Effects of telemedicine in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes--a study protocol.

Introduction: Despite rehabilitation programmes offered to all patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in Denmark, a number of patients either never accomplish good diabetes regulation or the regulation deteriorates with time. Therefore, new approaches are needed. The aim of the present study is to examine whether telemedicine conferences with a nurse can contribute to achieving good diabetes control among patients with poorly regulated type 2 diabetes.

Risk reduction before surgery. The role of the primary care provider in preoperative smoking and alcohol cessation.

Background: Daily smokers and hazardous drinkers are high-risk patients, developing 2-4 times more complications after surgery. Preoperative smoking and alcohol cessation for four to eight weeks prior to surgery halves this complication rate. The patients' preoperative contact with the surgical departments might be too brief for the hospital to initiate these programmes.

Effects of salmeterol on mucosal inflammation in asthma: a placebo-controlled study.

Although the anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma are established, the effects of long-acting beta2-adrenergic receptor agonists on inflammation are the subject of debate. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of salmeterol on the numbers of inflammatory cells in biopsy samples of distinct immunophenotype and those expressing the genes for interleukin-4 and -5, regulatory cytokines particularly relevant to asthma. Twenty patients (aged 18-55 yrs) with mild stable asthma were randomised in a three-way crossover study to 6 weeks of treatment with: 1) salmeterol (50 microg b.

[Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of suspected malignancy in the mediastinum has a major impact on the clinical decision process].

Introduction: A study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided, fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) in patients with mediastinal masses suspected of malignancy.

Material And Methods: Eighty-four patients were referred for EUS-FNA. In all patients computer tomography (CT) had shown a lesion of the mediastinum suspected of malignancy, which was located adjacent to the oesophagus.