Lycopodium similiaplex-induced acute hepatitis: a case report.

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our department with symptoms of nausea, anorexia and asthenia. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were increased; all serological tests for viral hepatitis and autoimmune disorders were negative. She had taken Lycopodium similiaplex solution as sedative for the previous 8 weeks, whose two constituents, Lycopodium serratum and Chelidonium majus, are found to be potentially toxic.

Hypersensitivity syndrome (DRESS) and meningoencephalitis associated with nevirapine therapy.

The DRESS (drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) syndrome is a serious condition that has been reported in association with various drugs, such as allopurinol, sulfonamides and aromatic anticonvulsants. Recently the condition has been described in HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral agents. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of DRESS syndrome complicated by meningoencephalitis associated with nevirapine therapy.

West African Immigrants and New Patterns of Malaria Imported to North Eastern Italy.

With the settlement of increasing numbers of immigrants from tropical African countries into Italy over the last decade, the epidemiologic pattern of imported malaria underwent significant change. Italian immigrants originating from endemic areas who revisit their country of origin have exhibited an increasing incidence of malaria: the Italian Ministry of Health recorded an increase of from 14% in 1986 to 40.4% in 1991.

Nosocomial epidemic of active tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients.

In an investigation of a nosocomial outbreak of tuberculosis, 18 HIV-infected inpatients were found to have been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis; active tuberculosis developed in 8, 7 within 60 days of diagnosis of the index case. The patients with lower total lymphocyte and CD4 lymphocyte counts were more likely to get the disease than were those with higher counts. A low score on multiple antigen skin testing was also associated with the development of active tuberculosis.