European journal of internal medicine
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Respiratory viral infections, also known as the common cold, are the most common infections in humans. Despite their benign nature, they are a major cause of morbidity and mortality on a worldwide basis. Several viruses have been associated with such illness, of which rhinovirus is the most common. ⋯ Therefore, antiviral treatment alone may not be able to prevent these events. The optimal use of such agents also requires earlier initiation; therefore, it is important to develop accurate and rapid diagnostic techniques for respiratory viruses. Before any reliable and effective treatment is available, symptomatic therapies may remain the only possible choice of management.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Feb 2004
Acute pancreatitis complicating intrabiliary rupture of liver hydatid cyst.
Acute pancreatitis is a rare complication of hydatidosis, and the successful use of endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment of pancreatitis complicating ruptured hydatid cyst has been very rarely reported. We report here a case of a 50-year-old man, known to have hydatid cyst of the liver, who presented with upper abdominal pain. ⋯ At endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) the common bile duct was dilated. A sphincterotomy was performed and a mucoid structure was extracted, after which the patient made an uneventful recovery.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Nov 2003
Acute, painful, and swollen testicle as the presenting feature in polyarteritis nodosa.
A 74-year-old man presented with spiking fever, myalgias, and a painful left testicle. A diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) was made. Corticosteroids, in combination with cyclophosphamide, induced clinical remission.
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In recent years, cases of scurvy have mainly been described in populations at risk. The prevalence and risk factors for hypovitaminosis C among hospitalized patients in a department of internal medicine are largely unknown. ⋯ Hypovitaminosis C is frequent in hospitalized patients but should be interpreted according to the presence or absence of an acute phase response. The main risk factors are living conditions and excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption.