The American journal of medicine
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Review Case Reports
The ocular manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis. Fifteen years experience and review of the literature.
Ocular manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis may occur secondary to contiguous granulomatous sinusitis or as a result of focal vasculitis. Contiguous granulomatous sinus disease causes nasolacrimal duct obstruction, proptosis and ocular muscle or optic nerve involvement. ⋯ A review of 29 cases of Wegener's granulomatosis and three cases of lymphomatoid granulomatosis studied over the past 15 years at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) disclosed single or multiple ocular manifestations of disease in 15 patients (47 per cent). The pattern of ocular disease, its relationship to systemic involvement, diagnostic methods and the response to therapy are discussed.
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The anterior and posterior walls of the aortic root are recognized as a pair of parallel linear signals which move anteriorly in systole and posteriorly in diastole. Valve cusps appear as thin lines which move briskly toward the periphery of the aortic lumen in systole and coapt in the middle in diastole producing a box-like configuration. Cusp calcification results in the appearance of multiple, linear echoes within the aortic root. ⋯ A markedly eccentric diastolic cusp position within the aortic lumen resulting in asymmetric images of the leaflets in systole is the hallmark of a bicuspid aortic valve. An abrupt premature closure of the valve leaflets in early systole is typical of subaortic membranous stenosis. In tetralogy of Fallot the aortic root is dilated and overrides the ventricular septum.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparative clinical studies of ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity of amikacin and gentamicin.
A comparative study of the oto- and nephrotoxicity of amikacin and gentamicin was carried out prospectively. Twenty-six gentamicin-treated patients and 27 amikacin-treated patients were monitored for changes in auditory and renal function during and after therapy. Thirteen of those treated with gentamicin and 20 of those treated with amikacin underwent vestibular caloric testing which could be evaluated for evidence of toxicity. ⋯ In two gentamicin-treated patients (7.7%), ototoxicity developed (one auditory, one vestibular), and in two amikacin-treated patients (7.4%), auditory toxicity developed. Statistical analysis of oto- and nephrotoxicity and their risk factors was not attempted because of the small numbers of patients who could be evaluated. Additional patients are being studied.
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Thirty-seven patients in cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction were treated with intraaortic balloon counterpulsation and/or surgery. Eighteen of these patients were treated with counterpulsation alone; eight survived and five were in functional class I or II at the time of follow-up; two were in functional class III, and one was in functional class IV. ⋯ Good functional recovery with counterpulsation alone is most common with inferior infarction. With surgery, functional recovery depends not only on the extent of the infarction and the coronary anatomy, but also on the ability to perform surgery within 12 hours of infarction or to support the patient with mechanical means for 10 to 14 days after the infarction and then perform surgery.
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Coronary artery aneurysms were found in 16 men between 37 and 62 years of age, mean 51 years. Aneurysms were of two types: saccular and fusiform. They involved the right coronary artery in 13 (87 per cent), the circumflex artery in eight (50 per cent) and the left anterior descending artery in five (31 per cent). ⋯ The findings of this study suggest that angina pectoris and left ventricular dysfunction can occur with coronary artery aneurysm without coronary artery obstructions. Coronary aneurysms may be a subset of atherosclerosis, and this process may involve other vascular territories. The prognosis in those patients appears to be no worse than in patients with obstructive coronary disease and no aneurysms.