Objectives. Population-based studies regarding renal replacement therapy (RRT) used in critical care populations are useful to understand the trend and impact of medical care interventions. We describe the use of RRT and associated outcomes (mortality and length of intensive care stay) in a level 1 hospital. Design. A retrospective descriptive observational study. Patients. Critically ill patients admitted to the ICU from 1 January to 31 December 2018. Interventions. Age, gender, ward of admission, primary organ dysfunction at admission, length of hospital stay (LOS), mechanical ventilation, APACHE, SOFA and ISS scores, the use of vasopressors, transfusion, RRT and the number of RRT sessions were extracted. Results. 1703 critically ill patients were divided into two groups: the RRT-group (238 patients) and the non-RRT group (1465 patients). The mean age was 63.58 ± 17.52 (SD) in the final ICU studied patients (64.72 ± 16.64 SD in the RRT-group), 60.5% being male. Patients admitted from general surgery ward needing RRT were 41.4%. The specific scores, the use of vasopressors, transfusions and mortality were higher in the RRT-group. The ICU LOS was superior in the RRT-group, regardless of the primary organ dysfunction. Conclusions. RRT was practiced in 13.9% of patients (especially after age of 61), with mortality being the outcome for 66.8% of the RRT-group patients. All analyzed data were higher in the RRT group, especially for multiple trauma and surgical patients, or patients presenting cardiac or renal dysfunctions at admission. We found significant increased ISS scores in the RRT-group, a significant association between the need of vasopressors or transfusion requirement and RRT use, and an association in the number of RRT sessions and LOS (p < 0.001).

Background: The fish-based diet is known for its potential health benefits, but it is less known for its association with mercury (Hg) exposure, which, in turn, can lead to neurological and cardiovascular diseases through the exacerbation of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between Hg blood concentration and specific biomarkers for oxidative stress. Methods: We present a cross-sectional, analytical, observational study, including primary quantitative data obtained from 67 patients who presented with unspecific complaints and had high levels of blood Hg. Oxidative stress markers, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), malondialdehyde (MLD), lymphocyte glutathione (GSH-Ly), selenium (Se), and vitamin D were determined. Results: We found positive, strong correlations between Hg levels and SOD (r = 0.88, p < 0.0001), GPx (r = 0.92, p < 0.0001), and MLD (r = 0.94, p < 0.0001). We also found inverted correlations between GSH-Ly and vitamin D and Hg blood levels (r = −0.86, r = −0.91, respectively, both with p < 0.0001). Se had a weak correlation with Hg plasma levels, but this did not reach statistical significance (r = −0.2, p > 0.05). Conclusions: Thus, we can conclude that low-level Hg exposure can be an inductor of oxidative stress.