Patients’, Caregivers’, and Providers’ Perceived Strategies for Diabetes Care

Objectives: To explore strategies to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self-management among low-income and minority groups. Methods: Focus groups centered on T2DM self-care behaviors were conducted using convenient sample of patients with T2DM (N = 17), caregivers (N = 5) and healthcare providers (N = 15). Results: Patients and caregivers perceived strategies included improving patient-provider communication, providers’ accessibility and compassion, and flexible clinic hours. Strategies identified by providers were realistic patient’s expectations, family support, and community resources. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is the first to elicit strategies to improve T2DM self-management through a joint meeting of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Study findings could help inform future efforts to assist patients better manage their T2DM

Study of the embryotoxic effects of an extract of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)

Extracts of rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L., have been used in folk medicine as a diuretic, an emenagogue, an antispasmodic and its aqueous extract does not present toxicity to man, presenting, however, abortive effects. In order to evaluate if this plant induces abortion and/or interferes with the normal development of the concepts, doses of 26 mg of a 30% (w/v) R. officinalis aqueous extract (13 mg solids/ml) made with leaves, flowers and stem were administered daily by gavage during two different periods of Wistar rat pregnancy. One group of animals (N = 12) received the extract from days 1 to 6 of pregnancy (preimplantation period) and another group (N = 14) received the same extract from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy (organogenic period). Control groups (N = 12) received saline in the same volume and during the same periods as their respective experimental groups. The animals were sacrificed at term. The treatment of the darns during either the preimplantation or the organogenic period did not cause significant changes in the postimplantation loss or in the number of anomalies or malformations of the term fetuses, which also showed a similar degree of development when compared with the respective controls. The percent of preimplantation loss in the group treated before embryo implantation increased, although the difference was not significant compared to the control. This result suggests that rosemary extract may present an anti-implantation effect without interfering with the normal development of the concept after implantation

Efeito do extrato aquoso de folhas de Polymnia sonchifolia (yacon) em ratas diabéticas

Polymnia sonchifolia is a medicinal plant used as hypoglycemic agent and other ends. The aim was to evaluate the yacon effect on diabetes in Wistar female rats, which was divided in 4 groups: non-diabetic (n=24) given (gavage) 32.4 mg kg -1 of an aqueous extract of plant (treated group) or vehicle (non-treated group), and one diabetic group (n=24) with similar treatment compared to non-diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin (i.v. route, 40 mg kg -1). Glycemia was monitored after rodent adaptation period, 15 days after diabetes induction, and each 10 days after yacon/vehicle in early treatment. During experiment period, body weights, food and water intake were daily measured. The rats (non-diabetic or diabetic) given yacon extract treatment presented no significant difference related with glycemia, body weight gain, and food and water intake. Thus, further studies such increase of rat number in agreement with different glycemic levels and increase of the plant extract dose are necessary

Vivências de enfermeiros intensivistas na avaliação e intervenção para alívio da dor na criança

Survey descritivo das experiências práticas das enfermeiras pediátricas na avaliação e intervenção, para aliviar dores em crianças durante os cuidados em unidades pediátricas e de tratamento intensivo neonatal, e a influência da infraestrutura de cuidados e organização do sistema. Amostra foi feita com até 109 enfermeiras. Os resultados principais indicaram que a maioria considerou o treinamento acadêmico insuficiente para apoiar este aspecto dos cuidados; não receberam treinamento local na avaliação de dor ou intervenções para aliviá-la; a proporção do pessoal é inadequada assim como a disponibilidade de instruções institucionais para melhorar a qualidade da analgesia. Concluiu-se que as enfermeiras valorizam a avaliação e intervenção para o alívio de dor em crianças, mas descrevem os aspectos que comprometem a prática: falta de colaboração, falta da definição de processos, falta de educação formal e contínua e de infraestrutura. Estes aspectos comprometem a implementação das evidências científicas capazes de melhorar os aspectos práticos de analgesia nas crianças sob cuidados intensivos