Pleural effusion in an immunocompetent woman caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum.

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium that can cause pneumonia, abscess and empyema in subjects with predisposing lung diseases. However, pleurisy with effusion is rare. Herein, we report the case of a 74-year-old immunocompetent female patient without apparent risk factors, who suffered haemorrhagic pleural effusion as the main clinical manifestation.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an 87-year-old woman with Escherichia coli bloodstream infection.

We present the case of an 87-year-old woman with history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart diseases, urinary tract infections, and cerebrovascular disease who experienced a transient clinical picture characterized by confusion, lethargy, and acute renal dysfunction in the course of urinary tract infection with Escherichia coli bacteremia. Escherichia coli bloodstream infection was associated with brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns in which the lesion distribution was consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Diagnosis of PRES was confirmed by demonstration of vasogenic edema on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and near-complete resolution of clinical manifestations at discharge.

The structural arteriolar changes in diabetes mellitus and essential hypertension. The relative contribution of ageing and high blood pressure.

Aim: To evaluate the relative contribution of blood pressure, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and ageing on arteriolar structural changes in essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Population And Methods: One hundred subjects, 25 with hypertension (A), 25 with hypertension and diabetes (B), 25 with diabetes (C) and 25 healthy subjects (D). Blood pressure average values, obtained with non-invasive monitoring, and minimal vascular resistance, calculated with strain-gauge plethysmography, were statistically correlated.

The mechanism of the physiologic disappearance of the third heart sound with aging.

The third heart sound (S3) is often present in children and adolescents but is not present in most adults. Applying at the left ventricle a mathematical model, the mechanism of the disappearance of S3 was studied employing the frequency analysis of the sound and echocardiographic data. The existence of a significant correlation between the spectrum energy of S3 and the diameter and thickness of the left ventricle at the moment of S3 in 25 healthy subjects (aged 21 +/- 7 years) allowed us to interpret the origin of S3 based on a viscoelastic oscillating system.

Genesis and acoustic quality of the physiological fourth heart sound.

The genesis of the fourth heart sound (S4) is commonly related to the rapid set in vibration of the left ventricular walls, resulting from the rapid inflow of the blood due to the atrial contraction (Nishimura et al., 1989). S4 can be recorded in normal young subjects as an expression of physiologic atrial dynamics but it is more common in pathologic conditions characterized by decreased ventricular distensibility (Tavel, 1978).

The response of the ageing heart to regular physical exercise. An echo and Doppler study.

In upper middle age healthy subjects the functional cardiac reserve is known to be decreased (Port et al., 1980; Aubert et al., 1994).

Peripheral vascular circulation in trained athletes.

Modifications in the neurogenic control are important in cardiovascular adaptation to physical training. To examine the influence of such variations on arterial blood pressure, heart rate and limb blood flow the Authors have studied the reaction to cardiovascular stress tests of soccer players and sedentary controls. No difference was found in the blood flow response between athletes and sedentary subjects.

[Aortic aneurysms as complication of bacterial endocarditis. Report of two cases (author's transl)].

The authors report on two cases, one of supravalvular aortic aneurysm and one of subvalvular aortic aneurysm. Both patients suffered from bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve, superimposed on previous rheumatic valvular disease. The authors believe that such aneurysms represent typical though rare complication of bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve.