[Effectiveness and efficacy of self-measurement of capillary blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Background And Objective: The efficacy of self-measurement of capillary blood glucose (SMBG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is not fully established. The objectives of the study were: a) to verify the efficacy of the SMBG in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the primary care set; b) to investigate the possible causes that explain the lack of effectiveness of the method, in their case, and c) to deduce the predictive variables that permit to select good utilizador of the SMBG.

Patients And Method: Clinical trial controlled and randomized carried out in the environment of the primary care, on type 2 diabetic patients.

[Assessing COPD-associated morbidity: factors of prognosis].

Background And Objective: Forced respiratory volume in first second spirometry is currently used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, this technique does not always provide a reliable short-term prognosis, especially in patients with associated morbidity. We propose that specific health-related quality of life questionnaires are a better tool to estimate the prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

[The medical care in internal medicine in relation to consultations].

Objective: To study the characteristics of interconsultations from Traumatology (TM), Urology (UR) and Psychiatry (PC) to Internal Medicine (IM).

Material And Methods: Interconsultations from TM, UR and PC to IM from November 2000-April 2001 were analyzed. A medical care program was established and supervised by a physician specifically assigned for this purpose.

Pre-emptive oral ganciclovir can reduce the risk of cytomegalovirus disease in liver transplant recipients.

A cohort of 65 liver transplant recipients was prospectively monitored with qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in plasma. The first 25 patients did not receive prophylaxis. From a consecutive group of 40 recipients, 11 high-risk patients donor CMV-seropositive/receptor CMV-seronegative (D+/R-), persistent CMV replication) received pre-emptive oral ganciclovir (1000 mg three times daily), when a marker of risk was identified, until day 90.

[Immunotherapy with an oral Alternaria extract in childhood asthma. Clinical safety and efficacy and effects on in vivo and in vitro parameters].

Studies of immunotherapy with oral Alternaria extracts are scarce. We decided to perform a clinical trial of the clinical safety and efficacy of this extract as well as of its effects on in vivo and in vitro parameters in 39 patients with Alternaria allergy, aged between 7 and 17 years, who are also sensitized extract was used. Allergic activity was determined through RAST inhibition and skin prick test.