ABSTRACT
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common health problem, representing the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and causing a significant burden in terms of morbidity and mortality, with annual deaths estimated at 700000. The western way of life, that is being rapidly adopted in many regions of the world, is a well discussed risk factor for CRC and could be targeted in terms of primary prevention. Furthermore, the relatively slow development of this cancer permits drastic reduction of incidence and mortality through secondary prevention. These facts underlie primary care physicians (PCPs) being assigned a key role in health strategies that enhance prevention and prompt diagnosis. Herein, we review the main topics of CRC in the current literature, in order to better understand its pathogenesis, risk and protective factors, as well as screening techniques. Furthermore, we discuss preventive and screening policies to combat CRC and the crucial role served by PCPs in their successful implementation. Relevant articles were identified through electronic searches of MEDLINE and through manual searches of reference lists.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Early Detection of Cancer/methods , Mass Screening/methods , Physicians, Primary Care/organization & administration , Primary Health Care/methods , Colonoscopy/instrumentation , Colonoscopy/methods , Colorectal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Colorectal Neoplasms/prevention & control , Colorectal Neoplasms/therapy , Humans , Incidence , Occult Blood , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Primary Prevention/methods , Risk Factors , Secondary Prevention/methods , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Despite remarkable reductions in its incidence and mortality, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health burden globally. Pulmonary TB occasionally challenges physicians, either due to TB's ability to mimic many different conditions or because of the increasing number of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. Here we present a case of pulmonary TB with both characteristics and a brief review of the relevant literature.
Subject(s)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects , Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Aged , Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/microbiology , Diagnostic Errors , Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial , Drug Substitution , Drug Therapy, Combination , Humans , Male , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Optic Neuritis/etiology , Pneumonia/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/microbiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnostic imaging , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/microbiologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Vago-glossopharyngeal neuralgia is an unusual clinical syndrome characterized by paroxysms of sharp pain in the distribution of glossopharyngeal nerve. Rarely the condition is associated with arrhythmia and cardiac syncope, a phenomenon named vagoglossopharyngeal neuralgia. PRESENTATION OF CASES: Here we present two patients with glosopharyngeal neuralgia associated with repetitive episodes of syncope referred from their primary care physician to neurosurgery department of a general hospital in Crete, Greece. The patients were successfully treated with microvascular decompression. DISCUSSION: A literature review on pathogenesis, diagnosis and management is also performed. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons as well as primary care physicians have to be aware of this rare condition in order to prevent associated life-threatening complications and improve patient's clinical status with accurate therapy.
ABSTRACT
Visceral leishmaniasis, in Greece, represents a relatively rare, potentially fatal clinical entity. Here we describe a case of visceral leishmaniasis infection in a 65-year old Greek male with psoriatic arthritis treated with methotrexate, who presented with high grade fever, chills, splenomegaly, pancytopenia and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia. A diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis was finally established. Visceral leishmaniasis should be included in the differential diagnosis for infections in patients receiving methotrexate for rheumatic diseases, especially in endemic areas.
