We report the case of a 50-year-old obese man (115 kg body mass at 1.77 m height), who started taking 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) for weight reduction 44 days before his death. After 43 days of taking DNP, the man showed signs of intoxication with nausea, vomiting, and attacks of sweating. After admission to a hospital where the man concealed his DNP intake, sinus tachycardia, tachypnea, and general unrest were noted. The patient died 9 h after the onset of those symptoms. Upon autopsy, a yellowing of palms and soles was striking. The initially uncertain cause of death could only be clarified by the forensic toxicological examinations and subsequent police investigations. Finally, the man had a total intake of 12.3 g of DNP in 44 days which is relatively high compared to other lethal DNP intoxications.

We describe the case of a young male patient who had consumed the morphine-like substance AH-7921 which is available via the internet. He was initially admitted to hospital because of obstipation and presented within a day of inpatient treatment for the first time with a generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizure with subsequent urinary retention. Within a few hours, the patient then also developed bradycardia, while at the same time describing symptoms of physical opioid withdrawal which gradually deteriorated within the following hours. We initiated a treatment with buprenorphine which resulted in a considerable reduction of withdrawal symptoms, so the patient could be discharged from hospital.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: High heels are often worn by women, some of whom consider this style of shoes an important part of their gender identity. At the same time, many wearers experience pain in their feet, legs and back. The causes of the pain are complex and have not been identified conclusively. In hormonal causes, changes in posture are particularly relevant and the impact high heel shoes have on causing pain and affecting posture of different ages has not yet been examined.Methods: One hundred forty women were recruited and retrospectively assigned to age groups: Group A: 18-25 years, Group B: 26-34 years, Group C: 35-49 years, Group D: 50-79 years. The kyphosis angle (ka), the lordosis angle (la) and the trunk inclination (ti) were determined as posture parameters. In addition, we assessed pain by using a questionnaire.Results: 136 women (97 per cent) aged 18 to 79 years completed the study. The kyphosis angles (p=0.023) and the lordosis angles (p=0.016) were significant for the whole group. Within group D, the kawas significant (p=0.030). Between the groups, the ka heel (A vs. C, p=0.006; A vs. D, p=0.004) and the heel height (A vs. D, p=0.001; B vs. D, p=0.006) were statistically significant. The pain, while wearing high heels was significantly different between the groups (p=0.039), with younger wearers being affected more frequently. Conclusions:Wearing high heels is associated with a change in postural parameters, with younger women compensating for this by adjusting the lumbar spine, while older women react with a change in the thoracic spine. In both cases, the centre of gravity is balanced. The higher pain perception of younger women is presumably multifactorial. In particular, higher heels and a lack of experience in movement due to a lower frequency of wear should be mentioned.