Three cases with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias related to oesophageal transit are reported. A 61 year old man had episodes of atrial tachycardia on each swallow of food but not liquid; this has been reported only rarely. A 55 year old man had atrial fibrillation initiated by drinking ice cold beverages; this has not been described previously although atrial tachycardia triggered by drinking...

A review of the recent literature indicates that even though dyspepsia is common in adults, only limited data regarding dyspepsia in children is available. Spiroglou et al, in a recent study, found over 50% of their patients, to have functional dyspepsia with the more commonly encountered symptoms being nausea, vomiting, early satiety, awaking from sleep and increased belching. Hyams et al, in ...

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is an uncommon cause of proximal intestinal obstruction, frequently occurring in patients who have had an important weight loss. The diagnosis can be difficult and usually is made by exclusion. The most characteristic symptoms are postprandial epigastric pain, fullness, voluminous vomiting and eructation. These symptoms are due to the compression of the...

1. An isotope tracer method for estimating methane production in sheep is described. 2. The technique was used to estimate methane produced in both the upper and lower digestive tract and to determine the routes by which it was excreted. 3. Four Merino ewes given lucerne chaff (33 g every hour) were used. 4. Total methane production rate was 21 +/- 1-1 (SE) ml/min; production in the rumen accou...

A 9-month-old steer was autopsied due to recurrent ruminal tympany. A macroscopic examination found an enlarged caudal mediastinal lymph node, and a section of the lymph node revealed necrosis with marked calcification, similar to tuberculous lymphadenitis. Histopathologically, the lesion consisted of multiple coagulative necrotic foci and fibrosis with macrophage, lymphocyte, eosinophil and mu...

The rumen is an open fermentation chamber, inhabited by microorganisms that anaerobically digest complex components of feedstuffs and generate fermentation products (mainly acids) and microbial cell mass for utilization by the host. The absorption of fermentation products, mainly VFA, from the rumen into the blood, and outflow of microbial cells to the abomasum and small intestine provide the a...

Although high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block in patients with a history of syncope usually requires pacemaker implantation, therapeutic strategies should also be considered. A 35-year-old man presented with complaints of palpitations, nausea and dysgeusia. Since aged 30, the patient had experienced three episodes of syncope. Holter monitoring showed transient high-degree AV block (up to 5:4...