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PubMed1994

DcrA, a c-type heme-containing methyl-accepting protein from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, senses the oxygen concentration or redox potential of the environment.

The amino acid sequence of DcrA from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, a strictly anaerobic, sulfate-reducing bacterium, indicated homology with the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins from enteric bacteria (A. Dolla, R. Fu, M. J. Brumlik, and G. Voordouw, J. Bacteriol. 174:1726-1733, 1992). The homology is restricted to the cytoplasmic C-terminal signaling domain. The periplasmic N-terminal sensor domain was found to contain a unique sequence, CHHCH, corresponding to a consensus c-type heme binding site. A pretreated, DcrA-specific polyclonal antiserum, generated against DcrA protein overproduced in Escherichia coli, was used for immunoprecipitation of 35S-labeled DcrA from D. vulgaris and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G200(pJRFR2), a transconjugant that overexpresses functional DcrA. Labeling of the latter with the heme precursor 5-amino-[4-14C]levulinic acid, followed by immunoprecipitation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and fluorography, confirmed the presence of c-type heme, while labeling with L-[methyl-3H]methionine in the absence of protein synthesis confirmed that DcrA is a methyl-accepting protein. The base liability of the incorporated radioactivity indicated methyl ester formation like that occurring in the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins of enteric bacteria. L-[methyl-3H]methionine labeling of D. desulfuricans G200(pJRFR2) under different conditions indicated that methyl labeling of DcrA decreased upon addition of oxygen and increased upon subsequent addition of the reducing agent dithionite. These results indicate that DcrA may serve as a sensor of oxygen concentration and/or redox potential.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Comparison in vitro of a high- and a low-abundance chemoreceptor of Escherichia coli: similar kinase activation but different methyl-accepting activities.

In Escherichia coli, high-abundance chemoreceptors are present in cellular amounts approximately 10-fold greater than low-abundance chemoreceptors. Cells containing only low-abundance receptors exhibit abnormally low tumble frequencies and do not migrate effectively in spatial gradients. These defects reflect an inherent activity difference between the two receptor classes. We used in vitro assays to investigate this difference. The low-abundance receptor Trg mediated an approximately 100-fold activation of the kinase CheA, only twofold less than activation by the high-abundance receptor Tar. In contrast, Trg was less than 1/20 as active as Tar for in vitro methylation. As observed for high-abundance receptors, kinase activation by Trg varied with the extend of modification at methyl-accepting sites; low methylation corresponded to low kinase activation. Thus, in Trg-only cells, low receptor methylation would result in low kinase activation, correspondingly low content of phospho-CheY, and a decreased dynamic range over which attractant binding could modulate kinase activity. These features could account for the low tumble frequency and inefficient taxis exhibited by Trg-only cells. Thus, the crucial functional difference between the receptor classes is likely to be methyl-accepting activity. We investigated the structural basis for this functional difference by introducing onto the carboxy terminus of Trg a CheR-binding pentapeptide, usually found only at the carboxy termini of high-abundance receptors. This addition enhanced the in vitro methyl-accepting activity of Trg 10-fold.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1992

Acceptability of opportunistic screening for occult gastrointestinal blood loss.

OBJECTIVE: To test patient compliance for faecal occult blood testing in suburban and inner city general practice. DESIGN: Prospective opportunistic trial using the Haemoccult test kit. Tests were offered during routine surgery attendance. SETTING: Three group general practices in Birmingham. SUBJECTS: All patients aged 40 years or older on the start date who routinely attended surgery during two years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of patients approached for testing and the numbers refusing, accepting, and returning the test kits. RESULTS: Only 26.3% (1230/4677) of the potential target population had been screened within the two years, although 988 (39.3%) of the suburban practice target were screened. However, 55.7% (1230/2207) of patients actually offered a test returned completed kits, with only 6% (133) refusing the kit. 683 (61.6%) patients aged 50-69 returned kits, compared with 343 (54.3%) aged 70 or over and 204 (43.8%) aged 40-49. These differences were significant (p less than 0.001). Patients from the inner city practice were significantly less likely to be offered the test than those in suburban practice (242 (11.2%) v 988 (39.9%), p less than 0.001) and return the samples (242 (38.8%) v 988 (62.4%), p less than 0.001). Patients from the inner city practice were also more likely to refuse the test (78 (12.5%) v 55 (3.5%), p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Opportunistic testing for occult faecal blood in asymptomatic patients was reasonably acceptable to patients, especially those in a suburban practice. If the test is shown to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer then formal screening would probably achieve acceptable target rates, especially among patients aged 50-69, who represent the prime risk group.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Hazardous drinkers in the accident and emergency department--who accepts advice?

AIMS: To identify factors that predict acceptance of brief advice among people consuming excessive alcohol in an accident and emergency (A&E) department. METHODS: Patients presenting to an A&E department were screened using the Paddington Alcohol Test. All patients identified as hazardous drinkers were offered advice about their drinking. Data were collected on patients' age, sex, presenting condition, and alcohol consumption. Binary logistic regression was used to identify variables that predicted acceptance of the offer of advice. RESULTS: The presenting condition, together with the total number of units consumed on a single occasion, predict the uptake of an offer of help. CONCLUSIONS: Patients identified as hazardous drinkers who present after a fall, head injury, or other accident are less likely to accept help. Clinicians should emphasise the potential relation between alcohol consumption and health related consequences to encourage the uptake of advice for these patients.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of hepatitis C among pregnant women attending an inner London obstetric department: uptake and acceptability of named antenatal testing.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the value of universal antenatal screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among an inner London population, with regard to prevalence, uptake, and acceptability of testing, and identification of new cases. DESIGN: Serum analysis for antibodies against HCV in pregnant women following informed consent ("opt out" policy). Samples positive for HCV antibodies were tested for the presence of HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Information on hepatitis C was provided for all women. Acceptability of antenatal HCV testing and identification of risk factors for infection were assessed through the use of questionnaires randomly distributed among a cohort of 300 pregnant women. SETTING: Antenatal clinics at St Mary's Hospital, London, serving a multiethnic population. SUBJECTS: A total of 4825 pregnant women booking for antenatal care between November 1997 and April 1999. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.8% and HCV viraemia was 0.6%. Ninety eight per cent of samples (n=4729) were tested; 0.2% of women had a false positive result. In 207 women who completed a questionnaire regarding our testing policy, 84% made a positive decision to be tested for anti-HCV and 92% said that HCV testing should be offered to all pregnant women. The majority (22/32-69%) of HCV infected women were newly diagnosed and although HCV positive women were significantly more likely to have a history of drug abuse, most (16/22-73%) new cases had no identified risk factors for HCV infection at booking. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anti-HCV in an inner London multiethnic antenatal population is high (0.8%). Routine screening for HCV is acceptable to pregnant women. The majority of women diagnosed during their current pregnancy would not have been identified as HCV infected by epidemiological risk factors at the time of booking.

False Positive Reactions↗
PubMed1975

Acceptability of the cytopipette in screening for cervical cancer.

A randomized controlled trial was carried out in which the acceptability of screening for cervical carcinoma in situ by a postal 'do-it-yourself' method--the cytopipette--was compared with that of an invitation to attend a clinic or see a general practitioner for the conventional cervical scrape examination. In parallel with this, a sociological study of women who had been invited by both methods was undertaken in which information was obtained from responders and non-responders on attitudes to health care. The results show that, while the pipette was used by a greater proportion of women overall than the scrape examination, its acceptance by women most at risk of the disease is still not high. It is concluded that, taking into account the relative merits of the two methods as screening tests, as well as their acceptability and cost, the postal pipette may be useful in some circumstances, such as areas where clinical resources are limited, and as a second approach to women who have not taken up the offer of a scrape examination.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy, safety, and acceptance of beclomethasone dipropionate administered via a new dry powder Inhaler or a standard CFC metered-dose inhaler in asthma patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The mechanical aerosol generator, MAGhaler, is a new chlorofluorocarbon-free inhalation device. The objective of this trial was to show equivalent efficacy and safety of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) delivered via the MAGhaler and the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) in patients with mild to moderate bronchial asthma. Moreover, user-friendliness and acceptance of the two devices were compared. METHODS: This was a double-blind, reference-controlled, 12-week trial in 171 patients with asthma receiving BDP (1,000 microg/day) delivered via either the MAGhaler or the conventional MDI. Respiratory function parameters, clinical symptoms, concomitant intake of salbutamol or fenoterol, adverse events (AEs), laboratory values, and concomitant medications and diseases were recorded. The primary efficacy parameter was mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), measured after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of therapy. RESULTS: The equivalence of the two devices was confirmed (p = 0.003) on the basis of the ratios of the mean FEV1 in weeks 4 to 12. Mean (+/- SD) FEV1 (MAGhaler was 2.24 +/- 0.60 l (baseline), 2.61 +/- 0.90 litres (week 4), and 2.62 +/- 0.87 litres (weeks 4-12). Mean FEV1 (MDI) was 2.28 +/- 0.59 litres (baseline), 2.53 +/- 0.82 litres (week 4), and 2.56 +/- 0.77 litres (weeks 4-12). In total, 33 AEs occurred in 26 (30.2%) patients (MAGhaler) and 51 AEs in 36 (42.4%) patients (MDI). Most of the AEs were of mild or moderate intensity. The relationship to treatment could not be excluded for 11 AEs in 11 patients (MAGhaler) and 23 AEs in 18 patients (MDI). Three serious AEs, all unrelated to treatment, occurred in 3 patients (MAGhaler: 2, MDI: 1). There were no clinically relevant changes in other safety parameters. Most patients either preferred the MAGhaler or rated the two devices as equally acceptable. CONCLUSION: The new MAGhaler was equivalent to the standard MDI in terms of the safety and efficacy of BDP. The improved user-friendliness and acceptance of the MAGhaler over the conventional MDI represent an important advance in the clinical management of bronchial asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Treatment with growth hormone. What do children know and how do they accept it?

Treatment with growth hormone in children is a very effective promotor of growth. The psychosocial environment of children may influence the results of this treatment. It has been shown that there is a clear relationship between the knowledge and understanding a child has of the treatment and the degree of compliance and acceptance. We have studied 90 children treated with growth hormone who filled in a questionnaire in order to know the knowledge and acceptance of their treatment. The scores for acceptance were significantly higher than for knowledge (p < 0.00001), without correlations between the two variables. The higher marks were achieved by children who had attended an educational camp. A serious lack of knowledge about the aspects directly related with the injection system was noted. We advise to design a suitable educational program for these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Communicating the benefits of chronic preventive therapy: does the format of efficacy data determine patients' acceptance of treatment?

Patients' informed acceptance of chronic medical therapy hinges on communicating the potential benefits of drugs in quantitative terms. In a hypothetical scenario of treatment initiation, the authors assessed how three different formats of the same data affected the willingness of 100 outpatients to take what were implied to be three different lipid-lowering drugs. Side-effects were declared negligible and costs insured. Subjects make a "yes-no" decision about taking such a medication, and graded the decision on a certainty scale. Advised of a relative risk reduction--"34% reduction in heart attacks"--88% of the patients assented to therapy. All other formats elicited significantly more refusals (p < 0.0001): for absolute risk difference--"1.4% fewer patients had heart attacks"--42% assented; for inverted absolute risk--"treat 71 persons for 5 years to prevent one heart attack"--only 31% accepted treatment. When the data were extrapolated to disease-free survival--"average gain of 15 weeks"--40% consented. Similar responses were obtained for descriptions of an antihypertensive drug: 89% assented to therapy when given relative risk reduction but only 46% when given absolute risk reduction. The subjects were confident in both acceptance and refusal: 93% of the decisions were rated "somewhat certain" to "completely certain." The authors conclude that patients' views of medical therapy are shaped by the formats in which potential benefits are presented. Multiple complementary formats may be most appropriate. The results imply that many patients may decline treatment if briefed on the likelihood or extent of benefit.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Acceptance of screening for colorectal cancer by flexible sigmoidoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the acceptance rate of screening by flexible sigmoidoscopy in a sample of general practice patients aged 50 to 60, and the acceptability of the procedure among those undergoing the test. SETTING: Recruitment took place in selected general practices in Melbourne, Australia. Flexible sigmoidoscopies were performed at the local public hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 187 patients aged between 50 and 60, and without bowel symptoms, were seen by one of 12 non-randomly selected general practitioners during the study period. At the conclusion of routine consultation general practitioners discussed colorectal screening with eligible patients and recommended that they attend a free screening clinic at the local hospital. The patients who attended the clinic underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy performed by experienced endoscopists. Clinic attenders completed a questionnaire which measured perceptions of the screening visit. RESULTS: The attendance rate was 49%. All clinic attenders were satisfied with the care received at clinic. Sixty five per cent of people experienced either no discomfort or mild discomfort, while 15% of people experienced moderate or severe pain. A bloated feeling was common (80%), with around 36% of people experiencing moderate or extreme bloating. Most people said that they were not at all embarrassed (64%), though 9% reported moderate or extreme embarrassment. Seventeen people (19%) were found to have polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Although the procedure was acceptable to those who underwent the screening test, further research on effective recruitment strategies is required if a full scale flexible sigmoidoscopy screening programme is to be considered feasible.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Acceptability of a reusable insulin pen, HumaPen Ergo, by patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

A reusable insulin pen (HumaPen Ergo) was tested for patient acceptability and safety in two multinational studies involving a total of 230 patients with either type 1 (27%) or type 2 (73%) diabetes. Prior to the studies, all patients used other insulin injection pen models. During the 5-7-week studies, the acceptability of HumaPen Ergo was assessed with a questionnaire which was issued to all patients. The HumaPen Ergo was considered easy/very easy with respect to learning to use (97%), reading dose numbers (95%) and correcting dose mistakes (97%), and 62% considered it easy/very easy to hold during use. HumaPen Ergo features considered easier/much easier compared to the previously used model of pen were ease of correcting dose (Study 1/Study 2: 89%/93%), ease of reading the dose number (77%/61 %) and ease of changing cartridge (54%/68%). At the end of the studies the majority of patients (60%/69%) said that they would continue to use HumaPen Ergo and would recommend it to other patients, even though they had expressed satisfaction with the pen that they had used previously. Health-care professionals evaluated HumaPen Ergo according to the same criteria as the patients and said that they would recommend the HumaPen Ergo owing to ease of dialling back without wasting insulin (80%) and reading dose numbers (74%). The HumaPen Ergo was well accepted by both patients and health-care professionals and provides an important tool to combat the trauma and inconvenience associated with insulin self-injection.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Protocol for stage 1 of the GaP study (Genetic testing acceptability for Paget's disease of bone): an interview study about genetic testing and preventive treatment: would relatives of people with Paget's disease want testing and treatment if they were available?

BACKGROUND: Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is characterised by focal increases in bone turnover, affecting one or more bones throughout the skeleton. This disrupts normal bone architecture and causes pain, deformity, deafness, osteoarthritis, and fractures. Genetic factors are recognised to play a role in PDB and it is now possible to carry out genetic tests for research. In view of this, it is timely to investigate the clinical potential for a programme of genetic testing and preventative treatment for people who have a family history of PDB, to prevent or delay the development of PDB. Evidence from non-genetic conditions, that have effective treatments, demonstrates that patients' beliefs may affect the acceptability and uptake of treatment. Two groups of beliefs (illness and treatment representations) are likely to be influential. Illness representations describe how people see their illness, as outlined in Leventhal's Self-Regulation Model. Treatment representations describe how people perceive potential treatment for their disease. People offered a programme of genetic testing and treatment will develop their own treatment representations based on what is offered, but the beliefs rather than the objective programme of treatment are likely to determine their willingness to participate. The Theory of Planned Behaviour is a theoretical model that predicts behaviours from people's beliefs about the consequences, social pressures and perceived control over the behaviour, including uptake of treatment. METHODS/DESIGN: This study aims to examine the acceptability of genetic testing, followed by preventative treatment, to relatives of people with PDB. We aim to interview people with Paget's disease, and their families, from the UK. Our research questions are:1. What do individuals with Paget's disease think would influence the involvement of their relatives in a programme of genetic testing and preventative treatment? What do relatives of Paget's disease sufferers think would influence them in accepting an offer of a programme of genetic testing and preventative treatment? DISCUSSION: Our research will be informed by relevant psychological theory: primarily the Self-Regulation Model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The results of these interviews will inform the development of a separate questionnaire-based study to explore these research questions in greater detail.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Age-related perception of stature, acceptance of therapy, and psychosocial functioning in human growth hormone-treated girls with Turner's syndrome.

This study evaluated the perception of stature, acceptance of therapy, and psychosocial functioning in relation to age at onset and time on treatment during 2 yr of GH therapy in 31 girls with Turner's syndrome grouped by age (group A: 3.7-5.8 yr, n = 9; group B: 7.2-11.8 yr, n = 13; group C: 12.5-16.4 yr, n = 9). The growth response after 2 yr was significant in the 3 groups when calculated in terms of growth norms for untreated Turner girls (mean increase in height SD score: +1.2, +1.5, and +1.1, respectively). The effect was less marked in terms of growth norms for normal girls, particularly in group B (+0.5 SD score). Height was perceived as a problem by most patients, except in the youngest girls at the start of treatment (group A) and in the majority of the adolescents after 2 yr of GH therapy (group C), without evidence of relation to growth response during therapy. The GH injections were fairly well accepted by all patients, except those younger than 6 yr. In all patients, expected adult height was unrealistic and became more realistic with age, whereas no consistent changes were observed in relation to growth response to GH therapy. The Child Behavior Checklist revealed elevated mean scores at the behavioral subscales of attention problems (group A and B), social problems, withdrawal, and anxiety-depression (most obviously in group B). No significant changes were seen during GH therapy. In group C, an elevated mean social problem score at the Youth Self Report and a low mean social self-esteem score at the Self-Esteem Inventory were observed before therapy and showed a significant improvement during 2 yr of GH treatment. These results, however, might be biased due to an increase in social desirability during therapy. We conclude that the perception of height, acceptance of GH therapy, and psychosocial functioning in girls with Turner's syndrome show important differences between age groups, with only slight changes observed during GH therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

An acceptability study of female-controlled methods of protection against HIV and STDs in south-western Uganda.

We aimed to assess the acceptability of a variety of formulations of female-controlled methods of protection against HIV and STDs among men and women in south-western Uganda. Pilot interviews were carried out with 50 men and 55 women and 25 focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with 138 women and 42 men. The female condom, foaming tablets, sponge, foam, gel and film were demonstrated to 146 women and 35 of their male partners, who then tried out 2 of the products. They were interviewed 7 times during the course of 5 months. At the end experiences were evaluated during a second series of FGDs. Sixty-five (45%) women completed the trial. The main reasons for non-completion were related to geographical mobility. Product preference after the initial demonstration was similar to that at the end of the trial. The most popular formulations were the sponge (25% of the women), foaming tablets (23%), and the female condom (19%). The foam was of medium popularity (16%). The gel (9%) and film (7%) were least popular. Ten per cent of the women and 14% of the men reported products interfering with sexual enjoyment; 24% of the women and 67% of the men said products increased enjoyment. 'Dry sex' is not popular in this area and increased lubrication was an important determinant of acceptability. Age, level of education and location did have some effect on preference. Although secrecy was a dominant theme in the FGDs, 87% of the women had informed their partners by the end of the trial. The products were generally well received. Female control was an important issue for both sexes. Male attitudes were ambivalent because female ownership of products increased women's control. Although they have clear preferences, women appear to accept the products generally and might use a single available product just as readily if choice was limited, as long as it conforms to general cultural preferences, such as those relating to wet/dry sex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The effectiveness, acceptability and costs of a hospital-at-home service compared with acute hospital care: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety, effectiveness, acceptability and costs of a hospital-at-home programme with usual acute hospital inpatient care. METHOD: Patients aged 55 years or over being treated for an acute medical problem were randomized to receive either standard inpatient hospital care or hospital-at-home care. Follow-up was for 90 days after randomization. Health outcome measures included physical and mental function, self-rated recovery, health status as assessed by the SF-36, adverse events and readmissions to hospital. Acceptability was assessed using satisfaction surveys and the Carer Strain Index. Costs comprised hospital care, care in the home, community services, general practitioner services and personal health care expenses. RESULTS: In all, 285 people were randomized with a mean age of 80 years. There were no significant differences in health outcome measures between the two randomized groups. Significantly more patients receiving care at home reported high levels of satisfaction, as did more of their relatives. Relatives of the care-at-home group also reported significantly lower scores on the Carer Strain Index. However, the mean cost per patient was almost twice for patients treated at home (NZ 6524 dollars) as for standard hospital care (NZ 3525 dollars). A sensitivity analysis indicated that, if the service providing care in the home had been operating at full capacity, the mean cost per patient episode would have been similar for both modes of care. CONCLUSIONS: This hospital-at-home programme was found to be more acceptable and as effective and safe as inpatient care. While caring for patients at home was significantly more costly than standard inpatient care, this was largely due to the hospital-at-home programme not operating at full capacity.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Acceptability, reproducibility, and sensitivity of forced expiratory volumes and peak expiratory flow during bronchial challenge testing in asthmatic children.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the acceptability, reproducibility, and sensitivity of spirometric outcome measures of airway caliber during challenge testing in children. DESIGN: FEV(1), forced expiratory volume in 0.75 s, forced expiratory volume in 0.5 s, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were recorded during stepwise dosimetric histamine challenge tests. The responses were compared, and the reproducibility at baseline and from duplicate measurements at each challenge step was determined. PATIENTS: One hundred five children with newly diagnosed asthma, aged 5 to 10 years. RESULTS: Compared to PEF, FEV(1) showed better baseline reproducibility (p = 0.002) and higher sensitivity (p < 0.0001) during challenge testing, determined as the change normalized to the baseline variation, while the forced expiratory volumes were not significantly different in these respects. During challenge testing in subjects with acceptable flow-volume tracings, paired recordings of FEV(1) agreed within 0.1 L in 85% and within 0.2 L in 93% of measurements. During challenge testing, the reproducibility of FEV(1) measurements was not better than that of the other indexes. Failure to exhale long enough precluded the use of FEV(1) in 16 of the children, particularly the youngest children. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that the recently published guidelines for FEV(1) measurements during challenge tests can be applied to children. During challenge tests in asthmatic children, the advantage of the shorter fractions of forced expiratory volume was that they were more often acceptably recorded than FEV(1), while they showed as good reproducibility and were also equally sensitive in assessing changes in airway obstruction.

Asthma↗
PubMed2001

An open-label acceptability study of Norditropin SimpleXx--a new liquid growth hormone formulation.

A new liquid formulation of hGH (Norditropin SimpleXx) has been developed to avoid the need for reconstitution before administration. In addition, the liquid GH formulation has been combined with an advanced pen delivery system, either with or without a needle auto-insertion mechanism. This study was designed to assess the acceptability of the new system compared with the patient's previous system. A total of 103 children with GH deficiency received a daily injection of Norditropin liquid GH for 12 weeks with a choice of a pen/auto-insertion system. Acceptability was determined by nurse-supervised questionnaires administered to the patients and parents. Following treatment, 94% of patients preferred the Norditropin liquid GH system. This preference was irrespective of the previous system in use, patient age or length of GH therapy. More patients found it the less painful system (50% vs 13%), 92% of patients found it more convenient, and the formulation was well tolerated. In conclusion, Norditropin liquid GH was very well accepted and preferred by the majority of patients. It avoided reconstitution which had been a major cause of dissatisfaction with the patients' previous systems, and resulted in greater convenience and reduced levels of pain associated with injection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acceptability of dietary supplements of the national Mexican program "Oportunidades"].

OBJECTIVE: To identify cultural beliefs and practices to evaluate the acceptability of dietary supplements of Oportunidades Program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ethnographic study with in-depth interviews (n=43)--mothers of children less than five years of age and pregnant and breasfeeding women (PBW)--, key informants (n=9); focus groups (n=8) and direct observation, in four communities from North, Central, South and Southwest of Mexico. RESULTS: The supplement was prepared in several different ways. The liquid preparation was best accepted; generally the supplement was mixed with milk. Initially, the supplement caused nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but these symptoms disappeared with continued consumption. Acceptance was highest among PBW. CONCLUSIONS: The supplement tends to replace milk as a food product in the daily diet. There is a necessity to develop culturally specific evaluations in regions with different food intake practices. The study results should be interpreted in the context of other program components, such as health care and education.

Adult↗