Project description:The use of an incremental peritoneal dialysis (PD) strategy in a large contemporary patient population has not been described.We report the use of this strategy in clinical practice, the prescriptions required, and the clearances achieved in a large center which has routinely used this approach for more than 10 years.This is a cross-sectional observational study.A single large Canadian academic center.This study collected data on 124 prevalent PD patients at a single Canadian academic center.The proportion of patients who achieve the clearance target on a low clearance or incremental PD prescription; the actual PD prescriptions and consequent total, peritoneal, and renal urea clearances [Kt/V] achieved; and patient and technique survival and peritonitis rate in comparison with national and international reports.Of the 124 prevalent PD patients in this PD unit, 106 (86%) were achieving the Kt/V target, and of these, 54 (44% of all patients) were doing so using incremental PD prescriptions. Fifty of these incremental PD patients were using automated PD (APD) with either no day dwell (68%) or less than 7 days a week treatment (12%) or both (20%). Patient survival in our PD unit was not different from that reported in Canada as a whole. Peritonitis rates were better than internationally recommended standards.This is an observational study with no randomized control group.Incremental PD is feasible in a contemporary PD population treated mainly with APD. Almost half of the patients were able to achieve clearance targets while receiving less onerous and less costly low clearance prescriptions. We suggest that incremental PD should be widely used as a cost-effective strategy in PD.
Project description:Thermosets-polymeric materials that adopt a permanent shape upon curing-have a key role in the modern plastics and rubber industries, comprising about 20 per cent of polymeric materials manufactured today, with a worldwide annual production of about 65 million tons1,2. The high density of crosslinks that gives thermosets their useful properties (for example, chemical and thermal resistance and tensile strength) comes at the expense of degradability and recyclability. Here, using the industrial thermoset polydicyclopentadiene as a model system, we show that when a small number of cleavable bonds are selectively installed within the strands of thermosets using a comonomer additive in otherwise traditional curing workflows, the resulting materials can display the same mechanical properties as the native material, but they can undergo triggered, mild degradation to yield soluble, recyclable products of controlled size and functionality. By contrast, installation of cleavable crosslinks, even at much higher loadings, does not produce degradable materials. These findings reveal that optimization of the cleavable bond location can be used as a design principle to achieve controlled thermoset degradation. Moreover, we introduce a class of recyclable thermosets poised for rapid deployment.
Project description:Ethyl cyanoacrylate is a highly reactive monomer that has been used nearly exclusively to make Super Glue and related fast-setting adhesives. Here, we describe transformation of this highly abundant, readily available monomer into a closed-loop recyclable plastic that could supplant currently used (and often unrecycled/unrecyclable) plastics, such as poly(styrene). We report polymerization conditions, plastic-processing methods, and plastic-recycling protocols for poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) plastics that make the Super Glue monomer a viable starting material for a next generation of closed-loop recyclable plastics. The processes described are scalable, and the plastics can be recycled in a closed-loop process with >90% yields, even when combined with a heterogeneous mixture of other types of plastic. Description Super Glue has been converted into a highly recyclable plastic with properties that are reminiscent of poly(styrene).
Project description:Background: Kidney failure prevalence is increasing in older patients for whom dialysis initiation can be challenging. Assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD), where PD is performed with the help of a healthcare worker, can facilitate PD for frailer patients who may not be candidate otherwise. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing the first pilot assisted PD program in Quebec (Canada) and to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of the PD cohort before and after assisted PD availability. Design: Observational retrospective cohort study. Setting and Population: All adult patients initiating PD between 2015 and 2020 in a single-center dialysis unit were included. Measurements: Incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with PD were compared between (1) the “pre” (2015-2017) and the “post” assisted PD era (2018-2020) and (2) patients with assisted PD and independent PD in the more recent period. Methods: The primary outcome was peritonitis rate over the first year. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization, transfers to in-center hemodialysis (HD) and mortality. Results: Overall, 124 patients initiated PD with an annual incidence of 17 ± 3 patients during the “pre” and 24 ± 8 patients during the “post” assisted PD era (P = .18). First-year peritonitis rate was similar over the 2 eras. Years of PD initiation and use of assisted PD were not associated with risk peritonitis (over total follow-up) after adjustment. Adjusted hazard of transfer to HD or death was higher during the “post” era (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-5.58). Seventeen patients received assisted PD including 13 (18%) of the 72 patients initiated between 2018 and 2020. Patients with assisted PD were older than those with independent PD (72 [64-84] vs. 59 [47-67], P = .006) and received assistance for 0.8 (0.4-1.5) years. When comparing assisted and independent cohorts, there were no differences in crude rates of peritonitis or hospitalization. Limitations: Single-center study with small sample size. Conclusion: This study shows the feasibility of implementing an assisted PD program, with favorable overall outcomes including similar rates of peritonitis during the first year after PD initiation.
Project description:BackgroundHome dialysis utilization is lower among veterans than in the general US population. Several sociodemographic factors and comorbidities contribute to peritoneal dialysis (PD) underutilization. In 2019, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Kidney Disease Program Office convened a PD workgroup to address this concern.ObservationsThe PD workgroup was explicitly concerned by the limited availability of PD within the VHA, which frequently requires veterans to transition kidney disease care from US Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs) to non-VHA facilities when they progress from chronic kidney disease to end-stage kidney disease, causing fragmentation of care. Since the administrative requirements and infrastructure of VAMCs vary, the workgroup focused its deliberations on synthesizing a standard process for evaluating the feasibility and establishing a new PD program within any individual VAMC. A 3-phased approach was envisioned, beginning with ascertainment of prerequisites, leading to an examination of the clinical and financial feasibility through the process of data gathering and synthesis, culminating in a business plan that translates the previous 2 steps into an administrative document necessary for obtaining VHA approvals.ConclusionsVAMCs can use the guide presented here to improve therapeutic options for veterans with kidney failure by establishing a new or restructured PD program.
Project description:Introduction:As interest for home dialysis is growing, knowledge of comparative clinical outcomes between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD) would help to better inform shared decision making with patients and caregivers during modality discussion. This study aimed to assess differences in risk of mortality and technique failure in an incident home dialysis cohort and, specifically, to assess change in this association through eras. Methods:All adults patients initiating PD or HHD, in Canada (excluding Quebec), within 365 days after kidney replacement therapy (KRT) initiation between 2000 and 2013 were included (administrative censoring 31 December 2014). Mortality and treatment failure (transfer to another modality for >90 days or death) were assessed in a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, with prespecified stratification based on the year of KRT initiation. Results:The study included 959 HHD and 15,469 PD patients. Compared with incident PD, incident HHD was associated with a lower risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.53-0.78), and treatment failure (aHR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.45-0.60). These lower risks of mortality with HHD were more pronounced for older cohorts (2000-2005: aHR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.31-0.70; 2006-2010: aHR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.54-0.89) and not significantly different in the most recent era (2011-2013: aHR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.51-1.47). Conclusion:In Canadian incident KRT patients, HHD was associated with appreciably lower risks of mortality and treatment failure compared to PD, although this association appeared to be attenuated in the most contemporary era.
Project description:BackgroundSeveral studies have shown superior survival of patients on home haemodialysis (HD) compared with peritoneal dialysis (PD), but patients on automated PD (APD) and continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) have not been considered separately. As APD allows larger fluid volumes and may be more efficient than CAPD, we primarily compared patient survival between APD and home HD.MethodsAll adult patients who started kidney replacement therapy (KRT) between 2004 and 2017 in the district of Helsinki-Uusimaa in Finland and who were on one of the home dialysis modalities at 90 days from starting KRT were included. We used intention-to-treat analysis. Survival of home HD, APD and CAPD patients was studied using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression with adjustment for propensity scores that were based on extensive data on possible confounding factors.ResultsThe probability of surviving 5 years was 90% for home HD, 88% for APD and 56% for CAPD patients. After adjustment for propensity scores, the hazard ratio of death was 1.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52-2.4] for APD and 1.6 (95% CI 0.74-3.6) for CAPD compared with home HD. Censoring at the time of kidney transplantation (KTx) or at transfer to in-centre HD did not change the results. Characteristics of home HD and APD patients at the start of dialysis were similar, whereas patients on CAPD had higher median age and more comorbidities and received KTx less frequently.ConclusionsHome HD and APD patients had comparable characteristics and their survival appeared similar.
Project description:BackgroundUninsured patients with end-stage renal disease face barriers to peritoneal dialysis (PD), a type of home dialysis that is associated with improved quality of life and reduced Medicare costs. Although uninsured patients using PD at dialysis start receive retroactive Medicare coverage for required predialysis services, coverage only applies for the calendar month of dialysis start. Thus, initiating dialysis later in the month yields longer retroactive coverage.ObjectivesTo examine whether differences in retroactive Medicare were associated with decreased long-term PD use.Research designWe exploited the dialysis start date using a regression discontinuity design on a national cohort from the US Renal Data System.Subjects36,256 uninsured adults starting dialysis between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2014.MeasuresPD use at dialysis days 1, 90, 180, and 360.ResultsStarting dialysis on the first versus last day of the calendar month was associated with an absolute decrease in PD use of 2.7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5%-3.9%], or a relative decrease of 20% (95% CI, 12%-27%) at dialysis day 360. The absolute decrease was 5.5% (95% CI, 3.5%-7.2%) after Medicare established provider incentives for PD in 2011 and 7.2% (95% CI, 2.5%-11.9%) after Medicaid expansion in 2014. Patients were unlikely to switch from hemodialysis to PD after the first month of dialysis (probability of 6.9% in month 1, 1.5% in month 2, and 0.9% in month 4).ConclusionsExtending retroactive coverage for preparatory dialysis services could increase PD use and reduce overall Medicare spending in the uninsured.
Project description:Background and objectivesHome dialysis is often recognized as a first-choice therapy for patients initiating dialysis. However, studies comparing clinical outcomes between peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis have been very limited.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsThis Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplantation Registry study assessed all Australian and New Zealand adult patients receiving home dialysis on day 90 after initiation of RRT between 2000 and 2012. The primary outcome was overall survival. The secondary outcomes were on-treatment survival, patient and technique survival, and death-censored technique survival. All results were adjusted with three prespecified models: multivariable Cox proportional hazards model (main model), propensity score quintile-stratified model, and propensity score-matched model.ResultsThe study included 10,710 patients on incident peritoneal dialysis and 706 patients on incident home hemodialysis. Treatment with home hemodialysis was associated with better patient survival than treatment with peritoneal dialysis (5-year survival: 85% versus 44%, respectively; log-rank P<0.001). Using multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, home hemodialysis was associated with superior patient survival (hazard ratio for overall death, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.38 to 0.59) as well as better on-treatment survival (hazard ratio for on-treatment death, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.45), composite patient and technique survival (hazard ratio for death or technique failure, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.29 to 0.40), and death-censored technique survival (hazard ratio for technique failure, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.28 to 0.41). Similar results were obtained with the propensity score models as well as sensitivity analyses using competing risks models and different definitions for technique failure and lag period after modality switch, during which events were attributed to the initial modality.ConclusionsHome hemodialysis was associated with superior patient and technique survival compared with peritoneal dialysis.