Optimal vascular access to hemodialysis, or what modern medicine offers us.

Hemodialysis is a life-saving method for patients with acute and chronic kidney failure. This treatment requires sufficiently large and safe vascular access. Ensuring optimal vascular access is therefore a prerequisite and an integral part of the care of these patients. In addition to commonly known vascular approaches such as non-tunnelized or tunneled hemodialysis catheters and AV fistulas, less well-known methods are also available, such as a translumbar or directly surgically inserted hemodialysis catheter into the right atrium. However, these alternative approaches are the only, life-saving alternative for some patients. The ambition of this review article is to offer a comprehensive view of the available options for vascular access, the algorithm for its selection and solutions to the most common complications in clinical practice.

Significance of plasma fibrinogen and malondialdehyde in the post-inflammatory period in patients with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of selected inflammatory parameters and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) significance in the post-inflammatory period in adult patients with cystic fibrosis. BACKGROUND: Laboratory biomarkers can be integrated into clinical practice as part of monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. METHODS: After recovery from an acute exacerbation of lung infection, selected inflammatory parameters (fibrinogen, IL-1, IL-6, SAA, hs-CRP) and serum MDA were examined in 30 adult patients with cystic fibrosis. Their correlation with FEV1, frequency and duration of subsequent hospitalizations and 6-year prognosis in terms of mortality or need for lung transplantation was evaluated. RESULTS: FEV1 negatively correlated with fibrinogen, but positively with MDA. No significant correlation with hs-CRP, IL-1, IL-6 and SAA was recorded. Plasma fibrinogen predicted the frequency and duration of subsequent hospitalizations. The 6-year prognosis was negatively associated with plasma fibrinogen whereas its association with MDA was positive. However, the prognosis of patients in the multivariate analysis was significantly associated only with FEV1. CONCLUSION: Plasma fibrinogen examined in the post-inflammatory period is a marker of lung damage in patients with cystic fibrosis and can be used to predict the prognosis. The positive correlation of serum MDA with FEV1 in the post-inflammatory period may be important to the interpretation of treatment interventions (Tab. 3, Fig. 2, Ref. 17).

How to convince a patient refusing colonoscopy - a qualitative study.

The available literature suggests that the most significant barriers to undergoing colonoscopy in general include “fear of pain and discomfort”, “fear of bowel preparation”, as well as directly unrelated influences such as “lack of support from family and friends”, “busy family and work schedules”, “other health problems” and the current “fear of getting COVID-19 in hospital”. A marital union may play a positive role, previous cancer a negative one. Another important factor is that patients are not used to talking about their barriers spontaneously; a guided conversation is a useful tool. Respondents in this qualitative study addressed these barriers as significant in their answers.

Immunonutrition in patients with cyctic fibrosis leads to drop of serum amyloid A and increase of oxidative stress.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate of the impact of immunonutrition on parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis and malnutrition. In the 30 patients with cystic fibrosis and long-term enteral nutrition support for malnutrition the effect of standard and immunonutrion sipping on oxidative stress and inflammatory activity parameters was compared. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) as parameter of oxidative stress and serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin 1 and 6, hsCRP, IgM, IgA, IgG as parameters of inflammatory activity were examined. Immunonutrition decreased SAA to 17.6 mg/L comparing to 25.6 mg/L when standard nutrition was given (p = 0.014). MDA was 0.66 µM on standard and 0.96 µM on immunonutrition support (p<0.01). The significant negative correlation was recorded between MDA and SAA, hs-CRP, interleukin 6, IgA and IgG. In conclusion, the application of immunonutrition in patients with cystic fibrosis and malnutrition is associated with drop of SAA but with the rise of MDA.

[Hypersensitive reaction after application of heparin with activation heparin induced trombocytopenia in initiation of intermittent haemodialysis]. / Hypersenzitivní reakce po podání heparinu s aktivací heparinem indukované trombocytopenie po zahájení intermitentní hemodialýzy.

Our report describes the case of patient with hypersensitive reaction regularly arising early after initiation of haemodialysis. This characteristic reaction with pletoric face coloration, bronchospasm, increase of blood pressure, anxiety and decrease of blood oxygen saturation at the consequence and central cyanosis was regularly present without dependence on type of dialysis membrane, drug premedication or prophylactic flushing haemodialysis system by isotonic natrium chloride solution. Low platelet value and trouble-free haemodialysis realized without heparin showed real cause of patients problem. Resolution of this state was regional citrate anticoagulation during intermitent haemodialysis.

[Purple urine bag syndrome - rare but substantial symptom of urinary infection]. / Purple urine bag syndrome - raritní, ale neprehlédnutelný príznak mocové infekce.

The urine colour change is an important clinical sign associated with patological process not only in the urinary tract. Apart from the commonest urine colour modifications due to metabolites of haemoglobin, myoglobin and bilirubin one may come accross with some less frequent changes. The violet urine coloration is very rare but represents the important clinical finding that is known as purple urine bag syndrome. The change of colour is made by indirubin and indigo. It is connected all the time with urine tract infection. In our presentation we describe a case where this sign was the only presentation of clinically important bacteriuria. Consequently antibiotic treatment could be given early before possible sepsis evolution.

The difficult PICC insertion is associated with the significant increase of complications in 1 month follow-up.

BACKGROUND: PICC is routinely inserted with assistance of ultrasonography and/or ECG navigation (RI- routine insertion). Only in a minority of patients the insertion of a PICC is difficult and fluoroscopic visualization with introduction of special guidewire is necessary for the success of the procedure (DI-difficult insertion). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether DI can be predicted and associated with a risk of complications during follow-up. METHODS: The study included patients who had a PICC insertion in 2022. The number of patients with RI and DI was recorded and the significance of selected parameters during insertion and the frequency of complications during 1 month follow-up was compared. RESULTS: About 1404 patients had successful PICC insertion in 2022, RI in 1360 (96.8%) and DI in 44 patients (3.2%). There was no significant effect of age, gender, selected vein, its size, insertion site, and tunneling on the course of PICC insertion. However the number of punctures for needle insertion was higher in DI. The complication rate during 1 month follow-up in DI was 9 (20.4%) versus 101 patients (7.4%) in RI (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: PICC insertion was successful in both RI and DI patients. Of the analyzed parameters, the number of needle punctures was associated with DI, and complications during the 1-month follow-up were more frequently noted in the DI group.

Cascade of care for hypertension among apparently healthy and unhealthy individuals of 25-64 years in the Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND: Despite accessible diagnostics and treatment of hypertension, a high proportion of patients worldwide remain unaware of their diagnosis, and even more remain untreated. Several studies suggest that absence of comorbidities is a predictive factor for unawareness and consequently non-treatment of hypertension. There are only a few studies that have assessed the hypertension prevalence and management among apparently healthy individuals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess and compare hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control among apparently healthy individuals, patients with internal diseases, and patients with non-internal diseases. METHODS: Data from standardised blood pressure measurements conducted during the Czech European Health Examination Survey 2014 and information on health status and health care use collected during the Czech European Health Interview Survey 2014 were analyzed. We focused on participants aged 25-64. Data were weighted on sex and age to ensure an appropriate sex and age structure of the population. The χ2-test and binary logistic regression analyses were used to compare distribution of cascade of care for hypertension between the health-status groups of respondents. RESULTS: The final eligible sample consisted of 1121 participants. The prevalence of hypertension was 32.8% in the healthy group, 29.8% in the non-internal disease group and 52.4% in the internal disease group, (p < 0.001). Awareness was 54.1%, 59.1% and 85.2% respectively, (p < 0.001). Treatment was 44.2%, 52.6% and 86.4%, respectively, (p < 0.001). Among apparently healthy respondents 62.6% had their blood pressure measured by a medical professional in the last year, compared to 71.1% in the non-internal disease group and 91.7% in the internal disease group, (p < 0.001). Differences in hypertension control were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, our data show a discordance in hypertension management within the Czech population. Apparently healthy individuals are the least aware of their diagnosis and the highest proportion of them remain untreated.

Lactic acidosis in medical ICU - the role of diabetes mellitus and metformin.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the significance of diabetes mellitus and metformin in patients admitted to medical ICU with lactic acidosis. METHODS: All the patients admitted to medical ICU with serum lactic acid exceeding 5 mmol/L and pH<7.35 were enrolled into analysis. The impact of diabetes mellitus and metformin treatment on ICU presence of lactic acidosis and its mortality was evaluated. The metabolic parameters were compared with respect to the presence of diabetes mellitus and metformin application. RESULTS: Lactic acidosis was detected in 69 (4%) out of 1,755 admitted patients, 44 were nondiabetic and 25 had diabetes mellitus, 11 of them treated with metformin. No significant impact of diabetes mellitus or metformin application on presence of lactic acidosis and its mortality was detected. In nondiabetic subjects mortality was associated with eGFR and the presence of acute renal failure while in diabetic patients with sepsis. Acute renal failure was detected in 9 out of 11 patients on metformin. Three patients died due to sepsis, however only 1 out of 6 due to another cause if renal replacement therapy was started soon after admission. The acidosis was more expressed in diabetic subjects mainly in patients taking metformin. It might be attributed to the more pronounced acute renal failure in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: The presence of diabetes mellitus and metformin application is not associated with the presence of lactic acidosis in medical ICU and its mortality. The prognosis of acute renal failure of patients on metformin is good if the subjects with sepsis are excluded.

Comparison of 12-cm versus 6-cm long peripheral catheters in patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA).

BACKGROUND: Long peripheral catheter is 6-15 cm long vascular device. The aim of the study was to compare the frequency of complications of two types of long peripheral catheters with different length inserted in DIVA patients. METHODS: Under ultrasound navigation 2.7F 6.4 cm or 4Fr 12 cm long peripheral catheter was inserted. Complications of both long peripheral catheters were prospectively observed and their relationship to the patient's age, gender, selected vein, number of punctures and Barthel score system was evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-three 12 cm and fifty-five 6.4 cm long peripheral catheters were inserted. Median of dwelling time was 8 days for 6.4 cm and 9 days for 12 cm long peripheral catheter. There were 17 (26%) complications in 6.4 cm (38/1000 catheter days) and 15 (16%) in 12 cm catheter (17/1000 catheter days), p = 0.04. The complications of both peripheral catheters were not associated with the age of patients, gender, number of punctures and selected vein for insertion. Unlike 12 cm catheter, the complications of 6.4 cm long peripheral catheter were significantly associated with the result of Barthel scoring system (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The frequency of complications was more common with 6,4 cm than with 12 cm catheter.

Near-fatal Intoxication with the "New" Synthetic Opioid U-47700: The First Reported Case in the Czech Republic.

Recreational use of the potent synthetic opioid 3,4- dichloro-N-(2-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl)-N-methylbenzamide (U-47700) is rising, accompanied by increasingly frequent cases of serious intoxication. This article reports a case of near-fatal U-47700 intoxication. A man was found unconscious (with drug powder residues). After 40 h in hospital (including 12 h of supported ventilation), he recovered and was discharged. Liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HRMS) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to detect and quantify substances in powders, serum and urine. Powders contained U-47700 and two synthetic cannabinoids. Serum and urine were positive for U-47700 (351.0 ng/mL), citalopram (

Antibiotic treatment following a dog bite in an immunocompromized patient in order to prevent Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a commensal bacterium found in the saliva of dogs and cats. Clinically significant infections in humans after a bite are often associated with the presence of immune deficiency. Early recognition and appropriate treatment are crucial for patient survival. In addition, patients with immune deficiency are susceptible to serious life-threatening nosocomial infections, which may also influence the prognosis of patients with Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old Caucasian female was admitted with septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, metabolic acidosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation after suffering two small bites from her dog. She had received a splenectomy during childhood. The patient survived after early empiric treatment with antibiotics and intensive supportive care, including ventilation support, a high dose of noradrenalin, and continuous venovenous hemodialysis applied prior to the definitive diagnosis of Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis. She improved within 2 weeks but, despite all efforts to prevent nosocomial infection, her hospital course was complicated by Enterococcus species and Candida albicans pleuropneumonia that prolonged her stay in the intensive care unit, and necessitated ventilation support for 2 months. CONCLUSION: Severe Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis may be complicated by life-threatening nosocomial infection in immunocompromized patients. The prophylactic application of antibiotics after a dog bite should be considered in high-risk individuals with immune deficiency in order to prevent both Capnocytophyga canimorsus sepsis and serious nosocomial complications.