[Severe encephalopathy after taking a "phytopharmacon" from Vietnam]. / Schwere Enzephalopathie nach Einnahme eines "Phytopharmakons" aus Vietnam.

HISTORY: A 59-year-old woman went into coma after she had taken a phytopharmacon from Vietnamese generally used as an antidiabetic drug to treat her skin disease. INVESTIGATIONS: CT-scans revealed signs of pneumonia and cerebral edema. Severe brain damage was diagnosed by MRI-investigation. By chemical-toxicological analysis of the drug glibenclamide was identified in a concentration of 1.1 mg/g. DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND COURSE: The patient developed severe irreversible encephalopathy. By neurorehabilitative treatment her physical status slightly improved, but she died after 13 months without regaining consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: The cause of losing consciousness remained unclear, however, severe hypoglycaemia following the use of the drug may be taken into account. An urgent warning against the use of such preparations is highly recommended.

[Seasonal variation and influence of atmospheric pressure diurnal fluctuations on occurrence of acute complications in patients with stomach and duodenal ulcer]. / Sezonowosc i wplyw dobowych wahan cisnienia atmosferycznego na wystepowanie ostrych powiklan choroby wrzodowej zoladka i dwunastnicy.

Although there is rich literature concerning seasonal fluctuations of incidence of peptic ulcer, no one can find so many data on acute complications of this disease--bleedings and perforations. There is also only little information saying about the role of meteorological factors that can take part in occurrence of the mentioned complications. This study aimed to analyze the seasonal variation (in calendar months, quarters of the year and calendar seasons--winter, spring, summer, autumn) of peptic ulcer bleeding and perforations as well as the influence of atmospheric pressure diurnal fluctuations on the occurrence of these diseases. The conducted study was retrospective and based on data of patients admitted to III Department of General Surgery of the Jagiellonian University Medical School in Cracow. Altogether, from 1993 to 1997--26 patients with peptic gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding were admitted. 220 bleedings were endoscopically proven (6 patients did not agree for gastroscopy and were excluded from further analysis). 157 patients were treated because of peptic ulcer perforation at the same time and all of them underwent surgical procedure during which perforation was proven. The chi 2 test was used in order to verify our statistic hypothesis (p = 0.05). The examination did not show any significant seasonal variation of the studied complications. Neither hemorrhage nor perforation presented any seasonal prevalence. As for calendar months, quarters and calendar seasons (p > 0.01; p > 0.02; p > 0.02 respectively). However, the study confirmed the role of atmospheric pressure falls in the occurrence of both: bleeding and perforation of peptic ulcer (p < 0.001). 153 patients with bleeding were admitted on days with decreasing pressure, while 67 when pressure was going up. Similarly as for perforations--94 with falling down to 33 with growing up pressure.