Tortuosity of the right common carotid artery simulating aneurysm.

Among the problems that confront the vascular surgeon, a pulsatile, right-sided neck mass requires a careful and logical evaluation. It has long been known that tortuosity of the right common carotid artery, frequently associated with advanced hypertension, can physically mimic a right carotid aneurysm. The question, then, is whether carotid angiography, with a higher attendant risk of morbidity and mortality, is preferable to less invasive diagnostic modalities such as computerized tomography (CT) and ultrasonography for initial evaluation.

Is apalcillin nephrotoxic?

Apalcillin is a new semisynthetic penicillin used as a sodium salt. More than 4,000 patients have been treated with this antibiotic, but increased serum creatinine levels were noted in 18 cases. In 5 of these cases, apalcillin was possibly responsible, and in 13 it was doubtful.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of tromethamine fosfomycin and calcium fosfomycin in young and elderly adults.

The pharmacokinetics of two oral forms of fosfomycin, tromethamine (trometamol) salt and calcium salt, were studied in five young (age, 29 +/- 3 [standard deviation] years) and eight elderly (age, 72 +/- 6 years) adults. The subjects received a single 40-mg/kg (body weight) (approximately equal to 3-g) calcium fosfomycin dose and a 25-mg/kg (approximately equal to 2-g) tromethamine fosfomycin dose in fosfomycin acid form. Blood and urine samples were collected for 24 h.

Effect of commercially available pantyhose on venous return in the lower extremity.

Although compression stockings have long been recognized as a physiologically significant tool for the promotion of venous return from the lower extremity, the role of nonprescription, commercially available support hose has not been assessed in this regard. The present study involved 100 consecutive women with no known prior history of vascular disease, who responded to an advertisement for free evaluation of the venous status of their legs. The subjects, all of whom wore commercial support hose routinely, were screened for the presence of venous disease by means of Doppler ultrasonography, phleborheography, and a detailed history focusing on risk factors and unrecognized symptoms of venous disease.

[Renal complications of anti-cancer chemotherapy].

This review is not intended as a complete study of the nephrotoxicity of chemotherapy agents used in the treatment of cancer. The number of these drugs that are cytotoxic has considerably increased in the last few years and our information is incomplete for many of them. We therefore reviewed the observations reported in the literature.

[Acute systemic lupus erythematosus after thymectomy for myasthenia. Sequential study of lymphocyte subpopulations].

A 35 year-old woman developed severe systemic lupus erythematosus 9 years after thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. "Seric Thymic Factor" (STF) was low; T helpers subset, T helpers/T suppressors ratio and to a lesser extent T suppressors subset were decreased. Suppressor cell function investigated by Concanavaline A lymphocyte reactivity was low.

Vegetating iodides after an intravenous pyelogram.

A 68-year-old woman treated by hemodialysis for chronic renal failure received 30.4 g iodine for an intravenous pyelogram. Three days later, she was covered by aseptic pustules which quickly evolved into vegetating masses on the face.

[Glomerulonephritis secondary to ventriculo-atrial shunts].

The authors report the case of a 45 year old man who had undergone a ventriculo-atrial CSF shunt procedure 5 years previously for normal pressure hydrocephalus and who had several unexplained episodes of infection over a 12 months period and has now developed a mixed nephrotic syndrome associated with a septicaemia. Corynebacterium commensale and Staphylococcus epidermis were isolated from the valve culture. Ablation of the valve resulted in clinical cure with minimal functional renal sequellae.

Pharmacokinetics of aztreonam in patients with chronic renal failure.

The elimination kinetics of aztreonam (SQ 26,776), a new, completely synthetic, monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, were studied after the administration of a single 1g intravenous dose. Five healthy volunteers and 20 patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency were enrolled in this study. Concentrations of aztreonam in serum and urine were determined by both microbiological and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays.

[Pharmacokinetics of azlocillin in chronic renal failure and hemodialysis patients].

The pharmacokinetics of azlocillin were studied in 16 patients with varying degrees of renal impairment (creatinine clearance Ccr ranging from 0 to 52 ml/min/1.73 m2) and on and off sessions in 4 of these patients on periodical haemodialysis. A single dose of azlocillin 80 mg/kg was given by intravenous infusion over 30 min.