OBJECTIVE: Image-guided targeted biopsy techniques have been proposed to address problems ofsystematic transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies that lead to the suboptimal cancer detectionrate as well as inaccurate grading of the disease. This study aims to provide local data on the diagnosticaccuracy of multiparametric MRI (MP-MRI) and MP-MRI ultrasound cognitive fusion biopsy inidentifying areas of clinically significant malignancy of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a validity study involving patients who underwent MP-MRI and MP-MRI ultrasound cognitive fusion biopsy, who eventually underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radicalprostatectomy (RALRP). Outcome measures included sensitivity, specificity, positive and negativepredictive values of MP-MRI and MP-MRI ultrasound cognitive fusion biopsy. Reference standardused was the final histopathologic report obtained after RALRP. RESULTS: MP-MRI has a sensitivity of 35.5%, specificity of 95.2%, positive predictive value of 97.1%,and negative predictive value of 25%. MP-MRI ultrasound fusion biopsy had similar results, withsensitivity of 34.4%, specificity of 81.0%, positive predictive value of 88.9%, and negative predictivevalue of 21.8%. CONCLUSION The high specificity and positive predictive value of MP-MRI (95.2% and 97.1%respectively) indicates the necessity for a prostate biopsy and supports the utility of a targeted MP-MRI guided ultrasound cognitive fusion biopsy. However, the low sensitivity and negative predictivevalue (25% and 35% respectively) of 35.5% indicates that MP-MRI guidance does not limit thenumber of biopsy samples only to visible MP-MRI lesions, since negative areas on MP-MRI stillcontains tumors in 75% of cases.

No abstract available.
Chest Pain* ; Thorax*

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease and poses a lifelong burden. Psoriasis is now considered a systemic inflammatory disease. Increasing epidemiological studies have established the role of psoriasis as an independent risk factor in the development of metabolic syndrome and its components. This has led to changes in standard of care recommendations for patients with psoriasis. We conducted a clinical audit on “adequacy of care in patient with psoriasis”. Objective: To examine current trend of practice in the treatment of adults with psoriasis in Dermatology clinic (tertiary referral centre), Penang Hospital. This study also aims to determine the adequacy of care in psoriasis patients in general, and those on systemic agents in specific. Method: A retrospective study examined all adult psoriasis patients who visited Dermatology Clinic, Penang Hospital within 1st July - 31st July 2009. Only those who have been on follow-up for at least 1 year were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, disease burden and details of psoriasis management were documented and analysed. Standards were derived from recommendations of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Results: Of the 112 patients, 67 were males (59.8%). The mean age of patients was 48.8 years. Fifty (44.6%) were Chinese, 35 Malay (31.3%), 26 Indians (23.2%) and 1 foreigner (0.9%). The mean frequency of clinic visit was 8.2. Forty-seven patients required systemic agents to achieve better disease control. Eighty-three (74.1%) patients were offered “Psoriasis Education Programme”. Percentage of patients who had their severity scoring done by using the DLQI, BSA & Pain score were 73.2%, 90.2% and 85.7% respectively. Only less than 50% of our patients were offered “Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors Screening”. Of those on systemic agents, only 87.2% and 46.8% of patients, had their baseline and follow up blood investigations done respectively. Conclusion: The care of psoriasis patients in Dermatology Clinic, Penang Hospital is still not adequate. Particular areas of concern include blood monitoring for those on systemic agents and screening for metabolic syndrome risk factors. Remedial measures: Guidelines have been designed to create awareness and to educate doctors and patients on psoriasis and its association with metabolic syndrome. This includes a flow chart / tables to facilitate monitoring and screening of patients. Patients will be given pamphlets on the general knowledge on psoriasis, treatments and the risk of co-morbidities.

For several decades esophageal manometry has been the test of choice to evaluate disorders of esophageal motor function. The recent introduction of high-resolution manometry for the study of esophageal motor function simplified performance of esophageal manometry, and revealed previously unidentified patterns of normal and abnormal esophageal motor function. Presentation of pressure data as color contour plots or esophageal pressure topography led to the development of new tools for analyzing and classifying esophageal motor patterns. The current standard and still developing approach to do this is the Chicago classification. While this methodical approach is improving our diagnosis of esophageal motor disorders, it currently does not address all motor abnormalities. We will explore the Chicago classification and disorders that it does not address.
Chicago ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophagus ; Manometry

Neurotrophins are important for the development and maintenance of both high and low threshold mechanoreceptors (HTMRs and LTMRs). In this series of studies, the effects of constitutive overexpression of two different neurotrophins, neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and glial cell line derived neurotrohic factor (GDNF), were examined. Previous studies indicated that both of them may be implicated in the normal development of mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Neurons from mice transgenically altered to overexpress NT-3 or GDNF (NT-3-OE or GDNF-OE mice) in the skin were examined using several physiological, immunohistochemical and molecular techniques. Ex vivo skin/ nerve/DRG/spinal cord and skin/ nerve preparations were used to determine the response characteristics of the cutaneous neurons; immunohistochemistry was used to examine the biochemical phenotype of DRG cells and the skin; RT-PCR was used to examine the levels of candidate ion channels in skin and DRG that may correlate with changes in physiological responses. In GDNF-OE mice, I-isolectin B4 (IB4)-immunopositive C-HTMRs (nociceptors), a large percentage of which are sensitive to GDNF, had significantly lower mechanical thresholds than wildtype (WT) neurons. Heat thresholds for the same cells were not different. Mechanical sensitivity changes in GDNF-OE mice were correlated with significant increases in acid sensing ion channels 2a (ASIC2a) and 2b (ASIC2b) and transient receptor potential channel A1 (TRPA1), all of which are putative mechanosensitive ion channels. Overexpression of NT-3 affected the responses of A-LTMRs and A-HTMRs, but had no effect on C-HTMRs. Slowly adapting type 1 (SA1) LTMRs and A-HTMRs had increased mechanical sensitivity compared to WT. Mechanical sensitivity was correlated with significant increases in acid-sensing ion channels ASIC1 and ASIC3. This data indicates that both neurotrophins play roles in determining mechanical thresholds of cutaneous HTMRs and LTMRs and that sensitivity changes involve the ASIC family of putative mechanoreceptive ion channels.
Acid Sensing Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neurotrophin 3 ; metabolism ; Nociceptors ; cytology ; metabolism ; Skin ; cytology

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a common therapeutic technique for treating medically refractory neuropathic back and other limb pain syndromes. SCS has historically been performed using a sedative anesthetic technique where the patient is awakened at various times during a surgical procedure to evaluate the location of the stimulator lead. This technique has potential complications, and thus other methods that allow the use of a general anesthetic have been developed. There are two primary methods for placing leads under general anesthesia, based on 1) compound muscle action potentials and 2) collisions between somatosensory evoked potentials. Both techniques are discussed, and the literature on SCS lead placement under general anesthesia using intraoperative neurophysiological mapping is comprehensively reviewed.
Action Potentials ; Anesthesia, General* ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Extremities ; Humans ; Neurophysiology ; Spinal Cord Stimulation* ; Spinal Cord*

Relationships between gastrointestinal viscera and human emotions have been documented by virtually all medical traditions known to date. The focus on this relationship has waxed and waned through the centuries, with noted surges in interest driven by cultural forces. Here we explore some of this history and the emerging trends in experimental and clinical research. In particular, we pay specific attention to how the hygiene hypothesis and emerging research on traditional dietary patterns has helped re-ignite interest in the use of microbes to support mental health. At present, the application of microbes and their structural parts as a means to positively influence mental health is an area filled with promise. However, there are many limitations within this new paradigm shift in neuropsychiatry. Impediments that could block translation of encouraging experimental studies include environmental forces that work toward dysbiosis, perhaps none more important than westernized dietary patterns. On the other hand, it is likely that specific dietary choices may amplify the value of future microbial-based therapeutics. Pre-clinical and clinical research involving microbiota and allergic disorders has predated recent work in psychiatry, an early start that provides valuable lessons. The microbiome is intimately connected to diet, nutrition, and other lifestyle variables; microbial-based psychopharmacology will need to consider this contextual application, otherwise the ceiling of clinical expectations will likely need to be lowered.
Allergy and Immunology ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Diet ; Dysbiosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Hygiene Hypothesis ; Life Style ; Mental Health* ; Microbiota* ; Neuropsychiatry ; Psychopharmacology ; Viscera ; Child Health

BACKGROUND: To assess the current level of development of emergency medicine (EM) systems in Asia. METHOD: Survey of EM professionals from 12 Asian countries during a 90-day period from August to November 1998. 12 EM professionals from 12 Asian countries completed the survey. All participants were physicians. 7 participants (58%) gave presentations at an international EM conference during the study period. Respondents completed a 103 question questionnaire about the status of EM specialty, academic, patient care, information and management systems and the factors influencing the future of EM in their countries. RESULTS: 92% of respondents stated that their countries have hospital-based emergency departments (ED). More than 80% of respondents reported that their countries have EMS systems and ED systems for trauma care and patient transfer. More than 70% stated that their countries have national EM organizations, EM research, national EMS activation phone numbers, ED systems for pediatric emergency care, emergency physician (EP) training in ACLS and ATLS and peer review. More than 60% reported official recognition of EM as an independent specialty status, ED triage systems and systems for customer service. More than 50% reported EM residency training programs, EM journals and EP ability to perform rapid sequence intubation (RSI). 50% reported EP ability to perform thrombolysis for acute MI and 33% reported EP ultrasonography. 92% felt that a lack of funding posed a moderate or great obstacle to the future development of EM in their countries. CONCLUSION: Many essential systems of EM now exist throughout Asia. In the systems of administration and emergency medical information in many countries, there are some parts to be developed further.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Medicine* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Financial Management ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Intubation ; Patient Care ; Patient Transfer ; Peer Review ; Triage ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: High intraluminal pressure has been reported to cause left colonic diverticula. However, the pathophysiology of right colonic diverticula is still unclear. Methane gas has been reported to delay small intestinal transit and to increase intraluminal pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between right colonic diverticula and intestinal gas produced by enteric bacteria. METHODS: Lactulose breath tests were performed in 30 patients who were diagnosed with right colonic diverticula via colonoscopy. The control group consisted of 30 healthy adults with no specific symptoms or medical histories. A hydrogen or methane producer was defined in 2 ways: either one that exhibited a breath hydrogen level > or = 20 ppm (methane > or = 10 ppm) baseline or one that exhibited an increase in breath hydrogen > or = 20 ppm (methane > or = 10 ppm) above baseline within the first 90 minutes of the test. RESULTS: The lactulose breath test (LBT) positivity in the diverticular group and the control group were 40.0% and 33.3%, respectively, without a statistically significant difference. The concentrations of methane and hydrogen gas measured by LBT increased over time, but there was no significant difference between the control and the diverticular groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant relationship between right colonic diverticula and intestinal gases produced by enteric bacteria. However, time-dependent formation of diverticula should be taken into consideration, therefore long-term, large-scale follow-up studies may reveal further pathogenesis of right colonic diverticulosis.
Adult ; Breath Tests ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulosis, Colonic ; Diverticulum ; Diverticulum, Colon ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Gases ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Lactulose ; Methane