Background-Clinical trials indicate a beneficial effect of intracoronary infusion of progenitor cells on myocardial function in patients with ischemic heart disease. The extent and potential determinants of proangiogenic progenitor cell homing into the damaged myocardium after intracoronary infusion and the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Method and Results-Circulating proangiogenic progenitor cells isolated from peripheral blood and cultivated for 3 days were labeled with radioactive indium oxine ( 111 In-oxine). Radiolabeled proangiogenic progenitor cells (7.6Ϯ3.0 MBq, meanϮSD) were administered to patients with previous myocardial infarction and a revascularized infarct vessel at various stages after infarction (5 days to 17 years). Viability of the infarcted myocardium was determined by 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and microcirculatory function by intracoronary Doppler measurements. One hour after application of progenitor cells, a mean of 6.9Ϯ4.7% (range, 1% to 19%; nϭ17) of total radioactivity was detected in the heart, which declined to 2Ϯ1% after 3 to 4 days. Average activity within the first 24 hours was highest among patients with acute myocardial infarction (Յ14 days; 6.3Ϯ2.9%; nϭ8) and progressively decreased in patients treated in an intermediate phase (Ͼ14 days to 1 year; 4.5Ϯ3.2%; nϭ4) or a chronic stage (infarct age Ͼ1 year; 2.5Ϯ1.6%; nϭ5). Low viability of the infarcted myocardium and reduced coronary flow reserve were significant (PϽ0.05) predictors of proangiogenic progenitor cell homing. Conclusions-In patients after myocardial infarction undergoing intracoronary infusion of111 In-oxine-labeled proangiogenic progenitor cells, a substantial amount of radioactivity is detected for several days in the heart, indicating homing of progenitor cells to the myocardium. The amount of proangiogenic progenitor cells retained in the heart decreased progressively with time after the acute myocardial infarction. Proangiogenic progenitor cells preferentially home to extensive acute myocardial infarcts characterized by low viability and reduced coronary flow reserve. (Circulation.

An upper limit of 15 ng/L instead of 10 ng/L for basal pCT-C is able to detect all MTC and reduce false-positive cases. The prevalence of MTC in nodular thyroid disease in our group was approximately 1.8 per thousand.

SNB was a valuable diagnostic method in patients with T1-2N0 OOSCC avoiding elective neck dissections. Patients with positive SNs had statistically significantly higher rates of locoregional recurrences, second primary tumors, tumor-related deaths, and a worse overall/disease-free survival. To date, no therapeutic consequences in case of a positive SN beyond execution of modified radical neck dissection (to remove other positive nodes) and closer attention during follow-up can be concluded from this study.