The New England journal of medicine
-
The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a thiamine-deficiency disorder occurring primarily among alcoholics. To determine the economic feasibility of preventing this disease by fortification of alcoholic beverages with thiamine, we compared the cost of fortification with the cost of institutionalizing alcoholics with the disorder. The estimated annual incidence of institutionalization is eight per million adult population. ⋯ Thus, the cost-benefit ratio may range from 1:23 to 1:4. It is economically advantageous to prevent the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome by fortification of alcoholic beverages with thiamine. The stability, safety and marketability of thiamine and the allithiamines in alcoholic beverages should be studied further.
-
Comparative Study
Scintigraphic detection of pulmonary emboli by serial positron imaging of inhaled 15O-labeled carbon dioxide.
Inhaled radioactive carbon dioxide is retained in pulmonary blood distal to embolic obstruction and appears as an area of increased radioactivity that delineates the site and magnitude of the affected zone. The scintigraphic detection of pulmonary emboli by serial imaging of inhaled carbon dioxide labeled with cyclotron-produced 15O2 was evaluated in 27 patients undergoing conventional pulmonary ventilation/perfusion imaging and pulmonary arteriography. Fifteen patients proved to have pulmonary emboli on arteriography. ⋯ M.]) in comparison to normal segments (mean of 3.6 +/- 0.08 seconds; P less than 0.001). Pulmonary imaging by this method provides an approach to the detection of pulmonary emboli that is relatively sensitive and specific and permits analysis of persisting perfusion in embolized pulmonary segments. A major practical limitation, however, is the necessity of a nearby cyclotron.
-
Letter Case Reports
Pituitary function after removal of microadenomas for Cushing's disease.