Przegla̧d lekarski
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Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. In this paper the role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAA) in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is discussed and clinical effects of multilevel pharmacological blockade of RAA system by combined treatment with ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and aldosterone antagonists is described.
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This paper describes two different cases of acute suicidal arsenic trioxide intoxication. Case no 1. A 38-year-old man, alcohol abuser, who ingested 4-5 g dental paste, which corresponds to 2.2-2.7 g of pure arsenic trioxide, developed gastritis with vomiting and abdominal pain, but without diarrhea. ⋯ Cardiovascular collapse as a result of intravascular volume depletion, vasodilatation and myocardial dysfunction was observed. The patient died on the first day of hospitalization. In both cases treatment included gastric lavage, BAL therapy, haemodialysis and supportive measures.
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Smoking cigarettes poses a number of relevant medical and social problems. Impact of smoking on pain threshold and tolerance may be of significance for surgical patients, who are prompted to abstain from cigarettes before operation. Association between smoking and pain perception is complex. ⋯ Smokers also present with altered mechanism of stress-induced analgesia and both gender and pain modalities influence their pain perception. Some studies demonstrate increased requirements for postoperative opioid analgesia in smoking patients. Strategies for postoperative pain treatment in smokers should involve regional techniques and clonidine.
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Hymenoptera are the large group of insects which includes honey-bees, bumble-bees, paper wasps, hornets, ants. Female hymenoptera possess specialized stinging apparatus with which they inject their venom into prey's or intruder's body. It could be life-threatening for people sensitive to the venom. ⋯ Several types of reactions are possible to develop after stinging by hymenopteran insects: (1) non-allergic local reaction (pain, small oedema, redness at the site of the sting); allergic reactions: (2) large local reaction (extensive local swelling, exceeding 10 cm, persisting longer than 24 hours) and (3) anaphylaxis (generalized urticaria, bronchospasm, hypotension, cardiovascular collapse, loss of consciousness); (4) systemic toxic reaction (oedema, vomits, diarrhoea, headache, hypotension, seizures, altered mental status); (5) unusual reactions (cardiac ischaemia, encephalomyelitis et al.). Therapeutic management after stings includes removing of the stinger (bee stings), local remedies (ice-packs, topical steroids) and prevention and treatment of an anaphylactic shock (epinephrine, general steroids, beta-mimetics, fluid resuscitation, oxygen therapy). In the present review types of reaction after hymenoptera stings were described with special interest of anaphylactic and toxic reactions as well as therapeutic management after stings.