Pilates vs. Balance Training in Health Community-Dwelling Seniors: a 3-arm, Randomized Controlled Trial.

The study examined effects of traditional balance vs. mat-based Pilates training on balance and trunk strength in healthy community dwellers. Forty-eight seniors were either stratified to a balance training group (BAL, n=16, 69.1 (SD 5.8) y), Pilates training group (PIL, n=17, 70.8 (6.5) y) or control group (CON, n=15, 69.2 (6.1) y). BAL performed traditional balance training, while PIL conducted mat-based Pilates-exercises (8 weeks, 2 sessions/week 66 min each). Balance performance (single limb stance and perturbed kneeling, Y-Balance test), dynamic and isometric trunk flexion and extension were assessed during pre- and post-testing. According to the magnitude-based inference approach, substantial positive effects in favor of BAL compared to CON were found for the Y-balance score (right leg, effect size (d)=0.68; left leg, d=0.56), trunk extension (d=0.68) and single leg stance (right leg, d=0.61; left leg, d=0.38). Dynamic (d=0.32) and isometric (d=0.15) trunk flexion revealed unclear effects. For the Y-balance score (right leg, d=0.48, left leg, d=0.75) and single leg stance (right leg, +d=0.61%; left leg, d=0.67), interestingly, BAL substantially exceeded PIL. PIL vs. CON revealed unclear effects for most parameters (0.05

[A quality reference manual for radiology]. / Un référentiel-qualité pour la radiologie.

The purpose of this article is to introduce a quality manual for radiology departments. A radiology department has implemented a quality improvement program since 1996. This manual was developed as a tool for quality improvement program. This manuscript, was based on foreign accreditation manuals as well as from French experiences and summarized. In addition, new criteria were added, especially in the field of interventional radiology. This reference book is first dedicated to the self-assessment of radiology departments. It can also be used for an external audit.

[Evaluation of the delays in treatment of myocardial infarction. Results of a survey in Alsace]. / Evaluation des délais de prise en charge de l'infarctus du myocarde. Résultats d'une enquête en Alsace.

In order to assess the conditions of access to emergency care of acute myocardial infarction in Alsace, the authors carried out a survey in all hospitals and medical clinics in the region. All subjects admitted for acute myocardial infarction in the region between 3rd December 1995 and 3rd April 1996 were included. The study population comprised 405 persons. The onset of symptoms usually occurred at the patient's home (85% of cases). The first call was made to the general practitioner in 65% of cases. The emergency ambulance transported 40% of patients. The median time to hospital admission was 5 h 15 (average 21 h); the delay was greater in patients over 65 years of age (6 h 42 versus 3 h 51, p < 0.01). This mainly resulted from a delay in calling the doctor by the patients. Thirty nine per cent of patients underwent a myocardial revascularisation procedure (thrombolysis: 27%, direct coronary angioplasty: 12%). Therefore, ten years after a similar study, this survey shows that the delay to hospital admission has not improved and is still too long for effective emergency therapy to be given. In a region where ischaemic heart disease accounts for 10% of all deaths, a multidisciplinary approach is required to elaborate a regional policy for optimising the management of acute myocardial infarction.

[Hospital discharge for elderly persons: a cross-sectional study in Alsace]. / Sorties d'hospitalisation pour les personnes âgées: une enquête transversale en Alsace.

The objectives of this study are to analyse in the Alsacian region the needs of people aged 75 years old and over after a stay in hospital. It is also to identify the matching point between the ideal patient discharge and the one feasible in reality. Finally, if no matching point is found, the study examines the reasons for this. This is an exhaustive overview conducted 8th December 1994 in the 96 Alsacian hospitals on all patients aged 75 and over than 10 days in short stay services and over 20 days in medium stay services. Thus 965 questionnaires were analysed. On leaving hospital, 60% of ideal discharge are feasible. This percentage varies according to the kind of discharge. From 18% for the Alzheimer units it reaches 91% for "home stay without arrangement". When the ideal discharge is "long stay", it is often not feasible due to structural causes. On the contrary, when going home is the ideal solution, this is often not feasible due to lack of motivation either from the patient or their family.