Altered expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 is associated with papillary thyroid carcinomas when compared with other noncancer pathologies of the thyroid.

Background: Gap junctions are membrane structures composed of connexins (Cx) that allow diffusion of small molecules between cells. They are involved in tissue homeostasis, and various organ dysfunctions have been associated with gap junction defects. To verify their possible involvement in thyroid pathologies, the expression of connexin43 (Cx43), the major Cx in the human thyroid, was evaluated in a variety of diseases including cancer.

[Virilizing ovarian tumors in the menopausal patient].

Virilizing ovarian tumors are rare and can occur at any age. In postmenopausal women, they commonly present with signs of masculinization. These tumors should be suspected in any patient with virilization and high testosterone levels (>1ng/mL).

[Parathyroid carcinoma: multicenter study of 17 patients].

Purpose Of The Study: To evaluate clinical characteristics and survival of patients treated for parathyroid carcinoma.

Study Design: A retrospective multicenter chart review of patients treated for parathyroid carcinoma between January 1979 and January 2005.

Results: 17 patients (10 women, 7 men) presenting with parathyroid carcinoma underwent surgical resection.

Does the risk of compressive hematoma after thyroidectomy authorize 1-day surgery?

Background: Compressive hematoma after thyroidectomy is a rare complication (1%) but can potentially be severe. The aim of this study was to search for risk factors, in particular the use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet medication, and to see if the delay of hematoma formation would require 1-day surgery performed in a careful manner.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of 6,830 patients undergoing thyroidectomy in a single institution (1991 to 2006) identified 70 patients with hematomas requiring reoperation.

Prospective evaluation of quality of life (SF-36v2) and nonspecific symptoms before and after cure of primary hyperparathyroidism (1-year follow-up).

Background: Only a minority of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) present with the "classic" symptoms. Most patients have numerous nonspecific symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' quality of life and nonspecific symptoms before and after cure for pHPT.

The status of CDKN2A alpha (p16INK4A) and beta (p14ARF) transcripts in thyroid tumour progression.

CDKN2A locus on chromosome 9p21 encodes two tumour suppressor proteins pl6INK4A, which is a regulator of the retinoblastoma (RB) protein, and p14ARF, which is involved in the ARF-Mdm2-p53 pathway. The aim of this study was to determine if CDKN2A gene products are implicated in differentiated thyroid carcinogenesis and progression. We used real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry to assess both transcripts and proteins levels in 60 tumours specimens.

Increased mortality and morbidity associated with thyroidectomy for intrathoracic goiters reaching the carina tracheae.

Hypothesis: Complications associated with thyroidectomy for intrathoracic goiters have been underestimated because of the lack of a precise definition of high-risk patients.

Design: Retrospective multicenter multinational review of medical records and radiographic images of patients who underwent thyroidectomy for intrathoracic goiters reaching the carina tracheae. Demographic, clinical, operative, anatomical, and pathological data were recorded.

Expression of TAp73 and DeltaNp73 isoform transcripts in thyroid tumours.

Aim: This study was aimed to determine p73 status in thyroid tumours.

Methods: Differential expression of the TAp73, DeltaTAp73 transcripts was measured in a panel of 60 thyroid malignancies by quantitative RT-PCR.

Results: By comparison to normal thyroid tissue surrounding the tumours, we observed significant downregulation of TP73 transcripts in adenomas and in differentiated carcinomas.

Central neck dissection in the management of sporadic medullary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Aim: Treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) includes total thyroidectomy with at least bilateral central neck dissection. Systematic measurement of thyrocalcitonin (CT) levels in thyroid nodules allows for early diagnosis of MTC. As central neck dissection (CND) is associated with high morbidity, the aim of this study was to investigate the necessity of this procedure in the treatment of sporadic medullary thyroid microcarcinoma (S-mMTC).

Pathophysiological roles of G-protein-coupled receptor kinases.

G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) interact with the agonist-activated form of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to effect receptor phosphorylation and to initiate profound impairment of receptor signalling, or desensitization. GPCRs form the largest family of cell surface receptors known and defects in GRK function have the potential consequence to affect GPCR-stimulated biological responses in many pathological situations. This review focuses on the physiological role of GRKs revealed by genetically modified animals but also develops the involvement of GRKs in human diseases as, Oguchi disease, heart failure, hypertension or rhumatoid arthritis.

Increased calcitonin level in thyroid nodules without medullary carcinoma.

Background: Basal calcitonin measurement is routinely performed in patients with a thyroid nodule to detect medullary carcinoma. However, increased calcitonin does not always correlate with medullary carcinoma. The aim of this study was to analyse increased calcitonin levels in patients without medullary carcinoma and to find out whether absence of this carcinoma can be predicted with certainty.

Management and prognosis of metastases to the thyroid gland.

Background: Intrathyroid metastases (ITM) of extrathyroid cancer are rare and have a poor prognosis. The aim of this work was to identify the sites of primary cancers and the treatment and prognosis of these lesions.

Study Design: This retrospective study was carried out on patients treated between 1982 and 2002 in the surgical departments of the University hospitals of Poitiers, Limoges, Tours, and Nantes, France.

Risk factors for recurrent nodular goiter after thyroidectomy for benign disease: case-control study of 244 patients.

Surgery for recurrent nodular goiter is associated with a significant risk of parathyroid and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) morbidity. Total thyroidectomy for benign disease is assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for recurrence and the morbidity associated with reoperation.

Allelic loss on chromosomes 2q21 and 19p 13.2 in oxyphilic thyroid tumors.

Hürthle thyroid tumors are characterized by frequent numerical chromosomal aberrations, including aneuploidy or polyploidy, losses and gains of some chromosomal regions and DNA fragmentation. In recent years, great attention has been paid to the combined analysis of morphologic and genetic features of oxyphilic tumors and to the elucidation of their pathogenesis. We analyzed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the candidate regions for TCO (thyroid tumor with cell oxyphilia) and NMTC1 (nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma 1), 2 loci already mapped on chromosomes 19p13.

[Management of thymic cysts].

Objective: The thymic cysts are rare tumors of the neck and anterior mediastinum. The management of these patients in our institution is reported. Minimally invasive procedures are discussed.

When should thyroidectomy be performed in familial medullary thyroid carcinoma gene carriers with non-cysteine RET mutations?

Background: Once familial medullary thyroid carcinoma gene carrier status is established, thyroidectomy must be performed in infancy for mutations in exon 10, but in familial medullary thyroid carcinoma with non-cysteine RET mutations, which is characterized by a late onset of C-cell disease, the appropriate timing of thyroidectomy is unclear.

Methods: We analyzed the cases of 76 patients who underwent thyroidectomy (mean age, 35.2 years); 66 patients underwent concomitant lymphadenectomy.

[Laparoscopic preperitoneal hernia repair].

The authors describe a technique of totally preperitoneal videoscopic inguinal hernia repair. This method allows, by cleavages, to obtain a preperitoneal space where can be individualised anatomical structures of the inguinofemoral area: pubis, pectineal ligament of Cooper, epigastric vessels. After squelettisation of the elements of the cord by release of the hernial bag, installation of a not fixed prosthesis largely covers the hernial rings.

Modulation of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor levels in a reperfusion injury pig kidney-graft model.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is associated with an increased risk of acute rejection, delayed graft function, or chronic graft dysfunction. Mitochondria play a central role in this process.

Methods: Using an autotransplantation pig kidney model, both early (40 min and 7 days) and late (2-16 weeks) changes in renal function and morphology were determined after different periods of cold ischemia in University of Wisconsin or Euro-Collins solutions.

Noninvasive monitoring of citrate, acetate, lactate, and renal medullary osmolyte excretion in urine as biomarkers of exposure to ischemic reperfusion injury.

Injury during the transplant process affects the alloantigen-dependent factors and the alloantigen-independent processes of "chronic" rejection. Consequently, the determination of reliable parameters for the assessment of ischemic damage is essential for the prediction of renal changes after ischemia/reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of (1)H NMR spectroscopy to predict the early graft dysfunction in an ischemia/reperfusion model after preservation in two standard preservation solutions, Euro-Collins (EC) and University of Wisconsin (UW).

A new approach to the evaluation of liver graft function by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A comparative study between Euro-Collins and University of Wisconsin solutions.

The incidence of primary dysfunction or non-function of liver grafts still occurs at an unacceptable rate and the identification of new markers of graft viability and metabolic capacity is essential. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) spectroscopy has previously shown potential in the evaluation of renal allograft dysfunction after ischaemia reperfusion. The aim of this study was to compare liver graft function in a rat isolated perfused liver model after 24 hours of preservation in either Euro-Collins (EC) or University of Wisconsin (UW) solutions.

Citrate, acetate and renal medullary osmolyte excretion in urine as predictor of renal changes after cold ischaemia and transplantation.

In organ transplantation, the determination of reliable parameters to assess ischaemic damage is essential to predict renal injury after preservation. The aim of this study was to assess renal medullary injury by 1H NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy after preservation and reperfusion. Three experimental groups of pigs were examined during a 2-week period: control group (n = 4), Euro-Collins group (EC) (cold flushed and 48 h cold storage of kidney in EC and autotransplantation, n = 7), and University of Wisconsin (UW) group (cold flushed and 48 h cold storage of kidney in UW and autotransplantation, n = 7).

Kidney retrieval conditions influence damage to renal medulla: evaluation by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pectroscopy.

In the present investigation, the influence of retrieval condition on medullary damage in kidneys was assessed. The isolated perfused pig kidney was used to assess initial renal function from multiorgan donors or single organ donors after cold flush and 24 h cold storage preservation with two preservation solutions: Euro-Collins and University of Wisconsin solutions. Kidneys flushed with cold heparinized saline and immediately perfused were used as a control group.

Protection of autotransplanted pig kidneys from ischemia-reperfusion injury by polyethylene glycol.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is often responsible for graft rejection and leads to delayed graft function of cadaveric kidneys. We have shown that adding polyethylene glycol (PEG 20M) to the preservation solutions helps protect isolated perfused pig kidneys against cold ischemia and reperfusion injury.

Methods: We compared the effects of adding PEG to a simplified high-K+ perfusion solution of cold-stored kidneys to Euro-Collins or University of Wisconsin solutions on the function of reperfused autotransplanted pig kidneys.