Timothy Drehmer | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Giant cell arteritis mimicking multiple myeloma; diagnosed by PET scan.

This case report describes a patient who presented with severe anemia, monoclonal gammopathy, a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and significant weight loss. These features were highly suggestive of multiple myeloma. Bone marrow aspiration was negative for myeloma on two occasions. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed extensive 2-flourodeoxy-glucose uptake in the vascular tree consistent with arteritis. A temporal artery biopsy established the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). There were no typical symptoms of GCA, such as headache, visual disturbance, or polymyalgia rheumatica. The patient was treated with steroids, which resulted in the resolution of anemia, monoclonal gammapathy, and other symptoms.

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PubMed2004

A locally created EBM course for faculty development.

International EBM workshops have significant barriers and lack focus on institutional needs. The authors describe a local EBM curriculum and report its effectiveness and participant satisfaction. Local EBM experts devised an EBM course designed to improve faculty understanding of EBM skills and concepts. Retention of EBM concepts was assessed with a 10-item EBM knowledge test administered before and after the course. Participants were also asked to self-assess five EBM skills immediately after and nine months after the course. They also filled out a satisfaction survey. In total, 61% of the participants completed the course. The EBM knowledge test showed a significant change in scores for EBM concepts. The participants' self-assessed EBM skills remained high at nine months. Participants rated most course variables highly. It is concluded that a locally developed EBM faculty curriculum can succeed if scholars define institutional needs, receive broad institutional support, use proven educational methodologies and avoid scheduling conflicts.

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