[Streptococcus constellatusas a causative agent of empyema. Report of one case].

Streptococcus constellatus is a commensal microorganism in man but may cause infections in different locations. We report a 59 years old male with severe sequelae of a previous cerebrovascular accident that consulted in the emergency room for fever of 15 days of evolution. A right empyema was diagnosed.

Lipoprotein(a) and lipid profile in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is well-known risk factor for cardiac embolic events, especially cerebrovascular events. The association between AF and lipid markers was evaluated. Among all these markers, lipoprotein(a), or (Lp(a), was also investigated.

[Health impact of 2003 heat wave at Hospital de Riveira (A Coruña)].

Objectives: Last summer 2003 took place an atmospheric situation considered as a heat wave. Importance of environmental factors in chronic diseases is well known, but few works analyse those of heat excess as we do in this paper.

Methods: We studied the effects of high temperatures on admission and mortality in Riveira, A Coruña, Spain, during the period from July 15th to August 15th 2003.

Mixed cryoglobulinaemia and B-cell lymphoma in the absence of hepatitis C virus infection.

Literary data favouring hepatitis C virus infection as an important aetiological agent in mixed cryoglobulinaemia and mixed cryoglobulinaemia-associated lymphoma have been reported. Hepatitis C virus infection does not explain, however, all cases. A case of hepatitic C negative mixed cryoglobulinaemia with B-cell lymphoma is presented and the possible role of hepatitis C virus in the aetiology of lymphoproliferative disorders and the geographical differences reported in the literature are discussed.