An indole is not an indole when it is a naphthalene derivative!
We routinely measure 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) by a long-established method using nitrosonaphthol, as first described by Udenfriend in 1955 (1), but with various modifications to improve specificity (2). The profession’s elder statesmen may well recall the method of Hanson and Serin (3) using Erlich’s reagent.
Although the Udenfriend method is very specific for 5-hydroxyindoles, it is subject to interference, probably the most documented being that from acetaminophen and …
Variation in periodontal terminology can affect the diagnosis and treatment plan as assessed by practicing general dentists in the Practitioners Engaged in Applied Research and Learning (PEARL) Network. General dentists participating in the PEARL Network are highly screened, credentialed, and qualified and may not be representative of the general population of dentists.Ten randomized case presentations ranging from periodontal health to gingivitis, to mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis were randomly presented to respondents. Descriptive comparisons were made between these diagnosis groups in terms of the treatment recommendations following diagnosis.PEARL practitioners assessing periodontal clinical scenarios were found to either over- or under-diagnose the case presentations, which affected treatment planning, while the remaining responses concurred with respect to the diagnosis. The predominant diagnosis was compared with that assigned by two practicing periodontists. There was variation in treatment based on the diagnosis for gingivitis and the lesser forms of periodontitis.Data suggests that a lack of clarity of periodontal terminology affects both diagnosis and treatment planning, and terminology may be improved by having diagnosis codes, which could be used to assess treatment outcomes.This article provides data to support best practice for the use of diagnosis coding and integration of dentistry with medicine using ICD-10 terminology.
Vietnam - The Vietnamese Tradition of Human Rights. By Ta Van Tai. Berkeley: University of California Institute of East Asian Studies, 1988. Pp. xiv, 292. Abbreviations, Notes, Bibliography, Index. - Volume 21 Issue 1
Introduction: Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) are safe and effective for endoscopic management of malignant gastrointestinal strictures. There is limited experience with the use of SEMS in the management of refractory benign gastrointestinal strictures. In benign strictures SEMS placement is associated with higher risk of adverse events compared to dilation therapy alone. In this report we describe the use of a new lumen-apposing covered SEMS (Axios; Xlumena, Mountain View, CA) for the management of benign gastrointestinal strictures and discuss some of the inherent advantages of this novel approach. Methods: Single-center case-series of five patients who underwent lumen-apposing covered SEMS placement for benign gastrointestinal strictures. Results: Four patients had a benign gastroduodenal stricture and one patient had a distal colonic anastomotic stricture. All patients tolerated the procedure well. None of the patients developed any immediate or delayed stent-related adverse events. In two patients the stents were left in place indefinitely. Stent removal was achieved endoscopically in the other 3 patients with successful clinical resolution of their symptoms. Conclusion: This study describes the feasibility and effective use of a novel stent for the management of select benign gastrointestinal strictures.Figure 1Figure 2
The role of the device and endoscope industry in training endoscopists has been necessarily intensive, multifaceted, and integrated into the practical curriculum throughout the history of endoscopic training. Industry has also traditionally provided generous levels of support for courses held by gastrointestinal (GI) societies, academic institutions, and other endoscopy groups, and is an important and necessary source of funding particularly for hands-on venues, which are much more resource-intensive than didactics-only presentations. A prototypical example of an organization advancing the role of GI Societies in training endoscopists to perform new techniques is the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The development of new endoscopic technology is a landscape that is far from flat. There are the obvious successes and failures, from the durability and continuous improvement of the charge-coupled device-driven videoendoscope to the fleeting appearance and momentary disappearance of many an endoscopic anti-gastroesophageal reflux technology.
