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Biomedical subjects

L J Heuer

Publications and source records attributed to L J Heuer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cluster clinics for migrant Hispanic farmworkers with diabetes: perceptions, successes, and challenges.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires individuals to schedule multiple office visits with a multidisciplinary team to learn how to successfully manage and delay the progression of complications. To respond to the health-care and educational needs of Hispanic migrant farmworkers who travel to Minnesota and North Dakota, the Migrant Health Service Inc diabetes program coordinator implemented evening cluster clinics. The purpose of this research project was to describe Hispanic migrant farmworkers' perceptions of the services provided to them at 37 multidisciplinary cluster clinics designed to serve this rural population diagnosed with diabetes. METHODS: This descriptive research employed a questionnaire and individual interviews. Both quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from cluster clinic clients. Quantitative data consisted of the numbers and percentages of clients providing various responses to questionnaire items. The qualitative data consisted of the verbal responses of clients to two open-ended questionnaire items and to an interview protocol. RESULTS: The main findings of the project indicated that 75-88% of the clients rated the services provided at the 37 cluster clinics as 'excellent'; an additional 21-25% rated them as 'good.' More than 85% of the clients indicated either that 'nothing should be changed' (59%) or that 'everything was fine' (26%). These ratings and content analysis of the interview data revealed that the clients perceived they had received quality services at these cluster clinics. The authors also discuss six characteristics that they believed contributed to the successful delivery of health care and education through cluster clinics. These characteristics include: (1) provision of both direct and referral services for this underserved population; (2) comprehensive delivery of services in a single setting; (3) collaborative delivery of services; (4) access-driven delivery of services; (5) delivery of culturally-sensitive and linguistically-appropriate services; and (6) evidence-based service delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Cluster clinics are an effective way to improve health-care services, education, and counseling for the under-served or unserved Hispanic migrant population diagnosed with diabetes. The authors conclude with four primary challenges to the implementation of these cluster clinics which include: (1) locating and preparing facilities; (2) recruiting health-care providers for the clinics; (3) achieving effective, appropriate communication with clients; and (4) securing funding.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

American nursing students experience shock during a short-term international program.

When individuals plan to travel internationally, they frequently assume that they will have an enjoyable and memorable experience. But for some, the effects of culture shock may negatively impact their travels and memories. The purpose of this study was to describe culture shock as reported by student nurses who took part in an international short-term program. A phenomenological approach was utilized to elicit the essence of meaning attached to the experience. Eight student nurses in an upper Midwestern university, participated in this international experience. It was concluded that all of the student nurses experienced culture shock to a varying degree and they had varying perceptions of their experiences.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Transcultural healthcare: a phenomenological study of an educational experience.

This phenomenological study was undertaken for the purpose of describing the meaning of transcultural health care. A phenomenological approach was utilized to elicit the essence of meaning attached to the experience. Students in an upper midwestern university, enrolled in a transcultural health care course participated in the educational experience presented in this paper. While the course was multidisciplinary in nature, nursing represented the majority. The purpose was to identify and describe students' perception and definition of culture at the beginning and end of the course and to utilize an inductive process to formulate a descriptive structure depicting the meaning of transcultural health care. It was concluded that students' perception and definition of culture changed via the transformational process influenced by the passage of time and by the particular experiences students were exposed to.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Effect of acarbose on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in type II diabetes with secondary failure].

The effect of the glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was studied in 9 older hospitalized diabetics with secondary failure. In a single blind cross-over study of three weeks the patients received glibenclamide in a dose of 15 mg/day associated with acarbose in a daily dose of 3 X 100 mg or placebo for two periods. Acarbose reduced both the postprandial blood glucose profils and urinary glucose levels significantly. However neither morning fasting glucose concentration nor cholesterin or triglyceride levels were lowered by the drug. The other biochemical and haematological findings were not influenced by the substance. Some patients complained of flatulence or meteorism, but this side-effect was tolerated with the demand to continue the study.

Acarbose↗
PubMed1984

[Comparative studies of the effect of mithramycin and calcitonin on small intestine and pancreas function in the rat].

The effects of synthetic salmon calcitonin (Calcitonin R-Sandoz) at a dose of 10 IU/kg BW and Mithramycin (Mithramycin R-Pfizer) at a dose of 35 micrograms/kg BW on the absorption of calcium was evaluated in normocalcenic fasted rats by investigating both the pancreatic function and the intestinal absorption of xylose. During 2 h observation calcitonin induced a fall in serum calcium concentration of 6 % (p = n.s.). As compared with controls, the renal elimination of xylose is diminished in calcitonin treated animals by 49% (p less than 0,1), whilst in mithramycin treated animals no change is observed. Serum insulin level was not influenced by calcitonin, but it was stimulated about 70% (p less than 0,05) by mithramycin. Blood glucose concentration is decreased only by 14 mg % (calcitonin) and 18 mg % mithramycin) (p = n.s.). Both drugs do change neither urinary volume nor serum alpha-Amylase. It is concluded that the sites of action of mithramycin differ from those of calcitonin.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

[Diabetic autonomic neuropathy of the heart and its treatment with thioctic acid].

The therapeutic effect of thioctic acid was studied in two groups of patients with peripheral diabetic neuropathy (N = 34 and 27, resp.), who had no evidence of cardiovascular or respiratory insufficiency. The immediate heart-rate response to standing up was measured in the first group of diabetics and in nondiabetic controls (N = 33). Each subject lay quietly for three minutes, then stood up (within five seconds) and remained motionless for one minute. A continuous ECG was recorded from one minute before to one minute after standing. For the Valsalva manoeuvre, the diabetics of the second group were asked to blow a column of mercury up to a height of 40 mm Hg for 10 seconds. The patients were treated with thioctic acid in daily oral doses of 3 X 150 mg for 21 days. No changes of heart rate were found in 80% (standing up) and 59% (Valsalva) resp., in the diabetics with peripheral neuropathy. However, non-diabetic controls of the same age group had likewise no changes of heart rate response in 19 and 5%, respectively. Treatment with thioctic acid did not alter the heart rate response to standing up or Valsalva manoeuvre of the diabetics with peripheral neuropathy.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Clinical comparative trial of piretanide and furosemide in patients with advanced renal insufficiency. Drug levels and diuretic potency of single oral doses].

Piretanide is a new diuretic agent that is structurally related to bumetanide and furosemide. The effect of a single oral dose of piretanide 12 mg on the serum agent levels and diuretic activity was compared with that of Furosemide 80 mg p.o. in 12 patients with advanced renal insufficiency using a balanced randomized design. Piretanide was seen to have its most pronounced activity in the 1st h, while the effect of furosemide was more prolonged without abrupt peaks. There was a tendency of water conservation following the diuresis with piretanide, which produced a lesser response in volume and sodium excretion than furosemide when analysed as cumulative excretion at 24 h. The sodium-potassium ratio of the total urinary volume increased slightly by the same amount. Piretanide was approximately 5 times more potent on a weight basis than furosemide. Piretanide appeared to be effective in advanced renal insufficiency. Due to its rapid elimination effect piretanide as well as furosemide is also indicated for the treatment of renal edema in emergency situations.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

[Inhibition of gastroenteral absorption of 45Ca by synthetic salmon calcitonin (author's transl)].

In normocalcemic fasted rats the effect of synthetic salmon calcitonin (Calcitonin-Sandoz) at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg b.w. (= 10 IU/kg b.w.) on the absorption of 45Ca was evaluated by investigating its radioactivity in the blood from the tailtip up to 120 min after intragastric administration of 4.0 microCi 45CaCl2. Measurement of the radioactivity in the serum of the rats was started 90 min after the application of calcitonin. Salmon calcitonin inhibited the gastroenteral absorption of 45Ca by ca. 49%. There was a decrease in stable serum calcium level by 13% (from 2.46 to 2.15 mmol/l) during 3 1/2 h observation.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Comparison of the effects of gastroenteric and parenteral saline loading on kidney function after inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis (author's transl)].

UNLABELLED: We inhibited the prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin in rats during a 7-h (periods: 1--4h; 4--5.5h; 5.5--7h) gastroenteric and parenteral infusion of isotonic saline. Indomethacin was given in a dosis of 10 mg/kg of b. wt. by stomach tube after 5.5-h infusion of saline. We studied how far prostaglandins are involved in the different function of the kidney by measuring the water and sodium excretion and the cortico-medullary osmotic and albumin concentrations of the kidney. RESULTS: 1. a) Studies Without Indomethacin. As compared to infusion of isotonic saline into the stomach water excretion is decreased by 30% (P less than 0.02) and 35% (P = n.s.) in the second and third 90 min period during parenteral infusion of saline. As compared to gastroenteric infusion we found an increase of the total osmolarity by 13% (P less than 0.02) in the cortex of the kidney. b) Studies with Indomethacin. As compared to saline infusion into the stomach indomethacin-treated rats decrease their urinary flow rates in 90 min by 26% (P = n.s.) in the presence of equivalent saline infusion into the aorta. Total osmolarity of the parenteral loaded rats increases by 17% (P less than 0.01) in the cortex of the kidney. 2. Indomethacin leads to an increased concentrating ability of the kidney in both gastroenteric and parenteral loaded rats. 3. In the presence of indomethacin plasma albumin of the kidney increases in the cortex and in the outer medulla of the kidney. In the inner medulla, and in the papillary tip, however, albumin concentration decreases significantly. As compared to gastroenteric saline infusion, the osmolarity of the kidney tissue increases and the urinary flow rate decreases during equivalent parenteral infusion of isotonic saline. The prostaglandins are not responsible for the pronounced diuresis during infusions of isotonic saline into the stomach.

Animals↗