No abstract

Given the significant reductions in pCO2 levels and significant increases in exercise capacity and QoL parameters after PR, the patients with chronic hypercapnic failure apparently benefited from the PR.

Pulmonary rehabilitation improves oxygenation, severity of dyspnea, exercise capacity and quality of life independent of level of carbon monoxide diffusion capacity in patents with COPD. Furthermore pulmonary rehabilitation may improve Dl values in COPD patients with severe diffusion defect.

No abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is the most important form of the disease, although infection may also occur by way of the intestinal tract, tonsils and skin. Oral lesions consist of persistent ulcers or granulomatous masses. A 50 year old man had been diagnosed "necrotising granulomatous inflammation" following a biopsy of a lesion on lower lip, 21 months before at a medical centre. A chest-X-ray had not been performed and he had not been given any advise in respect of treatment. He was admitted to the hospital with cough, sputum, weakness, weight loss and lesions on his lower lip. In radiology, it was detected that he had supraclavicular, submental, cervical, mediastinal lymphadenopathies, pulmonary infiltrations with cavities, thickening and roughness on left oropharengial tonsil, thickenning on inner parts of larynx and bilateral surrenal thickening. The biopsy of lesions on larynx, tonsil and epiglottis revealed "necrotising granulomatous inflammation" and histopathology supported TB infection. Sputum acid-fast bacilli was positive and culture was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Two months of combination treatment resulted in a gradual relief of the symptoms, radiological response, disappearing of neck swelling and healing of lesions on lip, tonsil and larynx. Although unusual oral cavity manifestations of TB are rare, clinicians should be aware of possible occurrance.