Swarming hornet attacks: shock and acute kidney injury--a large case series from Vietnam.

Background: Social hornets attack victims in swarms in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The venom consists of multiple proteins with myotoxin, haemotoxin, vasodilatory and anticoagulant effects.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 65 patients at Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) attacked by swarms of the lesser banded hornet, Vespa affinis.

Ichthyotoxic ARF after fish gallbladder ingestion: a large case series from Vietnam.

Fish gallbladders are consumed in rural areas of Asia as a traditional medicine to improve symptoms of arthritis, decreased visual acuity, and impotence. Consumption of large amounts of this traditional medicine can result in systemic toxicities; in particular, acute renal failure. We reviewed records of all admissions to Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) between January 1995 and December 2000 after this ingestion.