The Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Correlate with High Body Mass Index, the Aspartate Aminotransferase/Alanine Aminotransferase Ratio and Insulin Resistance in Japanese Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the association between the body mass index (BMI) and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in allegedly normal subjects undergoing regular medical checkups and subjects diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Additionally, the correlation between the BMI and GERD symptoms was evaluated in subjects with NAFLD. METHODS: This study included 50 patients with NAFLD and 228 normal subjects evaluated during regular medical checkups. The height, weight, BMI, frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG), and serum concentrations of triglycerides and γ-GTP were compared between the two groups. In the NAFLD group, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations were measured and insulin resistance was calculated using the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). RESULTS: The total FSSG score moderately correlated with the BMI in the NAFLD group (r=0.342, p=0.015), but correlated negatively in the control group (r=-0.014, p=0.831). The FSSG score in the NAFLD group also negatively correlated with the AST/ALT ratio (r=-0.319) and insulin resistance calculated using the QUICKI score (r=-0.288). The BMI in the NAFLD group moderately correlated with the acid-reflux related score on the FSSG (r=0.389), and both the AST/ALT ratio (r=-0.344) and QUICKI score (r=-0.330) negatively correlated with the dyspepsia score on the FSSG. CONCLUSION: Obesity evaluated by the BMI was a significant risk factor for the exacerbation of GERD symptoms in subjects with NAFLD.

Obturator hernia: A diagnostic challenge.

PATIENT: Female, 90 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Obturator hernia Symptoms: Epigastric pain • vomiting MEDICATION: - Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology. OBJECTIVE: Challenging differential diagnosis. BACKGROUND: Obturator hernia (OH) can be difficult to diagnose because it shows only nonspecific signs and symptoms. Although pain in a lower limb caused by compression of the obturator nerve by the hernia in the obturator canal (Howship-Romberg sign) is a characteristic sign, its presence is rather rare. CASE REPORT: We herein describe the case of a 90-year-old woman with an OH that was difficult to diagnose because of her slight abdominal signs and symptoms on admission and subtle abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings. Although the CT images revealed the presence of an OH, this finding was overlooked because it contained only a part of the small intestine wall, which is called the Richter type. Fortunately, her condition improved dramatically with only conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although early diagnosis is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality, OH can be a diagnostic challenge even with abdominal CT.

Thyroid storm complicated by bicytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

PATIENT: Male, 23. FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Thyroid storm. SYMPTOMS: Delirium • diarrhea • fever • hypertension • hyperventilation • tachycardia • weight loss. MEDICATION: -. CLINICAL PROCEDURE: -. SPECIALTY: Endocrinology and Metabolic. OBJECTIVE: Unusual clinical course. BACKGROUND: The clinical presentation of thyroid storm includes fever, tachycardia, hypertension, and neurological abnormalities. It is a serious condition with a high mortality rate. Furthermore, some other complications affect the clinical course of thyroid storm. Although it is reported that prognosis is poor when thyroid storm is complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC) and leukopenia, reports of such cases are rare. CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old man presented with delirium, high pyrexia, diarrhea, and weight loss of 18 kg over 2 months. According to the criteria of Burch and Wartofsky, he was diagnosed with thyroid storm on the basis of his symptom-complex and laboratory data that confirmed the presence of hyperthyroidism. Investigations also found leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, all of which are very rare complications of thyroid storm. We successfully treated him with combined therapy including anti-thyroid medication, despite leukopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in ensuring a good outcome for patients with this rare combination of medical problems.

Arm span-height difference is correlated with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in aged Japanese subjects.

Previous studies have indicated an association between the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and aging plus height. In this study we investigated whether the arm span-height difference was related to GERD symptoms with a focus on aged subjects in the general population, since the arm span reflects the height in young adulthood before decreasing due to vertebral deformities from aging. A total of 285 elderly individuals (105 females) who visited nursing homes for the elderly in Japan were enrolled in this study. The GERD symptoms were evaluated by the Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD (FSSG). The body weight, height and arm span were measured, and information regarding medications and complications were reviewed in each nursing record. 50.5% of women had more than 3 cm of arm span-height difference. In contrast, only 37.3% of men had more than 3 cm of arm span-height difference. The FSSG scores indicated more than 70% of subjects complained of any GERD symptoms. There was a significant correlation between the FSSG score and the arm span-height difference in the subjects with more than 3 cm of arm span-height difference (r = 0.236; p = 0.012). The correlation between the arm span-height difference and the FSSG score was significant only in women in females in the present study. In conclusion, our findings indicate that vertebral deformity evaluated by the arm span-height difference might have some positive relationship to the pathogenesis of GERD symptoms in elderly Japanese individuals.

Patient satisfaction questionnaire for medical students' performance in a hospital outpatient clinic: a cross-sectional study.

Medical education in Japan has undergone significant reforms. Patient perspective and outcome have been highly valued in curricular reforms. Therefore, we evaluated an undergraduate curriculum particularly on communication skills by comparing outpatient satisfaction before and after the reforms implemented at Saga Medical School. Cross-sectional study was conducted at the General Medicine Clinic of Saga University Hospital in 1999 and 2009. A total of 729 newcomer patients evaluated 159 students; namely, 287 patients evaluated sixth-year medical students (n = 82) in 1999, and in 2009, 442 patients evaluated fifth-year medical students (n = 77). Students interviewed newcomer patients prior to a faculty's clinical examination. After a student-patient encounter, the patient was asked to fill in six-item Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) developed by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Mixed model two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with covariant of students' gender was conducted. Effect sizes were calculated to evaluate the amplitude of influence. The average score in 2009 was significantly higher than that in 1999 (3.63 ± 0.62 versus 3.36 ± 0.66; p < 0.001). Since the "encouraging and answering questions" and "clear explanations" were lower than those of the other items (3.24 ± 0.98 and 3.46 ± 0.85), these two items showed the most significant improvements (Phi coefficient = 0.31 and 0.24, p < 0.001). Thus, students' performance has improved since 1999, which may represent the success of curricular reforms at Saga Medical School. We propose that "encouraging and answering questions" and "clear explanations" should be emphasized in interview training.