Polski merkuriusz lekarski : organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Jan 2015
Clinical Trial[Quality of life assessment in patients with spinal radicular syndromes].
Spinal radicular syndromes are a serious healthcare issue in the society nowadays. A common form of ailments related to the syndromes is sciatica, manifesting with severe pain radiating along the course of the sciatic nerve or brachialgia manifesting with severe pain perceived from the cervical spine area, through the arm and often along the entire upper limb to the fingers. In many patients the pain limits the ability to perform daily routine at work and at home. ⋯ Ailments associated with spinal radicular syndromes affect the quality of life of the female patients studied in this research to a greater extent than the male patients, both in terms of mental and physical well-being. The intensity of pain associated with spinal radicular syndromes progresses with age.
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Since the detection of Ebola virus in 1976. recorded 13 major epidemics in Africa. The current threat in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone absorbs another victims and threatened pandemic. ⋯ For this reason, there is an absolute necessity to introduce regimes sanitation, quarantine at the suspects and maintain the highest safety measures for emergency responders. Developed procedures require absolute compliance.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Nov 2014
Case ReportsCardiac arrest and electrical storm due to recurrent torsades de pointes caused by concomitant clarithromycin, cotrimoxazole and amiodarone treatment.
Torsades de pointes (TdP) is a rapid, polymorphic and usually self-terminating ventricular tachycardia associated with the long QT syndrome. Many drugs may cause prolongation of QT interval and be the trigger for TdP occurrence. We present the case of 52-year-old male who was treated with clarithromycin due to bilateral atypical pneumonia. ⋯ After successful resuscitation, unfortunately amiodarone and co-trimoxazole were given causing the arrhythmic storm which required many defibrillations. The case highlights the importance of careful QT measurement, appropriate TdP treatment and difficulties resulting from the patient's disagreement for invasive treatment. We think, that knowledge of drug-induced long QT syndrome and its consequences should be widely spread not only in cardiologists, but also in others doctors.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Nov 2014
Case Reports[Difficulty in diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism as the cause of resistant hypertension and severe hypokalemia--case report].
The most common endocrinological cause of secondary hypertension is primary hyperaldosteronism. Despite great progress in laboratory and imaging techniques, its identification is often difficult. We report the case of the 52-year-old man with resistant hypertension and severe hypokalemia. ⋯ As there were not diagnostic results of laboratory research and ambiguous character of pathological structure in research computed tomography we have decided to carry adrenal cortex scintigraphy with iodomethyl-norcholesterol 131I. The result of this research was consistent with left adrenal scan of computed tomography and left adrenal adenoma has been confirmed. Normal blood pressure and normokalemia were restored after surgical treatment.
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Pol. Merkur. Lekarski · Oct 2014
Review[Potential applications of marijuana and cannabinoids in medicine].
Cannabinoids, psychoactive substances present in cannabis, have been known to mankind for hundreds of years. Apart from 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) substances found in the cannabis herb with the highest toxicological value are cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN). The discovery of CB1 and CB2 receptors, located in various tissues (ranging from the brain to peripheral tissues), has defined the potential objective of these new chemical substances' effects. ⋯ Substances affecting cannabinoid receptors may show beneficial effects, but they may also cause the risk of side effects related mainly to the inhibition of central nervous system. The purpose of this dissertation is the analysis, whether the substances responsible for the effects of marijuana, can find application in medicine. Original articles and reviews were used to summarize the results of studies connected to the topic.