Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe and high-mortality complication in cirrhotic patients. In this study, we analyzed infection, one of the common precipitating factors of HE in patients with cirrhosis, in order to identify common infection sites and the etiology. In addition, we aimed to identify information useful in the early prevention and effective treatment of HE. Ninety-two patients ...

Delirium, an acute decline in attention and cognition, is a common life-threatening, and potentially preventable clinical syndrome among persons who are 65 years of age or older.1 Prevalence is highest among those who are frail or patients who are critically unwell or at the end of life. Over the age of 80 years, more than one third of those in hospital will experience delirium.2 The cause of d...

Patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes, such as long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, early repolarization syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and their latent forms, are at risk for fatal arrhythmias. These diseases are typically associated with genetic mutations that perturb cardiac ionic currents. The analysis of cardiac events by genotype-phenotype correlati...

Myxedema crisis is a severe life threatening form of decompensated hypothyroidism which is associated with a high mortality rate. Infections and discontinuation of thyroid supplements are the major precipitating factors while hypothermia may not play a major role in tropical countries. Low intracellular T3 leads to cardiogenic shock, respiratory depression, hypothermia and coma. Patients are id...

BACKGROUND A comprehensive analysis has not been performed on patients with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) characterized by acute hypokalemia and paralysis in the setting of thyrotoxicosis. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyze the detailed symptomatology of thyrotoxicosis and precipitating factors for the attack in a large cohort of TPP patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospect...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare the clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) today and 20 years ago. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of patients with DKA treated at our hospital from January 2001 through June 2002. The medical records were analyzed to identify clinical presentations, contributory factors, laboratory data, a...