Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2006
Usefulness of procalcitonin to differentiate typical from atypical community-acquired pneumonia.
The value of elevated serum procalcitonin concentration for differentiating between typical and atypical community-acquired pneumonia was assessed and compared with other parameters that are usually used in clinical practice. ⋯ Determination of the procalcitonin level may provide useful additional diagnostic information on the etiology of pneumonia and could have a crucial influence on the initial antimicrobial therapy.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2006
Case ReportsCutaneous myiasis caused by Cordylobia anthropophaga.
Cutaneous myiasis is a temporary parasitic infestation of the skin of human and other vertebrates by fly larvae, primarily species of the flies Dermatobia and Cordylobia. In Central and South America cutaneous myiasis is mainly caused by the larvae of Dermatobia hominis; in Africa it is mostly due to the larvae of Cordylobia spp. We describe a case of cutaneous myiasis in a family who returned to Slovenia from a three-week trip to Ghana. ⋯ After removal of the larvae, which were oval-shaped and about 8 mm long, the lesions healed in two weeks without further treatment. Human cases of cutaneous myiasis are most probably underreported because many remain undiagnosed or unpublished. Because of increasing travel to tropical and subtropical areas, clinical and laboratory staff will need to be more alert to the possibility of Cordylobia myiasis in patients with furuncle-like lesions, particularly in individuals who have recently returned from tropical Africa.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Feb 2006
Case ReportsSuccessful administration of levosimendan in a patient with low-gradient low-output aortic stenosis.
Aortic valve replacement in patients suffering from low-gradient aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure is associated with high operative mortality, and the perioperative use of inotropes is common. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer with positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects and has been developed for treatment of decompensated heart failure. Although its use in patients with low-gradient aortic stenosis is not established, we hypothesized that it might have beneficial effects on outcome after aortic valve replacement. ⋯ Levosimendan was administered perioperatively (0.1 mg/kg/min 16 hours prior to the operation without a loading dose) and allowed rapid recovery of the patient, who required only brief treatment in the intensive care unit. No levosimendan-specific adverse events were observed, in particular no hypotension. The excellent postoperative result was maintained after the patient was discharged from hospital.