Pentavalent technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-99m (V) DMSA) is reported as a useful tool for detection of residual or recurrent gliomas. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of Tc-99m (V) DMSA brain SPECT in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). 40 patients [21 males and 19 females; mean age 48.6 ± 12.2 years] with GBM were included. Tc-99m (V) DMSA brain SPECT was done after surgery and before onset of radiation therapy or chemotherapy (Baseline study), at 4-6 weeks and at 6 months as a follow-up after therapy. The end point of the study was clinical follow-up for 2 years and/or death. 4-6 weeks after therapy, 40 and 60 % had negative and positive Tc-99m (V) DMSA for viable tumor tissues respectively (P = 0.09). At 6 months follow-up, 62.5 % of (V) DMSA negative patients and 12.5 % of the positive subjects were responders (P = 0.001). The median over-all survival (OS) of all patients was 12.3 month [range 5-24 month]. Patients with positive (V) DMSA had worse survival (8.87 month) compared to the negative ones (16.67 month) (P = 0.0001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Tc-99m (V) DMSA brain SPECT studies at 4-6 weeks and 6-months follow-up were independent prognostic factors for survival [OR 1.069; 95 % CI 1.417-2.174; P = 0.03 and OR 1.055; 95 % CI 0.821-1.186; P = 0.01 respectively]. Stratification of tumors into risk groups based on prognostic parameters may improve outcome by altering or intensifying treatment methods. Technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid brain SPECT may have an additional prognostic role in patients with GBM which needs further evaluation in larger future series.

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Reproduction, endocrine disruptors and signalling RESULTS:Women with PCOS had significantly higher levels of anti-TPO in comparison to controls (27 ± 10 and 21 ± 10 IU/mL, respectively; p< 0.05) and no significant difference was found in serum levels of anti-TG, TSH, or FT4 between the two groups. Patients with PCOS had a non significant higher prevalence of positive results for anti-TG and/or anti-TPO in comparison to controls (40% and 22.2%, respectively; p >0.05), anti-TPO alone (28.9% and 16.7%, respectively; p> 0.05) and anti-TG alone (22.2% and 11.1%, respectively; p > 0.05). No significant associations were found between the assayed antibodies and thyroid hormones. Prevalence of Autoimmune Thyroid Markers in Euthyroid OBJECTIVES:to compare the prevalence, levels of thyroid auto-antibodies in a group of Egyptian women with PCOS and a control group in reproductive age to determine whether women with PCOS have a greater risk of thyroid autoimmune diseases, thyroid dysfunction or not. METHODS:This study was conducted on 45 euthyroid women with PCOS and 18 healthy women as a control in the Outpatient Clinics of Endocrinology, Ain Shams University hospital. PCOS was defined by the revised 2003 Rotterdam criteria. Thyroid function was evaluated by measurement of TSH and FT4 levels, antithyroid peroxidase and antithyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TPO and anti-TG, respectively) as markers for thyroid autoimmunity.All parameters were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. CONCLUSIONSThis study shows that PCOS was associated with presence of positive thyroid auto-antibodies in the sera of Egyptian patients; so that, these patients could be at increased risk of thyroid disorders (and fetal loss?). Thyroid autoimmunity markers should be requested in patients with PCOS who decide to get pregnant even when there is no evidence of overt thyroid dysfunction. REFERENCES:Azziz