The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term (9 months) effects of variable doses (200/100 mg/day) of L-selenomethionine on autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and the parameters affecting the success rate of this therapy. The present study was designed in three steps: (1) 88 female patients with AIT (mean ageZ40$1G13$3 years) were randomized into two groups according to their initial serum TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) concentrations, and age. All the patients were receiving L-thyroxine to keep serum TSH%2 mIU/l. Group S2 (nZ48, mean TPOAbZ803$9G483$8 IU/ml) received 200 mg L-selenomethionine per day, orally for 3 months, and group C (nZ40, mean TPOAbZ770$3G 406$2 IU/ml) received placebo. (2) 40 volunteers of group S2 were randomized into two age-and TPOAb-matched groups. Group S22 (nZ20) went on taking L-selenomethionine 200 mg/day, while others (group S21) lowered the dose to 100 mg/day. (3) 12 patients of group S22 (group S222) went on taking L-selenomethionine 200 mg/day, while 12 patients of group S21 (S212) increased the dose to 200 mg/day. Serum titers of TPOAb decreased significantly in group S2 (26$2%, P!0$001), group S22 (23$7%, P!0$01) and group S212 (30$3%, P!0$01). There were no significant changes in group C and group S222 (PO0$05). TPOAb titers increased significantly in group S21 (38$1%, P!0$01). A significant decrease in thyroglobulin antibody titers was only noted in group S2 (5$2%, P!0$01). L-selenomethionine substitution suppresses serum concentrations of TPOAb in patients with AIT, but suppression requires doses higher than 100 mg/day which is sufficient to maximize glutathione peroxidase activities. The suppression rate decreases with time.

Abstract. The present study aimed to retrospectively review the contribution of 18 F-fluorodeoxygluose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) in the assessment of biochemical recurrence in patients with a diagnosis of local-stage prostate cancer (PCa) who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) or received external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). A total of 28 patients who underwent RP or received EBRT for PCa between July 2007 and April 2013, and who underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT scanning for re-staging due to biochemical recurrence were included in the present study. The mean age of the patients was 65.07 years and the standard deviation was 7.51 years (range, 51-82 years). Of the 28 patients, 23 (82.1%) underwent RP and 5 (17.9%) received definitive EBRT. Prior to scanning, all patients were required to fast for 6 h, and ~1 h after the intravenous injection of 555 MBq 18 F-FDG, whole-body PET scans were performed from the skull base to the upper thighs. Whole-body CT scans were performed in the craniocaudal direction.18 F-FDG PET images were reconstructed using CT data for attenuation correction. Histopathology examination or clinical follow-up was used to confirm any suspicious recurrent or metastatic lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of 18 F-FDG PET/CT were 61.6, 75.0, 61.6, 75.0 and 71.4%, respectively. 18 F-FDG PET/CT can detect local and distant metastases with a high accuracy in the assessment of biochemical recurrence, thus detecting occult metastases and allowing the re-staging of PCa in the patients receiving definitive treatment. It is considered that 18 F-FDG PET/CT may be useful in re-assessing the patients with PCa receiving definitive treatment.

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the contribution and effectiveness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) scans in the restaging of patients following radical cystectomy due to muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC). A total of 51 patients (45 males and six females) who underwent radical cystectomy due to invasive bladder cancer, and had an 18F-FDG-PET/CT scan for restaging between July 2007 and April 2013, were included in the present study. The mean age was 62.3±9.79 years (range, 40–82 years). Patients underwent a six-hour fast prior to scanning, and whole-body PET scanning from the skull base to the upper thighs was performed ~1 h after the intravenous injection of 555 MBq 18F-FDG. Whole-body CT scanning was performed in a cranio-caudal direction. 18F-FDG-PET images were reconstructed using CT data for attenuation correction. Histopathology or clinical follow-up was used to confirm any suspicious recurrent or metastatic lesions. The results for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value and accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT were 92, 83, 94, 77 and 90%, respectively. In conclusion, 18F-FDG-PET/CT efficiently detects local recurrence and distant metastases with high sensitivity and PPV in the restaging of patients who underwent radical cystectomy due to invasive bladder cancer. This procedure could play an important role in rendering decisions regarding radiotherapy or chemotherapy and post-operative follow-up, and could influence the entire decision-making process.

OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the effects of Urtica dioica on hepatic ischemia‐reperfusion injury.METHODS:Thirty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: sham group (group 1), control group (group 2), and Urtica dioica group (group 3). All the rats were exposed to hepatic ischemia for 60 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion. In group 2, a total of 2 ml/kg 0.9% saline solution was given intraperitoneally. In group 3, a total of 2 ml/kg Urtica dioica was given intraperitoneally. At the end of the procedure, liver tissue and blood samples were taken from all rats. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, ceruloplasmin, catalase, paraoxonase, arylesterase, and lipid hydroperoxide levels were measured. Liver tissue histopathologies were also evaluated by light microscopy.RESULTS:Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1, and significantly lower in group 3 than in group 2. Also, group 2 had higher serum lipid hydroperoxides and ceruloplasmin levels but lower catalase, paraoxonase, and arylesterase levels than group 1.In group 3, serum lipid hydroperoxides and ceruloplasmin levels were significantly lower, and catalase, paraoxonase, and arylesterase levels were higher than those in group 2. Histopathological examination showed that liver tissue damage was significantly decreased in group 3 compared with group 2.CONCLUSIONS:Urtica dioica has a protective effect on the liver in hepatic ischemia‐reperfusion‐injured rats.

[Purpose] This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the changes in bone metabolism markers and bone mineral density of spinal cord injury patients over 3 years. We also assessed the relationships among the bone mineral density, bone metabolism, and clinical data of spinal cord injury patients. [Subjects and Methods] We assessed the clinical data (i.e., immobilization due to surgery, neurological status, neurological level, and extent of lesion) in 20 spinal cord injury patients. Bone mineral density, and hormonal and biochemical markers of the patients were measured at 0, 6, 12, and 36 months. [Results] Femoral neck T score decreased significantly at 36 months (p < 0.05). Among the hormonal markers, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D were significantly elevated, while bone turnover markers (i.e., deoxypyridinoline and osteocalcin) were significantly decreased at 12 and 36 months (p < 0.05). [Conclusion] Bone mineral density of the femoral neck decreases significantly during the long-term follow-up of patients with spinal cord injury due to osteoporosis. This could be due to changes in hormonal and bone turnover markers.