TASK DEFINITION: Given an abstract of a paper, generate a title for this paper such that conveys the key focus of the paper.
PROBLEM: Abstract: Identifying the parathyroid glands is of fundamental importance in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. We found that intravenous infusion of methylene blue was beneficial in intraoperative identification of the parathyroid glands in patients undergoing surgery for hyperparathyroidism as well as total and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy. The technique is safe and easy to use, and it clearly reduces the operative time. We suggest that it be used routinely in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

SOLUTION: Methylene blue infusion for intraoperative identification of the parathyroid glands.

PROBLEM: Abstract: From December 1981 through August 1984, 24 patients with spinal cord compression syndrome due to epidural neoplasms were evaluated for radiotherapy with clinical examination, radiographs of the spine, and myelography. All plain films were reviewed, and mock radiotherapy fields designed using specific criteria for margins. The same patients were reviewed a second time considering the additional information provided by myelography. The initial treatment fields were found to be inadequate in 69% of the patients. Even in patients with discrete bony lesions, the results of myelography affected the treatment 45% of the time. A history of previous spinal irradiation significantly influenced port design in only 1 of the 7 patients who had received previous radiotherapy. Although invasive, myelography is essential in planning the treatment of spinal cord compression.

SOLUTION: Impact of myelography on the radiotherapeutic management of malignant spinal cord compression.

PROBLEM: Abstract: A 58-year-old subject with a history of occupational asthma to red-cedar sawdust underwent specific inhalation challenges with this product. Significant increases in airway responsiveness to histamine (tenfold fall in PC20 FEV1) were documented 7 hours after exposure for 5 minutes to red cedar while baseline spirometry remained unchanged. A dual asthmatic reaction was induced during the following days by exposing the subject to red-cedar sawdust for 30 minutes and plicatic acid for 7 minutes. After recovery of PC20, the subject was reexposed to plicatic acid for 15 and 30 seconds on 2 consecutive days. No significant changes in FEV1, forced vital capacity, and residual volume were demonstrated in the following 8 hours, although minimal changes in forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of FVC were observed. PC20 dropped significantly and required 2 weeks to recover. This example illustrates that bronchial hyperresponsiveness to histamine can precede the changes in airway caliber after an antigen challenge. It also demonstrates that such changes can persist for up to 2 weeks after the challenge, even when no significant changes in FEV1 are induced.

SOLUTION:
Exposure to a sensitizing occupational agent can cause a long-lasting increase in bronchial responsiveness to histamine in the absence of significant changes in airway caliber.