Preclinical pharmacology of pramlintide in the rat: Comparisons with human and rat amylin

The pancreatic β-cell hormone, amylin, is absent or reduced in individuals with type I diabetes mellitus and in many insulin-treated patients with type II diabetes. Amylin replacement therapy may be beneficial in these individuals, but the pharmaceutically inconvenient physicochemical properties of native human amylin led to the development instead of the amylin agonist, [Pro^25,28,29]human amylin, or pramlintide (formerly designated AC137). Here we compare for rat amylin, human amylin and pramlintide, receptor binding and biological actions in rats in vivo and in rat soleus muscle. In the rat, the spectrum of actions and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of pramlintide are either very similar to, or indistinguishable from, those of rat or human amylin. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Increasing Follow-Up Rates at a Free Clinic

This project aimed to increase the follow-up visit rates at a free medical clinic and evaluate the effects of SMS messaging on follow-up adherence, regardless of whether patients scheduled their follow-up appointments prior to leaving the clinic or if they received paper reminder cards. The use of the SMS application increased overall follow-up rate by 7%. This project supports that patients who received reminder messages via the SMS application kept their follow-up appointments consistently.     

Challenges to recovery following early psychosis: Nursing implications of recovery rate and timing

Early intervention in first episode psychosis is based on an indicated prevention approach that has early illness identification and timely recovery as primary goals. Nurses are instrumental in helping individuals and families achieve both aims. To better understand recovery following a first episode, a prospective cohort of 260 individuals participating in a three-year early intervention program was monitored for achievement of recovery outcomes. Two outcome measures were used to examine the recovery rate and timing of the cohort: (1) partial recovery was comprised of two criteria: (a) symptom control (psychosis and mania), and (b) daily functioning, and 2) comprehensive recovery was measured by three criteria: (a) symptom control; (b) daily functioning; and, (c) quality of life. Survival analysis, including the Kaplan-Meier statistic, and Cox hazard regression were used to examine the cohort's rate and timing for both measures. One hundred and seventy-four individuals attained partial recovery with half (51.1%) reaching the target within nine months. Comprehensive recovery was achieved by 59 individuals (22.7%), primarily in year two and three of treatment. Issues impacting quality of life delayed recovery for the majority of program participants. The gap between psychosis remission and satisfaction/fulfillment with one's everyday life is troubling, but could be improved with stronger nursing support and influence. Sharing the recovery experience with individuals and families that supports their life goals and the discovery of meaning, hope and purpose in the face of illness is the work of nurses. Suggestions for strengthening nursing's impact are considered.