Environmental health science research: opportunities and challenges for some developing countries in Africa.

Due to ongoing developmental projects, there is a need for regular monitoring of the impact of pollutants on the environment. This review documented the challenges and opportunities in the field of environmental health sciences in some African countries. A systematic review was used to investigate opportunities and challenges in the field of environmental health science in Africa by examining published work with a specific focus on Africa.

Blood lead concentrations in exposed forecourt attendants and taxi drivers in parts of South Africa.

Background: Leaded fuel was banned in South Africa in 2006, in order to improve human health and reduce environmental pollution. Lead (Pb) has been suggested to contribute to the development of neurodegenerative disorders, and the role of respiratory exposure to Pb from petrol fumes should not be neglected in this context. In addition to Pb, petrol contains various harmful chemicals including other neurotoxic metals and hydrocarbons.

A Phase II Redifferentiation Trial with Dabrafenib-Trametinib and 131I in Metastatic Radioactive Iodine Refractory BRAF p.V600E-Mutated Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dabrafenib-trametinib-131I for the treatment of radioactive iodine refractory metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) with a BRAF p.V600E mutation.

Patients And Methods: A prospective phase II trial including patients with RECIST progression within 18 months and no lesion > 3 cm.

Possible Sources of Trace Metals in Obese Females Living in Informal Settlements near Industrial Sites around Gauteng, South Africa.

Trace metals have been reported in the literature to be associated with obesity. Exposure to some trace metals such as Mn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb may pose a serious health risk to individuals living around a polluted environment. The present study assessed the levels of trace metals in the blood of obese females living around industrial areas in Gauteng, South Africa.

Impact of Lymph Node Dissection on Postoperative Complications of Total Thyroidectomy in Patients with Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Lymph node dissection (LND) in primary treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma is controversial. The aim of our retrospective study was to analyse the risk factors of post-thyroidectomy complications and to assess the morbidity of lymph node dissection, especially in the central neck compartment, since prophylactic central lymph node dissection has not been proven to bring an overall survival benefit. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of postoperative complications from 1547 consecutive patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma in an academic department of endocrine surgery over a period of 10 years.

Pituitary adenoma & nuclear medicine: Recent outcomes and ongoing developments.

In order to explore pituitary adenoma (PA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the cornerstone. However, there are some limitations and MRI can be non-conclusive. The development of additional imaging modalities like nuclear medicine explorations may help to confirm PA diagnosis, guide management and follow up.

Bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: heterogenous tumor response to radioactive Iodine therapy and overall survival.

Purpose: Bone metastases (BM) from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) impact negatively the quality of life and the life expectancy of patients. The aim of the study was (a) to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors of OS and (b) to assess predictive factors of complete BM response (C-BM-R) using radioiodine treatment (RAI) either alone or in association with focal treatment modalities.

Methods: A total of 178 consecutive DTC patients harbouring BM, treated between 1989 and 2015, were enrolled in this retrospective study conducted in two tertiary referral centers.

Hypogonadism: a neglected comorbidity in young and middle-aged HIV-positive men on effective combination antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Male hypogonadism is poorly characterized in young-to-middle-aged people with HIV (PWH). We used a reliable free testosterone assay to assess the prevalence and predictive factors for male hypogonadism in PWH on effective combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Design: A French cross-sectional study from January 2013 to June 2016.

Metabolic and immunological phenotype of rare lipomatoses: Dercum's disease and Roch-Leri mesosomatic lipomatosis.

Context: Dercum's disease (DD) and Roch-Leri mesosomatic lipomatosis (LMS) are rare and poorly characterized diseases. The clinical presentation combines multiple lipomas, painful in DD in contrast with LMS, without lipoatrophy.

Objective: To identify any specific metabolic and immune phenotype of DD and LMS.

Quantitative dual isotope iodine/Tc-MIBI scintigraphy: A new approach to rule out malignancy in thyroid nodules.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of dual isotope Iodine/Tc-MIBI thyroid scintigraphy (IMS) in discriminating between malignant and benign lesions in indeterminate nodules using quantitative analysis methods.

Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients with thyroid nodules of indeterminate or non-diagnostic cytology and cold on Iodine scintigraphy (10 Bethesda I, 24 Bethesda III-IV, 1 in which cytology was impossible) underwent IMS between 2017 and 2019 with uptake quantification at two time points ahead of thyroidectomy: early and late. Images were analyzed by two blinded physicians.

Bone and joint complications in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis: a cross-sectional study of 93 patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of bone and joint complications, specifically bone fragility, joint replacement surgery, and arthropathy, in hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) and related factors.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional observational study of 93 patients with HH. Radiographs of the hands, wrists, knees, and ankles were scored for joint space narrowing, erosions and cysts, osteophytes, and chondrocalcinosis.

Prevalence and causes of elevated bone mass.

Introduction: Reports of elevated bone mass (EBM) on routine DXA scanning are not infrequent. However, epidemiological studies of EBM are few in number and definition thresholds variable. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and causes of EBM in the general population referred to a single university hospital - catering for a population of 4 million inhabitants - for DXA scanning.

Management of Patients with Renal Failure Undergoing Dialysis During I Therapy for Thyroid Cancer.

Radioactive iodine (I) therapy may be used to treat thyroid cancer in end-stage renal disease patients who undergo hemodialysis. Because iodine uses predominantly renal clearance, treatment management in hemodialysis patients may be problematic, and no formal recommendations on hemodialysis currently exist. This work details our experience with treating thyroid cancer with iodine in chronic renal failure patients who require hemodialysis and details the dosimetry results obtained during treatment to ensure that the dose to the bone marrow (BM) was acceptable.

Description of a transient proximal tubulopathy induced by amino acids perfusion in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy: A case report.

Rationale: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs is a targeted internal radiotherapy method used to treat tumors expressing somatostatin receptors. Concomitant amino acids perfusion is systematically performed in order to inhibit the proximal tubular uptake of the radionuclide and thus prevent nephrotoxicity. PATIENT CONCERNS:: a 67-year-old woman with an intestinal neuroendocrine tumor with multiple lymphadenopathies and liver metastases.

Recombinant Thyrotropin vs Levothyroxine Withdrawal in 131I Therapy of N1 Thyroid Cancer: A Large Matched Cohort Study (ThyrNod).

Context: Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) has been shown to be an effective stimulation method for radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer, including in those with nodal metastases (N1 DTC).

Objectives: To demonstrate the noninferiority of rhTSH vs thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) in preparation to RAI regarding disease status at the first evaluation in the real-life setting in patients with N1 DTC.

Design: This was a French multicenter retrospective study.

Reduced bone mineral density among HIV-infected, virologically controlled young men: prevalence and associated factors.

Objective: Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) is a frequent comorbidity observed in people living with HIV (PLHIV). We aimed to determine the prevalence of reduced BMD and its associated factors among young PLHIV men, virologically controlled by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Design: A bicentric cross-sectional study.

Irisin levels in LMNA-associated partial lipodystrophies.

Aim: The adipo-myokine irisin regulates energy expenditure and fat metabolism. LMNA-associated familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD2) comprises insulin resistance, muscle hypertrophy and lipoatrophy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether irisin could be a biomarker of FPLD2.

HIV and hypogonadism: a new challenge for young-aged and middle-aged men on effective antiretroviral therapy.

Male hypogonadism is poorly defined in people living with HIV. Using a reliable free-testosterone assay, we examined the prevalence and risk factors of male hypogonadism among people living with HIV on effective antiretroviral therapy. Male hypogonadism was found in 12.

Hyperparathyroidism complicating CYP 24A1 mutations.

CYP24A1 gene mutations induce infantile hypercalcemia, with high 1,25(OH)D contrasting with low PTH levels. The adult phenotype is not well known. Two unrelated adult patients were referred for nephrolithiasis, hypertension, hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, normal 25-OHD levels, and inappropriate PTH levels (22 to 92pg/mL;N: 15-68) suggesting primary hyperparathyroidism, leading to surgery.

[Advances in thyroglobulin assays and their impact on the management of differentiated thyroid cancers].

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a high molecular weight glycoprotein located mainly in thyroid follicles, where thyroid hormones are synthesized and stored. In patients with differentiated thyroid cancer of follicular origin, serum Tg levels become undetectable following total thyroidectomy and iodine-131 remnant ablation. It is a key biomarker to follow-up patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, in combination with neck ultrasound monitoring.

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas: application of the Turin proposal provides prognostic results similar to those from the assessment of high-grade features.

Aims: To investigate the performance of two proposed methods for assessing the prognosis of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas (PDTC): the Turin proposal and Hiltzik's histological grade (HHG). This was done using a series of 82 thyroid carcinomas of follicular origin.

Results: The two methods were able to classify patients accurately into two different prognosis groups.

Evaluation of PET volume segmentation methods: comparisons with expert manual delineations.

Introduction: [¹⁸F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET has become an essential technique in oncology. Accurate segmentation is important for treatment planning. With the increasing number of available methods, it will be useful to establish a reliable evaluation tool.