Selenium supplementation in inactive moderate to severe Graves' orbitopathy patients: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of selenium supplementation in inactive moderate-severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO) patients. METHODS: This study was a single-center, placebo-controlled, double-masked, randomized trial. Inactive moderate-severe GO participants were randomized to receive six months of 200 micrograms/day of selenium supplementation or placebo. Thorough eye exams, clinical activity score (CAS), Graves' Ophthalmopathy quality of life questionnaire (GO-QOL), and serum selenium level were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after the interventions. The chi-squared or Fisher's exact test was used to compare categorical variables. The t-test and the paired t-test were used to compare continuous variables between two independent samples and two dependent samples, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 25 participants were enrolled, 13 in the selenium group and 12 in the placebo group. Both groups had adequate baseline serum selenium levels at 98.96 ± 15.63 mcg/L and 102.55 ± 17.71 mcg/L, respectively. After 6 months of intervention, the selenium group showed a greater improvement in palpebral aperture (mean difference: -1.4 ± 1.7 mm, p = .04) compared to the placebo group (-0.3 ± 2.7 mm). Notably, 5(41.67%) people in the placebo group developed larger palpebral apertures. Proptosis, ocular motility, and soft tissue signs did not change significantly. GO-QOL and CAS score improvement showed no statistically significant difference between both groups. Minor adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Selenium supplementation has a positive effect on eyelid aperture even in inactive moderate-to-severe GO patients with a sufficient baseline selenium level.

Effects of phosphate binders on bone biomarkers and bone density in haemodialysis patients.

AIM: The incidences of osteoporosis, fracture and vascular calcification increase concordantly with the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD-mineral bone disease (CKD-MBD) induced by hyperphosphatemia is a major pathophysiologic mechanism. The effects of phosphate binders on bone turnover biomarkers and bone mineral density (BMD) in haemodialysis patients are still inconclusive. Our aim is to demonstrate the effects of these phosphate binders on different aspects of CKD-MBD. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort of 65 haemodialysis patients to investigate the effect of 12-month monotherapy of phosphate binders composing calcium-based phosphate binders (CPB) or non-calcium-based phosphate binders (NCPB), including sevelamer and lanthanum, on bone turnover biomarkers and BMD changes. The performance of bone turnover biomarkers to predict low BMD was attentively determined. RESULTS: When compared with CPB, NCPB use was associated with higher levels of bone turnover biomarkers. NCPB was also associated with lower BMD at lumbar and distal radius. Total procollagen type 1N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b) provided the best performance for diagnosing low BMD in haemodialysis patients. CONCLUSION: Switching from CPB to NCPB might increase bone biomarkers and prevent the development of adynamic bone disease. On the contrary, NCPB should be cautiously used in haemodialysis patients who already had low BMD. P1NP, BALP and TRAP5b could be used to guide the appropriate management, including anti-resorptive and anabolic medications, and predict low BMD in haemodialysis patients treated with phosphate binders.

Bone turnover prediction in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis using shortened dynamic 18F-NaF PET/CT Ki-Patlak.

This study investigated whether Ki-Patlak derived from a shortened scan time for dynamic 18F-NaF PET/CT in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis can provide predictive accuracy comparable to that obtained from a longer scan. Twenty-seven patients on chronic hemodialysis, involving a total of 42 scans between December 2021 and August 2023 were recruited. Dynamic 18F-NaF PET/CT scans, lasting 60-90 min, were immediately acquired post-injection, covering the mid-twelfth thoracic vertebra to the pelvis region. Ki-Patlak analysis was performed on bone time-activity curves at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min in the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and both anterior iliac crests. Spearman's rank correlation (rs) and interclass correlation coefficient were used to assess the correlation and agreement of Ki-Patlak between shortened and standard scan times. Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BsAP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b) were tested for their correlation with individual Ki-Patlak. Strong correlations and good agreement were observed between Ki-Patlak values from shortened 30-min scans and longer 60-90-min scans in both lumbar spine (rs = 0.858, p < 0.001) and anterior iliac crest regions (rs = 0.850, p < 0.001). The correlation between BsAP and Ki-Patlak in the anterior iliac crests was weak and statistically insignificant. This finding suggests that a proposed shortened dynamic 18F-NaF PET/CT scan is effective in assessing bone metabolic flux in CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis, offering a non-invasive alternative approach for bone turnover prediction.

Association of osteoporosis and sarcopenia with fracture risk in transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

Patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) have an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. They also have several potential factors associated with sarcopenia. There has been currently no study on sarcopenia and its association with falls and fractures in TDT. This study aims to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with osteoporosis, fragility fractures, and sarcopenia in adults with TDT. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the hematologic clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Clinical data and laboratory testing were collected. Bone mineral density and morphometric vertebral fracture were assessed. Sarcopenia was defined using the 2014 and 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. We included 112 TDT patients aged 35.1 ± 12.5 years. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 38.4%. Fragility fractures were found in 20.5% of patients. Lower BMI (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.12-0.72, P = 0.007) and hypogonadal state (OR 3.72; 95% CI 1.09-12.74, P = 0.036) were independently associated with osteoporosis. According to the 2014 AWGS criteria, the prevalence of overall sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia was 44.6% and 13.4%, respectively. Severe sarcopenia was strongly associated with fragility fractures (OR 4.59, 95% CI 1.21-17.46, P = 0.025). In conclusion, osteoporosis, fragility fractures, and sarcopenia were prevalent in adults with TDT. Severe sarcopenia was associated with fragility fractures. Early osteoporosis and sarcopenia screening and prevention may reduce fracture risk and its complications in these patients.

Utility of 8F-FDG PET/CT in well differentiated thyroid carcinoma with high serum antithyroglobulin antibody.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients with high serum antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) but negative serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements and negative 131I whole-body scans (WBS). MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study included 22 consecutive patients with high serum TgAb levels. They had negative serum Tg measurements and negative 131I WBS. PET/CT was performed 60 min after intravenous injection of 227.55-455.47 MBq (6.15-12.31 mCi) of 18F-FDG using a combined PET/CT scanner. Co-registered CT images were used to differentiate physiologic from pathologic tracer uptake. Findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT were correlated with tissue pathology follow-up imaging or clinical follow-up served as a reference. RESULTS: Twenty-two well differentiated thyroid cancerpatients participated. Twelve had positive findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT six were true positives and six were false-positives. 18F-FDG PET/CT results were true negative in 10 patients and the authors found no false-negative patients in the present study. The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT were 100%, 62.5% and 72.7%, respectively. TgAb levels, which are appropriated for sending DTC patient who are 131I WBS negative but have elevated serum TgAb levels to undergo 18F-FDG PET/CT scan, should be more than or equal to 414.6 IU/ml. Results should be highly consider positive if max SUV value is equal or greater than 4.5. CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET/CT is a useful tool for localizing recurrent or metastatic DTC patients, who have negative 131I WBS but elevated serum TgAb levels. The authors recommend its use in clinical management of selected cases regardless of the TgAb level being more than or equal to 415 IU/ml.

Bone mineral density and body composition in prepubertal and adolescent patients with the classical form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in prepubertal and adolescent patients with the classical form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors measured height, weight and used dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to evaluate lumbar spine, whole body BMD and body composition in 10 prepubertal and adolescent patients with the classical form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Serum hormone concentrations (17-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) were also measured. Results were compared with those of age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Seven patients were adolescent (4 girls and 3 boys; age range, 9.0-19.6 years) and three patients were prepubertal. (2 girls and 1 boy; age range, 6.5-8.6 years). There were no significant differences in age, height z-score, weight z-score and body mass index between the patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and controls. DEXA showed no differences between each group in whole body BMD, but showed significantly elevated areal regional BMD at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) in CAH patients. However four of the 10 CAH patients and 6 of the 10 controls had osteopenia. The BMD z-score at the lumbar spine was significantly correlated with increasing weight z-score in both CAH patients and controls. When CAH patients with osteopenia were compared with those with normal BMD, there was a trend toward lower weight z-score, higher dose of glucocorticoids and longer duration of treatment among the osteopenic patients, but it did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency patients treated with long-term glucocorticoids did not have impaired bone mineral density compared with healthy, age and sex-matched controls. However, the reference data for BMD in the Thai pediatric population is lacking and the number of studied participants was limited so we need further studies.

A case of coexistence of TSH/GH-secreting pituitary tumor and papillary thyroid carcinoma: Challenges in pathogenesis and management.

Co-existence of thyrotropin/growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma with differentiated thyroid carcinoma is exceedingly rare, with less than 15 cases having been reported. Its clinical presentation and treatment strategy are challenging. We report a case of pituitary macroadenoma, with clinical syndromes of acromegaly and hyperthyroidism, and a thyroid nodule, with cytologically confirmed to be a papillary thyroid carcinoma. Clinical implications, focusing on the strategy for proper management, and possible pathogenesis were discussed.

Bone mineral density and body composition in Thai Precocious Puberty girls treated with GnRH agonist.

Treatment of true Precocious Puberty (PP) with GnRH agonist can improve final adult height by suppressing gonadotropin and sex hormone levels that delays the fusion of long bone epiphyseal growth plates. However, deprivation of estrogen may affect the acquisition of peak bone mass, especially in individuals with low calcium intake. Ten Thai girls with idiopathic true PP were evaluated for Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and body composition by DXA scanner (Hologic, Inc) before and after GnRH agonist therapy for 1 year. During treatment, all children were allowed to consume a normal diet without extra calcium supplementation. In addition, serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were also measured. The results showed that GnRH agonist could improve predicted adult height from 149.4 +/- 5.4 to 153.6 +/- 6.8 cm (p < 0.001). Serum osteocalcin, representing the bone marker formation, decreased from 184.2 +/- 66.7 to 108.6 +/- 35.3 ng/mL (p = 0.012) However, the treatment had no negative effects on BMD lumbar spine and total BMD but increased percentage of fat mass from 25.7 +/- 5.2 to 31.6 +/- 5.5%. (p =0.007). In conclusion, treatment with GnRH agonist in Thai girls with true PP for 1 year can improve PAH without negative effects on BMD but a longer period of treatment needs to be studied.

Usefulness of (99m)Tc-pertechnetate whole body scan with neck and chest SPECT/CT for detection of post-surgical thyroid remnant and metastasis in differentiated thyroid cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of (99m)Tc-pertechnetate whole body scan (WBS) with neck and chest SPECT/CT for detection of post-surgical thyroid remnant and metastasis in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. METHODS: Fifty-six post total thyroidectomy patients were included. All patients were prospectively imaged with (99m)Tc-pertechnetate WBS with neck and chest SPECT/CT before (131)I ablation. The post-ablative (131)I WBS with SPECT/CT was performed at 5-7 days after receiving (131)I. Both scans were directly compared to determine the concordance of sites and number of remnant and metastasis. RESULTS: Overall per-patient analysis, the percentage of concordance between two scans was 96.4%. In thyroid bed, lymph node, lung and bone subgroups, the percentage of concordance between two scans was 96.4, 92.9, 98.2 and 100%, respectively. All of them show good correlation with unweighted kappa between 0.7 and 1. Overall per-lesion analysis, the percentage of concordance between two scans was 84%. In thyroid bed, lymph node, lung and bone subgroups, the percentage of concordance between two scans was 89.5, 55, 82.6 and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-ablative pertechnetate WBS with neck and chest SPECT/CT has good correlation for the detection of post-surgical thyroid remnant, cervical node and discrete lung nodule metastasis as compared to (131)I WBS with SPECT/CT per-patient basis. Because (131)I therapeutic activity is desired base on metastatic site and less concerning about the number of lesions, pre-ablative (99m)Tc-pertechnetate WBS with SPECT/CT was a good alternative tool to avoid radioiodine stunning in post-surgical DTC patients.