Regular control at the general practitioner is positively correlated with patient satisfaction with chronic care management.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to identify how disease management programmes for patients with a chronic disease work. This issue is explored from the patients' perspective. Specifically, we study how transition and coordination are related to the patient's perception of quality of care, with a particular focus on the general practitioner's (GP) role. METHODS: The study is based on a survey conducted among patients with Type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Central Denmark Region in 2011 and 2012. Data are analysed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 4,174 patients answered the questionnaire. The response rate was 43%. Whether the patient attends regular visits with the GP or not has a significant influence on both the patient's overall perception of the healthcare sector and on the patient's perception of the organisation of care. Variation among patient groups was identified and COPD patients had the least positive overall perception of the care received. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who visit their GP for regular control both have a better overall perception of the healthcare sector and are more likely to think that their treatment is well organised. Patients with COPD have a less positive score than patients with ACS and diabetes. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

Characterization of human breast milk leukocytes and their potential role in cytomegalovirus transmission to newborns.

BACKGROUND: Breast milk is the primary source of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission to newborns and premature infants. The role of cell-free milk whey in virus transmission is well understood, yet the knowledge about the role of milk cells in this process is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily characterize different breast milk cell types during various stages of lactation to evaluate their potential role in the transmission of CMV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast milk cells of 18 lactating and 3 CMV-seropositive mothers of preterm infants were isolated and characterized for expression of myeloid markers by flow cytometry. In parallel, cytospin preparations were stained with α-naphthyl acetate esterase to identify milk macrophages and describe the dynamic changes of the macrophage-granulocyte population during lactation. The influence of different time points of lactation was analyzed by FACS analysis of double-stained (CD15/CD66b) milk cells. To characterize CMV target cells in breast milk, we enriched CD14+ cells by MACS (Miltenyi) and monitored cell fractions using CMV IEEx4 nested PCR and pp67 CMV RNA by NASBA. RESULTS: Virolactia, viral DNAlactia, and viral pp67 late mRNA could be detected in breast milk cells only in defined time periods. Granulocytes and macrophages demonstrated an inverse dynamic with neutrophils predominating in the early stages (<30 days postpartum) and macrophages in later stages (>60 days postpartum) of lactation. Enrichment of CD14-positive cells resulted in viral DNA and pp67 late mRNA detection. CONCLUSIONS: Granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages are the predominating cell populations in breast milk with changing frequencies during early lactation. These results demonstrate that CD14-positive breast milk cells seem to be one of the target cells for CMV in breast milk.

Rapid detection and quantification of cell free cytomegalovirus by a high-speed centrifugation-based microculture assay: comparison to longitudinally analyzed viral DNA load and pp67 late transcript during lactation.

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is reactivated in nearly every seropositive breastfeeding mother during lactation [Lancet 357 (2001) 513]. Conventional tissue culture (TC) and low-speed centrifugation-enhanced microtiter culture methods are not able to detect HCMV from milk during all stages of lactation. OBJECTIVES: Development of a sensitive and quantitative microculture technique to describe the dynamics of HCMV reactivation in different milk compartments during lactation. STUDY DESIGN: Milk samples were collected longitudinally from seropositive breastfeeding mothers of preterm infants. Native milk samples were separated into fraction 1 (aqueous extract of milk fat), fraction 2 (cell and fat free milk whey) and fraction 3 (milk cells). Each of these fractions was screened qualitatively (TC, nPCR, pp67 late mRNA) and quantitatively (high-speed centrifugation-based microculture, quantitative PCR). RESULTS: Prior to low-speed centrifugation-enhanced inoculation, virus particles were concentrated by high-speed centrifugation (60 min at 50,000 x g, 4 degrees C). Using fraction 2 we were able to describe the dynamics of viral reactivation during lactation. We present the course of the quantitative virolactia and DNAlactia and qualitative detection of HCMV pp67 late mRNA in milk whey of four mothers (three transmitters and one non-transmitter). In all these cases virolactia described an unimodal and self limited course. Peak levels of virolactia for transmitters (T1: day 44; T2: day 43; T3: day 50) were closely related the onset of viruria of the corresponding preterm infants (U1: day 39; U2a/U2b: day 44/57; U3: day 60). The courses of viral load coincidence with the courses of DNA load. CONCLUSIONS: We present a rapid and highly sensitive microculture method for the quantification of cell free HCMV from milk whey and aqueous extracts from milk fat. Viral reactivation during lactation describes an unimodal course. Our findings have strong implications for quality control of any virus inactivation procedure.