No abstract available.
Carnitine* ; Renal Dialysis*

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to determine total body water (TBW) and lean body mass (LBM) in patients with renal failure. The body's electrical resistance (R) was measured by the voltage to current ratio, injecting an 800microA alternating current with a frequency of 50KHZ and detecting a voltage drop between the wrist and the ankle. Impedance index (Height2/Resistance) compared favorably with TBW measured by deuterium (D2O) dilution method as the reference, giving the correlation coefficient (r) of 0.966 and standard error estimation (SEE) of 2.71 liter. The index was compared with LBM determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as the reference, giving r of 0.970 and SEE of 3.00kg. The r of 0.985 and SEE of 2.15kg were found between the reference method. BIA appeared to have a somewhat lower accuracy than those of the reference method. However, it is a useful clinical tool for estimating body composition, because it is easy, rapid and non-invasive. The existing BIA method is based on an extremely simple conductor model of the body. The accuracy may be improved further, based on a more realistic model for the body.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Ankle ; Body Composition ; Body Water* ; Deuterium ; Electric Impedance* ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency* ; Wrist

Background: There has been no comparison of the determinants of admission route between acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined whether factors associated with direct versus transferred-in admission to regional cardiocerebrovascular centers (RCVCs) differed between AIS and AMI. Methods: Using a nationwide RCVC registry, we identified consecutive patients presenting with AMI and AIS between July 2016 and December 2018. We explored factors associated with direct admission to RCVCs in patients with AIS and AMI and examined whether those associations differed between AIS and AMI, including interaction terms between each factor and disease type in multivariable models. To explore the influence of emergency medical service (EMS) paramedics on hospital selection, stratified analyses according to use of EMS were also performed. Results: Among the 17,897 and 8,927 AIS and AMI patients, 66.6% and 48.2% were directly admitted to RCVCs, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that previous coronary heart disease, prehospital awareness, higher education level, and EMS use increased the odds of direct admission to RCVCs, but the odds ratio (OR) was different between AIS and AMI (for the first 3 factors, AMI > AIS; for EMS use, AMI < AIS). EMS use was the single most important factor for both AIS and AMI (OR, 4.72 vs. 3.90). Hypertension and hyperlipidemia increased, while living alone decreased the odds of direct admission only in AMI;additionally, age (65–74 years), previous stroke, and presentation during non-working hours increased the odds only in AIS. EMS use weakened the associations between direct admission and most factors in both AIS and AMI. Conclusions Various patient factors were differentially associated with direct admission to RCVCs between AIS and AMI. Public education for symptom awareness and use of EMS is essential in optimizing the transportation and hospitalization of patients with AMI and AIS.