Linezolid-Associated Serotonin Syndrome. A Report of Two Cases.

Linezolid, a mild monoamine oxidase inhibitor, is a commonly used antibiotic drug for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections, including diabetic foot infections. Use of linezolid has been associated with serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition typically caused by the combination of two or more medications with serotonergic properties, due to increased serotonin release. The goals of this article are to highlight the risk factors associated with the development of serotonin syndrome related to the use of linezolid and to aid in its prevention and early diagnosis.

Small area variation in diabetes prevalence in Puerto Rico.

Objective: To estimate the 2009 prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in Puerto Rico among adults ≥ 20 years of age in order to gain a better understanding of its geographic distribution so that policymakers can more efficiently target prevention and control programs.

Methods: A Bayesian multilevel model was fitted to the combined 2008-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and 2009 United States Census data to estimate diabetes prevalence for each of the 78 municipios (counties) in Puerto Rico.

Results: The mean unadjusted estimate for all counties was 14.

Limb salvage using advanced technologies: a case report.

Patients with severe acute and chronic lower extremity wounds often present a significant challenge in terms of limb salvage. In addition to control of infection, assuring adequate perfusion and providing standard wound care, advanced modalities are often required to facilitate final wound closure. We herein present a case study on a diabetic patient with gangrene and necrotising soft-tissue infection who underwent a forefoot pedal amputation to control the sepsis.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the setting of perioperative bridging for podiatric surgery: a case report.

Heparin is an anticoagulant commonly used to treat and prevent deep venous thrombosis. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and possible thrombosis are serious complications associated with its use. This can occasionally complicate treatment of patients undergoing podiatric surgery.

Association of statin use with peripheral neuropathy in the U.S. population 40 years of age or older.

Background: Peripheral neuropathy is a serious complication of diabetes and several conditions that may lead to the loss of lower extremity function and even amputations. Since the introduction of statins, their use has increased markedly. Recent reports suggest a role for statins in the development of peripheral neuropathy.

Prevalence of equinus in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients.

Background: There are no conclusive data to support the contention that diabetic patients have an increased frequency of ankle equinus compared with their nondiabetic counterparts. Additionally, a presumed contributing cause of foot ulceration is ankle joint equinus. Therefore, we sought to determine whether persons with diabetes have a higher prevalence of ankle joint equinus than do nondiabetic persons.

A case history of multimodal therapy in healing a complicated diabetic foot wound: negative pressure, dermal replacement and pulsed radio frequency energy therapies.

Advanced multimodal therapies are being used with increasing frequency in the management of difficult or complex wounds. Although the primary goal remains to expedite complete healing, secondary goals include avoidance of superimposed infection, repeated hospitalisations and subsequent amputations. We describe a case involving a limb- and life-threatening necrotising infection in a diabetic patient in which we successfully applied negative pressure wound therapy, dermal replacement therapy and pulsed radio frequency energy to achieve definitive healing.

Physician perception of reimbursement for outpatient procedures among managed care patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To examine the association between physicians' reimbursement perceptions and outpatient test performance among patients with diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Methods: Participants were physicians (n = 766) and their managed care patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 2758) enrolled in 6 plans in 2003.

Cell proliferation induction: healing chronic wounds through low-energy pulsed radiofrequency.

Chronic lower extremity wounds are a major source of morbidity and health care expenditure across the world. In the last decade, numerous advanced modalities have become available that can help expedite wound healing when standard wound care modalities are unsuccessful. In this case report, the authors present their early experience with one such modality that uses pulsed radiofrequency energy to initiate cell proliferation induction in chronic lower extremity wounds of different etiologies that had failed to respond to standard therapy.

Intra-osseous gout in a diabetic patient.

Unlabelled: The following case is an interesting presentation of gout and its long-term affects in a diabetic individual. The patient initially presented with ankle pain and, after radiographic examination, a suspicious lytic lesion in the talus and a fracture of the medial malleolus were identified. A full workup with bone biopsy was undertaken and, although the patient did not present in the typical fashion, gout was ultimately diagnosed.

Reductions in excess mortality rates among people with diabetes by selected cause of death.

We applied Bayesian methods to estimate excess mortality rates by selected causes of death for decedents with diabetes compared to those without diabetes in North Dakota and assessed changes in the excess rate between 1992-1998 and 1999-2003. We report the probability (Pr) of a rate decrease in the age-adjusted excess rate and considered the evidence strong if the probability was 0.90 or higher.

Race/ethnicity and economic differences in cost-related medication underuse among insured adults with diabetes: the Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes Study.

Objective: To examine racial/ethnic and economic variation in cost-related medication underuse among insured adults with diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: We surveyed 5,086 participants from the multicenter Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes Study. Respondents reported whether they used less medication because of cost in the past 12 months.

A Bayesian approach to assess heart disease mortality among persons with diabetes in the presence of missing data.

Some states' death certificate form includes a diabetes yes/no check box that enables policy makers to investigate the change in heart disease mortality rates by diabetes status. Because the check boxes are sometimes unmarked, a method accounting for missing data is needed when estimating heart disease mortality rates by diabetes status. Using North Dakota's data (1992-2003), we generate the posterior distribution of diabetes status to estimate diabetes status among those with heart disease and an unmarked check box using Monte Carlo methods.

Syme amputation for limb salvage: early experience with 26 cases.

The Syme amputation is often overlooked as an alternative to below-knee amputation or above-knee amputation in cases of limb-threatening foot infections and gangrene. Even though the advantages of the Syme amputation over major amputation are well cited in the literature, many surgeons do not view this amputation as a viable option for limb salvage. We herein present our initial experience with this operation in a series of patients at imminent risk for major lower extremity amputation.

Who is tested for diabetic kidney disease and who initiates treatment? The Translating Research Into Action For Diabetes (TRIAD) Study.

Objective: We examined factors associated with screening for albuminuria and initiation of ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) treatment in diabetic patients.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted surveys and medical record reviews for 5,378 patients participating in a study of diabetes care in managed care at baseline (2000-2001) and follow-up (2002-2003). Factors associated with testing for albuminuria were examined in cross-sectional analysis at baseline.

Development of electronic textiles to support networks, communications, and medical applications in future U.S. military protective clothing systems.

The focus of this paper is on the development of textile-based wearable electronics that can be integrated into military protective clothing. A materials and manufacturing survey was conducted to determine the best performing and most durable materials to withstand the rigors of textile manufacturing and potential military use. Narrow woven technology was selected as one of the most promising textile manufacturing methods.

Development of electronic textiles for U.S. military protective clothing systems.

The focus of this paper is on the development of a wearable electronic network that provides data and power transport. A materials and manufacturing survey was conducted to determine the best performing and most durable materials to withstand the rigors of textile manufacturing and potential military use. Narrow woven technology was selected as the most appropriate manufacturing method.

The evolving diabetes burden in the United States.

A diabetes epidemic emerged during the 20th century and continues unchecked into the 21st century. It has already taken an extraordinary toll on the U.S.

Diabetes prevalence among Puerto Rican adults in New York City, NY, 2000.

This study assessed the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and associated characteristics among Puerto Rican adults in New York City, NY, with a random-digit-dialed telephone survey with a dual-frame sampling design. Overall, 11.3% (95% confidence interval = 8.

Excess physical limitations among adults with diabetes in the U.S. population, 1997-1999.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of physical limitations associated with diabetes among U.S. adults > or =18 years of age.