Unusual segmental ischemia of the small bowel from cocaine abuse.

Cocaine abuse is rising in the young population, triggering uncommon and potentially life-threatening causes of acute abdomen in this age group. The authors present the case of a 30-year-old man with emergency admission due to abdominal pain, with no history of drug abuse. Several signs and symptoms elicited toxicologic blood screening, which disclosed high serum levels of cocaine and its metabolites.

[Lipomatosis of interatrial septum and supraventricular arrhythmias].

Lipomatosis of interatrial septum is a rare benign disorder characterized by fat accumulation into interatrial septum. It may cause atrial arrhythmias and hemodynamic complications. For this reason, it should be considered in differential diagnosis of other cardiac masses.

HCV infection and pericarditis: an extrahepatic manifestation?

The authors describe a clinical case in which they found the unusual combination of acute hepatitis caused by HCV and pericarditis in a young person, resulting in complete recovery from the pericarditis but in a deterioration of the chronic HCV. A close examination of the literature on this subject revealed that, although no similar case was recorded, an aetiological relationship between the hepatitis C virus and pericarditis cannot be excluded since an HCV infection often gives rise to extra-hepatic cardiac problems.

[Adrenomedullin in cardiovascular pathology].

Adrenomedullin (AM), inducing a potent and powerful hypotensive activity caused by dilatation of resistance vessels, has elicited interest for its cardiovascular actions. AM is secreted from various cell type, including vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell. AM plasma levels are increased in various cardiovascular diseases as heart failure and hypertension and may be involved in pathophysiological changes in cardiovascular diseases.