Clinical Research Directory

Acute Kidney Injury and Ultra-endurance Running

This study aims to understand how participating in the Western States Endurance Run (WSER), a 100-mile ultramarathon, affects kidney health. Long, strenuous exercise in hot conditions can temporarily strain the kidneys, especially when combined with dehydration, muscle breakdown, and the use of common pain-relief medications such as ibuprofen. Although kidney stress has been reported in endurance sports, no study has examined it directly in runners during the WSER using newer, more sensitive urine markers of kidney injury. Runners who volunteer will complete brief assessments before and after the race. These include providing a urine sample, a small finger-prick blood sample, a body-weight measurement, and answering a short questionnaire about pain-medication use. During the race, participants will wear a global positioning system (GPS) watch and heart-rate strap to monitor effort. Each assessment takes about 15 minutes, and no follow-up is required. Findings from this study will help determine how often kidney stress occurs in this event and what factors may contribute to it, ultimately supporting safer training and medical practices for ultramarathon athletes.

Renal Perfusion and the Development of AKI Following Traumatic Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of traumatic haemorrhagic shock (THS) and together these conditions increase mortality risk. Although septic shock patients who develop severe AKI are known to develop hypoperfusion of the renal cortex, little is known regarding intra-renal perfusion changes in THS. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effects of THS on renal microcirculatory perfusion.

Single-Center Prospective Study to Investigate the Difference in the Incidence of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in High-Risk Patients With the Use of the Dye-Vert Plus System

Coronary angiography (CAG) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the common procedures which require the use of intravenous contrast media. The reported incidence of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) in high-risk patients following CAG varies from 10% to 30%. The high rate of CIN in post-PCI patients could be related either to the patient (advanced age, previous CKD, diabetes, dehydration, and concomitant use of other nephrotoxic drugs) or procedure related (intra-arterial route of administration, use of high osmolar contrast media, repeated exposure to contrast within 48 hours, volume of contrast used). Several strategies to prevent or treat CIN have been developed, including hydration, N-acetyl-cysteine, statins, ascorbic acid, bicarbonate, aminophylline, forced diuresis, renal replacement therapy, and choice of low-osmolarity or alternative agents, but one of the most obvious means is to minimize contrast volume. The DyeVert plus Contrast Reduction System, is designed to lower the amount of contrast dye the kidneys are exposed to during a procedure. Because the amount of contrast dye is precisely controlled. The purpose of this prospective study is to understand how the monitoring system of Dye-Vert Plus will impact Acute Kidney Injuries rates in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac catheterization when used in conjunction with a standardized hydration policy.