Wilderness & environmental medicine
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Symptoms of pulmonary blastomycosis: northern Wisconsin, United States.
Pulmonary disease is the most common manifestation of the systemic fungal infection, blastomycosis. This study examines symptoms of pulmonary blastomycosis and possible age and gender differences in a 22-year case series. ⋯ Cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, chest pain, dyspnea, and aches are common symptoms of pulmonary blastomycosis. Symptom constellations that included fever were less common in men 50 years of age and older. There was no apparent difference in symptoms between acute and chronic blastomycosis.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Inhibitors of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction prevent high-altitude pulmonary edema in rats.
Rapid ascent to high altitude causes hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and leads to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in susceptible humans. Vasodilating agents lessen HAPE (as evidenced by radiographic and gas exchange measurements), but data establishing their effectiveness on alveolar protein content and hemorrhage are lacking. This study was designed to assess whether preventing HPV reduces the alveolar-capillary barrier leak characteristic of HAPE. ⋯ The results demonstrate that treatment with NiCl2 or acetazolamide prevents HAPE in rats and are consistent with a role for elevated pulmonary artery pressure in the pathogenesis of HAPE.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Biography Historical Article Classical ArticleThe physiology of channel swimmers. 1955.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialEfficacy of a jellyfish sting inhibitor in preventing jellyfish stings in normal volunteers.
To evaluate the protective effects of a jellyfish sting inhibitor formulated in sunscreen lotion vs conventional sunscreen against Chrysaora fuscescens and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus jellyfish. ⋯ The jellyfish sting inhibitor prevented sting symptoms of C. fuscescens jellyfish in 10 of 12 subjects and diminished the pain of the jellyfish sting in the remaining 2 subjects. The jellyfish sting inhibitor also inhibited the more severe sting of the C. quadrumanus jellyfish in the majority of subjects. The jellyfish sting inhibitor does not eliminate the sting from C. fuscescens or C. quadrumanus jellyfish but significantly reduces the frequency and severity of stings.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
ReviewA review of venomous animal bites and stings in pregnant patients.
This is a review of Medline and PubMed articles on venomous animal bites and stings during pregnancy reported in English literature from 1966 to 2002. Eighty-five venomous snakebites were reported in pregnant women. ⋯ Adverse reproductive and teratogenic effects of venoms on gravid animals are also briefly reviewed. Although uncommon, venomous bites and stings during pregnancy may have significant adverse effects on the fetus and the mother.