Mitral valve areas determined by two-dimensional planimetry, pressure half-time and proximal flow convergence region reliably correlated with size of the anatomic orifice. The flow area method provided a less reliable correlation.

No abstract

Summary A sample of 930 children, between 9 years and 15 years old from six Italian towns, were studied. Their family history of allergy, personal allergy and medical history, current allergy symptoms, exposure to environmental allergens, feeding as infants, and their parents’ occupations were recorded. They were skin‐prick tested (SPT) with a range of common allergens. A subject was defined as atopic if at least one SPT caused a weal greater than 3 mm diameter. The association between the recorded information and atopy was investigated by logistic multiple regression. Atopy was positively associated with: high density housing; medium or high exposure to environmental allergens; a history of rhinitis, asthma or atopic eczema; male gender; and a history of breast‐feeding. It was independent of infectious diseases, vaccinations and operations, social class and family history. Thus, there was no evidence of a genetic factor in atopy, other than sex.

The takotsubo syndrome is a clinical entity that can mimic an acute myocardial infarction. It is characterised by anginal chest pain with ST-T elevation in precordial leads, without coronary obstruction at angiography; its distinctive feature is a peculiar pattern of left ventricular contraction, with expansion of the apical segments and basal hyperkinesis, also known as 'apical ballooning'. This syndrome usually has a good prognosis, with normalisation of the left ventricular contraction impairment within several days, although Japanese authors have described two cases of free left ventricular wall rupture in these patients.We describe a case of apical ballooning syndrome complicated by left ventricular rupture in a Caucasian old female. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever case of a fatal outcome in the Caucasian population, due to free wall ventricular rupture, and confirms that the takotsubo syndrome may lead to a fatal cardiac event.

A case of typhoid fever complicated by bilateral chorioretinitis and monolateral stellate maculopathy is reported. Clinical findings are discussed.