In-hospital stay of patient with acute coronary syndrome with or without diabetes mellitus.

Aim: Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increase in the risk of coronary heart disease, by a factor of two to four. The scientific community has suggested that all patients with diabetes could be treated as if they had a prior coronary heart disease.

Methods: A computer review of 11-year prevalence (from 1991 to 2002) of type 2 diabetes among 3242 patients admitted to the Intensive Coronary Care Unit of the Division of Cardiology of the University Hospital ''Paolo Giaccone'', Palermo, was carried out, with the diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (51%), non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (6%) or unstable angina (UA) (43%).

Systemic and pulmonary embolization in a patient with patent ductus arteriosus.

We report on a patient with unrecognized patent ductus arteriosus and infective endocarditis of the aortic valve with septic embolization to the right pulmonary artery and the coronary tree.