Short message service text messaging was feasible as a tool for data collection in a trial of treatment for irritable bowel syndrome

ObjectivesTo examine the feasibility of collecting data relating to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), symptoms by short message service (SMS) text and explore the data to assess its usefulness.Study Design and SettingIn a randomized parallel group design substudy, 59 consenting participants recruited from primary care to a trial of acupuncture for IBS (ISRCTN 08827905) were randomized to receive a one-question SMS message at either 9:30 am or at 6:30 pm for 7 days: “On a scale of 0–9, with 0 being no symptoms and 9 being the worst symptoms you could have, how would you score your IBS symptoms now? Please text back a single number.”ResultsOf the total messages, 59% (n = 203) were answered within 15 minutes, 73.4% (n = 254) within 1 hour, and 97% (n = 334) within 10 hours. Response rates to evening texts were higher (93.5% vs. 87.6% P = 0.05) and response times shorter though not significantly (median: 0 vs. 5 hours; P = 0.12). There was no difference in mean scores, and morning symptoms varied more. Mean scores correlated significantly with IBS trial primary outcome measure, the IBS symptom severity score, and secondary outcome measures.ConclusionAmong IBS trial participants, data collection by SMS is feasible and acceptable, and there is potential for deriving meaningful data from the scores.     

A combined application of lossless and lossy compression in ECG processing and transmission via GSM-based SMS

Abstract

This paper presents a software-based scheme for reliable and robust Electrocardiogram (ECG) data compression and its efficient transmission using Second Generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) based Short Message Service (SMS). To achieve a firm lossless compression in high standard deviating QRS complex regions and an acceptable lossy compression in the rest of the signal, two different algorithms have been used. The combined compression module is such that it outputs only American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) characters and, hence, SMS service is found to be most suitable for transmitting the compressed signal. At the receiving end, the ECG signal is reconstructed using just the reverse algorithm. The module has been tested to all the 12 leads of different types of ECG signals (healthy and abnormal) collected from the PTB Diagnostic ECG Database. The compression algorithm achieves an average compression ratio of ～22.51, without any major alteration of clinical morphology.     

Brain somatostatin receptor subpopulation visualized by autoradiography

[125I-Tyr11]somatostatin-14 as well as iodinated D-Tyr1 and Tyr3 derivatives of the cyclic octapeptide somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995 (H-D-Phe-Cys-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-ol) have been used as radioligands for somatostatin receptor autoradiography in rat brain. Although the cyclic octapeptide ligands label the majority of the regions labeled with [125I-Tyr11]somatostatin, in the cortex and hippocampus only a subpopulation of somatostatin receptors is labeled. Cyclic octapeptide ligands have improved resolution due to their very low non-specific binding.     

电话或手机短信随访对提高肺结核患者抗结核治疗疗效的作用

目的探讨电话或手机短信随访对提高肺结核患者抗结核治疗疗效的作用。方法选取我院收治的400例经确诊的肺结核病患者并随机抽取分成两组：实验组200例,实行电话或短信随访跟踪治疗;对照组200例,实行常规门诊随访。随访时间为6个月,比较两组患者随访后对肺结核认知与治疗依从性的差别。结果6个月随访后,两组对肺结核相关知识的掌握情况以及治疗依从性方面都存在明显差别,胸部X线片吸收情况存在差别,观察组均优于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论电话或短信随访方式可行性较好,能够提高肺结核病患者抗结核治疗效果．值得推广应用。     

短信随访干预对改善冠心病患者遵医行为的影响

目的 探讨短信干预对冠心病患者遵医行为的影响. 方法 将200例冠心病患者随机分为研究组和对照组各100例. 两组住院期间均按照冠心病诊疗常规给予相应的治疗护理,病情稳定后给予健康教育.出院后对照组门诊随诊,研究组在此基础上增加短信干预,时间为1年. 观察比较两组干预前、后遵医行为的变化. 结果 两组干预前遵医行为各项目组间差异均无统计学意义( P>0. 05 );在出院后第12个月末,两组遵医行为各项目均有一定程度改善,但研究组改善程度优于对照组( Z=-2. 645、-2. 082、-2. 087、-2. 426、-2. 076、-2. 033、-2. 064、-1. 966,P=0. 008、0. 037、0. 037、0. 015、0. 038、0. 042、0. 039、0. 049). 结论 短信随访干预能显著改善冠心病患者遵医行为.     

手机短信在外来孕妇围产期保健服务中的应用

目的探讨手机短信应用于外来孕妇孕期保健服务的效果。方法2008年进行产前检查及分娩的637例孕妇为对照组,给予常规保健服务;2009年进行产前检查及分娩的609例孕妇为观察组,运用手机短信提示产前检查日期,进行孕期宣教,统计对比两组孕妇产前检查次数、异常妊娠和分娩情况。结果观察组产前检查次数明显多于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;异常分娩情况明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;妊娠结局中新生儿窒息、早产儿、低出生体质量儿发生率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。结论对外来孕妇应用手机短信进行孕期保健,能提高孕期保健质量,从而减少异常妊娠和异常分娩,提高安全分娩率。     

Tumor regression of an ileal carcinoid under the treatment with the somatostatin analogue SMS 201–995

Summary A 53-year-old man with metastatic ileal carcinoid ultimately failed to respond to conventional measures of surgery and was finally treated with a new long acting somatostatin analogue, SMS 201–995 for 7 months. SMS 201–995 not only gave symptomatic relief but also induced a reduction in metastatic tumor mass.Abbreviations HIA 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid - VIP vasoactive intestinal polypeptide     

Mobile Health Messages Help Sustain Recent Weight Loss

Background

Using regulatory focus theory, an intervention of daily weight loss-sustaining messages was developed and tested for acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy on helping people sustain weight loss.

Methods

Participants (n = 120) were randomized to a promotion, prevention, or an attention-control text message group after completion of a weight loss program. Participants completed baseline assessments, and reported their weight at 1 and 3 months postbaseline.

Results

Participants found the message content and intervention acceptable and valuable. A minimum of one message per day delivered at approximately 8:00 am was deemed the optimal delivery time and frequency. The sustained weight loss rate at month 3 for the control, promotion, and prevention groups was 90%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. Medium-to-large effects were observed for the promotion and prevention groups at month 1 and for prevention at month 3 relative to controls. The mean weight loss for promotion and prevention was 15 pounds, compared with 10 in the controls at month 3.

Conclusion

A clinically significant decrease in mean weight, higher rate of sustained weight loss, and medium-to-large effects on sustained weight loss occurred in the promotion and prevention interventions. Tools such as this text message-based intervention that are constructed and guided by evidence-based content and theoretical constructs show promise in helping people sustain healthy behaviors that can lead to improved health outcomes.     

Improving diabetes care for young people with type 1 diabetes through visual learning on mobile phones: mixed-methods study

Background

Only 17% of Norwegian children and adolescents with diabetes achieve international treatment goals measured by glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c). Classic patient–physician consultations seem to be poorly adapted to young children. New strategies that are better attuned to young people to improve support of adolescents’ self-management of diabetes need to be tested and evaluated.

Objective

(1) To explore how applications for mobile phones can be used in follow-up of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, and (2) to use the findings to guide further development of the applications and as a basis for future studies.

Method

We pilot tested two mobile phone applications: (1) an application that contained a picture-based diabetes diary to record physical activity and photos taken with the phone camera of food eaten, where the phone also communicated with the glucometer by Bluetooth technology to capture blood glucose values, and (2) a Web-based, password-secured and encrypted short message service (SMS), based on access using login passwords received via SMS to be used by participants to send messages to their providers when they faced obstacles in everyday life, and to send educational messages to the participants. At the end of the 3-month pilot study, 12 participants (7 girls and 5 boys ) aged 13–19 years completed semistructured interviews. The participants had a mean HbA_1c value of 8.3 (SD 0.3), mean age of 16.2 (SD 1.7) years, mean body mass index of 23.3 (SD 3.2) kg/m², and mean diabetes duration of 7.5 (SD 4.6) years. We applied three additional measurements: change in metabolic control as measured by HbA_1c, the System Usability Scale, and diabetes knowledge.

Results

From the interviews, three main categories emerged: visualization, access, and software changes. Participants appreciated the picture-based diary more than the SMS solution. Visualization of cornerstones in diabetes self-care (ie, diet, insulin dosage, physical activity, and pre- and postprandial glucose measurements all transformed into one picture) in the mobile diary was found to be an important educational tool through reflections in action. This led to a change in participants’ applied knowledge about the management of their disease. Additional measurements supplemented and supported the qualitative findings. However, changes in HbA_1c and participants’ theoretical knowledge as tested by a 27-item questionnaire, based on a national health informatics’ diabetes quiz, before and after the intervention were not statistically significant (P = .38 and P = .82, respectively, paired-samples t test). Participants suggested additional functionality, and we will implement this in the design of the next software generation.

Conclusion

Participants reported an increased understanding of applied knowledge, which seem to positively affect diabetes self-care. Visual impressions seem well adapted to the maturation of the adolescent brain, facilitating the link between theoretical knowledge and executive functions. SMS gave the adolescents a feeling of increased access and security. Participants gave valuable input for further development of these applications.