[Cat scratch pneumonia: a case report]. / Un caso di polmonite secondaria a graffio di gatto.

Pasteurella multocida infections can be caused by scratches or bites of many animals including pets. An unrecognized infection can lead to severe complications such as arthritis, osteomyelitis, respiratory infections and even meningitis or endocarditis. We present the case of a woman affected by soft tissue infection caused by Pasteurella multocida complicated by bacteremia and pneumonia.

[Intra-articular treatment with Hylan G-F 20 under ultrasound guidance in hip osteoarthritis. Clinical results after 12 months follow-up]. / Terapia intra-articolare con acido ialuronico (Hylan G-F 20) sotto guida ecografica nell'artrosi dell'anca. Risultati clinici a 12 mesi.

Hip is a site very commonly affected by osteoarthritis (OA), yet few data exist in literature regarding intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid in this pathology. We evaluated the efficacy of Hylan G-F 20 hip viscosupplementation performed under ultrasound guidance. We enrolled 26 patients affected by symptomatic hip OA and treated them with a single intraarticular injection of Hylan G-F 20, which could be repeated every two months. The injection was performed under ultrasound guidance with an antero-superior approach. Treatment efficacy was assessed through Lequesne index, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain quantification, and NSAID intake at the timepoint zero (baseline), and after 2, 6 and 12 months. We observed a statistically significant reduction of all considered parameters at the timepoints 2 and 6 months, when compared to baseline. At 12 months the changes were still statistically significant for all parameters for about 50% of the patients. No side effect was observed, nor systemic complication. Viscosupplementation is a promising approach for hip OA, although further and wider studies are wanted to determine how long the beneficial effect lasts, and what is the optimal number of injections to administer.

Dopamine release in striatal slices of rats previously submitted to electroconvulsive shock.

The effects of single and repeated electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on the release of dopamine from rat striatal slices were investigated using the fractional release technique. Experiments were performed 24 h after the single or the last of seven ECS sessions. Repeated, but not single, ECS was associated with reduced dopamine release in response to chemical stimulation. These results suggest that repeated ECS affects the regulation of striatal dopamine presynaptic receptors.

An assessment of the main metabolic variables of cardiovascular risk in a sample population of workers in Rome.

BACKGROUND: The last few years have seen an increased necessity to assess the cardiovascular risk factors on large samples of the population in Italy. A look at the citizens of a small rural town Brisighella is well known. METHODS: Three hundred and five individuals of average age 40.8 years (+/-8.22), recruited between September 1988 and December 1989 (198 men, 107 women) were taken into consideration. Clinical and instrumental investigations were then performed (intern visits with data obtained from primary anthropometric, otorhinolaryngological and ocular variables, heart X-ray, electrocardiogram). The following analyses were also performed: haemochrome, ESR, uricemia, azotemia, glycemia, AST, ALT, bilirubinemia, protein electrophoresis, triglyceridemia, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, creatinine level and urine analysis. Women also received PAP-test. Another variable was lifestyle habits which may be considered a risk for cardiovascular disease. Hygienic and diet suggestions were made. After seven years, in 1997, 100 of these individuals (51 men, 49 women - mean age 42.7+/-6.5 years) were chosen at random and administered the same clinical and laboratory examinations as before. RESULTS: The analysis of the data show average BMI values 24.07+/-2.7 in men and 22.8+/-2.6 in women, inferior to those found in other Italian investigations. We observed an increase of BMI along with age, despite measures of preventive medicine, in married subjects and along with education and occupation level. Mean values of cholesterol level in men increased between the ages 30 and 39 and stabilised after 40 years; in women they increased only after the 5th decade of life. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a direct correlation between the increase of uricemia and triglyceride levels, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, BMI and triglyceride levels conferming the tight bond among these metabolisms and the importance of obesity as a risk factor. Uricemia levels correlate with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Life habits and cardiovascular risk in a group of bank employees in Rome.

BACKGROUND: For the past thirty years, many countries, especially the USA, have been performing clinical and laboratory studies to establish the most prominent disease risk factors, in particular those involved in cardiovascular diseases. The main aim of these studies is to reduce disease related risks by intervening at an early age. METHODS: We studied 305 patients, 198 males and 107 females, all employees in Rome, mean age 40.8 years (+/- 8.22), enrolled from September 1988 to December 1989. We measured the main anthropometric parameters and performed otolaryngologic and ocular examination, a telecardiogram and an EKG; the following analyses were performed: hemochrome, ESR uric acid, azotemia, glycemia, AST, ALT, gamma GT, bilirubinemia, proteic electrophoresis, triglyceridemia, total cholesterolemia, HDL cholesterolemia, creatinine, urine examination, Pap-Test for women. Lifestyle habits that might be considered cardiovascular disease risk factors were considered and hygienic eating habits were suggested. Seven years later, in 1997, 100 of these patients were randomly selected (51 man and 49 women) and underwent the same clinical and laboratory tests as before. RESULTS: The results suggest a deep correlation between lifestyles and the increase of some cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe that this study can be of some help in guiding future preventive medicine interventions that may be carried out on this population sample.

Spondylodiscitis and infective endocarditis: case studies and review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: This study evaluated the association between infective endocarditis and infective spondylodiscitis and its clinical features. OBJECTIVES: To report case studies of patients with spondylodiscitis complicating infective endocarditis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Early diagnosis of infective endocarditis as the source of the spondylodiscitis is often difficult because clinical and radiologic patterns are similar to those present in spondylodiscitis alone. METHODS: The case records of the patients with infective endocarditis admitted to our Department from 1991-1998 were reviewed. The diagnosis of spondylodiscitis was made on the basis of clinical features and of typical radiologic signs. RESULTS: Among 30 patients affected by infective endocarditis, three also were affected by spondylodiscitis. All patients fully recovered after appropriate antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients with spondylodiscitis, infective endocarditis should be excluded, particularly in patients with a history of heart valve disease.

Intermittent left anterior hemiblock. A rare case report.

The Authors report a rare case of intermittent left anterior hemiblock in a 86-year-old man admitted to Department of Emergency Medicine for progressive impoverishment of intellectual functions and episodes of chest pain. They present this rare case of intermittent left anterior hemiblock where the intermittence was not linked to heart rate variations preceding the beginning of the hemiblock being present on the same ECG two different QRS complexes with no modification in frequency or A-V conduction: this finding suggesting a vascular origin of the disturbance. They also stress the importance of a prompt diagnosis in a Department of Emergency Medicine.

[Guidelines for the management of hypertensive crises and simple blood pressure rise. Literature review and clinical experience]. / Linee guida della terapia delle crisi ipertensive e dei rialzi pressori. Rassegna della letteratura ed esperienza personale.

Hypertension is a common clinical problem in the Emergency Department. Beside homologated therapeutical approaches it is necessary in primis to consider the problem in a clinical context and in an appropriate nosographic scheme in order to provide a rational approach to the treatment. In this paper the authors review the nosographic and therapeutical approaches previously reported in literature and then state their proposals derived by their daily experience at the Emergency Department. In authors' opinion it is of primary importance to distinguish between hypertensive crises and simple blood pressure rise. For this end it seems useful to define four syndromic classes: A. Real Hypertensive Crises: 1-Hypertensive Emergencies, 2-Hypertensive Urgencies. B. Simple Blood Pressure Rise: 1-Stable Uncomplicated Hypertension, 2-Transient Hypertension. According to this classification the majority of patients referring to Emergencies Departments for elevated blood pressure can be included in the last two classes. The authors suggest a step-by-step approach to the treatment beginning with benzodiazepines, loop diuretics, beta-blockers or clonidine or ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers; In an elevated percentage of cases benzodiazepines alone are effective in appropriately lowering blood pressure.

[Management programs for elderly patients with chronic heart failure]. / Programmi di gestione dell'anziano con scompenso cardiaco cronico.

PURPOSE: Most patients with heart failure are elderly with multiple coexisting diseases and heart failure is the most common discharge diagnosis in elderly hospitalized patients. Despite major advances in the pharmacotherapy of heart failure, hospitalization rates remain high, owing in large part to a multitude of psychosocial, behavioral, and financial factors that serve as barriers to effective compliance with prescribed treatment. In the last decade, several models have been proposed in order to optimise the long-term management of elderly patients with heart failure. DESIGN: A review of most significant and recent models available was performed. RESULTS: Several studies have documented the efficacy of specialized multidisciplinary heart failure disease management programs in terms of reducing hospital utilization, improving quality of life, functional capacity, patient satisfaction, compliance with diet and medications and decreasing cost of care. CONCLUSIONS: At present, the greatest challenge in managing elderly heart failure patients is to more effectively implement proven treatments and disease management systems.

Infective endocarditis from Enterococcus faecalis complicating colonoscopy in Heyde's syndrome.

A case of infective endocarditis from Enterococcus faecalis after colonoscopy in a patient with aortic stenoinsufficiency and bleeding intestinal angiodysplasia (Heyde's syndrome) is reported.A 77 year old man with aortic stenoinsufficiency presented with enterorrhagia and underwent a colonoscopy, which showed normal findings. Fifteen days later he developed a moderate degree of fever. Blood cultures were positive for E faecalis. An echocardiogram showed aortic valve vegetations, and infective endocarditis was diagnosed and successfully treated by antibiotics. Some months later, intestinal bleeding recurred and intestinal resection was performed. Histopathology showed angiodysplasia. In patients with Heyde's syndrome antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered before colonoscopy.

Electroconvulsive shock blocks the opioid-mediated inhibition of dopamine release in rat striatal slices.

The fractional release technique was applied to investigate the effects of single electroshock (ECS) on the opioid-mediated inhibition of dopamine release in rat striatal slices. Animals were submitted to ECS 24h before the experiments. The results demonstrate that pre-treatment with ECS suppresses the inhibition of dopamine release mediated by kappa opioid receptors. These data suggest that single ECS treatment modifies the sensitivity of the kappa opioid receptors located on the presynatic dopamine terminals in the rat striatum.

Left ventricular diastolic function in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess left ventricular diastolic function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to verify if a "primary" diastolic dysfunction might exist. METHODS: In total 124 patients and 41 healthy subjects underwent complete echocardiographic examination. The following pulsed wave Doppler variables were evaluated: peak velocity during early filling (E), peak velocity during late atrial filling (A), E/A ratio, and early filling deceleration time. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients (62.1%) had conditions potentially affecting left ventricular diastolic function (Group A) and 47 patients (37.9%) formed a homogeneous group without cardiac involvement or other causes of abnormal diastolic function (i.e., systemic and/or pulmonary hypertension, ventricular hypertrophy, pericardial disease, systolic dysfunction, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease) (Group B). The entire SSc population and Group A showed significant differences in the Doppler variables of diastolic function compared to the control group. No significant differences were found between Group B and controls. CONCLUSION: In patients with SSc, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was found only in patients with conditions potentially affecting left ventricular diastolic function. In patients without conditions potentially affecting left ventricular diastolic function no differences were seen in comparison with controls. SSc does not seem to cause "primary" diastolic abnormalities.