European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jul 2008
Prognostic significance of pleural fluid data in patients with malignant effusion.
To determine the effects of the biochemical and cytological properties of the pleural fluid (PF) on the survival of patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). ⋯ Tumor type as well as some biochemical features of the pleural fluid, such as pH and concentrations of proteins and LDH, influence survival in patients with MPE.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jul 2008
Case ReportsWinging of the scapula: An unusual complication of needle thoracocentesis.
Needle thoracocentesis is a common interventional procedure and is generally considered to be safe. Major complications associated with this procedure are uncommon. Here we describe a rare instance of winging of the scapula following needle thoracocentesis.
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Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease, of unknown etiology, affecting women almost exclusively. Microscopically, LAM consists of a diffuse proliferation of smooth muscle cells. LAM can occur without evidence of other disease (sporadic LAM) or in conjunction with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). ⋯ The prevalence of lymphangioleiomyomatosis is probably underestimated based on its clinical latency and the absence of specific laboratory tests. With the utilization of international LAM data registries the "classical" picture of the disorder appears to be evolving as a larger number of patients are evaluated. An increased awareness of LAM and its common clinical presentation may advance the development of new therapeutic strategies and reduce the number of mistakenly diagnosed patients.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jul 2008
Case ReportsA misplaced surgical towel - a rare cause of fever of unknown origin.
Retained surgical towels, usually called gossypiboma, are rare, but can cause important morbidity and mortality. Usually they are discovered during the first few days after surgery, but may remain undetected for many years. ⋯ We report a case of a woman who presented with fever and weight loss three and half years after an abdominal surgery. After an extensive workup, a gossypiboma was finally discovered and removed, leading to a complete cure.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jul 2008
Case ReportsRecovery after L-DOPA treatment in peginterferon and ribavirin induced parkinsonism.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects approximately 2% of the European population. Antiviral therapy with pegInterferon-alpha (PegIFN) and ribavirin (Rbv) is the standard of care, leading to HCV eradication in roughly 50% of patients. IFN-based therapy has been associated with high rates (20%) of central nervous system side effects, but only a few case reports exist on extrapyramidal side effects. ⋯ This is the first case of parkinsonism in a Caucasian patient receiving PegIFN/Rbv therapy. The rapid and significant improvement of symptoms obtained in our patient with levodopa-benserazide, suggests that this therapy could be considered as first line symptomatic treatment.