Increased P wave dispersion in patients with liver steatosis.

Aim: Hepatic steatosis is associated with metabolic and hemodynamic abnormalities induced by insulin resistance and inflammatory state. Since abnormalities of P wave dispersion may be accompanied with latter issues we evaluated this subject in patients with hepatic steatosis.

Methods: Total of 106 patients and 56 healthy subjects were enrolled and performed hepatic ultrasonography, echocardiography, electrocardiogram, and biochemistry tests.

Eosinophilic granuloma: bilateral temporal bone involvement.

Eosinophilic granuloma is an uncommon condition that is characterized by unifocal or multifocal osteolytic lesions that often affect the skull. Unilateral lesions of the temporal bone are not uncommon, but bilateral temporal bone lesions are rare. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, fewer than 20 such cases have been reported during the past 40 years.

Computer-based patient education.

The computer can be a powerful ally in clinicians efforts to empower their patients to make the right individual decisions. The Internet, in particular, is an extremely valuable resource that enables patients to quickly obtain the latest information on support groups, therapeutic modalities, late-breaking research, and individual coping strategies. The technology is now mature enough that every provider should consider incorporating some type of computer-based patient education into his or her practice.

The natural history of bone bruises. A prospective study of magnetic resonance imaging-detected trabecular microfractures in patients with isolated medial collateral ligament injuries.

We conducted a prospective study to evaluate bone bruises, or trabecular microfractures, associated with isolated medial collateral ligament injuries. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 65 patients with isolated medial collateral ligament injuries determined by physical examination and imaging studies. Of these 65 patients, 29 (45%) had associated trabecular microfractures.

Thawing the frozen shoulder: the "patient" patient.

Many different modalities have been advocated for the treatment of frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), some of which can be associated with complications and morbidity. We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients with adhesive capsulitis treated by the senior author over a 10-year period. Treatment consisted of closely monitored home therapy using moist heat and antiinflammatory medication, and a physician-directed rehabilitation program.

Juxta-articular synovial cyst of the shoulder.

A case of an unusual synovial cyst with both intra- and extraosseous components found in the proximal humerus of a patient with osteoarthritis is presented. The importance of this lesion is that it should be recognized as a manifestation of the underlying osteoarthritis and does not represent a more serious primary lesion.

Postinfluenza toxic shock syndrome.

Postinfluenza toxic shock syndrome is a recently described entity that results from a respiratory tract infection with toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus following an episode of influenza or influenzalike illness. This report describes a 19-year-old man who developed an influenza B respiratory infection complicated by staphylococcal pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome. The patient improved rapidly with specific antibiotic therapy, emphasizing the importance of considering this otherwise highly lethal syndrome in any individual who becomes critically ill after an initial influenzalike illness.

Individuality of human palatal rugae.

Investigators have implied that palatal rugae are unique to each individual. However, these researchers have disagreed as to whether or not legal identification could be based solely on palatal rugae. Previous studies used poor duplicating materials and may not have considered the effects of growth, extractions, palatal expansion, or some combination of these.