Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein identified in human neutrophil granules. The aim of the study was to assess whether urine level of NGAL (uNGAL) could represent a novel, reliable marker of urinary tract infection (UTI) and to determine the optimal cutoff level for uNGAL to predict UTI in children. Sixty patients with symptomatic UTI and 29 healthy controls were enrolled the study. Urine NGAL was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) radionuclide scan was performed within 7 days in the patients with UTI in an attempt to distinguish pyelonephritis from cystitis. Mean uNGAL level was significantly higher in the UTI group than in the controls (91.02 ng/ml vs 14.29 ng/ml, p = 0.0001) and using a cutoff 20 ng/ml for uNGAL for diagnosis of UTI, sensitivity, and specificity were 97% and 76%, respectively [area under the curve (AUC): 0.979]. Mean uNGAL/creatinine ratio (uNGAL/Cr) was also significantly higher in the UTI group [201.81 ng/mg creatinine (Cr) vs 18.08 ng/mg Cr; p = 0.0001], and using a cutoff 30 ng/mg Cr for uNGAL/Cr for diagnosis of UTI, sensitivity and specificity were 98% and 76%, respectively (AUC: 0.992). In conclusion, both uNGAL and uNGAL/Cr can be used as a novel, sensitive marker for early prediction of UTI in the absence of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, and the optimal cutoff value for prediction of UTI is lower than the values determined for acute kidney injury. Further investigations with larger patient groups are required to confirm our results.

FDG PET/CT is not a reliable modality in the diagnosis of RCC with its low sensitivity, but it is effective in the detection of distant metastases and can be used as a complementary tool when conventional imaging studies yield equivocal results.

Metformin causes an increase in (18)F-FDG uptake in the bowel and stopping metformin before PET/CT study significantly decreased this unwanted uptake, especially in the colon, facilitating the interpretation of images obtained from the abdomen and preventing the obliteration of lesions.

Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of resistin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and and also the potential relationship between thyroid function and levels of resistin and IGF-1 in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients. Methods. Fifteen cases of hypothyroid (HT), 16 of subclinically hypothyroid (SCHT), 15 of hyperthyroid (HrT), 15 of subclinically hyperthyroid (SCHrT), and 17 healthy individuals have been included in the study. Serum resistin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and IGF-1 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels by chemiluminescence method. Results. Resistin levels in total HT group were significantly higher than in controls (12.66 ± 6.04 and 8.45 ± 2.90 ng/mL, resp.). In SCHrT subgroup resistin levels were significantly higher than those of controls (14.88 ± 7.73 and 8.45 ± 2.90 ng/mL, resp.). IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in total HT than in total HrT and control groups (117.22 ± 52.03, 155.17 ± 51.67, and 184.00 ± 49.73 ng/mL, resp.). Furthermore IGF-1 levels in HT subgroup were significantly lower compared to controls (123.70 ± 44.03 and 184 ± 49.73 ng/mL, resp.). In SCHT subgroup IGF-1 levels were significantly lower than those of control and SCHrT groups (111.11 ± 59.35, 184.00 ± 49.73, and 166.60 ± 47.87 ng/mL, resp.). There were significant correlations between IGF-1 and TSH in HT subgroup and between resistin and TSH in total HrT group. Conclusion. It was concluded that increased resistin levels are directly related to thyroid dysfunction, and GH/IGF-1 axis is influenced in clinically or subclinically hypothyroidism patients.