Comparison of the ICF core set for cardiopulmonary conditions in the acute hospital setting among different types of transplant patients.

To compare the functioning profiles of patients receiving different types of organ transplants using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The patients (n =102) were enrolled between days 5 and 10 after discharge following receipt of an organ transplant,and assessed for sociodemographic variables, the Functional Independence Measure and Barthel Index, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability,and Health core set for cardiopulmonary conditions in the acute hospital, augmented with three additional categories.Analysis was conducted by grouping the patients as follows: (1) kidney transplants; (2) all other kinds of transplants. Functional Independence Measure/Barthel Index scores were significantly higher in group 1 compared with group 2. Prevalences of 30% or greater for any impairment were noted for seven b factors, one s factor,and one d factor in group 1, whereas the corresponding numbers for group 2 were 14, 2, and 8, respectively. When prevalences of 30% or greater were calculated for severe or total impairment for all factors, there were none for group 1, but six factors for group 2. For the six factors, the prevalence difference between the groups was significant in five after a full Bonferroni correction (P < 0.000002). The factors with the highest barriers were e110 (products or substances for personal consumption, 36%) and e120(products and technology for personal use in daily living,42%) in group 2 (both significant with P < 0.000001 when compared with the respective prevalences in group 1).Although exercise seems to be the most needed rehabilitation function for kidney transplant patients, other transplant patients will require considerably more rehabilitation intervention.

[Spectrum of tuberculous diseases in a pulmonary outpatient clinic]. / Spektrum tuberkulöser Erkrankungen in der pneumologischen Praxis.

BACKGROUND: Although the incidence of 6.6 newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) cases per 100,000 inhabitants is in decline in Germany, TB remains a disease of significant epidemiologic importance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 04/2001 to 07/2008, a total of 75 TB patients of an internal-pulmonary outpatient clinic had been treated (0.5% of all patients). 58 (77.3%) patients fulfilled the criteria of an active TB, 17 (22.7%) of latent tuberculous infection (LTBI). 68.0% were male (average age men 39.3 +/- 16.9 years [mean +/- standard deviation], women 46.8 +/- 21.5 years; p = not significant). 69.3% of the patients were born in Germany, 30.7% abroad. 84.5% patients had isolated pulmonary, 8.6% additional organ involvement, and 6.9% isolated extrapulmonary TB. 62.1% of active TB cases were microbiologically proven (51.7% microscopically, 43.1% in addition culturally, 6.9% exclusively culturally, 19.0% by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). RESULTS: Of 23 tests, 52.2% were fully sensitive against the most important first-line drugs ethambutol (M), isoniazid (H), rifampicin (R), pyrazinamide (Z), und streptomycin (S). 13.0% had an isolated resistance against H (4.4%) or S (8.6%), 4.4% a multiple drug resistance (MDR) against R und H, 30.4% a polyresistance (S and H). Symptoms were quite often unspecific, not taken care of, or misinterpreted. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis and therapy of an active or latent TB illness remains, an important task and challenge, necessitating an effective cooperation of outpatient, hospital, and health authority institutions.