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Introduction: The early diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) is a medical challenge and a multidisciplinary approach is essential to improve its frequently fatal prognosis. Our goal was to evaluate the usefulness of [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) in the diagnosis of this disease. Materials and Methods: We prospectively assessed 43 patients (five female and 38 male) with clinical suspicion of IE between 2014 and 2017. All patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and an 18F-FDG PET scan, and the results were compared. A positive PET finding was defined as increased FDG uptake on cardiac valves or intracardiac devices. Results: Out of 43 patients with suspected IE, the diagnosis was confirmed in 30 cases (79.7%). 18F-FDG PET was positive in 24 patients, with 19 showing FDG uptake on cardiac valves (two native and 17 prosthetic) and five on cardiac devices, being concordant with echocardiographic findings in 11 cases. 18F-FDG PET sensitivity was 80%, specificity 92%, positive predictive value (PPV) 96% and negative predictive value (NPV) 66%. Echocardiography presented sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 36%, 84%, 84% and 36%, respectively. Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET proved to be a sensitive technique with a high diagnostic value in patients with prosthetic valves and intracardiac devices and suspected IE. Its utility decreased dramatically in patients with suspected IE on native valves, in which TEE presented higher sensitivity and thus better diagnostic value. Resumo: Introdução: O diagnóstico precoce de endocardite infecciosa (EI) é um desafio médico. Portanto, uma abordagem multidisciplinar é essencial para melhorar o prognóstico desta patologia, muitas vezes fatal. O nosso objetivo foi avaliar a utilidade da tomografia por emissão de pósitrons [18F] 2-fluoro-2-desoxi-D-glicose (18F-FDG-PET) no diagnóstico desta doença. Materiais e métodos: De forma prospetiva, avaliámos 43 doentes (5 do sexo feminino e 38 do masculino) clinicamente suspeitos de EI entre 2014-2017. Todos os doentes foram submetidos a um ecocardiograma transesofágico (ETE) e uma PET 18F-FDG, os resultados foram posteriormente comparados. Um critério PET positivo foi definido como um aumento na captação de FDG nas válvulas cardíacas ou nos dispositivos intracardíacos. Resultados: Dos 43 doentes com suspeita de EI, o diagnóstico foi confirmado em 30 casos (79,7%). O 18F-FDG-PET foi positivo em 24 doentes, dos quais 19 demonstraram captação de FDG nas válvulas cardíacas (2 nativas e 17 protésicas) e cinco nos dispositivos cardíacos, concordando com os achados ecocardiográficos em 11 casos. A sensibilidade de 18F-FDG-PET (S) foi de 80%, especificidade (P) de 92%, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) de 96% e valor preditivo negativo (VPN) de 66%. A ecocardiografia apresentou valores de S, P, PPV e VPN de 36%, 84%, 84% e 36%, respetivamente. Conclusões: O 18F-FDG-PET demonstrou ser uma técnica sensível com alto valor diagnóstico em doentes com suspeita de EI com próteses valvulares e dispositivos intracardíacos. A utilidade desta técnica diminui drasticamente em doentes com suspeita de EI nas válvulas nativas, nas quais a ETE apresentou maior sensibilidade e, portanto, melhor valor diagnóstico. Keywords: Infective endocarditis, Positron emission tomography, 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose, Transesophageal echocardiography, Palavras-chave: Endocardite infecciosa (EI), Tomografia por emissão de pósitrões (18F-FDG-PET), Ecocardiograma transesofágico (ETE)

To study the possible relation between immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and the maximum standardised uptake value (SUV max) ofThe study included 39 patients with NSCLC (24 squamous cell carcinomas and 15 adenocarcinomas). According to the clinical stage, the patients were distributed as follows: 8 stage I, 7 stage II, 15 stage III and 9 stage IV. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 was studied through the technique of tissue-matrix using Tissue Arrayer Device (Beecher Instruments, Sun Prairie, WI), using the polyclonal antibody against VEGFR1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, California, USA).Positive VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression was noted in 23 cases (59%). The number of positive tumours was not related with clinical stage but there was a different statistically significant association (p:0,0009) between VEGFR1 positivity and histological type, corresponding the greater percentages of positive results to adenocarcinomas (93,3%) versus in squamous cell carcinomas (37,5%). Likewise, SUV max values were higher (p: 0,039) in negative VEGFR1 carcinomas than in positive VEGFR1 tumors (r: 4-32,1; 16,4+/-6,4 (median 16,1) vs r: 3-47; 14,5+/-8,6 (12,8)).Our results led us to consider that in NSCLC, the negative VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression is associated significantly with squamous cell carcinomas subtype and with higher SUV max values in

Severe allergic ocular diseases as atopic keratoconjunctivitis can induce corneal damage due to inflammatory substances released from giant papillae. Tacrolimus eye drops are one of the current therapeutic alternatives for its treatment. This work is aimed at developing and characterizing a 0.03% tacrolimus ophthalmic formulation, which was introduced in three types of vehicles (BBS, PVA and Hyaluronic Acid). For this, we have performed in vitro (stability studies) and in vivo assays (corneal permanence time measured directly by Positron Emission Tomography) of three potential formulations. Next, the best formulation was selected, and its toxicological profile and clinical effectiveness have been evaluated. The biopermanence studies (direct measurements and PET/CT) showed that the formulations with PVA and Hyaluronic Acid present more retention time on the ocular surface of rats than PBS. From the stability study, we have determined that tacrolimus with PVA in cold storage is the best option. Tacrolimus with PVA has shown lower cytotoxicity than cyclosporine at early times. On the other hand, the pilot study performed has shown significant improvements in patients, with no noticeable adverse reactions. Based on stability, biopermanence, safety and clinical effectiveness studies, we concluded that tacrolimus-PVA eye drops are a suitable candidate for its clinical application in inflammatory ophthalmology diseases.

A 65-year-old male presented with unexplained hypoxia that became exacerbated by an upright posture (platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome) secondary to hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). A (99m)Tc-macroaggregated albumin pulmonary perfusion scan revealed a right to left shunt of 29% in the sitting position, which had not been previously detected when the radiotracer injection was performed with the patient in supine position, nor was it diagnosed using another non-invasive imaging method (transthoracic contrast echocardiography and angio-CT). A transesophageal echocardiography was contraindicated due to the presence of esophageal varices. The administration of the radiopharmaceutical in sitting position for the study of the pulmonary perfusion allowed us to confirm the presence of the shunt and consider the patient a candidate for liver transplantation.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term prognostic value provided by the exercise electrocardiographic (ECG) response to nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in the evaluation of patients with chest pain, focusing on patients with a discrepancy between the two tests. Methods: A total of 1460 consecutive patients (777 female; 62.6±11.4 years) undergoing exercise myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were included. The endpoint was the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome, heart failure or cardiac death during follow-up. Results: Ischemic ECG changes were observed during stress testing in 271 patients (18.5%) and 362 patients (24.7%) had positive (abnormal) exercise MPI results. There was a discrepancy between ECG and SPECT findings in 471 patients (32.2%). During the follow-up period (14.0-39.6 months), 224 patients (15.3%) presented cardiac events. The hazard ratios (HR) of ECG and MPI results to predict events were 1.506 (95% CI: 1.113-2.039) and 10.481 (95% CI: 7.799-14.080), respectively. In patients with negative MPI, the ECG response did not predict events (HR 1.214 [95% CI: 0.646-2.282]), the same as in patients with positive MPI (HR 1.203 [95% CI: 0.848-1.705]). Only in hypertensive patients with positive SPECT did the ECG show significant prognostic value (HR 1.937 [95% CI: 1.030-3.642]). In multivariate analysis, positive MPI proved an independent long-term prognostic factor (HR 10.536 [95% CI: 7.759-14.308]), but not ECG (HR 1.356 [95% CI: 0.994-1.850]). Conclusion: MPI results (normal vs. abnormal) had strong predictive value and discrepant ECG results had no significant additive prognostic value. Resumo: Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar o valor prognóstico a longo prazo, fornecido pelo eletrocardiograma (ECG) em resposta ao esforço na cintigrafia de perfusão miocárdica (CPM) na avaliação de doentes com dor torácica, com ênfase para os grupos de doentes com discrepância entre os dois testes. Método: Foram incluídos 1460 doentes consecutivos (777 do sexo feminino; 62,6 ± 11,4 anos), submetidos a exercício na cintigrafia de perfusão miocárdica com SPECT. O endpoint foi a presença de síndrome coronária aguda, insuficiência cardíaca ou morte cardíaca durante o seguimento. Resultados: Duzentos e setenta e um doentes (18,5%) apresentaram alterações eletrocardiográficas de isquemia durante o teste de esforço e 362 doentes (24,7%) tinham resultados positivos (anormais) na CPM. A discrepância entre os resultados do ECG e CPM apareceu em 471 doentes (32,2%). Durante o período de seguimento (14,0-39,6 meses), 224 (15,3%) apresentaram eventos cardíacos. O hazard ratio (HR) para predizer eventos dos resultados do ECG e CPM foi de 1,506 (1,113-2,039) e 10,481 (7,799-14,080), respetivamente. No grupo de doentes com CPM negativo, o ECG não prediz eventos [HR 1,214 (0,646-2,282)],e o mesmo acontece no grupo de doentes com CPM positivo [HR 1,203 (0,848-1,705)]. Apenas em doentes hipertensos com CPM positivo, o ECG mostrou valor prognóstico significativo [HR 1,937 (1,030-3,642)]. Na análise multivariada, a CPM positiva foi um fator independente de prognóstico a longo prazo [HR 10,536 (7,759-14,308)], mas não o ECG [HR 1,356 (0,994-1,850)]. Conclusão: O resultado da CPM (normal versus anormal) teve um forte valor preditivo e o resultado discrepante no ECG não teve um valor prognóstico adicional significativo. Keywords: Electrocardiogram, Myocardial perfusion imaging, Stress test, Prognosis, Palavras-chave: Eletrocardiograma, Imagens de perfusão miocárdica, Prova de esforço, Prognóstico

Background/Aim: Invasive lobular breast carcinoma is the second most common type of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 180,000 women in the United States find out they have invasive breast cancer each year. Personal history of breast cancer and certain changes in the breast are correlated with an increased breast cancer risk. The aim of this work was to analyze breastfeeding in patients with infil- trating lobular breast carcinoma, in relation with: 1) clinicopathological parameters, 2) hor- monal receptors and 3) tissue-based tumor markers. Materials and Methods: The study included 80 women with ILC, 46 of which had breastfeed their children. Analyzed parameters were: age, tumor size, axillary lymph node (N), distant metastasis (M), histologi- cal grade (HG), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), Ki-67, p53 and BCL2. Results : ILC of non-lactating women showed a larger (p = 0.009), lymph node involvement (p = 0.051) and distant metastasis (p = 0.060). They were also more proliferative tumors mea- sured by Ki-67 (p = 0.053). Breastfeeding history did not influence the subsequent behavior of the tumor regardless of histological subtype. Conclusion: Lactation seems to influence the biological characteristics of ILC defining a subgroup with more tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, distant metastasis and higher prolifera- tion measured by ki-67 expression.

New oncologic procedures are currently more focused on the biological features of tumors. The ideal objective is the administration of personalized effective treatments for each patient that affects not just the location and spread of disease but also special metabolic characteristics of tumoral cells. Radiologic diagnostic methods are extremely important in the management of the patient for staging, restaging, and evaluation of treatment response, and clinicians are avid for some additional functional and metabolic information. Further, they need more dynamic methods for follow-up. Nuclear Medicine and positron emission tomography (PET) in many cases can meet this requirement, although it is not perfect, at least at the present time. Currently 2-((18)F)fluoro-2-desoxi-D: -glucose positron emission tomography is being widely used for oncologic purposes. Its information can be very useful in abdominal diseases and must be taken into account with the results of radiologic imaging. Thus, many changes in the choice of treatment are seen. However, it is very important to know that sometimes there is a lack of specificity that has to be considered.

Cancer stem cells play an important role in carcinogenesis and resistance to treatment and may lead to metastasis. The isolation of circulating stem cells involves cell sorting based on the presence of cell surface markers. Many surface markers such as CD133, c-Kit, SOX, OCT4 and TWIST have been reported. In the present study, we determined the expression of different stem cell markers and their variation in expression at different stages of the treatment process. Samples of EDTA blood were collected from metastatic colorectal cancer patients, and circulating cancer stem cells were isolated for the analysis of the expression of stem cell markers using RT-PCR. These findings were correlated with the response to therapy. All statistical analyses were performed using the GraphPad Prism 5.03 software. Significant differences were found in the expression levels of the markers CD133, SOX2, OCT4 and TWIST1. No differences were found in c-Kit expression. Correlation in the expression levels of most of the markers was observed. Expression of CD133, OCT4, SOX2 and TWIST1 had a predictive value for colon cancer behavior. Evaluation of this stem cell gene expression panel may be useful for predicting the response during the process of treatment, and the relative easy access to samples facilitates this method. Moreover the correlation between CD133 and TWIST1 expression may be associated with tumor regrowth and metastatic relapse.

Various authors have proposed the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) as a tumor marker. In order to analyze its usefulness as a marker in bronchogenic carcinoma, the most common carcinoma in men, we determined the HA values in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL). We performed prospective studies on two groups of patients: 81 diagnosed as having bronchial carcinoma and 34 with benign respiratory diseases. HA values were higher in patients with cancer than in those with benign diseases (serum: 79.8 ng/ml vs 63.7 ng/ml; BAL: 927 ng/mg vs 522 ng/mg). Also, the percentage of patients with levels exceeding the established cutoff was greater in the group with cancer than in the group with benign diseases (serum: 24.6 vs 17.6; BAL: 25.3 vs 3). Statistically significant differences in these percentages were found in BAL (p We conclude that the HA levels in serum and BAL could be of interest as a tumor marker, especially in patients with small cell carcinoma.

Poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma (PDFC) is a tumor of follicular cell origin with intermediate attributes between well-differentiated carcinomas and anaplastic carcinomas. The majority of patients presenting with distant metastases have locally advanced tumors, being lungs and bones the most common sites affected. We present a case of a patient with a painful bulky mass at the left thorax-abdominal wall as an uncommon distant metastasis of a PDFC. After thyroidectomy, a pre-ablative 131I whole-body scan showed distant metastases on the neck, both lungs, and lateral chest-abdominal wall, so the administration of I for thyroid remnant ablation stimulated with RH-TSH was decided.

Premature atherosclerosis and its consequent heart disease play a crucial role in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, even in premenopausal women. It is one of the leading causes of death in long evolution lupus. We present the case of a 42-year-old premenopausal woman, smoker, with a history of hypertension, cholecystectomy and lupus for 23 years, treated with NSAID, steroids and antimalarial drugs. The patient consulted due to chest pain on moderate efforts. Due to the suspicion of ischemic heart disease, a cardiology study was initiated, performing a myocardial perfusion SPECT. This revealed an intense and extensive anterolateral perfusion defect, with very light reperfusion in rest images, consistent with the diagnosis of acute infarction in the apical region and ischemia in the territory of the left anterior descending artery, which was confirmed later by cardiac catheterization.

Several non-neoplastic conditions, i.e., acute and chronic inflammations, benign tumors, renal or hepatic insufficiency, are associated with elevated plasma levels of Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA). Usually, CEA elevation in these pathologies is less than 10 ng/ml. CEA values in non-malignant disease can be affected by many factors, which can be classified into five main categories: a) tissular, b) physiological, c) metabolic, d) circulating and e) methodological factors. Synthesis, expression and realease are the most important tissular factors. Among the metabolic ones liver, biliary and renal functions play a primary role in the determination of CEA concentrations. In addition, other factors such as the presence of circulating CEA-like substances, autoantibodies and immunocomplexes or the characteristics of the assay method can influence the diagnostic value of the CEA test. All these factors must be carefully considered when the marker is used in clinical practice.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is an infrequent clinical entity that is found predominantly in young adults and is characterised by the presence of acute or subacute headaches that appear on standing up and subsides on lying down.A 35-year-old female with a three-month history of holocranial headaches, accompanied by dizziness and gait instability, which increase on standing up and diminish to a certain extent on lying down, associated to bilateral tinnitus. The patient's history included a slight strain made 4 months earlier, with a sudden non-irradiated pain in the back of the neck that got better spontaneously. On the basis of the clinical and radiological findings from an MRI scan of the head and neck, our service was asked to perform a cisternoscintigraphy.Isotope cisternoscintigraphy using 99mTc-DTPA confirmed the diagnosis of the process and enabled us to locate the CSF leak. We therefore think it advisable to highlight its value in the diagnosis of SIH syndrome so as to be able to avoid the use of other invasive complementary explorations that entail a certain degree of morbidity and mortality.

Gastric carcinoma can be divided into two main histological and clinical types: diffuse and intestinal. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of neu/c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cathepsin D (catD), progesterone receptor (PR) and tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) in gastric carcinoma of these histological types.In this randomized, prospective study we analyzed 85 biopsy samples from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. The control group consisted of 40 specimens from normal gastric mucosa. Neu oncoprotein and PR were determined by ELISA. CatD and TAG-72 were quantified with immunoradiometric (IRMA) methods, and EGFR were studied by radioimmunoassay (RIA).Neu, EGFR, catD and TAG-72 concentrations were higher in the tumoral group (p = 0.02, p = 0.00001, p = 0.002 and p = 0.007, respectively). In diffuse adenocarcinomas, catD and PR expression was increased (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04 respectively), whereas TAG-72 concentration, which correlated with neu (r = 0.57), was higher in the intestinal type (p = 0.04). No significant differences in EGFR and neu concentrations were seen between the two histological types.The higher PR and catD concentrations in diffuse adenocarcinomas, and the overexpression of TAG-72 in the intestinal type, support the existence of two modes of gastric carcinogenesis.

A diagnosis of right lacrimal gland mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was made in a 71-year-old woman. Histological examination showed dense atypical lymphocytic infiltration. The tumour cells had small dark nuclei with abundant clear cytoplasm (top left, haematoxylin and eosin, ·200) and there was strong immunoreactivity for CD20 (·200; top right). The patient was referred for staging with 2-(F) fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDGPET) after surgery of the orbital lesion. Head/neck, thorax and abdomen computerised tomography had been performed previously, with no significant findings. Head and neck magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse high signals in both, especially in the right inferior palpebral area, with no discrete mass, and with cervical lymphadenopathy, particularly on the right side; all nodes were

We assayed prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) serum levels in 1383 patients using a double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) I125. Establishing the upper normal limit in 10 ng/ml PSA and 2.5 ng/ml for PAP, the false positive results were only 1.9 and 5.1 percent in men with non-prostatic benign or malignant pathology and respectively 0 and 2.2 percent in women. We detected false positive levels for these two tumoral markers in 3.5 and 4.7 percent of patients with non-complicated benign prostatic hypertrophy, 64.8 and 19.2 percent in complicated benign prostatic hypertrophy, 24 and 16 percent in acute prostatitis and 3.3 percent in chronic prostatitis. The sensitivity in patients with prostate cancer was 87.2 percent for PSA and 64.1 percent for PAP, and there was a better correlation with PSA than PAP for tumoral spread and histological grading. Finally, clinical efficacy was higher with PSA and was no better when both markers were assayed.

We assayed prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase serum levels in 1,383 patients using a double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) 125I. Establishing the upper normal limit in 10 ng/ml for prostatic specific antigen and 2.5 ng/ml for prostatic acid phosphatase, the false positive results were only 1.9 and 5.1% in men with nonprostatic benign or malignant pathology and 0 and 2.2% in women, respectively. We detected false positive levels in 3.5 and 4.7% of the patients with noncomplicated benign prostatic hypertrophy, 64.8 and 19.2% in complicated benign prostatic hypertrophy, 24 and 16% in acute prostatitis and 3.3% in chronic prostatitis for both tumoral markers. The sensibility in patients with prostate cancer was 87.2 and 64.1%, respectively, and there was better correlation with prostatic specific antigen than prostatic acid phosphatase levels on tumoral spread and histologic grading. Finally, the clinical efficacy was higher with prostatic specific antigen and it did not increase with the quantification of both tumoral markers.