Three biopsy procedures provided inadequate samples and the biopsies were repeated, giving a total of 15 biopsy procedures. A tissue diagnosis was made in all 12 patients. All procedures were well tolerated, and no immediate or delayed complications occurred. Percutaneous core biopsy of bowel wall masses is a safe technique that allows a histologic diagnosis to be obtained in difficult cases when other methods cannot provide an adequate tissue sample.
The Barthel Index (BI) in its original format must be completed by a therapist. To overcome this disadvantage a self-administered version of the BI was designed, the modified Barthel Index (MBI). In the present study the MBI was validated against the original BI and also the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) in 33 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There was a close correlation between BI and MBI in eight out of the 10 items of the scale and in the overall score. Similarly, there was a good correlation between MBI and HAQ but only in patients with mild disability. Further analysis of data showed that the HAQ overestimated the degree of disability in patients with RA and may be less reliable than the MBI in measuring functional independence in these patients.
ent Que$tlonnal,. (HAQ) and a seIf-admlnlste'ed version of the Barthel Index (81). The,e was no slgniflCailt disagreement between the two methods. although the HAQ showed a tendency to ove,eat".thedegr'" of disability slightly. The flndlngssuggeat that the BI Is as ,ellable as the HAQ In thẽ of functional Independence with .actlvltlea of dallyliVInC In~lents wlthRA. It also has thẽ .of eVal~bIadde' and bowel control which Is often affected In these patients. Most the... plsts~'" f1JOf8 familiar with the BI than with the HAQ. The BI could, therefore. be recommended for me&surlflg'....bIIltatlon .Ins In patients with RA.
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