Increased frequency of the restless legs syndrome in adults with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) may suffer from iron deficiency which is a known risk factor for the restless legs syndrome (RLS), however, its prevalence has not yet been investigated in these subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult out-patients with CF (n = 39) and healthy volunteers (n = 32) were recruited for this study. A diagnosis of RLS was made based on the diagnostic criteria established by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG). The IRLSSG rating scale was used to assess the severity of the disease. Furthermore, in the CF group, parameters of iron metabolism were measured in peripheral venous blood samples. RESULTS: The RLS occurred more frequently in the CF patients than the controls (n = 13/33,3% vs. n = 2/6,3%; p < 0,05). In the CF patients suffering from RLS, the mean score of the IRLSSG rating scale was 17,2 ±â€¯9,4 indicating moderate disease severity. Iron deficiency was present in the majority of the CF patients investigated (n = 33/84,6%), however, serum iron, ferritin and transferrin levels as well as transferrin saturation were similar in those with vs. without RLS. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of the RLS is increased in adult patients with CF. On an average, its severity is moderate and it is not related to iron deficiency as evaluated by serum parameters of iron metabolism.

Thorax, trachea, and lung ultrasonography in emergency and critical care medicine: assessment of an objective structured training concept.

Background and Study objective. Focused lung ultrasound (LUS) examinations are important tools in critical care medicine. There is evidence that LUS can be used for the detection of acute thoracic lesions. However, no validated training method is available. The goal of this study was to develop and assess an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) curriculum for focused thorax, trachea, and lung ultrasound in emergency and critical care medicine (THOLUUSE). Methods. 39 trainees underwent a one-day training course in a prospective educational study, including lectures in sonoanatomy and -pathology of the thorax, case presentations, and hands-on training. Trainees' pre- and posttest performances were assessed by multiple choice questionnaires, visual perception tests by interpretation video clips, practical performance of LUS, and identification of specific ultrasound findings. Results. Trainees postcourse scores of correct MCQ answers increased from 56 ± 4% to 82 ± 2% (mean± SD; P < 0.001); visual perception skills increased from 54 ± 5% to 78 ± 3% (P < 0.001); practical ultrasound skills improved, and correct LUS was performed in 94%. Subgroup analysis revealed that learning success was independent from the trainees' previous ultrasound experience. Conclusions. THOLUUSE significantly improves theoretical and practical skills for the diagnosis of acute thoracic lesions. We propose to implement THOLUUSE in emergency medicine training.