Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Until now, only few cases of intoxication with sodium azide have been published. The case of suicidal sodium azide ingestion reported here and a survey of the relevant literature serve to demonstrate the pharmacological mode of action and the symptoms of acute poisoning, as well as the diagnostic proof of the toxic agent. ⋯ Due to the restricted accessibility of the azide there is a close connection in the known cases of intoxication to the patient's profession or his (her) place of work: 17 out of 20 cases involved persons working in laboratories, whilst in 2 cases sodium azide was administered to patients by mistake. Knowledge of this connection may be of great help in making the diagnosis of acute sodium azide poisoning.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 1989
Reviewn-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease--observations generated by studies in Greenland Eskimos.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 type (n-3 PUFAs) may offer some protection against ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Part of the evidence has been derived from our investigations on Greenland Eskimos. Through six expeditions to Greenland, we have studied Eskimos living on their traditional sea diet. ⋯ We conclude that beneficial changes in general have been obtained. However, individual patients and patient groups likely to profit from supplementation with n-3 PUFAs need to be further defined. The optimum dose needs to be established, and the effect and safety to be documented by highly needed long term studies.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Oct 1988
[Prognosis and documentation of the disease course in severe craniocerebral injuries].
35 survivors of severe head injury were consecutively admitted to the Neurological Department, University of Vienna for early rehabilitation. The outcome after a mean observation periods of 19 months was compared with clinical signs (best motor response, pupillary light reaction, pupil size) in the acute stage. The clinical signs were graded semiquantitatively. ⋯ Solely with respect to the items "orientation and memory function" and "emotions" of the neuropsychological rating scale was no significant correlation obtained with the clinical sign "best motor response" in the acute stage. Our results indicate that it seems possible to assess the outcome after severe head injury not only be means of the widely-adopted Glasgow Outcome Scale, but also using the Karnofsky Performance Status and our neuropsychological rating scale without any marked loss of reliability. The clinical signs - "best motor response" and pupillary light reaction - are excellent prognostic indicators of the long-term outcome after severe head injury.
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Paediatric intensive care medicine mainly involves infants during the neonatal period and, in particular, premature babies. 70% of the children on assisted ventilation at the paediatric hospital of Graz University in 1985 and 1986 were neonates. Older children needing mechanical ventilation comprised only 1.6% of the total number of patients at our paediatric hospital. ⋯ Otherwise when serving the needs of children beyond the neonatal period these units are mostly required by paediatric subspecialities (i.e. cardiology, burns unit etc.). In view of the small number of patients in this group a high-standard paediatric intensive care unit should be multidisciplinary and preferentially attached to a university hospital rather than a regional hospital so as to maximise experience in the management of these children and ensure optimal care.