Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 2009
The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients hospitalized with heart failure.
Like chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an enormous public health problem in industrialized countries. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and clinical impact of COPD among patients hospitalized for heart failure in a community hospital serving a population of 125,000 people. ⋯ COPD is frequent among hospitalized patients with heart failure. Beta-blockers are largely underused, which is probably a major reason for the higher mortality observed in patients with concomitant chronic heart failure and COPD.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 2009
Atrial fibrillation is an independent determinant of increased NT-proBNP levels in outpatients with signs and symptoms of heart failure.
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is increasingly used in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of heart failure; however, the possible influence of atrial fibrillation on BNP is still a matter of controversy. We assessed the influence of atrial fibrillation on NT-proBNP levels in outpatients with signs and symptoms of heart failure. ⋯ Atrial fibrillation is an independent determinant of increased NT-proBNP levels. This association should be taken into account when NT-proBNP levels are used in the diagnosis of heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 2009
A food-borne outbreak of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis, Austria, 2008.
We report on the first foodborne outbreak of Shigella sonnei described in Austria. On July 14 2008, AGES was informed of a cluster of 22 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with S. sonnei restricted to public health district X in the province of Salzburg. All cases had attended a youth-group trip to a small village in the province of Tyrol from July 7 to July 9. ⋯ Among the 42cases, 34 could be explained by consumption of salad. The landlady of the hostel, who prepared the salad with bare hands, was a carrier and was assumed to be the source of contamination of the salad. Without proper epidemiological analytical investigation of this shigellosis outbreak, its association with food consumption would not have been identified.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 2009
Carbohydrate epitopes as a cause of cross-reactivity in patients allergic to Hymenoptera venom.
Among patients with allergy to insect stings, double positivity in tests for IgE antibodies specific to honey bee and wasp venoms is a frequent diagnostic problem. True double sensitization and possible cross-reactivity of venom hyaluronidases and with carbohydrate determinants must be considered in such patients. We studied the frequency of sensitization to carbohydrate determinants and the role of these in double positivity in tests for specific IgE antibodies. ⋯ The values of IgE specific for OSR pollen and MUXF3 in patients with primary sensitization to either honey bee venom or wasp venom were significantly higher than in patients with double sensitization. These results confirm that IgE antibodies against carbohydrates epitopes are a frequent cause of double positivity in tests for anti-venom IgE antibodies.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 2009
Case ReportsChicken-bone perforation of a sigmoid colon diverticulum into the right groin and subsequent phlegmonous inflammation of the abdominal wall.
Colonic diverticula are frequent in western countries and approximately 80% of patients who develop diverticulitis are elderly. The sigmoid and descending colon are most commonly involved. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic diverticula to life-threatening complications such as diverticulum perforation and subsequent peritonitis. ⋯ A Hartmann's procedure with necrectomy of the abdominal wall was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed an ingested chicken bone perforating the diverticulum. When diverticulitis or diverticular abscess is suspected in an elderly patient, foreign body impaction or perforation should be considered as a possible cause.