Classification of Physiological 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake in the Large Intestine: a Preliminary Study.

Varying degrees of physiological uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) are often noted in the large intestine and can be problematic when interpreting positron emission tomography (PET) images. In relation to colorectal tumor detection with FDG PET, we tentatively classified physiological FDG uptake in the large intestine according to its patterns and intensity. Subjects were 144 asymptomatic individuals (109 men, 35 women; mean age 57.

The effect of glucagon on FDG uptake in skeletal muscle.

Glucagon is used as an anti-motility agent during gastrointestinal tract examinations. We experienced subjects with enhanced 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in whole-body skeletal muscle when conducting positron emission tomography (PET). The subjects had been administered glucagon during gastroscopy just prior to PET.

Solutions for retention of female cardiologists: from the survey of gender differences in the work and life of cardiologists.

Background: To prevent a future shortage of cardiologists, it is important for female cardiologists to continue working. Gender differences in the professional and private lives of cardiologists, as well as the barriers to work for female cardiologists, were surveyed.

Methods And Results: In August 2007, a questionnaire was mailed to all 195 faculty members/fellows and 155 alumni of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Nippon Medical School.

Internal medicine education in dentistry: knowledge required varies according to dental specialty.

Background: With recent increases in the number of elderly and medically compromised patients, dentists are required to have a more comprehensive understanding of medical problems. There is, however, little awareness of the importance of internal medicine at dental schools in Japan.

Objective: The aims of the present study were to examine whether dentists need medical knowledge, to examine how often they experience difficulties regarding internal medicine in dental practice, and to determine whether their specialty or career influences their needs or difficulties.

Use of cytosolic and myofibril markers in the detection of ongoing myocardial damage in patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: Measurement of serum levels of cytosolic and myofibril components of cardiac tissue could indicate ongoing myocardial damage in patients with chronic heart failure.

Methods: We correlated serum levels of a cytosolic marker (heart-type fatty acid-binding protein) and a myofibril marker (troponin T) with the severity of symptoms (based on the New York Heart Association [NYHA] class), neurohumoral derangement, and subsequent cardiac events in 56 patients with chronic heart failure.

Results: Mean (+/- SD) levels of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein were greater in patients with NYHA class III or IV heart failure (9.

Hyponatremic-hypertensive syndrome associated with renovascular hypertension: a case report.

Renovascular hypertension occasionally manifests clinically as electrolyte disorders and albuminuria in addition to elevated blood pressure. A 49-year-old man who had renovascular hypertension also had severe hypokalemia, hyponatremia, polyuria and polydipsia that were treated by an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and resection of an atrophic kidney with a compromised blood supply. This is a case of hyponatremic-hypertensive syndrome related to renovascular hypertension and occurring as an additional abnormality.