99mTc-HSA-DTPA Scintigraphy of Protein-Losing Gastroenteropathy Associated with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease Before and After Immunosuppressive Therapy / 대한핵의학회잡지

We present a female in her sixties with mixed connective tissue disease who underwent 99mTc-human serum albumin diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ( 99mTc-HSA-DTPA) scintigraphy to clarify the cause of generalized edema. Scintigraphy findings directed the diagnosis to protein-losing gastroenteropathy. Various disorders are known to be associated with proteinlosing gastroenteropathy; however, mixed connective tissue disease is a rare cause. 99mTc-HSA-DTPA scintigraphy is helpful in the diagnosis and following the response to therapy of protein-losing gastroenteropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy induced by drinking water contaminated with low-dose arsenic in Myanmar

BACKGROUND@#More than 140 million people drink arsenic-contaminated groundwater. It is unknown how much arsenic exposure is necessary to cause neurological impairment. Here, we evaluate the relationship between neurological impairments and the arsenic concentration in drinking water (ACDW).@*PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS@#A cross-sectional study design was employed. We performed medical examinations of 1867 residents in seven villages in the Thabaung township in Myanmar. Medical examinations consisted of interviews regarding subjective neurological symptoms and objective neurological examinations of sensory disturbances. For subjective neurological symptoms, we ascertained the presence or absence of defects in smell, vision, taste, and hearing; the feeling of weakness; and chronic numbness or pain. For objective sensory disturbances, we examined defects in pain sensation, vibration sensation, and two-point discrimination. We analyzed the relationship between the subjective symptoms, objective sensory disturbances, and ACDW.@*RESULTS@#Residents with ACDW ≥ 10 parts per billion (ppb) had experienced a "feeling of weakness" and "chronic numbness or pain" significantly more often than those with ACDW  50 ppb). These data suggest a threshold for the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy due to arsenic exposure, and indicate that the arsenic concentration in drinking water should be less than 10 ppb to ensure human health.

[18] F-FDG PET/CT imaging of primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumors [PHNETs] are extremely rare neoplasms. Herein, we report a case of a 70-year-old man with a hepatic mass. The non-contrast computed tomography [CT] image showed a low-density mass, and dynamic CT images indicated the enhancement of the mass in the arterial phase and early washout in the late phase. F18- fluorodeoxyglucose [[18]F-FDG] positron emission tomography [PET] and fused PET/CT images showed increased uptake in the hepatic mass. Whole-body [18]F-FDG PET images showed no abnormal activity except for the liver lesion. Presence of an extrahepatic tumor was also ruled out by performing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, total colonoscopy, and chest and abdominal CT. A posterior segmentectomy was performed, and histologic examination confirmed a neuroendocrine tumor [grade 1]. The patient was followed up for about 2 years after the resection, and no extrahepatic lesions were radiologically found. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with PHNET. To the best of our knowledge, no previous case of PHNET have been detected by [18]F-FDG PET imaging

SPECT/CT imaging in bone scintigraphy of a case of clavicular osteoma

Osteoma is a benign bone-forming tumor that usually arises in the craniofacial bones and rarely in the long bones. Clavicular involvement is extremely rare. We report a 51-year-old woman with osteoma of the left clavicle. Radiograph of the left shoulder showed a well-defined lobulated blastic mass in the proximal and mid-portion of the left clavicle. Bone scintigraphy was performed 4 hours after an intravenous injection of Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate [HMDP]. Whole-body image showed a focus of intensely increased uptake in the clavicle. Single photon emission computed tomography/ computed tomography [SPECT/CT] images were also acquired and clearly showed intense uptake at the tumor site. Integrated SPECT/CT imaging supplies both functional and anatomic information about bone: the SPECT imaging improves sensitivity compared with planar imaging, the CT imaging provides precise localization of the abnormal uptake, and information on the shape and structure of the abnormalities improves the specificity of the diagnosis

Evaluation of the outpatient clinic education of our department by the patient / 医学教育

1) We investigated the patients'evaluations of the students, our management of the medical training, and the patients' recognition of our outpatient clinic education. We then requested the patients to give their opinions regarding such interviews.<BR>2) The patients'evaluations of the outpatient clinic and the patients'recognition of our outpatient clinic education were relatively good, but some patients complained about the short duration of medical care and also expressed anxiety over the students'medical interview.<BR>3) Many patients expressed the desire to positively participate in medical education because the patients had high expectations of the medical students.In addition, this interview training fulfilled the patients'desire to be listened to and have their concerns acknowledged.

Influence of the Patient/Doctor Relationship on the Non-attendance Rate of General Practice, and Investigation of Reasons for Hospital Non-attendance / General Medicine

BACKGROUND: In general practice, though patients often stop visiting ambulatory clinics of their own vo-lition despite the need for ongoing medical treatment, there is little reported research on the reasons for nonattendance in Japan. In this study, we investigated whether the patient/doctor relationship influences nonattendance rates in general practice. In addition, we investigated the reasons why patients stopped visiting the hospital.<BR>METHODS: We collected data from 115 patients (58 males, 57 females; age range: 16 to 94 years old, median age: 52 years old) whose initial diagnoses were made in our department from June to July 2000. We classified the patients into five groups based on the level of their complaints concerning the initial consultation (‘A’ representing the highest degree of complaint, ‘E’ representing the lowest) and determined the relationship between the strength of complaints and the non-attendance rate. Furthermore, we investigated the reasons for non-attendance concerning 28 patients who stopped visiting the hospital from April 2000 to November 2001.<BR>RESULTS: The non-attendance rates were 0% (014) for group A, 14.3% (2114) for group B, 5.6% (5189) for group C, 33.3% (216) for group D, and 50% (1/2) for group E. The rate tended to be higher in groups with fewer complaints. The reasons for non-attendance were the following: remission of symptoms (9 patients), request for another hospital or department (6 patients), relief due to consultation at the university hospital (6 patients), and lack of time to come to the particular hospital (5 patients) . In contrast, the most common reason for satisfaction at the time of consultation was ‘enough explanation and listening to complaints well’ in 7 of 11 patients who were satisfied with the consultation.<BR>CONCLUSIONS: The level of patient's complaints at the time of consultation is related to the non-attendance rate. However, sufficient explanation about symptoms and careful listening to complaints are important for establishing a good patient/doctor relationship.