Oncofertility case report: live birth 10 years after oocyte in vitro maturation and zygote cryopreservation.

PURPOSE: This study aims to report a case of urgent fertility preservation in an oncological patient with collection of immature oocytes in the absence of ovarian stimulation that, through in vitro maturation (IVM), followed by ICSI and cryopreservation of zygotes resulted, 10 years later, in the live birth of a healthy baby. METHODS: In September 2008, our clinic performed IVM in a 32-year-old woman diagnosed with a ductal invasive carcinoma with positive estradiol receptors, negative progesterone receptors and positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The retrieval of immature oocytes was performed in the absence of ovarian stimulation after a simple mastectomy and prior to any chemotherapy treatment. The compact cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) collected were placed in Lag medium for 2 h, followed by incubation in IVM medium, supplemented with heat inactivated patient serum, recombinant FSH, and recombinant LH. After 30 h in culture, cumulus cells were removed, the metaphase II oocytes were microinjected, and the zygotes obtained were cryopreserved. In 2017, the zygotes were thawed and cultured until day 3. One embryo was transferred and the other cryopreserved. RESULTS: Four compact COCs were collected and subjected to IVM. Two oocytes reached metaphase II and were microinjected. Two zygotes were obtained and were cryopreserved at the two pronuclear stage. Approximately 9 years later, the two zygotes were thawed and cultured until day 3. An embryo with 10 cells was transferred and implanted, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby. CONCLUSIONS: In cases where urgency to start adjuvant therapy requires immediate oocyte collection, IVM may be the only option to obtain fully competent mature oocytes allowing for effective preservation of the reproductive potential.

Foraging activity of the snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis (Aves: Accipitridae) in wetlands of southern Brazil.

The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) is widely distributed in the American continent. Its specialised diet consists mostly of the gastropod mollusk Pomacea sp and its foraging strategy probably varies depending on the season, prey availability, and climate factors, which can be reflected in its semi-nomad behaviour. This study was aimed at examining the hunting strategy of the snail kite, and its association with climate factors and habitat heterogeneity. Direct observations of birds between January 2010 and March 2011 in southernmost Brazil revealed that hunting was still the predominant foraging strategy (79% of records) to capture mollusks. Despite morphological specialisations to extract mollusks from the shells, the handling time (average = 92.4 s) was twice as much the time between prey search and capture (average = 55 s). The increase in the number of mollusks ingested apparently occurs when the resting time on perches or any other substrates near the hunting sites decreases between successive unsuccessful attempts. The correlation between the number of consumed preys and the climatic variables examined was low. Regarding habitat heterogeneity, our findings suggest that birds forage preferentially in marshes with low vegetation, which may increase the access to mollusks. The hunting efficiency of the snail kite was high (76 % successful attempts) compared to those of other birds of prey.

La Medicina Nuclear más allá de la imágenes / The Nuclear Medicine beyond the images

La Medicina Nuclear clínica se apoya tradicionalmente en tres grandes pilares básicos, estos son las imágenes, la terapia con radionucleidos y las técnicas "in vitro". En los últimos años, tanto con el desarrollo de las imágenes moleculares como con el surgimiento de nuevas aplicaciones terapéuticas con radionucleidos, se nos abren insospechadas oportunidades para que nuestra especialidad ocupe un valioso sitial en las nuevas aplicaciones oncológicas. En este artículo se revisa nuestra experiencia en dos novedosas áreas en las cuales hemos tenido la oportunidad de desarrollarlas en nuestro centro. Estas son la terapia con 90Y-DOTATOC en tumores con sobre-expresión de receptores de somatostatina[1] (carcinoides, neuroendocrinos y otros) y el uso de 90Y-Ibritumomab-Tiuxetan en Linfomas No Hodgkin de células B con presencia de antígeno CD20+[2].

Imaging bacterial infection with (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin (Infecton).

AIMS: The diagnosis of deep seated bacterial infections, such as intra-abdominal abscesses, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis, can be difficult and delayed, thereby compromising effective treatment. This study assessed the efficacy of a new radioimaging agent, Tc-99m ciprofloxacin (Infecton), in accurately detecting sites of bacterial infection. METHODS: Eight hundred and seventy nine patients with suspected bacterial infection underwent Infecton imaging and microbiological evaluation. The sensitivity and specificity of Infecton in detecting sites of bacterial infection were determined with respect to Centres of Disease Control, World Health Organisation, and Dukes's criteria. RESULTS: Five hundred and seventy four positive and 295 negative images were produced. These included 528 true positives, 46 false positives, 205 true negatives and 90 false negatives, giving an overall sensitivity of 85.4% and a specificity of 81.7% for detecting infective foci. Sensitivity was higher (87.6%) in microbiologically confirmed infections. CONCLUSIONS: Infecton is a sensitive technique, which aids in the earlier detection and treatment of a wide variety of deep seated bacterial infections. The ability to localise infective foci accurately is also important for surgical intervention, such as drainage of abscesses. In addition, serial imaging with Infecton might be useful in monitoring clinical response and optimising the duration of antimicrobial treatment.

Cold-hot mismatch between Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocytes and Tc-99m ciprofloxacin in axial skeleton infections: a report of three cases.

Radiolabeled leukocyte scintigraphy is a well-established technique for the diagnosis of inflammation and infection with a typical presentation of a hot spot within the abnormal areas. However, in some cases of osteomyelitis of the axial skeleton, a cold defect pattern has been described. Tc-99m ciprofloxacin is a new agent claimed to be specific for imaging sites containing viable bacteria. In this report, we present three cases of proved bacterial infection of the axial skeleton with a mismatch pattern between Tc-99m ciprofloxin and tagged leukocytes. Although Tc-99m-labeled leukocyte scanning showed a cold defect, probably caused by bone marrow replacement, the Tc-99m ciprofloxacin consecutively revealed a hot spot at the site of infection. These data suggest that Tc-99m ciprofloxacin should be a better agent than radiolabeled leukocytes for detecting osteomyelitis of the axial skeleton.

[Parathyroid scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi]. / Cintigrafía de paratiroides con Tc99m Sestamibi.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi, a tracer that is taken up by hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue, has a high yield in the diagnosis of abnormal parathyroid growths. AIM: To assess the usefulness of parathyroid scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi in patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 29 patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism, in whom a scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi was performed. RESULTS: Twenty four of 25 patients in whom hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue was evidenced with scintigraphy, were operated. Histological diagnosis of the excised parathyroid gland, showed 23 adenomas and 1 hyperplasia. Anatomical location disclosed by scintigraphy was concordant with surgical findings in all cases, including a mediastinic adenoma. Of the four patients with negative scintigraphic findings, two had transitory PTH elevations and in two the presence of adenoma or hyperplasia could not be demonstrated with other diagnostic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Parathyroid scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi had an 86% sensitivity for the detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue in patients with elevated PTH.

[Renal artery thrombosis in newborn infants undergoing umbilical artery catheterization]. / Trombosis de arteria renal en recién nacidos sometidos a cateterización de la arteria umbilical.

A prospective study to detect renal artery thrombosis by radionuclide renal scintigraphy in newborn infants who underwent umbilical arterial catheterization over a one year period was done: 62 babies were catheterized, 92% were preterm and 85% had severe respiratory distress syndrome that required mechanical ventilation, 25/62 (40.3%) survived and in all of them Tc-99m DMSA scans were taken at a median of 5 days after withdrawal of the umbilical artery catheters (range 9 h to 29 days). A baby with renovascular hypertension had a DMSA scan which showed segmental vascular defect in one kidney. Another patient had left iliac artery thrombosis and two others showed evidence of transient vasospasm. Death occurred in 37/62 (59.7%), 92% of whom underwent autopsy studies which showed aortoiliac thrombosis in 8.8%, all of them without clinical symptoms. Other 12 newborn infants who died without previous umbilical artery catheterization had no evidence of thrombosis at autopsy.

[Computerized tomography of the skull in the diagnosis of meningiomas. Report of 16 cases]. / Tomografia computadorizada do crânio no diagnóstico dos meningiomas.

The authors report the usefulness of the skull's computerized tomography for the exact diagnosis of the meningiomas. The 16 cases reported were comproved surgical and histologically. The average was 52.1 years. They dealt out 10 females and 6 males. According to their localization, there are 5 on the orbital cavity and/or sphenoid ridge (31.2%), 3 of the falx (18.7%), 3 parasagitals (18.7%), 2 suprasellars (12.5%), 2 of the convexity (12.5%) and 1 of the tentorium (6.2%). The authors concluded that the computerized tomography of the skull is of high positiveness (95-98%), without damages for the patient, and nowadays it allows precocity in diagnosis, and, consequently, with better therapeutic results.

Sacro-iliac joint scanning with technetium-99 diphosphonate.

Quantitative sacro-iliac (SI) joint scanning with methylene diphosphonate labelled with technetium-99 (99TcMDP) was performed in 25 control patients, in 16 patients with definite ankylosing spondylitis, in 23 patients with mechanical low back pain, and in 12 patients with seronegative arthritis. The mean radio-isotope index in the control group was 1.2 +/- 0.15. The highest value was 1.5. Values in excess of 1.5 were seen in patients with clinically active ankylosing spondylitis but not those with inactive disease. Three of the 12 seronegative arthritis patients (without clinical or radiological evidence of sacro-iliitis) had elevated values: all of these were positive for HL-A B27. An important finding was that six of the 23 patients with mechanical or non-specific low back pain had values above 1.5, unassociated with B27. These data emphasize the need for caution in the interpretation of abnormal sacro-iliac scans. Radio-isotope bone scanning can provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of inflammatory activity in joints with minimal radiation exposure. Various authors have shown its value in providing early evidence of sacro-iliitis (Russell et al., 1975; Namey et al., 1977). In this study, methylene diphosphonate labelled with technetium-99 (99TcMMDP) has been used to produce quantitative sacro-iliac scans in order to evaluate sacro-iliac disease in four groups of patients presenting with or without low back pain.