Epidemiology and pathogenesis of ARF in ICU: incidence of acute renal failure in the intensive care unit, J.L. Vincent; pathophysiology of ischemic acute renal failure, A.M. Sheridan, J.V. Bonventre; risk factors for acute renal failure in the intensive care unit, P. Piccinni, E. Lieta, S. Marafon. ARF and multiple organ failure: the kidney in shock, L.G. Thijs; molecular mechanisms underlying combined kidney-lung dysfunction during acute renal failure, H. Rabb, F. Chamoun, J. Hotchkiss; thrombotic microangiopathies in the intensive care unit - many questions, some answers, P. Ruggenenti, C. Aros, G. Remuzzi. ARF and diagnostic procedures in ICU: role of the renal biopsy in acute renal failure, K. Solez, L.C. Racusen; imaging techniques in acute renal failure, R. Pozzi Mucelli, M. Bertolotto, E. Quaia; hemodynamic monitoring in the ICU, M.R. Pinsky; transesophageal echocardiography in the ICU, M. Dan, C. Sorbara. Conservative management of ARF: antibiotic therapy in acute renal failure, P. Benedetti, F. de Lalla; the renal effects of noradrenaline and dopamine, R. Bellomo, C. Ronco; the role of diuretic agents in the management of acute renal failure, R. Venkataram, J.A. Kellum. Renal replacement therapy in ICU: renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the ICU - criteria for initiating RRT, H. Burchardi; severity scores and outcomes with acute renal failure in the ICU setting, E.P. Paganini, B. Larive, N.S. Kanagasundaram; answers from the first international course on critical care nephrology questionnaire, C. Ronco, M. Zanella, A. Brendolan, et al. Which treatment for ARF in ICU?: peritoneal dialysis in acute renal failure of adults - the safe, effective, and low-cost modality, S.R. Ash; selected practical aspects of intermittent hemodialysis in acute renal failure patients, A. Dhondt, W. Van Biesen, R. Vanholder, et al; continuous renal replacement techniques, C. Ronco, A. Brendolan, R. Bellomo; hybrid renal replacement modalities for the critically ill, M.R. Marshall, T.A. Golper, M.J. Shaver, et al; acute dialysis quality initiative (ADQI), J.A. Kellum, R.L. Mehta, C. Ronco. CRRT - practical aspects: vascular access for extracorporeal renal replacement therapies in the intensive care unit in clinical practice, B. Canaud, K. Martin, C. Nguessan, et al; anticoagulation in continuous renal replacement therapy, M. Schetz; factors influencing therapy delivery in acute dialysis, W.R. Clark, C. Ronco; dialysate and substitution fluids for patients treated by continuous forms of renal replacement therapy, A. Davensport; machines for continuous renal replacement therapy, C. Ronco, A. Brendolan, M. Dan, et al. ARF and sepsis: fluid management in CRRT, R.L. Mehta; update on drug sieving coefficients and dosing adjustments during continuous renal replacement therapies, T.A. Golper; extracorporeal blood purification therapy for sepsis and systemic inflammation - its biological rationale, R. Bellomo, I. Baldwin, C. Ronco.(Part contents).