Influence of Shear-Thinning Rheology on the Mixing Dynamics in Taylor-Couette Flow

Non‐Newtonian rheology can have a significant effect on mixing efficiency, which remains poorly understood. The effect of shear‐thinning rheology in a Taylor‐Couette reactor is studied using a combination of particle image velocimetry and flow visualization. Shear‐thinning is found to alter the critical Reynolds numbers for the formation of Taylor vortices and the higher‐order wavy instability, and is associated with an increase in the axial wavelength. Strong shear‐thinning and weak viscoelasticity can also lead to sudden transitions in wavelength as the Reynolds number is varied. Finally, it is shown that shear‐thinning causes an increase in the mixing time within vortices, due to a reduction in their circulation, but enhances the axial dispersion of fluid in the reactor

Incremental dialysis for preserving residual kidney function-Does one size fit all when initiating dialysis?

While many patients have substantial residual kidney function (RKF) when initiating hemodialysis (HD), most patients with end stage renal disease in the United States are initiated on 3-times per week conventional HD regimen, with little regard to RKF or patient preference. RKF is associated with many benefits including survival, volume control, solute clearance, and reduced inflammation. Several strategies have been recommended to preserve RKF after HD initiation, including an incremental approach to HD initiation. Incremental HD prescriptions are personalized to achieve adequate volume control and solute clearance with consideration to a patient's endogenous renal function. This allows the initial use of less frequent and/or shorter HD treatment sessions. Regular measurement of RKF is important because HD frequency needs to be increased as RKF inevitably declines. We narratively review the results of 12 observational cohort studies of twice-weekly compared to thrice-weekly HD. Incremental HD is associated with several benefits including preservation of RKF as well as extending the event-free life of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts. Patient survival and quality of life, however, has been variably associated with incremental HD. Serious risks must also be considered, including increased hospitalization and mortality perhaps related to fluid and electrolyte shifts after a long interdialytic interval. On the basis of the above literature review, and our clinical experience, we suggest patient characteristics which may predict favorable outcomes with an incremental approach to HD. These include substantial RKF, adequate volume control, lack of significant anemia/electrolyte imbalance, satisfactory health-related quality of life, low comorbid disease burden, and good nutritional status without evidence of hypercatabolism. Clinicians should engage patients in on-going conversations to prepare for incremental HD initiation and to ensure a smooth transition to thrice-weekly HD when needed

Automated peritoneal dialysis prescriptions for enhancing sodium and fluid removal: a predictive analysis of optimized, patient-specific dwell times for the day period

BACKGROUND: Remaining edema-free is a challenge for many automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) patients, especially those with fast ( high ) transport characteristics. Although increased use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions with high glucose concentrations may improve volume control, frequent use of such solutions is undesirable. METHODS: We used the 3-pore kinetic model to evaluate 4 alternative therapy prescriptions for the APD day exchange in anuric patients with high, high-average, and low-average transport characteristics. Four prescriptions were modeled: Therapy 1: Optimal, individualized dwell times with a dry period. Therapy 2: Use of a midday exchange. Therapy 3: Use of an icodextrin-containing dialysate during a 14-hour dwell. Therapy 4: Use of optimal, individualized dwell times, followed by an icodextrin dwell to complete the daytime period. The alternative therapies were compared with a reference standard therapy using glucose solution during a 14-hour dwell. The nighttime prescription was identical in all cases (10 L over 10 hours), and all glucose solutions contained 2.27% glucose. Net ultrafiltration (UF), sodium removal (NaR), total carbohydrate (CHO) absorption, and weekly urea Kt/V for a 24-hour period were computed and compared. RESULTS: The UF and NaR were substantially higher with therapy 1 than with standard therapy (1034 mL vs 621 mL and 96 mmol vs 51 mmol respectively), without significant changes in CHO absorption or urea Kt/V. However, therapy 1 resulted in reduced β2-microglobulin clearance (0.74 mL/min vs 0.89 mL/min with standard therapy). Compared with therapy 1, therapy 2 improved UF and NaR (1062 mL vs 1034 mL and 99 mmol vs 96 mmol); however, that improvement is likely not clinically significant. Therapy 2 also resulted in a higher Kt/V (2.07 vs 1.72), but at the expense of higher glucose absorption (difference: 42 g). The UF and NaR were highest with a long icodextrin-containing daytime dwell either preceded by a short optimized dwell (1426 mL and 155 mmol) or without such a dwell (1327 mL and 148 mmol). CONCLUSIONS: The 3-pore model predictions revealed that patient-specific optimal dwell times and regimens with a longer day dwell might provide improved UF and NaR options in APD patients with a variety of peritoneal membrane transport characteristics. In patients without access to icodextrin, therapy 1 might enhance UF and NaR and provide a short-term option to increase fluid removal. Although that approach may offer clinicians a therapeutic option for the overhydrated patient who requires increased UF in the short term, APD prescriptions including icodextrin provide a means to augment sodium and fluid removal. Data from clinical trials are needed to confirm the predictions from this study

Volume-Based Peritoneal Dialysis Prescription Guide to Achieve Adequacy Targets

UNLABELLED: ♦ BACKGROUND: The use of automated and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (APD and CAPD) prescriptions (Rxs) to achieve adequate uremic toxin and fluid removal targets is important for attaining optimal patient outcomes. One approach for predicting such Rxs is the use of kinetic modeling. ♦ METHODS: Demographic data and peritoneal membrane characteristics derived from a peritoneal equilibration test (PET) were available from 1,005 patients in North American centers who participated in a national adequacy initiative in 1999. Twelve patient subgroups were identified according to peritoneal membrane transport type and tertiles of total body water, assumed equal to urea distribution volume (Vurea). Each patient was then modeled using PD Adequest 2.0 to be treated by 12 CAPD and 34 APD Rxs using both glucose and icodextrin solutions to achieve adequacy targets of weekly urea Kt/V of 1.7 and 1 L of daily ultrafiltration (UF). Residual kidney function (RKF) was assumed to be 0, 2, 4, and 6 mL/min. Feasible peritoneal dialysis (PD) Rxs were identified where: 1) the 95% confidence limit achieved the goal of meeting the targets for urea Kt/V, daily UF, and both in 85%, 75%, and 70% of patients, respectively; 2) average PD solution dextrose concentration was \u3c 2.5%; and 3) the number of daytime exchanges was minimized. ♦ RESULTS: Feasible PD Rxs were similar when RKF was ≥ 2 mL/min, allowing condensed recommendations based on RKF ≥ 2 mL/min or \u3c 2 mL/min. Individuals with lower or slower membrane transport required relatively greater 24-h solution volumes to achieve adequacy targets when RKF fell below 2 mL/min. With increasing Vurea, there was disproportionately greater dependence on RKF to achieve targets. While multiple Rxs achieving urea Kt/V and daily UF goals were identified for all membrane transport types, use of icodextrin in the long dwell reduced the need for a midday exchange in APD, glucose exposure, required fill and 24-h dwell volumes, irrespective of RKF and Vurea. While these benefits were most notable in high and high-average transporters, similar results were also seen in low and low-average transporters. ♦ CONCLUSIONS: Kinetic modeling identified multiple APD and CAPD Rxs that achieved adequate uremic solute and fluid removal for patients, irrespective of RKF and Vurea. Use of icodextrin rather than glucose in the long dwell reduced the complexity of the PD regimen, total glucose exposure, and 24-h total treatment solution volumes. Irrespective of modeling, adequacy of any PD prescription should be based upon individual clinical evaluation both for volume and solute removal