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In this study, serum metabolic profiling of patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and benign thyroid pathologies (BT) aimed to identify specific biomarkers and altered pathways when compared with healthy controls (C). The blood was collected after a histological confirmation from PTC (n = 24) and BT patients (n = 31) in parallel with healthy controls (n = 81). The untargeted metabolomics protocol was applied by UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+-MS analysis and the statistical analysis was performed using the MetaboAnalyst 5.0 platform. The partial least squares-discrimination analysis, including VIP values, random forest graphs, and heatmaps (p < 0.05), was complemented with biomarker analysis (with AUROC ranking) and pathway analysis, suggesting a model for abnormal metabolic pathways in PTC and BT based on 166 identified metabolites. There were 11 classes of putative biomarkers selected that were involved in altered metabolic pathways, e.g., polar molecules (amino acids and glycolysis metabolites, purines and pyrimidines, and selenium complexes) and lipids including free fatty acids, bile acids, acylated carnitines, corticosteroids, prostaglandins, and phospholipids. Specific biomarkers of discrimination were identified in each class of metabolites and upregulated or downregulated comparative to controls, PTC group, and BT group. The lipidomic window was revealed to be more relevant for finding biomarkers related to thyroid carcinoma or benign thyroid nodules, since our study reflected a stronger involvement of lipids and selenium-related molecules in metabolic discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Cementless total hip arthroplasty leads to an early periprosthetic bone loss, which can impair the osseointegration process and lead to a femoral implant migration during early weight-bearing. An altered osseointegration process can lead to aseptic loosening, which is the most frequent late complication in these surgical procedures. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of alendronate and simvastatin in the prevention of early periprosthetic bone loss found in osteoporotic patients. This can lead to earlier weight-bearing in patients, as well as reduce the rate of aseptic loosening. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients undergoing cementless total hip arthroplasty were equally distributed into three groups: group I (alendronate), group II (simvastatin), and group III (control). The alendronate group received 5 mg of alendronate postoperatively, daily for 8 weeks, and the simvastatin group received 20 mg daily for 4 weeks postoperatively, followed by 40 mg daily for 4 weeks. We determined bone mineral density (BMD), as well as bone serum markers beta cross-laps (β-CTx) and alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) preoperatively, 4 weeks postoperatively, and 8 weeks postoperatively. All patients were not allowed to fully bear weight for 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: Alendronate statistically significantly increases the BMD at one month postoperatively compared to the control group in Gruen zones 5 and 6 (p = 0.042 and p = 0.039). Overall, the BMD was higher in the alendronate group compared to the control group at one month postoperatively (p = 0.043). Alendronate decreased β-CTx bone serum marker compared to control at one month and two months (p = 0.024 and p = 0.012). Moreover, alendronate showed a higher decrease in β-CTx compared to simvastatin at both timelines (p = 0.028 and p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: The study shows that alendronate administration following cementless total hip arthroplasty offers better protection against periprosthetic bone loss compared to simvastatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the increasing prevalence of thyroid nodular disease (TND) has been partially attributed to the more frequent usage of improved diagnostics, environmental factors, such as exposures to thyroid-disrupting chemicals may contribute to TND and altered thyroid function. We investigated the association between exposures to bisphenol A (BPA), its chlorinated derivatives (ClxBPA), and bisphenol F (BPF) with TND and thyroid measures in adult women. A case-control study in Cyprus and Romania (n = 212) was conducted, where cases were those with thyroid nodules (diameter >3mm), and controls without nodules. Serum TSH and free thyroxine and urinary levels of BPA, BPF and ClxBPA were measured using immunoassays and tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The association between exposures to BPA compounds and TND, adjusting for age, BMI, thyroid hormones and urinary iodine was assessed using logistic regression. Linear regression was used to explore associations between urinary BPA, BPF and ClxBPA and serum thyroid hormones. With the exception of a chlorinated BPA compound (30%), the rest of bisphenols were quantified in 100% of urine samples. A positive and significant (p<0.05) association was observed between urinary BPA and serum TSH that remained after adjusting for urinary creatinine, age, BMI, study site and disease status; there was no significant association between BPF or ClxBPA with TSH. None of the BPA compounds were associated with higher odds of TND. Our study found associations of urinary BPA with TSH but not with BPF or ClxBPA. A larger study would be justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of patients with nodular goitre and thyroid carcinoma worldwide has increased, mainly after Chernobyl nuclear accident. Thyroglobulin is reported as an essential tumour marker in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The aim of the study was to determine the thyroglobulin level in the thyroid tissue obtained by fine needle aspiration from thyroid nodules or cervical lymph nodes and to improve the specificity of the method in the diagnosis of cancer. In this retrospective study we used the database of the Institute of Oncology "Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) from the decade 1998-2007; a number of 1803 cases of malign thyroid tumors with the mean age of 47 years and 15,778 cases of nodular goitre with the mean age of 42.1 years. We analyzed the evolution of the incidence of this pathology. We performed 600 fine needle aspirations; among them we selected 35 cases with the serum and also the tissue level of thyroglobulin determined on electrochemiluminescence method. We analyzed the results and the correlation between the serum thyroglobulin, tissue thyroglobulin, their ratio with serum, the total protein and the histological results after the surgery. The conclusion of the study was that a simple and very accessible method, such as fine needle aspiration, could improve the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer is a disease with a good prognosis and high survival rates, but having a marked growth of incidence all over the world in the last years. This fact requires special attention of researchers for understanding the behavior of this disease and to establish a correct therapy. Analysis of circulating tumor cells in patients with different malignancies is nowadays a new and exciting research tool, which can improve the diagnosis and prevent the metastatic disease. In the case of thyroid carcinoma there are few studies which explore these biomarkers and investigate the prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells. With this review we seek to emphasize the role of these cells to better understand the mechanisms of invasion or metastasis and to establish a new research base to treat aggressive forms of this type of cancer. Most of the included studies demonstrate the efficacy of these markers for diagnosis and follow up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]