ABSTRACT
About 60% of the world population has access to the Internet in 2021, making it the main tool in fostering communication between people. Lately, digital information and communication have especially taken place on platforms known as Social Media (SoMe) or Social Networks. In the last decade the usefulness of these tools in carrying information aimed at updating professionals in Medicine and Nephrology has become evident. There are several examples of SoMe utilization in Nephrology, as demonstrated by the existing accounts or Pages operated by the main international nephrological Scientific Societies, or the most renowned specialized medical journals. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are the most versatile SoMe for these objectives;however, other platforms such as Tik Tok, Linkedin, Instagram, and WhatsApp may serve the same purpose. This digital revolution in disseminating information has proved very useful during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, even though some inappropriate uses have emerged, such as the diffusion of fake news, which has favored the emergence of "adverse effects" or a surge of antiscientific positions. In this review, we examine how physicians and nephrologists can take advantage of digital information for their continuing education. We quote the main resources in the international scenario and illustrate some specific national examples, such as the Journal Club of the Nephrology post-graduate program of the University of Milan and the Facebook group "Medical and Nephrology Community".
ABSTRACT
Introduction: HemoDialysis eXpanded (HDx) represents an innovative strategy to remove uremic toxins of Large-Medium Molecular weight (LMMs, up to 45 Kda) thanks to the medium cutoff membranes (MCO) and internal convection. Transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral leukocytes is markedly reduced and removal of soluble mediators of inflammation is enhanced after HDx. Also in vitro studies confirmed that HDx is associated with a limitation of neutrophil activation: decrease of ROS, TNF-alpha and IL6 production, and increase of apoptosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical response to treatment with HDx during AKI related to sepsis. Methods: An 88 year old woman with a history of ischemic heart disease,heart failure and chronic kidney disease stage III-B KDOQI (eGFR 31 ml/m') had been in his usual state of health until 10 days before admission, when fever developed associated with diarrhea and urinary tract infection (UTI). Treated at home with Ceftriaxone 1 g/day without improvement, for the onset of oligoanuria and the detection of sepsis associated with bronchopneumonia and AKI, she was hospitalized. Microangiopathic hemolitic anemia (MAHA) is excluded. He then comes to daily renal replacement theraphy (RRT) through sustained low efficiency dialysis (SLED) and start antibiotic therapy with Imipenem and Teicoplanina. After 72 hours, for the worsening of leukocytosis, the persistence of high values of inflammation indexes and anuria the patient was undergo to daily HDx using Theranova® 400 (1.7m2, Baxter). Antibiotic therapy was still unchanged. After 9 days of this treatment there was a normalization of the inflammation indexes, diuresis recovery and HDx stop. At T0-T3-T12 were evaluated: complete blood count, Procalcitonin (PCT), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and albumin. Serum creatinine, urea and the daily urine output have been monitored to follow progression of renal dysfunction. Results: HDx (Qb = 255 ± 45ml/min, TT 235 ± 27 m) shows a significant reduction at 12 days for Leukocyte (WBC), Nutrophils, Lymphocytes, Platelets (PLT), PCT and CRP, whereas the albumin is unchanged (Tab.1). HDx also induces relevant RR of Urea (73.5%) and serum creatinine (75.2%). Conclusions: HDx theraphy, through the use of a MCO membrane, effectively is involved on resolution of sepsis and AKI of our patient compared to SLED, despite unchanged antibiotic therapy. Probably this is due to interesting results of HDx on inflammation and increased clearance of cytokines. His possible support in the treatment of positive COVID-19, in fact, has recently been postulated in some Italian dialysis centers, even in the absence of trials to confirm these evidences. [Formula presented] No conflict of interest