Diabetic Ketoacidosis as First Presentation of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adult

A 54-year-old white female with hypothyroidism presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. She was found to have diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and admitted to our hospital for treatment. Laboratory workup revealed positive antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies and subsequently she was diagnosed with latent onset autoimmune diabetes in adult (LADA). She was successfully treated with insulin with clinical and laboratory improvement. Diagnosis of LADA has been based on three criteria as given by The Immunology of Diabetes Society: (1) adult age of onset (>30 years of age); (2) presence of at least one circulating autoantibody (GADA/ICA/IAA/IA-2); and (3) initial insulin independence for the first six months. The importance of this case is the unlikely presentation of LADA. We believe that more research is needed to determine the exact proportion of LADA patients who first present with DKA, since similar cases have only been seen in case reports. Adult patients who are obese and have high blood sugar may deserve screening for LADA, especially in the presence of other autoimmune diseases. Those patients once diagnosed with LADA need extensive diabetic education including potentially serious events such as diabetic ketoacidosis

Junior faculty exchange program assists mid-career clinician-educators increase scholarly activity and meet promotion requirements

Project: Our institution requires peer-review scholarly products and an extramural reputation for promotion of clinician-educators to Associate Professor. Given a lack of robust research skill training during residency and a paucity of research mentors in our Division of Hospital Medicine, meeting these two promotion requirements has been especially challenging for many of our hospitalist faculty. We established a junior faculty exchange with other institutions in order to assist individual faculty members to gain a reputation outside of their home institutions, to develop external mentorship and career advice relationships with early career faculty, and to enhance networking and project collaborations. Methods: Participants were mid-career faculty who would gain the maximal career benefit from delivering an invited visit to an external institution and who have sufficient track record to deliver effective mentoring advice to early career hospitalists. Faculty at the late Assistant Professor level or recently promoted Associate Professors were selected by their Divisions leadership to spend one day at a hosting institution, deliver an invited grand rounds or similar didactic presentation, meet with senior leadership, and provide career advice to junior faculty. The program was reciprocal with one faculty member visiting an institution in exchange for that institution hosting a faculty member for a similar invited visit. Each institution covered the cost of travel and hotel accommodations. No honoraria were paid. Results: Over the first two years, four junior academic hospitalists were exchanged between three institutions. There was a high degree of satisfaction among surveyed visiting and visited junior faculty. Two on-going collaborative relationships and one jointly authored paper have resulted to date. Conclusion: A junior faculty exchange program assisted mid-career academic hospitalists establish extramural collaborations and meet promotion requirements that have been problematic at our institution. Implication: This relatively inexpensive faculty development program is easily adaptable by other institutions and may help generalist faculty increase scholarly activity, develop extra-institutional relationships, and achieve promotion.\u2

Cardiovascular Complications of HIV-Associated Immune Dysfunction

Prolonged survival in HIV infection is accompanied by an increased frequency of non-HIV-related comorbidities. It is suggested that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) occur earlier among HIV-positive patients compared with HIV-negative patients, and at a higher rate. Several factors have been proposed which can be categorized into traditional and nontraditional risk factors. Immune dysfunction is a nontraditional risk factor that contributes significantly to cardiovascular pathology. Markers of inflammation are elevated in HIV-infected patients, and elevations in markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, the data currently suggest the most practical advice is to start antiretroviral therapy early and to manage traditional risk factors for CVD aggressively. A better understanding of the mechanisms of CVD in this population and further efforts to modify chronic inflammation remain an important research area

Risk of Helicobacter pylori infection among long-term residents in developing countries

The seroprevalence and incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection were determined among 312 North American missionaries who were serving in developing countries between 1967 and 1984. The majority (81%) resided in sub-Saharan Africa. When initially evaluated, the missionaries had a mean age of 40 years, 65% were female, and all were of white race/ethnicity. An ELISA showed that the initial prevalence of IgG antibody to H. pylori was 17%. After a mean of 7.4 years of service (1917 person-years of exposure), 37 (14%) of 259 initially seronegative subjects seroconverted to anti-H. pylori, giving an annual incidence of 1.9%. These data indicate a relatively higher risk of H. pylori infection among missionaries compared with an annual incidence of seroconversion of 0.3-1.0% in industrialized nations. Long-term residents in developing countries should be evaluated for H. pylori infection when gastrointestinal symptoms develop

Illness in Long-Term Travelers Visiting GeoSentinel Clinics

Length of travel appears to be associated with health risks

Supporting international medical graduates’ transition to their host-country: realist synthesis

Context Many health services and systems rely on the contribution of international medical graduates (IMGs) to the workforce. However, concern has grown around their regulation and professional practice. There is a need, in the absence of strong evidence and a robust theoretical base, for a deeper understanding of the efficacy of interventions used to support IMGs’ transition to their host countries. This study seeks to explore and synthesise evidence relating to interventions developed for IMGs. It aims to provide educators and policy makers with an understanding of how interventions should be developed to support IMGs in their transition to the workplace, particularly looking to identify how and why they are effective. Methods The realist synthesis involved an initial systematic search of the literature for the period January 1990 to April 2015. Secondary searches were conducted throughout the review in order to inform and test the developing programme theory. The context, mechanism and outcome data were extracted from all sources meeting the inclusion criteria. Fourteen case studies were included to further aid theory refinement. Results Sixty-two articles were identified, describing diverse interventions of varying intensity. A further 26 articles were identified through a secondary search. The findings illustrate that, alongside a developed programme, ongoing support and cultural awareness at organisational and training levels are crucial. Individual differences must also be taken into consideration. This will ensure that IMGs engage in transformative learning, increase their levels of self-efficacy and cultural health capital, and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. These factors will have an impact on work, interactions and cultural adjustment. Conclusions Organisational, training and individual contexts all play a role in IMGs’ adjustment during the transition process. Establishing ongoing support is critical. A list of recommendations for implementation is given

Randomised Controlled Double-Blind Non-Inferiority Trial of Two Antivenoms for Saw-Scaled or Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus) Envenoming in Nigeria

Snake bite threatens millions of poor rural folk throughout Africa. In Nigeria, as in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it takes a terrible toll on human life and limb. Over the years, the news for those exposed to snake bite has been generally bad: withdrawal of antivenom manufacturers, increasing cost and, most recently, the marketing of ineffective or fake antivenoms in the region. Our paper reports encouraging results achieved by two antivenoms created as a direct consequence of the present crisis in antivenom supply for Africa. They have been assessed in the most powerful trial ever attempted in this field. The trial showed that in people with non-clotting blood following carpet viper bite, the commonest cause of snake bite morbidity and mortality in the West African savannah, administration of the antivenoms- EchiTAb G and EchiTAb Plus-ICP led to permanent restoration of blood clotting in 76% and 83% of the patients within 6 hours, respectively. Generally mild early adverse reactions were recorded in 19% and 26%, respectively. Both antivenoms proved effective and acceptably safe and can be recommended for treating carpet viper envenoming in Nigeria