Famalismo Primero and Puerta Cerrada in Self-Managing Diabetes Among Hispanics: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence is increasing at concerning rates for Hispanics. Researchers have attempted to understand why through quantitative or qualitative studies. This meta-synthesis examines qualitative studies concerning barriers and facilitators that Hispanics face while managing their diabetes. METHOD: Noblit and Hare's (1988) defined method of analysis was used to synthesize 15 qualitative studies on Hispanics' diabetes self-management. RESULTS: Findings revealed two themes: (a) famalismo primero and (b) puerta cerrada, translating to family first and closed door, respectively. In famalismo primero, Hispanics with T2D prioritize family, and receive support, motivation, and knowledge from them first; puerta cerrada is tied to barriers such as cost of services and patient-provider relationships. DISCUSSION: Inclusion of family in diabetes self-management provides support and motivation for Hispanics. Hispanics experience barriers to access health care that may interfere with diabetes self-management, which need to be addressed to promote health equity.

Metastasis of an adenocarcinoma of the stomach to the 4th metacarpal bone.

Metastatic tumours of the hand are uncommon. The majority of these tumours affect the phalanges and the primary tumours are usually bronchogenic in origin, with breast and kidney tumours next in frequency. Metastatic gastrointestinal to the hand is rare and usually from the colon. We report a case of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach antrum presenting with a metastatic lesion to the right 4th metacarpal bone. A review of the literature is included.

Oral contraceptive effects on methylprednisolone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

OBJECTIVE: Oral contraceptive (OC) steroids alter the disposition of numerous drugs, including corticosteroids. We investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methylprednisolone. METHODS: Twelve women (six women used OC steroids and six women did not) received intravenous methylprednisolone (0.6 mg/kg ideal body weight). Methylprednisolone disposition was assessed from plasma concentrations. Pharmacodynamic parameters measured were plasma cortisol, whole blood histamine (reflecting basophils), and blood helper T lymphocytes. RESULTS: Methylprednisolone clearance was significantly decreased in the women who used OC steroids (0.298 versus 0.447 L/hr/kg), resulting in a longer elimination half-life (2.20 versus 1.72 hours). With use of indirect response models, significant differences were observed with the cortisol and basophil responses. A larger value for the concentration that inhibits the zero-order production rate by 50% (0.37 versus 0.11 ng/ml) was observed in the women who used OC steroids for suppression of cortisol secretion, indicating less sensitivity to the suppressive effects of methylprednisolone. Greater net suppression of basophils was observed in the users of OC steroids (area under the response curve, 694 versus 401 ng x hr/ml). No differences were observed for helper T-cell responses. CONCLUSION: OC steroids appear to inhibit methylprednisolone metabolism. However, mixed changes in several responses occur, indicating that women can probably receive similar doses of methylprednisolone irrespective of OC steroid use.

PIP: At the Buffalo General Hospital in New York, researchers randomly assigned 6 healthy, nonobese women, 30-36 years old and using a triphasic oral contraceptive (OC) (Triphasil 28, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories), to either the baseline phase group or the group receiving an intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone sodium succinate at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg ideal body weight during the 2-week period after ovulation (i.e., luteal phase). These women were compared with 6 other women who did not use OCs but did receive the same dose of methylprednisolone. The purpose was to determine whether the adrenosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive effects of methylprednisolone differ in OC users. OC users experienced slower clearance of methylprednisolone (33% slower) than controls. This slower clearance rate contributed to a longer elimination half-life for methylprednisolone (2.2 vs. 1.72 hours; p 0.05). OC users also had a rate of slower elimination of cortisol than controls (0.180 vs. 0.276 hr-1; p 0.05). They had higher mean cortisol levels than controls (136 vs. 65 ng/ml). Women who used OCs for suppression of cortisol secretion had a larger value for the concentration of cortisol that suppresses the zero-order production rate by 50% (0.37 vs. 0.11 ng/ml; p 0.05), suggesting a decreased sensitivity to the effects of methylprednisolone on cortisol suppression. OC users experienced a greater net suppression of basophils at drug effect than at baseline. Methylprednisolone appeared to have no effect on helper T-cell responses. These findings suggest that OCs inhibit methylprednisolone metabolism. Since there were inconsistent changes in several responses, women can likely receive similar doses of methylprednisolone irrespective of OC use.

Methylprednisolone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in chronic renal failure.

Methylprednisolone (MP) pharmacokinetics and its directly suppressive effects on cortisol secretion and cell trafficking were compared in 6 chronic renal failure (CRF) subjects and 6 healthy controls. After IV administration of MP 0.6 mg/kg as Solu-Medrol, the pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone were similar. The clearance was about 280 ml/hr/kg, volume of distribution was 1.1 l/kg, t1/2 was 2.7 hr, and fraction unbound was 0.2. Physiologic pharmacodynamics models were applied for the suppression of cortisol secretion and recirculation of basophils, T-helper cells, and T-suppressor cells. The net response (area under the curve) and inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of methylprednisolone for each pharmacodynamic parameter were similar in both groups. As the pharmacokinetics of other corticosteroids are altered in CRF, the lack of pharmacokinetic/dynamic changes of methylprednisolone may offer a therapeutic advantage for CRF patients.

Gender-based effects on methylprednisolone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

The pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamic responses to methylprednisolone were investigated in six men and six premenopausal women after a dose of 0.6 mg/kg ideal body weight. Women (luteal phase) exhibited a greater methylprednisolone clearance (0.45 versus 0.29 L/hr/kg) and shorter elimination half-life (1.7 versus 2.6 hours) than men. The volume of distribution of methylprednisolone was similar when normalized for ideal body weight. Pharmacodynamic models were used to examine the methylprednisolone suppressive effects on cortisol secretion and basophil and helper T lymphocyte trafficking. A significantly smaller 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value (0.1 versus 1.7 ng/ml) was seen in the women for suppression of cortisol secretion, indicating increased sensitivity. However, the area under the concentration-time curve of effect was similar for both groups. The IC50 values for effects of methylprednisolone on basophil trafficking related to estradiol concentrations in a log-linear fashion in women, with increased sensitivity found at higher estradiol concentrations. Men displayed a greater 24-hour net suppression in blood basophil numbers, but no difference was observed in net cortisol and helper T lymphocyte suppression between the sexes. These findings suggest that methylprednisolone dosages should be based on ideal body weight. Although women are more sensitive to methylprednisolone as measured by cortisol suppression, they eliminate the drug more quickly, generally producing a similar net response.

Pharmacodynamic modeling of cortisol suppression from fluocortolone.

The effect of fluocortolone on cortisol suppression was characterized using a 'direct suppression pharmacodynamic model'. The model incorporates the physiologic circadian secretion of cortisol under normal and treatment conditions, together with pharmacokinetic data from single fluocortolone doses of 20, 50, and 100 mg. A mean IC50 value (fluocortolone plasma concentration at which the circadian secretion of cortisol is inhibited by 50%) of 15.5 ng.ml-1 was found. This analysis shows how use of pharmacodynamic modeling can characterize dose-proportionality data to provide an in vivo measure of drug potency.

Quality assurance of data collection in an aminoglycoside dosing service.

An aminoglycoside dosing service (ADS) has been in existence at the Hospital since 1984. As part of an overall Quality Assurance (QA) plan for the service, an audit was conducted to ensure that all necessary data were available to allow for proper interpretation of the serum aminoglycoside levels. The initial audit revealed complete documentation of required data in 75% of PRE-dose levels and 63% of POST-dose levels drawn. Several problems were identified: staff were not aware of procedures on how to complete the serum antibiotic level requisition forms; inaccurate assumptions of infusion times were made by pharmacists; and discrepancies were found to exist in the Hospital's Laboratory Manual and Pharmacy Intravenous Medication Manual. Corrective action was initiated through: education on proper documentation on the serum antibiotic level requisition forms through the hospital-wide distributed Pharmacy Bulletin; revision of the Hospital's Laboratory Manual and Pharmacy Intravenous Medication Manual; communication with head nurses to emphasize the need for documentation of infusion times; and active follow-up with nurses on missing information by the clinical pharmacist. A re-audit was initiated following implementation of the corrective actions. Complete documentation of required data increased to 93% with PRE-dose levels and 84% with POST-dose levels. This improvement was statistically significant (p less than 0.001).