A cutoff thyroglobulin value suggestive of distant metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer patients

Serum thyroglobulin is used as part of the early postoperative assessment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) since there is a clear relationship between an increased risk of recurrence and persistent disease after initial treatment and high postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin (ps-Tg) values. Thus, although ps-Tg above 10-30 ng/mL is considered an independent predictor of worse prognosis, the value that is associated with distant metastases is not defined. Thus, this was our objective. We selected 655 DTC patients from a nuclear medicine department database (Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Brazil). All patients had received total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy and had ps-Tg values higher than 10 ng/mL with negative anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Then, we selected patients who presented post-therapy whole-body scan with pulmonary and/or bone uptake but with no mediastinum or cervical uptake. Patients with negative findings on functional imaging or any doubt on lung/bone uptake were submitted to additional exams to exclude another non-thyroid tumor. Of the 655 patients, 14.3% had pulmonary and 4.4% bone metastases. There was a significant difference in ps-Tg levels between patients with and without metastases (P<0.001). The cutoff value of ps-Tg was 117.5 ng/mL (sensitivity: 70.2%; specificity: 71.7%) for those with lung metastasis, and 150.5 ng/mL (sensitivity: 79.3%; specificity: 85%) for those with bone metastasis. The cutoff value for patients with eitherpulmonary or bone metastasis was 117.5 ng/mL (sensitivity: 70.2%; specificity: 83.7%). Our findings demonstrated that ps-Tg could predict distant metastasis in DTC patients. We identified a cutoff of 117.5 ng/mL with a high negative predictive value of 93.7%.

The superoxide anion donor, potassium superoxide, induces pain and inflammation in mice through production of reactive oxygen species and cyclooxygenase-2

It is currently accepted that superoxide anion (O2•−) is an important mediator in pain and inflammation. The role of superoxide anion in pain and inflammation has been mainly determined indirectly by modulating its production and inactivation. Direct evidence using potassium superoxide (KO2), a superoxide anion donor, demonstrated that it induced thermal hyperalgesia, as assessed by the Hargreaves method. However, it remains to be determined whether KO2 is capable of inducing other inflammatory and nociceptive responses attributed to superoxide anion. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the nociceptive and inflammatory effects of KO2. The KO2-induced inflammatory responses evaluated in mice were: mechanical hyperalgesia (electronic version of von Frey filaments), thermal hyperalgesia (hot plate), edema (caliper rule), myeloperoxidase activity (colorimetric assay), overt pain-like behaviors (flinches, time spent licking and writhing score), leukocyte recruitment, oxidative stress, and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression (quantitative PCR). Administration of KO2 induced mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, paw edema, leukocyte recruitment, the writhing response, paw flinching, and paw licking in a dose-dependent manner. KO2 also induced time-dependent cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression in the paw skin. The nociceptive, inflammatory, and oxidative stress components of KO2-induced responses were responsive to morphine (analgesic opioid), quercetin (antioxidant flavonoid), and/or celecoxib (anti-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) treatment. In conclusion, the well-established superoxide anion donor KO2 is a valuable tool for studying the mechanisms and pharmacological susceptibilities of superoxide anion-triggered nociceptive and inflammatory responses ranging from mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia to overt pain-like behaviors, edema, and leukocyte recruitment.

Localización efectiva de un segundo conducto radicular en incisivos inferiores mediante magnificación, radiografía y diafanización / Effective location a second root canal in lower incisors by magnification radiography and diaphanization

Objetivo: Evaluar in vitro, la efectividad del método visual y radiográfico, comparándolos con la técnica de diafanización en la detección del segundo conducto radicular de incisivos inferiores tratados endodónticamente. Material y métodos: Fueron analizados 133 dientes incisivos inferiores permanentes, tratados endodónticamente, a través de métodos visuales (con y sin auxilio de magnificación), radiográficos y de diafanización. El análisis radiográfico fue realizado en negatoscopio utilizando una lupa estereoscópica (10X). Posteriormente, fue realizada la remoción completa de la obstrucción provisional para la exploración visual con y sin auxilio de microscopio clínico (MO) en un aumento de 12X. Finalmente los dientes fueron diafanizados y almacenados en salicilato de metila para posterior análisis. Dos evaluadores calibrados registraron los datos referentes a la presencia o no del segundo conducto radicular para cada uno de los métodos utilizados. Resultados: El análisis radiográfico mostró la presencia del segundo conducto en 24 dientes (18,05%. Visualmente, fue encontrado en 4 dientes (3,00%) sin magnificación y en 16 dientes (12,03%) con ayuda del MO. A través de la diafanización, 34 dientes (25,95%) presentaron segundo conducto. Conclusiones: La asociación de técnicas radiográficas y la magnificación visual obtenida con la utilización del MO se muestran como los aliados clínicos más efectivos para la localización del segundo conducto en incisivos inferiores.

Objective: To evaluate in vitro the effectiveness of the visual, radiographic and clearing technique on detection of two root canals in mandibular incisor teeth endodontically treated. Material and methods: One hundred thirty-three human permanent lower incisors were anlyzed through visual methods (with and without magnification), radiographic and clearing technique. Radiographic analysis was performed in light box using a stereomicroscope (10X). Then, the temporary filling of al specimens was removed for visual exploration with and without clinical microscope (OM) (12X). Finally the teeth were submitted to clearing technique and stored in methyl salicylate for subsequent analysis. Two calibrated reviewers recorded data about the presence or absence of the second root canal for each of the used methods. Results: Radiographic analysis showed the presence of the second root canal in 24 teeth (18.05%). Visually, it was found in 4 teeth (3.00%) and 16 teeth (12.03%) without and with the use of OM, respectively. Through clearing technique, in 334 teeth (25.95%) it was found the second root canal. Conclusion: The association of radiographic techniques and visual magnification with the use of MO has been shown as the most effective clinical partners to locate the second root canal in mandibular incisors.

Lipomatose simétrica benigna (doença de Madelung): relato de caso / Bening symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung's disease): a case report

Relato de caso de lipomatose simétrica benigna (doença de Madelung) e revisäo da literatura. Os autores discordam da denominaçäo paradoxal de benigna, considerando que alguns pacientes podem apresentar sintomas oriundos de compressäo da traquéia e mediastino que podem acarretar mau prognóstico.

Consideracoes sobre o tratamento de um paciente com meningopatia leucemica. / Treatment of a patient with myeloid leukemia

E relatado o caso de uma crianca com leucose mieloide cronica, que em sua evolucao clinica se transformou na forma aguda. Depois de 3 meses, tendo entao o paciente 2 anos e 9 meses de idade, manifestou-se um quadro grave de hipertensao intracraniana, que o exame de liquido cefalorraquidiano revelou ser devido a meningopatia leucemica. Foi instituido o tratamento por via intratecal com o methotrexate, o qual entretanto nao ofereceu o resultado ideal habitual. Embora houvesse uma resposta imediata favoravel a terapeutica por via subaracnoidea, entretanto ela foi de duracao efemera, tendo sido necessario encurtar o intervalo entre as aplicacoes intratecais para 25 dias a fim de proporcionar alivio ao paciente. Mesmo com esta condicao, as celulas blasticas sempre estiveram presentes no liquor, predominando muitissimo sobre as celulas normais, mesmo quando a contagem global estava apreciavelmente diminuida. Este foi um caso de dificil controle terapeutico da complicacao neurologica pela medicacao intratecal com o methotrexate que evoluiu rapidamente para o desfecho final, que ocorreu em consequencia de uma intercorrencia clinica