[Historical aspects of diagnosis and control of diabetes mellitus].

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases affecting carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. This pathology has a long history, and it was considered a disease of the kidneys until the middle of the 19th century. Descriptions have been found in Egyptian papyri, in ancient Indian and Chinese medical literature, in the writings of ancient Greek and Arab doctors. Aretaeus of Cappadocia gave the first accurate description of the disease, coining the term "diabetes". Thomas Willis first differentiated diabetes from other causes of polyuria by the sweet taste of urine. Matthew Dobson proved the presence of glucose in urine by evaporation. Claude Bernard demonstrated that hyperglycemia contributes to glucosuria. This is how the concept of the renal threshold appeared. In domestic practice, the term "renal threshold" was introduced by endocrinologist V.G. Baranov. The development of qualitative tests for determining glucose in the urine, the creation of test strips and glucometers has significantly improved the quality of life of patients with diabetes. The current stage of development of glucometry includes the determination of fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, as well as continuous glucose monitoring. Continuous glucose monitoring systems make it possible to estimate the time in target range, show the rate of rise or fall of glucose levels. It affects the rate and degree of carbohydrate metabolism compensation and allows for maximum control of the disease.

Abstract presentations: what do SGIM presenters prefer? Society of General Internal Medicine.

We surveyed physicians presenting abstracts at the 1995 Society of General Internal Medicine annual meeting to determine whether the oral or poster format better achieved their presentation goals. Poster presentations better met respondents' objectives for feedback and criticism and for networking and developing collaborative projects, while oral presentations better met their objectives for national visibility and sharing knowledge within one's field. Sixty-nine percent of respondents preferred to present oral abstracts. The majority of these presenters preferred to present their research in an oral format although poster presentations still played an important role for them, particularly as a venue for feedback on their work. As meeting size increases, different presentation formats should be explored that best meet the needs of the academic community.

Personal exposure of faculty and medical students to family violence.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of exposure to personal family violence among medical students and full-time faculty at a major medical center. DESIGN: Self-reported, double-mailing, anonymous survey conducted in September 1995. PARTICIPANTS: Of 406 medical students and 917 full-time faculty surveyed, 787 (59%) responded, including 217 students and 559 faculty members who identified academic status and 292 women and 482 men who identified gender. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Self-reported personal experience with partner abuse, child abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. RESULTS: Response rates were higher for women (69%) than men (54%) (P<.001) and were higher for faculty (61%) than students (53%) (P=.01). Of the 787 respondents, 99 (12.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.9%-15.6%) reported physical abuse, sexual abuse, or both by a partner during their adult life, 118 (15.0%; 95% CI, 12.8%-17.8%) reported physical abuse, sexual abuse, or both as a child, and 188 (23.9%; 95% CI, 22.0-28.1%) reported physical abuse, sexual abuse, or both in their lifetime. Based on positive responses, a minimum of 17% of the female medical students and faculty and 3% of the male medical students and faculty have experienced physical abuse or sexual abuse by a partner in their adult life. CONCLUSIONS: Family violence is a pervasive problem that crosses into the personal experience of medical professionals. The conservative estimate of partner abuse for female medical students and faculty appears comparable with the general population national estimates. The acknowledgment by physicians that family violence is a potential risk for everyone, physicians and patients alike, is a step toward enhancing the identification of abuse and initiating interventions on behalf of survivors of family violence.

Juvenile adenofibromas. A case report.

Juvenile adenofibromas are large, benign breast tumors common to adolescents and young women that often present as a disturbing breast asymmetry, as in the case described here.