Psychosocial aspects and perspectives of adult-onset type 1 diabetes: A systematic scoping review.

AIM: To map existing research on psychosocial aspects of adult-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D), including psychosocial health status, ways psychosocial aspects may affect management of T1D in everyday life, and interventions targeting management of adult-onset T1D. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo. Search results were screened with predefined eligibility criteria, followed by data extraction of the included studies. Charted data were summarized in narrative and tabular form. RESULTS: We included 10 reports describing nine studies from the 7302 identified in the search. All studies were conducted in Europe. Participant characteristics were missing in several studies. Five of the nine studies incorporated psychosocial aspects as the main aim of the study. Limited information on psychosocial aspects was available in the remaining studies. We identified three overarching themes related to psychosocial aspects: (1) the impact of the diagnosis on everyday life, (2) the influence of psychosocial health on metabolic levels and adaptation, and (3) provision of self-management support. CONCLUSIONS: Research focussing on psychosocial aspects of the adult-onset population is scarce. Future research should involve participants across the adult life age span and from a wider geographical area. Sociodemographic information should be collected to explore different perspectives. Further exploration of suitable outcome measures considering adults' limited experience of living with the condition is needed. This would help to better understand how psychosocial aspects may affect management of T1D in everyday life and thus enable healthcare professionals to provide appropriate support to adults with new-onset T1D.

Psychosocial factors associated with HbA1c in adults with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes: a systematic review.

AIMS: To identify currently available studies on the association between psychosocial factors and HbA1c in adults with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes, by performing a systematic review of the literature. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for original studies on the association between psychosocial factors and HbA1c in ≥ 50 adult, non-pregnant, insulin pump users with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS: The search resulted in 1777 unique records, of which eight were eligible for inclusion. All identified studies were observational, with sample sizes ranging from 51 to 214. Seven different psychosocial factors were investigated in the eight studies. Study analysis suggested that HbA1c may be associated with diabetes numeracy and quality of life. There were no indications of associations between HbA1c and fear of hypoglycaemia or self-efficacy. Results regarding associations between HbA1c and coping style, diabetes distress and locus of control were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review summarizes the currently limited information on the association between psychosocial factors and HbA1c during insulin pump therapy. The evidence base of the included studies was weak, and this review highlights the need for more research in these areas, with improved methodological and theoretical frameworks, including exploration of a broader spectrum of psychosocial variables and their potential association with HbA1c and other metabolic outcomes. (PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews registration no: CRD42020145705).

Social and Cultural Aspects of HIV and AIDS in West Africa: A Narrative Review of Qualitative Research

With the increasing focus on the role of social aspects of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa; the need for an overview of existing research dealing with such issues has become more urgent. The objective of this article is to provide a thematic overview of existing qualitative research on HIV and AIDS in the West African region and to analyze the main research findings in order to identify possible gaps and recommend new research themes to inform future research-based interventions. The analysis is based on a total of 58 articles published from 2001 to 2009 in eng or French identified through a literature search in seven scientific; bibliographical databases. Searches included terms related to qualitative studies combined with various terms related to HIV/AIDS. The results of this narrative review show that there was a geographical concentration on Nigeria; Ghana; Burkina Faso and Co. e d'Ivoire and a strong urban bias; with most studies taking place in the capital cities of these countries. The majority of the studies focused on women or women and men; only four articles dealt exclusively with men; of which only two were on men who have sex with men. The main study groups were people living with HIV; young people or female sex workers. Sexual risk-taking and stigmatization were the themes that were most prominently explored in the articles we reviewed. We conclude that research needs to be strengthened in relation to the analysis of experiences with antiretroviral therapy and the non-optimal access to treatment in West Africa. Also; more research is needed on men and their exposure to HIV/AIDS; as well as on the role of concurrent partnership in the spread of HIV

A new method for estimation of illegal abortions.

For the years 1974, 1975, and 1976, the Danish National Board of Health has published statistical material showing the percentage of known conceptions (births, legal abortions, and other cases of hospitalized abortion) which end in spontaneous abortion. For the above-mentioned three-year period, the proportion was eight percent. The author shows that by employing this figure and the figures for births, legal abortions, and all other hospitalized abortion cases, the hospitalized illegal abortion cases can be estimated. The proportion of illegal abortions during the years 1960-71 have previously been estimated. By applying this new method of calculation to the same material, the author finds a much smaller figure for illegal abortion. The old method yielded certain maximum, medium and minimum figures for this material; the result of the new method corresponds approximately to the minimum figures of the old method, which employed percentages of six and eight for minimum and medium figures for spontaneous abortion. The author quotes literature which shows that these figures today are regarded as far too low. The application of these figures in the calculations might explain the disagreement between the results of the two methods. Some of the errors are examined.

[Pecilocin allergy]. / Pecilocinum-Allergie

In 1975 there were a total of 44 patients in the author's practice with a history of treatment with pecilocinum (Variotin). These patients were patch tested with pecilocinum, and seven were found to be allergic to this drug. In three of them the skin disease had been caused or exacerbated by pecilocinum. In the other four patients the allergy to pecilocinum must be regarded as an "immunological scar".

Three cases of multiple myeloma in which the preclinical asymptomatic phases persisted throughout 15 to 24 years.

During the period from 1950 to 1952, three patients were studied by electrophoresis according to Tiselius on account of anticomplementary activity at WR; the presence of an M-component was demonstrated. On several later occasions it was observed that this component at first seemed to remain unchanged, later it was slightly increased; repeated examinations did not give evidence of multiple myeloma. At intervals ranging from 15 to 24 years after the primary demonstration of the M-component, all three patients presented with symptoms of multiple myeloma and died within less than one year after the disease had been diagnosed. The following conclusions are drawn:(1) The preclinical phase of multiple myeloma may cover up to 24 years.(2) A presence of multiple myeloma cannot be precluded, even after follow-up throughout 24 years, in cases of the so-called "benign monoclonal gammopathy".