The stiff-person syndrome. Case report.

The stiff-person syndrome is a rare and disabling disorder, characterized by muscle rigidity with superimposed painful spasms involving axial and limb musculature. The clinical symptoms are continuous contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles caused by involuntary motor-unit firing at rest and the spasms that are precipitated by tactile stimuli, passive strach, volitional movement of affected or unaffected muscles, startling noises and emotional stimuli. Both the rigidity and the spasms are relieved by sleep, general anaesthesia, myoneural blockade and peripheral nerve blockade.

Cefodizime once daily in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections.

Cefodizime (CAS 69739-16-8, HR 221) is a new third-generation cephalosporin with pharmacokinetic properties that make it suitable for once-daily administration in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). Ninety-nine adult hospitalized patients (66 males, 33 females, median age 57.5 years) received a once-daily injection of 2 g cefodizime for LRTI.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection search for musculoskeletal manifestations and mimicking of rheumatologic disorders.

This study involved 50 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in various stages of the disease to identify signs and symptoms suggestive of rheumatologic disorders and to determine how frequently such findings mimic rheumatologic pictures. Control subjects were 25 ambulatory HIV-negative patients with similar risk factors, mostly drug abuse. Although arthralgias and myalgias were reported in both groups, arthritis was only detected in the HIV-positive group.