[A new drug reaches Switzerland: coma after intake of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)]. / Eine neue Droge erreicht die Schweiz: Koma nach Einnahme von Gamma-Hydroxybuttersäure (GHB).

The new recreational drug, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB, "liquid ecstasy"), reached Switzerland in 1998. We describe two cases from the city of Zurich. In both of them the subjects were profoundly unconscious and needed hospitalization after intake of a colourless liquid. Both patients recovered after a few hours, rapidly and without after-effects. Gamma-hydoxybutyrate is abused mainly for its euphorigenic and sedative properties by young people in discos, at raves, or on the drug scene. It is also taken as an alleged anabolic agent among bodybuilders. Criminals use it to narcotise potential victims. We summarise its effects, adverse effects, diagnosis, treatment, toxicology, pharmacology, and medical applications.

Prevalence of Salmonella in poultry carcasses and their products in Belgium.

During four subsequent years (1993 until 1996), a study was conducted to isolate and characterize Salmonella in poultry carcasses and their products sold in Belgium. This was a semiquantitative approach (absence per 100 cm2 or 25 cm2 or 25 g and absence per cm2 or g) to elucidate the degree of Salmonella contamination of the poultry. Serotyping was performed during the last two and a half years. Samples were frozen and kept at -20 degrees C before analysis. This may have influenced the number of Salmonella recovered. No improvement in the rate of contamination was noted during these four years, with rates being 19.4% for 1993, 24.1% for 1994, 21.9% for 1995 and 36.7% for 1996. A 100% increase of Salmonella-positive samples resulted from cutting up the carcasses into individual parts. Chicken parts were more often contaminated with Salmonella than turkey parts. Boiling hen carcasses showed the highest Salmonella contamination. Prepared poultry, chicken parts and boiling hen carcasses are sometimes associated with Salmonella contamination levels of > 1 cfu/cm2 or g. In 1996, respectively 15.1%, 4.2% and 4.2% of highly contaminated samples (> 1 cfu/cm2 or g) were found for these product groups. The predominant three serotypes were S. enteritidis (16.3%), S. hadar (15.5%) and S. virchow (14.1%). S. newport was frequently isolated from turkey products.

Outcome of job change in patients with occupational chromate dermatitis.

Patients with allergic contact dermatitis due to dichromate are reputed to have a bad prognosis. Based on the Swiss Law on Accidents Insurance, the Swiss National Accidents Insurance Organization (SNAIO) may issue a declaration of medical inability (DMI) in cases of severe occupational dichromate dermatitis. With such a DMI, an employee is not allowed to perform any further work in contact with dichromate or cement. In this study, we reviewed medical records from 88 construction workers with DMI due to occupational dichromate dermatitis, between 1986 and 1989. Follow-up was performed by standardized questionnaire. 63 patients (72%) healed in the first few years after DMI. These patients mostly changed industry and strictly avoided all contact with cement or chromium salts. A few retired early. The outcome of our study is favorable in comparison to studies from other countries without the DMI mechanism. We conclude that strict allergen avoidance enforced by authorities, and financial support in the case of job change, are important factors in improving the prognosis in occupational dichromate dermatitis.