Bradycardia related to hypoglycaemia.

Alterations in blood glucose levels are known to be involved in electrocardiogram changes. Various types of arrhythmias have been reported. We present here the case of an 81-year-old woman presenting with transient atrial fibrillation while being treated for hypoglycaemia with dextrose infusion, and finally developing a sinus rhythm. The presence of alterations in glucose blood levels should always be considered as a potential cause of transient atrial fibrillation.     

颅内脑池显微解剖研究

目的通过对国人脑池显微解剖的研究,以指导显微神经外科手术和进一步理解影像学解剖的重要临床意义和应用价值。方法对15具经福尔马林固定的国人成年头颅标本的颅内各个脑池进行显微解剖研究,测量和描述各脑池的位置、大小、形态及结构。结果颅内重要的脑池有(1)嗅池:长度为(32.68±2.97)mm,宽度为(7.18±1.82)mm,深度为(7.20±1.27)mm;(2)视交叉池:侧壁长度为(14.88±3.07)mm,上表面前壁长(14.20±1.47)mm,后壁长(10.37±1.59)mm;(3)颈内动脉池:长度为(15.06±3.07)mm,宽度为(12.01±1.32)mm;(4)终板池:底边左侧长度为(8.99±1.15)mm,右侧长度为(21.00±1.09)mm,最大宽径为(16.42±2.58)mm;(5)脚间池:最大深度为(19.47±2.28)mm,池顶宽度为(11.35±2.85)mm;(6)脚池:为三角形,三边长度分别为(10.48±2.56)mm,(9.64±1.78)mm,(3.58±0.25)mm;(7)外侧裂池:上部长度为(18.63±2.02)mm,基底部长度为(38.08±3.22)mm,宽度为(5.65±0.92)mm,深度为(7.02±2.28)mm;(8)胼胝体池:平均最大宽径为(3.44±0.40)mm;(9)四叠体池:最大长径为(19.37±3.38)mm,最大宽径为(15.24±2.37)mm,最大前后径为(3.65±0.57)mm;(10)环池:为环形,最大宽度为(3.16±0.37)mm;(11)小脑延髓池:最大长度为(18.77±1.77)mm,最大宽度为(32.4     

Rupture of a submitral ventricular aneurysm into the left atrium diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography.

Submitral ventricular aneurysm is a thoroughly studied pathology but is not well known due to its rarity. Clinically, it is manifested by symptoms and signs of heart failure, mitral regurgitation and/or ventricular arrhythmias, and may be associated with thromboembolic phenomena and myocardial ischemia due to compression of the coronary arteries by the aneurysm. A rare complication of this type of aneurysm is rupture into the left atrium. Transthoracic echocardiography plays an important role in the definitive diagnosis of this pathology, although the role of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of these patients is less known. We report a case of a submitral ventricular aneurysm complicated by rupture into the left atrium, which was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography.     

The usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism]

Three cases with suspected pulmonary artery embolism are presented, in which transesophageal echocardiography showed a mass in the right pulmonary artery consistent with thrombus. The relevant diagnostic contributions of transesophageal echocardiography are discussed.     

Severe hypoxemia due to a right-left shunt at the level of the foramen ovale. A complication of right ventricular infarct]

A 76-year-old woman with an inferior wall myocardial infarction, with right ventricular involvement, developed severe arterial hypoxemia with neurological involvement. Pulmonary edema or embolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were ruled-out, and a right-to-left shunt was demonstrated by contrast echocardiography at the level of the foramen ovale. After inotropic support and oxygen supplementation, the patient recovered, although with significant neurological sequelae. No focal lesions were detected in the central nervous system by computerized tomography. Hypoxemia improved, coinciding with the disappearance of right-to-left shunt by contrast echocardiography.     

Captopril + hydrochlorothiazide versus captopril + nifedipine in the treatment of arterial hypertension in diabetes mellitus type II]

Captopril is a suitable drug to treat high blood pressure in diabetic patients. This Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI) is a vasodilator without tachycardia and saline retention. Furthermore, captopril is one of antihypertensive drugs with less adverse effects. It does not induce metabolic changes, improves glucose tolerance and brake the evolution of renal insufficiency. About 50-60% of patients are under control (DBP < 90 mmHg) with captopril monotherapy. In the present paper, were included 64 women and 16 men with diabetes mellitus and mild-moderate hypertension, I-II phase WHO. The average age (mean +/- S.D.) was 66.6 +/- 9.2 years. All patients were treated with 25 mg/12 h of captopril, for one month. If blood pressure was not under control, captopril treatment enhanced to 50 mg/12 h during second month. After this period of two months, patients under control were got out of this study. 37 patients (46.25%) needed a second drug. In randomized form, 20 patients associated 25 mg HCTZ one time a day (CAP + HCTZ); and 17 patients associated 20 mg/12 h of nifedipine retard (CAP + NIF). The study continued for 4 months more. Both treatments reduced blood pressure in significant form without changes statistical significant in the heart rate, weight, glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides, c-HDL, uric acid, creatinine, Na+ and K+ blood levels. CAP + HCTZ controlled (DBP < 90 mHg) 85% and CAP + NIF 81.25% of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The lifetime prevalence of psychosexual dysfunction among 55 to 57-year-olds in Iceland

Summary In this study, the largest Nordic study of its kind, investigated psychosexual dysfunction among subjects aged 55–57 years. The cohort included 862 subjects of both sexes and all were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Results showed that 122 subjects had a lifetime diagnosis of psychosexual dysfunction. The lifetime prevalence of psychosexual dysfunction was 14.4%; of inhibited sexual desire, 9.8%; of inhibited sexual excitement, 3.5%; of inhibited orgasm, 2.1%; and of functional dyspareunia, 1.3%. Of the subjects with psychosexual dysfunction, 73% were women. The frequency was highest in those who had never married. Separated subjects had rates intermediate between the married and the never-married. The majority (76%) of affected subjects had only one dysfunction. However, 57% of them had received another psychiatric diagnosis at some time. Subjects with psychosexual dysfunction wereless frequently diagnosed as suffering from alcohol abuse and dependence and social phobia than subjects with no psychosexual dysfunction.     

Epidemiological aspects of prenatal exposure to high doses of vitamin a in Spain

Reports of the human teratogenicity of retinoids have raised concern about the potential human teratogenicity of high doses of vitamin A. Nevertheless, there are few human case reports of excess intake of vitamin A during pregnancy and defective outcomes. No epidemiological studies have been carried out on this subject. Here we present the results of an epidemiological study of prenatal exposure to high doses of vitamin A in Spain, using data from the Spanish hospital-based, case-control registry. Although it is difficult to reach conclusions with such a very low exposure level (1.3 per 1,000 livebirths), our results suggest that a teratogenic effect might exist for exposures to high doses of vitamin A (OR = 0.5, p = 0.15 for less than 40,000 FU and OR = 2.7, p = 0.06 for 40,000 1U or more). As we might expect, this effect also seems to be related to the organogenetic status (OR = 5.4, p = 0.1 for 1^st –2^nd month, OR = 1.8, p = 0.4 for 3^rd onwards) at the time of exposure.     

Retinopathy of prematurity over 3 decades

The authors give an account of 190 premature infants they treated in 1956-1988, suffering from retinopathy of prematurity--ROP, and for prolonged subsequent periods. As the head of the team followed up all the children, there is an integrated view of the problem. The birth weight of the infants was 640 g--1,900 g. From the total number 76.8% infants had a birth weight of 1,500 g or less, 13.7% had a birthweight of 1,000 g or less. Evidence of the increasing rate is provided by the number of patients treated since birth at the department for premature and pathological infants FNM as well as by the number of children admitted from other departments after development of ROP. In 1956-1970, i. e. in 15 years, the authors looked after 34 patients, in 1971-1988, i. e. in 18 years there were 156 children with ROP. In 1956-70 cases of ROP predominated which developed as a result of absolute or relative hypoxia. They were successfully treated by individually adjusted and carefully controlled oxygen therapy (6.9% blind children). In 1971-1975 the possibility to use this therapy declined briskly because after introduction of modern medical technique the number of findings suggesting a hyperoxic insult increased. At that time the results deteriorated greatly (50% blind children). In 1976-1980 the results were favourably influenced by individual dosage of oxygen therapy in all infants, based on regular monitoring of blood gases (10.5% blind children).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)