Exertional dyspnea as initial manifestation of Takayasu's arteritis--a case report and literature review.

Background: Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that usually affects the aorta, its primary branches and occasionally the pulmonary and coronary arteries. Female gender in reproductive age and Asian origin are known factors associated with higher disease prevalence. The clinical manifestations vary considerably and are typically caused by limb or organ ischemia illness and fever.

[Description of Internet-based models for continuing medical education. First results and experiences with asthma patients].

The Pilot study "Quality Development through the Internet" by the Horten Center is an integral part of a concept on dissemination of medical knowledge. It offers participants the possibility to compare interactively their own and their peers' performance with their competence and with accepted guidelines within a web-based Audit-Cycle. The participants can discuss the evidence-based recommendations which are offered.

[Lung infiltrations in Hodgkin lymphoma].

We report the case of a young patient presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy and interstitial pulmonary infiltrates due to Hodgkin's Disease. Although lung involvement regressed under chemotherapy, we observed new alveolar infiltrates during treatment. Steroid administration after exclusion of an infectious cause was followed by rapid clinical and radiological improvement, indicating the probable presence of pulmonary bleomycine toxicity.

Guidelines into practice: An international pilot study of "Asthma Crystal Byte".

Introduction: Decision support software offers an opportunity to improve the care of patients with asthma by linking individual management decisions to guidelines.

Method: A guidelines based software package linked to a large database and incorporating a morbidity predictive function was developed in the United Kingdom. Clinicians from several European countries volunteered to evaluate the package in their own clinical environment.