Bilateral upper-lobe cavitary Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a patient on dapsone prophylaxis.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) presenting as bilateral upper-lobe cavitary disease is rare. Isolated upper-lobe involvement has traditionally been associated with aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis. Dapsone is a cheap and effective prophylactic agent against P carinii in patients who cannot tolerate trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Cocaine-associated intestinal gangrene in a pregnant woman.

A 31-year-old pregnant woman who was an active cocaine abuser presented to our emergency department five times in 1 week for abdominal pain and vomiting. She continued to use cocaine regularly despite having abdominal pain. Her fifth admission was for seizures.

Pulse oximetry in the evaluation of peripheral vascular disease.

The role of pulse oximetry in the evaluation of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was investigated. In addition, the value of elevating the limb to improve the sensitivity of detection of PVD by the pulse oximeter was also determined. Pulse oximetry reading in the toes were obtained in 40 young, healthy volunteers and in 40 randomly selected patients referred to the vascular investigation laboratory over a period of two months.