Torsade de pointes induced by citalopram and amiodarone.

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of myocardial repolarization characterized by a prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG). This disorder is associated with an increased risk of torsade de pointes (TdP). We report a case of TdP induced by citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), taken in conjunction with amiodarone.

Shoulder instability in the young athlete.

Shoulder instability is common in young athletes due to acute and repetitive trauma, as well as overuse in athletes with generalized ligamentous laxity. In overhead athletes, instability may present as impingement or rotator cuff tenderness. Fortunately, most symptomatic instability can be treatedwith rehabilitation.

An unusual case of myiasis.

Myiasis-the feeding of fly larvae on living mammals, may have various clinical presentations depending on the tissues or organs involved. Myiasis is a common travel associated skin disorder as a consequence of short visits to developing countries. It is the fourth most common travel associated disease.

Predictive value of myocardial and coronary imaging in the long-term outcome of potential renal transplant recipients.

Background: Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients, but there is no agreed screening protocol. The value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and coronary angiography (CA) in predicting future cardiovascular events and mortality in unselected dialysis patients was studied.

Methods: Forty seven patients (mean age 51±14 years, 37 males), underwent both CA and MPI as part of pre-renal transplant assessment between 1995 and 1999.

High versus low intensity exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation: is more better?

Background: Exercise training is considered a necessary component of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation. However, to date, there is no consensus on an exercise training strategy for pulmonary rehabilitation, and this has resulted in varied approaches to this intervention in its literature. As in healthy individuals, the effect of exercise training on patients with chronic lung disease is dose dependent, with higher intensities resulting in greater physiological adaptations than lower intensities.

An introduction to power and sample size estimation.

The importance of power and sample size estimation for study design and analysis.

Low serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I in children with active Crohn disease: effect of enteral nutritional support and glutamine supplementation.

Dept. of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Central Manchester Hospital, Manchester, UK.

Coenzyme Q10: a vital therapeutic nutrient for the heart with special application in congestive heart failure.

Vitamin coenzyme Q10 is a critical adjuvant complementary therapy for patients with congestive heart failure, especially when traditional medical therapy is unsuccessful. The following case studies, with systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction, demonstrate the effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 in improving quality of life, as well as survival.

Refractory congestive heart failure successfully managed with high dose coenzyme Q10 administration.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a critical adjuvant therapy for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), even when traditional medical therapy is successful. Adjunctive therapy with Q10 may allow for a reduction of other pharmacological therapies, improvement in quality of life, and a decrease in the incidence of cardiac complications in congestive heart failure. However, dosing, clinical application, bioavailability and dissolution of CoQ10 deserve careful scrutiny whenever employing the nutrient.

Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition in hypercholesterolaemia.

The fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membrane was determined in 22 hypercholesterolaemic patients managed by dietary restriction, and compared with that of 22 normocholesterolaemic controls, roughly matched for age and sex with the patient group. The patients exhibited higher relative proportions of palmitic (P < 0.01) and stearic (P < 0.

Matrices: their development and in clinical practice.

Recent developments in amalgam alloys composite resin materials have highlighted the importance of meticulous restoration placement by the dentist. This paper discusses the selection and use of the matrix which is significant in both the quality and longevity of the final restoration.

AIDS panic: effects of mass media publicity.

Twenty-four patients with AIDS panic, who presented to the psychiatric services between 1983 and 1986, were assessed on various clinical rating scales. The severity of clinical symptoms was estimated by adding together the total scores on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety. The level of mass media publicity about AIDS was calculated by counting the number of major reports about the disease in national and local newspapers and on television.

Randomised controlled trials of phenobarbitone and valproate in febrile convulsions.

Results from British trials of phenobarbitone and valproate for the prophylactic treatment of febrile convulsions were pooled and analysed on an intention to treat basis. The overall odds ratio for phenobarbitone was 0.8 and for valproate 1.