Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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Three patients presented with an intoxication caused by Aconitum napellus, commonly known as Aconite, Monkshood or Wolfsbane. The first patient, a woman aged 24, was resuscitated after accidental ingestion of plant material 'from nature'. She experienced severe ventricular tachyarrhythmias. ⋯ She had no symptoms during observation in the hospital. Aconite alkaloids are known to cause ventricular arrhythmia by a prolonged activation of sodium channels. Because there is no antidote, treatment is largely supportive but serious arrhythmias and respiratory arrest need to be anticipated.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2009
Biography Historical Article[The cause of death of Theo van Gogh (1857-1891)].
In 1992 Theo van Gogh's medical files from the Willem Arntsz Huis, a psychiatric centre in Utrecht, the Netherlands, were made available. A study based on two copies of these files was published in this journal earlier. While reviewing the archives, the author noticed a third copy which included an extra (last) page that was missing in the other two copies. ⋯ M. Other symptoms mentioned were vomiting, fever and early signs of decubitus. The family did not give permission for a post-mortem.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2009
[Mild therapeutic hypothermia following resuscitation; experience and results in the first two years after introduction].
To describe the results of mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) following resuscitation in the 'Gelderse Vallei' hospital, Ede, the Netherlands. ⋯ The introduction of MTH in the intensive care department of the "Gelderse Vallei" has taken place without major problems. Although the mortality rate following cardiopulmonary resuscitation was relatively high, the neurological outcome in those patients who were discharged from hospital alive was good.
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A 55-year-old man with exertional dyspnoea had a chest X-ray with the Westermark sign and a CT scan showing a Hampton hump. Bilateral pulmonary embolisms were diagnosed.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2009
[Medicinal use of cannabis in the Netherlands: towards a responsible pattern of use].
Since 2003, medicinal cannabis has been legally cultivated and distributed in the Netherlands under the auspices of the Dutch Office of Medicinal Cannabis (BMC), part of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. As a result of this measure, the indication, dosage, administration route, and safety of cannabis can now be investigated, information necessary for justifying its potentially future position as a standard medicinal product. Despite the current lack of reliable scientific efficacy data, standardised medicinal cannabis without microbes has also been made available on prescription. ⋯ Despite disappointing sales at the end of 2007, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has announced that the current policy will be extended for a further five years. The Minister also indicated that he would consider discontinuing the availability of medicinal cannabis for patients, if new cannabis products are granted market authorization. This might, however, give rise to a new era of illegal cannabis use for medicinal purposes, notably for the use as a whole product.