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Background: Medication non-adherence in heart failure (HF) leads to increased mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs. However, no study has investigated HF patients' post-hospitalization medication non-adherence in Switzerland. Objectives: Our primary aim was to assess the prevalence of post-discharge medication non-adherence in patients with HF. A secondary objective was to identify differences between fully and partially adherent patients regarding selected unplanned therapy-related inpatient/outpatient cardiology visits. Methods: A non-experimental cross-sectional study was applied. The prevalence of medication adherence was assessed with a German-translated version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) and analyzed descriptively. Differences between adherent and partially adherent patients' numbers of medications, dosing per day and 180-day unplanned inpatient stays or cardiology outpatient visits were explored. Results: Of 153 recruited patients, 72 participated in the survey. Of these, 26.4 % were not fully adherent. Their most common reason was forgetfulness (23.7 %). There were no significant group differences regarding therapy-related variables or 180-day unplanned cardiology stays/visits. Conclusions: Considering that over one-quarter of surveyed HF patients were not fully medication adherent, Swiss cardiology nurses need to be sensitized to this issue and trained in adherence-enhancing interventions. Reaching acceptable adherence levels in patients with HF will require further research and action.
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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore how the implementation of the quality management system (QM; according to DIN EN ISO 9001â:â2008) at the LIONS Eye Bank impacted the rate and reasons for discarding donated corneas. The QM system was introduced in November 2010. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The rate of and reasons for discarding cornea tissues at the LIONS Eye Bank Saar-Lor-Lux,Trier/Western Palatinate from 2006 to 2016 were analysed retrospectively. 4,140 corneas from 2,084 donors were analysed. 1,640 corneas were processed before the QM system had been introduced and 2,500 corneas thereafter. Main reasons for discarding cornea tissues were endothelial quality, contamination of the medium and a positive conjunctival swab. The data was extracted from clinical files and data filing systems, entered into a Microsoft Access database and analysed statistically with SPSS. OUTCOME: Following the implementation of a QM system, the discard rate decreased significantly from 50.1% to 39.7% (p < 0.0001). Prior to the implementation of the QM system, 493 (30.1%) cornea tissues had been discarded due to endothelial quality, while this figure improved significantly to 604 (24.2%) after the QM system had been implemented (p < 0.0001). Contamination was the reason for discarding tissue in 173 (10.5%) cases before implementation of the QM system, and in 124 (5.0%) cases thereafter (p < 0.0001). Positive conjunctival swab was the reason for discarding tissue in 10 (0.6%) cases before the QM system had been implemented, and in 53 (2.1%) cases thereafter (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a QM system significantly reduced the rate of discarded donor tissue in the LIONS Eye Bank. Better management of contamination as a reason for discarding cornea tissues can be attributed to improved standards, protocols and training that are part of this QM system.
Subject(s)
Corneal Transplantation , Eye Banks , Cornea , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Tissue DonorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: With the discrepancy between availability and demand for corneal donors, the purpose of our study was to identify significant factors influencing the suitability and affecting the main reasons for discarding organ-cultured corneas. We thus aimed to minimise the percentage of unsuitable corneas in the long term. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 4140 corneas of 2083 donors were analysed between 2006 and 2016. The factors included age, gender and medical history of the donors as well as storage factors such as post-mortem times. The data was recruited in a Microsoft Access database and evaluated with SPSS 20.0, using logistic regression analyses. In a multiple regression model, six factors influencing the suitability of the donor tissue were analysed. All corneas that did not meet the criteria for elective keratoplasty were considered unsuitable. RESULTS: A high donor age of > 80 years was found to be a significantly negative factor on the suitability of the cornea (p = 0.001) compared to the reference group of donors < 40 years. Previous cataract surgery (p < 0.001) also significantly reduced suitability. Male corneas were significantly less suitable than female corneas (p = 0.028). Hypertension (p = 0.612), chemotherapy (p = 0.745) or diabetes mellitus (p = 0.321) did not significantly affect the suitability. Sepsis (p = 0.026) and multiorgan failure (p < 0.001) as cause of death resulted in significantly higher discarding rates due to contamination of the culture medium. Corneas in which the blood sample collection took more than 12 h from death of the donor had to be discarded significantly more frequently due to a positive donor serology. CONCLUSIONS: Factors such as a history of cataract surgery and high donor age reduced the suitability of corneal donor tissue in organ culture. Diabetes, arterial hypertension and chemotherapy in the donor history did not statistically significantly affect the suitability of donor tissue. Causes of death such as sepsis or multi-organ failure increased the contamination rate of the medium. Post-mortem blood collection after more than 12 h should be avoided due to increased positive serology results.
Subject(s)
Corneal Transplantation , Lions , Animals , Cornea , Eye Banks , Female , Humans , Male , Organ Preservation , Tissue DonorsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Application of serum eye drops is an alternative treatment option for therapy-resistant corneal epithelial defects. In case of persisting epithelial defects, cytokines, which are secreted from stromal keratocytes, may play a role in epithelial wound healing. Our aim was to analyze fibroblast growth factor basic (FGFb), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) concentration in the supernatant of keratocytes, after incubation with human serum (HS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum eye drops of 10 patients were prepared using the standards of the LIONS Eye Bank Saar-Lor-Lux, Trier/Westpfalz, and were stored at - 80â°C. Primary human keratocytes were isolated from human corneoscleral rings using collagenase A (1 mg/ml) (n = 1) and were cultured in DMEM/Ham's culture medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Thereafter, keratocyte cultures were incubated in 15 or 30% HS (in DMEM/F14 without FBS) and FGFb, HGF, KGF and TGF-ß1 concentration was determined with an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) from the supernatant of the culture after 24 hours. We used 15 or 30% HS without keratocytes (under the same storage conditions) as controls. RESULTS: HGF concentration was, for both HS concentrations, significantly higher in the supernatant of keratocytes, than in HS controls (without keratocytes) following 24 hours (p < 0.01). FGFb concentration was significantly increased in 30% HS with keratocytes compared to 30% HS without keratocytes after 24 hours (p < 0.01). TGF-ß1 and KGF concentrations remained unchanged through keratocytes. CONCLUSION: HGF and FGFb concentrations increase in the supernatant of keratocytes, 24 hours after incubation with human serum. These concentration changes may play a role in wound healing of epithelial defects.
Subject(s)
Corneal Keratocytes , Hepatocyte Growth Factor/pharmacology , Cell Count , Cells, Cultured , Corneal Keratocytes/cytology , Corneal Keratocytes/drug effects , Humans , Organ Culture TechniquesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Application of amniotic membrane-conditioned medium (AMM) eye drops is a potential treatment alternative for therapy-resistant corneal epithelial defects. Our purpose was to determine the concentration of growth factors epidermal growth factor (EGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), fibroblast growth factor basic (FGFb), and interleukins, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, in AMM following different preparation methods. METHODS: Amniotic membranes of 10 placentas were prepared and thereafter stored at -80°C using the standard method of our LIONS Cornea Bank. Following defreezing, amniotic membrane pieces with a standard size were inserted in a 12-well plate either complete or cut in small pieces, and 2000 µl DMEM culture medium was added. EGF, NGF, VEGF, TGFß1, FGFb, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations in the culture medium were determined following 8, 48, and 96 hours, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of incubation using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Concentrations of NGF, VEGF, TGFß1, and IL-1ß were beyond the detection limit at all time points. EGF concentrations were between 0.14 and 0.80 ng/g tissue, FGFb between 0.48 and 2.89 ng/g tissue, IL-6 between 0.11 and 1.41 ng/g tissue, and IL-8 between 0.32 and 6.18 ng/g tissue. A significant difference between both preparation methods was shown for the IL-6 concentration after 8 and 48 hours (p < 0.001; p = 0.01) and in IL-8 concentration after 8 and 96 hours and after 3 weeks (p = 0.02; p = 0.002; p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: AMM containing EGF and FGFb, and IL-6 and IL-8 AMM is a potential nonsurgical treatment alternative of therapy-resistant corneal epithelial defects. However, the most effective preparation method and the optimal harvesting time point are yet to be determined.
