1/87. Prominent bifid T waves observed in the QT prolongation caused by complete atrioventricular blockade in a hypokalemic diabetic patient.A 63-year-old diabetic man was admitted with general fatigue. Electrocardiogram (ECG) on admission showed complete atrioventricular (AV) blockade associated with prominent bifid T waves. The second component of the bifid T waves was distinguished from U waves by the beat-to-beat varying bifidity and the nadir between the two components located at > or = 1 mm above the isoelectric line. Range of absolute QT interval was 535 to 650 ms. hypokalemia (3.6 mEq/L) was noted at admission. Partial restoration of the potassium level (3.9 mEq/L) prior to temporary ventricular demand pacing obscured the bifid T waves and attenuated the QT prolongation and dispersion to some extent (absolute QT interval ranging 520 to 620 ms). It was concluded that marked bradycardia caused by complete AV blockade (ie, a junctional escaped rhythm at a rate of 42 beats/min), hypokalemia, and underlying diabetes mellitus contributed in concert to the QT prolongation and dispersion leading to the prominent bifid T waves.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/87. stroke risk, cholesterol and statins.The natural statins should be used as first line agents in the prevention of stroke. The effects of the synthetic statins on the prevention of coronary events and stroke have not been reported at this time. The National stroke association's stroke Prevention Advisory Board has prepared a consensus statement on risk reducing intervention. The Board identified hypertension, MI, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (60% to 99% occlusion) as proven stroke risk factors. The Board's recommendations for the prevention of a first stroke are: 1. hypertension should be treated with lifestyle, pharmacologic and multidisciplinary management strategies. 2. aspirin post MI and warfarin (international normalized ratio, 2 to 3) for patients with atrial fibrillation, left ventricular thrombus or significant left ventricular dysfunction. Statin agents should be used post MI. 3. atrial fibrillation patients age 75 or older should be treated with warfarin. Younger patients 65 to 75 with atrial fibrillation and risk factors should be treated with warfarin [corrected]. Younger patients 65 to 75 with atrial fibrillation without risk factors should be treated with warfarin or aspirin [corrected]. 4. patients with hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease should be on statin agents. 5. Carotid endarterectomy is recommended for asymptomatic carotid stenosis (60% to 99%) when surgical morbidity and mortality are less than 3%. 6. Adherence to a low-fat diet, smoking avoidance, mild alcohol use, and physical activity should follow published guidelines.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/87. A fatal case of craniofacial necrotizing fasciitis.A case of fatal craniofacial necrotizing fasciitis is described in a 72-year-old diabetic woman and management is discussed. Progressive infection of the eyelids occurred with involvement of the right side of the face. Computed tomography revealed soft tissue swelling. Antibiotic treatment was started and debridement performed; histopathology showed acute inflammation and thrombosis of the epidermis and dermis. Despite treatment, scepticemia occurred, resulting in death less than 48 h after presentation. At this time extensive necrosis had developed in the superficial fascia with undermining and gangrene of surrounding tissues. streptococcus and staphylococcus were the pathogens involved. Poor prognosis in similar patients has been associated with extensive infection, involvement of the lower face and neck, delayed treatment, advanced age, diabetes and vascular disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/87. simvastatin-induced rhabdomyolysis in a patient with chronic renal failure.simvastatin belongs to a class of lipid-lowering drugs which completely inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase. The commonest adverse effects of therapy with simvastatin HMG CoA reductase inhibitors are gastro-intestinal disturbance, myositis and myopathy. rhabdomyolysis leading to renal failure has been reported, but it appears to be very rare, except in patients also receiving cyclosporin, nicotinic acid or gemfibrozil. Here we report the case of an elderly lady who was known to have chronic renal failure, but who developed rhabdomyolysis following simvastatin therapy. Her symptoms of muscle pain, fatigue, myoglobulinuria, oliguria and pulmonary oedema appeared 48 h after the first dose of simvastatin. simvastatin was immediately stopped, and the patient was dialysed for 1 week. Her renal function improved and came back. We suggest that extreme care should be exercised in prescribing this drug, particularly for the elderly with renal impairment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/87. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis diagnosis by aspiration cytology.Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rapidly progressing, often fatal fungal infection that occurs commonly in diabetics and immunocompromised individuals. We present 2 cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis with a paranasal mass. One patient had an intracranial extension. Nasal scrapings and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the paranasal masses showed fungal hyphae morphologically resembling Mucor. Surgical material showed features of mucormycosis. FNAC and scrape smears can give a conclusive diagnosis of mucormycosis, and the patient can be treated with appropriate antifungal therapy and surgical debridement. Preoperative cytology is an effective technique to establish a diagnosis of mucormycosis and obviates the need for a preoperative biopsy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/87. Fatal bacillus cereus bacteremia in a patient with diabetes.This report describes a fatal case of bacillus cereus septicemia in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes and re-emphasizes the potential seriousness of Bacillus infections in patients with compromised immune function.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/87. Reinforcement of a bronchial stump in VATS lobectomy.Bronchial stump reinforcement is sometimes required for patients who have a high risk of developing a bronchial fistula. A lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is widely used for the treatment of both stage I primary lung cancer and metastatic central lung cancer, but there has been no report on reinforcement of a bronchial stump in a VATS lobectomy. We report an aged patient with stage I primary lung cancer concomitant to diabetes mellitus who was successfully treated by VATS lobectomy with reinforcement of the bronchial stump using a pericardial fat pedicle flap. A Harmonic scalpel was very useful and effective in harvesting the fat pedicle.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/87. insulinoma occurring in association with fatty replacement of unknown etiology in the pancreas: report of a case.A 66-year-old woman with a 10-year-history of diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital for investigation of several recent attacks of hypoglycemia. Her fasting blood glucose level was very low, at 30-40 mg/dl, and abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a tumor in the pancreatic tail with fatty changes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed absence of the main pancreatic duct from the body to tail of the pancreas. Abdominal angiography showed a hypervascular tumor stain in the pancreas, and percutaneous transhepatic portal vein sampling demonstrated a step-up of immunoreactive insulin levels in the splenic vein. Based on these clinical findings, we made a preoperative diagnosis of an insulinoma accompanied by fatty changes in the pancreatic body and tail. During laparotomy for the insulinoma, fat tissue was identified in the anatomic location of the pancreatic body and tail, and resected. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a number of Langerhans islets in the adipose tissue, and an islet cell tumor with fatty replacement of the pancreatic tissue around the tumor. The insulinoma was found not to have caused obstruction of the main pancreatic duct. We present herein a rare case of an insulinoma that developed in the pancreas, and was associated with fatty replacement of unknown etiology.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 9keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/87. diabetes mellitus and life-style--for the primary prevention of diabetes mellitus: the role of diet.Diet treatment for diabetes requires restriction of the food amount (energy intake). It is desirable that patients have a proper relative consumption of the three main nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) and also habitually take low-energy foods such as vegetables, mushrooms and seaweeds, etc. as often as possible in each meal. Therefore, we can replace the expression 'a diet for diabetes' with 'a diet for healthy living'. By showing a clinical case of an obese diabetic patient, who succeeded to reduce their body weight, HbA1c and oral agents through diet treatment, and finally could go on diet treatment only, the importance of diet therapy can be emphasized. Furthermore, the estimation index was examined to evaluate how accurately diabetic patients could estimate food energy. According to this study, a large amount of food on the plate leads most patients to underestimate the amount of real energy, and patients are apt to eat too much compared with having smaller amounts of food on the plate. By analyzing questionnaires on the diet therapy of approximately 3000 diabetics, it has been shown that the majority of patients at our hospital recognize that diet therapy is the most important factor in the treatment of diabetes. Interestingly, patients who ate all the food served showed a significantly higher body mass index compared with those who left served food.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/87. Lethal invasive mucormycosis: case report and recommendations for treatment.A case of lethal invasive mucormycosis (IM), a rare fungal infection which predominantly affects immunocompromised patients, is reported in a 73-year-old female patient who presented with a cervical abscess. The patient had asthma treated with steroids and had previously undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. Despite surgical treatment and parenteral antibiotic therapy, there was fatal progression of the condition. The pathogenesis, histological appearances and treatment of mucormycosis are discussed, particularly the importance of urgent histological examination of debrided tissue to distinguish this condition from necrotizing fasciitis (NF) earlier than microbiological culture alone would allow, thus permitting the early introduction of appropriate antifungal therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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