Polski merkuriusz lekarski : organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Feb 2003
[Evaluation of health-related quality of life in dialysis patients. Personal experience using questionnaire SF-36].
Patients' perception of health is an important outcome measure in the assessment of influence of chronic disease and received treatment. The purpose of this study was: 1) to investigate the relation between selected demographic and clinical characteristics and Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who receive dialysis, 2) to compare HRQoL in dialysis patients with their peers from the control group, 3) to evaluate the usefulness of SF-36 questionnaire. ⋯ 1) age, sex, occupation, level of education, family situation as well as comorbidities are independent factors of HRQoL, 2) subjective QoL of elderly patients seems acceptable in comparison with healthier peers, 3) the SF-36 questionnaire is applicable in dialysis patients and SF-36 scores are related to important clinical aspects.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2003
Case Reports[Retroperitoneal fibrosis--own experience in combined treatment with corticosteroids and tamoxifen].
Three patients are presented, treated for advanced retroperitoneal fibrosis (Ormond's disease) in two cooperating departments: urology and internal diseases departments. In these three patients excision of fibrotic ureter fragments was performed, followed by combined treatment with corticosteroids and tamoxifen. The authors believe that immediate surgical therapy and subsequent treatment with corticosteroids and tamoxifen leads to regression of retroperitoneal fibrosis.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial[Comparative analysis of the effectiveness and costs of azithromycin and cefoperazone treatment of patients during COPD exacerbation].
The effectiveness and costs of azithromycin and cefoperazone treatment of COPD exacerbation have been analysed in this study. Forty patients at the mean age of 65.9 (+/- 11.5) years were enrolled. The subjects were randomly selected and treated either with cefoperazone 2 x 1.0 g i.v. daily (group I = 20 persons) or with azithromycin 1 x 0.5 g (group II = 20 persons), in sequential method. Body temperature, cough intensity, quality and quantity of expectorated sputum, number of breaths per minute and adverse events were recorded daily. The values of pulmonary function tests and leucocytosis were assessed three times during the study. Statistically significant differences between both groups have been found with respect to the mean time of staying in hospital (9.1 days--group I vs 6.1 days--group II), mean total duration of antibiotic therapy (10.1 days--group I vs. 6.6 days--group II) and duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy only [7.5 days (group I) vs 2.9 days (group II)] (p < 0.05). Taking into account the duration of hospitalization, it was shown that the mean total costs of treatment of COPD exacerbation with azithromycin was significantly lower than that of treatment with cefoperazone (2375.9 PLN and 1663.7 PLN, respectively) (p < 0.05). ⋯ The effectiveness of treatment with azithromycin in patients with COPD exacerbation was evident. The total costs of treatment of COPD exacerbation with azithromycin is lower than with cefoperazone. Both azithromycin and cefoperazone are safe in the treatment of exacerbation of COPD.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Nov 2002
[Report on the Second International Course of Critical Care Nephrology, Vicenza, Italy, May 22-25, 2001].
This report is devoted to the Second International Course of Critical Care Nephrology with special interest to epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and intensive renal replacement therapy of acute renal failure in patients hospitalised in intensive care units.