Is it worth doing barium enemas on patients with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia?

The incidence on double contrast barium enema (DCBE) of carcinomas and polyps > 1 cm in size was compared in 92 patients with iron deficiency anaemia and a group of randomly obtained non-anaemic controls. In the anaemic group there were eight carcinomas and four polyps, and in the control group two carcinomas and no polyps. The incidence of neoplasms in the anaemic group (13.

Is the appendix where you think it is--and if not does it matter?

For over 100 years the recognized surface marking for the appendix has been McBurney's point (the junction of the lateral and middle thirds of a line joining the umbilicus with the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)). In order to test its validity, the relationship between McBurney's point and the appendix was determined on 275 double contrast barium enemas (DCBE). A wide spread of distribution of the site of the appendix base was seen.

Use and misuse of the tape-measure as a means of assessing muscle strength and power.

The tape-measure is frequently used by the medical profession to assess muscle function following injury. It is assumed that increasing limb girth is reflected by increasing muscle power and strength; but this assumption is empirical and may not in practice be justified. The relationship between thigh circumference and muscle strength and power, measured as the torque produced on an isokinetic dynamometer, was assessed in 64 subjects--24 non-injured sportsmen and 40 injured sportsmen.