Diagnosis of comorbid migraine without aura in patients with idiopathic/genetic epilepsy based on the gray zone approach to the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 criteria

BackgroundMigraine without aura (MwoA) is a very frequent and remarkable comorbidity in patients with idiopathic/genetic epilepsy (I/GE). Frequently in clinical practice, diagnosis of MwoA may be challenging despite the guidance of current diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 (ICHD-3). In this study, we aimed to disclose the diagnostic gaps in the diagnosis of comorbid MwoA, using a zone concept, in patients with I/GEs with headaches who were diagnosed by an experienced headache expert.MethodsIn this multicenter study including 809 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of I/GE with or without headache, 163 patients who were diagnosed by an experienced headache expert as having a comorbid MwoA were reevaluated. Eligible patients were divided into three subgroups, namely, full diagnosis, zone I, and zone II according to their status of fulfilling the ICHD-3 criteria. A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis was performed to bring out the meaningful predictors when evaluating patients with I/GEs for MwoA comorbidity, using the variables that were significant in the univariate analysis.ResultsLonger headache duration (<4 h) followed by throbbing pain, higher visual analog scale (VAS) scores, increase of pain by physical activity, nausea/vomiting, and photophobia and/or phonophobia are the main distinguishing clinical characteristics of comorbid MwoA in patients with I/GE, for being classified in the full diagnosis group. Despite being not a part of the main ICHD-3 criteria, the presence of associated symptoms mainly osmophobia and also vertigo/dizziness had the distinguishing capability of being classified into zone subgroups. The most common epilepsy syndromes fulfilling full diagnosis criteria (n = 62) in the CART analysis were 48.39% Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy followed by 25.81% epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone.ConclusionLonger headache duration, throbbing pain, increase of pain by physical activity, photophobia and/or phonophobia, presence of vertigo/dizziness, osmophobia, and higher VAS scores are the main supportive associated factors when applying the ICHD-3 criteria for the comorbid MwoA diagnosis in patients with I/GEs. Evaluating these characteristics could be helpful to close the diagnostic gaps in everyday clinical practice and fasten the diagnostic process of comorbid MwoA in patients with I/GEs

Comparison of Peritoneal Catheter Insertion Techniques: A Single-Center Experience Comparing Percutaneous and Laparoscopic Approaches

<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is still no consensus on the best approach for the insertion of the peritoneal dialysis catheter. We aimed to compare the results of the percutaneous Sildenger and laparoscopic surgical peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion approaches</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study examined the files of patients in the chronic PD program retrospectively. Demographic characteristics such as early and late complications, attacks of infection, time of use of the catheter, and number of hospitalizations were recorded to compare both methods. (Tablo 1). The results were evaluated through appropriate statistical analysis of the data.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> In our study, 32 (53.3%) out of 60 patients included were males. Patients were divided into two groups, the percutaneous PD catheter group (Group 1, n=36) and the Laparoscopic PD catheter group (Group 2, n = 24). The average age for group 1 was 65 years, while it was 57 years for group 2 (p = 0.197). The median follow-up time of the study population was 17 months (7-41). The average first usage time of the PD catheter was 13.5 (11-16.5) days in group 1 versus 21.5 (18.5-27.5) days (p  0.001) in group 2. The exit site leak was 11.1% (n = 4) versus 33.3% (n = 8) in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.039). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of hospitalization, renal replacement treatment transition, and death.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The percutaneous approach for PD catheter insertion is more advantageous compared to surgical techniques with fewer complications. More importantly, there is no risk of anesthesia, in addition to shorter incisions and less hospitalization time.</p&gt

CHARACTERISTICS AND SURVIVAL RESULTS OF PERITONEAL DIALYSIS PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM COVID-19 IN TURKEY: A MULTICENTER NATIONAL STUDY

Background: We aimed to study the characteristics of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), determine the short-term mortality and other medical complications, and delineate the factors associated with COVID-19 outcome.Methods: In this multicenter national study, we included PD patients with confirmed COVID-19 from 27 centers. The baseline demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data and outcomes at the end of the first month were recorded.Results: We enrolled 142 COVID-19 patients (median age:52 years). 58.2% of patients had mild disease at diagnosis. Lung involvement was detected in 60.8% of patients. 83 (58.4%) patients were hospitalized, 31 (21.8%) patients were admitted to intensive care unit and 24 needed mechanical ventilation. 15 (10.5%) patients were switched to hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration was performed for four (2.8%) patients. Persisting pulmonary symptoms (n=27), lower respiratory system infection (n=12), rehospitalization for any reason (n=24), malnutrition (n=6), hypervolemia (n=13), peritonitis (n=7), ultrafiltration failure (n=7) and in PD modality change (n=8) were reported in survivors. 26 patients (18.31%) died in the first month of diagnosis. The non-survivor group was older, comorbidities were more prevalent. Fever, dyspnea, cough, serious-vital disease at presentation, bilateral pulmonary involvement, and pleural effusion were more frequent among non-survivors. Age (OR:1.102; 95%CI: 1.032-1.117; p: 0.004), moderate-severe clinical disease at presentation (OR:26.825; 95%CI: 4.578-157.172; p0.001) and baseline CRP (OR:1.008; 95%CI; 1.000-1.016; p:0.040) were associated with first-month mortality in multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Early mortality rate and medical complications are quite high in PD patients with COVID-19. Age, clinical severity of COVID-19, and baseline CRP level are the independent parameters associated with mortality

DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health prob lem with nearly 0.1% of the world’s population suffering from end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).1 The availability and accessibility to treatments for ESKD differ around the globe because of variations in healthcare budgets and availability of treatments. Although the prevalence of ESKD in low-income countries (LICs, 0.05%) and lower middle–income countries (L-MICs, 0.07%) is estimated to be lower than in high-income countries (HICs, 0.2%), or potentially underdiagnosed, the proportion of patients who are not receiving effective treatment is much higher in LICs (96%) and L-MICs (90%) compared with upper mid dle–income countries (U-MICs, 70%) and HICs (40%).2 In some L-MICs, it is impossible to support hemodialysis treatment for every ESKD patient, and most patients are unable to pay for dialysis out of pocke

How Dialysis Patients Cope with a Curfew? A Comparison of Psychological Status between Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: There are many differences between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatments, including their impact on the psychological status of the patients. In this study, our aim was to compare the psychological statuses of HD and PD patients during the social isolation period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study on adult HD and PD patients when the curfew measures were in effect. We used an electronic form composed of 3 sections to collect data. In the first section, we collected data on the demographics and clinical and laboratory parameters of the patients. The second and third sections consisted of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) questionnaires, respectively. Results: The HD (n = 116) and PD (n = 130) groups were similar regarding age and sex, and they had similar HADS anxiety scores. HADS depression scores were higher in PD patients (p = 0.052). IES-R scores were significantly higher in PD patients in comparison to HD patients (p = 0.001). Frequencies of abnormal HADS-anxiety (p = 0.035) and severe psychological impact (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in PD patients. Discussion/Conclusion: During the social isolation period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HD patients had better mood profiles than PD patients. A more stable daily routine, an uninterrupted face-to-face contact with health-care workers, and social support among patients in the in-center dialysis environment might be the cause of the favorable mood status. PD patients might need additional psychological support during those periods

Social media coverage of the international society of nephrology world congress of nephrology 2019: exploring novel strategies

For years, traditional endeavours of dissemination of nephrology concepts to a wider audience evolved in many but was often unidirectional, limiting the contributors to a sleect few and reached only a privileged few who could access content behind paywalls and the dissemination of information was restricted. However, social media (#SoMe) is revolutionizing medical education by using technical advancements and evolving pedagogies that emphasize on learners as co-producers of knowledge and bridge formal and informal learning through multidirectional participation of digital communities at a global level with considerable ease and little cost. Over the past decade, pushed by the end-users popularizing conference content in social media, many medical societies have taken to Twitter to popularize the content of their conferences as well as to spread the scientific content. After initial reluctance, medical societies have allowed unrestricted sharing of presentations and photos, further strengthening the contribution of the end-users in dissemination of knowledge. This has also led to development of various social media tools and resources in nephrology

Acute kidney injury in Turkey: epidemiological characteristics, etiology, clinical course, and prognosis

Background This study aimed to evaluate the etiologies, comorbidities, and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Turkey and determine any potential differences among different geographical parts of the country. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted by the Acute Kidney Injury Working Group of the Turkish Society of Nephrology. Demographical and clinical data of patients with AKI at the time of diagnosis and at the 1(st) week and 1(st), 3(rd), and 6(th) months of diagnosis were evaluated to determine patient and renal survival and factors associated with patient prognosis. Results A total of 776 patients were included (54.7% male, median age: 67 years). Prerenal etiologies, including dehydration, heart failure, and sepsis, were more frequent than other etiologies. 58.9% of the patients had at least one renal etiology, with nephrotoxic agent exposure as the most common etiology. The etiologic factors were mostly similar throughout the country. 33.6% of the patients needed kidney replacement therapy. At the 6(th) month of diagnosis, 29.5% of the patients had complete recovery; 34.1% had partial recovery; 9.5% developed end-stage kidney disease; and 24.1% died. The mortality rate was higher in the patients from the Eastern Anatolian region; those admitted to the intensive care unit; those with prerenal, renal, and postrenal etiologies together, stage 3 AKI, sepsis, cirrhosis, heart failure, and malignancy; those who need kidney replacement therapy; and those without chronic kidney disease than in the other patients. Conclusion Physicians managing patients with AKI should be alert against dehydration, heart failure, sepsis, and nephrotoxic agent exposure. Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AKI in their countries would help prevent AKI and improve treatment strategies

COVID-19 Infection in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Comparative Outcome Study with Patients on Hemodialysis and Patients without Kidney Disease

Objectives: There is limited data about coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) characteristics and results in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and outcomes among PD patients and compare them with matched hemodialysis (HD) patients and a control group without kidney disease