The Importance of Biochemical Parameters, Immunonutritional Status, and Social Support for Quality of Life in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients.

: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem and one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. The progressive nature of CKD is associated with serious complications that can reduce the quality of life in CKD patients. Additional factors that can worsen well-being include dialysis treatment, malnutrition, inflammation, and lack of social support.

[Assessment of health-related quality of life of patients with chronic arthritis].

The assessment of the quality of life as a subjective measure of therapeutic intervention outcome appears to be increasingly adopted by different fields of medicine. In contrast to conventional indicators of condition, which are recognized as objective outcomes, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) focuses on the patient himself. HRQoL has been determined as the perception of the individual of his or her situation in the current culture and value system; it includes wishes, expectations and emotional responses of the individual related to his or her health.

Assessment of functional disability and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic progressive autoimmune inflammatory disorder involving mainly the axial skeleton and larger peripheral joints that progressively limits spinal mobility and may lead to irreversible structural changes and consequently to impaired physical function and reduced quality of life.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess functional disability and quality of life of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and determine the correlation between functional disability and quality of life.

Methods: The study enrolled 74 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (16 females and 58 males).

Relationship between spinal mobility measures and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The aim of this study was to assess spinal mobility status and Quality of life (QoL) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and determine the relationship between spinal mobility and measures of clinical condition including QoL. A total of 74 patients with AS were included in this study. Disease specific instruments Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath Ankylosing Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were applied, and mobility testing: occiput-wall distance and chest expansion.

[Dysphagia rehabilitation].

Dysphagia and aspiration are important problems among the elderly population, particularly in neurological patients and patients with cancers of the oropharingeal area or laryngs. Early detection and rehabilitation are crucial because adequate management can reduce morbidity and complications like aspiration pneumonia, dehidratation and malnutrition. We overviewed rehabilitation procedures including nutritional management, postures, maneuvers, exercises and stimulation techniques and their efficacy in treatment of patients with dysphagias.

[Beneficial effects of spa treatment on functional status and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic constantly deteriorating disease of unpredictable clinical course, with exacerbations, remissions and damaged joints. It leads to the loss of self-sufficiency, independence in performing many daily activities, decrease of working ability and invalidity. Beside physical factors, which are regarded as most responsible for the poorer quality of life of RA patients, psychological changes are also significant, such as the feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and depression.

[Influence of physical treatment on disease activity and health status of patients with chronic arthritis].

Introduction: This is an open uncontrolled study about effects of physical treatment on disease activity parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: The aim of the study was to establish if there was any improvement of disease activity parameters after four weeks of physical and spa treatment.

Method: We compared morning stiffness, tender and swollen joint count, body pain level and Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS-28) in patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, and assessed the effect of physical and spa treatment on those parameters.

[The impact of physical therapy on the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis].

Introduction: This open, uncontrolled study examined the effects of physical therapy and rehabilitation on the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Material And Methods: The study included a total of 109 patients (69 with RA and 40 with PsA). Patients came from Norway for a four-week rehabilitation period at the Institute of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation & Rheumatology--Igalo from June till October, 2003.