Large hydatic cyst of the left ventricle associated with syncopal attacks.

An unusual case of giant hydatic cyst of the left ventricle producing cardiac and systemic symptomatology is described. The patient had suffered presyncopal and syncopal attacks and the final diagnosis was made by combination of echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and serological tests. Surgical resection of the cyst supplemented by medical therapy yielded favorable results.

Hypersersensitivity and Kounis syndrome due to a viper bite.

A 60-year-old male was bitten by a venomous snake (Vipera ammodytes) and gradually developed signs of an allergic reaction including generalized itching, generalized rash, and chest discomfort. This was followed by severe retrosternal pain with electrocardiographic evidence of an inferior myocardial ischemia progressing to acute myocardial infarction. Cardiac enzymes and troponin, serum tryptase, and histamine were elevated.

Snake venom poisoning in Greece. Experiences with 147 cases.

Background: Snake venom poisoning is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Bites from poisonous European snakes can lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms. Vipera ammodytes accounts for the most envenomation in Greece.

Ascites and other extracardiac manifestations associated with right atrial myxoma: a case report.

Right atrial myxomas are rare intracardiac tumors that often pose difficulties in diagnosis. Right ventricular failure and ascites ensuing from tricuspid valve orifice obstruction are potentially dangerous complications. Early diagnosis of cardiac myxoma is important since surgical treatment leads to disappearance of all symptoms with a low rate of recurrence and good long-term survival.

Varicella-zoster virus pneumonia in adults: report of 14 cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of all adult patients with varicella-zoster virus pneumonia (VZVP) treated in our departments during the last 5 years. Important therapeutic and evolutionary features are also reported. METHODS: Fourteen patients (11 males and 3 females, mean age OF 36.

Endemic brucellar epididymo-orchitis: a 10-year experience.

Objective: To present epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory features, treatment and outcome of patients suffering from Brucella melitensis-induced epididymo-orchitis, in comparison with cases of nonspecific epididymo-orchitis. Distinction between these two entities is essential, as treatment and outcome are entirely different.

Methods: In this retrospective study, records of 17 patients serologically diagnosed as suffering from B.

Acute massive rhabdomyolysis due to prolonged inhalation of liquid gas.

A very rare case of non-fatal acute massive rhabdomyolysis caused by unintentional prolonged inhalation of liquid gas (consisting of butane and propane) in a previously healthy adult is presented. The immediate diagnosis and intensive symptomatic therapy prevented any other severe complications of rhabdomyolysis, and the patient made a complete recovery without any sequelae.

Cisapride decreases gastric content aspiration in mechanically ventilated patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the prokinetic agent cisapride in the prevention of aspiration of gastric contents. DESIGN: A prospective randomized two-period crossover study. SETTING: Fourteen-bed polyvalent intensive care unit in a University Hospital.

The effect of hyperoxaemia on erythropoietin secretion in anaemic patients.

Erythropoietin (EPO) controls red cell production. Hypoxaemia, reduced blood oxygen-carrying capacity and increased affinity of haemoglobin (Hb) for oxygen are the primary stimuli for EPO secretion. The effect of hyperoxaemia (arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2) > 13.

Allergic reactions to local glyceryl trinitrate administration.

To assess the exact cause and extent of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-induced allergic reactions, a study of continuous and intermittent use of GTN patches was conducted in 320 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and III angina pectoris. Three commercially available GTN patch systems were used. Twenty-one patients (6.

Dose-dependent appearance and disappearance of amiodarone-induced skin pigmentation.

A 66-year-old man suffering from atrial flutter developed cutaneous blue-gray pigmentation while receiving 600 mg of amiodarone daily for 15 months. With reduction of the dose to 100 mg, skin discoloration disappeared within 16 months, to reappear within 7 months after increasing the dose to 400 mg. Finally, the discoloration disappeared within 13 months with a dose reduction to 200 mg daily.

Diaphragmatic herniation of the large bowel associated with unusual clinical and electrocardiographic presentation.

This is the first case reported of combined hiatus hernia of the stomach and herniation of the splenic flexure of the colon through the oesophageal hiatus. It was associated with unusual clinical and electrocardiographic findings. We postulate that these were the result of an increase in intrathoracic pressure induced by the herniating structures.

Identity of macromolecules present in the extracellular slime layer of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

The extracellular slime layer of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35983 contains: a) two non-anionic carbohydrate containing proteins degradable with papain of molecular masses 250 and 125 kDa; b) a polydisperse but homogeneously-charged acidic population with M(r) ranging from 120,000 to 35,000 (average M(r) (80,000) containing a polysaccharide covalently bound to a small peptide; c) a papain degradable macromolecule (molecular mass 60 kDa) bearing acidic carbohydrates covalently bound to protein; and c) two acidic polysaccharides strongly retained by the anion-exchange column; one polysaccharide is sulphated and has a molecular mass of 20 kDa; the other has a higher charge density and a molecular mass of 12.5 kDa. The results obtained clearly demonstrate the presence of discrete macromolecules in the extracellular material of slime-producing S epidermidis, the majority of which contain acidic carbohydrates, whose biological role remains to be elucidated.

Anticoagulant-induced shoulder hematoma producing brachial plexus neuropathy--case reports.

Hemorrhagic complications from anticoagulants are common and may manifest in any part of the human body. Skin discoloration, pain, tenderness, and soft-tissue swelling may be the main clinical features. The authors present 3 extraordinary cases of brachial plexus neuropathy associated with anticoagulant-induced hemorrhage.

Nonfatal bacteremia caused by a mucoid, alginate-producing strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The first case of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia is reported in a hospitalized 78-yr-old woman with drug-induced hepatitis attributed to antituberculous therapy. The bacteremia was successfully treated with tobramycin and carbenicillin. Furthermore, the extracellular material of this mucoid strain was extracted, purified, and characterized as an alginate of high molecular weight, similar to that of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from cystic fibrosis.