[Anaemia].

The first scientific article on anaemia was published in 1807, marking a tipping point in modern medicine. Despite a vast bulk of literature on this topic, the interpretation of anaemia is not always straight forward. The most common form of anaemia, the iron deficiency anaemia, shares several characteristics with another common form of anaemia, the anaemia of chronic disease, or better: 'inflammatory anaemia'.

Real-world characteristics and outcomes of patients with intermediate high risk acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Exact benefits of currently recommended close monitoring in intermediate high risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients are unknown.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study determined clinical characteristics, and disease course of intermediate high risk acute PE patients in an academic hospital setting . Frequency of hemodynamic deterioration, use of rescue reperfusion therapy and PE related mortality, were outcomes of interest.

[Pulse oximetry: principles, limitations and practical applications].

Pulse oximetry detects hypoxemia non-invasively by measuring light absorption at different wave lengths, depending on the oxygenation of hemoglobin. The plethysmographic signal is caused by volume changes in the arterial blood during systole. In this pulsatile flow, oxygen saturation is calculated using an algorithm.

[Crystal meth - a new kid on the block].

In this article we describe epidemiological, pharmacological and clinical aspects of abuse of metamphetamines, also known as crystal meth. These aspects are illustrated by two cases of methamphetamine abuse and the complications associated with it. Metamphetamine abuse is often associated with sexual activity, a combination known as 'chemsex'.

Extreme hypercalcaemia caused by immobilisation due to acute spinal cord injury.

Hypercalcaemia due to immobilisation is an uncommon diagnosis and requires extensive evaluation to rule out common causes of hypercalcaemia such as primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy.We report an unusual case of profound hypercalcaemia due to immobilisation in a young man due to acute spinal cord ischaemia, leading to paraplegia. Other causes of hypercalcaemia were ruled out and elevated bone turnover markers supported our hypothesis.