Dilated alcoholic cardiomyopathy and incidental lymphoma occuring in a 56 year old man who was being managed for hypertensive heart disease in Enugu Nigeria--a rare finding.

We present a case of dilated alcoholic cardiomyopathy occurring in a 56-year-old Nigerian male. He admitted to taking alcoholic beverage, approximately 2-3 bottles of different brands of beer per day for about 30 years, but stopped three years ago on medical advice. He had a history of progressively worsening dyspnoea and encephalopathy, from decreasing ejection fraction. This resulted in a poor blood supply to the vital centers of the brain. Autopsy confirmed a dilated cardiomyopathy with an incidental fairly advanced B cell lymphoma involving the liver and spleen. The latter was thought to be a coincidental finding.

Review: the use of sodium hypochlorite in endodontics--potential complications and their management.

Aqueous sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is widely used in dental practice during root canal treatment. Although it is generally regarded as being very safe, potentially severe complications can occur when it comes into contact with soft tissue. This paper discusses the use of sodium hypochlorite in dental treatment, reviews the current literature regarding hypochlorite complications, and considers the appropriate management for a dental practitioner when faced with a potentially adverse incident with this agent.

Chloroquine retinopathy in Nigerian patients with heart block.

Twenty-six patients with heart block were examined for evidence of chloroquine retinopathy. Detailed histories of chloroquine intake showed that 50% (13 of 26) of these patients were chloroquine abusers. Retinal changes typical of chloroquine retinopathy were seen in 53.8% (7 of 13) of the chronic chloroquine abusers. Patients with heart block of unknown cause should have their fundi examined so that signs of chloroquine retinopathy may be sought.