The timed walk test as a measure of severity and survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentlessly progressive disease with a median survival of approximately 3 yrs. Measurements of airflow and lung volumes at rest are generally used to monitor the clinical course in this disorder. This study was designed to determine if a modified version of the 6-min walk test, called the timed walk test, accurately characterises disease severity and survival in IPF. The study population consisted of 28 patients with well-characterised progressive IPF. The timed walk test and concurrent measures of disease severity were assessed at baseline. Participants were prospectively followed for > or =4 yrs to determine the relationship between parameters of the timed walk test and survival. There were strong correlations between the end-exercise saturation and walk-velocity parameters of the timed walk test and diffusing capacity, and arterial oxygen tension at rest. In univariate Cox proportional-hazards models, end-exercise saturation, change in saturation with exercise, walk distance and walk velocity were associated with survival. In unadjusted logistic regression models, odds of death at 2 yrs were associated with the same parameters. In conclusion, the timed walk test relates to disease severity and long-term outcome in progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Are the teachers teaching? Measuring the educational activities of clinical faculty.

As the teaching activities of medical school faculty are given greater emphasis, medical schools must find a way to recognize and reward excellence in teaching. In order to properly evaluate teaching, the authors developed an instrument for measuring the various teaching activities of their faculty. The Relative Value Scale in Teaching weights all teaching activities according to labor intensity, preparation time, level of responsibility, and educational value. The scale quantifies levels of teaching and allows comparison among diverse teaching activities. This complements qualitative measures of teaching and can enhance participation in educational programs as well as recognition of educators.

The impact of a regulation restricting medical house staff working hours on the quality of patient care.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact on patient care of a New York State regulation that restricted house staff working hours. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: General medical service of an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 263 (94%) of 281 patients discharged from the study service during October 1988 and 263 (93%) of 283 patients discharged from the same service during October 1989. INTERVENTIONS: On July 1, 1989, New York State enacted a new regulation, Code 405, which limited residents' working hours and specified levels of supervision and ancillary support. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In-hospital mortality, transfers to intensive care units, cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts, discharge disposition, length of stay, medical complications, and house staff delays in ordering tests and procedures. RESULTS: Although the cohorts were comparable in severity of illness measures, more patients in 1989 suffered at least one medical complication (91 [35%] vs 59 [22%]; P = .002) and experienced at least one diagnostic test delay because of house staff (44 [17%] vs 4 [2%]; P < .001). These significant differences persisted after controlling for potential confounders in multivariate analyses. However, we found no significant differences in more serious outcomes: in-hospital mortality, transfer to intensive care unit, discharge disposition, or length of stay. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that restricted house staff working hours were associated with delayed test ordering by house staff and increased in-hospital complications. While these potentially deleterious effects on the quality of care did not result in statistically significant differences in more serious outcomes, further study at other hospitals is warranted to determine staffing strategies that optimize quality of care for patients, as well as medical education and quality of life for house officers.

Amoebic liver abscess: clinical presentation and diagnosis.

The clinical profiles of 16 patients with amoebic liver abscesses referred to Royal Perth Hospital over a ten-year period were assessed. The results indicate that amoebic abscess should be suspected in Asian migrants and farmers, or patients who have travelled in endemic areas, who present with fever, anorexia, weight loss and abdominal pain. Localized right hypochondriac tenderness, hepatomegaly and chest signs may be exhibited. The presence of anaemia, leucocytosis and marked elevation of the ESR, with moderate elevation of the serum alkaline phosphatase level, should heighten the probability of the diagnosis, which is readily confirmed by radionuclide liver scan or ultrasound, and elevation of the Entamoeba histolytica fluorescent antibody titre. The availability of metronidazole as a potent amoebicidal drug has reduced the need for surgical intervention in this condition.

Multiple myeloma with bilateral orbital infiltration and polyneuropathy.

Orbital involvement is a rare complication of myeloma usually presenting as unilateral proptosis without pain. A case is reported of a woman with bilateral orbital infiltration without proptosis, who became blind within three months of the onset diplopia. The blindness was due to visual field obstruction, with eyelids covering both corneas; the eyes themselves remained normal. This is the first case of orbital myeloma reported in Australia and only the second case of bilateral primary orbital infiltration with myelomatosis to be reported in the world literature.