Accuracy and utility of a 10-test disk blood glucose meter.

We evaluated the clinical accuracy, precision, and ease-of-use of a whole blood referenced glucose meter system that uses a 10-test disk (Ascensia Confirm Blood Glucose Monitoring System, Bayer Healthcare LLC). The meter system was tested by 100 subjects and eight health care professionals at two separate diabetes centers. Meter blood glucose test results, obtained by the subjects and health care professionals, were accurate and correlated well when compared with laboratory results. The means of the subject and healthcare professional blood glucose results were within 4.8% of the laboratory mean glucose result. When compared with laboratory results, the correlation coefficient was 0.96 for subject meter results and 0.97 for health care professional meter results. Error grid analyses demonstrated that all subject and health care professional blood glucose measurements fell within zones A and B ('no effect on clinical action' and 'altered clinical action with little or no effect on clinical outcome,' respectively). Ninety-three percent (93%) of subjects rated the meter system favorably on an 'ease-of-use' questionnaire. A majority of subjects correctly performed blood glucose self-monitoring tasks simply by reviewing the user guide. In summary, this unique meter that uses a 10-test disk was shown to be both accurate and precise, and subjects with diabetes were able to use the system properly with minimal instructions.

Bupropion SR vs. placebo for weight loss in obese patients with depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of bupropion sustained-release (bupropion SR) in reducing weight and depressive symptoms in obese adults. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Obese adults (body mass index, 30 to 44 kg/m(2)) not currently meeting criteria for major depression but with depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory score 10-30) received bupropion SR 300 mg/d or placebo for 26 weeks with a 500 kcal/d-deficit diet. Patients who lost <5% of baseline weight at week 12 had bupropion SR dosage or placebo increased to 400 mg/d in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: The bupropion SR group (n = 193) lost an average of 4.4 kg (4.6% of baseline weight) vs. 1.7 kg (1.8% of baseline weight) on placebo (n = 191, p < 0.001, last-observation-carried-forward analysis). More patients in the bupropion SR group than in the placebo group (40% vs. 16% of intent-to-treat sample, 50% vs. 28% of completers, respectively) lost at least 5% of baseline weight (p < 0.05 at week 4, p < 0.001 at weeks 6 to 26). The percentage of patients reporting > or =50% decrease in depressive symptoms did not differ between groups, but depressive symptoms improved more with bupropion SR than with placebo among patients with a history of major depression (p < 0.05, weeks 4 to 26). In the sample as a whole, improvement in depressive symptoms was related to weight loss of > or =5% regardless of treatment (p < 0.0001). Bupropion SR was well-tolerated. DISCUSSION: Bupropion SR in combination with a 500 kcal/d-deficit diet facilitated weight loss. Weight loss of > or =5% may improve mood in obese patients with depressive symptoms.