Occupational work and quality of life in osteoarthritis patients.

The ageing European population suffers from chronic diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to investigate the work activity/ability, the quality of life and reciprocal interaction between both in OA patients. A total of 750 OA outpatients were evaluated by a questionnaire study.

Analysis of total work inability in Poland in 2000 and 2001 according to age, disease diagnosis and occupation.

This study was to determine the main health-related reasons, age and occupation of those who took early retirement. This was done through an analysis of the data from Poland's Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) from 2000 and 2001. An analysis of these data showed an increase in the number of certificates confirming total inability to work in people over 40 years old.

Work ability in ageing workers suffering from chronic diseases.

The aim of this study was to investigate the work ability in ageing workers suffering from osteoarthritis (OA), coronary heart disease (CHD) or hypertension (H). One hundred and sixty-six OA and 355 CHD/H outpatients were evaluated. The Work Ability Index (WAI) served for work ability assessment.

[Benign tumour of aortic valve in a patient with tight aortic stenosis - a case report].

A case of 58-year-old male with aortic stenosis who was admitted due to chest pain suggesting acute myocardial infarction, is presented. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed the presence of aortic valve tumour and the patient underwent successful surgery. Symptomatology and treatment of cardiac tumours are discussed.

The rupture of periaortic infective aneurysm into the left atrium and the left ventricular outflow tract: preoperative diagnosis by transthoracic echocardiography.

We present a rare complication of infective endocarditis, perforated periaortic abscess with fistulous communication between the aortic root, the left atrium, and the left ventricular outflow tract. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiographic diagnosis was confirmed intraoperatively. The patient was treated successfully by aortic homograft implantation.

[Difficulties with pharmacologic treatment of a patient with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia].

A case history of a 38 year old teacher with AVNRT is described. She had been treated for 11 years with 11 antiarrhythmic drugs in various combinations. No treatment prevented recurrence of arrhythmia.

[Ultrasonic evaluation of chronic aortic regurgitation. Personal investigations].

Decision for valve replacement in valvular heart disease is actually based on non-invasive assessment without cardiac catheterization. This decision is particularly difficult in asymptomatic patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). Semiquantitative and quantitative assessment of the AR was performed in 74 pts aged 11-66, mean 34.

[Selective catheter ablation of the slow pathway in a patient with recurrent atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia].

The case of a 35 year-old patient with recurrent, sustained atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT)--type slow/fast--refractory to group IA, IC, II, IV antiarrhythmic agents is presented. The maximum rate of the tachycardia was 280/min. During the antiarrhythmic treatment with group IA, IC and IV agents the tachycardia rate was 230/min.

[Electrical ablation with high frequency (radiofrequency) in patients with recurrent atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia--introductory information].

In 10 patients (pts) with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia type slow/fast (AVNRT) refractory to the antiarrhythmic treatment, radiofrequency current catheter ablation was performed. Adult pts (mean age 31 years) suffered from paroxysms of AVNRT for 2 to 18 years (mean 8 years). Episodes of arrhythmia recurred from 2-3 times a week to 1 for several months during antiarrhythmic therapy.

[Surgical treatment of bacterial endocarditis of the tricuspid valve].

We present a rare case of bacterial endocarditis of tricuspid valve caused by temporary intracardiac pacing. The 48-year old male patient developed complete a-v block during the 1st day of acute inferior myocardial infarction. Intracardiac electrode was inserted for temporary pacing.