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In 1999, the End-Stage Renal Disease Network of Texas, Inc, #14 (NW14) initiated a quality improvement project in support of the Health Care Finance Administration's End-Stage Renal Disease Health Care Quality Improvement Program. The project, titled "Mission Possible: Vascular Access: Decreasing the Utilization of Catheters in the Texas Hemodialysis Community," aims to assist the Texas dialysis community decrease the use of hemodialysis catheters. This report reviews the goal of the project, baseline vascular access survey results, and quality improvement activities initiated to help dialysis professionals implement quality management processes that will improve the quality of care for Texas dialysis patients.

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OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of malnutrition per facility standards; examine interventions used to treat malnutrition; and share experiences, concerns, and solutions to problems in the management of malnutrition in dialysis patients in Texas. DESIGN: Structured survey questionnaires. SETTING: 196 outpatient hemodialysis (HD) and 86 peritoneal dialysis (PD) programs in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network of Texas, Inc. PARTICIPANTS: Renal dietitians who worked in Texas dialysis facilities that treated chronic, outpatient adult, and pediatric ESRD patients on HD or PD. MEASIRES: Criteria used to identify malnourished patients, prevalence of malnutrition in dialysis recipients, prevalence and types of interventions used to manage malnourished patients, and participation in quality management activities among renal dietitians. RESULTS: For facilities that treated both HD and PD patients in 1996: (1) a significantly greater proportion of PD patients were identified as malnourished than HD patients; (2) facilities that had a high percentage of malnourished HD patients also had a high percentage of malnourished PD patients; (3) a significantly greater proportion of PD patients received commercial nutrition supplements than HD patients; and (4) use of tube feedings, intradialytic parenteral nutrition, intraperitoneal parenteral nutrition, and total parenteral nutrition among HD and PD patients decreased significantly from the past to the current survey year. Renal dietitians shared their experiences, concerns and solutions to problems in the management of malnutrition in this population. CONCLUSION: Results indicate a need to improve the nutritional status of malnourished dialysis patients, to increase consideration of tube feedings as viable nutrient delivery routes, and to maximize involvement of renal dietitians in the quality management process. With the cooperative effort of staff, care givers, patients, and family, early identification and appropriate interventions may improve the nutritional status and quality of life of dialysis patients. This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.

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Immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were measured in 198 cord blood samples from 192 apparently normal pregnancies from 24 weeks of gestation to term. Simple linear regression analysis yielded a standard curve for IgM development during pregnancy showing a 0.5 mg/dl increase in IgM per week of gestation. This curve allows the comparison of fetal IgM levels from pregnancies considered to be at risk for intrauterine infection.

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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the influence of evolving obstetric and public health care on the occurrence of low birth weight and preterm birth in a large population. STUDY DESIGN: Birth statistics of 2,049,970 live births (25.1% nonwhite) and 156,009 low-birth-weight infants (39.8% nonwhite) were analyzed. RESULTS: Between 1967 to 1971 and 1977 to 1981 the incidence of infants weighing < or = 2500 gm declined from 85.5 to 74.4 per 1000 live births. The percentage of 500 to 1500 gm infants delivered at perinatal centers in Virginia increased from 41.8% in 1977 to 1981 to 64.9% in 1987 to 1991. In spite of regionalization, expanded maternity services, and increased use of tocolytic agents the incidence of low-birth-weight infants per 1000 live births in both white and nonwhite populations has remained comparatively stable since 1976, although the percentage of term infants weighing < or = 2500 gm has decreased. The incidence per 1000 live births of infants weighing 500 to 1500 gm has not changed statistically in 25 years (Student t test). CONCLUSION: The data challenge the overall effectiveness of current programs, including the use of tocolytic agents, and indicate a need to restructure efforts to reduce low birth weight and preterm births.

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To assess the relative efficacy of amniocentesis versus targeted (detailed) ultrasonography, 225 patients referred because of an elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level (79.6%) or a family history of neural tube defect (20.4%) were evaluated. Ultrasonographic examination alone detected all 26 fetal abnormalities (11 cases of anencephaly, 10 cases of open spina bifida, and five other anomalies). Twenty-eight patients declined amniocentesis; all had normal pregnancy outcomes. Of the 167 patients with apparently normal fetal anatomy by sonography, seven had elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels but no acetylcholinesterase in the amniotic fluid. Six of these pregnancies resulted in normal infants; one infant had congenital nephrosis. The remaining 160 patients had normal sonograms with normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels and no fetal malformations at delivery. Although these results suggest that targeted ultrasonography by experienced personnel is a reasonable alternative to amniocentesis in evaluations for neural tube defects, the availability, cost-effectiveness, and diagnostic accuracy of this approach must be well documented in large prospective studies.

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The effect of tocolytic therapy before labor was evaluated in 33 pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Either intravenous magnesium sulfate or oral terbutaline was administered at the time of presentation. Intensive surveillance to detect signs of infection was carried out for all patients. In 29 of the patients in this treatment group who were seen at less than 34 weeks, a significantly longer prolongation of pregnancy was achieved when compared with 24 similar women treated after onset of labor in the hospital (169 hours versus 77 hours, p = 0.05). Duration of infant hospitalization was less for those mothers receiving tocolytic agents before labor. Maternal and infant infection were not different in the two groups; nor was the cesarean section rate. When this treatment group was compared with another control group of 96 women already in labor at presentation, the difference in time from admission to delivery was substantial, but it did not achieve statistical significance. In this group the rate of maternal infection was significantly higher, but newborn morbidity was not. Aggressive early treatment with tocolytic agents in pregnant women with preterm premature membrane rupture is more productive but not more dangerous than conservative management.

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Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (cordocentesis) provides direct access to the fetal circulation in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Seventeen patients underwent this procedure between December 1985 and December 1986 for evaluation of a variety of clinical situations, including nonlethal fetal abnormalities detected by ultrasound, equivocal results of amniocentesis, nonimmune fetal hydrops, and isoimmune disorders. Our experience confirms the efficacy of the procedure and suggests that it may become an important tool for fetal assessment and therapy.

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Glycosylated serum protein assay was examined as an alternative to standard glucose screening and glucose tolerance testing. In a comparison of two groups of gravid women having abnormal 1-hour 50 gm glucose screening tests, there was no difference in glycosylated protein level in the group with abnormal glucose tolerance test results (9.4% +/- 2.0%, mean +/- SD; n = 8) versus normal results (9.2% +/- 1.07%, mean +/- SD; n = 11). Furthermore, correlation of glycosylated serum protein level with glucose screening test results was poor (r = 0.185, p = 0.23, n = 17). Glycosylated serum protein assay is not useful in detecting mild metabolic aberrations associated with gestational diabetes.

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Two preeclamptic women became profoundly hypotensive while receiving magnesium sulfate. No evidence of toxic levels was present in either. In both, preeclampsia-induced hypovolemia was extreme. That nontoxic magnesium levels can cause severe hypotension is an alarming possibility. Acknowledgment of this complication and expeditious reversal of the problem is essential.

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Effects of magnesium sulfate and ritodrine hydrochloride on cardiovascular physiologic characteristics were studied in 70 human subjects treated for preterm labor. Systemic and uterine hemodynamic effects were investigated in five pregnant rhesus monkeys. Systolic blood pressure was minimally affected by either agent. Diastolic pressure, while not affected by magnesium sulfate, decreased 26.3% during ritodrine therapy. Maternal and fetal heart rates were minimally affected by magnesium sulfate. Ritodrine increased maternal and fetal heart rates significantly. In the monkeys, magnesium sulfate increased uterine and placental blood flows (by the microsphere technique) but failed to alter cardiac output. Ritodrine produced an increase in cardiac output but decreased perfusion pressure. Placental blood flow decreased by an average of 27.6%. Ritodrine would therefore seem contraindicated with a compromised fetal environment. Magnesium sulfate, by not altering perfusion pressure, may have a beneficial effect on uterine hemodynamics. These specific and distinct differences in cardiovascular and hemodynamic effects should be considered when either magnesium sulfate or ritodrine is selected as a tocolytic agent.

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Use of corticosteroids in the management of rupture of the membranes in a preterm gestation was evaluated. Ninety-three mothers (105 infants) received beta-methasone, whereas 105 mothers (112 infants) did not. The incidence of significant neonatal respiratory complications was statistically higher for beta-methasone-treated (26.6%) compared with non-treated patients (11.1%) who delivered more than 48 hours after rupture of membranes. Neonatal septic complications also were significantly higher in treated (21.3%) than in nontreated (9.2%) patients delivered 48 hours after rupture of membranes. Maternal sepsis was not statistically different between the two groups. In the nonsteroid-treated patients, the incidence of significant respiratory distress syndrome was greater for those infants delivered within 48 hours (31.0%) than those delivered more than 48 hours (11.1%) from rupture of membranes. The data support conservative management and indicate that corticosteroid administration in a preterm gestation with rupture of membranes is not beneficial to the newborn.

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This report describes the sonographic diagnosis of the Pena-Shokeir syndrome type 1 during the second trimester of a pregnancy which was electively terminated. The mother had previously delivered a macerated, hydropic infant with multiple congenital anomalies. The diagnosis was based on the recurrence of hydramnios and nonimmune hydrops in a fetus with normal chromosomes, normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein, normal fetal echocardiography, and lack of evidence of a lysosomal storage disease. These observations suggest that serial sonography during the second trimester in pregnancies at risk may allow for the prenatal diagnosis of the Pena-Shokeir syndrome type 1. Without further experience, it would not be prudent to suggest to couples at risk that the prenatal diagnosis of a recurrence can be assured with a high degree of accuracy.

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Severe thrombocytopenia, abnormal liver function, and renal dysfunction may occur as manifestations of preeclampsia. Failure to recognize that this cluster of abnormalities represents a form of preeclampsia may result in erroneous initial diagnoses. Management of 13 such patients has shown a direct correlation between the degree of thrombocytopenia and the measures of liver dysfunction. Platelet counts and liver functions improved prior to delivery in five patients treated with corticosteroids. Management should be directed toward investigation and correction of deranged physiology and appropriate monitoring of maternal-feto-placental status. Early delivery is indicated in patients with progressive thrombocytopenia and in those with evidence of fetal maturity or distress. Provided that the disease process remains stable, consideration should be given in cases of fetal immaturity, to the use of betamethasone therapy. The occurrence of severe thrombocytopenia in 20% of neonates should be a consideration in selecting the mode of delivery.

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Over a 9-month time span, eight gravid women at high risk had fetal heart rate decelerations on nonstress tests (NSTs). This form of antepartum evaluation, the standard at our institution, was performed 918 times on 476 women during this period. Decelerations were required to be between 1 and 10 minutes in duration and less than 90 bpm, or greater than 40 bpm below baseline, for inclusion. Of the eight women (1.7% of the total tested), four had reactive and four nonreactive NSTs. All eight had contraction stress tests (CSTs) that were negative by definition. Of four women allowed to labor, two (50%) required cesarean section for fetal distress. Two instances of fetal death (25%) occurred during observation periods of 36 and 48 hours. Two infants were growth retarded, and two had abnormal cord positions. NSTs showing decelerations of this type, regardless of reactivity or of follow-up CST, are abnormal and should be viewed with alarm. In term pregnancy, such fetuses should be delivered. In preterm pregnancy with nonreactive NSTs, decelerations may also be valid grounds for delivery. Some discrimination is possible in preterm pregnancies when the NST is reactive.

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The efficacy of magnesium sulfate was evaluated as the primary tocolytic agent in the management of patients at risk for premature delivery. One hundred ninety-two patients determined to be 36 weeks' gestation or less were treated. One hundred seven patients (55.7%) received an additional oral beta-mimetic agent once labor was arrested. One hundred nineteen patients had intact membranes and 73 patients had ruptured membranes. Delay of delivery of 48 hours or longer was achieved in 70.6% of the patients with intact membranes and 60.2% of patients with ruptured membranes. Intervening obstetric complications, maternal morbidity, and neonatal septic and respiratory morbidity were increased in patients with ruptured membranes compared to patients with intact membranes. Magnesium sulfate is considered to be effective tocolytic agent having minimal adverse effects in managing patients at risk for premature delivery. Its use in patients with ruptured membranes, as with any tocolytic agent, remains controversial.

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Uterine activity was monitored continuously for periods of three or five days in two subjects. Biorhythms in the spontaneous variations of intrauterine pressure and frequency of contraction were demonstrated in both phases of the menstrual cycle. Statistically, the patterns conformed to 24-hour Fourier curves, with higher values synchronized by the periods of light. Positive statistical correlations were present between uterine activity and the circadian patterns of intrauterine temperature and norepinephrine concentrations in both urine and peripheral arterial plasma.

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