Telecommunication system for children undergoing stem cell transplantation.

Background: Isolation in a germ-free unit is a stressful experience for pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). To reduce the psychological distress of such children, a Web-based telecommunications system was developed.

Methods: The authors developed a telecommunication system that linked a laminar air flow (LAF) room that had a high efficiency particulate air filter with the hospital school/patients' homes via the Internet.

Alendronate improves QOL of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Purpose: Postmenopausal osteoporosis causes bone fracture as well as pain, physical, psychological and socially adverse effects, which affects a patient's quality of life (QOL). The effect of alendronate on QOL was investigated compared with that of alfacalcidol in post-menopausal osteoporotic women.

Patients And Methods: A total of 44 postmenopausal osteoporotic women (mean age 69.

Subjects older than 60 years with negative findings on sigmoidoscopy should still undergo colonoscopy.

Background/aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of age on the prevalence of proximal clinically important lesions in subjects without any rectosigmoid neoplasm.

Methodology: The present study involved 497 patients (aged > or = 50 years old) who underwent a colonoscopy because of abdominal symptoms or positive fecal occult blood test. A proximal colon was defined as one proximal to a sigmoid colon.