ABSTRACT
The goal of the study was to explore low-income minority patients' concepts of diabetes self-management and assess the extent to which patient beliefs correspond to evidence-based recommendations. African American and Mexican American patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from safety net clinics that serve the uninsured and under-insured in Chicago and San Francisco to participate in focus group discussions. Grounded theory was used to identify themes related to diabetes self-management. Strategies participants mentioned for diabetes self-care were medication use, diet, weight loss and exercise. Eating more fruit and vegetables and consuming smaller portions were the most commonly mentioned dietary behaviors to control diabetes. African Americans expressed skepticism about taking medications. Mexican Americans discussed barriers to acquiring medications and use of herbal remedies. Mexican Americans frequently mentioned intentional exercise of long duration as a management strategy, whereas African Americans more frequently described exercise as regular activities of daily living. Blood glucose self-monitoring and reducing risks of diabetes complications were rarely mentioned as diabetes self-management behaviors. African American and Mexican American patients have different concepts of diabetes self-management, especially with regard to medication use and physical activity. Consideration of these differences may facilitate design of effective self-management interventions for these high-risk populations.
Subject(s)
Black or African American , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Mexican Americans , Poverty , Self Care , Aged , Chicago , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/ethnology , Female , Focus Groups , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , San FranciscoABSTRACT
Information about Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in tropical countries is scarce. This study reports the prevalence of anti-M. pneumoniae antibodies among schoolchildren from the tropical community of Palmares, Costa Rica. The serum samples were collected in July 1983 from 2021 children who represented 99% of the county's schoolchildren. Immunofluorescence (IFA) and in some cases ELISA serological methods were applied. IFA seropositivity was high (53%) and ranged from 22% to 79% depending on the district. Marked differences in the prevalence of antibodies in children attending schools of neighboring communities, suggest that the school may be epidemiologically important as a focus to spread mycoplasma infections among children. The presence of a low percentage of antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA) against the 168 kd- M. pneumoniae antigen suggested that there were few cases of active or recent infections.
Subject(s)
Mycoplasma pneumoniae , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/epidemiology , Tropical Climate , Child , Child, Preschool , Costa Rica/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Humans , Male , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/immunology , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/transmission , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Information about Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in tropical countries is scarce. This study reports the prevalence of anti-M. pneumoniae antibodies among schoolchildren from the tropical community of Palmares, Costa Rica. The serum samples were collected in July 1983 from 2021 children who represented 99 per cent of the county's schoolchildren. Immunofluorescense (IFA) and in some cases ELISA serological methods were applied. IFA seropositivity was high (53 per cent ) and ranged from 22 per cent to 79 per cent depending on the district. Marked differences in the prevalence of antibodies in children attending schools of neighboring communities, suggest that the school may be epidemiologically important as a focus to spread mycoplasma infections among children. The presence of a low percentage of antibodies (IgG,IgM and IgA) against the 168 kd- M.pneumoniae antigen suggested that there were few cases of active or recent infections
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Mycoplasma Infections/diagnosis , Mycoplasma pneumoniae , Respiratory Tract Infections/etiology , Costa Rica , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
The authors interviewed 78 female patients with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder and found a 78% lifetime prevalence of axis I disorders but only a 10% prevalence of axis II disorders. A prior depression was the predominant axis I disorder found, and 29% of parous patients had a prior postpartum depression. A comparison of Global Assessment Scale scores obtained at both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle confirmed luteal increases in symptoms and role impairment.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Luteal Phase/physiology , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Premenstrual Syndrome/diagnosis , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Personality Disorders/psychology , Premenstrual Syndrome/psychology , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , PsychometricsABSTRACT
En el presente trabajo se evalua el papel de mycoplasma pneumoniae en reactivaciones de asma bronquial y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva cronica. Para esto se determinaron los niveles de anticuerpos contra M. Pneumoniae en el zuero de las fases aguda y convaleciente de 28 individuos con reactivacion del cuadro respiratorio. Como controles se analizaron zueros de bancos de sangre del mismo periodo y de años previos al estudio. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los pacientes y los controles del mismo año; sin embargo, la seroposidad en los años previos al estudio fue significativamente inferior, lo que sugiere que en 1987 ocurrio un pico epidemico de infecciones por M. pneumoniae