[Neuroborreliosis in Chile. Report of a child probably infected by imported pets].

Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, has several clinical manifestations and is transmitted to man by tick bites. In Chile and Latin America, several cases have been reported, but none with immunoblot confirmation or isolation of the infecting organism. We report a 9 year old boy consulting with bilateral facial palsy, polyradiculoneuritis with tetraparesis and meningeal irritation.

[Seroprevalence of Epstein Barr virus infection in a healthy population of Santiago de Chile].

To study the rate of infection by Epstein Barr virus (EBV) in Santiago, Chile, the prevalence of antibody to the viral capsid antigen (VCA-IgG) was determined in a group of 663 healthy individuals grouped by age and socioeconomic level (SEL). In addition, several risk factors for infection were studied. VCA-IgG was determined by ELISA.

[Severe bradyarrythmia induced by tricyclic antidepressants in an elderly patient].

A 66 year-old female patient, with severe chronic pain caused by diabetic radiculopathy, treated with association of amitriptiline and carbamazepine, presented severe sinusal bradycardia with hemodynamic disturbances ensuing junctional rhythm, which required installation of temporary pace-maker. The drugs were withdrawn. Reversion to sinusal rhythm occurred 36 hours after the installation of bradycardia.

Factors related to mortality in inferior vena cava injuries. A 5 year experience.

Forty-nine patients sustaining Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) injuries, during a 5 year period were retrospectively analyzed in order to assess those factors related to early deaths. Mean age was 32 and 45 were male. GSW was the most frequent mechanism of injury (59.

Emergency department thoracotomy.

The emergency department thoracotomy as a ressuscitative measure is a controversial subject in trauma surgery. Indiscriminate indication has occurred due to unclearness upon the real value of this procedure, but further critical evaluation has reduced initial enthusiasm rather emphasizing a more rational approach by systematization of criteria for selective indication. Clinical outcome is related to injury mechanism and patients conditions upon admission.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Chile: vegetables may serve as one route of transmission.

Helicobacter pylori infection is very common in Chilean adults, but the age-related prevalence, risk factors for infection, and mode of transmission in Chilean children are unknown. An ELISA was used to test for H. pylori antibodies in 1815 Chileans < 35 years of age.

[Infectious endocarditis in a drug addict].

Purpose: To compare two groups of patients with infective endocarditis, the drug addicts and non-drug addicts. We attempted to set particularities among the various aspects that involve the patient with endocarditis, due to the concurrent chronic use of cocaine intravenously.

Methods: Twenty nine patients, group B, whose clinical diagnose was compatible with infective endocarditis, with risk factor of parenteral toxicomania by cocaine were treated at Institute "Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia" and Hospital "Emilio Ribas" in São Paulo, from 1984 to 1990.

Obstructive jaundice caused by blastomycosis of the lymph nodes around the common bile duct.

A case of obstructive jaundice due to granulomatous blastomycosis is presented. The patient had complained of abdominal pain in the right hypochondrium and jaundice. During hospitalization, the laboratory tests showed evidence of obstructive jaundice and complementary tests a distended gallbladder, dilatation of the intra and extrahepatic bile ducts with enlarged lymph nodes of the hepatic hilus.