Mertensene

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) varies with age, the calculation method, and the correction factor for slope-intercept overestimation. Hence, any normal reference range accompanying the results should be suitably adapted to the method used. For Nuclear Medicine Departments using a two-sample slope-intercept method, the lack of appropriate age-specific normal reference range has been a hindrance to adopting the recently updated Jodal Brochner-Mortensen (JBM) correction over other older and more widely used methods. A retrospective analysis of the routine GFR calculation and clinical reports generated locally from 2006 to 2020 was carried out. GFR was calculated with 99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance using a two-sample slope-intercept method with JBM correction. Age-specific normal range equations were developed from normal healthy subjects. Published normal reference ranges were modified with appropriate correction reversal and compared with the locally developed reference ranges. Age-specific normal GFR reference ranges for 99mTc-DTPA with slope-intercept method and JBM correction were developed and validated with current literature. Normal reference range (Mean ± 2SD) for Normalised GFR (ml min-1 (1.73m2)-1) within 95% confidence limits suitable for use with JBM correction is 100.6 ± 35.2 for children above 2 years and 102.9 - 0.00629 × (Age)2 ± 19.4 for adults. Availability of age-specific normal GFR reference ranges applicable to the target population and appropriately tailored to the calculation method and correction factor enables Nuclear Medicine Departments to update their calculation methods in line with the current literature and also facilitates accurate reporting and evaluation of the calculated GFR results.

New specimens of Taeniogyrus japonicus (Marenzeller) were collected from Iwami coast and Sado island of the Sea of Japan. According to detailed observations of external and internal organs, we transferred T. japonicus, T. dendyi (Mortensen), and Scoliorhapis theelii (Heding) to the newly revived genus Scoliodota, with a large retractor organ and hook papillae as major diagnostic characters. We also concluded that Scoliorhapis dianthus Solis-marin et al. is a synonym of T. japonicus. Our molecular phylogeny and genetic distance analysis showed that specimens from Iwami and specimens from Sado of T. japonicus form a monophyletic clade, indicating that they are most likely the same species despite their morphological variation. The phylogenetic analysis also indicated that T. japonicus forms a sister group relationship with Taeniogyrus verruculosus Yamana Tanaka and Scoliorhapis sesokoensis Yamana Tanaka, suggesting that Taeniogyrus is not monophyletic. Taken together, these results brought new insights to sea cucumber diversity in Japanese waters.

This review summarises the potential usage of proton therapy in Denmark. About one third of Danes are diagnosed with cancer, and half of these need radiotherapy in the course of treatment. Radiation dose cannot be adequately increased without giving rise to unacceptable, high risk of toxicity, but proton therapy is encouraging due to a unique depth dose distribution. In some cases, the benefit of proton therapy is obvious, but in most cases the gain is less obvious, and patients should only receive treatment within clinical trials. Clinical studies on proton therapy with focus on reduction of radiation-induced side effects and improvement of quality of life should be conducted.