Nonlinear threshold approach for asymmetric effects of government size on economic growth in an emerging Asian economy: the Malaysian experience.

This paper discovers the asymmetric relation between government size and economic growth in Malaysia, an emerging Asian economy, by utilising a dynamic threshold nonlinear approach. The study finds empiric evidence that the threshold effect linking government size to economic growth in Malaysia exists when two different proxies of government size are set as the threshold variable. On closer inspection, it is found that an inverted U-shaped Armey curve is present when allowing for endogenous government size threshold proxied by government operating/real GDP.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings in descending necrotizing mediastinitis and cervical vertebral osteomyelitis in a cancer patient: A case report.

Rationale: A deep neck infection (DNI) with descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) has great clinical importance because of its high morbidity and mortality, particularly when associated with predisposing underlying disease. With the expanding clinical use of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), it may be necessary to perform FDG PET/CT for immediate diagnosis and treatment of DNM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of DNI with DNM diagnosed based on FDG PET/CT findings.

Ipsilateral Hyperhidrosis: Atypical Symptom of Small Lung Adenocarcinoma Evaluated by F-FDG PET-CT.

A 45-year-old male visited our clinic due to right palmar anhidrosis and contralateral hyperhidrosis. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a solitary pulmonary nodule with mediastinal lymph node enlargement, but a cause for atypical palmar anhidrosis was not identified. Subsequent fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed (PET/CT) revealed a localized pleural metastasis at the right apex with direct invasion of the paravertebral sympathetic chain.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of preoperative F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for colorectal cancer: comparison with conventional computed tomography.

Background/aims: F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) has been used for preoperative staging of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for detection of lymph node or distant metastasis and its prognostic role have not been well established. We therefore evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of FDG-PET/CT in comparison with conventional CT for CRC.

Long-Term Recurrence of Small Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Its Risk Factors in a Korean Multicenter Study.

Context: Small papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) generally has an excellent prognosis. However, long-term recurrence is not uncommon and sometimes leads to morbidity or mortality.

Objective: To identify high-risk factors for long-term recurrence in patients with small PTC by stratifying their pathologic characteristics.