South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde

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• S. Afr. Med. J. · Nov 1985

  Case Reports

  Acute pernicious or fulminating beriberi with severe lactic acidosis. A case report.

  This report describes a case of severe acidosis with cardiac failure due to alcohol in a black man. Treatment with parenteral thiamine produced a prompt response. Thiamine deficiency should be recognized as an important cause of lactic acidosis.

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• S. Afr. Med. J. · Nov 1985

  Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial

  Anti-endotoxin in the treatment of severe surgical septic shock. Results of a randomized double-blind trial.

  A randomized double-blind trial of human antilipopolysaccharide (anti-LPS)-specific globulin (LG-1) versus placebo (albumin) in the treatment of severe septic shock of surgical origin was carried out over a 6-month period from June to December 1983. Hospital mortality was 10 patients (59%) out of 17 in the control group and 9 out of 17 (53%) in the treated group. ⋯ Measurement of serum endotoxin and anti-LPS levels at the time of admission to the study and 24 hours later revealed no significant difference between controls and treated patients. Significantly higher mortality rates were observed in patients who were endotoxemic after 24 hours of treatment compared with those who were not (chi 2 = 4,80; P less than 0,025).

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