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AIM: Evaluation of the diagnostic value of the first thyroglobulin (Tg) level measurement, performed after thyroidectomy, before another treatment, as an early marker of either metastases or local recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 178 patients (160 women, 18 men, 14-79 years) with DTC and without known interference in Tg assay were evaluated retrospectively. In all patients, neck radioiodine uptake (Tup 24), thyroid remnants volume (V), TSH and Tg were measured. The Tg/V and Tg/Tup 24 ratios were calculated to correct Tg concentration with regard to V and Tup 24. Six months after initial evaluation and routine therapy all patients underwent control examinations under endogenous TSH stimulation. RESULTS: During follow-up metastases or local recurrence were found in 32 patients. The groups of patients with no diagnosed metastases (M0) and with detected metastases (M1), did not differ with regard to V, serum TSH or Tup 24 difference between the two groups was found in Tg concentration (4.3 ng/ml VS 97.4 ng/ml; p=0.000001). The ratios of Tg/Tup 24 (p=0.000000) and Tg/V (p=0.004) were lower in the group M0 than M1. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) for Tg concentrations, Tg/Tup 24, and Tg/V ratios were 0.773 (95% CI - 0.655-0.892), 0.817 (0.709-0.925) and 0.712 (0.541-0.884), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both the absolute Tg concentration and Tg/V and Tg/Tup 24 ratios, determined after thyroidectomy but before another treatment in patients with metastases of DTC, diagnosed within 6 months after 131I administration, are higher than those in patients without such metastases. This indicates that the mentioned parameters may be applied as early markers of either local recurrence or metastases of DTC. The highest discriminative value demonstrates Tg/Tup 24 ratio, Tg concentration has a lower value and Tg/V ratio has the lowest one.

Abstract: Chitosan was used as a sealant of knitted polyester vascular grafts. Three sterilization methods for chitosan-coated prostheses were tested: sterilization with ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and irradiation with gamma rays. Radiation sterilization was found to be the most promising of tested methods. The radiation-induced changes in chitosan irradiated in solid state were investigated. Main chain scission was found as the predominant effect of irradiation. Changes in IR and UV spectra were analyzed. Existence of some post-effects was detected. It seems that the observed increase in biocompatibility of chitosan surface caused by irradiation with sterilizing dose (25 kGy) is due to some structural factor connected with a decrease in molecular weight.

It has been found that the hydrogenation kinetics of PhCOCOPh is first order in the cobalt complex and substrate. It has also been observed that the optical yield of the asymmetric hydrogenation of benzil depends on the pKa of amines. Mechanism involving complexation of benzil by amines (in solution) is postulated

It has been found that there is a strong dependence of the rate of benzil hydrogenation on the structure and basicity of maines. This observation is interpreted in terms of heterolytic activation of hydrogen by cobaloxime.