[Adherence to Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs: A Prospective, Randomized Comparison between a Conventionally Conducted Program and a Tai Chi-Based Program].

Introduction: In patients with cardiac diseases, lifestyle changes such as an increase in physical activity are recommended to prevent further cardiac events. In Germany this is possible by attending outpatient heart groups. A problem inherent in these programs is the lack of adherence since more than two thirds of patients stop attending cardiac rehabilitation programs after six months.

[Malignant meningeal "histiocytosis"].

Two cases of patients with unusual pleomorphic tumors in the meninges are reported. Histologically and immunohistologically, the tumor cells may be histiocytic in appearance. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, however, revealed no lesions in the parenchyma or in the meninges.

[Gastric carcinoid in chronic atrophic gastritis with hypergastrinemia].

A 51 year-old woman with vomitus, intermittent epigastric pain and heartburn had chronic sideropenic anemia. Gastroscopy revealed a subcardial, submucosal tumor. The tumor was removed totally by endoscopic polypectomy.

[Carcinoid tumor of the esophagus. A rare differential diagnosis in submucosal esophageal tumor].

In a 63-yr-old male endoscopy revealed an occlusive submucosal tumor in the upper esophagus. The surgically enucleated tumor was identified histologically and immunohistochemically as a carcinoid. The tumor had no endocrine activity.

[Successful antibiotic treatment of a pulmonary infection with Nocardia asteroides (biovariety A3)].

An open lung biopsy in a 67-year-old man revealed nocardiosis as the cause of a treatment-resistant pulmonary infection. His resistance had been weakened by a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, polychemotherapy and long-term steroid medication. The nocardiosis was cured by a 26-day high-dosage regimen of imipenem and amikacin in combination.