IN October 1989 three patients in New Mexico presented to their doctors with myalgia and eosinophilia. The recognition that all three patients were taking tryptophan prompted a report to the New Mexico State Health Department and the Centers for Disease ...

A RECENTLY described condition termed the eosinophilia—myalgia syndrome has been reported in epidemic form in the United States.¹ Case–control studies have established an association between the use of products containing the amino acid tryptophan and the ...

THE influence of obesity on the risk of coronary heart disease remains controversial despite a well-established association between adiposity and unfavorable coronary risk-factor status. Obesity is a cause of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and lipid ...

PATHOLOGICAL studies of lung tissue in the initial phases of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) reveal diffuse damage to both the alveolar epithelial cells and the capillary endothelium, accompanied by a hemorrhagic intraalveolar exudate rich ...

COMPLETE glycemic control is not possible in patients with diabetes mellitus who are treated with conventional therapeutic regimens. Consequently, the potential therapeutic effects of the transplantation of pancreatic islets, segments of pancreas, and the ...

COLON carcinoma is the second leading cause of death due to cancer in the United States. Because genetic factors are thought to contribute substantially to the pathogenesis of about 10 percent of cases of colorectal cancer, it is important to understand ...

ALTHOUGH several features of peptic ulcer disease have been elucidated over the past few years, new questions have replaced those that have been answered. Some of the factors that may predispose people to the development of peptic ulcers have been ...

Presentation of Case

A 23-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of primary amenorrhea, an abnormal karyotype, and bilateral inguinal masses.

Except for an appendectomy at five years of age for appendicitis with perforation and the usual ...

Beginning in the late spring of 1989, large numbers of patients became ill with a disorder first recognized the following October and termed the eosinophilia—myalgia syndrome.^{1 , 2} Almost all the people affected had taken dietary supplements of tryptophan,...

In the past, epidemiologic surveys concerned with the relation of body build to health and longevity have tended to underestimate the long-term adverse effects of excess body weight.¹ Consequently, the hazards of obesity have not been taken seriously ...

Every day the practitioner witnesses the results of obvious imbalances between coagulation and fibrinolysis, because they are central to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, stroke, uncontrolled bleeding, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Astute ...

To the Editor: I wish to provide additional information about the patient discussed in the January 25 issue of the Journal (Case 4–1990).¹ This woman first visited the arthritis clinic on August 22, 1988. At that time, extensive questioning about drug ...

To the Editor: The study by Raby et al. (Nov. 9 issue)* describes the predictive value of preoperative electrocardiographic monitoring for ischemia in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery. Although the authors analyzed an impressive list of ...

To the Editor: Patients with sleep apnea syndrome often have an increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmias and hypertension.¹ These cardiovascular complications may be produced by increased sympathetic activity in response to hypoxemia during apnea. ...

To the Editor: Ganciclovir is proving to be effective therapy in patients who have cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease.^{1 2 3} The only exceptions are recipients of bone marrow transplants and patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who have ...

To the Editor: It was disappointing to find that the recent article on liver transplantation by McDonald et al. (Oct. 19 issue)¹ was marred by the reporting of results of assays for plasma oxalate that did not seem credible. First, the authors refer to "...

To the Editor: The paper by Bianco et al. (Oct. 19 issue)¹ demonstrated a protective effect of inhaled furosemide on allergen-induced early and late asthmatic reactions. The authors had previously reported that inhaled furosemide had a protective effect ...

To the Editor: Pneumocystis carinii is a protozoan that causes pneumonia in more than 80 percent of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The treatment of P. carinii pneumonia generally consists of systemic pentamidine or ...

To the Editor: In the November 9 issue of the Journal, Hildreth et al.¹ and Miller et al.² report that the carcinogenic effect of radiation on the female breast is most pronounced when the exposure occurs early in life. In both cases, the studies ...

To the Editor: I recently received a mailing from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recommending participation in an ABMS program of advertising in the Yellow Pages for board-certified physicians at a cost of $175 per physician per year. ...

The corridor outside Intensive Care

bleaches us, hour by hour

the color of its walls.

We've been drained

of traffic lights and toast for breakfast.

Carts wheel past

spread with father, wife, or son

at the end of tubing.

We talk of heart attacks and cancer

Investigative reporting is a special form of journalism that has long been a part of the American scene, exemplified for instance by its role in uncovering the Watergate scandal. This book is an example of medical investigative reporting, written by an ...

Here is a compilation of 40 chapters dealing with a variety of topics, including balloon angiopiasty, laser angioplasty, angioscopy, balloon valvuloplasty, intravascular stenting, and thrombolysis. There are contributions from 110 authors, including many ...

The rapid expansion in the use of endovascular intervention for atherosclerotic occlusive disease has created the need for an easily readable, concise summary of current technology and preliminary results. This need must be met with the realization that ...

The authors have produced a compact, readable treatise on angiography of the vascular beds of interest for diagnostic therapeutic reasons. The book consists of 11 chapters that cover two major vascular regions: coronary angiography and intervention (8 ...

This book presents a concise and simplified approach to the diagnosis and management of abnormalities in cardiac rhythm. Unlike other books on arrhythmias, this one is by a single author, presenting unified, well-organized information and eliminating ...

Here is an excellent overview of progress in the development of methods to assist the failing circulation. This is a collection of chapters by authors with diverse experiences in this complex field. Because it is quite technical, the book will appeal ...

CANCER RESEARCH

The "13th Annual Bristol-Myers Squibb Symposium on Cancer Research," entitled "Drug Resistance as a Biochemical Target in Cancer Chemotherapy," will be held in Tokyo, May 10 and 11.

Contact Virginia Mintz, Ketchum Public Relations, 1201 ...