A New Tool to Assess Quality of Life in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or Non-specific Interstitial Pneumonia

Background Quality of life (QoL) is significantly impaired in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, however reliable tools to assess QoL issues specific for this group of patients are still missing. We thus aimed to develop a new questionnaire called “Quality of life in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis” (QPF) to measure QoL in patients with fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP). Methods An item pool was created on the basis of a German expert group with support of patients suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. In a 1st step, this version of the questionnaire was completed by 52 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). Following this, an item- and an exploratory factor analysis was carried out and a 2nd version created. In a multicenter validation study in a one-group pre-post design, the questionnaire was filled in by 200 patients with IIP (IPF = 190, iNSIP = 10) at 2 time points with an interval of 6 months. Cross-validation was carried out with the St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results The mean age of the patients was 71.0 years (50–90 years), 82.5 % were male. Item analysis revealed that most of Cronbach alpha and selectivity values of QPF-scales could be considered as sufficient (e. g. QPF-scale “condition” [alpha = 0.827], “impairment” [alpha = 0.882]). At scale level, there were significant differences in terms of a deterioration or improvement in the QPF-condition and QPF-breathlessness scales and also in the SGRQ-activity scale. Analysis of construct validation of QPF and SGRQ showed moderate correlations between both questionnaires. A deterioration in health status from the patient’s and doctorʼs perspective was seen in the scales “impairment”, “shortness of breath” and “health status” of the QPF. The QPF was able to detect a change in the patientʼs mood (“condition” scale) in the course of treatment. Conclusion This newly developed questionnaire maps the special needs of the patients well. The QPF is suitable for screening of quality of life as well as for supplementing the medical history and for monitoring the course of disease in fibrotic IIPs.

Phänomenologisches Lernen am Beispiel psychiatrischer Pflegethemen

In this article, phenomenological learningaccordingtotheconcept of Uzarewicz (2013) is presented as a possibility for the methodi- cal design of psychiatric nursing education, taking into account the specifications of the framework of the german Expert Commissi- on for nursing education (accor- ding to § 53 PflBG). The teaching method is clarified with concrete suggestions for implementation in the classroom and focuses on the phenomena of power, violence, coercion, control and heteronomy in psychiatry by taking the examp- le of the inpatient setting. The le- arning situation relates to the last third of the training to become a nurse and serves as preparation for the compulsory psychiatric as- signment. Keywords: psychiatric nursing, teaching methods, phenomenolo- gical learning

Germany in the Integration and Transatlantic Processes

The monograph is dedicated to a comprehensive study of the development trends of the European Union and NATO, with particular emphasis on the policy and role of Germany. The evolution of the attitudes of the main political parties, the approaches of the German expert community to main foreign policy problems and initiatives to modernize the European Union in the context of protracted crises, new threats and challenges is analyzed. The peculiarities of Berlin`s course towards strengthening the unity of the EU, in tandem with Paris, advocating the strengthening the European sovereignty not only in foreign and defense policy, but also in the spheres of healthcare, climate, ecology, high technologies, are considered. At the same time, both allies see strategic autonomy as strengthening NATO`s European pillar and building a transatlantic partnership based on a more equal basis. The factors determining the policy of Berlin towards the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space are studied. The dynamics and content of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the EU with the Russian Federation have been investigated, which makes it possible to make predictions about the possibilities of building the potential of their cooperation, restore dialogue based on mutual interests, and make appropriate recommendations. The publication is intended for Russian politicians and the expert community, university professors and graduate students, as well as for the general public.

A Modern Study of King Frederick II of Prussia and Russia

This review analyses the latest monograph of a German expert on the eighteenth-century history of German-Russian relations. Peter Hoffman has conducted a comprehensive historical analysis of Prussian-Russian relations and conflicts during the reign of Frederick II, paying special attention to the image of Russia in Frederick’s eyes and, thereby, in the eyes of part of the German elite. The reviewer focuses on the most acute aspects and moments of these relations as they are dissected and presented by Hoffman: from the nature of Frederick’s attempts to establish personal ties with the rulers of Russia to his revelations about Russia as the most dangerous country for Prussia. The reviewer demonstrates Hoffman’s “empathy for the Russians” and the associated danger of a “one-sided” view on the protagonists: on the one hand, there is Prussia and King Frederick, who is prone to persistently “false assessments” of Russia, and on the other hand, there is “open-mindedness” that was “generally characteristic of Russian diplomacy”. According to the reviewer, the author generally provides too little concrete factual material and too often requires the reader to know the sources and literature he refers to in order to defend these judgments.

Clinical Recommendations for the Use of the Ambulatory Glucose Profile in Diabetes Care

Background: The ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) uses the wealth of data that are generated by continuous glucose monitoring, including flash glucose monitoring technologies, to provide a visual representation of glucose levels over a typical standard day of usually the most recent two weeks for a person with diabetes and helps to identify patterns and trends in glucose control. The AGP allows certain patterns of glucose levels to be identified and analyzed, such that treatment adjustments can be made, and new individual treatment goals can be defined. This helps to ensure increased treatment satisfaction and adherence, quality of life, and an improvement in metabolic management for people with diabetes. Objective: To date, a range of approaches exists for interpreting the information contained in an AGP, with different priorities given to identifying and targeting patterns of hypoglycemia and the degree of variability and stability underlying the glucose levels. The objective of the present recommendation is to describe the steps for assessing an AGP in detail and to illustrate these steps using visual examples. Conclusion: This paper describes the consensus recommendations from a group of German expert diabetologists on the necessary steps for assessing an AGP in a structured and detailed way and to explain these steps using practical clinical examples.

El hispanismo alemán, la España contemporánea y Latinoamérica. Entrevista con el profesor Walther L. Bernecker / German Hispanism, Contemporary Spain and Latin-America: An interview with Professor Walther L. Bernecker

En esta entrevista el profesor Walther L. Bernecker desentraña aspectos fundamentales de la evolución del hispanismo y la historiografía alemanas. En sus respuestas, este afamado especialista germano ofrece pinceladas biográficas sobre su formación académica y sus multifacéticas inquietudes investigadoras. También ofrece una valoración sobre el estado del proceso de consolidación e internacionalización de la profesión histórica en España, la evolución política latinoamericana, así como sobre cuestiones relativas al debate entre la política, la historia y la memoria en la sociedad española, tales como la “Ley de Memoria Histórica” y la actual expansión del independentismo catalán.Palabras claveHispanismo, Latinoamérica, profesionalización histórica, “Memoria Histórica”, “la cuestión catalana”AbstractIn this interview, Professor Walther L. Bernecker reflects on fundamental aspects on the evolution of German Hispanism and historiography. In his answers, this well-known German expert offers biographical touches on his academic training and his many-sided interests in research. He also talks about topics such as the situation of process of internationalization of the Spanish historical profession, the evolution of politics in Latin-America, as well as issues concerning the debate on politics, history and memory in Spanish society, such as the Law of historical memory and the recent spread of Catalan independentism.Key WordsHispanism, Latin-America, historical professionalization, “historical memory”, “the Catalan question”

An Inspirational Milieu

This paper focuses on the provenance, conservation history, and critical fortuna of some selected Western European paintings that were placed in Saint Petersburg between 1850 and 1917. In my research, I link archival information with scientific bibliography and material data for three purposes: Firstly, I compare the two stays in Russia, in 1861 and 1862, by the German expert Gustav Friedrich Waagen with the 1865 visit to St. Petersburg of the Italian connoisseur Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle. Secondly, I investigate Cavalcaselle’s alleged meeting with the Russian expert Fedor Antonovich Bruni regarding the technique, fruition, and state of conservation of the paintings Saint Sebastian Barbarigo by Titian, Apollo and Marsyas Litta by Bronzino, and Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John, now attributed to Pontormo. Thirdly, I explore to what extend Duke of Leuchtenberg’s art gallery, Nikolai Dmitrievich Bykov’s collection, and some other private collections, among them those of Princess Kotchubey, Counts Buturlin and Stroganov, and Armenian general Lazarev, were accessible to Western scholars. The research results will enable art historians, curators, and restorers to fill in some blanks in the provenance research and conservation history of these Western masterpieces that used to enrich the Saint Petersburg art scene before the October Revolution.