Acute exposure to hydrogen sulfide initiates a series of hallmark biological effects that occur progressively at increasing levels: odor perception, conjunctivitis, olfactory paralysis, “k...

Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a condition characterized by the triad of acute hypokalemia without total body potassium deficit, episodic muscle paralysis, and thyrotoxicosis. We describe two cases of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis who presented to our hospital with potassium values of 1.3 MeQ/l and 1.2 MeQ/l, respectively. Surprisingly, the two patients had no documented pas...

In 1992 surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases was introduced in Malaysia along with the establishment of a national referral laboratory at the Institute for Medical Research. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, viral etiology and clinical picture of AFP cases below 15 years of age, reported from 2002 to 2007. Six hundred seventy-eight of 688 reported cases ...

This article reviews the recognition, diagnosis and management of respiratory failure in acute neuromuscular disease. Respiratory failure requiring artificial ventilation occurs in about 14% of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS),' a small percentage of patients with myasthenia gravis and polymyositis, and also in acute rhabdomyolysis and a wide range of other less common disorders (tab...

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is a unique disorder that causes episodic proximal lower extremity muscle weakness in patient who already has hyperthyroid state and not treated for the underlying disease state. The affected population mostly includes Asian origin specifically male gender (vs most thyroid affects women gender). Precipitating factors include addition to are strenuous exertion, high...

WHO has confi rmed an outbreak of at least ten cases of polio in Syria, where vaccination coverage has dramatically decreased during the civil war. Furthermore, wild-type poliovirus 1 (WPV1) has been isolated from sewage and faeces from asymptomatic carriers in Israel since February, 2013. Tourists and travellers could bring the infection to other countries. Precautions during the Hajj in Saudi...

INTRODUCTION Little is known about the long-term health related quality of life outcomes in patients with West Nile virus associated acute flaccid paralysis. We describe the quality of life scores of seven patients with acute flaccid paralysis who presented to hospital between 2003 and 2006, and were followed for up to two years. CASE PRESENTATIONS Between 2003 and 2006, 157 symptomatic patie...

BACKGROUND Critical illness neuromuscular disease, which has been recognised as a distinct clinical entity in adults, remains poorly described in children. AIMS To assess retrospectively the clinical, electrophysiological, and prognostic features of the disease. METHODS Retrospective study in a children's university hospital. RESULTS Five critically ill patients presented with generalised...

Researchers in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, medicine and theology have made exhaustive efforts to shed light on the elusive biography/pathography of the great Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-55). This 'bicentennial' article reviews his main pathographical diagnoses of, respectively, possible manic-depressive [bipolar] disease, epilepsy, complex partial seizure disorder, Land...

We present a case of fatal rebound hyperkalemia in a patient with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) treated with potassium supplementation. Although TPP is a rare hyperthyroidism-related endocrine disorder seen predominantly in men of Asian origin, the diagnosis should be considered in patients of non-Asian origins presenting with hypokalemia, muscle weakness or acute paralysis. The condition...