We studied the relationship between plasma osmolality, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and fluid input in patients during the acute phase of a first stroke. Fifteen consecutive patients were studied (median age 79) and their blood sampled on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14. Plasma osmolality was related to fluid input over days 0-3 (p = 0.0013) and AVP over 14 days (p less [...]
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to update the knowledge on diarrhoea, a common problem in critically ill patients. Epidemiological data will be discussed, with special emphasis on diarrhoea in tube-fed patients and during antibiotic therapy. The possible preventive and therapeutic measures will be presented. RECENT FINDINGS: The need for concise definitions of diarrhoea was recently re-emphasized. The use [...]
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability and validity of refractometry, hydrometry, and reagent strips in assessing urine specific gravity in collegiate wrestlers. DESIGN AND SETTING: We assessed the reliability of refractometry, hydrometry, and reagent strips between 2 trials and among 4 testers. The validity of hydrometry and reagent strips was assessed by comparison with refractometry, the [...]
The optimal intravenous solution for rehydration of infants and children with severe dehydration is debated. AIM: The aim was to compare the efficacy of a polyelectrolyte solution (group PS) with sodium chloride 0.9% solution (group NS) in rapid parenteral rehydration of severely dehydrated infants with acute diarrhoea. METHODS: Primary outcomes were volume and time to hydration. Secondary outcomes were urea, creatinine, electrolytes, glucose, arterial pH and bicarbonate levels. Patients were [...]
In an experiment, multiple reagent test strips from 90 urine samples were examined twice: observed visually by one of two persons and analyzed by spectrophotometry. Interobserver and intra-observer agreement were calculated and expressed as Cohen's K. Interobserver and intra-observer agreement were moderate to good, but lower than one might expect. Enhancing discoloration of the test pads could improve reproducibility. FULL-TEXT AVAILABRLE IN [...]
AIM:To evaluate the reliability of dipstick measurements of urine specific gravity (U-SG). METHODS: Fresh urine specimens were tested for urine pH and osmolality (U-pH, U-Osm) by a pH meter and an osmometer, and for U-SG by three different methods (refractometry, automatic readout of a dipstick (Clinitek-50), and (visual) change of colour of the dipstick). RESULTS: The correlations between the visual U-SG dipstick measurements and U-SG determined by a refractometer and the comparison [...]
This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of state, minimally invasive clinical and physical signs (or sets of signs) to be used as screening tests for detecting impending or current water-loss dehydration, or both, in older people by systematically reviewing [...]
PURPOSE:Understanding the importance of euhydration in humans in order to ensure good health in various situations, the purpose of this review is to examine the available techniques in assessing hydration status. RECENT FINDINGS: During the past 20 years, many indices have been developed to assess hydration levels accurately in humans. Changes in body weight, haematological and urine parameters, bioelectrical impedance, [...]
Objectives: to examine current practice with regard to hydration in acute stroke (part 1) to identify problem areas, to develop, implement and evaluate an intervention package (part 2). Design: prospective, repeated measures, between subjects Setting: a district general hospital. Participants: consecutive admissions with an acute stroke. Part 1 involved 30 patients, 14 of whom were [...]
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Origin of sex difference in urinary osmolality. METHODS: In 495 healthy children aged 4.0-14.9 years participating in the DONALD (Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed) study (247 boys, 248 girls), the water intake recorded in 24-hour weighed dietary records along with urinary volume, osmolality and free water reserve in 24-hour urine samples from the same day as the dietary record were determined. RESULTS: Boys showed [...]