Articles: patients.
-
Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been applied during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it remains unclear if the addition of IMT to a general exercise training programme leads to additional clinically relevant improvements in patients with COPD. In this study, we will investigate whether the addition of IMT to a general exercise training programme improves 6 min walking distance, health-related quality of life, daily physical activity and inspiratory muscle function in patients with COPD with inspiratory muscle weakness. ⋯ NCT01397396.
-
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is an exclusively human neurotropic alphaherpesvirus. Primary infection causes varicella (chickenpox), after which virus becomes latent in ganglionic neurons along the entire neuraxis. With advancing age or immunosuppression, cell-mediated immunity to VZV declines and virus reactivates to cause zoster (shingles), which can occur anywhere on the body. ⋯ Immunocompromised patients require intravenous acyclovir. First-line treatments for post-herpetic neuralgia include tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, pregabalin, and topical lidocaine patches. VZV vasculopathy, meningoencephalitis, and myelitis are all treated with intravenous acyclovir.
-
Neurosarcoidosis can involve either the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), or both. The clinical manifestations are varied and include cranial neuropathy, aseptic meningitis, hydrocephalus, headache, seizure, neuropsychiatric symptoms, neuroendocrine dysfunction, myelopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Neurologic problems that develop in sarcoidosis patients should not be assumed to represent neurosarcoidosis, as they are often attributable to another cause. ⋯ Cyclophosphamide is also used for refractory neurosarcoidosis patients, but, because of the drug's significant toxicity, it is usually reserved for severe cases that have failed oral therapies when tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists cannot be obtained. In addition to anti-granulomatous therapy, treatment is frequently required for neurosarcoidosis-associated conditions, such as epilepsy and neuroendocrine dysfunction. Surgical intervention is indicated for life threatening complications such as hydrocephalus, steroid-refractory spinal cord compression, or mass lesions causing increased intracranial pressure.
-
Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. · Aug 2013
Comparative StudyComparison of proxy ratings of main family caregivers and physicians on the quality of dying of terminally ill cancer patients.
Proxy data collection is a prevalent and important source of information in palliative medicine, and few studies have evaluated the level of agreement between different types of proxies. ⋯ The observed agreement between the two proxies was good, except the psychological aspects, demonstrating the validity of proxy rating of patients between physicians and main caregivers. More communications toward the end-of-life issues should be encouraged and conducted in this population. Further research is needed to determine how to best use proxy assessments to evaluate the quality of the dying process.