[Physiological factors influencing pulmonary capillary volume and membrane diffusion].

Background: The lung is subject to many physiological changes during life. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence gas transfer, which depends on membrane diffusion (Dm) and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc).

Methods: Dm and Vc measurements were performed at rest in 135 healthy patients divided into three groups according to age and after an exercise in 22 non-trained children.

[An unusual testicular tumour: splenogonadal fusion].

Splenogonadal fusion is a rare congenital anomaly that is often discovered at operation or autopsy. The diagnosis is difficult, but could be based on preoperative scintigraphy and frozen section histological examination to avoid useless orchidectomy. It is a benign lesion, which must be distinguished from testicular tumour.

Pain in elderly people with severe dementia: a systematic review of behavioural pain assessment tools.

Background: Pain is a common and major problem among nursing home residents. The prevalence of pain in elderly nursing home people is 40-80%, showing that they are at great risk of experiencing pain. Since assessment of pain is an important step towards the treatment of pain, there is a need for manageable, valid and reliable tools to assess pain in elderly people with dementia.

[Florid glandular cystitis].

Introduction: Florid glandular cystitis is a rare benign bladder tumour, which can simulate a malignant lesion.

Material And Methods: Over a period of fifteen years, we have observed one case of recurrent florid glandular cystitis.

Results: This 48-year-old patient presented with terminal haematuria and right low back pain with a history of endoscopic resection of a bladder tumour.

[Encrusted cystitis].

Encrusted cystitis is a chronic inflammation of the bladder mucosa associated with calcified deposits induced by numerous bacteria in an alkaline medium. Corynebacterium urealyticum or group D2 is most frequently incriminated. Encrusted cystitis is a rare disease with non-specific clinical features.

Capturing postoperative pain responses in critically ill infants aged 0 to 9 months.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe physiologic and behavioral pain behaviors in postoperative critically ill infants. A secondary aim was to identify how these pain responses vary over time.

Design: This observational study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit at two tertiary referral hospitals.

[Adrenal myelolipoma].

Adrenal myelolipoma is a benign, non-secreting tumour, which can be complicated by pain or retroperitoneal haemorrhage. The diagnosis is based on CT or preferably MRI. Surgery may be necessary in the case of complications.

Autonomy in stroke rehabilitation: the perceptions of care providers in nursing homes.

Twenty-seven health care providers from three nursing homes were interviewed about the autonomy of stroke patients in rehabilitation wards. Data were analysed using the grounded theory method for concept development recommended by Strauss and Corbin. The core category 'changing autonomy' was developed, which identifies the process of stroke patients regaining their autonomy (dimensions: self-determination, independence and self-care), and the factors affecting this process (conditions (i.

[Twin pregnancy after renal transplantation: first case reported in Tunisia].

Women with end-stage renal disease or on regular dialysis have low fertility. Renal transplantation restores not only normal renal and endocrine functions but also the reproductive function as well and this conception becomes possible. Pregnancy in transplanted women is at higher risk and necessitates a multidisciplinary follow up.

Patients' management of migraine and chronic daily headache: a study of the members of the Migraine Action Association (United Kingdom).

Background: Many strategies are available to treat and prevent migraine and chronic daily headache (CDH). Broadly these strategies can be divided into four groups, including (i) health care consultations, (ii) medication and alternative remedies, (iii) general (acute and prophylactic) strategies, and (iv) social support.

Objective: This study aimed to compare headache management between migraine (MO), migraine with aura (MA), and those with CDH over the last 12 months.

Acute leukemia during pregnancy: a report on 37 patients and a review of the literature.

Background: Acute leukemia (AL) requiring cytotoxic treatment occurring during pregnancy poses a very difficult therapeutic dilemma.

Methods: By means of a mail questionnaire, information on a series of 37 patients with a diagnosis of AL during pregnancy was collected from 13 French centers between December, 1988 and November, 2003.

Results: Thirty-one patients had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 6 patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Imaging findings of radiation enteritis.

In this report the authors describe the imaging features of subacute and chronic radiation enteritis in two patients. Although surgery remains the definitive treatment of complicated chronic radiation enteritis, the potential role of interventional techniques that can be used for management of poor surgical candidates is discussed.

Course of mental fatigue and motivation in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the course of fatigue referring to cognitive symptoms (scale 'mental fatigue') as well as the motivation to start any activity (scale 'reduced motivation'), as a function of chemotherapy, in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective cohort study a sample of 157 patients with breast cancer was interviewed at the first, third and fifth cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy as well as 4 and 12 weeks after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were treated with standard adjuvant chemotherapy, either a doxorubicin containing schedule or CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil).

Spirometric reference values in Tunisian children.

Background: In Tunisia, there are no normal values of pulmonary function for healthy Tunisian children.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to set reference values for spirometric lung function in Tunisian children and to compare these results with other data sets.

Methods: Spirometric values were measured with a Minato portable spirometer in 1,114 asymptomatic, nonsmoking Tunisian children (581 boys and 533 girls) 6-16 years of age.

Migraine and chronic daily headache management: a qualitative study of patients' perceptions.

Aim: The aim of the study was to gain insight into the patients' perceptions of migraine and chronic daily headache (CDH) management.

Methods: Thirteen, semi-structured and individual interviews with seven migraine and five CDH patients were carried out and analysed in QSR NUD*IST5, using a grounded theory methodology.

Results: The participants described using five areas of management: 1) health care use; 2) medication use; 3) alternative therapies; 4) social support; and 5) lifestyle and self-help.

Pressure ulcer prevention in nursing homes: views and beliefs of enrolled nurses and other health care workers.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND In the Netherlands much attention has been paid to pressure ulcer prevention. National guidelines on pressure ulcer prevention were developed in 1985 and adapted in 1992 at the request of a national organization for quality assurance in health care. Several studies indicate that nurses seem to be insufficiently informed about pressure ulcer preventive activities.

Prevalence and course of fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of fatigue and the course of fatigue as a function of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective cohort study, a sample of 157 patients with breast cancer were interviewed, using the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, at the first, third and fifth cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy, as well as 4 and 12 weeks after the last cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were treated with either a doxorubicin-containing schedule, or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF).

A pressure ulcer audit and feedback project across multi-hospital settings in the Netherlands.

Objective: To examine whether participating in a pressure ulcer prevalence survey and receiving feedback results in an improvement in quality of care.

Design: Cross-sectional studies from 1998 to 2002 were compared over time.

Setting: Sixty-two acute care hospitals in the Netherlands.

Resident-oriented care in nursing homes: effects on nurses.

Background: In a resident-oriented care model the assignment of patients to primary nurses takes place. These primary nurses are responsible for the total nursing care of their patients and make use of the nursing process. According to job demand-control models, these enlarged and enriched jobs can be described in terms of autonomy, job demands and social support, and the presence of these work characteristics has a positive influence on workers' psychological and behavioural outcomes.

The challenges of pain measurement in critically ill young children: a comprehensive review.

This article addresses the issues in measuring pain in critically ill children, provides a comprehensive review of the pain measures for children aged between 0 and 3 years, and discusses their applicability to this group of children. When children are critically ill, pain can only exacerbate the stress response that already exists, to the extent that homeostasis cannot be maintained. Severity of illness is thus likely to affect physiologic and behavioural pain responses that would normally be demonstrated in healthy children.

The needs of terminally ill patients at home: directing one's life, health and things related to beloved others.

This article describes the results of a grounded theory study among terminally ill patients (with a life expectancy of less than three months) at home (n = 13, aged 39-83). The most commonly recurring theme identified in the analysis is 'directing', in the sense of directing a play. From the perspectives of patients in our study, 'directing' concerns three domains: 1) directing one's own life; 2) directing one's own health and health care; and 3) directing things related to beloved others (in the meaning of taking care of beloved ones).

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: need for mental health and palliative care team collaboration.

People with a dementia syndrome and a superimposed terminal illness are increasingly being referred to palliative care services. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a dementia syndrome in the early stages of which people experience a variety of psychological symptoms that may lead to them being admitted to psychiatric services. People with CJD have died in psychiatric units.

Pain assessment in intellectually disabled people: non-verbal indicators.

Background: Although important progress has been made during the past decade, research on pain in people with intellectual disabilities is still scarce. Pain assessment in people with intellectual disabilities is a frequent and difficult problem, especially for nurses working with people with intellectual disabilities on a daily basis. Gathering more information about pain in people with intellectual disabilities is of major importance and relevance for nursing, and adds to the developing body of knowledge.