[Watery diarrhea with fever: consider the possibility of pneumococcal meningitis].

The purpose of this report is to describe two rare cases of pneumococcal meningitis observed in Africa. Both cases were revealed by gastrointestinal symptoms characterized by abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. Due to the potential severity of bacterial meningitis, early diagnosis is required.

[Spitting cobras: description of 2 cases in Djibouti].

The purpose of this report is to describe two cases involving ophthalmic exposure to venom from spitting cobras. Based on these cases, readers are reminded that eye injury can be prevented by low-cost treatment consisting of prompt, prolonged saline irrigation. This treatment also reduces pain.

[Centipede bite in a woman with heterozygotous sickle cell disease].

Although centipede bits can cause severe symptoms, they are seldom reported since outcome is generally favorable. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of centipede envenomation causing severe and prolonged symptoms in a woman with sickle cell trait.

[Severe malaria in intensive care units in 2003].

Malaria requiring intensive care is characterized by failure of one or more organ systems and/or development of several metabolic disorders secondary to the presence of Plasmodium faliciparum in the blood. Severe imported malaria in non-immunized adults causes multiple organ failure with variable degrees of altered mental status. Acute pulmonary edema is frequent, jaundice associated with mild disturbance of liver function is consistent, arterial hypertension due to hypovolemia is usual, and acute renal insufficiency is uncommon.

Biphasic-flow induced ventilation allows simultaneous ventilation in several animals, using a single multiple output ventilator--a preliminary report.

Biphasic-flow induced ventilation (BiFIV) is a variable time-cycled tracheal gas insufflation mode, using a specific multiluminal endotracheal tube. Some recent studies have reported efficiency of this new ventilatory mode in experimental in vitro and in vivo settings. We hypothesized that this ventilatory mode could be able to deliver simultaneous efficient ventilation for several animals, using a single ventilator prototype.

Hemodynamic aspects and oxygenation variables in severe malaria of adults in Africa.

Objectives: Study of the hemodynamic profile and oxygenation variables in severe malaria to determine whether they are identical to those observed in severe bacterial infections.

Design And Setting: Prospective study in an intensive care unit of a West African hospital.

Patients And Participants: Two groups of adult patients hospitalized for severe malaria according to WHO criteria, a control group (n = 13) with systemic vascular resistance of 800 dyne s(-1) cm(-5) or higher and a hyperkinetic group (n = 16) with a level lower than 800 dyne s(-1) cm(-5).

Efficacy of continuous insufflation of oxygen combined with active cardiac compression-decompression during out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest.

Background: During experimental cardiac arrest, continuous insufflation of air or oxygen (CIO) through microcannulas inserted into the inner wall of a modified intubation tube and generating a permanent positive intrathoracic pressure, combined with external cardiac massage, has previously been shown to be as effective as intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV).

Methods: After basic cardiorespiratory resuscitation, the adult patients who experienced nontraumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with asystole, were randomized to two groups: an IPPV group tracheally intubated with a standard tube and ventilated with standard IPPV and a CIO group for whom a modified tube was inserted, and in which CIO at a flow rate of 15 l/min replaced IPPV (the tube was left open to atmosphere). Both groups underwent active cardiac compression-decompression with a device.

[Value of prolonged epidural analgesia in thoracic surgery].

The use of high thoracic epidurals for post-thoracotomy pain relief in 156 patients is reviewed. Analgesia was maintained with a continuous infusion of a local anaesthetic, bupivacaïne 0.5% 40 ml, mixed with a narcotic, fentanyl 10 ml (perfusion rate between 3 and 7 ml/h).

[Severe hypophosphoremia in a toxic shock syndrome].

A case of toxic shock syndrome occurring during a menstrual period, and associated with severe hypophosphataemia, is reported. The patient was a 21-year old woman using tampons. On the fourth day, she developed encephalopathy with decreased consciousness and hyperventilation.

[Peridural anesthesia in thoraco-abdominal surgery. Propofol-methohexital comparison for complementary anesthesia].

Two groups of 20 patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery or thoracic surgery received analgesia by thoracic peridural route: 850 and 837 micrograms.kg-1 of bupivacaine, plus 4.30 and 4.

Prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in French recruits in 1985.

The epidemiological study of hepatitis A antibodies prevalence in 1000 french recruits shows a 20% fall in people of 18-20 years old between 1979 and 1985, and identifies variables such as residence in coasting area, stay overseas, study level, as the most important social and geographical risk factors. These results are in agreement with the evolution observed in different other european countries.