Evaluation of effectiveness and safety of an ICU insulin infusion protocol / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

Objective@#To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of, and protocol deviations with the use of the Modified Yale Insulin Infusion Protocol (IIP) compared to usual/standard care in the local setting. @*Methods@#Chart review of patients admitted in two ICUs over a 2-year period was done. Patients eligible for intensive glycemic control were identified. Efficacy, safety and clinical outcomes were compared between the Modified Yale IIP and usual/standard care. Charts managed with the IIP were appraised for protocol deviations.@*Results@#Eighty-one patients met the inclusion criteria and 34.6% used the IIP. The IIP group achieved a lower mean blood glucose (185.1 vs 212.1 mg/dl, p<0.05). They reached normoglycemia (5 vs 12 hours, p<0.05) and target range of 140-180 mg/dl (8.3 vs 18.3 hours, p<0.05) earlier. Hypoglycemia was rare (median 0%) in both groups. No difference in mortality or morbidity was seen. Hospital (13.9 vs 8.1 days, p<0.05) and ICU stay (5.5 vs 3.0 days, p<0.05) were longer in the IIP group. A mean of 11 deviations per patient occurred, the majority of which were errors on insulin dose administered (66.6%). @*Conclusion@#The Modified Yale IIP is efficaceous, safe and yielded better glycemic profiles than usual care. Majority of protocol deviations were on the insulin dose administered

The transformation of transsexual individuals / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

@#The traditional binary classification of gender is repeatedly challenged throughout history with the presence of transgenders. Under the umbrella of transgenderism is transsexualism which pertains to individuals who identify with or desire to become the opposite sex. Transsexualism or Gender Dysphoria is classified as a medical condition under ICD 10 and DSM-5. The proposed treatment is sex reassignment that includes all treatments carried out to adapt to the desired sex. Sex reassignment involves a multidisciplinary approach wherein the psychiatrist or mental health practitioner, endocrinologist and surgeon play active roles. Certain legal and ethical issues exist in the treatment of transsexualism. This article provides a review of psychological, medical and surgical issues in the evaluation and treatment of Transgender individuals, with an Asian perspective, and in the context of an actual case.