Developing Safe Syringe Exchange Programs: Role of the North Carolina Division of Public Health.

Syringe exchange programs became legal in North Carolina on July 11, 2016. A combination of forces led to this progressive public health measure, including advocacy of the State Health Official, in a state characterized by a conservative political climate. Data collected by the division of public health were a key contributor to the initiative.

Early interventions for diabetes related tuberculosis associate with hastened sputum microbiological clearance in Virginia, USA.

Background: Diabetes complicates tuberculosis (TB) treatment including a prolonged time of sputum culture conversion to negative growth. Since 2013 in Virginia, interventions early in the treatment course have used therapeutic drug monitoring and dose correction for isoniazid and rifampin after 2 weeks of TB treatment in patients with diabetes along with nurse manager initiated diabetes education and linkage to care.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of the state TB registry was performed for patients initiating drug-susceptible pulmonary TB treatment that were matched for age, gender, chest imaging and sputum smear status to compare time to sputum culture conversion and other clinical outcomes in the pre-and post-intervention groups.

Electromagnetic fields in the treatment of chronic lower back pain in patients with degenerative disc disease.

Aim: To examine the effects of low-amplitude, low frequency electromagnetic field therapy (EMF) therapy in patients with persistent chronic lower back pain associated with degenerative disc disease.

Design: Double-blind, randomized and placebo controlled.

Intervention: EMF using a medical device resonator; control group underwent same procedures, except the device was turned off.

Early Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Isoniazid and Rifampin among Diabetics with Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis in Virginia, USA.

Slow responders to tuberculosis (TB) treatment in Virginia have prolonged treatment duration and consume more programmatic resources. Diabetes is an independent risk factor for slow response and low serum anti-TB drug concentrations. Thus, a statewide initiative of early therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for isoniazid and rifampin at 2 weeks after TB treatment was piloted for all diabetics with newly diagnosed TB.

Characteristics of women with continued use of vaginal pessaries.

Vaginal pessaries have been shown to be a safe, effective treatment for pelvic organ prolapse, and in some cases, female urinary incontinence. There are limited data that predict long-term pessary use; therefore, the aim of this retrospective, exploratory study was to describe selected characteristics of women using a pessary for 12 months or longer in a nurse-run clinic.