People living with renal failure experience enormous challenges, yet very little is known about life with this disease. The goal of this research was to gain an integrated understanding of the lives of people with renal failure. An understanding of life with renal failure that includes cultural, institutional and historical contexts may provide health care practitioners with the kind of information and insights necessary to improve medical practice. Thus far, medical practice has been based on a biomedical model of care that focuses almost exclusively on the physical aspects of illness. From this perspective, people with kidney disease are seen as autonomous and rational individuals. In this research, a sociocultural multiple case study approach was utilized in order to gain a situated understanding of life for four people with renal disease. This research revealed that life with renal failure is work. While it is the people living with renal failure who do the bulk of the work, friends and family also work to "live" with renal disease. Participants and their significant others learn about and become experts on life with this disease. A gap was found between practitioners' understanding of disease and participants' lived experience — resulting in many negative repercussions. Medical-based knowledge is lacking because it does not consider the three relevant sources of knowledge: practitioners, participants and participants' significant others. This research argues for a bridge between the home world and the hospital world, so that a broader community of practice is created. An account of the lived experience of people with renal failure that includes these factors can inform "best practice" because it provides a richer and more authentic picture of life with this illness. It is from this perspective that health care practitioners can begin to broaden their understanding of renal failure as it is "lived", and, so informed, can better provide the kinds of education and support that will enhance the lives of people with this illness. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to examine how chronic renal failure or cancer patients felt about their bodies during treatment. The sample was comprised of 22 subjects; 10 hemodialysis, six continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and six chemotherapy patients. The settings included an outpatient dialysis center and an inpatient/outpatient chemotherapy treatment center. Two instruments, the Body Attitude Scale and the Body Cathexis Scale, were used to describe the patients' feelings about their bodies. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A significant difference on the Body Cathexis Scale among the subjects indicated that the chemotherapy patients had the most positive body attitude. The implications of the study for nursing are related to how nurses can provide anticipatory guidance to their clients. Both cancer and renal failure treatment require significant adaptation by the client. Therefore, appropriate nursing interventions must be instituted.

The effects of 18 milligrams elemental zinc as zinc sulfate were investigated in 24 hemodialysis patients during a double blind study. The study was conducted at two different dialysis centers in Utah. Each patient was evaluated for a 12 week period. The effects of zinc supplementation were evaluated using the parameters of serum zinc, hair zinc, dialysate zinc, and objective and subjective taste evaluation procedures. To possibly clearify the above determination in zinc status, copper determination were made of the same parameters. In addition, determinations of serum ferritin, transferrin and iron levels were made. A three day diet record was used to document the dietary intakes of calories, protein, and zinc as well as indicate the balance of food groups in the diets. Patients were evaluated biweekly throughout the study period. There were a total of six evaluations made on each participant during the investigation. Complete data were collected on six patients in the treatment group, and on ten patients in the control group. Even though the sample size was small, results were very steady and values fell within narrow ranges for most parameters examined. The mean baseline serum zinc value (n = 24) was 56 micrograms per deciliter. Patients, by this value would be classified as zinc deficient. However, the hair zinc levels were within the normal range, and no other signs or symptoms of zinc deficiency were evident in any patient, other than altered taste. There were no differences between pre and post dialysis serum zinc levels, nor were there any consistent increases in zinc levels cleared from the plasma during dialysis. There were no increases seen in the serum zinc or hair levels in response to zinc supplementation. Furthermore, there was no significant improvement in the taste acuities of the treatment group patients compared to the controls. The low serum levels maintained were probably due to the redistribution of body zinc known to occur in uremia. Most patients improved their taste test scores. This displayed the learning phenomena that was inherent in the taste testing technique. Furthermore, hemodialysis patients and the failure of many subjects to identify all four tastants (sweet, sour, bitter, and salt) correctly. Daily dietary intakes of high bioglogical value protein and zinc by the patients were less than the amounts recommended by the National Dietary Counsil and the physicians. However, the daily intakes of protein (55 grams) and zinc (7.9 milligrams) were not limited to the level where deficiency signs or symptoms of either nutrient were seen. Copper serum levels were all within the normal range. The mean baseline level for all patients was 113 micrograms per deciliter. Copper status appeared unaffected by uremia or hemodialysis. Body stores of iron, determined by serum ferritin levels, ranged from possibly indicating iron deficiency to iron overload. The body iron stores did not correlate with patients’ responses to the oral zinc supplementation.

This study investigated the hypothesis that dietary compliance among hemodialysis patients is related to their health locus of control orientation, as well as other factors. Fifty chronic hemodialysis patients were studied over a 3-month period. Among women interdialytic weight gain as a percentage of body weight (%BWG) was positively correlated with the number of weekly hemodialysis sessions and negatively related to ease of fluid compliance. Among men %BWG was positively correlated with powerful others health locus of control, family support, and hemodialysis tenure, and negatively correlated with employment. The best fitting multiple regression equation explained 26% of the variance for %BWG using ease of fluid compliance, frequency of urination, and powerful others orientation, with sex effects seen for the latter two variables. Staff perceptions of patient dietary compliance were also highly correlated with %BWG, though they never tabulated fluid gain controlled for body weight.

No description available.

O diagnóstico de insuficiência renal crônica (IRC) inaugura para quem o experimenta uma passagem irreversível ao mundo dos doentes, alterando a relação do acometido com seu próprio corpo. Trata-se de uma doença incurável, cujo tratamento consiste em intervenções permanentes ao longo da vida do paciente, como dependência de máquinas para substituição da função renal, intervenções cirúrgicas, ingestão diária de medicamentos e adoção de restrições dietéticas. Os familiares de crianças em tratamento dialítico peritoneal domiciliar têm assumido significativa sobrecarga nos cuidados oferecidos à criança, o que resulta em desgaste emocional, vivências de culpa e estresse familiar. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo é compreender as vivências de mães de crianças portadores de insuficiência renal crônica, seus modos de existir frente ao tratamento dialítico e possibilidade de transplante renal. O estudo foi conduzido segundo a metodologia de investigação fenomenológica, que consiste na apreensão do fenômeno tal como ele se manifesta para a pessoa que o vivencia, buscando captar os significados atribuídos por ela ao seu existir. Foram entrevistadas 5 mães de crianças e adolescentes com IRC em tratamento dialítico peritoneal no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto Universidade de São Paulo (HC/FMRP-USP), a partir da questão norteadora: \"Como a senhora vem vivenciando esse momento na sua vida?\". As entrevistas foram analisadas segundo o método de análise da estrutura do fenômeno situado, proposto por Martins & Bicudo (1989), Giorgi (1985) e Valle (1997), revelando-se as seguintes categorias temáticas: inaugurando o existir com a doença e o tratamento do filho; integrando-se ao cotidiano de tratamento: significar para conviver; cuidando do filho: proporcionar e legitimar sua vitalidade; reconhecendo o próprio enfrentamento: buscas e conquistas, e um vislumbre sobre os vínculos - memoráveis alianças: das conquistadas às rompidas. Foi utilizado como referencial teórico algumas idéias de Martin Heidegger, bem como de outros autores que se fundamentaram nele. O estudo possibilitou compreender algumas facetas do existir dessas mães nas relações de cuidado estabelecidas com a criança doente, apreendendo os significados atribuídos por elas a uma doença incurável, ao seu tratamento e às repercussões dessa realidade em suas vidas e na vida de seus filhos. / The Chronic Renal Failure diagnosis (CRF) inaugurates in a person who experiences an irreversible crossing to the disease world, altering the relation of the sick person with his/her body. It is an incurable disease, which treatment consists in permanent interventions along the life of the patient as reliance of devices to substitute the renal function, surgical interventions, and daily ingestion of medicine and adoption of restriction dietary. The children families in ambulatory peritoneal dialysis treatment have assumed significant surcharge in the carefulness offered to the child, which results in emotional weariness, guilt experiences and familiar stress. The goal in this study, in context is to comprehend the experiences of Chronic Renal Failure holder children mother, their way to exist facing the dialysis treatment and the possibility of the renal transplant. The study was led according to the phenomenological investigation methodology, that consists in apprehension of the phenomenon such as it reveals to the person who experiences it, seeking to catch the meanings ascribed to her/him on his/her existence. Five mothers with CRF children and adolescents were interviewed in peritoneal dialysis treatment in the clinical hospital in the Faculty of Medicine of \"Ribeirão Preto\". University of São Paulo (HC/FMRP/ USP), from the question: \"How have you been experiencing this moment of your life?\" the interviews were analysed according to the method of analysis of the stated phenomenon structure, proposed by Martin & Bicudo (1989), Giorgi (1985) and Valle (1997), developing such thematic categories: inaugurating to live with the disease and the treatment of the child; integrating into the treatment everyday: to mean to \"live on\" , caring for the child: offering and recognizing his/her vitality, admitting the own coping quests and conquests, glimpsing the links memorable alliances: from the conquered to broken. Some ideas of Martin Heidegger were used as theorical references, as well as from others authors that have the same idea as him. The study enabled the comprehension of some facets of the mothers experiences on their relation of caring established with a sick child, seizing the meanings ascribed by them to an incurable sick, its treatment and repercussion of this reality on their lives and on the life of their children.

A insuficiência renal crônica (IRC) pode ocasionar uma série de alterações metabólicas no organismo, das quais o comprometimento do metabolismo do cálcio pode acarretar em desmineralização óssea e mineralização de tecidos moles, inclusive renal, favorecendo a perda ainda maior de néfrons. Na rotina, a avaliação do cálcio é geralmente realizada pela mensuração do cálcio sérico total, entretanto, a única fração biologicamente ativa deste mineral é representada pelo cálcio ionizado. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o cálcio ionizado em gatos sadios e em gatos com IRC, com o intuito de se obter subsídios para o melhor entendimento da homeostase do cálcio. Foram analisados 25 gatos sadios (grupo controle) e 19 gatos com IRC (grupo de estudo) em que foram determinadas as concentrações séricas de cálcio ionizado, cálcio total, sódio, potássio, cloreto, fósforo inorgânico, albumina, como também do pH sangüíneo e das variáveis da hemogasometria. Não foram observadas diferenças significantes entre os grupos controle e estudo no que se relaciona aos valores de cálcio total (controle = 9,52 ± 0,96; IRC = 9,48 ± 0,96) e cálcio ionizado (controle = 5,24 ± 0,18; IRC = 5,29 ± 0,53). Em ambos os grupos observou-se que o valor da fração de cálcio ionizado foi superior a 50% do valor do cálcio total, dado este que difere da literatura, principalmente quando se compara com a espécie canina. Quando da avaliação individual dos dados, foi constatado nos gatos com IRC que o valor de cálcio sérico ionizado encontrava-se aumentado em 31,6% dos animais e diminuído em 15,8%; entretanto, quando foi considerado o cálcio sérico total, a hipercalcemia não foi detectada em nenhum dos animais e a hipocalcemia observada em 5,3%. Ainda, nos gatos com IRC que apresentaram normocalcemia relacionada ao cálcio ionizado, quando da mensuração do cálcio sérico total, a normocalcemia só foi constatada em 50% daqueles animais. Diferença significante também foi observada entre os dois grupos no que se refere aos valores de fósforo inorgânico e algumas variáveis da hemogasometria, caracterizando discreta hiperfosfatemia e acidose metabólica nos gatos com IRC. Apesar da presença de acidose, que poderia resultar na diminuição do cálcio ligado à albumina e assim justificar o desenvolvimento de hipercalcemia relacionada ao cálcio ionizado nos gatos com IRC, a normocalcemia e a hipocalcemia também foram detectadas, demonstrando-se, assim, a importância de se mensurar o cálcio ionizado, pois somente a mensuração do cálcio sérico total não refletiu a real condição do cálcio biologicamente ativo e, ainda, que devem ser investigados outros mecanismos que possam influenciar a fração de cálcio ionizado. / Chronic renal failure (CRF) can cause many metabolic abnormalities in the body, and one of these is represented by alteration in calcium metabolism, and the animal can develop demineralization and calcification of soft tissues, including renal parenchyma, which can facilitate the progression of renal damage. In routine, calcium is usually evaluated by measurement of total serum calcium, however, the biologically active fraction is represented by ionized calcium. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate serum ionized calcium in healthy cats and in cats with chronic renal failure. Twenty-five clinically normal cats (control group) and nineteen cats with CRF were evaluated, and serum ionized calcium, total calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, albumin, as well as blood pH and blood gases parameters were measured. No difference between normal cats and cats with CRF concerning total calcium (control = 9.52 ± 0.96; CRF = 9.48 ± 0.96) and ionized calcium (control = 5.24 ± 0.18; CRF = 5.29 ± 0.53) were observed. In both groups, the fraction of ionized calcium represented more than 50% of total calcium value, and the data were different from those reported in the literature, mainly concerning dogs. In cats with CRF, when the data were evaluated individually, serum ionized calcium was increased in 31.6% of the animals and decreased in 15.8%; however considering serum total calcium, hypercalcemia was not detected in any of those cats and hypocalcemia was observed in 5.3%. In addition, from the cats with CRF that presented normocalcemia related to ionized calcium, only 50% of those animals showed normocalcemia when total calcium was determined. Difference between control group and the group of cats with CRF concerning phosphorus and some parameters of blood gases were detected, observing slight phosphatemia and metabolic acidosis. The presence of acidosis can possible result in decrease of albumin bound to calcium and in consequence justify the hypercalcemia related to ionized calcium observed in cats with CRF, but normocalcemia and hypocalcemia were also observed, showing the importance of the measurement of ionized calcium, because total serum calcium did not reflect the real status of calcium that is considered the biologically active form; in addition, other mechanisms that can compromise the ionized calcium fraction should be investigated.

No description available.

No description available.

This dissertation describes how to apply pharmacokinetic simulations and modeling in a clinical setting to monitor and adjust drug dosing in special patient populations. Pharmacokinetic simulations were used to investigate efficacy and risk of drug toxicity of a new dosing regimen for aminoglycoside antibiotics when administered to renal failure patients. The current method of administering aminoglycosides to renal failure patients is to dose the drug during the last half hour of dialysis sessions. The new proposed method suggests dosing the drug during the first half hour of the dialysis session. Using one-compartment model infusion equations, both methods were simulated to predict drug peaks, troughs and area under the curves. These parameters were used to compare both dosing regimens to find out if the proposed dosing regimen can be suggested in a clinical setting to obtain the same efficacy and lower risk of drug toxicity. The dissertation then describes a prospective clinical study in chronic renal failure patients who received the same tobramycin dose using current and proposed dosing regimens. Results from the clinical study confirm pharmacokinetic simulations and modeling outcomes. Results suggest that both regimens have the same efficacy, but the new proposed method is expected to have lower risk of drug toxicity. The dissertation also describes a retrospective study for vancomycin dosing in renal failure patients. The objective was to confirm that pharmacokinetic modeling could be used to predict and adjust vancomycin dosing for this special population. Vancomycin trough concentrations obtained from patient medical records were compared to predictions obtained using a pharmacokinetic model. It was concluded that there was no statistically significant difference between actual and predicted vancomycin trough concentrations. These results suggest that the pharmacokinetic model can be used to predict and adjust vancomycin dosing to chronic renal failure population. The last part of this dissertation describes evaluation of insulin glargine effect on glycemic control and weight change in a diabetic population. Glycemic control and weight of patients before and after initiation of insulin glargine were evaluated retrospectively. Results showed that initiation of insulin glargine improved glycemic control while weight remained relatively stable. / Graduation date: 2005