MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'dialysis'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:58:51 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069827&cid=t_95528_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FF8mqg7j2n-k%2F One of the biggest providers of kidney dialysis deliberately wasted medicine in order to gain hundreds of millions of dollars in extra payments from Medicare, according to a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former clinic nurse and doctor. They claim DaVita used unnecessarily large vials of different meds because Medicare would pay for unused portions of each vial if these were deemed unavoidable waste, The New York Times writes. DaVita denies the accusations. The charges, the paper notes, underscore how financial incentives may have prompted overuse of drugs in the dialysis business, which DaVita dominates. In January, though, Medicare changed payment systems and now pays for overall treatment and instead of paying separately for drugs, the Times writes, adding that clinics could make a pr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069827 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:31:16 +0100 5069827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693467&cid=t_95528_136_f&fid=36469&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fespeciallyheather%2FEH%2F%7E3%2FJxPwlq-102s%2F I had a long post typed up but it disappeared and I don’t have time to rewrite it! Here is where we are: * last Monday emma came off CRRT dialysis and was extubated! We have been watching her kidney function closely to see if she will need hemo-dialysis. So far she has not. * this week has been a rough week for Em. She was on the max dose of 6 sedatives/narcotics so withdrawal has been painful. * she is still on Versed at .4 compared to .8. This will be the slow drug to wean because she was over the max dose. * we have finally cleared her blood infection! But now she has a urinary tract infection from being cathed for two weeks. * she still has the central line in her right femoral vein and she still has the hemo-dialysis cath in her left femoral artery. * she is still on TPN an... Especially Heather blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693467 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:10:55 +0100 4693467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670305&cid=t_95528_136_f&fid=36469&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fespeciallyheather%2FEH%2F%7E3%2F--Ul14T9JGA%2F Emma is still on dialysis but is on an upward track. The blood infection has cleared and we were able to save her port, which is a very good thing! Next hurdle to overcome is urine output and feeds. Because of the surgery to remedy her aspiration and gastroparesis, we are hoping that she will tolerate feeds. Because of her mitochodrial disease, she has motility issues but hopefully they were fixed with the surgeries. She is still vented and highly sedated. Please pray for an easy withdrawal from the sedatives. They have her on methadone and Valium to help with that process once the time comes. She is on Versed, Fentanyl and Precedex. They had her on dilaudid but DC’d it because it has the opposite affect on her. She is still waking up and trying to sit straight up in bed, which is ... Especially Heather blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670305 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:04:46 +0100 4670305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642921&cid=t_95528_136_f&fid=36469&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fespeciallyheather%2FEH%2F%7E3%2Fa1c1iwZwqcU%2F Emma’s kidneys are not producing like they should. She is going to the operating room to have a cath put in this afternoon for CRRT (continual renal replacement therapy) It is 24 hour dialysis and she will be on it anywhere from 7-14 days. We were here one year ago, for those of you who have been following our journey. We covet your prayers during this time, it is going to be rough for Emma and for us. We are trusting again. Trusting in the doctors. Trusting in Dr. Danielson and his team. Ultimately we place Emma in the Fathers hands…. Yet again….. (Source: Especially Heather) Especially Heather blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642921 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:49:41 +0100 4642921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300551&cid=t_95528_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fremembering-gene-goldwasser-discoverer-of-epo-a-cure-for-anemia%2F2010.12.30 Gene Goldwasser died last week. He was 88, and he was my friend. I wrote previously about a series of conversations I conducted with Gene and Rabbi A.J. Wolf a few years ago. I met Gene one spring day after calling to invite him to sit in on a class I was teaching to a small group of medical students about social issues in healthcare. I’d read about him in a book called “The $800 Million Pill,” by Merrill Goozner. In the book, Goozner writes the story of Gene’s two-decade hunt to isolate the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). Part of the story relates how Gene tried to interest traditional big pharma companies in his discovery, only to be brushed aside. Instead, Gene wound up sharing his discovery with what became Amgen. The company went on to make a windfall from recomb... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300551 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4300551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3921055&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fgrady-dialysis-patients-will-receive.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3921055 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:13:00 +0100 3921055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3915275&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Ffresenius-medical-care-profits-increase.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3915275 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:53:00 +0100 3915275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913283&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fdr-neil-shulman-doc-hollywood-speaks.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913283 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0100 3913283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913285&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fgrady-dialysis-patients-prayer-service.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913285 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:49:00 +0100 3913285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911856&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fsenator-vincent-fort-ga-presents-vp-of.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911856 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:59:00 +0100 3911856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907774&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fgrady-dialysis-patients-need-new-life.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907774 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:18:00 +0100 3907774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3896075&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fdoc-hollywood-interviews-grady-hospital.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3896075 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:12:00 +0100 3896075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3896076&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fpetition-to-save-33-dialysis-patients.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3896076 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:13:00 +0100 3896076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891817&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fpetition-to-save-33-dialysis-patients.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891817 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:13:00 +0100 3891817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890588&cid=t_95528_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fpetition-to-save-33-dialysis-patients.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890588 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:13:00 +0100 3890588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767016&cid=t_95528_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Flong-time-helped-sick-patient-rewarding-experience-exception-boys-train-turn-acute-lasting%2F Jonathon Rhoades, MD, inventor of hyperalimentation and peritoneal dialysis, on his recovery from tuberculosis in 1947. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767016 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:00:14 +0100 3767016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408581&cid=t_95528_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fgive-your-kidneys-some-love.html March is National Kidney Month (yes, they have a month for that organ! and even a World Kidney Day on March 11).  I realize the month is nearly over this year, but it’s never too late to show your kidneys some love — especially if you have diabetes, which possibly puts them at risk. I must admit, [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408581 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:00:54 +0100 3408581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239674&cid=t_95528_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fupdates-meaningful-use-certified-ehr-technology-and-stimulus-bill On December 30, 2009, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released documents shedding light on what physicians and hospitals must do to qualify for electronic health records (EHR) incentive payments under the HITECH Act. To qualify for incentives, physicians and hospitals must be using “certified EHR technology” in a “meaningful manner.” (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239674 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:25:21 +0100 3239674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3192327&cid=t_95528_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2010%2F01%2F21%2Fhaiti-8%2F Port-au-Prince – January 20, 2010 The team of nephrologists found a working dialysis machine, and has treated 6 patients with dialysis yesterday. More machines have arrived, meaning treatments can be offered to more patients with “crush syndrome”. Crush syndrome is a condition in which muscle tissue damaged by severe internal injury may release massive quantities of toxins into the bloodstream and lead to kidney failure. MSF flew in four dialysis machines and medicines needed to treat the syndrome. Left untreated, crush syndrome can be fatal. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3192327 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:47:29 +0100 3192327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139111&cid=t_95528_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fachieving-meaningful-use Now that the Interim Final Rule (Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology) and the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Medicare and Medicaid Programs Electronic Health Record Incentive Program) have been published, we can all finalize our policy and technology strategies for achieving Certification and Meaningful Use in our organizations and communities (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139111 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:10:46 +0100 3139111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2992690&cid=t_95528_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fwhat-is-intradialytic-hypertension.html%23utm_source%3Dfeed%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed This study suggests that use of a body composition monitor to determine percentage fat muscle and water may be able to assist in titrating a patient to the correct dry weight. Such a tool may be very useful in the treatment of patients with intradialytic hypertension. (Source: All Kidney News) All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2992690 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:37:11 +0100 2992690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2970241&cid=t_95528_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fnew-dialysis-modality-daily-ol-hdf.html%23utm_source%3Dfeed%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed CONCLUSIONS: Daily OL-HDF promotes catch-up growth in children despite being on chronic dialysis. This catch-up growth if continued, should allow the children to reach their mid-parental target height in the future. It could be speculated that the improved response to rhGH is the result of several combined factors conducting to less malnutrition and to less cachexia. (Source: All Kidney News) All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2970241 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:17:29 +0100 2970241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920217&cid=t_95528_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fperitoneal-dialysis-and-encapsulating-peritonitis.html%23utm_source%3Dfeed%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis affects alters the normal Peritoneum Image Source (http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/edu/ref/ga/l/1035.gif) Peritoneal dialysis relies on the peritoneal lining as a surface for the exchange of substances during dialysis. However the peritoneal membrane was never intended to be used for this purpose. The goal of peritoneal dialysis research is to find the least traumatic and disruptive method of ensuring efficient dialysis occurs for as long as possible before the peritoneal lining is “worn out”. The greatest advance in this area would entail some method that allows the membrane to continue to function indefinitely. One of the unsolved problems remains the absence of any clear way to predict the peritoneal membrane will react under the same... All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920217 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:04:23 +0100 2920217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916142&cid=t_95528_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fcannulation-technique-may-improve-fistula-survival.html%23utm_source%3Dfeed%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed AV fistula complications Image by RoundboyzPhotography An AV fistula is the access of choice in patients starting dialysis. The use of AV fistula first is associated with less risk of infection which is a significant cause of morbidity and reduced survival in dialysis patients. The technique used to cannulate a fistula is essentially the method used by the HD nurse to insert the venous and arterial needle into the fistula so that an adequate blood flow for the process of dialysis can occur. However as noted by Van Loon et. al. “Little is known about cannulation of the vascular access (VA), such as the number of successful cannulation procedures, frequency of complications caused by cannulation, and VA failure.” The above investigators then went on to publish the results of a st... All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916142 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:31:44 +0100 2916142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2901656&cid=t_95528_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fmuscle-cramps-in-dialysis-treated-by-vitamin-e.html%23utm_source%3Dfeed%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed cramp photo Credit:happeningfish Cramping of the muscles while undergoing dialysis is one of the most frequent complaints of dialysis patients. It occurs in up to 20% of dialysis sessions. Risk factors for cramping includes high weight gain in between dialysis sessions. Having low serum calcium or derangement of sodium and potassium. Intradialytic hypotension may also present with cramping of the muscles. While many corrective actions may taken during the treatment to treat the cramps, it may be found that this interrupts treatment time and can reduce clearances and achieved ultrafiltration especially if sodium chloride is used repeatedly to treat the episodes of cramping. Recently an article published in the American Journal of Therapeutics has shown that vitamin E maybe effective at pr... All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2901656 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:18:57 +0100 2901656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464112&cid=t_95528_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7170 An informative article about Dialysis from MedicalNewsToday Related Malaysian link: The National Kidney Foundation Dialysis costs money and you can do your bit to help by Clicking Here to Vote for the NKF under Digi’s Love to Save campaign from the Malaysian Medical Resources What is dialysis? Click and help the NKF (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464112 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2464112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2433403&cid=t_95528_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fpeople-with-kidney-failure-get-help.html Treatment for renal failure – kidney failure – can be exhausting. Blood is drawn from the body, cleaned and pumped back into the body. This grueling process is called dialysis. It can take three to four hours and can cause severe fatigue. Then the treatment has to be repeated three times each week.But ABC 7 in Denver reports that some dialysis clinics now offer to perform the treatment while patients sleep. This is improving the quality of life for people with kidney failure. The process is gentler when it is performed at a slower pace during an eight-hour night of sleep. Nocturnal dialysis also allows patients to work normal hours and maintain their daily routines.The challenge with overnight dialysis is being able to fall asleep around other people and in a new environment. But it a... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2433403 Mon, 25 May 2009 11:05:00 +0100 2433403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2248937&cid=t_95528_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F08%2Fweekly-news-round-up%2F Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Healthcare Equality Index - “a joint project of GLMA and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The HEI provides a quality indicator for healthcare related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, beginning with the hospital industry. The survey focuses on specific hospital policies in several areas: patient non-discrimination, hospital visitation, decision making, cultural competency training for hospital staff, and hospital employment policies.” Trans@MIT: Allies Toolkit: action tips, guidance on language, recommended viewing, and other tools. AMSA PharmaFree Scorecard on conflict of interest policies at academic medical centers - if you get health care at an academic medical center, see how they score on taking pharma money and di... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2248937 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:26:32 +0100 2248937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240988&cid=t_95528_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6312 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: Supplements May Reduce AMD Risk Among Women, Antihypertensive Drugs Benefit Dialysis Patients, Healthy Living Habits Can Help Prevent Cancer (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240988 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2240988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2172961&cid=t_95528_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6130 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: Preoperative Warm-up Improves Surgical Skills, High Altitudes Prolong Lives of Dialysis Patients, Beach Trips Increase Skin Cancer Risk in Children (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2172961 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2172961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419323&cid=t_95528_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F283328988%2Fgod-squad-redux.html There has been a simple problem with organ transplants, for as long as it has been technologically possible to do so: there are never, ever enough organs. And that leads to the simple, painful,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419323 Sun, 04 May 2008 14:30:09 +0100 1419323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1263500&cid=t_95528_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F242434764%2F This study evaluated 307 patients with diabetes — 258 with end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis and 49 who did not have kidney failure. The researchers compared the standard HbA1c test with a newer test (glycated albumin, or GA) that measures the amount of blood sugar that has reacted with albumin, a protein in the plasma. The GA test reflects blood sugar control over the previous three to four weeks. Blood samples were also analyzed to determine recent blood sugar levels. Among the 307 patients with diabetes, 258 in end-staged kidney disease on dialysis and 49 who did not have kidney failure, the researchers found that the HbA1c values were considerably lower in comparison to the GA test results. Scary indeed. The thought process on the marginal difference is that the red blod c... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1263500 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:43:37 +0100 1263500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1204681&cid=t_95528_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F229159965%2Frecalled_heparin_causes_allergic_reaction_in_dialysis_patients.html The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that they are investigating 53 incidents of dialysis patients having developed allergic reactions after receiving injections of heparin made by Baxter Healthcare Corp.Last week Baxter voluntarily recalled specific batches of heparin due to reports of adverse events however, the extent of the problem was unknown until the CDC released the information on Friday.The recalled batches have been tested for bacteria and endotoxin but neither was present. "We don't know what the problem is," but heparin remains the leading candidate as the cause, said Dr. Priti Patel, a CDC investigator.To prevent blood clotting during the dialysis process, kidney patients receive heparin and the allergic reaction occured within minutes of ... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1204681 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:00:50 +0100 1204681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1044051&cid=t_95528_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F188412852%2Fstudent_to_get_kidney_from_pri.html There's being there for your students and then there's Franklin Middle School principal Jim Friel. Friel is going that extra distance and donating one of his kidneys to a 13-year old student at his school.Morgan Corliss was diagnosed with FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis), a disease that prevents her kidneys from filtering out impurities, at the age of 4. The teen was relatively healthy until spleen and gallbladder surgery this past January which caused her to lose about 85% of her kidney function.When the information came out that Morgan would need a new kidney or face daily dialysis, Friel and others went for testing to see if they were a match. When results came back and Friel was one of 2 matches, Morgan's family chose him as the donor."I've spent 24 y... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1044051 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:00:45 +0100 1044051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=877509&cid=t_95528_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fcaught-in-cross-fire-patients-doctors.html The New York Times just published a report that raised intriguing questions about the biggest US commercial dialysis provider, and, its relationships with a large biotechnology company on one hand, and the US government's Medicare system, on the the other. These questions thus end up being about how the power of big business and big government intersect within US health care.First, here is some background. In the US, nearly all dialysis for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is funded by Medicare, the government single-payer insurance system for the elderly and disabled. Yet nearly all such patients get their dialysis in commercially run clinics. We recently posted about allegations of anti-competitive practices by some of the companies that run such clinics.The NY Times focused ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=877509 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:16:00 +0100 877509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867256&cid=t_95528_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fdialysis-providers-and-restraint-of.html This story almost made it under the radar. Our local Providence Journal provided this exclusive,Two area dialysis clinic operators — American Renal Associates and Fresenius Medical Care Holdings — have signed consent orders with the Federal Trade Commission settling charges that they unlawfully tried to restrain competition.According to the FTC, the parties entered into an asset purchase agreement on Aug. 3, 2005, under which ARA proposed to purchase five Rhode Island dialysis clinics from Fresenius. The agreement also required Fresenius to close an additional three clinics — two in Rhode Island and one in Fall River. The parties terminated the asset purchase agreement on March 13, 2006, after FTC staff raised antitrust concerns.The FTC’s complaint alleges two separate violations o... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867256 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:36:00 +0100 867256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=757915&cid=t_95528_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2007%2F07%2Fketamine-steroids-katrina-caregivers.html Several things in brief...1)Pain Physician has a case based review on ketamine as an adjuvant for pain (free full-text available). Reviews the pharmacology and some of the data and provides very practical suggestions for its use. Good one for the teaching file.2)Supportive Care in Cancer has an interesting case series on using very high dose corticosteroids for palliation of dyspnea from malignant upper airway obstruction (in otherwise dying patients). The authors' argument is that this can be effective but very high doses need to be used (on the order of 40mg of IV dexamethasone daily).3)Some closure on the Hurricana Katrina physician murder charges: Dr. Anna Pou has been cleared of criminal charges after the grand jury failed to find evidence of a crime. AMA press-release here. The nurse... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=757915 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:43:00 +0100 757915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807339&cid=t_95528_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F08%2Fupdate-on-unexplained-anemia%2F What do you do when anemia keeps coming back? In a previous post on Anemia, I talked about my 84 year old Dad’s recurring problem with fatigue and anemia. He (and I) thought the doctors had found the problem and taken care of it with medical procedures to stop the bleeding, most recently in his bladder,  and by making changes to his regimen of nine medications. I was so relieved that the bleeding has stopped! Several units of blood later, my father was starting to look and feel a bit better. His kidneys were failing, though. He would need to start dialysis right away and he was willing to try it. I believed that Dad could now start to recover some quality of life. For most of his over 40 life, he has been able to bounce back from serious illness with a determination that was f... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807339 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:09:00 +0100 807339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=479854&cid=t_95528_113_f&fid=34933&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalmdoc.net%2F%3Fp%3D1220 Do you have a Blackberry and envy your colleagues with Treos and the multitude of medical software installed on their smartphones? Well, now you can have medical software on your Blackberry, as QxMD announces it’s first free medical software for the Blackberry, QXMD Nephrology QxMD Nephrology A Free Program for all MDs using the RIM BlackBerry, not just Nephrologists. - What is the risk of your patient requiring dialysis after cardiovascular surgery? - What is your dialysis patient’s Kt/V? - Calculate your hypernatremic patient’s water deficit. - Determine if your patient is volume contracted - calculate fractional excretion of sodium or fractional excretion of urea - Calculate anion gap and osmolal gap Thanks to Daniel Schwartz for the feedback. Now this is why we car... The Palmdoc Chronicles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=479854 Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:06:51 +0100 479854