[en] Patterns of abnormality in regional cerebral perfusion and its relation to clinical severity was evaluated with 32 head injury patients using '9^9mTc-HMPAO single photon emission tomography (SPECT). The findings were compared with computed tomography (CT) done within 48 hours of each SPECT study. The initial SPECT study was done within 7 days of injury in 16 cases, between 1 week and 2 months in 12, and after over 2 months in 4. Nineteen of the patients underwent follow up SPECT and CT after a mean interval of 1 to 2 months. The initial SPECT showed abnormalities in 96% (31/32) of the patients while CT showed abnormal findings in only 81% (26/32). There were a total of 54 supratentorial SPECT lesions in all. Ninety percent (49/54) of these were of regional hypoperfusion, while 5 lesions showed focal hyperperfusion. The lesions were most often localized in the frontal and temporal lobes. Fifty five percent (30/54) were areas not detected as a lesion on CT. Cerebellar diaschisis was observed in 50% (16/32) of the patients. The degree of perfusion abnormality was quantified by the product of differential activity and a size factor. Correlation between the degree of perfusion abnormality and the clinical severity (Glasgow coma scale) failed to show statistical significance (p=0.053). The amount of change in the degree of perfusion abnormality on follow up SPECT was compared to the amount of change in clinical severity. Perfusion abnormality showed a tendency to improve in most patients, and the degree of improvement showed significant correlation with the amount of clinical improvement (p<0.01).

[en] Conjugated-non-conjugated alternating block copolymers containing distyrylarylene units were synthesized via Wittig reaction for chemiluminescent fluorophores. The polymers were differentiated from others by the presence of aromatic unit in the chromophoric block. When UV-VIS, photoluminescence and chemiluminescence spectra of these materials were compared with copolymers, a strong bathochromic effect was observed. A more pronounced red shift and higher chemiluminescence efficiency were observed in the polymer with anthracene ring. Sodium salicylate-catalyzed reaction of bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate with hydrogen peroxide produced a strong chemiluminescence from blue to yellow-green light emission with wavelength of 450-537 nm in the presence of the fluorophore. The chemiluminescent intensity decayed exponentially. The glow of chemiluminescence maintained more than 12 hr and was visible with the naked eye

[en] We wanted to evaluate the frequency of BRAFV600E mutations on the preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of thyroid nodules and the effect of this on the accuracy of diagnosing papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We also wanted to evaluate the influence of BRAFV600E analysis on patient care. The results of cytology and BRAFV600E mutation analysis of 190 thyroid nodules were retrospectively reviewed. The results of the cytology and BRAFV600E analysis were compared with the histopathological diagnosis for the surgically confirmed cases, and we calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and the diagnostic accuracy of FNAB and combining the modalities of FNAB and BRAFV600E mutation. The frequency of BRAFV600E mutation according to age and the influence of BRAFV600E analysis on patient care were studied. The nodule size was compared between the malignant and other categories of BRAFV600E positive nodules. Seventy four percent of the PTC were BRAFV600E positive. BRAFV600E analysis increased the sensitivity, NPP and diagnostic accuracy of FNAB. Fifty percent of the BRAFV600E positive nodules with other than malignant cytology received surgery and these were confirmed to be PTC. The frequency of BRAFV600E mutation increased with age, which was statistically significant. There was a statistically significant difference in the nodule size between the cytologically malignant nodules and the other nodules. BRAFV600E analysis increased the diagnostic accuracy of FNAB and it should be considered as being complementary to cytological analysis. The frequency of the BRAFV600E mutation increased with age. The size of the malignant nodules was larger than that of the benign nodules

[en] Fluorene- and carbazole-containing distyrylarylene model and polymeric fluorophores were prepared by reacting 2,7-dibromo-9-butylfluorene and 3,6-dibromo-9-butylcarbazole with styrene and divinylbenzene using the Heck reaction for the chemiluminescence. The UV-vis absorbance, photoluminescence (PL) as well as the chemiluminescence (CL) characteristics of the model and polymeric fluorophores were measured. Sodium salicylate-catalyzed reaction of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO) with hydrogen peroxide produced a strong chemiluminescent blue light emission with 439-489 nm in the presence of the fluorophore. The wavelength of CL light was similar to that of photoluminescence. The chemiluminescent intensity was decayed according to the exponential equation . The glow of CL maintained more than 12 hr and was visible with naked eye

[en] 

Objectives

Assessment of thyroid parenchymal echogenicity on ultrasonography is a predictor of future thyroid dysfunction. Our objective was to determine the prognostic value of acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) to predict the outcome of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT).

Materials and methods

We prospectively evaluated 90 patients with HT using ASQ from May to December 2013. Surveillance for the development of overt hypothyroidism was conducted over a median period of 40 months (3–55). ASQ were dichotomized based on optimal cutoff values obtained from ROC curve analysis. The probability of developing overt hypothyroidism was compared between the dichotomized subgroups using Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank tests. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine significant prognostic factors.

Results

The cumulative rate of overt hypothyroidism was 67.7%. The median interval to overt hypothyroidism was 27.9 months (95% confidence interval, 12.0–38.0 months). There was no significant difference in the risk of overt hypothyroidism using qualitative echogenicity between groups (p = 0.669) according to Kaplan–Meier analysis. However, the ASQ average (p < 0.001), standard deviation (p = 0.015), and focal disturbance ratio (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with an increased risk of overt hypothyroidism. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that a higher ASQ average (hazard ratio, 1.03; p = 0.03) and higher thyroid-stimulating hormone level (hazard ratio, 1.02; p = 0.02) were independent predictors of overt hypothyroidism.

Conclusions

ASQ has potential as a prognostic biomarker for predicting the risk of overt hypothyroidism in patients with HT.

Key Points

• ASQ provides quantitative prognostic information of thyroid parenchymal echogenicity.

• ASQ parameters improved the stratification of patients who are prone to develop overt hypothyroidism in HT.

• ASQ can serve as prognostic biomarker in HT.