Current problems in the pathology of the thyroid gland

22 chloramphenicol allergics, 10 penicillin allergics and 6 patients with a chromate eczema as well as altogether 34 non-allergic control persons with healthy skin were examined according to the skin chamber method. After addition of the adequate antigen (chloramphenicol, penicillin, ammonium bichromate) into one of the two simultaneously applied skin chambers in sensitized persons an inhibition of the leucocyte migration in the antigen chamber develops. The polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes mobilised into the inflammation field were regarded as indicator cells. 5 chloramphenicol allergics with eczematous skin abnormalities and all control persons were negative. The investigation method is simply to be performed and therefore it is particularly suitable for clinical routine work.     

Iodothyronine content of human thyroid albumin

Stable thyroid hormones (T4 and T3)1) have been demonstrated in pure albumin isolated from normal human thyroid tissue iodinated in vivo. Five samples of albumin were separated from other thyroid proteins by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. After pronase hydrolysis, the content of Thyroid hormones was measured chemically (T4 + T3) as well as by competitive radioactive measurement (T4) and radioimmunoassay (T3). The purity of the albumin and validity of these measurements were confirmed by different techniques. The synthesis of thyroid hormones is not therefore a property unique to Tg and may occur in albumin. However the amount of iodothyronines in the albumin (average 0.004 residue per molecule) is much less than that found in Tg (0.5 residue per molecule). In the albumin as in Tg the number of hormone residues per molecule is proportional to the number of atoms of iodine. At an equivalent iodine concentration, the albumin seems capable of forming the thyroid hormones as well as Tg. The difference between these two proteins, in their capacity to synthesize thyroid hormones, seems to depend on their capacity for iodination. This difference of iodination does not seem to be linked with the number of tyrosyl residues, but might be related to the position of these residues.     

Vitamin E and coenzyme Q concentrations in the thyroid tissues of patients with various thyroid disorders

Chylous fistula complicates 1.1% of all radical neck dissections, and 2.4% of left-sided dissections. The standard treatment of established chylous leak in the reported cases is a pressure dressing applied to the lower neck. Here we present a case of chylous fistula, where conservative methods failed to cope with this complication. The additional application of a fibrin adhesive set was a successful modality of treatment.     

The clinical significance of determining sulfhydryl groups and succinate dehydrogenase in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with liver and biliary tract pathology

It was established that patients with hepatobiliary pathology showed a reduction of SH groups and activity of lymphocyte succinate dehydrogenase of the peripheral blood. The level of this reduction depended on the severity of the pathological process and was lowest in viral hepatitis and cancer of the head of the pancreas. A dynamic study of SH groups and SDG in these groups of patients makes it possible to evaluate disorders of oxidation, oxidation, severity of the disease; it is also of prognostic significance.     

Ultrasound determination of size and calcium content of gallstones

In a prospective study, ultrasound examinations of the gallbladder as well as cholecystocholangiography were carried out in 77 patients with solitary stones and the ultrasound stone symptoms were compared with the x-ray findings. The ultrasound stone reflex as well as the wideness of the sonic-shadow correlated significantly with the size of the stones. The stone size can be approximately calculated from the wideness of the sonic shadow. On the other hand dependence of the ultrasound stone symptoms and the radiographic defined calcium was not evident. While the stone size can be sonographically defined, the indentification of calcium in gallstones continues to remain a domain of radiographic methods.     

Pulmonary pathology of patients treated with partial liquid ventilation

Adsorption and size exclusion in starch and cross-linked dextran were phenomena discovered in Uppsala in the 1950s [Porath (1979), Biochem. Soc. Trans. 7, 1197; Porath (1981), Current Content 19, 21; Porath (1981), J. Chromatogr. 218, 241; Janson (1987), Chromatographia 23, 361; Laurent (1993), J. Chromatogr. 633, 1]. These discoveries were the background to the development of a variety of affinity chromatographic methods. At present attempts are being made to combine size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with adsorption into a single operation that we call adsorptive SEC (AdSEC).     

Steroid-induced invasive aspergillosis with thyroid gland abscess and positive blood cultures

Demonstration of quality health care includes documentation of outcomes of care. Surveillance is a comprehensive method of measuring outcomes and related processes of care, analyzing the data, and providing information to members of the health care team to assist in improving those outcomes. Surveillance is an essential component of effective clinical programs designed to reduce the frequency of adverse events such as infection or injury.     

Hypophyseal-adreno-gonadal system function in myasthenia patients with tumorous and nontumorous pathology of the thymus

Overall twenty-five patients (all women) who ranged from 16 to 56 years old were examined. They were divided into two groups: group I was formed of subjects with hyperplasia of the thymus gland, group II--thymoma. Blood serum levels of prolactin, progesterone, estriol, estradiol, testosterone hydrocortisone. All patients showed a significant increase in average blood plasma levels of estrogens, testosterone and prolactin. Average levels of progesterone and hydrocortisone in patients with thymus hypertrophy were lower than in controls, while in thymoma patients these were much higher. The data submitted are indicative of substantial differences in the endocrine status of myasthenia patients depending on tumor or nontumor lesion of the thymus gland, which fact may suggest different pathogenetic mechanisms of development of the condition.     

Quality-of-life changes in patients with thyroid cancer after withdrawal of thyroid hormone therapy

Quality of life (QOL) is an important consideration as patients survive longer with cancer and is an area of increasing interest in patients with thyroid cancer who undergo long-term cancer surveillance. However, there are few disease-specific QOL tools available to evaluate QOL in patients with thyroid cancer. The purposes of this longitudinal, repeated-measures study were to: (1) test a new instrument, the QOL-Thyroid Scale, during thyroid hormone withdrawal; and (2) to evaluate the impact of thyroid hormone withdrawal on patients' perceived changes in quality of life. The sample included 34 subjects (mean age 40 years) undergoing thyroid hormone withdrawal in preparation for scanning procedures. Subjects completed three instruments (demographic data tool, the QOL-Thyroid, and the FACT-G) at four specific time points in relationship to scanning. The results demonstrated that the QOL-Thyroid tool is a reliable and valid measure of QOL. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of r = .78 between QOL-Thyroid and FACT-G indicated good concurrent validity. Second, the impact of thyroid hormone withdrawal on QOL showed significant changes in physical, psychological, and social well-being across the four testing points. The greatest changes occurred between peak hormone withdrawal and thyroxine (T4) therapy. While it is generally known that patients suffer troublesome physical symptoms relating to thyroid hormone withdrawal, the negative psychological, family, and work sequelae are less apparent. In conclusion, the QOL-Thyroid is a reliable and valid measure for use in evaluating patients undergoing scanning procedures and may be used to identify and target teaching and support for high-risk areas in patients lives that are negatively affected by hormone withdrawal.     

Five-year follow-up of asymptomatic patients with negative fecal occult blood test results in whom clinically significant colorectal pathology was detected

OBJECTIVES: To determine from a 5-yr longitudinal study (a) rate of compliance with follow-up, (b) number of new clinically significant colorectal lesions discovered by sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy at later examination, (c) number and causes of deaths, and (d) rate of diagnosis of new cancers among 36 asymptomatic patients with negative fecal occult blood tests in whom clinically significant colorectal lesions were found initially by 60-cm flexible sigmoidoscope. METHODS: For the 36 patients, medical records were reviewed throughout the 5-yr study period. These records included pathology reports, results from 60-cm sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy examinations, and notations from visits to health facilities for reasons other than colorectal examinations. RESULTS: Seventy-one clinically significant lesions were removed during the 5-yr period; 58 were discovered by sigmoidoscopy and 13 by colonoscopy. Also, during the 5-yr period, noncolorectal cancer was diagnosed in six patients, and two patients died of cardiac disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have clinically significant colorectal pathology found by 60-cm sigmoidoscope have a high prevalence of lesions beyond the view of this instrument. Therefore, colonoscopy should be performed when sigmoidoscopy shows clinically significant pathology. Because subsequent examinations show a high incidence of new lesions, rescreening is indicated.     

The delivery of qualified care to patients with maxillary and craniofacial pathology

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