity with the attitudes of young Serbs on the life characteristics in Kosovo and Metohia.

Backgraund/Aim. Hemodialysis catheter, as an integral part of hemodialysis, is a catheter placed into the jugular, subclavian and femoral vein. The most common catheter-related complications are infections and thrombosis. The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of complications associated with differently inserted central-vein catheters for hemodialysis. Methods. The study was organized as a prospective examination during the period from December 2003 to November 2006, and included all patients who needed an active depuration by hemodialysis, hospitalized at the Clinical Center Kragujevac. The subject of the study were 464 centralvein catheters inserted during the mentioned period and there were recorded all complications related to the placement and usage of catheters. Results. The largest percent of inserted catheters was into the femoral vein − 403 (86.8%), significantly less into the jugular vein − 42 (9.2%), while into the subclavian vein there were placed only 19 catheters (4%). The average of femoral catheter functioning was 17 catheter days, in jugular catheters it was 17.3 days while the subclavian catheters had an average rate of functioning of 25.9 catheter days; there was found a statistically significant difference regarding the duration of functioning (p = 0.03). By microbe colonization of smear culture of the skin at the catheter insertion site, in clinically present suspicion of catheter infection, there was obtained a positive finding in 5.5% of catheters placed into the femoral vein and 7.1% of catheters instilled into the jugular vein, of which Staphylococcus aureus was the most important bacterial type, without statistically significant difference (p = 0.51). Haemoculture, done when there was a suspicion of bacteriemia, was positive in 3.7% of the patients with femoral and 4.8% with jugular catheters; Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteria type, but there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.65). Colonizing the smears of the cut catheter tops, there was found a positive finding in 8.9% of femoral and 4.7% of jugular catheters in which the mentioned type of staphylococcal bacteria was prevalent, without statistically significant difference (p = 0.82). In 77% of femoral, 71.4% of jugular and 68.4% of subclavian catheters, there were no complications associated with insertion and manipulation of catheters for hemodialysis and the difference was at the limits of statistical significance (p = 0.06). Conclusion. Unconvincing rate of infections and a smaller percent of serious complications associated with the placement and use of central vein catheters instilled into the femoral vein, indicate that personal experience is sufficient recommendation to convince us that femoral vein does not represent a region with an increased risk for insertion of hemodialysis catheters.

Introduction/Aim. Gastric acid is a key factor in the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease. A plausible mechanism by which the Helicobacter pylori infection might protect against reflux disease is by its propensity to produce atrophic gastritis. The aim of the study was to establish the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with different stages of renal insufficiency. Methods. The examination was organized as a prospective, clinical study and involved 68 patients − 33 patients with preterminal stage of renal failure and 35 patients with terminal renal insufficiency. Due to dyspeptic difficulties, in all the patients there was preformed upper esophagogastroscopy and Helicobacter pylori infection was found by ureasa test. Results. The patients with preterminal renal insufficiency were significantly younger than patients with terminal renal failure (53.4±11.1 vs. 65.4±12.3 years; p = 0.014). There was found a statistically significant difference between the groups in Helicobacter pylori infection (p = 0.03), hiatal hernia (p = 0.008), gastroesophageal reflux disease (p = 0.007), and duodenal ulcer (p = 0.002). Using the multiple non-parametric correlative analysis there was confirmed a negative correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (Kendal τB = -0.523; p = 0.003) and hiatal hernia (Kendal τB = 0.403; p = 0.021), while there was found a positive correlation between gastro-esophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia (Kendal τB = 0.350; p = 0.044). Conclusion. Helicobacter pylori infection is a significant protective parameter of the incidence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease in patients with both pre-terminal and terminal renal insufficiency.

Introduction: A few small-scale studies have shown that high levels of various parameters of inflammation were associated with a less efficient response to erythropoetin. The responsiveness to EPO in haemodialysis (HD) patients with relative risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains undetermined. In a retrospective study of HD patients, we compared causes of CV morbidity and mortality in relation to various weekly EPO doses needed for stable hemoglobin (Hb) levels, according to the definition currently suggested by international guidelines., Material and Methods: On the basis of distribution of the weekly EPO doses (lower or higher than the minimally recommended), eighteen HD patients, aged 55.8+/-14.8 years, were divided into two groups with higher (A) and lower (B) EPO doses. We correlated EPO doses with positive (C reactive protein-CRP, fibrinogen, feritin) and negative (albumin, LDL, TIBC) acute phase reactans, BMI, the quality (Kt/V) and duration of HD., Results: We also found a significantly positive corelation between CRP levels on the start of EPO therapy and weekly EPO dose in the univariate linear regression analysis (p-0.290). Higher EPO doses were associated with a lower levels of Kt/V, BMI, residual diuresis and higher levels of CRP, LDL, feritin, age and duration of HD. CRP levels were decreasing in the group with higher EPO doses. This important result can be explained the know EPO effect of endothelial cells apoptosis and inhibiting inflammation induced by HD., Conclusion: Chronic inflammation is a common cause of CVD, hyporesponsiveness to EPO and endothelial dysfuncton in HD patients. Our results suggest a new protective function of EPO.

Pruritus is one of the commonest symptoms of dermatologic appearances in uraemic syndrome and it occurs in 90% of patients on dialysis with different etiology and pathophysiology. The aim of the study was to estimate the frequency of uraemic pruritus and the comparison with clinical and biochemical parameters in 124 patients treated by chronic haemodialysis at Department of Haemodialysis, Clinical Centre in Kragujevac. The routine laboratory analyses were carried out in the examined patients and the concentration of parathyroid hormone was determined. The study was based on data from history of disease and questionnaire taken out in all patients. Of 124 patients 46.8% had symptoms of uraemic pruritus. Concentration of urea, albumin concentration, iron, parameters UIBC, as well as hyperglycemia and time on dialysis are the significant are significantly correlated with uraemic pruritus. 27.6% of the examined patients had itching of all the body. Between the patients with localized itching and patients with generalized itching, there are statistically significant differences in the following parameters: erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and TIBC, as well as glycemia concentration.