Arun Mohan

Aging is associated with increased HbA1c levels, independently of glucose levels and insulin resistance, and also with decreased HbA1c diagnostic specificity.

To determine whether using HbA1c for screening and management could be confounded by age differences, whether age effects can be explained by unrecognized diabetes and prediabetes, insulin resistance or postprandial hyperglycaemia, and whether the effects of aging have an impact on diagnostic accuracy.

Clinical Inertia and Uncertainty in Medicine

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Illustrated medication instructions as a strategy to improve medication management among Latinos: A qualitative analysis

Although illustrated medication instructions may improve medication management among vulnerable populations, little prior research has evaluated their use among Latinos. We conducted focus groups and interviews with Latino patients with diabetes at two safety net clinics in Tennessee to understand medication taking practices and perceptions of illustrated medication instructions. Patients reported confidence in being able to take medications, but demonstrated a lack of understanding of medication instructions. On further probing, they described several barriers to effective medication management rooted in poor communication. Patients expressed preference for illustrated medication instructions which could address several of the challenges raised by patients.

Optic neuropathy, myelopathy, anemia, and neutropenia caused by acquired copper deficiency after gastric bypass surgery

Malabsorptive bariatric surgery is rapidly becoming a major cause of copper deficiency given the increasing prevalence of these procedures for morbid obesity. Acquired copper deficiency can present with clinically significant hematologic and neurological manifestations. Although hematologic manifestations of copper deficiency are rapidly reversible, significant neurological improvement after copper supplementation therapy is unusual and many patients remain debilitated and may only experience, at best, stabilization of the neurological manifestations. Here we present a case of an undiagnosed copper deficiency several years after bariatric gastric bypass surgery, in a patient who concomitantly used zinc-containing denture cream for several years, associated with anemia, neutropenia, myelopathy, respiratory failure, and bilateral optic neuropathy, which caused major vision loss. This patient was also a heterozygote carrier of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A1298C gene polymorphism, which may affect copper metabolism. Intravenous copper repletion resulted in rapid correction of hematologic indices. However, neurological manifestations, including vision loss responded only modestly to copper supplementation, despite achieving normal blood copper concentrations. Clinicians should consider copper deficiency in patients at risk, as in this case, as a delayed diagnosis can lead to irreversible disability due to neurological manifestations.

Development of a Patient-Centered Bilingual Prescription Drug Label

Research shows that prescription drug labels are often difficult for patients to understand, which contributes to medication errors and nonadherence. In this study, the authors developed and qualitatively evaluated an evidence-based bilingual prescription container label designed to improve understanding. The authors developed several prototypes in English only or in English and Spanish. The labels included an image of the drug, an icon to show its purpose, and plain-language instructions presented in a 4-time-of-day table. In 5 focus groups and interviews that included 57 participants, patients and pharmacists critically reviewed the designs and compared them with traditional medication labels and reformatted labels without illustrations. Patients strongly preferred labels that grouped patient-relevant content, highlighted key information, and included drug indication icons. They also preferred having the 4-time-of-day table and plain-language text instructions as opposed to either one alone. Patients preferred having pertinent warnings on the main label instead of auxiliary labels. Pharmacists and Latino patients valued having Spanish and English instructions on the label, so both parties could understand the content. The final label design adheres to the latest national- and state-level recommendations for label format and incorporates additional improvements on the basis of patient and pharmacist input. This design may serve as a prototype for improving prescription drug labeling.

Severe leptospirosis: treatment with intravenous corticosteroids and supportive care

Leptospirosis is a common zoonotic infection worldwide and is recognized as an emerging public health problem. Although commonly thought of as a tropical disease, incidence in temperate climates is increasing, with recent outbreaks in the United States and Germany, among other countries. The disease presents with symptoms ranging from fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting to life-threatening multiorgan failure characterized by acute liver failure, nephritis, pulmonary hemorrhage, meningitis, and cardiac arrhythmia. We describe a case of an otherwise healthy 28-year-old man who had just returned from a 2-month trip to Southeast Asia. He presented to our emergency department twice after his return with the complaint of fever and malaise. Initially, he was treated with symptomatic measures and discharged home with malaria smears and blood cultures pending. On his final presentation before admission, he presented with severe fatigue, myalgia, acute renal failure, and marked thrombocytopenia. After several days, inpatient testing revealed the patients leptospira antibody titer was markedly positive. Given the nonspecificity of patient symptoms, early diagnosis of leptospirosis can be challenging. Diagnostic uncertainty may lead to delay in recommended intravenous antibiotic treatment. We present a case of severe leptospirosis treated exclusively with supportive measures and intravenous corticosteroids.