Self-care and adherence to medication: a survey in the hypertension outpatient clinic

Background  

Self-care practices for patients with hypertension include adherence to medication, use of blood pressure self-monitoring and use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) The prevalence of CAM use and blood pressure self-monitoring have not been described in a UK secondary care population of patients with hypertension and their impact on adherence to medication has not been described. Adherence to medication is important for blood pressure control, but poor adherence is common. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-care behaviours in patients attending a secondary care hypertension clinic.     

Blood lymphocyte blastogenesis in patients with thyroid dysfunction: ex?vivo response to mitogen activation and cyclosporin?A

Objective  

To evaluate lymphocyte activation following mitogen and cyclosporin A (CsA) administration in peripheral blood of hyperthyroxinaemic and hypothyroid patients.     

Évaluation de la quantification du cytomégalovirus dans le sang par le test de PCR en temps réel CMV R-gene

Aim of the study

Diagnosing the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the blood of immunodepressed patients is often done by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) even though the reference method remains the antigenemia pp65 (Ag-pp65) test.

Objectives

To define the predictive value of the Q-PCR in the diagnosis of CMV disease and assess treatment efficacy using the CMV R-gene^® test. To compare the Q-PCR results and feasibility with those of the Ag-pp65 test.

Patients and methods

The Q-PCR was performed in 34 whole blood samples (frozen at −80 °C until use) from five patients diagnosed with CMV disease, defined as the presence of clinical signs and Ag-pp65 in the nuclei of more than two cells. After extraction, viral DNA was quantified in each sample using the Q-PCR CMV R-gene^® kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Immediately after blood was drawn, the Ag-pp65 test had been performed in 32 samples using CINAkit^® (Argene).

Results

The 16 samples positive by the Ag-pp65 test were also positive by PCR; six samples negative by the Ag-pp65 test were positive by PCR; and the remaining 10 samples were negative by both techniques. During treatment, the two markers’ kinetics were similar.

Conclusion

The CMV R-gene^® test has a predictive value as good as that of the Ag-pp65 test but is fast and easier to use. A prospective study with a greater number of patients is needed to define the prediction threshold for CMV disease.     

Detection of carcinoembryonic antigen messenger RNA in blood using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to predict recurrence of gastric adenocarcinoma

Background  

The existence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood as an indicator of tumor recurrence has not been clearly established, particularly for gastric cancer patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the relationship between CTCs in peripheral blood at initial diagnosis and clinicopathologic findings in patients with gastric carcinoma.     

Demonstration of three injection methods for the analysis of extrinsic and intrinsic blood supply of the peripheral nerve

Background  

The use of free vascularized nerve grafts requires an intimate and accurate knowledge of the blood supply of peripheral nerve. This study was designed to compare the advantages and disadvantages of three methods employed to reveal the blood supply of the peripheral nerve, and to provide morphological basis for vascularized nerve grafts.     

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Germany – a survey of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background  

Previous studies have suggested an increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of CAM in German patients with IBD.     

Chungsim-Yeunja-Tang decreases the inflammatory response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with cerebral infarction through an NF-κB dependent mechanism

Background  

Chungsim-Yeunja-Tang (CYT) has been used as a medicine for cerebral infarction (CI) patients in Korea. The objective of this study was to determine precisely the effect of CYT on CI patients using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).     

Correlates of Continued Tobacco Use and Intention to Quit Smoking Among Russian Cancer Patients

Background  

Tobacco use among cancer patients is associated with adverse health outcomes. Little attention has been paid to tobacco use among cancer patients in developing countries, including Russia, where tobacco use is extremely high, and there is little public health infrastructure to address this issue.     

Implementation and evaluation of a nurse-centered computerized potassium regulation protocol in the intensive care unit - a before and after analysis

Background  

Potassium disorders can cause major complications and must be avoided in critically ill patients. Regulation of potassium in the intensive care unit (ICU) requires potassium administration with frequent blood potassium measurements and subsequent adjustments of the amount of potassium administrated. The use of a potassium replacement protocol can improve potassium regulation. For safety and efficiency, computerized protocols appear to be superior over paper protocols. The aim of this study was to evaluate if a computerized potassium regulation protocol in the ICU improved potassium regulation.     

Effects of systematic asymmetric discounting on physician-patient interactions: a theoretical framework to explain poor compliance with lifestyle counseling

Background  

This study advances the use of a utility model to model physician-patient interactions from the perspectives of physicians and patients.     

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with diabetes mellitus in Bahrain: a cross-sectional study

Background  

CAM use is widespread, especially among patients with diabetes. The Gulf States have a high prevalence of diabetes, alongside a long tradition of CAM use. The aim of this study is to establish the prevalence of CAM use among patients with diabetes mellitus in Bahrain and to examine the characteristics of the CAM users.     

Blood loss and contributing factors in femoral fracture surgery

Background

Substantial blood losses frequently accompany orthopedic procedures.

Methods

We prospectively noted peri-operative hemoglobin changes in 93 patients undergoing surgery for femoral fracture with an aim of establishing blood loss and related factors.

Results

The mean total blood loss assessed 72 hours after the surgical procedure was 3.31 (SD 1.56) units of whole blood. A multiple regression analysis revealed diathermy use and a simple fracture pattern as significant factors in reducing blood loss (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Open intramedullary fixation of femur fractures leads to considerable peri-operative blood loss. This is can be reduced by use of diathermy during surgery.     

Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus (XMRV) in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objectives  

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV)-specific proviral DNA has been recently detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Since chronic fatigue is commonly reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) we aimed at testing the presence of this virus in these patients.     

Changes in use of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) among clinicians enrolled in an online curriculum

Background  

Little is known about clinicians' use of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS), how their personal HDS use changes with time and training, and how changes in their personal use affect their confidence or communication with patients about HDS.     

Relevance of the anatomical location of the Adamkiewicz artery in spine surgery

Purpose  

The aim of this study was to describe the preoperative topography of the Adamkiewicz artery and the blood supply of the lumbosacral spinal cord in patients who underwent spinal surgery. The relevance for anterior approaches of the thoracolumbar spine was then analyzed.     

Whole-genome amplified DNA from stored dried blood spots is reliable in high resolution melting curve and sequencing analysis

Background  

The use of dried blood spots (DBS) samples in genomic workup has been limited by the relative low amounts of genomic DNA (gDNA) they contain. It remains to be proven that whole genome amplified DNA (wgaDNA) from stored DBS samples, constitutes a reliable alternative to gDNA.     

The use of preoperative radiotherapy in the management of patients with clinically resectable rectal cancer: a practice guideline

Background  

This systematic review with meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the literature and to develop recommendations regarding the use of preoperative radiotherapy in the management of patients with resectable rectal cancer.     

Complementary and alternative medicine use among women at increased genetic risk of breast and ovarian cancer

Background  

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is well documented among breast cancer patients and survivors, but little evidence is available to describe rates and patterns of use among women at increased genetic risk of breast cancer.     

T cell responses against tumor associated antigens and prognosis in colorectal cancer patients

Introduction  

Spontaneous T cell responses against specific tumor-associated antigens (TAA) are frequently detected in peripheral blood of tumor patients of various histiotypes. However, little is known about whether these circulating, spontaneously occurring, TAA-reactive T cells influence the clinical course of disease.     

Medicinal herb use among asthmatic patients attending a specialty care facility in Trinidad

Background  

There is an increasing prevalence of asthma in the Caribbean and patients remain non-compliant to therapy despite the development of guidelines for management and prevention. Some patients may self-medicate with medicinal herbs for symptomatic relief, as there is a long tradition of use for a variety of ailments. The study assessed the prevalence of use and the factors affecting the decision to use herbs in asthmatic patients attending a public specialty care clinic in Trinidad.