Goals, beliefs, knowledge, and barriers for diabetes self-care in a multi-ethnic population in Malaysia: A qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Ethnic differences may influence diabetes selfcare practices and glycaemic control among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This qualitative study explored goals, beliefs about treatment effectiveness, knowledge, and barriers to and facilitators for diabetes self-care among the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia. METHODS: Patient focus group discussions were conducted in three different ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Participants were recruited from the primary-care clinic of a university medical centre located in an urban area. Focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a thematic approach. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients participated in the study: Malays (n=12), Indians (n=10), and Chinese (n=9). There were three sessions for each ethnic group. Reported goals primarily related to quality of life and glycaemic control. Participants expressed the belief that the combination of diet, exercise, and medications is effective for controlling diabetes. Groups described their obtaining information external to a healthcare system and reported a need for more specific, practical counselling from health professionals on diet, exercise, and medications. Barriers to and facilitators for diabetes self-care practices were categorised into three major themes: having discipline, social habits, and "other" themes. CONCLUSION: Emerging themes were similar across the ethnic groups and included quality-of-life goals, confidence in combination treatment, common use of complementary and alternative medicine, need for further counselling, and the challenge regarding self-discipline.

The alkaloids of Artabotrys uncinatus.

A novel type of alpha,beta-butenolide alkaloid, uncinine (1), two novel oxoaporphines, artabonatine C (2) and artabonatine D (3), a new oxazoloaporphine, artabonatine E (4), and a new 7,7'-bisdehydroaporphine, artabonatine F (5), along with 25 known alkaloids, were isolated from Artabotrys uncinatus. The structures of 1-5 were determined using NMR and mass spectral data. Atherospermidine and squamolone exhibited cytotoxicity against hepatocarcinoma cancer cell lines (Hep G(2) and 2,2,15), and the activity of some of the alkaloids in an antithrombin assay is also discussed.

Cytotoxic constituents of the fruits of Cananga odorata.

A new guaipyridine sesquiterpene alkaloid, cananodine (1), and two new eudesmane sesquiterpenes, cryptomeridiol 11-alpha-L-rhamnoside (2) and gamma-eudesmol 11-alpha-L-rhamnoside (3), along with gamma-eudesmol (4), were isolated from the fruits of Cananga odorata. The structures of compounds 1-3 were established on the basis of NMR and MS methods. In addition, compounds 1-4 and four previously reported alkaloids, cleistopholine (5), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6), (+)-ushinsunine-beta-N-oxide (7), and lyscamine (8), were evaluated for cytotoxicity against two human hepatocarcinoma cell lines.

Cytotoxic constituents of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula.

A new halimane diterpene, 3beta,5beta, 16alpha-trihydroxyhalima-13(14)-en-15,16-olide (1), and a new oxoprotoberberine alkaloid, (-)-8-oxopolyalthiaine (2), along with 20 known compounds, were isolated from a methanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic analysis. Several of these compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity toward a small panel of human cell lines.

Antiplatelet actions of aporphinoids from Formosan plants.

Seventeen aporphines were tested for antiplatelet activity. L-(+)-hemovine HCl and 7-hydroxydehydrothalicsimidine strongly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid (AA), collagen, and platelet-activating factor (PAF). The latter showed the strongest antiplatelet activity with an IC50 of 70.4 microM against AA-induced platelet aggregation.