Is there a role for an ultrasensitive thyroglobulin assay in patients with serum antithyroglobulin antibodies? A large (Australian) cohort study in differentiated thyroid cancer.

Objective: Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is a marker of residual differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) after total thyroidectomy; however, circulating antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) may interfere with the immunoassay for Tg. Ultrasensitive assays may have a more significant role in detecting circulating Tg in the context of samples containing TgAb. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of ultrasensitive thyroglobulin (US-Tg) measurement compared to standard Tg measurement and to assess the influence of serum TgAb positivity on Tg detection in a large tertiary referral centre cohort in Australia.

Prevention of osteoporosis as a consequence of aromatase inhibitor therapy in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer: rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have improved the prognosis for breast cancer survivors and are now standard of care for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early stage breast cancer. One side-effect, however, is a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. Since hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is contraindicated in these women, one prevention option is exercise combined with vitamin D and calcium.

Elevated serum FGF23 concentrations in plasma cell dyscrasias.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is now recognized as a key regulator of phosphate metabolism. Numerous reports have found elevated serum FGF23 concentrations in oncogenic osteomalacia associated with mesenchymal tumors. Hypophosphatemic osteomalacia more rarely occurs in non-mesenchymal tumors.