This study reports the outcomes of a collaborative program between dialysis clinics and a referral hospital, which consisted of clinical monitoring and supplementary routine surveillance, for improving the quality of vascular access care. Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed at five dialysis clinics as part of a 2-year collaborative program (2019–2020) in conjunction with a hospital-based dialysis access management center. A total of 392 hemodialysis patients (arteriovenous fistula [AVF], n = 339 and arteriovenous graft [AVG], n = 53) were included. Outcome measures included the prognosis of vascular access, clinic satisfaction, and referral rate to the hospital. Results: Increased vascular access flow was observed and critical flow events decreased from the first to the second year (AVF: 18.3% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.001; AVG: 26.2% vs. 20.1%, p = 0.30). There were fewer percutaneous transluminal angioplasty events in the AVG group (0.77 per person-year vs. 0.51 per person-year, p = 0.005). New AVF or AVG creation events also remained low. All dialysis clinics were satisfied with the program. The overall referral rate from the participating clinics increased (65.7% vs. 72.0%) during the study period independently of the physical distance between the dialysis clinic and the hospital. Conclusion: The collaboration between dialysis clinics and a referral hospital for improving the quality of vascular access care was successful in this study, and the model can be used by other clinics and hospitals looking to improve care coordination in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Detailed characterization of the ultrastructural morphology of intercellular space in gastroesophageal reflux disease has not been fully studied. We aimed to investigate whether subtle alteration in intercellular space structure and tight junction proteins might differ among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: Esophageal biopsies at 5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction were obtained from 6 asymptomatic controls, 10 patients with reflux symptoms but without erosions, and 18 patients with erosions. The biopsies were morphologically evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, and by using immunohistochemistry for tight junction proteins (claudin-1 and claudin-2 proteins). RESULTS: The expressions of tight junction proteins did not differ between asymptomatic controls and gastroesophageal reflux disease patients. In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, altered desmosomal junction morphology was only found in upper stratified squamous epithelium. Dilated intercellular space occurred only in upper stratified squamous epithelium and in patients with erosive esophagitis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that dilated intercellular space may not be uniformly present inside the esophageal mucosa and predominantly it is located in upper squamous epithelium. Presence of desmosomal junction alterations is associated with increased severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Besides dilated intercellular space, subtle changes in ultrastructural morphology of intercellular space allow better identification of inflamed esophageal mucosa relevant to acid reflux.
Biopsy ; Claudin-2 ; Epithelium ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Extracellular Space ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Junctions ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mucous Membrane ; Tight Junction Proteins ; Tight Junctions