Standardized evaluation of the quality and persuasiveness of mobile health applications for diabetes management.

This study evaluates diabetes self-management mobile health applications available from European app stores with respect to quality, concordance with recommended self-management tasks and implementation of persuasive system design principles. The European Play Store and Apple App Store were systematically searched and relevant apps were tested. Two raters independently assessed app quality using the Mobile Application Rating Scale and conducted a content analysis of provided persuasive system design principles and self-management tasks. A total of 2,269 mobile health applications were identified and 120 could be included in the evaluation. The overall quality was rated as moderate M = 3.20 (SD = 0.39, min = 2.31, max = 4.62), with shortcomings in the subcategories of engagement (M = 2.80, SD = 0.67) and information quality (M = 2.26, SD = 0.48). Scientific evidence is available for 8% of the apps. The reviewed apps implemented a median of three persuasive system design principles (range 0-15) and targeted a median of 4.5 (range 1-8) self-management tasks, however, with a lack of information about psychosocial coping strategies. Most available diabetes self-management apps lack a scientific evidence base. Persuasive system design features are underrepresented and may form a promising tool to improve app quality. Furthermore, the interaction of physical and behavioral health should be improved in existing diabetes self-management mobile health applications.

[Healing process of claw lesions in dairy cows in alpine mountain pastures]. / Heilungsverlauf von Klauenläsionen bei Milchkühen unter Alpbedingungen.

The field study investigated severity, localisation and incidence of claw lesions of dairy cows and their healing process during a period of three months on selected mountain pastures in the central part of Switzerland. In 60 cows, which were at least 120 days in their lactation, the healing process was compared with the biochemical profiles. In 141 cows 197 claw lesions were recorded. Diagnosed were only sole ulcers (38%) and white line lesions (62%). In the first and second half of the summer term, the number of claw lesions was equal, although more severe lesions occurred mainly during the second half (89%). The lesions were treated surgically and the affected claw was elevated on a wood block or a plastic shoe. Average time for formation of a close layer of horn was 14 days. A delayed healing process was observed in dairy cows with an milk yield over 5500 kg per lactation, as well as in the second half of the summer term. Cows with a delayed healing process had significantly higher concentrations of free fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate, and higher plasma enzyme activities for AST than cows with adequate healing process. This indicates that cows with a relatively high milk production touch upon the limits of their physical capacity under harder conditions on alpine pastures, which may affect also the healing process of claw lesions.

Relationship between calcifying tendinitis and subacromial impingement: a prospective radiography and magnetic resonance imaging study.

In a prospective study radiographs and magnetic resonance images of 75 patients with calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff were analyzed. The aim was to evaluate any relation between calcifying tendinitis and subacromial impingement. A total of 83% of the calcifications were located in the supraspinatus or the adjoining part of the subscapularis tendon. On T1-weighted images they could be demonstrated with high accuracy as areas of decreased signal intensity. A magnetic resonance imaging categorization of the calcium deposits was carried out by means of a differentiation of form, outline, and density. A partial rotator cuff tear was found in one shoulder; in 11% variable aspects of degenerative alteration of the affected tendon were seen. By analysis of the radiographic outlet view 16% of the cases had a type III acromion. In conclusion, little correlation exists between calcifying tendinitis and additional findings associated with subacromial impingement.

[Proton spin tomography imaging of the rotator cuff in calcific tendinitis of the shoulder]. / Die kernspintomographische Darstellung der Rotatorenmanschette bei der Tendinosis calcarea der Schulter.

An analysis of the MR-images of 75 patients with calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder was performed. The aim of the study was to recognize characteristic findings of the calcific deposits and their relation to the involved tendons as well as the coincidence with additional degenerative alterations of the rotator cuff. The calcifications can be demonstrated with high accuracy (> 95%) in T1-weighted images as areas of decreased signal intensity. It is possible to characterize the calcifications similar to Gärtner's radiologic classification differentiating form and density of the calcific deposits as well as their delimitation to the tendon structure. In T2-images there frequently is a perifocal band of increased signal intensity which can be identified as an oedema around the calcification. Analysing two perpendicular planes the calcifications can be assigned to the corresponding anatomical structure. 83 percent were located in the supraspinatus tendon above the humeral head or in the superior part of the subscapularis tendon. Degenerative areas of the rotator cuff are demonstrated as small zones of increased signal intensity, abnormal morphology or discontinuity of the tendon. Only in one patient a partial tear could be found; 11 percent showed variable signs of degenerative alteration of the involved tendon.

pH testing of feeding-tube aspirates to determine placement.

Although radiologic confirmation of tube placement remains the "gold standard," there is growing evidence that pH testing of feeding-tube aspirates can reduce (although not totally eliminate) reliance on x-rays used for this purpose. This article describes that evidence and tells how it was obtained. Reducing the number of x-rays needed to confirm tube position can have far-reaching financial benefits.

Visual characteristics of aspirates from feeding tubes as a method for predicting tube location.

A sample of 880 feeding tube aspirates were classified as being primarily clear or cloudy and as having one of six colors. Gastric aspirates were most frequently cloudy and green, tan or off-white, or bloody or brown. Intestinal fluids were primarily clear and yellow to bile-colored. In the absence of blood, pleural fluid was usually pale yellow and serous, and tracheobronchial secretions were usually tan or off-white mucus. However, respiratory aspirates often contained blood and therefore failed to have the expected characteristics of respiratory fluid. Staff nurses were shown photographs of a sample of 106 aspirates and asked to predict tube position. Their ability to identify 50 gastric aspirates improved significantly after reading a list of suggested characteristics of feeding tube aspirates (81.33% to 90.47%, p < .0001). Similarly, their ability to identify 50 intestinal aspirates improved from 64.07% to 71.53% after reading the list of criteria. However, nurses were often unable to identify respiratory aspirates; the accuracy of their predictions decreased after reading the list of suggested characteristics (from 56.67% to 46.11%). The appearance of aspirates is often helpful in distinguishing between gastric and intestinal placement, but is of little value in ruling out respiratory placement.

Effectiveness of pH measurements in predicting feeding tube placement: an update.

This paper reports further findings from an ongoing clinical study designed to evaluate the extent to which pH values of aspirates from feeding tubes can be used to differentiate between gastric and intestinal tube placement and gastric and respiratory tube placement. The sample consisted of 405 aspirates from small-bore nasogastric tubes and 389 aspirates from nasointestinal tubes, which were obtained from 605 subjects ranging in age from 18 to 94 years. Data were collected at the time of initial placement and again, when possible, after feedings were initiated. A total of 794 pH-meter readings were made concurrently with X-rays to determine feeding tube position. Gastric placement was successfully distinguished from intestinal placement of the feeding tubes on the basis of pH-meter readings (p < .0001). Approximately 85% of the 405 pH-meter readings from gastric fluid were between 0 and 6.0, while over 87% of the 389 pH-meter measurements performed on intestinal aspirates were greater than 6.0. Four aspirates from feeding tubes inadvertently placed in the respiratory tract (two in the pleural space and two in the tracheobronchial tree) were tested with a pH-meter, all had pH values greater than 6.5.

Effectiveness of the auscultatory method in predicting feeding tube location.

A clinical study was conducted to determine the extent to which sounds generated by air insufflations through feeding tubes could be used to predict where the tubes' ports ended in the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach or proximal small intestine), and to differentiate between gastric and respiratory placement. Sounds generated by a series of air insufflations through the tubes of 85 acutely-ill adult subjects were recorded. One hundred fifteen usable tape-recordings of sound sequences were obtained. The principal investigator later played the tapes for the research team members (who were also skilled clinicians) so that they could independently record their impressions of the sounds. (No identification of subjects or tube positions were given on the tapes; however, each site of auscultation was announced.) The results were collated and compared against the hypotheses and actual tube location (as determined by X-ray). Overall, the average percentage of correct classifications of each tape was 34.4%. Descriptive data were reported for three subjects with feeding tubes inadvertently positioned in the respiratory tract; air insufflations were clearly audible in 2 of the 3 cases. Clinicians should not rely on the auscultatory method to differentiate gastric from intestinal placement, nor gastric from respiratory placement of feeding tubes.

Effectiveness of pH measurements in predicting feeding tube placement.

The extent to which pH values of aspirates from feeding tubes could be used to differentiate between (a) gastric and intestinal placement, and (b) gastric and respiratory placement were determined in a clinical study. The sample consisted of 181 adult subjects, 94 with small-bore nasogastric tubes and 87 with nasointestinal tubes. Data were collected at the time of initial tube placement and again, when possible, after one or two days of tube feedings. Using color coded pH-paper, a total of 247 readings were made concurrently with x-rays to determine feeding tube position. Findings indicated that pH readings were often effective in differentiating between gastric and intestinal placement (p less than .0001). For example, approximately 81% of the aspirates from nasogastric tubes had pH values ranging from 1 through 4, while almost 88% of the aspirates from nasointestinal tubes had pH values of 6 or greater. Only one aspirate from a tube inadvertently placed in the lung was tested; as expected it had an alkaline pH.