Translation and culture adaptation of the Simplified Diabetes Knowledge Test,the Literacy Assessment for Diabetes and the Diabetes Numeracy Test

BackgroundThe ability to understand instructions on drug bottles, appointment slips and medical education brochures could be affected by patients' health literacy. Healthcare providers need to be aware of, hence, assess patients’ literacy before they develop effective educational strategies for these patients. Many validated instruments have been used to evaluate literacy of diabetic patients in the English language, only a limited number is available in Arabic.ObjectiveTo translate and culturally-adapt the Simplified Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT), the Literacy Assessment for Diabetes (LAD), and the Diabetes Numeracy Test (DNT) for potential use in Arabic-speaking countries.MethodsA formal process based on the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines was adopted in translating and culturally adapting the three tools. An expert panel reviewed forward and backward translations of the tools. Ten diabetic patients participated in the cognitive debriefing process to evaluate the tools for clarity, simplicity, and comprehensiveness, and to assess their cultural equivalence.ResultsOnly minor changes were introduced in tools’ design, appearance, and instructions. However, issues identified during the expert panel review and cognitive debriefing led to modifying the tools resulting in item re-wording, addition, deletion or re-arrangement. Terms such as glycosylated hemoglobin, carbohydrates, and infection were adapted to cumulative sugar, starch and microbial inflammation respectively. Issues related to cultural and conceptual equivalence were resolved by replacing words such as kilo instead of pound, and supper instead of dinner, or adding diacritics to the Arabic word for “kidney”. The original 43 items of the DNT were reduced to 26, eliminating questions with the same mathematical calculations within each tool domain.ConclusionsA Culturally equivalent version of the Simplified DKT, LAD and DNT have been developed in the Arabic language available to be used in research and clinical practice in the Arabic speaking countries.     

Half of the Emirati Population Has Abnormal Red Cell Parameters: Challenges for Standards and Screening Guidelines

In populations with high prevalences of iron deficiency and thalassemia trait, many apparently healthy individuals have abnormal erythroid parameters, which may cause diagnostic problems in clinical practice. We studied the prevalence and causes of red cell parameter values outside their reference ranges in 394 healthy individuals of Bedouin Arab origin, who had complete blood counts (CBCs), hemoglobin (Hb) analyses and serum ferritin tests done. Their mean age?±?standard deviation (SD) was 24.8?±?4.9 years and 51.8% were females. Overall, 53.0% (209/394) had low Hb, MCV or MCH or high RDW. Anemia was present in 27.0% (55/204) of the women and 3.0% (6/190) of the men. Overall prevalence of MCV <80.0?fL was 45.0% (176/394) and MCH <27.0?pg was 48.0% (190/394); RDW >14.0% was found in 21.0% (43/204) of women and 7.0% (14/190) of men. Of the women, 16.0% had iron deficiency anemia (33/204) and 65.0% had ferritin values of <30.0?μg/L (133/204). The estimated prevalence of α-thalassemia (α-thal) trait in men was 32.0% (60/190) and that of β-thalassemia (β-thal) trait in both sexes was 3.0% (12/394). In conclusion, half of the healthy Emirati population have abnormal CBC values. For clinical purposes, they require reference standards for red cells that are derived from their own population. Screening of women for iron deficiency is justified due to a high prevalence of iron deficiency.     

氯沙坦配合加味六味地黄汤对老年糖尿病肾病早期尿微量白蛋白排泄率的影响

目的：探讨氯沙坦配合加味六味地黄汤对老年糖尿病肾病(DN)早期尿微量白蛋白排泄率(UAE)的影响。方法：62例随机分为治疗组和对照组，治疗组31例用氟沙坦、加味六味地黄汤；对照组31例用哌唑嗪。两组均用糖适平、维生素E、潘生丁。观察24hUAE、肾小球滤过率(GFR)、平均动脉压(MAP)的变化。结果：治疗组极显地减少老年DN的UAE．并明显优于对照组(P=0.000)。治疗组使肾小球高滤过恢复正常，并优于对照组(P=0．000)。两组治疗后MAP均降至正常。结论：氯沙坦配合加味六味地黄汤显减少老年DN的UAE。     

A Novel Resorbable Embolization Microsphere for Transient Uterine Artery Occlusion: A Comparative Study with Trisacryl-Gelatin Microspheres in the Sheep Model

PurposeTo evaluate angiographic recanalization, inflammatory reaction, and uterine damage after sheep uterine artery embolization (UAE) with a novel calibrated resorbable embolization microsphere (REM) and compare the results with control nonresorbable microspheres.Materials and MethodsSix hormonally artificially cycled sheep underwent bilateral UAE until stasis with either REM or trisacryl-gelatin microspheres (TGMS). At 7 days, control angiograms were obtained to assess the residual vascularization at arterial and parenchymal phases. The animals were then sacrificed for analysis of the presence of microspheres, inflammatory foreign body reaction, and surface areas of uterine damage.ResultsMean volume of microspheres injected per uterine artery (UA) or per animal did not differ between groups. At day 7, the flow was normal for six of six UAs that received embolization with REM versus only three of six UAs with TGMS (P = .0455, χ² test). Uterine parenchymography showed no defects in six UAs in the REM group versus five defects in six UAs in the TGMS group (P = .0060, χ² test). No REM or residual fragments of microspheres were observed on histologic analysis. TGMS were observed in tissues and accompanied by a mild inflammatory response. Necrosis rates were not significantly different between the two products, either in endometrium (REM 23.5% ± 28.8% [median 8.1%] vs TGMS 21.8% ± 23.7% [median 14.6%]) or in myometrium (REM 8.2% ± 22.7% [median 0.0%] vs TGMS 8.8% ± 20.8% [median 0.9%]). Endometrium alteration rate was lower with REM than with TGMS (39.7% ± 25.7% [median 34%] vs 60.6% ± 27.1% [median 71%]; P = .0060, Mann-Whitney test). Myometrium alteration rates were not significantly different between REM (45.7% ± 37.1% [median 63.0%]) and TGMS (37.8% ± 34.0% [median 19.1%]).ConclusionsAt 1 week after sheep UAE with REM, the recanalization was complete, the microspheres were completely degraded, and there was no remnant inflammatory response.     

Uterine Artery Embolization in the Twentieth Week of Pregnancy in Abnormally Invasive Placenta with Live Birth

An abnormally invasive placenta is an increasing and potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication. The case presented herein is a heterotopic dichorial pregnancy with implantation of 1 placenta within the isthmocervical area, which caused vaginal bleeding during the 20th week of pregnancy, requiring a blood transfusion. To stop the bleeding, a bilateral embolization of the cervical branches of the uterine arteries was performed. The embolization was well tolerated and resulted in the abrupt and lasting cessation of bleeding for more than 10 weeks, resulting in the live birth of 1 child.     

Inferior Mesenteric Artery Collaterals to the Uterus during Uterine Artery Embolization: Prevalence,Risk Factors,and Clinical Outcomes

PurposeTo evaluate the prevalence of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) collaterals to the uterus found during uterine artery embolization (UAE), associated risk factors, and clinical outcomes.Materials and MethodsThe records of 559 women who underwent UAE during the period 2008–2011 for uterine fibroids or adenomyosis found on magnetic resonance imaging were retrospectively analyzed. If IMA collaterals to the uterus were suspected on aortography performed after embolization, selective angiography was performed. Risk factors for IMA collaterals to the uterus were analyzed, including the presence of adenomyosis, baseline uterine volume, or prior pelvic surgery.ResultsCollaterals to the uterus were found from the ovarian artery (n = 21; 3.8%), IMA (n = 7; 1.3%), round ligament artery (n = 1; 0.2%), and internal pudendal artery (n = 1; 0.2%). IMA collaterals were found in seven patients. Of 185 patients, 6 (3.2%) had adenomyosis, with or without fibroids, which was significantly more frequent than the 1 (0.27%) of 374 patients who had fibroids only (P = .006). On multiple logistic regression analysis, the presence of adenomyosis (odds ratio, 19.556; P = .0168) and uterine volume (odds ratio, 1.003; P = .0069) were independent factors for the presence of IMA collaterals. Of the seven patients with IMA collaterals, embolization was not attempted in six, resulting in clinical failure in four. One patient who underwent IMA embolization with coils experienced clinical improvement.ConclusionsThe IMA was the second most common (1.3%) source of collaterals to the uterus. IMA collaterals were more frequent in patients with adenomyosis than in patients with fibroids only, resulting in high frequency of treatment failure.     

Live MR Angiographic Roadmapping for Uterine Artery Embolization: A Feasibility Study

PurposeTo assess the feasibility of live magnetic resonance (MR) angiography roadmapping guidance for uterine artery (UA) embolization (UAE) for fibroid tumors.Materials and MethodsTwenty patients underwent UAE with live MR angiographic roadmapping. The pre-acquired MR angiography scan was coregistered with the live intraprocedural fluoroscopy stream to create a visual roadmap to direct the microcatheter during UAE. Patient radiation dose, as measured by dose–area product (DAP), procedure time, contrast medium volume, and fluoroscopy time, was recorded. For the first 10 patients, an additional parameter of contrast medium volume needed to catheterize each UA was recorded.ResultsIn all 20 patients (40 UAs), the MR angiography overlay on live fluoroscopy was accurate and allowed for successful catheterization of the UA, resulting in a technical success rate of 100%. In the subset of the initial 20 UAs (ie, the first 10 patients) in which this data point was recorded, 17 (85%) were successfully catheterized with no iodinated contrast medium at all, by purely relying on the MR angiography roadmap. Mean procedure time was 45 minutes (range, 30–99 min), mean contrast agent dose was 75 mL (range, 46–199 mL), and mean DAP was 155 Gy·cm² (range, 37–501 Gy·cm²).ConclusionsLive MR angiographic roadmapping is feasible and accurate for catheter guidance during UAE.