We analyzed lymphocytes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for the presence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 DNA. HHV-7 was present in over 80% of CFS patients and healthy controls, while the prevalence of HHV-6 variant A increased significantly in CFS cases (22 versus 4%; P ؍ 0.05).
For the first time, it has been shown that specific bronchial reactivity to wheat proteins can be detected in patients with different disorders associated with food allergy to wheat. The presence of asthma induced by inhaled flour is not strictly related to occupational exposure and it may also occur in subjects not displaying asthma among symptoms induced by wheat ingestion.
Aims: To assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics, use of medical resources and quality of life in consecutive patients Ž . with chronic heart failure CHF hospitalized in a large community hospital during 3 months. Methods and results: The study Ž . group included 354 patients with CHF, admitted in the Departments of Internal Medicine 97% and Cardiology. Median age w x was 78 years 72;85 , 45% were males. CHF was the main diagnosis in 72%; 28% were in NYHA class III and 49% in class IV; w x 42% had atrial fibrillation. The median hospital stay was 8 days 5;14 , in-hospital mortality 9% in those admitted for CHF and 19% in those admitted primarily for other diseases. Patients with CHF occupied 15% of the beds; 1330 ECGs, 389 chest X-rays, 112 echocardiograms and 10 coronary angiograms were performed. A quality of life questionnaire revealed that 82% had problems with mobility, 54% with self-care and 88% with everyday activity. Thirty-nine percent of patients had at least one hospitalization during the previous year. Conclusions: Ninety-seven percent of hospitalized patients with CHF are admitted in the Internal Medicine wards and occupy 15% of beds. The majority of the patients are 72 years or older, with Ž . severe heart failure. The frequency of rehospitalization s and mortality rate in this population remains high. Echocardiography is performed only in 27% of patients. ᮊ
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