Selenium - its role in physiology and endocrinology and as organoselenium compounds in oncology: A minireview.

The present minireview traces the road leading to discovery of selenium, formerly appointed as a toxic element that became later a bioelement, which is necessary for the proper functioning of living organisms. Selenium occurs in human and animal bodies either in the form of seleno-Lcysteine or its dimeric form seleno-L-cystine as a crucial component of selenoenzymes or selenoproteins. Selenium atom represents an integral component of the enzyme active site of different forms of glutathione peroxidase, which catalyzes conversion of hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides into the water and corresponding alcohols.

Fine-needle biopsy of thyroid nodules and the contribution of molecular analysis of BRAF and RAS mutations.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. There is a significant overdiagnosis of thyroid carcinomas that would never clinically manifest, with consequent unnecessary surgical treatment. The fine-needle biopsy and subsequent cytologic examination is of crucial importance in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Influence of autoimmune thyroiditis on the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objectives: The association of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has been studied for over 60 years, yet their causal relationship has not been elucidated. Most published papers report a better prognosis of the patients with tumour in the field of thyroiditis. In our work we aimed to find out the differences in the clinical behaviour of PTC depending on the presence of autoimmune inflammation.

[An incidental finding of pheochromocytoma in a 33-year-old patient with Lynch syndrome].

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumor arising from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. The detection of these tumors is extremely important because they are associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Progress in molecular genetics has revealed that up to 35% of pheochromocytomas are inhereted.

Causal associations of autoimmune thyroiditis and papillary thyroid carcinoma: mRNA expression of selected nuclear receptors and other molecular targets.

Potential causal associations of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have been studied previously. The mRNA expression patterns of thyroid hormone receptors (TR), retinoid receptors (RAR), rexinoid receptors (RXR), dihydroxyvitamin D receptors (VDR), and progesterone receptors (PR) in PTC tissue of patients without autoimmune thyroiditis (PTC/AIT-) and in PTC tissue of patients with coexisting AIT (PTC/AIT+) have been investigated in order to judge whether the observed changes may take part in the promotion and progression of thyroid cancer. Tumours with or without AIT were classified histologically and the semiquantitative PCR was performed.

[The course of differentiated thyroid microcarcinoma in patients treated by different therapeutic strategies].

Low risk differentiated thyroid microcarcinoma therapy is a controversial area of thyroid tumor management. Major international medical societies and reputable institutes consider lobectomy to be sufficient therapeutic intervention for the pT1a cN0cM0 stage of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. However different views and therapeutic strategies exist and result in unnecessary overtreatment and worsening of patients quality of life.

Ensuring Effective Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders.

Background: Programs initiated to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) may not remain effective due to changes in government policies, commercial factors, and human behavior that may affect the efficacy of IDD prevention programs in unpredictable directions. Monitoring and outcome studies are needed to optimize the effectiveness of IDD prevention.

Summary: Although the need for monitoring is compelling, the current reality in Europe is less than optimal.

mRNA expression pattern of retinoic acid and retinoid X nuclear receptor subtypes in human thyroid papillary carcinoma.

Retinoids have shown potential for the inhibition of tumour growth and progression. The objective of this study was to investigate retinoic acid nuclear receptor subtypes RAR/RXR and iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase, type I expression pattern in papillary thyroid tumour tissue of 26 patients in order to compare with those of the non-neoplastic thyroid tissue of the corresponding patients. The expression of selected parameters mRNA was examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

A prospective, multicentre study to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of octreotide LAR (long-acting repeatable octreotide) in the primary therapy of patients with acromegaly.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of octreotide LAR (long-acting repeatable octreotide) in the primary therapy of acromegaly.

Design And Patients: Ninety-eight previously untreated acromegalics were recruited into this prospective multicentre study. A total of 68 patients successfully completed 48 weeks of the study period, received 12 doses of octreotide LAR 10-30 mg every 4 weeks, and constituted the population used for this analysis.