Clin Med
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The 25th anniversary of the first reports of a catastrophic illness later classified as AIDS and the 10th anniversary of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) both occurred in 2006. Where available, HAART has revolutionised the treatment of HIV. ⋯ These anniversaries allow us to appreciate the milestones achieved thus far and those yet to be achieved. Only a collaborative global effort will stop the epidemic from overwhelming efforts to contain it.
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Practice Guideline
Emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in adults: concise guidance.
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction characterised by rapidly developing life-threatening airway, breathing and/or circulation problems usually associated with skin and mucosal changes. Updated guidance on the recognition, acute management and follow up of adults with anaphylaxis has recently been published. This is a concise version of the full guidelines published by the Resuscitation Council (UK) in 2008. The use of an airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure approach to recognise and treat anaphylaxis is emphasised.
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Two weeks after starting the oral contraceptive pill, a 16-year-old girl developed increasingly violent chorea and an evolving psychosis with prominent hallucinations, ideas of reference, and paranoia. An erythematous skin rash subsequently developed and Sydenham's chorea (SC) was diagnosed. ⋯ This case illustrates that severe psychotic features can occur in SC. It is recommended that antistreptolysin O titres and antibasal ganglia antibodies are checked early in patients with evolving movement disorders and prominent neuropsychiatric features, as the window for modifying the course of this immune-mediated disorder may be narrow.
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Biography Historical Article
'A ray of darkness': Margiad Evans's account of her epilepsy (1952).
This column explores the links and synergies between medicine and literature. What roles can literature play in reflecting and influencing good practice, and what sorts of images of doctoring are to be found in drama, poetry, fiction, biography, electronic fora and film? The editors would be pleased to receive short papers, ranging from 500–1,000 words, on relevant topics. Those interested in contributing should email brian.hurwitz@kcl.ac.uk or neil.vickers@kcl.ac.uk