ABSTRACT
The case of a 50 years old man, coming from an endemic Chagas' disease zone, is reported. This patient came with a dilated cardiomyopathy, likely of Chagasic etiology, and heart failure. He died in our Institute, were it was possible to register an ECG, and perform the necropsy, on the same day of his death. The ECG showed signs of heart chambers dilatation, inactive myocardium in subendocardial anterolateral regions of the left ventricle, and extensive subepicardial injury. The anatomical study demonstrated the four heart chambers dilatation, and a subendocardial fibrosis essentially located in anterolateral portions of the left ventricle. The histological examination proved that the distribution of injured zones corresponded to location of the inflammatory foci. Furthermore, Trypanosoma cruzi inoculation in mice produced inflammatory foci, predominantly located in the ventricular epicardial and subepicardial regions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Chagas Cardiomyopathy/pathology , Chagas Cardiomyopathy , Electrocardiography , Chronic DiseaseABSTRACT
Arab medicine arose as a consequence of the assimilation and breeding of Hellenistic medicine, particularly of Galenic medicine. It reached its high point between the X and XII centuries and, after the XIII century, lost all creative capabilities. Nevertheless, it achieved the status of being an incentive for European medieval medicine. Some aspects of the medical teaching and publications of the most distinguished Moslem physicians, such as Rhazes (865-932), Avicenna (980-1037), and AverroÙs (1126-1198) are described. The main characteristics of Moslem medical institutions such as guilds, hospitals, and organizations of professional practice also are discussed. Although Arab medicine essentially constituted a transmission vehicle of master ideas of ancient medical thought, this medicine awoke the interest and initiative of the medieval physicians of western Europe, for example, those at the medical school of Salerno.
Subject(s)
History, 15th Century , History, 16th Century , History, Ancient , History, Medieval , Humans , Islam , Medicine, Arabic , EuropeABSTRACT
The expression "inoculation of smallpox" was first employed by Emanuele Timone, native of Chios island and graduated from the Universities of Padua and Oxford. He learned about this procedure in Constantinople. This method was introduced in North America, during the great epidemic outbreak of 1721, by two Bostonian citizens: Cotton Mather and Zabdiel Boylston. The French physician Henri Etienne Morel introduced the procedure into New Spain during the smallpox epidemic of 1779. Nevertheless only in 1798 the English physician Edward Jenner published the results of his observations and experience concerning the "vaccination" in his book "Inquiry into the cause and effects of the variolae vaccinae." After some initial oppositions, this method rapidly spreaded to the rest of Europe. It arrived to Spain in 1801 and thence was transferred to Spanish America and Philippine Islands with the expedition leaded by Francisco Xavier Balmis. Along the XIX century the methods for obtaining and keeping the vaccine were notably improved. Both Jenner and Balmis are worthy of remembrance as great humanity benefactors.