Treatment outcomes in an integrated civilian and prison MDR-TB treatment program in Russia.

SETTING: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major problem in countries of the former Soviet Union in both the civilian and prison sectors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcomes of the MDR-TB treatment program (DOTS-Plus) in Tomsk, Russia. DESIGN: Retrospective case series of all patients enrolled in this program between 10 September 2000 and 10 September 2002. The program involves both the civilian and penitentiary TB services in Tomsk. Poor treatment outcome was defined as death, default and treatment failure. RESULTS: Among the 244 patients who received treatment, 77% were cured, 5% died, 7% failed, and 12% defaulted. In a multivariable analysis, alcohol consumption during treatment and the presence of both cavitary and bilateral disease were found to be the strongest predictors of poor treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of civilian and penitentiary TB services in the Tomsk MDR-TB treatment program has resulted in high cure rates and low rates of default. However, alcohol use among patients with MDR-TB is associated with poor treatment outcomes. Better understanding and programmatic alcohol interventions are needed if large-scale treatment of MDR-TB is to be successful in areas with high rates of alcohol use disorders.     

Using a mobile health application to support self-management in COPD: a qualitative study

Background

Telehealth shows promise for supporting patients in managing their long-term health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is currently unclear how patients, and particularly older people, may benefit from these technological interventions.

Aim

To explore patients’ expectations and experiences of using a mobile telehealth-based (mHealth) application and to determine how such a system may impact on their perceived wellbeing and ability to manage their COPD.

Design and setting

Embedded qualitative study using interviews with patients with COPD from various community NHS services: respiratory community nursing service, general practice, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Method

An embedded qualitative study was conducted to which patients were recruited using purposive sampling to achieve maximum variation. Interviews were carried out prior to receiving the mHealth system and again after a 6-month period. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach.

Results

The sample comprised 19 patients (aged 50–85 years) with varied levels of computer skills. Patients identified no difficulties in using the mHealth application. The main themes encapsulating patients’ experience of using the mHealth application related to an increased awareness of the variability of their symptoms (onset of exacerbation and recovery time) and reassurance through monitoring (continuity of care).

Conclusion

Patients were able to use the mHealth application, interpret clinical data, and use these within their self-management approach regardless of previous knowledge. Telehealth interventions can complement current clinical care pathways to support self-management behaviour.     

Caecal pH is a biomarker of excessive colonic fermentation

AIM:To ascertain whether caecal pH is different in patients with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS),whose primary symptoms are bloating and distension,to healthy controls.METHODS:Motility and pH data were reviewed from16 patients with RomeⅢdefined IBS and 16 healthy controls,who had undergone a wireless motility capsule(WMC)study using a standardized protocol.Motility measures were anchored around known anatomical landmarks as identified by compartmental pH changes.Sixty-minute epochs were used to quantify antral,duodenal,ileal,caecal and distal colonic contractility.The maximum and minimum pH was measured either side of the ileo-caecal junction.RESULTS:No differences were seen in motility parameters,compartmental transit times or maximal ileal pH between the two groups.Caecal pH was significantly lower in patients compared to controls(5.12±0.05vs 6.16±0.15,P<0.0001).The ileal:caecalΔchange was greater in patients than controls(-2.63±0.08 vs-1.42±0.11,P<0.0001).There was a significant correlation between caecal pH and right colonic contractility(r=0.54,P=0.002).CONCLUSION:Patients with bloating and distension have a lower caecal pH compared to controls.The measurement of caecal pH using the WMC provides a quantifiable biomarker of fermentation potentially identifying those patients that may preferentially benefit from antibiotic or dietary interventions.     

The effect of exercise on neuropathic symptoms, nerve function, and cutaneous innervation in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Although exercise can significantly reduce the prevalence and severity of diabetic complications, no studies have evaluated the impact of exercise on nerve function in people with diagnosed diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The purpose of this pilot study was to examine feasibility and effectiveness of a supervised, moderately intense aerobic and resistance exercise program in people with DPN. We hypothesized that the exercise intervention can improve neuropathic symptoms, nerve function, and cutaneous innervation.MethodsA pre-test post-test design was used to assess change in outcome measures following participation in a 10-week aerobic and strengthening exercise program. Seventeen subjects with diagnosed DPN (8 males/9 females; age 58.4 ± 5.98; duration of diabetes 12.4 ± 12.2 years) completed the study. Outcome measures included pain measures (visual analog scale), Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) questionnaire of neuropathic symptoms, nerve function measures, and intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density and branching in distal and proximal lower extremity skin biopsies.ResultsSignificant reductions in pain (? 18.1 ± 35.5 mm on a 100 mm scale, P = .05), neuropathic symptoms (? 1.24 ± 1.8 on MNSI, P = .01), and increased intraepidermal nerve fiber branching (+ 0.11 ± 0.15 branch nodes/fiber, P = .008) from a proximal skin biopsy were noted following the intervention.ConclusionsThis is the first study to describe improvements in neuropathic and cutaneous nerve fiber branching following supervised exercise in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. These findings are particularly promising given the short duration of the intervention, but need to be validated by comparison with a control group in future studies.