The Loughborough Occupational Impact of Sleep Scale (LOISS): a new instrument for research and clinical practice

Despite the emphasis placed on occupational impairment as a consequence of most sleep disorders, there is currently no standardized measure for quantifying the occupational impact of sleep quality at the individual level. Using existing scales, a comprehensive literature review, and focus groups to generate items, as well as psychometric analyses to reduce items, these analyses describe the development of a scale to assess workplace performance in relation to sleep quality. In a survey of 222 employees aged 20 to 64 years, the resulting 19-item instrument (the Loughborough Occupational Impact of Sleep Scale [LOISS]) showed satisfactory levels of reliability, effective discrimination between "good" and "poor" sleepers, and an interpretable 2-factor structure. LOISS provides a practical tool for population screening and clinical assessment.     

Sonographically Guided Therapeutic Injection for Primary Medial (Tibial) Collateral Bursitis

The purpose of this article is to describe a sonographically guided technique to perform therapeutic injection into the medial collateral ligament bursa. Scans are performed using a high‐frequency linear transducer with the scan plane corresponding to the anatomic coronal plane. The transducer is positioned along the medial aspect of the knee; a 25‐gauge needle is placed along the inferior border of the bursa; and a standardized therapeutic mixture (anesthetic and long‐active corticosteroid) is injected. Distention of the bursa is the determining factor for a successful injection. Sonography allows confirmation of correct injection placement, resulting in increased accuracy and more successful patient outcomes.     

Statin myopathy: a common dilemma not reflected in clinical trials

Although statins are remarkably effective, they are still underprescribed because of concerns about muscle toxicity. We review the aspects of statin myopathy that are important to the primary care physician and provide a guide for evaluating patients on statins who present with muscle complaints. We outline the differential diagnosis, the risks and benefits of statin therapy in patients with possible toxicity, and the subsequent treatment options.     

A disposable tear glucose biosensor--part 3: assessment of enzymatic specificity

Background

A concept for a tear glucose sensor based on amperometric measurement of enzymatic oxidation of glucose was previously presented, using glucose dehydrogenase flavin adenine dinucleotide (GDH-FAD) as the enzyme. Glucose dehydrogenase flavin adenine dinucleotide is further characterized in this article and evaluated for suitability in glucose-sensing applications in purified tear-like saline, with specific attention to the effect of interfering substances only. These interferents are specifically saccharides that could interact with the enzymatic activity seen in the sensor''s performance.

Methods

Bench top amperometric glucose assays were performed using an assay solution of GDH-FAD and ferricyanide redox mediator with samples of glucose, mannose, lactose, maltose, galactose, fructose, sucrose, and xylose at varying concentrations to evaluate specificity, linear dynamic range, signal size, and signal-to-noise ratio. A comparison study was done by substituting an equivalent activity unit concentration of glucose oxidase (GOx) for GDH-FAD.

Results

Glucose dehydrogenase flavin adenine dinucleotide was found to be more sensitive than GOx, producing larger oxidation currents than GOx on an identical glucose concentration gradient, and GDH-FAD exhibited larger slope response (-5.65 × 10^-7 versus -3.11 × 10^-7 A/mM), signal-to-noise ratio (18.04 versus 2.62), and linear dynamic range (0–30 versus 0–10 mM), and lower background signal (-7.12 versus -261.63 nA) than GOx under the same assay conditions. GDH-FAD responds equally to glucose and xylose but is otherwise specific for glucose.

Conclusion

Glucose dehydrogenase flavin adenine dinucleotide compares favorably with GOx in many sensor-relevant attributes and may enable measurement of glucose concentrations both higher and lower than those measurable by GOx. GDH-FAD is a viable enzyme to use in the proposed amperometric tear glucose sensor system and perhaps also in detecting extreme hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia in blood.     

Natalizumab and HSV meningitis

Natalizumab (Tysabri, Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals) is a monoclonal antibody approved for use in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. We report the first case of a patient with a history of MS, on monthly natalizumab, who developed HSV-2 meningitis. We discuss the mechanism of action of natalizumab and review what is known about the reactivation of herpes infection in association with this medication. The question of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) prophylaxis for patients is raised.     

Headaches During Pregnancy

Among primary headaches, migraine is the form more sensitive to the ovarian hormonal milieu. Migraine without aura (MO) benefits from the hyperestrogenic state of pregnancy and the lack of hormonal fluctuations, while migraine with aura (MA) presents distinctive features. Indeed, a very strong improvement of MO has been documented across gestation, and only a minority of pregnant women still suffers during the third trimester. On the other hand, fewer women with MA report improvement or remission, and new onset of aura may be observed during pregnancy. After delivery, breastfeeding exerts a protective action on migraine recurrence. The persistence of migraine during gestation seems to affect neonatal outcomes, and several studies indicate a link between migraine and an increased risk of developing gestational hypertension/preeclampsia and other vascular complications.     

Healthy Living Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes: recruitment and baseline characteristics

Healthy Living Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes (HELP PD) is a randomized controlled trial designed to translate the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention into a community setting using community health workers engaged through an existing Diabetes Care Center (DCC). Overweight and obese (BMI 25-40 kg/m2) individuals with pre-diabetes (fasting blood glucose 95-125 mg/dl) with no medical contraindications to participate in a lifestyle intervention were recruited for participation in this study. Standard recruitment strategies were employed, including mass mailing, direct provider referral, and community events. Participant recruitment and randomization for this trial began in 2007 and was concluded in 2009. 1818 screenings were conducted; of these, 326 (17.9%) qualified and 301 (16.6%) participants were randomized over a 21 month period. 23.8% of potential participants were excluded during the initial telephone screening, primarily for BMI and recent history of CVD. The majority of participants (220, 73.1%) reported mass mailing as their primary source of information about the study. Mass mailing was more effective with participants who identified themselves as white when compared to African-Americans. The cost of recruitment per randomized participant was $816, which includes direct costs and staff effort. 41% of the randomized participants were male and approximately 27% reported a race or ethnicity other than white. In comparison to the DPP study cohort, the HELP PD population is older, more educated and predominately white. These differences, reflecting in part the community in which HELP PD was conducted, may have implications for retention and adherence in the lifestyle intervention group.     

Bacterial Pre-Release Testing of Platelets - the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Clinical Experience

SUMMARY: The risk of bacterial transmission by platelet transfusion has been recognised internationally as the leading residual infections transfusion risk in the last decade. We describe the clinical and logistical aspects of bacterial contamination screening of platelets introduced in Australia in early 2008. Sampling occurs at 24 h, and platelets are released to hospitals 'negative to date'. Bacterial screening detection of initial machine-positive (IMP) and all follow-up results are notified to transfusing laboratories. Results of screening between 2008 and 2010 found a significant rate of IMP samples (1.06%) with a true-positive/indeterminate rate of 0.18%. Components were already transfused in 32.5% of cases at time of initial notification. Confirmed cases of septic transfusion reactions have declined significantly since the introduction of pre-release platelet screening, reflecting an important additional improvement in transfusion safety in Australia.