Internal medicine
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Objective Pulmonary function tests are essential for diagnosing respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but are typically not performed in Japan during annual health checkups, which hinders the early diagnosis of respiratory diseases. Methods Individuals who agreed to participate in the Yamagata-Takahata study during medical checkups in Takahata (Yamagata Prefecture, Japan) in 2011 were examined. We interviewed 669 participants (49.0% men; mean age, 67.7 years old) regarding their respiratory symptoms and smoking habits and performed pulmonary function tests during the study. ⋯ Obstructive respiratory dysfunction was found in 17.6% of participants ≥50 years old and 19.5% ≥60 years old, 30.3% had a smoking history, and 32.8% had respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, the participants with multiple factors had a higher probability of obstructive respiratory dysfunction. Conclusion Subjects with obstructive pulmonary dysfunction are expected to be efficiently identified by extracting individuals by age and smoking habit and through a respiratory symptom questionnaire, although pulmonary function tests cannot be performed for all individuals during health checkups.
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The salivary glands of marine carnivorous gastropods contain tetramines, which usually cause mild symptoms of poisoning. However, these symptoms may be fatal in rare cases. A 58-year-old woman with a history of myasthenia gravis complained of dyspnea after consuming marine carnivorous gastropods with intact salivary glands. ⋯ Tracheal intubation was immediately performed. Her respiratory condition improved the following day, and she therefore could be weaned off the ventilator. Tetramine poisoning can be fatal for patients with certain underlying medical conditions.