Thyroglobulin value in patients surgically treated for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Introduction: Thyroglobulin is composed glycoprotein, and it is synthesized by follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinomas involves total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine ablation of a potential remaining tissue. The measurement of thyroglobulin in the postoperative follow-up can serve as an indicator of tumor growth or recurrence of the disease. Objective: The aim of this paper is to examine the value of thyroglobulin in patients surgically treated for differentiated thyroid cancer who had metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck, as well as in operated on patients without any evident metastasis. Methods: Thyroglobulin values in the serum of 58 patients were analyzed. Two groups were formed. The thyroglobulin value was established with the use of IRMA-hTg (125I) system. Normal levels of thyroglobulin were from 2 ng/ml to 65 ng/ml. For all of 58 patients, thyroglobulin was determined three times. The first, so-called pre-ablation thyroglobulin was determined immediately before the application of 131I ablation dose. The second and the third measurements were conducted six to eight months and one year, respectively, after the application of the ablation dose respectively. Results: The first group consisted of 14 patients with histologically proven metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck, while the second group consisted of 44 patients without any evident metastases. The average thyroglobulin value of pre-ablation in the patients from the first group was 43.45 ng/ml, while in the second was 7.57 ng/ml. Levene's test (with p = 0.00, i.e p < 0.05), demonstrated a statistically significant difference. Furthermore, in both groups, there was statistically significant difference between pre-ablation and post-ablation thyroglobulin values (Student's t-test with p < 0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the average value of thyroglobulin was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastases in the neck. We are of the opinion that the determination of thyroglobulin, despite individual variations, may serve as a good indicator to assist in monitoring of patients surgically treated for differentiated thyroid cancer.

Distribution and density of conjunctival goblet cells.

There is a regional variation in conjunctival goblet cell distribution and density per unit of measurement. By secreting mucin goblet cells are involved in formation of tear film. Tear film instability is the basic sign of dry eye syndrome. Although dry eye syndrome can be a side effect of a disease, the most common cause is normal aging. The objective of the research was to determine goblet cell density in bulbar and lower forniceal conjunctiva and possible changes in goblet cell density related to age and sex. The research was conducted on 30 conjunctival samples of patients with no clinical changes of the conjunctiva. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin eosin (HE), periodic acid-schiff (PAS), alcian blue (AB)/PAS, Giemsa methods. Goblet cell density was 1.24 +/- 1.62 in bulbar conjunctiva and 30.21 +/- 14.32 in lower forniceal conjunctiva. Goblet cell distribution in the conjunctiva was unequal. A correlation between goblet cell density and age was not determined. Goblet cell density doesn't decrease with aging. No significant difference in goblet cell density between men and women was established.