Allescheria boydii was repeatedly isolated from thoracentesis fluid from a patient with a right pleural effusion. Histological study of methanamine-stained pleural tissue revealed the presence of septate hyphae. After a thoracotomy and decortication, the patient's symptoms cleared, and he has remained asymptomatic over a postoperative period of 13 months.

We report a case of a Clostridium septicum empyema in an immunocompetent woman following operation for an incarcerated internal hernia. The patient was successfully treated with pleural decortication and an extended course of postoperative antibiotics. This is the first report of such an infection in the medical literature.

Background—Thoracentesis and antibiotics remain the cornerstones of treatment in stage I empyema. The management of disease progression or late presentation is controversial. Open thoracotomy and decortication is perceived to be synonymous with protracted recovery and prolonged hospitalisation. Advocates of thoracoscopic adhesiolysis cite earlier chest drain removal and hospital discharge. This...

Background and Objectives: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an asbestos-related disease of the pleura with a survival time without treatment ranging from 4 to 12 months. The objective of this study is to review our experience in selection of MPM patients for various modalities of treatment. Methods: Between 1989 and 1998, 302 patients with MPM have been referred to our Centre for assessm...

Maize is one of the most important cereal crops for human consumption, yet it is of concern due to its low iron bioavailability. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of processing on iron bioavailability in common maize products and elucidate better processing techniques for enhancing iron bioavailability. Maize products were processed to represent different processing techn...

In the case reported herein a patient developed bilateral pneumonia and septic shock and subsequently developed bilateral effusions. Chest roentgenograms, computed tomograms, and findings from analysis of the fluid within the chest were consistent with typical empyemas. When surgical decortication was attempted, the effusions were found to be anatomically extrapleural. Symptomatic improvement w...

After unsuccessful treatment with intercostal tube drainage and antibiotics intrapleural streptokinase was used to treat successfully an empyema in a man with AIDS and advanced cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma who was unfit for surgical decortication. The role of this technique in the management of HIV positive patients with empyema is discussed.