Eight-year post-trial follow-up of morbidity and mortality of telephone health coaching.

Background: Health coaching is a patient-centred approach to supporting self-management for the chronic conditions. However, long-term evidence of effectiveness of health coaching remains scarce. The object of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of telephone health coaching (THC) on mortality and morbidity among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure (CHF).

Eight-year post-trial follow-up of health care and long-term care costs of tele-based health coaching.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effect of telephone health coaching on health care and long-term care (LTC) costs in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

Data Sources/study Setting: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) data were linked to Finnish national health and social care registries and electronic health records (EHR). Post-trial eight-year economic evaluation was conducted.

Cost-effectiveness analysis for a tele-based health coaching program for chronic disease in primary care.

Background: The burden of chronic disease and multimorbidity is rapidly increasing. Self-management support interventions are effective in reduce cost, especially when targeted at a single disease group; however, economical evidence of such complex interventions remains scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate a cost-effectiveness analysis of a tele-based health-coaching intervention among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure (CHF).

Dexamethasone-eluting vascular stents.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with stenting is widely used in the treatment of vascular disorders, but restenosis remains a significant problem. Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been developed as an attempt to reduce the intimal response leading to restenosis. Drugs used in DES include mainly immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative compounds.

Health coaching by telephony to support self-care in chronic diseases: clinical outcomes from The TERVA randomized controlled trial.

Background: The aim was to evaluate the effect of a 12-month individualized health coaching intervention by telephony on clinical outcomes.

Methods: An open-label cluster-randomized parallel groups trial. Pre- and post-intervention anthropometric and blood pressure measurements by trained nurses, laboratory measures from electronic medical records (EMR).

The effect of pH on the degradation of biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) 80/20 urethral stent material in vitro.

Purpose: To investigate in vitro whether pH ranging between 6 and 9 has an effect on the degradation of stent fibers made of poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 80/20.

Materials And Methods: The fibers were divided into three groups and immersed in sodium phosphate-buffered saline (Na-PBS) solution with three different pH values: 6, 7.4, and 9.

Preclinical evaluation of new indomethacin-eluting biodegradable urethral stent.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of an indomethacin-eluting biodegradable urethral stent on the production of inflammatory cytokines in vitro and the degradation and biocompatibility of the new stent in vivo.

Materials And Methods: The effects of an indomethacin and indomethacin-eluting biodegradable stent on monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), and transforming growth factor-ß were measured in THP-1 cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stents (copolymer of L-lactide and glycolide acid) that were coated with 50L/50D polylactic acid and two different concentrations of indomethacin were inserted into the rabbit urethra.

A short biodegradable helical spiral ureteric stent provides better antireflux and drainage properties than a double-J stent.

Objective: The use of ureteric stents is a standard treatment for the relief of ureter blockages for benign or malignant reasons. The most common stent design in clinical use is a double-J stent with coiled ends to avoid stent displacement. However, there are a number of complications associated with stent use.

Biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable urethral stent materials.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of biodegradable stent material (poly-96L/4D-lactic acid [PLA]) on the production of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators in vitro and the biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable urethral stent materials in vivo. Indomethacin, dexamethasone, and simvastatin were used in the materials.

Methods: The effects of the biodegradable stent material on cytokines and other inflammatory mediators were measured using the Human Cytokine Antibody Array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in THP-1 cells, with bacterial lipopolysaccharide as a positive control.

Type 2 diabetes prevention in the real world: three-year results of the GOAL lifestyle implementation trial.

OBJECTIVE We study the effectiveness of the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial at the 36-month follow-up. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n = 352, type 2 diabetes risk score FINDRISC = 16.2 +/- 3.

Urethral in situ biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable stents: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Objective: To assess the effect of drug-eluting properties on the degradation process and the biocompatibility of biodegradable drug-eluting urethral stents.

Materials And Methods: Braided biodegradable 80 L/20D-PLGA (copolymer of polylactide and polyglycolide) stents with drug-eluting properties were used as the test material. The drugs analysed were indomethacin, dexamethasone and ciprofloxacine.

Biodegradable braided poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) urethral stent combined with dutasteride in the treatment of acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement: a pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate, in a pilot study, the efficacy and safety of combining a braided poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA, a copolymer of l-lactide and glycolide) urethral stent and dutasteride in the treatment of acute urinary retention (AUR) due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

Patients And Methods: Ten men with AUR due to BPE were treated as outpatients. A biodegradable braided PLGA urethral stent was inserted into the prostatic urethra, using a specially designed insertion device under visual control.

A new biodegradable braided self-expandable PLGA prostatic stent: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Purpose: The biodegradable PLGA (a copolymer of L-lactide and glycolide) urethral stent with a spiral configuration has been used clinically for the prevention of postoperative urinary retention after different types of thermal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A new braiding pattern for this stent has recently been developed by our group. The aim here was to investigate the in situ degradation and biocompatibility of the new braided stent in the rabbit urethra.

Drainage and antireflux characteristics of a biodegradable self-reinforced, self-expanding X-ray-positive poly-L,D-lactide spiral partial ureteral stent: an experimental study.

Purpose: To evaluate the drainage and antireflux characteristics of a new self-expandable self-reinforced poly-L,D-lactide partial ureteral stent (SR-PLA 96) in an experimental model.

Materials And Methods: Twelve dogs were used as experimental animals. A low-midline laparotomy and cystotomy were performed on all animals.

The dilemma of patient responsibility for lifestyle change: perceptions among primary care physicians and nurses.

Objective: To explore physicians' and nurses' views on patient and professional roles in the management of lifestyle-related diseases and their risk factors.

Design: A questionnaire study with a focus on adult obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking.

Setting: Healthcare centres in Päijät-Häme hospital district, Finland.

Type 2 diabetes prevention in the "real world": one-year results of the GOAL Implementation Trial.

Objective: "Real-world" implementation of lifestyle interventions is a challenge. The Good Ageing in Lahti Region (GOAL) Lifestyle Implementation Trial was designed for the primary health care setting, with lifestyle and risk reduction objectives derived from the major diabetes prevention efficacy trials. We report on the program's effectiveness as well as findings related to the program's reach, adoption, and implementation.

Tissue biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials.

Drug-eluting stents are a recent innovation for endovascular and endourethral purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials in vivo. Rods made of SR-PLDLA (self-reinforced poly-96L,4D: -lactic acid) covered with P(50L/50D)LA and rods made of 96L/4D SR-PLA and covered with P(50L/50D)LA including indomethacin 3.

Rural-urban differences in health and health behaviour: a baseline description of a community health-promotion programme for the elderly.

Study Objective: To (1) describe the setting and design of the Good Ageing in Lahti Region (GOAL) programme; (2) by using the baseline results of the GOAL cohort study, to examine whether living in urban, semi-urban, or rural communities is related to risk factors for chronic diseases and functional disability in ageing individuals.

Design: The baseline data of a cohort study of ageing individuals living in three community types (urban, semi-urban, rural). Data were collected by two questionnaires and laboratory assessments.

Biocompatibility properties of a new braided biodegradable urethral stent: a comparison with a biodegradable spiral and a braided metallic stent in the rabbit urethra.

Objective: To compare the biocompatibility properties of a new braided biodegradable self-reinforced poly-L-lactic acid (SR-PLLA) urethral stent to the former spiral biodegradable SR-PLLA stent and the stainless steel stent in a rabbit model.

Materials And Methods: In all, 54 male New Zealand White rabbits were anaesthetized and stents inserted into the prostatic urethra, three of each kind for each sample time. The rabbits were killed after 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 or 15 months and light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy used to analyse the effects.

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes: A prognostic factor of PSA-free survival in patients with local prostate carcinoma treated by radical prostatectomy.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in local prostate cancer (PC).

Materials And Methods: TILs were counted and routine histological variables were assessed from radical prostatectomy specimens in 188 cases of PC. Immunohistochemical (IHC) characterisation of the lymphocytes was done by using CD4 and CD8 antibodies for detection of T lymphocytes and CD20 antibody for B lymphocytes in tissue microarray construction.

Biocompatibility and implantation properties of 2 differently braided, biodegradable, self-reinforced polylactic acid urethral stents: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Purpose: Biodegradable urethral stents have been in clinical use for more than 10 years. To solve the problems connected with the helical spiral configuration of the stents used to date we developed a new tubular mesh configuration and evaluated the biocompatibility properties and degradation time of 2 differently braided stents in the rabbit urethra.

Materials And Methods: The biodegradable, self-expanding stents were made of self-reinforced polylactic acid polymer blended with BaSO4 (Alfa Chem, Kings Point, New York).

Health psychological theory in promoting population health in Päijät-Häme, Finland: first steps toward a type 2 diabetes prevention study.

In public health promotion, behavioural science theories and theory-based methods should be translated into practical strategies that fit environmental conditions and are feasible for implementation. In this article, an effort to meet this challenge is presented. As a starting point we describe the conditions for development and success of the previous generation of public health promotion programmes in Finland.

Encrustation and strength retention properties of the self-expandable, biodegradable, self-reinforced L-lactide-glycolic acid co-polymer 80:20 spiral urethral stent in vitro.

Purpose: Encrustation of urological stents is a clinical problem. The chemical composition and surface properties of the devices have a marked effect on its incidence. The ability of the stent to prevent duct collapse depends on its compression strength, which decreases as degradation progresses.

Expansion and fixation properties of a new braided biodegradable urethral stent: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Purpose: Biodegradable spiral urethral stents have been used with favorable results combined with thermal treatments of the prostate and for recurrent urethral strictures but the configuration of the helical spiral is not ideal. We developed a new tubular mesh configuration for the biodegradable urethral stent and evaluated its expansion and locking properties in the rabbit urethra.

Materials And Methods: The stents were made of self-reinforced polylactic acid polymer (Bionx Implants, Ltd.

Biocompatibility, encrustation and biodegradation of ofloxacine and silver nitrate coated poly-L-lactic acid stents in rabbit urethra.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility, encrustation and biodegradation properties of silver nitrate and ofloxacine blended caprolactone-L-lactide copolymer coated self-reinforced poly-L-lactic acid (SR-PLLA) urospirals in situ in the male rabbit urethra. SR-PLLA urospirals coated with 10% by weight silver nitrate or 5% by weight ofloxacine blended copolymer or pure copolymer were inserted into the posterior urethra of 18 male rabbits. No prophylactic antibiotics were given.