[Expression of galectin-3 in thyroid gland and follicular cell tumors of the thyroid. A critical study of its possible role in preoperative differential diagnosis].

Galectin-3 belongs to a group of endogenous lectins with an affinity to glycoconjugates containing beta-galactoside residues. It has been detected in numerous tissues and studied in connection with tumor growth, dedifferentiation, and metastasis. Only few studies have dealt with galectin-3 detection in tumors of the thyroid gland and with its possible role for differential diagnosis.

Cytogenetic findings on eight follicular thyroid adenomas including one with a t(10;19).

Eight follicular adenomas of the thyroid gland were cytogenetically investigated. Of these, only one showed a chromosomal abnormality, a translocation t(10;19)(q22;p13 or q13). The situation is compared with that of thyroid carcinomas and pleomorphic adenomas.

Cranial nerve injury during carotid arterial reconstruction.

In a series of 109 carotid arterial reconstructions cranial nerve injury was observed in 14 of 102 patients. Ipsilateral peripheral hypoglossal nerve injury occurred in nine patients with carotid occlusive disease. The marginal mandibular nerve was injured in three patients and recurrent laryngeal nerve dysfunction was noted in four patients.

Demonstration of circulating autoantibodies against the plasma membrane of isolated thyroid cells in Graves' disease.

Antibodies against the plasma membrane of isolated human and porcine thyroid cells were demonstrable by a linear fluorescence pattern in sera from 29 out of 37 patients with Graves' disease. In 3 cases the antibodies reacted only with human thyroid cells. In a group of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 6 of 8 sera reacted with human thyroid cells in a granular fluorescence pattern.