Reciprocal Peer Support for Post-partum Patients with Diabetes: A Needs Assessment for the Diabetes Buddy Program

While peer support has been investigated in multiple clinical contexts, its application to the postpartum setting is unknown. The aim was to assess acceptability of a postpartum peer support program for women with diabetes. Observational survey-based needs assessment of forty low-income women with diabetes, receiving care at a major medical institution. Mean age and gravidity were 30.7 years and 3.15 ± 1.67 respectively. 45 % expressed interest in a “buddy.” There was no significant difference between groups desiring and not desiring this program. A majority of respondents desired telephone, text messaging, and in-person contacts (79.2, 72.1, 83.8 %), with 72.5 % of patients desiring diabetes-related activities during clinic waiting time. Many women desire a postpartum diabetes reciprocal peer program for support outside of clinician visits. Patients are receptive to educational services during their wait and outside of clinic time, a potentially valuable opportunity to share important health information.     

拜安捷TM血糖监测仪免调码技术的试验分析

血糖仪的调码是指不同批号的试纸由于生产条件的不同而产生的批间差异，因此，在使用不同批号的试纸测试血糖时，需要血糖仪根据试纸上的密码校准批间差异。目前市场上的血糖仪大多在更换试纸时必须先手动调整血糖仪的代码或手动插入试纸盒内专用的代码卡。     

腕管综合征主要症状体征敏感性与特异性的比较

目的　比较腕管综合征 (carpaltunnelsyndrome ,CTS)主要症状、体征的敏感性与特异性。方法　对 10 1例 ( 162只手 )进行症状严重程度与功能状况的询问 ,感觉、运动功能的检查 ;其中 62只手在术后 6周再次测定。结果　 162只患手中 15 8只具有典型症状 ( 98% )。Phalen征、前臂正中神经加压征、Semmes Weinstein单丝纤维测试阳性率分别为 98%、96%、82 %。 87%的患手出现肌力下降 ,拇短展肌肌力测定 (定量法 )结果显示 ,与徒手法相比 ,不同性别间、术前与术后的差异均具非常显著意义 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　典型症状、Phalen征、前臂正中神经加压征、拇短展肌肌力变化的敏感性与特异性最高 ,拇短展肌肌力定量法测定是判断腕管综合征严重程度、评定疗效的一个良好的客观指标。     

Who among cytomegalovirus-seropositive liver transplant recipients is at risk for cytomegalovirus infection?

A vast majority of the transplant recipients are cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive (R+). We sought to assess variables predictive of CMV infection, specifically in R+ liver transplant recipients. Study patients comprised 182 consecutive liver transplant recipients who survived at least 14 days after transplantation. Surveillance testing was used to detect CMV infection. Pre-emptive therapy was employed for the prevention of CMV disease, however, no antiviral prophylaxis was used for CMV infection. CMV infection developed in 32.5% (38 of 117) of R+ patients, 84.6% (33 of 39) of R-/D+, and 3.8% (1 of 26) of R-/D- patients. In R+ patients, Hispanic race (21.6% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.06), donor CMV seropositivity (73.7% vs. 45.6%, P = 0.005), and hepatocellular carcinoma (23.7% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.05) correlated with a higher risk of CMV infection. In a multivariate model, Hispanic race (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.03-11.6, P = 0.045), donor CMV serostatus (OR: 4.0, 95% CI: 1.6-10.2, P = 0.003) and hepatocellular carcinoma (OR: 5.8, 95% CI: 1.6-20.5, P = 0.006) were all significant independent predictors of CMV infection. The aforementioned variables did not portend a higher risk of CMV infection in R-/D+ patients; donor CMV seropositivity overwhelmed all other risk factors in R- patients (P < 0.00001). In conclusion, CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients at risk for CMV infection can be identified based on readily assessable variables. Preventive strategies may be selectively targeted toward these patients.     

Late right ventricular reconstruction following valvotomy in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum

Experience over two decades in the surgical management of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum demonstrates that eventual right ventricular (RV) reconstruction is possible in the majority of patients surviving valvotomy in infancy. Ten of 17 operative survivors of early valvotomy have eventually received a patch graft to the RV outflow tract, with no reoperative deaths (mean follow-up, 7.4 years). RV systolic pressures, suprasystemic prior to reoperation, are near normal after outflow patch reconstruction. Serial cineangiograms show evidence of RV growth by measurement of tricuspid annulus diameter (TAD), and demonstrate a rate of growth [d(TAD)/d(body length)] greater than a normal rate derived from autopsy data. The mean TAD growth rate is significantly greater than that of patients with less favorable ventricle types treated with a systemic-pulmonary shunt alone. Measurement of TAD is a useful method for following RV growth, and may aid in selecting patients for RV reconstruction.