What death is. A literary approach between fears and hope

 Men “cannot link the beginning with the end that is to follow the circular path of motion which is followed by divine stars” (Alcmeon of Croton, 510?-440 BC). “Lifelong one should learn the art of living, lifelong one should learn to die”  “Death chases me, life eludes me. Teach me how to handle the situation. Help me to escape death, help me to keep life, prolong my short time. Teach me that the value of life does not consist in his duration, but in its use”. (Lucius Anneus Seneca, 4 BC or 4 AD?- 65AD)

Poczet Członków Honorowych Polskiego Towarzystwa Nefrologicznego. Część XXIV — Profesor Miroslav Mydlik

This paper completes the 6-year-long series of publications on the honorary members of the Polish Society of Nephrology (PTN). The series included in the content of “Forum Nefrologiczne” has comprised alternate depictions of Polish and foreign distinctive figures enjoying this highest and respectable title awarded exclusively to outstanding individuals whose scientific work has been pushing the world of nephrology and the PTN forward. The previously-published paper presented professor Tomasz Szepietowski, the outstanding nephrologist, transplantologist and surgeon from Wrocław, Poland. This time, the 24th publication sets to shed light on the life and work of one of Czechoslovakia’s, and later Slovakia’s, most renowned nephrologists: professor Miroslav Mydlik from Košice, Slovakia. M. Mydlik was not only characterised by remarkable knowledge of medicinebut he was also known to be an extremely active researcher. Widely regarded as a friend by many of us, he visited Poland many a time. He participated in all the congresses of the International Association for the History of Nephrology held in Poland (Gdańsk, Toruń, Wieniec-Zdrój), as well as in the conference commemorating the 50th anniversary the first haemodialysis in Krakow. Miroslav Mydlik passed away in September this year in his home town of Košice

Maximum time-to-rescue after the 1908 Messina-Reggio Calabria earthquake was 20 days: Hints for disaster planning?

Introduction Maximum time-to-rescue has been studied accurately for many earthquakes in the years 1985-2004. No study is available for historical quakes. Hypothesis/Problem This study aimed to evaluate long-term survivors (from the fifth day after the quake) of the Messina-Reggio Calabria earthquake (1908; Italy), which is considered, historically, to be the worst seismic event in Europe. Methods Accurate readings of 11 national newspapers from the fifth day after the quake looking for rescued persons and transferring, to an ad hoc form, all data relating to each rescued person. Results The maximum time-to rescue was 20 days. There were 225 survivors, among them 51 children (22.6 %). For 23 out 225 rescued persons, there was evidence of availability of foods and drinkable fluids while under the rubble. Conclusion The maximum time-to-rescue under the debris following this historical earthquake far exceeds that of all other quakes that occurred in the years 1985-2004. The long survival under debris was probably due to the lack of an order to stop search and rescue. Recent strategies reducing the time for search and rescue carry the risk of missing survivors

The priority of Antonino D'Antona in describing rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury, following the Messina earthquake (December 28, 1908). Commentary

Following the Messina-Reggio Calabria earthquake (December 28, 1908) outstanding medical reports were published by Franz von Colmers (1875-1960), Antonino D'Antona (1842-1913), and Rocco Caminiti (1868-1940). The reports of D'Antona and Caminiti were heretofore neglected. Colmers, D'Antona and Caminiti described crush-syndrome. D'Antona who cured patients in shock also described two deaths due to uraemia. This gives him a priority in the description of crush syndrome with renal injury which has been traditionally attributed to Bywaters and Beall

[Voriconazole compromises renal function in an elderly CDK patient with Candida albicans infection]

There has been a progressive increase in the number of intensive care patients being transferred to nephrology units because of improper dosage of drugs, especially patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Voriconazole is a new synthetic triazole derivative with stronger therapeutic activity against fungal infections than fluconazole or itraconazole. Its effectiveness is associated with high nephrotoxicity, affecting patients with CKD in particular. The adverse effects of voriconazole involve several segments of the nephron, particularly the proximal tubule, medullary thick ascending limb, and collecting duct, causing loss of potassium and magnesium and backdiffusion of hydrogen ions. We report the case of an 86-year-old man with moderate CKD who developed acute renal failure as a result of inadequate dosage of voriconazole. He developed oliguria, electrolyte imbalance and fluid overload requiring hemodialysis. Vericonazole withdrawal associated with short daily hemodialysis treatment led to the recovery of diuresis, kidney function, and electrolyte balance. In conclusion, in elderly patients with liver disease and moderate CKD, thorough evaluation is needed before the administration of voriconazole in order to establish the most appropriate dose