Intraoperative ultrasound examination of the brain

In a preliminary demonstration of cranial intraoperative real-time ultrasound, both supratentorial and posterior fossa scans displayed the pertinent anatomy. A grade III astrocytoma was visualized on the supratentorial scan as well. Ultrasound may be valuable for surgical planning and biopsy procedures because of its reliable depiction of intracranial anatomy and ease of use.     

2010美国心脏病学会基金会/美国心脏学会关于氯吡格雷的应用警告概述

2010年8月,美国心脏病学会基金会（ACCF）、美国心脏学会（AHA）共同发布了美国食品药品管理局（FDA）关于氯吡格雷的＂盒装警告＂,主要针对医师和患者提出建议,其内容包括：通过检测药物基因型以明确患者氯吡格雷的代谢变化,患者不良反应的风险,基因多态性对氯吡格雷的代谢及临床影响。     

Novel chimeric thyroid-stimulating hormone-receptor bioassay for thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins

Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) are a functional biomarker of Graves' disease (GD). To develop a novel TSI bioassay, a cell line (MC4-CHO-Luc) was bio-engineered to constitutively express a chimeric TSH receptor (TSHR) and constructed with a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent luciferase reporter gene that enables TSI quantification. Data presented as percentage of specimen-to-reference ratio (SRR%) were obtained from 271 patients with various autoimmune and thyroid diseases and 180 controls. Sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 99% for untreated GD were attained by receiver operating characteristic analysis, area under the curve 0·989, 95% confidence interval 0·969-0·999, P = 0·0001. Precision testing of manufactured reagents of high, medium, low and negative SRR% gave a percentage of coefficient-of-variation of 11·5%, 12·8%, 14·5% and 15·7%, respectively. There was no observed interference by haemoglobin, lipids and bilirubin and no non-specific stimulation by various hormones at and above physiological concentrations. TSI levels from GD patients without (SRR% 406 ± 134, mean ± standard deviation) or under anti-thyroid treatment (173 ± 147) were higher (P < 0·0001) compared with TSI levels of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (51 ± 37), autoimmune diseases without GD (24 ± 10), thyroid nodules (30 ± 26) and controls (35 ± 18). The bioassay showed greater sensitivity when compared with anti-TSHR binding assays. In conclusion, the TSI-Mc4 bioassay measures the functional biomarker accurately in GD with a standardized protocol and could improve substantially the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases involving TSHR autoantibodies.     

Positron emission tomography reveals correlations between brain metabolism and mood changes in hyperthyroidism

CONTEXT: Hyperthyroidism is frequently associated with emotional distress. The underlying cerebral processes of the endocrine-induced mood changes are unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the neuronal correlates of thyrotoxicosis-associated psychic symptoms using positron emission tomography (PET). DESIGN: The study was designed as a cross-sectional trial. SETTING: The study was performed at joint nuclear medicine and thyroid clinics. PATIENTS: Twelve patients with untreated Graves' hyperthyroidism were evaluated. METHODS: Levels of emotional distress were self-rated by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Both patients and 20 age- and gender-matched euthyroid controls underwent a brain fluorodeoxyglucose PET scan. Subsequently, the functional relationship between brain metabolism and the psychometric scores was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with controls and visualized by fluorodeoxyglucose PET, hyperthyroid patients showed a decreased (P < 0.0001) glucose metabolism in the limbic system (uncus and inferior temporal gyrus). Activation foci in the posterior cingulate and in the inferior parietal lobe were correlated with both anxiety and depression scales (P < 0.001). Compared with patients with normal anxiety levels, those with increased anxiety yielded an enhanced glucose metabolism (P < 0.001) in the bilateral sensory association cortex. Serum free T3/free T4 levels negatively correlated with regional glucose metabolism in the medial posterior cingulate. CONCLUSIONS: Thyrotoxicosis and associated psychic symptoms are correlated to regional metabolic changes in the main structures of the limbic/paralimbic system.     

Polyglandul?re Autoimmunsyndrome

Polyglandular autoimmune syndromes (PGA) are a heterogeneous group of diseases in which a genetically caused dysfunction of the immune system leads to a destruction of endocrine glands with subsequent loss of function. In addition non-endocrine autoimmune diseases are also frequently present. Due to different patterns of inheritance and occurrence of disease a differentiation is made between juvenile PGA (also called APECED, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy) with a monogenetic alteration of the AIRE (autoimmune regulator) gene, different ethnic distribution and a typical triad of diseases and the adult form, mainly conditioned by mutations of the HLA (human leukocyte antigens) alleles on chromosome 6. The article will briefly deal with the very rare IPEX (immune dysfunction, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, x-linked) syndrome, where the FOXP3 gene on chromosome X is altered. Important for the diagnosis are the clinical appearance and functional tests of the endocrine glands and the testing for antibodies. Additionally for PGA I and IPEX genetic testing is advisable. Currently patient-adjusted hormone replacement therapy is very important and screening of family members is recommended.