Objective:To analyze variant patterns and characteristics of focal physiological uptake (FPU) in the tongue on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging in patients without a history of oral tumor surgery and radiotherapy. Methods:A total of 6 233 consecutive patients who underwent routine whole-body PET/CT scan between January 2013 and December 2017 in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were investigated retrospectively, and 324 patients with a history of oral surgery and radiotherapy were excluded, the remaining 5 909 patients (3 418 males, 2 491 females, age range: 2-95 (average: 58) years) were enrolled. A part of the patients underwent local PET/CT scan and CT scan with diagnostic dose, covering the oral cavity on mouth-opening position. The morphological characteristics of FPU patterns were analyzed, and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) was measured. Results:Seventy-six FPUs in 76 patients (49 males, 27 females, age range: 40-83 (average 64) years) identified by routine whole-body PET/CT scan were confirmed by clinical examination from a specialist in stomatology or follow-up for more than 6 months. Forty-one of the 76 patients subsequently underwent local PET/CT scan and diagnostic CT scan on mouth-opening position. The incidence of FPU in the tongue was 1.29%(76/5 909). The FPU patterns could be classified into three types: type Ⅰ with FDG uptake involved only anterior part of the tongue body in the midline (near the tip of the tongue), which showed as a " dotted" shape( n=68; 1.15%, 68/5 909); type Ⅱ with FDG uptake involved mainly middle part of the genioglossus muscle, which showed as a " bar-shorted" shape ( n=5; 0.08%, 5/5 909); type Ⅲ with FDG uptake involved large part of the tongue body and the genioglossus, which showed as a " T" shape( n=3; 0.05%, 3/5 909). The SUV max in patients with type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ were 5.53(4.53, 7.30), 19.50(17.10, 22.74) respectively. The SUV max in 3 patients with type Ⅲ were 23.34, 27.50 and 35.14, respectively. Conclusion:In patients without a history of oral tumor surgery and radiotherapy, the FPU in the tongue has its specific pattern, and PET/CT scan on mouth-opening position helps to reveal the detailed features.

Objective:To evaluate the application of modular teaching program in the clinical competence training for community general practitioners.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A 140 teaching hour-modular training program was designed by the authors on the basis of the previous training experience and conducted in clinical competence training for 20 general practitioners (study group) from all 10 community health service centers in Shanghai Huangpu district between September 2022 and April 2023; and 26 general practitioners who planned to participate in the next batch of training courses were enrolled as the control group. The clinical competence assessment was conducted in May 2023, including knowledge level tests and clinical skill assessment. By comparing the scores of clinical competence assessment and satisfaction survey between two groups, the training effectiveness was evaluated.Results:Among the 46 general practitioners, 33 (71.7%) were female, aged 27 to 47 (37±6), working in general practice for 2 to 25 (9.4±5.5) years, 31 (67.4%) had participated in standardized residency training for general practice and 31 (67.4%) were contracted family doctors. The total score of 46 general practitioners was 69.7±9.6, and 68.9±8.6 for knowledge level and 69.8±10.6 for clinical skills. The total scores and single scores of trained participants were all significantly higher than those of untrained(all P<0.05). The multiple linear regression model showed that after controlling for gender, age, educational background, professional title, years of working in general practice, participation in standardized residency training, and status as a contracted family doctor, the trained participants had significantly higher scores in history collection, pediatric reception, indwelling gastric tube and abdominal puncture (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the scores in knowledge level test, nervous system physical examination, SOAP medical record writing, and tutorium between the trained and untrained groups (all P>0.05). Among 20 general practitioners who completed training, the overall satisfaction score of the training program was 4.3±0.7 points, including 4.3±0.6 for the training course, 4.3±0.7 for teachers, and 4.3±0.7 for the organization and arrangement; 85% of the participants considered the training to be very helpful or helpful for improving their competence, and 90% considered the training to be very helpful or helpful for their future work. Conclusion:Modular teaching program is helpful to improve the clinical competence of community general practitioners, especially in clinical skills.

Objective:To compare the incidence of coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) between patients with non-obstructive and obstructive coronary arteries.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 97 patients with angina pectoris, who underwent the absolute quantitative PET examination of myocardial perfusion and coronary anatomy examination within 90 days. All patients were divided into two groups: non-obstructive group (72 cases, no stenosis ≥50% in all three coronary arteries) and obstructive group (25 cases, at least one coronary stenosis ≥50%; and at least one coronary stenosis<50%). Quantitative parameters derived from PET including rest myocardial blood flow (RMBF), stress myocardial blood flow (SMBF), coronary flow reserve (CFR) and cardiovascular risk factors were compared between the two groups. CMVD was defined as CFR<2.90 and SMBF <2.17 ml·min -1·g -1. Results:Incidence of CMVD was significant higher in the non-obstructive coronary arteries of the obstructive group than in the non-obstructive coronary arteries of non-obstructive group (47.1% (16/34) vs. 25.5% (55/216), χ 2=6.738, P=0.009) while incidence of CMVD was similar between non-obstructive and obstructive patients ((44% (11/25) vs. 33.3% (24/72), χ 2=0.915, P=0.339). RMBF ((0.83±0.14) ml·min -1·g -1 vs. (0.82±0.17) ml·min -1·g -1), SMBF ((2.13±0.60) ml·min -1·g -1 vs. (1.91±0.50) ml·min -1·g -1) and CFR (2.59±0.66 vs. 2.36±0.47) were similar between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:CMVD can occur in non-obstructive coronary arteries in both patients with non-occlusive coronary arteries and patients with obstructive coronary arteries. Prevalence of CMVD is significantly higher in patients with obstructive coronary arteries than in patients with non-obstructive coronary arteries. The CMVD severity is similar between the two groups.