bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Late reversal reaction after 10 years of adequately treated leprosy
Authors: Thacker A K , Kumar P , Mukhija R D , Sharma S P 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Differentiation between a relapse or late reversal reaction following completion of regular drug therapy in patients with leprosy is often difficult, though it has definite therapeutic implications. The present case documents a late reversal reaction occurring an unusually long time after the completion of multi-drug therapy.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Authors: Hernández J L , Palacios-Araus L , Echevarría S , Herrán A , Campo J F , Riancho J A 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus are predisposed to many infectious and noninfectious complications and often receive a variety of drugs. Furthermore, they seem to have a particular susceptibility to idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions. It is therefore surprising that only a few cases of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome have been described in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose the neuroleptic malignant syndrome in these patients, as its usual manifestations, including fever and altered consciousness, are frequently attributed to an underlying infection.
Setting up a heart emergency centre
Authors: Virk S J S , Edmunds E , Perry R A 
Published: December 2008

Summary
We describe the setting up of a ‘heart emergency centre’ linked to a pre-existing coronary care unit. The ‘heart emergency centre’ offers a new and efficient way of providing a fast and effective system for the assessment and management of patients with cardiac emergencies. This set-up can result in significant improvements in ‘door to needle’ time for thrombolysis, which has been shown to be beneficial both in terms of morbidity and mortality following myocardial infarction.
Assessment of disease activity in systemic vasculitis
Authors: Tse W Y , Cockwell P , Savage C O S 
Published: December 2008

Summary
The systemic vasculitides are a group of inflammatory disorders characterised by relapses and remission. Before the introduction of immunosuppressive drugs, mortality was unacceptably high. Immunosuppressive therapy has had a therapeutic impact, but at the cost of increased risk of infection and other adverse effects. Differentiating infection from active disease can be difficult, and the inappropriate prescription of immunosuppressive drugs can be fatal. Hence disease indices which can aid physicians to identify the active phase of disease and enable early treatment, will be valuable in the management of this group of disorders.
Recent developments in assessing medical students
Authors: Fowell S L , Bligh J G 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Most medical schools in the UK are revising their undergraduate courses in response to the recommendations published by the General Medical Council Education Committee in Tomorrow's doctors. However, achievement of the objectives of curricular change is attendant on revision of the assessment process. This paper reviews traditional and more recently developed methods for assessment of medical education in the light of the General Medical Council's recommendations which relate specifically to summative assessment of the core curriculum. The importance of reliability and validity is highlighted, and the case for criterion-referenced assessment is examined.
Imported infections in east Birmingham children
Authors: Riordan F A I , Tarlow M J 
Published: December 2008

Summary
This 15-month prospective study of admissions to a children's ward found imported infections in 58 children (1.3% of admissions), aged between two months and 15 years. Most had visited the Indian subcontinent 14 (1-341) days earlier. Few had taken preventative measures. The commonest infection was malaria (n = 23).
Coexistence of hereditary angioedema and Turner's syndrome
Authors: Fletcher A , Weetman A P 
Published: December 2008

Summary
A 34-year-old woman presented to the out-patient clinic with angioedema and type II hereditary angioedema was confirmed immunologically. She also volunteered she had never had a menstrual period and physical examination identified several features of Turner's syndrome. A mosaic karyotype with XY and XO was found on chromosomal analysis and gonadectomy was performed in view of the high risk of gonadoblastoma. After commencing oestrogen at physiological replacement doses, the patient experienced a marked deterioration in both the severity and frequency of angioedema attacks. Coexistence of hereditary angioedema and Turner's syndrome has not previously been reported and this case highlights the detrimental C1 inhibitor level lowering effect of oestrogen in hereditary angioedema.
Isolated angiitis of central nervous system with pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid
Authors: Ferraz H B , Rolim J A B , Neves A C , Augusto L A F , Andrade F , Rodrigues J F , Stavale J N 
Published: December 2008

Summary
We report the case of a 32-year-old woman with isolated angiitis of the central nervous system. This case shows that high levels of pleocytosis may not rule out isolated angiitis of the central nervous system if this diagnosis can be considered on clinical grounds.
Anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism treated with human chorionic gonadotropin
Authors: Gill G V 
Published: December 2008

Summary
A case is presented of a young competitive body-builder who abused anabolic steroid drugs and developed profound symptomatic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. With the help of prescribed testosterone (Sustanon) he stopped taking anabolic drugs, and later stopped Sustanon also. Hypogonadism returned, but was successfully treated with weekly injections of human chorionic gonadotropin for three months. Testicular function remained normal thereafter on no treatment. The use of human chorionic gonadotropin should be considered in prolonged hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism due to anabolic steroid abuse.
Unravelling the helix—a physician's guide to spiral computed tomography
Authors: Kearney S E , Garvey C J 
Published: December 2008

SummaryThe introduction of spiral technology to computed tomography (CT) scanners in the late 1980s has revolutionised the field of CT. Spiral CT offers definite practical benefits over conventional scanners and has expanded the role of CT through the development of new scanning techniques. CT scanning now rivals magnetic resonance imaging in many areas of investigation, and for some situations is the clear investigation of choice. This review is aimed at those clinicians who have access to spiral scanning services but wish to have a greater understanding of the technique and its clinical applications. The concept of spiral CT, and the differences between spiral and conventional scanning are discussed. The various clinical applications of the technique are illustrated.
Disorders of the sleep–wake cycle in adults
Authors: Sedgwick P M 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Adults have an intrinsic body clock which regulates a complex series of rhythms including sleep and wakefulness, fatigue and cognitive ability. This endogenous clock naturally runs more slowly than the solar day and is entrained to a 24-h rhythm primarily by the alternation of light and darkness. Jet lag, shift-work sleep disorder, and some of the chronic insomnias are caused by a temporal discrepancy of the body clock relative to the surrounding environment and social network. The underlying mechanisms and general management are described. Both bright light and melatonin therapy have potential in the management of these disorders. Traditionally, bright light therapy has been used to alleviate the depression associated with seasonal affective disorder. Melatonin has received much ill-formed publicity, it being claimed that it is a panacea and an ‘antiageing’ treatment. Both of these treatment approaches are reviewed.
Assessment of respiratory muscle function and strength
Authors: Syabbalo N 
Published: December 2008

SummaryMeasurement of respiratory muscle strength is useful in order to detect respiratory muscle weakness and to quantify its severity. In patients with severe respiratory muscle weakness, vital capacity is reduced but is a non-specific and relatively insensitive measure. Conventionally, inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength has been assessed by maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures sustained for 1 s (PImax and PEmax) during maximal static manoeuvre against a closed shutter. However, PImax and PEmax are volitional tests, and are poorly reproducible with an average coefficient of variation of 25%. The sniff manoeuvre is natural and probably easier to perform. Sniff pressure, and sniff transdiaphragmatic pressure are more reproducible and useful measure of diaphragmatic strength. Nevertheless, the sniff manoeuvre is also volition-dependent, and submaximal efforts are most likely to occur in patients who are ill or breathless. Non-volitional tests include measurements of twitch oesophageal, gastric and transdiaphragmatic pressure during bilateral electrical and magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation. Electrical phrenic nerve stimulation is technically difficult and is also uncomfortable and painful. Magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation is less painful and transdiaphragmatic pressure is reproducible in normal subjects. It is a relatively easy test that has the potential to become a widely adopted method for the assessment of diaphragm strength. The development of a technique to measure diaphragmatic sound (phonomyogram) during magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation opens the way for noninvasive assessment of diaphragmatic function.
Phosphate diabetes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: De Lorenzo F , Hargreaves J , Kakkar V V 
Published: December 2008

SummaryPhosphate depletion is associated with neuromuscular dysfunction due to changes in mitochondrial respiration that result in a defect of intracellular oxidative metabolism. Phosphate diabetes causes phosphate depletion due to abnormal renal re-absorption of phosphate be the proximal renal tubule. Most of the symptoms presented by patients with phosphate diabetes such as myalgia, fatigue and mild depression, are also common in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, but this differential diagnosis has not been considered. We investigated the possible association between chronic fatigue syndrome and phosphate diabetes in 87 patients who fulfilled the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. Control subjects were 37 volunteers, who explicitly denied fatigue and chronic illness on a screening questionnaire. Re-absorption of phosphate by the proximal renal tubule, phosphate clearance and renal threshold phosphate concentration were the main outcome measures in both groups. Of the 87 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, nine also fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for phosphate diabetes.In conclusion, we report a previously undefined relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome and phosphate diabetes. Phosphate diabetes should be considered in differential diagnosis with chronic fatigue syndrome; further studies are needed to investigate the incidence of phosphate diabetes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and the possible beneficial effect of vitamin D and oral phosphate supplements.
Cure of hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy by sternotomy and removal of a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma
Authors: Rooney D P , Traub A I , Russell C F J , Hadden D R 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Primary hyperparathyroidism is rarely reported during pregnancy but can cause significant maternal and neonatal morbidity. We report a case of hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy requiring a median sternotomy for resection of a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Surgery resulted in normalisation of serum calcium, resolution of symptoms, and prevented neonatal hypocalcaemia.
Aldosterone excess: a rare non-nephrophathic cause of hypertension in type I diabetes
Authors: Chan N N , Feher M D 
Published: December 2008

Summary
The aetiology of hypertension in type 1 diabetes is commonly due to the presence of diabetic nephrology. A rare case of hypertension in a patient with type 1 diabetes and no proteinuria is reported, where the investigation of borderline hypokalaemia allowed us to make a diagnosis of hyperaldosteronism due to bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia. Secondary causes of hypertension should always be considered in all diabetic patients, particularly in the absence of clinical proteinuria.
Fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia in a patient living in the Mediterranean region
Authors: Büyükaşik Y , Ileri N S , Haznedaroğlu İ C , Demiroğlu H , Dündar S 
Published: December 2008

Summary
A 24 year old woman living in the Mediterranean region of Turkey present with a three-month history of weight loss and irregular fever that was peaking at 40 degrees C with shivering. No definite aetiology could be identified in a local hospital. A bacterial infection had been suspected, but antibiotic therapy, at first with sulbactam-ampicillin and later with azithromycin, had no influence on the fever. Physical examination revealed an emaciated patient with fever (39 degrees C), pallor, and hepatosplenomegaly (spleen 9 cm and liver 5 cm palpable below the costal margin). No peripheral lymphadenopathy was present. The laboratory examinations are summarised in the table. Notably, a prominent increase of macrophages containing intracellular micro-organisms (figures 1 and 2) was seen in the bone marrow smears. The same micro-organisms were also identified within the Kupffer cells in liver biopsy.
Genetic and environmental factors affecting bone mineral density in large families
Authors: Yeap S S , Beaumont M , Bennett A , Keating N A , White D A , Hosking D J 
Published: December 2008

SummaryThis study assessed whether relatives with low bone mineral density (BMD) could be identified in five large families using historical, biochemical, and genetic markers for osteoporosis. Fifty of 65 relatives had their bone density and bone turnover markers measured, together with an assessment of their risk factors for osteoporosis. Only 33% (5/15) of siblings, 50% (6/12) of children and 43% (10/23) of nephews and nieces had entirely normal BMD. There was no difference in life-style risk factors for osteoporosis, history of previous fractures or body mass index between normal subjects and those with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Osteopenic individuals had a significantly higher than normal osteocalcin value. Within families, there was no clear association between BMD and any of the genetic markers (vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, COL 1A1 and COL 1A2 polymorphisms of the collagen gene), either alone or in combination. The addition of genetic markers to the other risk factors for low BMD did not improve the prediction of BMD. In conclusion, we suggest that the presence of osteoporosis in a first degree relative should be one of the clinical indications for bone density measurement as the individuals at risk would not be picked up by other methods.
Time delay to thrombolytic therapy—a Sri Lankan perspective
Authors: Constantine G R , Thenabadu P N 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Reducing the time delay in initiating thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction is critical in maximising the functional and survival benefit. We analysed 120 consecutive admissions for thrombolytic therapy to the Coronary Care Unit. The total delay was divided into prehospital, in-hospital and Coronary Care Unit stages, and the median delays were found to be 130, 70, and 15 minutes, respectively. The delay was significantly longer in patients who sought prehospital medical advice, and when the diagnosis was not made at the emergency treatment unit. Educating at-risk groups and modifying the admission system may help to minimise these delays, while the establishment of an emergency ambulance service with well-trained crew would also improve the prognosis after acute myocardial infarction in Sri Lanka.
Induction training, career counselling, and performance review: views of junior medical staff
Authors: Williams J G , Cheung W Y 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Surveys of senior house officers and registrars were undertaken by postal questionnaire to ascertain views on the need for and content of induction training, career counselling, and performance review. The questionnaire was sent out in May 1990 and repeated in May 1996, after measures had been taken to improve induction training, and assessment and appraisal of trainees. In 1990 there was a clear wish to receive information on career prospects, research and education opportunities, and clinical audit, but more ambivalence regarding information or training in communication, discharge policies, standards, and encoding procedures. There was also a firm view that career counselling could be improved and formal goal setting and performance appraisal interviews would be welcomed. In 1996 there was disappointingly little change in the views expressed by the junior medical staff, though there was a significant increase in confidence in the role of the consultant in career counselling.
An analysis of discharge drug prescribing amongst elderly patients with renal impairment
Authors: Wong N A C S , Jones H W 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Renal impairment is common amongst elderly patients and increases the risk of drug toxicity. Analysis of the discharge summaries of patients discharged from the geratology wards of an Oxfordshire hospital, showed that renal impairment was not referred to in 42% of patients with calculated creatinine clearances of 10–20 ml/min. A fifth of these patients, and 67% of patients with calculated creatinine clearances &lt; 10 ml/min, had discharge drug prescriptions that contradicted the British National Formulary guidelines for prescribing in the presence of renal impairment. There should be increased awareness that, in elderly patients, normal serum creatinine concentrations do not exclude renal impairment and that several commonly prescribed drugs require dose adjustments or should be avoided in the presence of renal insufficiency.
Patterns of injury associated with automobile airbag use
Authors: Mohamed A A , Banerjee A 
Published: December 2008

Summary
The wide use of automobile airbags has undoubtedly reduced the mortality and the incidence of serious injuries from motor vehicle accidents. However, automobile airbags appear to be associated with a variety of injuries including fatal injuries, ocular injuries, upper limb and chest injuries. Further improvements in airbag design together with education of the general public in their use should help reduce airbag-related injuries.
Ursodeoxycholic acid therapy for primary biliary cirrhosis. A 10-year British single-centre population-based audit of efficacy and survival
Authors: Bateson M C , Gedling P 
Published: December 2008

Summary
The effect of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment on survival in primary biliary cirrhosis was studied in 40 patients with symptomatic disease. Two patients developed early exacerbation of symptoms and stopped therapy in days; they are both alive 4 and 4½ years later. The other 38 patients have continued on treatment for up to 10 years. Results were compared with 12 other similar cases previously seen but not given specific therapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that ursodeoxycholic acid treatment was associated with better survival (p &lt;0.05) after the first two years of therapy. Predictors of favourable outcome included histological stage I disease. In 26 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis stage II, III or IV, therapy showed a trend to improved survival, but this was still significantly worse than the general population. Prognosis was not different between these different advanced stages. Symptoms improved in 28 out of 40 patients on ursodeoxycholic acid, but 50% had a recurrence by two years.
Familial cavernous angiomas masquerading as multiple sclerosis
Authors: Dougan C F , Coulthard A , Cartlidge N E F , Burn D J 
Published: December 2008

Summary
We report here two cases of cavernous angioma, in the proband and her father, with quite different clinical presentations. The proband presented with a brainstem syndrome, mimicking multiple sclerosis, while the father had a history of mild epilepsy. Both patients were managed conservatively. The cases also demonstrate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of cavernous angioma.
Hyponatraemia: biochemical and clinical perspectives
Authors: Gill G , Leese G 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Hyponatraemia is a common bio-chemical abnormality, occurring in about 15% of hospital inpatients. It is often associated with severe illness and relatively poor outcome. Pathophysiologically, hyponatraemia may be spurious, dilutional, depletional or redistributional. Particularly difficult causes and concepts of hyponatraemia are the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis and the sick cell syndrome, which are discussed here in detail. Therapy should always be targeted at the underlying disease process. ‘Hyponatraemic symptoms’ are of doubtful importance, and may be more related to water overload and/or the causative disease, than to hyponatraemia per se. Artificial elevation of plasma sodium by saline infusion carries the risk of induction of osmotic demyelination (central pontine myelinolysis).
Short-course ceftriaxone therapy in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Authors: Javid G , Khan B A , Khan B A , Shah A H , Gulzar G M , Khan M A 
Published: December 2008

SummaryForty patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, three of whom had complicating acute hepatitis syndrome, eight late-onset hepatic failure, and 29 with cirrhosis, were treated with ceftriaxone 2 g intravenously once daily for 5 days. Ascitic fluid culture was positive in 28 patients, with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella as common isolates. All the bacteria isolated were sensitive to ceftriaxone except Enterococcus faecalis, which was isolated in a cirrhotic patient. All culture-positive patients sensitive to ceftriaxone showed bacteriological cure and 26 (65%) patients showed cytological cure after 48 hours of treatment. A total of 95% were cured of their infection after 5 days of treatment. Twelve (30%) patients died during hospitalisation after documented cure of their spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (renal failure, gastrointestinal bleed and cerebral oedema were the primary causes of death). Infection-related mortality due to Pseudomonas septicaemia was seen in one cirrhotic patient.
Myasthenic syndrome of snake envenomation: a clinical and neurophysiological study
Authors: Sanmuganathan P S 
Published: December 2008

Summary
In this prospective study, 65 consecutive patients with neurological manifestations after snake envenomation, were examined in order to describe the natural history of the reversible nature of muscle weakness. Snake envenoming led to a completely reversible muscle paralysis involving the external ocular muscles with sparing of the pupils, muscles of mastication, facial muscles, palatal muscles, neck and proximal limb muscles. The deep tendon reflexes were preserved with no sensory abnormalities. The muscular weakness usually set in within an hour of envenomation and lasted up to 10 days, with fatigability lasting for 12 days. Respiratory muscle paralysis led to ventilatory failure needing ventilation in severely envenomed patients. Motor and sensory nerve conduction were normal with normal resting compound motor action potentials on electromyography. Repetitive nerve stimulation gave rise to a decremental response during high frequency stimulation. The edrophonium test gave negative results. These manifestations are due to abnormalities of neuromuscular transmission and are not typical of myasthenia gravis. As the exact pathophysiology of venom-related neurotoxicity is not known, it is suggested that the neurological manifestations of snake envenoming be designated a myasthenic syndrome. Further studies to isolate the neurotoxin and its mechanism and exact site of blocking at the neuromuscular junction would pave the way for the development of a novel long-acting neuromuscular blocking agent.