Role of MRI in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders

Recently, the assessment of the muscles using limb MRI and whole body MRI has become widely available and more frequent. In cases of muscular dystrophies it may help to select the optimal muscles for biopsy, because the severely atrophic and degenerated muscles are not suitable for histological tests. It is also known that the pattern of muscle involvement is characteristic for a certain neuromuscular disease, and clinically silent muscle damage can be visualized, as well. Therefore, imaging of muscles is helpful in neuromuscular differential diagnosis and planning genetic tests.     

Morphologic and clinical aspects of chronic gastric erosions

Chronic erosions of the stomach are mostly papular lesions of the gastric mucosa with large base, 0.5-1 cm in diameter, often with superficial central depression covered with fibrin, less frequently without it. The typical site of lesion is the antrum the chronic erosions are here manifold, solitary forms are infrequent. In the course of 5694 gastroduodenoscopies the authors observed in 198 patients (5.2%) typical endoscopic picture of chronic erosions. In biopsy samples volcano-type lesions of the mucous membrane characteristic of the disease were found. According to the results the chronic erosions of the stomach are lesions of aspecific symptomatology, the disturbance of the mucosal barrier cannot be made probable. It is important to know the morphological characteristics of the rather frequent independent entity also for separating it from adenomas. Malignant transformation was not found in the material of the authors.     

3.0 T磁共振功能成像诊断乳腺癌的价值研究

目的：评价3.0 T磁共振功能成像在乳腺癌诊断中的应用价值。方法：回顾性分析21例穿刺活检或手术病理证实为乳腺癌的MRI功能成像特征。结果：21例乳腺癌患者中,共检出21个病灶,15例伴腋窝淋巴结转移,3例病灶累及胸肌;病理结果：浸润性导管癌19例,黏液癌1例,浸润性小叶癌1例;病灶边界不清,可见分叶和毛刺征象,T1WI呈稍低、等信号,T2WI＋FS呈稍高、高信号,DWI均为高信号,ADC值为（0.90±0.23）×10^-3;动态增强的时间-信号强度曲线,4例呈“流出型”Ⅲ型曲线,17例呈“平台型”Ⅱ型曲线。结论：3.0T磁共振功能成像对乳腺癌的诊断,尤其病灶数目、大小,胸肌累及、腋窝淋巴结转移有重要价值。     

Autoimmune Pancreatitis in an Asian-dominant American Population

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a rare type of chronic pancreatitis that occurs predominantly in males and was first described in the Asian population. The following study seeks to characterize autoimmune pancreatitis in Hawai‘i''s Asian-dominant population through a retrospective review of 65 pancreaticoduodenectomy cases performed between 2000 and 2010. Three of the 65 pancreaticoduodenectomies were diagnosed with autoimmune pancreatitis, and 3 additional cases were diagnosed prior to surgery. All six patients were males and presented with obstructive jaundice, 5 with weight loss, and 4 with epigastric pain and elevated serum lipase. All six patients showed elevated serum IgG4. Imaging revealed findings typical of pancreatic malignancy: distal bile duct stricture and pancreatic head mass. However, no nodal involvement and vascular invasion were found. In conclusion, autoimmune pancreatitis should be considered in patients presenting with obstructive jaundice. Elevated serum IgG4, normal serum carbohydrate antigen CA19-9, a benign fine needle aspiration/core biopsy, and a therapeutic response to corticosteroid are typical findings of autoimmune pancreatitis. Serum IgG4 measurement is a useful tool to help differentiate autoimmune pancreatitis from most pancreatic cancers. It is important to consider autoimmune pancreatitis as a differential diagnosis of pancreatic malignancy to avoid unnecessary surgery.     

Pathohistological changes in endomyocardial biopsy specimens in patients with myotonic dystrophy

BACKGROUND: Endomyocardial biopsies in patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) have, so far, shown changes such as myofibrillar degeneration, mitochondrial abnormalities, focal myocarditis, fibrosis and fatty infiltration of the myocardium and the conduction system. METHODS: This study presents the results of endomyocardial biopsy in 10 patients with MD. Endomyocardial biopsy was carried out using King's bioptome. RESULTS: In two patients with servere MD biopsy specimens showed changes compatible with border line myocarditis. In five patients with moderate to severe forms of MD fibrosis and fatty infiltration of the myocardium were found in addition to degenerative changes and hypertrophy of muscle fibers. Three patients with mild MD had non-specific degenerative and hypertrophic myocardial changes. The histological changes described above were present in patients without cardiological symptoms and in those with normal ECG and echocardiographic findings. Only two of the 10 patients in whom endomyocardial biopsy was done complained of fatigue and occasional palpitations while the rest were asymptomatic. One patient with focal myocarditis had ECG signs of left bundle branch block and echocardiographic evidence of reduced left ventricular contractility. Five patients with signs of endomyocardial fibrosis only had an abnormal Q wave on ECG recordings. The remaining five patients with border line myocarditis i.e. with degenerative and hypertrophic myocardial changes had normal ECG and echocardiographic findings. CONCLUSIONS: These results stress the significance of endomyocardial biopsy in detecting myocardial pathologic changes in patients with MD.     

Effects of overfeeding in children with muscle dystrophies

In muscle dystrophies as in other muscle-wasting diseases and states, a progressive loss of muscle protein occurs, probably as a result of an imbalance between muscle protein synthesis and degradation. In the present study we examined whether this progressive muscle wasting and reduced functional capacity so damaging to patients with muscular dystrophies, can be reduced or even reversed by nightly overfeeding with 1000 ml of Osmolite in addition to the voluntary daytime dietary intake. In the Duchenne muscle dystrophy (DMD) group (six patients) body weight increased significantly accompanied by a 14% increase in midarm muscle circumference with only minimal changes in triceps skin fold, indicating a relative build up of muscle mass. In the congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) group (four patients) no changes occurred in body weight or any of the three anthropometric measurements performed. Baseline nitrogen balance was mildly positive in both groups and improved significantly in the DMD group during the 3-month experimental period of refeeding, with no changes in urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion, suggesting improved muscle protein synthesis with no change in muscle protein degradation. No changes were detected in hematological and biochemical parameters, liver function tests, pulmonary function tests, or a general activity index during the study period. Our results suggest that a reduced rate of protein synthesis rather than an increased rate of protein degradation occur in muscle dystrophies, and that overfeeding might offer promising nutritional effects, at least in DMD patients.     

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in patients with cryoglobulinemia complicating hepatitis C virus: report of 11 cases

BACKGROUND: Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in patients with cryoglobulinemia complicating hepatitis C virus have yet been reported. Although, it remains controversial, antiviral treatment seems to be able to improve the outcome of glomerulonephritis. AIM: The objectives of the study were to analyze characteristics of this association and to report literature data and newness treatment. METHODS: It's a retrospective study including 11 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, hepatitis C virus and mixed cryoglobulinemia. Hepatitis C virus antibodies was identified by ELISA technique. Hepatitis C virus genotype was identified in one patient. Cryoglobulins were isolated from sera of all patients at 37 degrees Celsius. RESULTS: Patients were 3 men and 8 women with a mean age of 51.9 +/- 15.5 years. Between the 11 patients, 7 had hypertension, 9 had nephrotic syndrome and 10 had chronic renal failure. Renal biopsy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis lesions in all cases with fibrinoid thrombi in 8 cases. Six patients had chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy was performed in 4 patients, showing histological feature compatible with chronic active hepatitis in 2 cases. No patient had antiviral therapy. Renal failure was stable in 5 cases and progressed in 6 cases with end stage renal failure in 3 of them. One patient died, 4 months after diagnosis, because of severe pulmonary involvement in cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. In literature, treatment is dominated by antiviral therapy composed first by Interferon Alpha alone. Combination therapy associating Interferon and Ribavirin was recently used in renal involvement; it is clearly more effective than interferon alpha alone. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C virus detection should be performed when membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is associated with cryoglobulinemia. Antiviral treatment should be more widely used in Tunisia to evaluate his effect on renal involvement     

肢带型肌营养不良2B型七例临床与病理分析

目的 分析肢带型肌营养不良2B型（LGMD2B）临床与分子病理学特点.方法 回顾性分析7例LGMD2B患者的临床和骨骼肌活检病理资料.结果 7例患者均缓慢起病,表现肢体近端肌无力、肌萎缩,进行性加重,血肌酸激酶增高;肌活检病理检查均有不同程度的肌纤维变性、坏死,间质和肌纤维内炎性细胞浸润;单克隆抗体免疫组织化学染色：肌细胞膜未见Dysferlin蛋白表达,Dystrophin、Sarcoglycans蛋白均表达正常.单克隆抗体免疫组织化学染色细胞膜上述蛋白均表达正常.结论 LGMD2B缓慢起病,进行性肢体近端肌无力、肌萎缩.组织化学染色基础上进一步行免疫组织化学染色,判断其膜蛋白尤其Dysferlin蛋白表达情况,是确诊LGMD2B及与炎性肌病鉴别的必要手段.     

Saphenous neuropathy due to large hydatid cyst within long adductor muscle: case report and literature review

An unusual case of saphenous neuropathy secondary to compression by a large hydatid cyst within the adductor longus muscle is reported. Solitary hydatid cyst(s) localized in the skeletal muscles occur rarely and often mimic soft tissue tumours. Presentation with signs of peripheral nerve compression by a hydatid cyst in an extremity is exceedingly rare. Diagnosis can be established by ultrasound, computerized tomography or magnetic resonance if clinically suspected. Clinical suspicion of hydatid origin of a solitary muscle cyst should be high especially in patients hailing from areas endemic for echinococcosis. Laboratory tests are usually unhelpful in such cases and needle biopsy carries the risk of anaphylactic shock and should therefore be avoided. Surgical removal of the unruptured cyst is the treatment of choice in cases of intramuscular hydatid cyst. In the present case, excision of the hydatid cyst was followed by complete clinical recovery. In the absence of systemic involvement, treatment with albendazole may be avoided.     

The Hypothalamus and Neuroendocrine Pathology

Understanding of primary hypothalamic or CNS involvement in endocrine disorders began with detailed study of cases in which a histologically normal pituitary gland could be demonstrated and has been enhanced as synthesis of some releasing factors made it possible to test the integrity of the complex neuroendocrine control system. The second of two articles emphasizes that the picture is still far from complete.     

Screening tests for diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy presenting as prolonged fever

During a two years period, 16 cases having cervical lymphadenopathy presenting as prolonged fever were studied in Abbassia fever hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Patients were subjected to careful history, thorough clinical examination, complete blood picture, tuberculin test, chest x-ray, Monospot test, indirect fluorescent antibody test for toxoplasmosis, detection of cytomegalovirus antibodies and lymph node biopsy with histopathological examination. Ten within normal subjects were taken as controls. The patients were grouped on histopathological basis into 5 groups: (1) One (6%) of the cases was non-specific lymphadenitis diagnosed by clinical examination of the scalp and leucocytosis with polymorphonuclear predominance. (2) Reactive lymphadenitis included 6 (38%) of the cases. Infectious mononucleosis cases were diagnosed by clinical triad of fever, pharyngitis and cervical lymphadenopathy, relative lymphocytosis, monocytosis and positive monospot test. Cytomegalovirus case was diagnosed by lymphocytosis, monocytosis and negative monospot test. Toxoplasmosis cases were diagnosed by monocytosis, negative tuberculin test and positive indirect fluorescent antibody test. (3) Granulomatous lymphadenitis comprised 6 (3%) of the cases. Tuberculous cases were diagnosed by high ESR and highly positive tuberculin test. Sarcoidosis cases were diagnosed by negative tuberculin test and presence of hilar lymphadenopathy. (4) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma case (6%) was diagnosed by clinical deterioration and total lymph node biopsy. 15) Systemic infections were diagnosed by clinical examination, blood culture for salmonellae and brucellae, Widal and Brucella agglutination tests. It is concluded from this study that screening tests are important aids in the diagnosis of cases of cervical lymphadenopathy presenting by prolonged fever especially if lymph node biopsy and histopathological examination are not available or contraindicated. Tub     

Renal complications of multiple myeloma

In connection with the analyses of 84 post-mortem examinations (47 men, 37 women, average age: 66.3 years) the author dealt with the renal complications of multiple myeloma. The signs of cylinder nephropathy, light-chain nephropathy, amyloidosis, nephrocalcinosis, urate nephropathy, acute renal insufficiency, renal vein thrombosis, acute and chronic pyelonephritis as well as the tumorous infiltration of the renal tissue have been sought for. The severity of the lesions were ranged into minimal, slight, moderate, and severe groups. On the basis of the semiquantitative morphological picture and the clinical data: 1. intact kidney (41 patients), 2. involvement of the kidney without azotemia (10 patients), 3. involvement of the kidney with azotemia (17 patients, serum creatinine level: greater than 177 mumol/l) and 4. renal involvement with chronic renal insufficiency associated with uremia (16 patients) were discerned. In the background of 33 cases (39%) with deteriorated renal function cylinder nephropathy was found most frequently (27 occasions) (32%). Every other complication occurred significantly less frequently e.g. amyloidosis or kappa-light-chain nephropathy occurred in 3 cases each.     

高峰发病年龄女性外阴营养不良发生的相关因素研究

目的:研究高峰发病年龄女性外阴营养不良发生的相关危险因素。方法:以40～60岁之间经病理活检确诊的外阴营养不良患者87例作为病例组,以非外阴营养不良患者98例为对照组,分析外阴营养不良的发生与工作生活环境、饮食习惯、卫生习惯、疾病情况、妇女月经史及生育史等因素之间关系。结果:过敏体质、饮食习惯中偏咸辣烫、生活习惯中喜久坐、洗衣粉洗涤内裤及白带色黄等可能是外阴营养不良发生的危险因素(OR>1),而个性开朗、饮食偏素和喜食猪肝等可能是外阴营养不良的保护性因素(OR<1)。结论:过敏体质、不合理饮食习惯、卫生生活习惯及反复阴道炎等与女性外阴营养不良的发生关系较大。     

Raised creatine-kinase serum activity: not necessarily a sign of disease

Hyper-creatine-kinase(CK)-aemia in patients without neurological abnormalities may be sign of a subclinical neuromuscular disorder. Initial screening of patients with hyper-CK-aemia must include careful history taking and a neurological examination. Appropriate blood tests to exclude aeanthocytosis and glycogen storage disease type II must be done. The diagnostic value of a skeletal muscle biopsy and electromyography is small. A muscle biopsy to exclude dystrophinopathy is indicated if the CK activity exceeds 5 times the upper limit of the normal range. If the results of initial screening are normal, patients with idiopathic hyper-CK-aemia fare quite well at 7-year follow-up. Also, standardized exercise tests in these patients have provided no evidence of increased muscle vulnerability. Thus, in most of these patients, hyper-CK-aemia probably does not reflect disease.     

Clinical, socio-demographic, neurophysiological and neuropsychiatric evaluation of children with volatile substance addiction

BACKGROUND: Abuse of organic volatile substances in children has become a social health problem that is increasing in the recent years. Among these substances, toluene is highly preferred by abusers because of its euphoric effect, cheapness and easy availability. There is no published research on the clinical and neurophysiological evaluation of children with short-term volatile substance addiction. METHODS: In this study, socio-demographic characteristics were questioned in 12 children with a mean age of 15 years and a duration of toluene abuse for a mean of 2.3 years, and the clinical characteristics of central and peripheral nervous system damage caused by volatile substances, particularly by toluene were analysed, and probable neurological disorders were investigated by means of neurophysiological and neuropsychological tests. All tests were compared with a control group. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of the children included in the study had pathological findings in the neurological examination. There was pyramidal involvement in 25% and peripheral nerve involvement in 33.3% of the cases. Evaluation of the cognitive functions revealed 33.3% pathology in the 'Short Test of Mental Status' which assesses functions of orientation, attention, learning, arithmetic calculation, abstraction, information, construction and recall. Sensorial polyneuropathy was found in 33.3% of the cases in nerve conduction studies. Somatosensory-evoked potentials revealed pathology in 16.7% of the cases and brainstem-evoked potentials in 50% of the cases. No pathology was observed in electroencephalography and visual-evoked potentials. CONCLUSION: In our study, neurophysiological and neuropsychiatric tests revealed that toluene causes slow progressive, clinical and subclinical central and peripheral nerve damage. In Turkey, because of cheapness, easy availability and legal use of volatile substances, the clinical extent of systemic and neurological toxicity of volatile substance abuse is increasing. Abuse of volatile substances, a currently increasing social issue, may create important physical problems which can be permanent.     

Evaluation of the accuracy of inferior petrosal sinus sampling in the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome

The differentiation of adrenocorticotropic hormone producing pituitary adenoma (Cushing's disease) from the ectopic ACTH syndrome is always a complex and difficult task, and in rare cases it is not possible to differentiate between the two disorders, even with the use of dynamic endocrine tests and the most advanced imaging techniques. Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) with subsequent ACTH measurements became the gold-standard method of the differential diagnostic process. 34 patients with ACTH dependent Cushing's syndrome in whom the source of ACTH secretion couldn't be identified unambiguously with imaging techniques and/or dynamic endocrine tests underwent altogether 41 IPSS between 1999 and 2005. The sensitivity of the method was calculated on the basis of 31 samplings of 25 patients who had definite endocrinological diagnosis confirmed by the recovery from Cushing's syndrome after surgical intervention and/or by histological examinations (22 patients with ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma and 3 patients with ectopic ACTH syndrome). As a result of IPSS, pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease was diagnosed with a baseline central to peripheral ACTH ratio of >2.0 or with a ratio of >3.0 after corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) administration. IPSS correctly identified ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma in 20 of 28 sampling procedures, with a sensitivity of 71.4%. Three patients had true negative and 8 had false negative results. There was no false positive result. Four of the 8 patients with false negative first sampling had a repeat sampling procedure leading to true positive result in each patient. In patients with Cushing's disease having true positive interventions, the basal and 5 minutes post-CRH ACTH concentrations were diagnostic in 14 and 19 cases, respectively. The sensitivity of IPSS within this series, reported for the first time from Hungary, was lower than it was found in much larger series published in international literature. In addition to technical difficulties, the lower sensitivity can be accounted also for the highly selected nature of the patient group.     

七例泌尿系子宫内膜异位症的诊治分析

目的探讨泌尿系子宫内膜异位症（UTE）的临床诊疗方法。方法回顾性分析7例病理结果证实为UTE患者的临床资料。7例患者平均年龄为36．5岁;2例经膀胱镜下取病理确诊,另5例均经术中及术后病理证实。内分泌辅助治疗下2例行开放膀胱部分切除术,1例行膀胱段输尿管切除＋输尿管再植术,4例行输尿管狭窄段切除＋端端吻合术。结果7例患者均被确诊为UTE,其中2例膀胱子宫内膜异位,4例输尿管子宫内膜异位,1例输尿管及膀胱均有子宫内膜异位;术后患者恢复良好,随访2-3年,均未复发。结论UTE临床较为少见,易误诊,异位组织的完整切除并内分泌辅助治疗是此病的主要治疗方法,手术方式的选择应参考病变位置、范围、深度等。     

管状胃技术在26例食管、贲门癌根治术中的应用分析

目的 评价管状胃技术在食管、贲门癌根治术中的临床应用效果.方法 选取2007年1月至2010年6月收治的食管、贲门癌患者50例,按采取的手术方法不同分为管状胃组(26例)和胸腔胃组(24例).管状胃组中食管癌21例,贲门癌5例;术中左颈部吻合1例,主动脉弓上吻合11例,主动脉弓下吻合9例,贲门癌根治5例.胸腔胃组食管癌20例,贲门癌4例;术中左颈部吻合1例,主动脉弓上吻合11例,主动脉弓下吻合8例,贲门癌根治4例.观察两组患者手术后吻合口瘘发生率、手术时间、术后住院时间等临床指标.结果 两组患者均顺利完成手术,两组均无吻合口瘘发生.胸腔胃组术后发生肺部感染气管切开3例,死亡1例.管状胃组与胸腔胃组手术时间分别为(175±11)、(182±6)min,术后住院时间分别为(16.8±9.8)、(17.0±11.3)d,差异均无统计学意义(t=1.556,P=0.072;t=1.495,P=0.068).结论 管状胃在食管癌手术中并发症发生率较低,不增加手术时间和住院时间,可改善患者的生活质量,具有较好的临床应用价值.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of gastric tube in radical operation for patients with esophageal or cardial carcinoma. Methods From January 2007 to June 2010,50 patients with esophageal or cardial carcinoma were enrolled. Based on surgical methods, they were divided into the gastric tube group (26 cases) and the traditional way group (24 cases). Among the gastric tube group, 21 patients had esophageal carcinoma,and the other 5 patients had cardial carcinoma,and 1 patient was treated with anastomosis in the left neck, 11 patients with anastomosis in upper aortic arch,9 patients with anastomosis in lower aortic arch and 5 cardial carcinoma patients underwent radical resection. Among the traditional way group, 20 patients had esophageal carcinoma,and the other 4 patients had cstdial carcinoma, 1 patient wastreated with anastomosis in the left neck, 11 patients with anastomosis in upper aortic arch, 8 patients with anastomosis in lower aortic arch and 4 cardial carcinoma patients underwent radical resection. The rate of anastomotic leakage, operation time, and length of stay in hospital of the two groups were observed. Results All surgeries were successfully performed. There was no anastomotic leakage case in the two groups, while there were 3 cases pulmonary infection and 1 case death in the traditional way group. There was no statistical difference in operation time [(175 ± 11) min vs. (182±6) min, t = 1.556, P = 0.072] and length of stay in hospital [(16.8 ±9.8) d vs.(17.0 ± 11.3) d,t = 1.495,P= 0.068] between the gastric tube group and the traditional way group. Conclusion Gastric tube has good value in clinical application with fewer complications and without prolonging operation and hospitalization time, which can surely ameliorate quality of life.     

Prophylactic thyroidectomy in children who are carriers of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 mutation: description of 20 cases and recommendations based on the literature

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of treatment of children who are proven carriers of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)-associated rearranged during transfection (RET) gene mutation. DESIGN: Retrospective case study and review of the literature. METHOD: Between 1976 and 2005, 6 boys and 14 girls with a proven RET mutation or biochemical indication of MEN 2 had thyroid surgery at the University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands. The median age was 10 years (range: 0-08). Preoperative assessment, surgical procedure, pathological findings, postoperative complications and treatment results were studied and compared with data from the literature. RESULTS: All 20 children underwent total thyroidectomy. In 17 children with preoperatively abnormal basal or stimulated calcitonin levels, total thyroidectomy was combined with tracheo-oesophageal exploration (n = 6) or central compartment dissection (n = 11). C-cell hyperplasia was found in 19 cases (95%) and medullary thyroid carcinoma in 14 (70%; aged 3-18 years). Lymph-node metastases were found in 3 children (15%), all over the age of 10. They underwent additional selective lateral neck dissection, unilateral in 2 cases and bilateral in 1. Two children developed hypoparathyroidism postoperatively, no recurrent laryngeal-nerve palsy was observed. All patients are clinically free of disease after a median follow-up of 9 years (range: 0.6-27). The patients with node metastases still have biochemical evidence of disease. The literature indicates that the progression of the malignant transformation to medullary thyroid carcinoma is connected to the type of RET-mutation. The treatment plan depends on the type of mutation. CONCLUSION: Medullary thyroid cancer occurs at a very young age in carriers ofgermline RET mutations. In patients with high-risk mutations prophylactic thyroidectomy is likely to be recommended before the child reaches the age of 2. Elective central lymph-node dissection can be omitted in this instance. After this age, however, the risk of lymph-node metastases increases and, for cases with increased basal or stimulated calcitonin levels, total thyroidectomy with central compartment dissection is indicated.     

Acute effects of carbofuran in workers of two pesticide plants

This paper investigates the acute effects of carbofuran in workers of two pesticide-formulating plants. Mean airborne carbofuran concentrations ranged from 0.025 to 1.115 mg/m3 in plant A and from 0.018 to 0.067 mg/m3 in plant B, respectively. In workers of plant A the post-shift blood cholinesterase activity was significantly reduced, compared to pre-shift values. No difference in blood cholinesterase activity was found between pre- and post-shift values in workers of plant B. During the investigation, 25 cases of acute carbofuran poisoning were diagnosed by their clinical picture and depressed cholinesterase activity in blood. Usual symptoms included dizziness, weakness, blurred vision, nausea and sweating. Pallor, epigastric pain, vomiting and chest tightness occurred only in a few cases. Myosis was recorded in 24 cases. Fasciculation of muscle gastrocnemius induced by percussion was found in 6 cases, and four of them had also fasciculation of muscle orbicularis oculi. Inhibition of cholinesterase activity in the blood was related with the clinical features; however, the inhibition was rapidly reversible. In most cases, recovery was complete within 2-3 hours, with or without atropine treatment, after the subjects were removed from exposure. Rapid onset, mild illness and quick recovery are typical characteristics of occupational acute carbofuran poisoning.