Improving Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension: A Randomized Trial

Background and Purpose

In patients with hypertension, medication adherence is often suboptimal, thereby increasing the risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke. In a randomized trial, we investigated the effectiveness of a multifaceted pharmacist intervention in a hospital setting to improve medication adherence in hypertensive patients. Motivational interviewing was a key element of the intervention.

Methods

Patients (n = 532) were recruited from 3 hospital outpatient clinics and randomized to usual care or a 6-month pharmacist intervention comprising collaborative care, medication review, and tailored adherence counseling including motivational interviewing and telephone follow-ups. The primary outcome was composite medication possession ratio (MPR) to antihypertensive and lipid-lowering agents, at 1-year follow-up, assessed by analyzing pharmacy records. Secondary outcomes at 12 months included persistence to medications, blood pressure, hospital admission, and a combined clinical endpoint of cardiovascular death, stroke, or acute myocardial infarction.

Results

At 12 months, 20.3% of the patients in the intervention group (n = 231) were nonadherent (MPR <0.80), compared with 30.2% in the control group (n = 285) (risk difference −9.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], −17.3, −2.4) and median MPR (interquartile range) was 0.93 (0.82-0.99) and 0.91 (0.76-0.98), respectively, P = .02. The combined clinical endpoint was reached by 1.3% in the intervention group and 3.1% in the control group (relative risk 0.41; 95% CI, 0.11-1.50). No significant differences were found for persistence, blood pressure, or hospital admission.

Conclusions

A multifaceted pharmacist intervention in a hospital setting led to a sustained improvement in medication adherence for patients with hypertension. The intervention had no significant impact on blood pressure and secondary clinical outcomes.     

Biliary complications of arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Rationale and backgroundTransarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most frequently used palliative therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is a safe and effective procedure with few major and minor complications. Rarely, biliary complications are also encountered following TACE. The goal of our study was to investigate the incidence and the presentation of biliary complications following TACE in patients with HCC.Material and methodsIn this retrospective study, data of patients with HCC who underwent TACE between June 2002 to December 2014 were obtained from the records. Their detailed information about the procedure of TACE, diagnosis of biliary complications and subsequent management details were reviewed.ResultOne hundred and sixty-eight patients with HCC underwent 305 procedures of TACE. Of these, biliary complications of various severities developed in 6 (3.6%) patients leading to an incidence of 1.9% (6/305). Minimal intrahepatic biliary dilatation (IHBD) occurred in three, biliary stricture in one and intrahepatic biloma in two patients. Supportive management was undertaken for IHBD patients while percutaneous aspiration and naso-biliary drainage was performed for the infected bilomas.ConclusionBiliary complications following TACE are infrequent. Diagnosis should be suspected clinically and confirmed with imaging. Treatment depends on the severity. Enforcing specific measures can minimize its frequency.     

枕骨大孔-第二颈段血管周细胞瘤1例报道并文献复习

目的:探讨血管周细胞瘤的临床病理学特点及诊断要点.方法:对1例血管周细胞瘤进行临床资料、病理形态学及免疫组化观察,并结合文献对其诊断及鉴别诊断进行探讨.结果:本例镜下观肿瘤细胞为梭形,血管丰富,形成弥漫的网状结构,鹿角状的血管将肿瘤细胞分割小叶状,瘤细胞体积较大,胞浆丰富,边界不清,核呈圆形、卵圆形,病理性核分裂相多.免疫组化染色结果显示肿瘤细胞Vimentin(+)、CD34(+)、FVIII(+)、S-100(?)、CEA(?)和GFAP(?).结论:血管周细胞瘤,非常少见,因此缺乏对其认识,从而易与其他肿瘤混淆导致误诊.提高对血管周细胞瘤的认识,对避免误诊是至关重要的.     

自我管理教育对门诊肺结核患者自护能力的影响

目的探讨自我管理教育对门诊肺结核患者自护能力的影响。方法对2013年1月至2014年4月,确诊肺结核并在浙江省武义县第一人民医院结核定点防治门诊建卡的256例患者实施自我管理教育,在干预前、干预1个月和3个月后分别采用自制的疾病认知情况调查表及自我护理能力量表(the exercise of self-careagency scak,ESCA)进行调查和评价。结果实施自我管理教育1个月和3个月后,患者对疾病的认知及自我护理能力均有所提高,与干预前比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05或P0.01)。结论自我管理教育有利于提高门诊肺结核患者对疾病的认知及自我护理能力。     

某地区6590例妇科门诊患者宫颈人乳头瘤病毒感染情况及基因亚型分析

目的:探讨某地区6590例妇科就诊人群人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)的感染状况及基因亚型的分布特征。方法:选取辽宁省人民医院妇科门诊患者6590例为研究对象,采用HPV-DNA核酸分子快速杂交法检测所有患者的HPV总体感染情况及基因分型。结果:6590例患者中,HPV阳性率为19.36%,其中高危型HPV占91.22%,低危型HPV占8.78%,患者发生多重感染276例,其中双重感染占76.45%;16~29岁患者阳性率(25.18%)最高,50~59岁患者阳性率(20.40%)次之,≥70岁患者阳性率(13.97%)最低。16~29岁患者多重感染率(6.72%)最高,其次为70~83岁患者(6.14%)。高危型感染率前5位依次为HPV16、52、58、53、39,低危型感染前3位为HPV81、11、6。结论:妇科门诊患者中HPV的感染率较高,并以高危型感染为主。定期进行HPV筛查,有利于预防及早期发现宫颈病变。