The majority of patients (93.0%) were waiting for kidney transplantation. More than half of the respondents (63.3%) had been waiting Vemurafenib chemical structure for more than 3 years. Patients with longer transplant waiting times had lower self-estimated chance of receiving a transplant (P = 0.004). Self-estimated chance of getting transplanted

was positively associated with the happiness score (P < 0.0001). Issues of most concerns to the patients waiting for organ transplants were: inconvenience of therapy (48.2%), disease progression (47.9%), burden to family (59.5%) and financial difficulties (52.3%). More female patients on the waiting list (50.0% vs 25.7% in male) reported concerns about suffering associated with the illnesses. 21.7% of patients considered

the level of support received inadequate. Conclusions:  Our patients had long waiting time for transplantation, which is associated with a lower perceived chance of getting a transplant. Attention to more psychosocial support to these patients waiting for organ transplant is important. Promoting and improving organ donation would be the ultimate way to help these patients. “
“Aim:  The prognosis for HIV patients needing acute dialysis is uncertain. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, renal diagnoses and outcomes of HIV patients who underwent acute haemodialysis at Groote Schuur Hospital in the period 2002–2007. Methods:  A retrospective review of case records of HIV patients who underwent acute haemodialysis was conducted. Results:  buy Palbociclib PAK5 One hundred and seventeen patients were reviewed (median age 34.0 years (29.0–40.0) 53.8% men, 93.2% black Africans) and 33 had a renal biopsy. Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) was diagnosed in 68 patients. Recovery of renal

function occurred in 33.3% of all patients while in 25.7% treatment was withdrawn and 41.0% died in hospital. Suspected ATN was the commonest cause of renal disease in those who recovered renal function (82.1%). A higher CD4 count (odds ratio (OR) = 0.994, P = 0.007), lower pre-dialysis serum creatinine (<1230 µmol/L) and longer hospitalization (OR = 0.93, P = 0.006) significantly correlated with survival. Conclusion:  There is a good chance of survival for HIV patients needing acute dialysis when the diagnosis is ATN, and when the CD4 count is more than 200 cells/mm3. "
“While darbepoetin alfa (DA) can be administered once monthly (QM) to maintain haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in anaemic patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis (CKD-ND), the QM use of DA for anaemia correction has not been previously investigated. In this randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority, active-controlled study, adult subjects with CKD-ND, Hb levels <10 g/dL, and not treated with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent were randomized 1:1 to receive DA every 2 weeks (Q2W) or QM for 33 weeks with initial doses of 0.75 μg/kg Q2W or 1.5 μg/kg QM.