Comparison of two questionnaires which measure the health-related quality of life of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.

The objective of the present study was to determine if there is a health-related quality of life (HRQL) instrument, generic or specific, that better represents functional capacity dysfunction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. HRQL was evaluated in 20 IPF patients using generic and specific questionnaires (Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), respectively). Functional status was evaluated by pulmonary function tests, 6-min walking distance test (6MWDT) and dyspnea indexes (baseline dyspnea index) at rest and after exercise (modified Borg scale).

Methadone for treatment of cancer pain.

Methadone is a unique mu opioid agonist, which also has delta receptor affinity and properties of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism and monoamine reuptake inhibition. It is mainly used in the setting of uncontrolled pain or dose-limiting toxicity. Caution is advised when switching to methadone, especially from high doses of previous opioid, due to its variable conversion ratio and the potential for delayed toxicity due to its long half-life.

The public neglect of rheumatic diseases: insights from analyses of attendees in a musculoskeletal disease awareness activity.

Objectives: To obtain data on the care received by individuals counselled during a public health awareness campaign on painful musculoskeletal conditions (MSC).

Methods: Easy non-formal access to rheumatologists/pain specialists was offered using a mobile unit (Rheuma-Bus) at widely accessible sites. Clients were asked to assess their severity of pain using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS).

Effects of budesonide on P-glycoprotein expression in intestinal cell lines.

Background And Purpose: P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an important efflux transporter that supports the barrier function of the gut against invading antigens and against administered drugs. Since glucocorticoids, such as budesonide, are frequently used during inflammatory bowel disease we investigated how budesonide influences P-gp expression in different intestinal cell lines.

Experimental Approach: LS180 and Caco-2 cells were incubated with budesonide and changes in P-gp expression were determined on mRNA, protein and functional level.

Decreased expression of breast cancer resistance protein in the duodenum in patients with obstructive cholestasis.

Background/aims: The expression of transporters involved in bile acid homeostasis is differentially regulated during obstructive cholestasis. Since the drug efflux transporter breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is known to transport bile acids, we investigated whether duodenal BCRP expression could be altered during cholestasis.

Methods: Using real-time RT-PCR analysis we determined mRNA expression levels in duodenal tissue of 19 cholestatic patients.

[Dosage and kinetics of MMC release of a collagen implant used as a delivery device in glaucoma surgery in the rabbit eye].

Purpose: To determine the absorption and the release of mitomycin-C from a collagen implant and tissue impregnation in the anterior structures of the rabbit eye.

Methods: Determining the quantity of mitomycin-C that a collagen implant can absorb with the difference between dry and soaked weight. Mitomycin-C release was measured in vitro using spectrophotometry.

Integrating palliative care: a postmodern perspective.

Hospice and palliative care philosophy is becoming increasingly incorporated into medical practice, education, and research. However, this process of integration may be hindered by continued adherence to several perceived conceptual dichotomies: natural and medicalized death, research and clinical care, and acceptance and denial of dying. These dichotomies were perhaps essential for the initial development of palliative care but could undermine the continuing evolution of care for the terminally ill.

[Knowledge and informative needs of patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, explored with focus group methods].

SUMMARY. Aims - Psychiatric patients often are not informed about their diagnosis and their involvement in the decision making process is rare. Aim of the study was to explore the informative needs of patients with schizophrenia and the knowledge about their illness.

Five years of EACH (European Association for Communication in Healthcare).

Five years after launching EACH (European Association for Communication in Healthcare) we look back at what EACH achieved so far and announce new ideas and activities EACH plans to carry out in the near future. During the past five years several scientific, educational as well as societal changes have taken place in the area of communication in healthcare that all underline the need for continued international collaboration in line with the activities employed by EACH so far. Within communication research the focus has shifted from counting communication utterances to unraveling sequences of patient cues and provider responses.

[Sleep disorders in depression. Suggestions for a therapeutic approach].

Sleep disorder is one of the major symptoms in depression. It can be a risk factor, predictor, or symptom of depressive episodes. Successful therapy of sleep disorder in severely depressed patients can be a problem of its own.

Bringing palliative care to a Canadian cancer center: the palliative care program at Princess Margaret Hospital.

It is increasingly recognized that complete care of the patient with cancer includes palliative care, which is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with life-prolonging treatment. Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) is Canada's largest center for cancer care and research, and it is an international referral center for patients with cancer. The Palliative Care Program at PMH has developed into a comprehensive clinical, educational, and research program, with an acute palliative care unit, daily palliative care clinics, a cancer pain clinic, and a consultation service that sees urgent consultations on a same-day basis in inpatient and outpatient areas.

Communication skills in psychiatry residents-- how do they handle patient concerns? An application of sequence analysis to interviews with simulated patients.

Background: The main focus of the training of psychiatrists is on diagnosis and treatment based on the traditional doctor-centered approach to the psychiatric interview. Less attention is given to the correct handling of patients' emotional concerns, which is crucial for the patient-physician relationship, but also for improving diagnostic and treatment decisions. The aim of this study is to assess psychiatrists' responses to patients' concerns and worries.

Nuclear charge radii of 9,11Li: the influence of halo neutrons.

The nuclear charge radius of 11Li has been determined for the first time by high-precision laser spectroscopy. On-line measurements at TRIUMF-ISAC yielded a 7Li-11Li isotope shift (IS) of 25 101.23(13) MHz for the Doppler-free [FORMULA: SEE TEXT]transition.

A high dietary iodine increases thyroid iodine stores and iodine concentration in blood serum but has little effect on muscle iodine content in pigs.

There is still iodine deficiency in many populations, which justifies efforts to increase this trace element in food such as milk, eggs and meat by fortifying compound animal feeds with extra iodine. The iodine requirement of growing pigs is in the order of 100-200μg/kg feed (as a supplement) and the effects of this dosage range or higher on pork iodine concentration should be determined including the action of relevant iodine antagonists in feed, e.g.

Pediatric facial fractures: recent advances in prevention, diagnosis and management.

During the last 25 years, there have been considerable advances in the prevention, diagnosis and management of craniomaxillofacial injuries in children. When compared to adults, the pattern of fractures and frequency of associated injuries are similar but the overall incidence is much lower. Diagnosis is more difficult than in adults and fractures are easily overlooked.

[Giving information and involving in treatment: what do psychiatrists think? A review].

Aims: A narrative review of studies on the psychiatrists' opinion about the information process and the factors that may influence the extent to which patients are informed and involved in the information process.

Methods: A literature review, without restrictions of time, was carried out using Medline and PsychInfo databases.

Results: Twenty three studies of interest were identified.

Quantum-degenerate mixture of fermionic lithium and bosonic rubidium gases.

We report on the observation of sympathetic cooling of a cloud of fermionic 6Li atoms which are thermally coupled to evaporatively cooled bosonic 87Rb. Using this technique we obtain a mixture of quantum-degenerate gases, where the Rb cloud is colder than the critical temperature for Bose-Einstein condensation and the Li cloud is colder than the Fermi temperature. From measurements of the thermalization velocity we estimate the interspecies s-wave triplet scattering length |amx|=20(+9)(-6)aB.

Diffraction of a Bose-Einstein condensate from a magnetic lattice on a microchip.

We experimentally study the diffraction of a Bose-Einstein condensate from a magnetic lattice, realized by a set of 372 parallel gold conductors which are microfabricated on a silicon substrate. The conductors generate a periodic potential for the atoms with a lattice constant of 4 microm. After exposing the condensate to the lattice for several milliseconds we observe diffraction up to fifth order by standard time of flight imaging techniques.

Cutaneous metabolism of a dipeptide influences the iontophoretic flux of a concomitant uncharged permeant.

Passive and iontophoretic transport of the model dipeptide tyrosine-phenylalanine (TyrPhe) that is subject to cutaneous metabolism and the uncharged glucose derivative benzyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-d-glucopyranoside (BAd-alpha-Glc) used as electroosmosis marker through heat-separated human epidermis was investigated in vitro. TyrPhe and BAd-alpha-Glc were used separately and in combination in order to determine their interaction in terms of permeability and the influence of skin metabolism of TyrPhe on permeation rate and tissue retention of itself and of BAd-alpha-Glc. TyrPhe was chemically and electrochemically stable but underwent considerable degradation in the epidermis under reflection boundary conditions with generation of degradation products tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe) confirming cutaneous metabolism of TyrPhe in heat-separated human epidermis, which was more pronounced at pH 4.

Pediatric facial fractures: recent advances in prevention, diagnosis and management.

During the last 25 years, there have been considerable advances in the prevention, diagnosis and management of craniomaxillofacial injuries in children. When compared to adults, the pattern of fractures and frequency of associated injuries are similar but the overall incidence is much lower. Diagnosis is more difficult than in adults and fractures are easily overlooked.

Adaptive regulation of the ileal apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) in patients with obstructive cholestasis.

Background/aims: The apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter ASBT (SLC10A2) contributes substantially to the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids by their reabsorption from the intestine. In the rat, its adaptive regulation was observed in the kidneys, cholangiocytes, and terminal ileum after bile duct ligation. Whether adaptive regulation of the human intestinal ASBT exists during obstructive cholestasis is not known.

Thalidomide does not interact with P-glycoprotein.

Background: There is growing clinical interest in thalidomide for the treatment of various disorders due to its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-angiogenic properties. In numerous clinical trials thalidomide is used as an adjunct to standard therapy. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of all possible drug-drug interactions that might occur with this drug.

The English version of the Verona medical interview classification system (VR-MICS). An assessment of its reliability and a comparative cross-cultural test of its validity.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the English translation of the original Italian version of the VR-MICS and to evaluate its sensitivity by comparing the coding of English and Italian general practice consultations with emotionally distressed and non-distressed patients, as defined by the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).

Method: Six male GPs from Manchester (UK) and six from Verona (Italy) each contributed five consultations, which were coded using the VR-MICS. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were assessed both for the division of interviews into speech units and the speech unit coding.