Publications by authors named "Katja Zaletel"

Article Synopsis
  • - Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is the preferred treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism, but it relies on effective preoperative localization methods to identify overactive parathyroid tissue.
  • - A study compared two groups of patients—234 who had traditional MIBI scintigraphy and 163 who had FCh-PET/CT—focusing on the efficiency and outcomes of these imaging techniques leading up to surgery.
  • - Results showed that FCh-PET/CT significantly reduced imaging time by 83% and surgery time by 41% without using intraoperative hormone monitoring, suggesting it may lead to faster procedures and fewer reoperations for patients.
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Article Synopsis
  • * Contamination sources include air, food, and water, making proximity to nuclear incidents a significant factor in exposure risk, especially in iodine-deficient areas.
  • * To mitigate these risks, ensuring sufficient iodine supply is vital, and the use of potassium iodide tablets can protect the thyroid by blocking radioactive iodine absorption, but this protection is time-sensitive and mainly recommended for individuals under 40.
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Various techniques have been used in attempts to reduce interfering gastrointestinal activity in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI); however, these approaches have yielded inconsistent results. The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of monitored walking, a previously unexplored technique, in reducing subdiaphragmatic activity-related artifacts during pharmacologic stress Tc-tetrofosmin MPI with SPECT to improve the overall image quality. The study included patients who underwent MPI with pharmacologic stress.

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Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single photon emission computed tomography is an established non-invasive technique for assessing myocardial ischemia. This method involves the intravenous administration of a radiopharmaceutical that accumulates in the heart muscle proportional to regional blood flow. However, image quality and diagnostic accuracy can be compromised by various technical and patient-related factors, including high non-specific radiopharmaceutical uptake in abdominal organs such as the stomach, intestines, liver, and gall-bladder, leading to subdiaphragmatic artifacts.

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Objective: The objective of study was to assess 24-h urinary Na and K excretion and estimate the average salt and K intakes in a nationally representative sample of the adult population of Slovenia.

Design: A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in four stages between September and November 2022: study questionnaire, physical measurements, 24-h urine collection and laboratory analysis.

Setting: Slovenia.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The article discusses the shift away from traditional surgical treatments for benign thyroid nodules, highlighting advancements in ultrasound assessment and minimally invasive techniques that prioritize individualized patient care.
  • - These developments have led to fewer surgeries, reduced long-term complications, and increased cost-effectiveness in healthcare, despite the fact that nodules may not fully disappear after treatment.
  • - While surgery remains the definitive method for diagnosis, it comes with risks, and future approaches may incorporate artificial intelligence to further improve nodule evaluation and management.
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Fetal and neonatal thyrotoxicosis occurs in up to 5% of pregnancies in mothers with Graves' disease (GD). This condition is caused by stimulating antibodies against the thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs) that cross the placenta and may stimulate the fetal thyroid, typically in the second half of pregnancy. GD is often treated with radioiodine, resulting in hypothyroidism in most patients, but TRAbs can persist for several years.

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Objectives: In population studies, iodine intake estimation relies on median urinary iodine concentration (UIC). However, interpreting UIC measurements can be challenging.

Methods: In our study, we included 772 adult participants from three groups: nationally representative gender-mixed, women of reproductive age, and pregnant women.

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Background: Iodine is an essential element for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Therefore, a reliable marker of iodine supply is important. Iodine is predominantly excreted via kidneys, but also via salivary glands.

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Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, both overt and subclinical, are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The association between thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and cardiovascular risk has been demonstrated in large epidemiological studies and meta-analyses and is now considered a U-shaped curve. Several pathophysiological mechanisms linking thyroid and cardiovascular disease are known; however, specific clinical complications of peripheral arterial disease as endpoints of clinical trials have not been adequately investigated.

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Objective: The optimal corticosteroid treatment regimen for subacute thyroiditis has not yet been established. To avoid side effects, tapering of the initial dose of corticosteroid is recommended. With reducing dose, the symptoms can recur.

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Aim: To evaluate the effect of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 1.0 mg on the late digestive period of gastric emptying (GE) after ingestion of a standardized solid test meal by using technetium scintigraphy, the reference method for this purpose.

Methods: We conducted a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 20 obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS; mean [range] age 35 [32.

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Inadequate iron intake and iron deficiency are recognised as a public health problem in the population at large, and particularly in specific subpopulations. Dietary iron intake was analysed using data of the national Slovenian food consumption study, SI.Menu (n = 1248 subjects; 10−74 years), while iron status was evaluated with laboratory analyses of blood haemoglobin, serum ferritin, and iron concentration in samples, collected in the Nutrihealth study (n = 280, adults).

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Introduction: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare malignant tumour of the parafollicular C-cells with an unpredictable clinical course and currently suboptimal diagnostic and therapeutic options, in particular in advanced disease. Overexpression of cholecystokinin-2 receptors (CCK2R) represents a promising avenue to diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy, ideally through a theranostic approach.

Materials And Methods: A translational study (GRAN-T-MTC) conducted through a Phase I multicentre clinical trial of the indium-111 labelled CP04 ([In]In-CP04), a CCK2R-seeking ligand was initiated with the goal of developing a theranostic compound.

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Background: PET/CT imaging is widely used in oncology and provides both metabolic and anatomic information. Because of the relatively poor spatial resolution of PET, the detection of small lesions is limited. The low spatial resolution introduces the partial-volume effect (PVE) which negatively affects images both qualitatively and quantitatively.

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Objective: Iodine is an essential part of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Therefore, it is essential to monitor iodine supply in a population. The biochemical marker for assessing and controlling iodine is urinary iodine concentration (UIC).

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Vitamin B12 deficiency poses a health concern, especially in vulnerable populations. Dietary vitamin B12 intake was obtained by two 24 h dietary recalls and food propensity questionnaires in a representative Slovenian cross-sectional food consumption survey, SI.Menu ( = 1248 subjects; 10-74 years).

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Folate deficiency is associated with various health issues, including anemia, cardiovascular disease, and birth defects. Low folate intake and suboptimal folate status were found in several countries; however, this topic has not yet been investigated in Slovenia. Dietary folate intake and serum folate status were investigated through the nationally representative food consumption study SI.

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For thyroid function estimation and clinical decision making, use of appropriate reference intervals for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) is crucial. For each laboratory, establishment of own reference intervals is advised. For the first Slovenian estimation of reference intervals for thyroid hormones a large group of 1722 healthy individuals without thyroid disease was established retrospectively.

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Rationale: A hormone-active metastatic Hürthle cell thyroid carcinoma (HCTC) and Graves disease (GD) present a therapeutic challenge and is rarely reported.

Patient Concerns: We present a 64-year-old male patient, who had dyspnea and left hip pain lasting 4 months. He had clinical signs of hyperthyroidism and a tumor measuring 9 cm in diameter of the left thyroid lobe, metastatic neck lymph node and metastases in the lungs, mediastinum, and bones.

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Background: Thyroid nodule diagnosis has become increasingly frequent. Defining optimum surveillance intervals for patients with unsuspicious thyroid nodules remains a challenge. This was a single centre cohort study in which patients diagnosed with unsuspicious thyroid nodules in whom no treatment was indicated were invited for re-evaluation 5 years after the diagnosis.

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Objective: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a challenging neuroendocrine malignancy where the role of nuclear medicine imaging is currently limited. This paper investigates the potential diagnostic value of [F]Fluorocholine PET/CT in primary MTC.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 25 patients (10 male, 15 female) with suspicion for primary MTC based on fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).

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Several studies conducted around the world showed substantial vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among different population groups. Sources of vitamin D in the human body include ultraviolet B (UVB)-light-induced biosynthesis and dietary intake, but people's diets are often poor in vitamin D. Furthermore, in many regions, sun exposure and the intensity of UVB irradiation during wintertime are not sufficient for vitamin D biosynthesis.

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Knowledge about the population's iodine status is important, because it allows adjustment of iodine supply and prevention of iodine deficiency. The validity and comparability of iodine-related population studies can be improved by standardization, which was one of the goals of the EUthyroid project. The aim of this study was to establish the first standardized map of iodine status in Europe by using standardized urinary iodine concentration (UIC) data.

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Background: The incidence of thyroid disorders importantly depends on iodine supply and may change over time. There are only a few data available regarding the change in the incidence of thyroid disorders following the increase in iodine supply. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the incidence of thyroid disorders in the second decade of adequate iodine supply in Slovenia.

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