Role of protein adsorption on haemodialysis-induced complement activation and neutrophil defects

The present clinical study investigated the role of protein adsorption on complement activation and neutrophil functions during in vivo haemodialysis. The parameters were measured simultaneously at the arterial and venous sites of a cuprophan (CU) dialyser with or without pretreatment with human albumin, human immunoglobulins or human total plasma proteins (PLP). Leukocyte count, complement activation (C3a des arg), oxygen radical production and chemotaxis were measured at time zero and 15 min at the arterial and venous sites of the dialyser. Leukopenia observed at both sites was prevented only with PLP treatment. Complement activation was maximal at the venous site, but was not prevented by any of the treatments. Neutrophil oxygen radical production and chemotaxis were significantly decreased only at the venous site and restored to normal with any of the three treatments. Complement activation was maximal at the venous site, but was not prevented by any of the treatments. Protein adsorption on the dialyser membrane seems to modulate the bioincompatibility parameters in a different way. Depending on the functions tested, the protein fractions have different protecting effects, indicating the multifactorial mechanism implicated in the CU haemodialysis-induced leukopenia, complement activation and neutrophil defec

On the Mechanisms of Haemodialysis-induced Neutropenia: A Study with Five New and Re-used Membranes

A prospective study was undertaken in 12 haemodialysed patients successively treated on five new as well as re-used dialyser membranes, that is cuprophane, cellulose acetate, polysulphone, polycarbonate, and polyacrylonitrile. A significant reduction of neutrophils occurred with every membrane during their first use, which improved only with cuprophane upon re-use. Thrombocytopenia was noted only when neutropenia reached very low values. Monocyte reduction occurred on cuprophane, cellulose acetate and polycarbonate, but did not improve during second use. C3d accumulation paralleled the time course of neutropenia only with cuprophane and cellulose acetate. Plasma collected at the extreme of neutropenia induced aggregation of control and predialysis cells, but did not aggregate autologous dialysed neutrophils collected at 5 min. Our data indicate that the mechanism linking complement activation to neutropenia is probably triggered by more than one facto

Seasonal and site-specific variation in vapour and aerosol phase PAHs over Flanders (Belgium) and their relation with anthropogenic activities

Peer reviewe

Satisfaction of patients on chronic haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND: In contrast to quality of life, patient satisfaction on chronic haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) has only rarely been studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All chronic HD and PD patients of the 19 centres located in western Switzerland were asked to complete a specific questionnaire, assessing dialysis centre characteristics, treatment modalities, and information received before and during dialysis treatment. Comparison between satisfaction with PD and HD was carried out on the patients in the nine centres offering both treatment modalities. RESULTS: Of the 558 questionnaires distributed to chronic HD patients, 455 were returned (response rate 82%). Fifty of 64 PD patients (78%) returned the questionnaire. The two groups were similar in age, gender, and duration of dialysis treatment. Completion rates were >90% for a majority of questions, with the lowest rate for information on sexuality (49% in HD and 54% in PD respectively). The lowest scores were recorded for information received about complications and costs of dialysis, and impact of end-stage kidney disease on sexuality. Satisfaction was lower in anonymous questionnaires. Satisfaction of PD patients was significantly better in 50% of the questions, particularly session tolerance (p<0.001), information about dialysis sessions (p=0.007), and complications (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: PD patients were on average more satisfied with their treatment than HD patients. Satisfaction could be improved with more information about potential adverse treatment effects

First detection and energy measurement of recoil ions following beta decay in a Penning trap with the WITCH experiment

The WITCH experiment (Weak Interaction Trap for CHarged particles) will search for exotic interactions by investigating the beta-neutrino angular correlation via the measurement of the recoil energy spectrum after beta decay. As a first step the recoil ions from the beta-minus decay of 124In stored in a Penning trap have been detected. The evidence for the detection of recoil ions is shown and the properties of the ion cloud that forms the radioactive source for the experiment in the Penning trap are presented.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures (9 figure files), submitted to European Physical Journal

Design and operation of a cryogenic charge-integrating preamplifier for the MuSun experiment

The central detector in the MuSun experiment is a pad-plane time projection ionization chamber that operates without gas amplification in deuterium at 31 K; it is used to measure the rate of the muon capture process $\mu^- + d \rightarrow n + n + \nu_\mu$. A new charge-sensitive preamplifier, operated at 140 K, has been developed for this detector. It achieved a resolution of 4.5 keV(D$_2$) or 120 $e^-$ RMS with zero detector capacitance at 1.1 $\mu$s integration time in laboratory tests. In the experimental environment, the electronic resolution is 10 keV(D$_2$) or 250 $e^-$ RMS at a 0.5 $\mu$s integration time. The excellent energy resolution of this amplifier has enabled discrimination between signals from muon-catalyzed fusion and muon capture on chemical impurities, which will precisely determine systematic corrections due to these processes. It is also expected to improve the muon tracking and determination of the stopping location.Comment: 18 pages + title page, 13 figures, to be submitted to JINST; minor corrections, added one reference, updated author lis