Nitrofurantoin-Induced Granulomatous Interstitial Pneumonia.

Nitrofurantoin-induced lung toxicity is relatively common, but rare histologic patterns sometimes occur that may make diagnosis difficult. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman taking prophylactic nitrofurantoin for urinary tract infections, who developed granulomatous interstitial pneumonia. She improved with cessation of nitrofurantoin, without other therapy.

Sleep at simulated 2438 m: effects on oxygenation, sleep quality, and postsleep performance.

Introduction: Crewmembers on ultra long-range commercial flights have the opportunity for rest and sleep in onboard areas in which the barometric pressure is 75.3 kPa (565 mmHg) or higher, equivalent to a terrestrial altitude of 2438 m (8000 ft) or lower. Sleep at higher altitudes is known to be disturbed, resulting in postsleep neurobehavioral performance decrements.

Effect of aircraft-cabin altitude on passenger discomfort.

Background: Acute mountain sickness occurs in some unacclimatized persons who travel to terrestrial altitudes at which barometric pressures are the same as those in commercial aircraft during flight. Whether the effects are similar in air travelers is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-blind, controlled hypobaric-chamber study of adult volunteers to determine the effect of barometric pressures equivalent to terrestrial altitudes of 650, 4000, 6000, 7000, and 8000 ft (198, 1219, 1829, 2134, and 2438 m, respectively) above sea level on arterial oxygen saturation and the occurrence of acute mountain sickness and discomfort as measured by responses to the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire IV during a 20-hour simulated flight.