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There is no report of patients in whom pathological laughter, a rare condition characterized by uncontrollable episodes of laughter usually triggered by unrelated stimuli, was ever closely associated with a loss of consciousness overtly linked with the onset of such uncontrollable laughter, also referred to as a gelastic syncope. A 53-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of syncope following intense and uncoordinated laughter. Physical and neurological examination was normal and the patient had no other typical cerebellar signs. We found a mass in the cerebellar vermis abutting the floor of the fourth ventricle, which upon histological examination after surgery proved to be an ependymoma. We emphasize that pathological laughter and gelastic syncope could represent unique and sole features of a cerebellar disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which discussed the role of the oxaprozin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in the modulating activity of matrix metallo-proteinases of drugs. Information on oxaprozin as a propionic acid derivative and its functions; Methodology; Results of the study.

The use of biological agents in the treatment of rheumatic diseases has been widely associated with an increased risk of reactivation of several latent infections. National and international guidelines recommend screening for infectious diseases before starting these drugs. In Western countries screening is limited to latent tuberculosis infection, HIV and viral hepatitis. However, the increasing globalisation and the remarkable number of migrating and travelling people worldwide make this approach no longer adequate. The Italian and Spanish Societies of Rheumatology and Tropical Medicine wish to issue a warning about the need to improve awareness of doctors about the risk of reactivation of infectious tropical diseases in migrant or travelling patients who undergo biological therapy. Thus, the Italian and Spanish Societies are now planning to issue specific recommendations, based on a multidisciplinary contribution and a systematic review of the literature, for screening and follow-up of active and latent chronic infections in candidate patients for biological agents, taking into account the patient's area of origin and risk of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the case of a 67-year-old man presented with a complaint of high-grade fever, up to 39.7&degree;C, rigors, myalgias, occasional bloody nasal discharge, a cough productive of a thick and blood-streaked sputum for several weeks, and no improvement after several courses of empirical antibiotic treatment. There was no risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and his previous medical history was otherwise normal, except for a diagnosis of chronic paranasal sinusitis 11 months earlier. On admission, vital parameters were normal, and no physical abnormality was detected on respiratory, cardiovascular, abdominal, and genitourinary examinations. A renal biopsy was performed, and microscopic examination of specimens showed focal segmental necrotizing glomerulitis with vasculitis, and a few ill-defined collections of epithelioid histiocytes. Doctors started treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide.

We report on a patient who presented with a severe symmetric polyarthritis that was found to be part of the prodromal stage of acute hepatitis B. This syndrome is seen in a minority of cases, resembles serum sickness and parallels the duration and level of hepatitis B viremia. It is a type III immune complex reaction with complement consumption and activation which ultimately triggers inflammation and may also occur in the context of other infections, vaccines, and use of antibiotics or sera. We emphasize the need to search for acute B hepatitis in all patients with polyarthritis or other symptoms of serum sickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the impact of retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with psoriasis on patients.