A method to detect fulvestrant interference in estradiol in breast cancer patients.

Background: Fulvestrant resembles estradiol in its structure. Reports have been published concerning fulvestrant measured as estradiol by the immunoassays. This may induce falsely elevated estradiol results and wrongly impact medical decisions.

Iodine Intake and Related Cognitive Function Impairments in Elementary Schoolchildren.

Iodine deficiency, the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide, has been linked to poorer intellectual function in several studies. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been performed in moderate iodine-deficient schoolchildren using the complete form of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III; Portuguese version). The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether moderate iodine deficiency would affect the cognitive function of schoolchildren (7-11 years old; 3rd and 4th grades).

Iodine Supplementation in Pregnancy in an Iodine-Deficient Region: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Iodine deficiency is a common problem in pregnant women and may have implications for maternal and child health. Iodine supplementation during pregnancy has been recommended by several scientific societies. We undertook a cross-sectional survey to assess the efficacy of these recommendations in a European iodine-deficient region.

Parathyroid carcinoma: Single centre experience.

Objective: Parathyroid Carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm, accounting for less than 1% of primary hyperparathyroidism cases. Parathyroid carcinomas are characterized by markedly elevated levels of PTH, severe hypercalcemia and established target organ damage. The authors report the experience of a single centre regarding the management and outcome of patients with parathyroid carcinomas and revise relevant literature.

Efficacy of a Salt Iodization Program on Iodine Status and Intakes in Schoolchildren of São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal.

Introduction: Iodine is an essential micronutrient and its deficiency can severely impact children's development. In 2012, the Thyroid Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism discovered that the median urinary iodine concentration (mUIC) level in schoolchildren of São Miguel was far too low at 70.9 μg/L.

[Prolactin and the laboratory].

Up to 95% of adult serum prolactin is monomeric prolactin with a molecular weight of 23 kDa. Macroprolactin is a prolactin-antibody complex of molecular weight greater than 100 kDa and constitutes less than 1% of circulating prolactin. In some cases, hyperprolactinemia is the result of elevated macroprolactin levels, misleading the medical approach to the patient.

[Iodine intake in Portuguese school children].

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate iodine intake in portuguese school children in order to inform health authorities of eventual measures to be implemented.

Introduction: Iodine is the key element for thyroid hormone synthesis and its deficiency even mild, as found in other European countries, may have deleterious effects in pregnancy resulting in cognitive problems of offsprings. In Portugal there are no recent data on iodine intake in schoolchildren.

In vitro assays to test the interference of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies on thyroglobulin measurement.

Objective: To assess the interference of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) on serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement by in vitro experiments. Design Re-evaluation of Tg concentration after dilution with different TgAb-positive sera. On a first step, dilutions of the same Tg with different TgAb sera were performed and on a second step, different Tgs were diluted with the same TgAb serum.

A practical method for the detection of macroprolactinaemia using ultrafiltration.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate a method for the estimation of the percentage of big-big prolactin (bb-PRL) in serum, based on centrifugal ultrafiltration (UF) and to be used for the detection of macroprolactinaemia.

Design: Serum samples were submitted to gel filtration chromatography (GFC), UF and precipitation with polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Patients: Serum samples obtained from 13 patients with macroprolactinaemia (Group 1) and from 15 hyperprolactinaemic patients without macroprolactinaemia (Group 2) were studied by the three methods.