Factors influencing adherence to medications in a group of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Jamaica

The objective of this study was to examine the factors influencing adherence to medications in a group of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Jamaica. A qualitative study was designed using a screening questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The study was conducted in the rheumatology clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. 75 patients with SLE including 20 interviewees, who had SLE for at least 1 year participated in the study. The main outcome measures were: (i) level of self-reported adherence in a sample of the clinic attendees and (ii) interviewees explanations of the reasons for taking or not taking drugs as prescribed by their physician. 56% of the 75 study participants reported taking their medications more than 85% of the time. High cost and poor availability of medications were the main reasons for poor adherence, but some patients chose not to take their medications because of side effects, perceived mild severity of their disease and/or a preference to take drugs only when symptomatic. Patients used herbal medicines to counteract side effects of Western medicines, to ‘purge the blood’ and to manage lupus symptoms when they had no medications. Religious beliefs were used as a coping strategy. Traditional use of herbal medicines is common particularly in patients from rural Jamaica, and may explain the observed use of herbal medicines in those who have emigrated to developed countries. Socio-economic constraints and poor drug availability are particularly important influences on poor adherence in Jamaican patients with SLE. Religious beliefs and use of herbal remedies do not seem to affect adherence adversely but are used when drugs cannot be obtained.

Chemical control options for the dicamba resistant biotype of fathen (Chenopodium album)

Three field trials were conducted over two growing seasons to evaluate the efficacy of potential selective postemergence herbicides against dicamba resistant fathen (Chenopodium album) Results confirmed the presence of the biotype which tolerated dicamba up to 2400 g/ha eight times the recommended field rate Postemergence applications of bromoxynil pyridate nicosulfuron and mesotrione all showed equally good efficacy on both susceptible and resistant biotypes Flumetsulam provided good control in one of the three trials Nicosulfuron and mesotrione provided long term residual control in all trials with nicosulfuron also being more effective on grass weeds The 2400 g/ha rate of dicamba severely damaged the maize crop resulting in increased weed cover and reduced grain yield Numbers of viable fathen seeds in the soil at the end of the growing season remained similar to those recorded before planting except in plots that provided good control of fathen where numbers had dropped considerably

Specific and sensitive detection of H. pylori in biological specimens by real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization

PCR detection of H. pylori in biological specimens is rendered difficult by the extensive polymorphism of H. pylori genes and the suppressed expression of some genes in many strains. The goal of the present study was to (1) define a domain of the 16S rRNA sequence that is both highly conserved among H. pylori strains and also specific to the species, and (2) to develop and validate specific and sensitive molecular methods for the detection of H. pylori. We used a combination of in silico and molecular approaches to achieve sensitive and specific detection of H. pylori in biologic media. We sequenced two isolates from patients living in different continents and demonstrated that a 546-bp domain of the H. pylori 16S rRNA sequence was conserved in those strains and in published sequences. Within this conserved sequence, we defined a 229-bp domain that is 100% homologous in most H. pylori strains available in GenBank and also is specific for H. pylori. This sub-domain was then used to design (1) a set of high quality RT-PCR primers and probe that encompassed a 76-bp sequence and included at least two mismatches with other Helicobacter sp. 16S rRNA; and (2) in situ hybridization antisense probes. The sensitivity and specificity of the approaches were then demonstrated by using gastric biopsy specimens from patients and rhesus monkeys. This H. pylori-specific region of the 16S rRNA sequence is highly conserved among most H. pylori strains and allows specific detection, identification, and quantification of this bacterium in biological specimens.

The relationship between cancer and medication exposures in systemic lupus erythaematosus: a case-cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To examine if, in systemic lupus erythaematosus (SLE), exposure to immunosuppressive therapy (cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate) increases cancer risk.

METHODS

A case-cohort study was performed within a multi-site international SLE cohort; subjects were linked to regional tumour registries to determine cancer cases occurring after entry into the cohort. We calculated the hazard ratio (HR) for cancer after exposure to an immunosuppressive drug, in models that controlled for other medications (anti-malarial drugs, systemic glucocorticoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin), smoking, age, sex, race/ethnicity, geographic location, calendar year, SLE duration, and lupus damage scores. In the primary analyses, exposures were treated categorically (ever/never) and as time-dependent.

RESULTS

Results are presented from 246 cancer cases and 538 controls without cancer. The adjusted HR for overall cancer risk after any immunosuppressive drug was 0.82 (95% CI 0.50-1.36). Age > or = 65, and the presence of non-malignancy damage were associated with overall cancer risk. For lung cancer (n = 35 cases), smoking was also a prominent risk factor. When looking at haematological cancers specifically (n = 46 cases), there was a suggestion of an increased risk after immunosuppressive drug exposures, particularly when these were lagged by a period of 5 years (adjusted HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.02-5.15).

CONCLUSIONS

In our SLE sample, age > or = 65, damage, and tobacco exposure were associated with cancer risk. Though immunosuppressive therapy may not be the principal driving factor for overall cancer risk, it may contribute to an increased risk of haematological malignancies. Future studies are in progress to evaluate independent influence of medication exposures and disease activity on risk of malignancy.

Natamycin treatment of experimental Candida albicans induced keratomycosis in rabbits

OBJECTIVE

The efficacy of topical natamycin 5% was studied using a reproducible model of keratomycosis produced by Candida albicans in the rabbits.

METHOD

Candida albicans was isolated from infected human eye and 4 x 10(5) cells of the Candida albicans was injected into the corneal stroma of the eyes of 15 rabbits. All eyes developed a corneal ulcer without pretreatment with immunosuppressive agents. Forty-eight hours after inoculation, the animals were divided into two groups: test group I, 10 eyes receiving notamycin drops in a 5% suspension; control group II, five eyes receiving 0.9% normal saline solution. The rabbits' corneas were removed for Candida albicans recovery and placed in 1 ml of sterile 0.9% normal saline solution, minced within two hours with scalpel and thoroughly homogenized with a piston and mortar Serial dilutions of this corneal solution from 10(-1) - 10(-4) were made in 0.9% sterile saline solution and 100 microl aliquots were plated onto tryptic soy agar. All cultures of cornea from the treated eyes were negative after seven days of inoculation while five cultures were still positive in the control eyes at the end of the experiment.

RESULT

It was found that 5% natamycin was effective in treating experimental Candida albicans induced keratomycosis in rabbits.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that natamycin has a significant effect (p < 0.01) against Candida albicans in treating experimental keratomycosis.

Challenges and opportunities in developing a psychological intervention for perinatal depression in rural Pakistan--a multi-method study

Perinatal depression, due to its high prevalence and associations with disability, poor infant development and family disruption, is a major public health problem in developing countries. In non-literate and poor communities where depression is not recognised and where there are no specialists, developing a culturally acceptable, deliverable psychological intervention that community members find useful, presents special challenges but also opportunities. We describe lessons learned from a multi-method formative study to develop and deliver a psychological intervention to depressed mothers and their infants through non-specialist village based health workers.

The relationship of placental weight with birth weight

To assess the relationship between placental weight and birth weight, two hundred forty six pregnant mothers, who were otherwise healthy, were prospectively followed in a city hospital during antenatal period until delivery and immediate post-partum period. Height of mothers was measured initially and weight measured at each visit during the antenatal check-up. Placental weight and birth weight of babies were measured by one of the authors immediately after delivery by a weighing scale. Eighty one percent of the mothers were between the age group of 20-29 years. The BMI of 92% mothers was 18.5 and above. Most of the mothers came both with primigravida (42%) or second gravida (33%) and in 25% cases 3rd or onwards. In 49% cases the placental weight was between 401-500 gm, in 30% cases >500 gm and in 21% cases 400 gm or less. There was delivery of appropriate-birth-weight babies in 85% cases and low-birth-weight babies in 15% cases. It was observed that a very strong correlation existed between placental weight and birth weight (r = 0.391, p<0.001). Even this correlation was stronger in small for gestational age babies. However, there was no correlation between placental weight and APGAR score at one minute. It is concluded that increment of birth weight occurs with increase of placental weight. If placental weight can be measured by ultrasonography in second or early third trimester of pregnancy birth weight is possible to be assessed and appropriate measure can be taken to increase the birth weight.

Duplex evidence of recanalization of deep venous thrombosis with conservative management

A female patient was admitted in vascular surgery department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) after confirmation of diagnosis with duplex ultrasonographic examination. The patient was treated with intra-venous heparin for 10 (ten) days and elevation of the affected limb with application of crepe bandage. Later on the patient was discharged with oral anti-coagulant e.g. Tab. Warfarin for 06 (six) months along with application of crepe bandage on the affected limb. During the patient received oral anti-coagulant therapy the patient was asked to do Prothrombin time every week for adjustment of dose of oral anti-coagulant therapy. After 01 (one) month duplex ultrasonographic examination of deep veins of the affected limb was performed, which showed good recanalization of deep and superficial veins of right lower limb. It can be stated that, serious complications like pulmonary embolism can be avoided with effective and timely treatment of deep venous thrombosis with complete recanalization.

Association between antenatal depression and low birthweight in a developing country

OBJECTIVE

There is a high prevalence of depression in south Asian women. We aimed to examine the association between antenatal depression and low birthweight (LBW) in infants in a rural community in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

METHOD

A total of 143 physically healthy mothers with ICD-10 depression in the third trimester of pregnancy and 147 non-depressed mothers of similar gestation were followed from birth. Infant weight was measured and information collected on socioeconomic status, maternal body-mass index and sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

Infants of depressed mothers had lower birthweight (mean 2910 g) than infants of non-depressed mothers (mean 3022 g). The relative risk for LBW (< or =2500 g) in infants of depressed mothers was 1.9 (95% CI 1.3-2.9). The association remained significant after adjustment for confounders by multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

Low birthweight is a major public health problem in developing countries. Maternal depression during pregnancy predicts LBW. Interventions aimed at maternal depression may help improve infant outcomes.

BILAG-2004 index captures systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity better than SLEDAI-2000

OBJECTIVE

To assess the reliability of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)-2000 index in routine practice and its ability to capture disease activity as compared with the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG)-2004 index.

METHODS

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from 11 centres were assessed separately by two raters in routine practice. Disease activity was assessed using the BILAG-2004 and SLEDAI-2000 indices. The level of agreement for items was used to assess the reliability of SLEDAI-2000. The ability to detect disease activity was assessed by determining the number of patients with a high activity on BILAG-2004 (overall score A or B) but low SLEDAI-2000 score (<6) and number of patients with low activity on BILAG-2004 (overall score C, D or E) but high SLEDAI-2000 score (>or=6). Treatment of these patients was analysed, and the increase in treatment was used as the gold standard for active disease.

RESULTS

93 patients (90.3% women, 69.9% Caucasian) were studied: mean age was 43.8 years, mean disease duration 10 years. There were 43 patients (46.2%) with a difference in SLEDAI-2000 score between the two raters and this difference was >or=4 in 19 patients (20.4%). Agreement for each of the items in SLEDAI-2000 was between 81.7 and 100%. 35 patients (37.6%) had high activity on BILAG-2004 but a low SLEDAI-2000 score, of which 48.6% had treatment increased. There were only five patients (5.4%) with low activity on BILAG-2004 but a high SLEDAI-2000 score.

CONCLUSIONS

SLEDAI-2000 is a reliable index to assess systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity but it is less able than the BILAG-2004 index to detect active disease requiring increased treatment.

Fifty years of anti-ds DNA antibodies: are we approaching journey's end?

The year 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the identification of antibodies to double-stranded (ds) DNA. Whilst widely regarded as synonymous with patients who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), doubts have been raised about their significance and the extent to which they are genuinely part of the pathogenesis of the disease rather than being mere bystanders. Problems with assays used to detect them are still evident but they remain widely utilized both to help establish the diagnosis of SLE and to monitor the progress of the disease. This review explores each of these aspects and concludes that whilst some way short of ideal, their measurement remains a useful criterion for the disease and some of these antibodies do appear to be genuinely pathogenic. However, further research is needed to establish beyond 'reasonable doubt' whether they are merely part of the spectrum of anti-nucleosome antibodies, the precise mechanisms by which they 'exert' their pathogenic effects and to what extent blocking them would be a useful therapeutic goal.

Lung cancer in systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Evidence points to a link between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and an increased risk of lung cancer. Our objective was to provide a brief report of the lung cancer cases from an SLE cohort, with respect to demographics, histology, and exposures to smoking and immunosuppressive medications.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a multi-site international cohort study of over 9500 SLE patients from 23 centres. Cancer cases were ascertained through linkage with regional tumor registries.

RESULTS

We analyzed information on histology subtype for 30 lung cancer cases that had occurred across five countries. Most (75%) of these 30 cases were female, with a median age of 61 (range 27-91) years. In eight cases, the histological type was not specified. In the remainder, the most common histological type reported was adenocarcinoma (N=8; two of the adenocarcinomas were bronchoalveolar carcinoma) followed by small cell carcinoma (N=6), and squamous cell carcinoma (N=6) with one case each of large cell carcinoma and carcinoid tumor. Most (71%) of the lung cancer cases were smokers; only the minority (20%) had been previously exposed to immunosuppressive agents.

CONCLUSIONS

The histological distribution of the lung cancers from the SLE sample appeared similar to that of lung cancer patients in the general population, though the possibility of a higher proportion of more uncommon tumors (such as bronchoalveolar and carcinoid) cannot be excluded. A large proportion of the cancer cases were smokers, which is also not surprising. However, only a minority appeared to have been exposed to immunosuppressive agents. A large case-cohort study currently in progress should help shed light on the relative importance of these exposures in lung cancer risk for SLE patients.

Hodgkin's lymphoma in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there is a well-documented increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but little is known about the risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). The purpose of our work was to describe the phenomenon of HL in SLE.

METHODS

A multi-site cohort of 9547 SLE subjects was assembled; HL cases were ascertained through cancer registry linkage, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for HL was determined. We also performed a literature search for HL cases in SLE, and compared these with our sample. Finally, we pooled results from our cohort study with two large population-based cohort studies providing SIR estimates for HL in SLE.

RESULTS

Five cases of HL occurred in our SLE cohort during the observation interval, for an SIR of 2.4 (95% CI 0.8, 5.5). The literature review documented 13 HL case reports developing in patients with SLE. A pooled analysis combining our data with the other large cohort studies yielded a standardized incidence ratio of 3.16 (95% CI, 1.63-5.51) for HL in SLE.

CONCLUSIONS

Data suggest that risk in SLE is increased not only for NHL, but also for other malignancies arising from B-lymphocytes, including HL.

Development of additional autoimmune diseases in a multiethnic cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with reference to damage and mortality

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of other autoimmune diseases (AID) in black, Caucasian and South Asian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with the prevalence of these AID in the UK population, and to assess the impact of these additional AID on damage scores and mortality.

METHODS

The prevalence and chronology of development of additional AID in SLE patients was determined by case note review. Comparisons were made with prevalence data for AID in the general UK population. The impact of additional AID on mortality and damage scores at up to 10 years was determined in the index cases (patients who developed another AID either in the same year or within 5 years of onset of SLE) compared with controls matched for sex, age, ethnicity and year of onset of SLE.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the total number of AID that developed in patients from each ethnic group but differences in the frequency of some AID were noted. Mortality and damage scores were worse at 5 years in the study cases than the controls, particularly in the peripheral vascular category.

CONCLUSION

Patients with SLE might develop other AID that could complicate management of SLE by having an adverse impact on damage scores and mortality.

Comparative study of coronary collaterals in diabetic and nondiabetic patients by angiography

Myocardial ischaemia is known to be significantly related to the development of coronary collaterals, but there are considerable variations in their formation. The nature of this variability is not well understood. Likewise it remains unclear whether diabetes mellitus. DM has any effect on coronary collaterals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diabetes mellitus on coronary collaterals. This prospective case- control study was done from January to December 2000 in patients undergoing coronary angiography in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Dhaka, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of having < or = 75% stenosis in at least one coronary artery. The patients with diabetes having CAD without other modifiable major risk factors (hypertension, smoking, dyslipidaemia) were constituted case study group (n=36) and nondiabetic patients having CAD with those risk factors were constituted control group (n=50). Coronary collaterals were graded according to Rentrope scoring system and the collateral score was calculated by summing the Rentrope number of every patient. There was no statistical difference between patients with and without diabetes in clinical characteristics. The mean number of diseased vessel in DM group 2.6+/-0.6 was higher than that in nondiabetic patients (2.1+/-0.8, P>.05). The mean collateral score was 0.5+/-0.6 in DM group and 1.2+/-1.0 in nondiabetic group. These findings suggest that coronary collateral development is significantly poorer in diabetic than on diabetic patients.

Maternal depression increases infant risk of diarrhoeal illness: --a cohort study

AIMS

To examine the associations between postnatal depression in mothers and diarrhoeal illness in their infants in the first year of life in a low-income country.

METHODS

Using a prospective cohort design, 265 infants (n = 130 of mothers having a depressive episode according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, at 3 months postnatal and n = 135 of psychologically well mothers) living in rural Rawalpindi, Pakistan, were followed up for 1 year. Frequency of diarrhoeal episodes was measured fortnightly by health workers using a standard questionnaire.

RESULTS

Infants of depressed mothers had significantly more diarrhoeal episodes per year than those of controls (mean 5.5 v 4.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9 to 2.0). The relative risk of having > or =5 diarrhoeal episodes per year in infants of depressed mothers was 2.3 (95% CI 1.6 to 3.1). The association remained significant after adjustment for other risk factors by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal depression is associated with infant diarrhoeal morbidity in a low-income community setting. It is independent of the effects of known factors such as undernutrition, socioeconomic status and parental education. Preventive child health programmes targeting mothers must consider their mental health.

Dietary factors and cognitive impairment in community-dwelling elderly

BACKGROUND

Diet may play a role in cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between dietary factors and cognitive impairment.

DESIGN AND METHODS

All subjects (n=1056) were participants in the State-wide Survey of Alabama's Elderly (1986-87). Basic demographic information, Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ) score, and dietary intake frequency of meat (pork, beef, lamb), fish, chicken or turkey, vegetables, fruit, milk, cheese, desserts, bread or cereal, and dried beans and peas were ascertained during an inhome interview.

RESULTS

Most participants were female (67%) and white (73%) with a mean age of 69 years (SD 8.9, min 55 max 94) and mean years of education of 10.7 (SD 3.8, min 1 max 18). Intake of cheese was found to be inversely associated with cognitive impairment in a simple logistic regression analysis, (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.84; p=0.003) and in a multiple logistic regression analysis (OR=0.68; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.99; p=0.04), after adjusting for basic socio-demographic factors and for other dietary factors. Increased frequency of cheese intake was associated with decreased cognitive impairment (p=0.0034). In the multiple logistic regression analysis bread or cereal (OR= 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.97; p=0.044) was inversely associated with, and dessert intake (OR= 1.70, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.59; p=0.013) positively associated with cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSION

Dietary intake of cheese is associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment, with a dose-response effect, while intake of dessert is associated with a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment. Possible reasons for a potential protective effect of cheese ingestion are discussed.