Text Messaging in the Patient-Centered Medical Home to Improve Glucose Control and Retinopathy Screening.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a text messaging program (TMP) to improve glucose control, retinopathy screening (RS) rates, and self-care behaviors in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. A single-group design with a quasi-systematic random sample (=20) received educational/exhortational text messages on their cellular phones for 3 months. Subjects, 12 of whom identified as a minority ethnicity, were mostly male, aged 27-73 years.

Effects of genetic and environmental risk assessment feedback on colorectal cancer screening adherence.

Little is known about the impact of genetic and environmental risk assessment (GERA) feedback on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. In a recently completed randomized trial, primary care patients received GERA feedback based on a blood test for genetic polymorphisms and serum folate level (GERA Group) versus usual care (Control Group). Subsequently, participants were offered CRC screening.

Genetic and environmental risk assessment and colorectal cancer screening in an average-risk population: a randomized trial.

Background: New methods are needed to improve health behaviors, such as adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Personalized genetic information to guide medical decisions is increasingly available. Whether such information motivates behavioral change is unknown.

Advantages of extended-release metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Metformin is a first-line pharmacological treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus because of its favorable overall profile, including its glucose-lowering ability, weight-neutral effects, and low risk of hypoglycemia; however, gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance may limit use in some patients. Extended-release metformin improves GI tolerability, allows once-daily dosing, and is currently available in multiple branded and generic formulations; however, it is more expensive than immediate-release metformin. Maximum plasma metformin concentrations are reached more slowly with the extended-release formulation compared with conventional immediate-release metformin, although both provide similar exposure at a given total daily dose.

A randomized trial of genetic and environmental risk assessment (GERA) for colorectal cancer risk in primary care: trial design and baseline findings.

Purpose: This paper describes an ongoing randomized controlled trial designed to assess the impact of genetic and environmental risk assessment (GERA) on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.

Methods: The trial includes asymptomatic patients who are 50-79years and are not up-to-date with CRC screening guidelines. Patients who responded to a baseline telephone survey are randomized to a GERA or Control group.

Issues in the perioperative care of the patient with psychiatric illness.

Several topics have been reviewed pertaining to psychiatric patients requiring either surgery or ECT. Most of the morbidity unique to this group of patients in the perioperative period results from drug side effects or interactions. Complications can be minimized by familiarity with the side effects of psychotropic medication and by the discontinuation of these medications when indicated.

Reversed phase thin-layer chromatography for the separation of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and enkephalins.

A novel, simple technique using reversed phase thin-layer chromatography has been developed to separate beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and Met- and Leu-enkephalins. This method is useful for the rapid determination of the purity of these opioid peptides. The effectiveness of several solvent systems has been assessed.

Methadone disposition following oral versus parenteral dose administration in rats during chronic treatment.

A single radiolabeled dose of dl-methadone was administered by the oral, subcutaneous and intravenous routes to rats that had been chronically treated with dl-methadone. Radiolabeled compound (methadone and metabolites) was found in all organs at all time points studied after 30 minutes to 24 hours. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis showed that approximately 30-40 per cent of this compound is unchanged methadone at the 1-hour time point in the liver of rats receiving an oral or intravenous dose and in the brain of rats receiving an oral dose.