1/53. rhabdomyolysis complicating unrecognized hypophosphatemia in an alcoholic patient.rhabdomyolysis occurring as a complication of hypophosphatemia has been infrequently described. A 58-year-old male with a history of daily alcohol consumption presented with two generalized tonic clonic seizures secondary to hypovolemic hyponatremia. He was volume-resuscitated, and antiepileptic medication was administered. After three days of hospitalization, the patient developed severe rhabdomyolysis despite the absence of further seizure activity. serum phosphate levels were depressed. He was treated with intravenous mannitol, alkaline diuresis, and intravenous and oral phosphate supplementation. He recovered uneventfully. hypophosphatemia can potentially lead to multisystem organ dysfunction including severe rhabdomyolysis. It is, therefore, important to maintain a low threshold for measuring serum phosphate levels in patients admitted to hospital.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/53. Acute coagulopathy following infusion of prothrombin complex concentrate.An acute coagulopathy developed in a 49 year old woman with severe liver disease after she received an infusion of prothrombin complex concentrate. The concentrate used in the infusion was subsequently studied by observing the effect of the concentrate on the partial thromboplastin times of various plasmas. The evidence suggests that activated coagulation factors, including activated factor X, were present in the concentrate, and probably played a role in initiating the acute change in the patient's coagulation status. Mechanisms whereby liver disease predisposes toward the development of such a coagulopathy are discussed. It would appear that prothrombin complex concentrates should be used in patients with liver disease only with utmost caution.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0021465419005626keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/53. The 'dop' system, alcohol abuse and social control amongst farm workers in South Africa: a public health challenge.Many farm workers in south africa continue to live and work under adverse conditions that are the legacy of apartheid policies. Despite its official prohibition, the arrangement by which workers are given alcohol' as a benefit of employment, known as the 'dop' system, appears to persist. Even though it is a minority of farms that currently actively practice the dop system, the ramifications of the historical 'institutionalisation of massive alcohol consumption are widespread. Heavy alcohol consumption is not only directly injurious to the health of farm workers and their families, but places them at risk to various social and environmental hazards. This is illustrated in a case of pesticide poisoning in which 24 workers were poisoned when given wine contaminated with the carbamate insecticide aldicarb. The case illustrates (i) the ongoing application of the dop system on farms in south africa and (ii) the interaction between social factors and chemical exposures amongst farm workers. Public perceptions about the natural tendencies of 'coloured' people to drink heavily have much to do with perpetuating the dop system, and reinforcing a system geared towards the social control of rural farm workers and their families. The dop system poses a major challenge to the public health authorities in south africa who are charged with the task of restructuring health services to address the human rights and health needs of marginal farming communities within a primary health care framework.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/53. Progressive myoclonic epilepsies syndrome (Ramsay Hunt syndrome) with mental disorder: report of two cases.Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a rare condition within the progressive myoclonic epilepsies syndrome (PME), with a triad of action myoclonus, grand mal seizure and severe cerebellar ataxia. There are few reports about the psychiatric disturbances associated with PME or RHS. The present study examines the evidence that RHS may accompany an organic mental syndrome, ethanol's effective suppression of myoclonus, and the possible resultant problem of alcohol dependence in RHS patients. Two brothers with the previous long-standing diagnosis of RHS and their mental symptoms of persecutory delusion and depression are reported, as well as the additional problem of alcohol dependence in one of them. The cerebellar dysfunction found in RHS may be associated with an underlying organic condition. Determination of the relationship between cerebellar dysfunction and psychosis in RHS will require further study. Although the mechanism of the suppression of myoclonus by alcohol remains unclear, patients should be allowed to drink socially, and alcohol consumption should not be totally prohibited. However, effective treatment of the problems of alcohol tolerance, abuse, or dependence requires the cooperation of both neurologists and psychiatrists.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/53. Acute pancreatitis with Purtscher's retinopathy: case report and review of the literature.The case is described of a 32-year-old man suffering from alcoholism who came to the Emergency Unit with vomiting, fever and sharp epigastric pain irradiating to the chest and upper abdomen. A diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made after high amylase and lipase levels were observed and the results of computed tomography scan revealed images typical of acute pancreatitis. Findings upon admission and after the initial 48 hours did not correlate with a severe or complicated course according to Ranson's criteria. On the third day after admission he suddenly developed decreased vision. A fluorescein angiogram showed arteriolar occlusion, retinal and choriocapillary ischaemia. Purtscher's retinopathy was suspected. After 4 weeks, the patient had recovered from acute pancreatitis, ophthalmoscopic examination showed normal results, and visual acuity had almost returned to normal. Activation of complement in acute pancreatitis could account for many haematologic acute disorders due to leucocyte emboli or other complement-mediated aggregates. Coagulation abnormalities may range from isolated intravascular thrombosis to severe disseminated intravascular coagulation. Purtscher's retinopathy, due to microembolizations in the choroidal and retinal arterioles, should be included among the various systemic effects of acute pancreatitis. This visual disorder is a rare systemic manifestation of acute pancreatitis which was not correlated to a severe or complicated clinical course. Treatment of these ocular complications remains to be established and outcome, therefore, depends upon resolution of the pancreatic disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0031726453987109keywords = coagulation, intravascular (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/53. A case of reversible azoospermia following withdrawal from alcohol consumption.Chronic alcohol intake is associated with male reproductive function impairment. However, no longitudinal studies have been carried out to determine the recovery of alcohol-related spermatogenetic failure subsequent to moderate periods of abstinence. The present report describes the achievement of a pregnancy 3 months after withdrawal from alcohol consumption in the partner of a patient with azoospermia secondary to heavy alcoholic intake (mean daily alcohol consumption: 90 g). alcoholism was the putative cause of the infertile condition of this patient because, during alcohol consumption, he first had teratozoospermia characterized by a never reported high percentage of spermatozoa with large heads (associated with a nonmegaloblastic macrocytic anaemia in the blood smear), and subsequently azoospermia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/53. Withdrawal from alcohol using monitored alcohol consumption: a case report.AIMS: A single case study of alcohol withdrawal through monitored alcohol consumption in a hostel resident. METHOD: A standard dose of cider was given when the client requested, and had a lower breath alcohol concentration than when he took his previous dose of cider. RESULTS: Abstinence was uneventfully achieved on two separate occasions each taking only 2 days. CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal from alcohol through monitored alcohol consumption is a potentially effective and rapid procedure, but the limits of its appropriate use have not been established.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/53. Self-medication with gamma-hydroxybutyrate to reduce alcohol intake.We describe a 52-year-old man who self-medicated with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a widely available illicit substance, to obtain a decrease in ethanol consumption. He successfully reduced his ethanol intake over a 3-month period, but he was unable to sustain abstinence. Although case reports on the use of GHB to induce euphoria have been published, this is the first report of GHB self-medication to facilitate ethanol abstinence. This report highlights the importance of considering GHB self-medication not only for euphoric and mood altering effects, but also as a potential treatment for ethanol intake reduction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/53. alcoholism and diabetes mellitus: case report.Two male patients with diabetes mellitus and alcohol dependence syndrome are presented. Both were married and in middle age. MI stayed alone in the city while his spouse and two children lived in the rural home. He showed no obvious underlying psychiatric morbidity. FWK was living with his family in the city. He was an alcoholic receiving psychiatric care for alcoholism. They both presented separately at different hospitals with decompensated diabetes following heavy alcohol consumption. The history and clinico-laboratory picture of both patients are presented and brief management programme and outcome are also given. review of literature on alcoholism and its potential impact on the course and management of diabetes is presented.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/53. acetaldehyde adducts in the brain of alcoholics.acetaldehyde binds to some proteins and becomes a Schiff base. It is assumed that after the consumption of ethanol the acetaldehyde binds to the proteins to form adducts, and such acetaldehyde adducts are associated with organ diseases. We investigated the detection of acetaldehyde adducts in the brain region of a human alcoholics. brain samples collected from an alcoholic autopsied case were used. Determination of acetaldehyde adducts was performed using a fluorescence immmunohistochemical staining method with antibodies against acetaldehyde adducts. We demonstrated acetaldehyde adducts in the frontal cortex and the midbrain of an alcoholics. Our studies showed that an acetaldehyde adduct was produced in the brain of alcoholics.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consumption (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |