Hepatotoxicity related to sucralfate.

Sucralfate is a well-established drug in the therapy of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Its adverse reactions are rare, where constipation is the most common side effect. Liver injury due to sucralfate has not been previously reported.

The role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in the pathogenesis of complicated falciparum malaria.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the most important parasitic infection of humans and is one of the most serious health problems facing the inhabitants of developing countries. It is responsible for about 2 million deaths every year. To date there is no specific treatment for the disease apart from anti-malarials.

Severe symptomatic hyponatremia during citalopram therapy.

Hyponatremia secondary to the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is an uncommon complication of treatment with the new class of antidepressant agents, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Most of the reported cases were associated with fluoxetine; only 2 have previously been described in association with citalopram. We describe an elderly woman who presented with severe symptomatic hyponatremia caused by the SIADH during therapy with citalopram.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha in the diagnostic assessment of pleural effusion.

We investigated the role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in the evaluation of pleural effusion aetiology. Using a commercially-available ELISA kit, concentrations of TNF were measured in the serum and pleural fluid of patients with malignant effusions (n=19), uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions (n=13), and exudative (n=13) and transudative (n=13) effusions due to congestive heart failure (CHFex and CHFtr, respectively). Serum TNF did not differ significantly between the four groups (p>0.

Propafenone-induced ataxia: report of three cases.

Propafenone is an effective antiarrhythmic drug used widely for the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Although it is generally well tolerated, 30 to 45% of patients may experience adverse cardiac effects. In 15 to 20% of patients, adverse effects may involve other organ systems.

Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome.

Background: Obesity, a common condition in developed countries, is recognized as a threat to health.

Objectives: To describe the distribution of weight in pregnant women and evaluate the influence of obesity on pregnancy outcome in a high parity northern Israeli population.

Methods: The study included 887 women who gave birth in the Western Galilee Medical Center during the period August to November 1995.

[Physicians' assessment of computerized prescribing].

Prescription errors are a major source of preventable adverse drug events. Computerized prescribing (CP) which screens physicians' order for mistakes, drug-allergy, drug-disease, drug-laboratory and drug-drug interactions can prevent many of these errors and improve quality of care. However, computerized systems are often time-consuming, difficult to handle, and may create their own mistakes.

Deep venous thrombosis associated with acute brucellosis--a case report.

Vascular complications, including arteries and veins associated with Brucella infection, have rarely been reported. To date, only three cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities associated with brucellosis have been previously reported. The authors describe another case of DVT of the right leg in association with acute Brucella infection.

Pyomyositis of the thigh due to Prevotella melaninogenica.

Pyomyositis is an uncommon infection in temperate climates, however, it is being more frequently reported among patients with diabetes or malignancy, or those who are immunocompromised. It is predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and rarely by Bacteroides species. Pyomyositis due to Prevotella melaninogenica has not previously been reported.

Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the differential diagnosis of parapneumonic effusion.

Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) in discriminating between uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion (UCPPE) and complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE).

Method: Using a commercially available high sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, concentrations of TNF were measured in the serum (TNFs) and pleural fluid (TNFpf) of 21 patients with parapneumonic effusion (PPE), 13 patients with UCPPE, and 8 patients with nonempyemic CPPE.

Results: No significant difference in values of TNF concentration was found between the group with UCPPE and that with CPPE (P > 0.

Severe life-threatening hyponatremia during paroxetine therapy.

Hyponatremia secondary to the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antiduretic hormone (SIADH) is an uncommon complication of treatment with the antidepressants the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These effective anti-depressant agents are becoming widely used because of their favorable side effect profile and their safety in overdose. Although most reports have implicated fluoxetine in causing hyponatremia, there have also been a few reports of hyponatremia associated with paroxetine.

Hyponatremia during therapy with amiodarone.

We describe an elderly woman who presented with significant hyponatremia caused by the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) during therapy with amiodarone. The hyponatremia resolved after discontinuation of the drug and did not recur during a follow-up period of 6 months. Such an association has previously been reported only once in the medical literature.

T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with pulmonary involvement and relapsing BOOP.

We report on a case of T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia involving the lung, with clinical, radiological and histological evidence of relapsing bronchiolitis obliterans-organizing pneumonia in a 70-yr-old female. Pulmonary disease was the major clinical manifestation of this chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The first two episodes of the patient's pulmonary disorder resolved without treatment, and the third episode was treated with cytotoxic agents as part of the leukaemia treatment regimen.

Creatine kinase as a biochemical marker in diagnosis of placenta increta and percreta.

We describe 1 case of placenta increta and 1 of placenta percreta, both associated with elevated maternal serum creatine kinase concentration. In patients with placenta previa and ultrasonographic findings of an abnormally adherent placenta, an unexplained elevation in maternal serum creatine kinase level should alert the clinician to the possibility of placenta increta or placenta percreta, with an attendant increase in maternal morbidity.

Central nervous system reactions associated with famotidine: report of five cases.

H2-receptor antagonists may cause various types of central nervous system reactions, particularly in patients with advanced age and/or impaired renal or liver function. These reactions have rarely been reported in association with famotidine. In five elderly patients, four of them with renal failure, central nervous system reactions developed shortly after initiation with famotidine therapy.

[Verapamil-associated liver injury].

Hepatotoxicity due to verapamil is very rare and to the best of our knowledge only 10 cases have been reported. A 54-year-old woman developed cholestatic liver injury and pruritus following treatment with sustained-release verapamil (240 mg/day) for arterial hypertension. The pruritus and all hepatic biochemical abnormalities completely resolved after withdrawal of the drug.

Evidence that women with a history of cesarean section can deliver twins safely.

Objective: To determine whether a trial of labor is safe in twin pregnancies after one previous cesarean section.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of all cases of multiple pregnancies after cesarean section during the years 1970-1993, including twin gestations after one cesarean section.

Results: Forty-six cases of multiple gestations were found, 36 of which were eligible for the study presented herein.

New insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multisystemic inflammatory disease with autoimmune features, and of unknown cause, associated with characteristic joint deformities and increased mortality rate. The pathogenesis of this serious disease seems to be multifactorial, where several cytokines, particularly interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, are strongly involved in the induction and perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory process of the joints in RA and in the systemic manifestations of the disease. Other factors, such as reactive oxygen species and metalloproteinases, may also participate in the destruction of the rheumatoid joint.

Acute cor pulmonale due to tumor cell microemboli.

Severe pulmonary hypertension due to tumor cell microemboli or lymphangitic carcinomatosis is a rare complication of malignant disease. In most of the reported cases, a clinical picture of subacute cor pulmonale developed. A 57-year-old man with deep vein thrombosis in his left calf developed acute progressive dyspnea with hypoxemia, cyanosis and the clinical picture of acute cor pulmonale, while he was on full heparinization.

[An original case of simultaneous cardiac, pancreatic and renal transplantation. Results over 6 years].

Combined transplantation is actually performed on specific and rare indications. We are presenting here the results of a combined heart-kidney and pancreatic graft. It was performed in a patient presenting an idiopathic cardiomyopathy in end-stage failure and a post-diabetic nephropathy on dialysis.