Spinal Osteoporosis, Cause Unknown

Disseminated Nocardiosis in an Immunocompromised Child with Unknown Cause

Disseminated nocardiosis (DN), is an infrequent and severe infection due to Nocardia species and defined as infection in two or more discontinuous organs.  Most infections occur in the immunocompromised host or in persons with underlying disease.  DN occurs rarely in children.  In this report, we describe an 11-year-old immune-compromised child with nocardiosis involving the lung, skin, brain a...

Pneumonia of unknown cause.

The patient was a man aged 38 yrs. While at work early in the day, his illness started suddenly with severe cough, which was initially non-productive and which lasted for several hours. He felt breathless but had no wheeze. He bad a small quantity of frank haemoptysis. By evening he had a hectic fever, that was initially associated with chills. He was treated by a general practitioner with pare...

Pulmonary hypertension of unknown cause.

An unusual cause of back pain in osteoporosis: lessons from a spinal lesion.

Case report A 77 year old woman was admitted with a three month history of worsening back pain, malaise, and anorexia. On direct questioning, she reported that she had suVered from back pain for four years. The thoracolumbar radiograph four years earlier showed T6/7 vertebral collapse, mild scoliosis, and degenerative change of the lumbar spine (fig 1); but other investigations at that time inc...

Osteoporosis and the Management of Spinal Degenerative Disease (II)

Osteoporosis has become a major medical problem as the aged population of the world rapidly grows. Osteoporosis predisposes patients to fracture, progressive spinal deformities, and stenosis, and is subject to be a major concern before performing spine surgery, especially with bone fusions and instrumentation. Osteoporosis has often been considered a contraindication for spinal surgery, while i...