Ah yes, in Artemy's distress over what is appropriate to talk with a colleague about and what not he forgot that twenty years or so is a vast amount of time in medical knowledge.

"Of course, my apologies." He says as if he has made a social misstep, "I have had some things on my mind. Nothing of concern."

He says 'nothing of concern' a bit too fast, as if it is, indeed, something of concern.