The Preventive Effect of Parotid Gland Massage on Salivary Gland Dysfunction During High-Dose Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the preventive effect of parotid gland (PG) massage for PG damage during the I therapy, we prospectively investigated the serum amylase value and salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) after I therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with thyroidectomized differentiated thyroid cancer who underwent high-dose I therapy were enrolled in the clinical trial and randomized into 2 groups (PG massage group and nonmassage group). The serum amylase value was obtained before and 24 hours after I therapy, and the SGSs were also taken just before and at 8 months after the I therapy. Change in serum amylase value and SGS was compared between PG massage and nonmassage groups. RESULTS: The difference value of serum amylase was significantly lower in PG massage group than in nonmassage group (P = 0.0052). Worsening of PG function on SGS was observed in 43 (45.3%) of the 95 patients. The incidence rate of PG abnormality on F/U SGS was significantly lower in PG massage group than in nonmassage group (odds ratio, 0.3704; P = 0.0195). In the multiple regression analysis, PG massage significantly affected the abnormality on the 8-month F/U SGS (rpartial = -0.2741, P = 0.0090) after adjusting for clinical variables (age, sex, TNM stage, TSH preparation methods for the I therapy, and I dose). CONCLUSIONS: PG gland massage significantly reduced the incidence rates of salivary gland dysfunction on the 8-month F/U SGS and the level of the serological marker of salivary gland destruction after I therapy. Therefore, PG gland massage could alleviate salivary gland damage related to I therapy.

Profiling of the Major Phenolic Compounds and Their Biosynthesis Genes in Sophora flavescens Aiton.

Sophorae Radix (Sophora flavescens Aiton) has long been used in traditional medicine in East Asia due to the various biological activities of its secondary metabolites. Endogenous contents of phenolic compounds (phenolic acid, flavonol, and isoflavone) and the main bioactive compounds of Sophorae Radix were analyzed based on the qualitative HPLC analysis and evaluated in different organs and at different developmental stages. In total, 11 compounds were detected, and the composition of the roots and aerial parts (leaves, stems, and flowers) was significantly different. trans-Cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid were observed only in the aerial parts. Large amounts of rutin and maackiain were detected in the roots. Four phenolic acid compounds (benzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and chlorogenic acid) and four flavonol compounds (kaempferol, catechin hydrate, epicatechin, and rutin) were higher in aerial parts than in roots. To identify putative genes involved in phenolic compounds biosynthesis, a total of 41 transcripts were investigated. Expression patterns of these selected genes, as well as the multiple isoforms for the genes, varied by organ and developmental stage, implying that they are involved in the biosynthesis of various phenolic compounds both spatially and temporally.

Emptying effect of massage on parotid gland radioiodine content.

BACKGROUND: To prevent salivary dysfunction in thyroid cancer patients who have undergone radioiodine ablation, massaging the parotid gland (PG) is presumed to be helpful for the removal of radioiodine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PG massage in the removal of radioiodine from the PG. METHODS: Forty-four patients (female, 38; 49.1 ± 11.0 years) who underwent total thyroidectomy followed by I-131 ablation were included in this prospective study. Three serial salivary gland scans were performed 2 h after administration of I-123 in thyroid hormone withdrawal status. The patients were divided into two groups. There was a 1-min (or 2-min) interval between the first and second scans for control, followed by the performance of PG massage for 1 min (or 2 min) between the second and third scans. Changes in uptakes were calculated between the first and second scans (control) and between the second and third scans (massage). RESULTS: The mean change in uptake at the 1-min massage was 0.97 ± 11.27%, whereas that at the 1-min control was 11.54 ± 5.59% (P<0.001). The mean change in uptake at the 2-min massage was also significantly lower than that at the 2-min control (11.11 ± 6.97 vs. -0.85 ± 9.78%, P<0.001). However, no statistical difference was observed between the mean changes in uptake after 1- and 2-min massages (P=0.573). CONCLUSION: PG massage reduced the radioiodine uptake in the PG, and the effect of PG massage for 1 min was comparable with that of PG massage for 2 min. PG massage can be applied to thyroid cancer patients who receive radioiodine therapy to reduce PG dysfunction.

Usefulness of SPECT/CT for equivocal findings on (131)I whole-body scan in a patient with differentiated papillary thyroid cancer.

A 42-year-old female patient who underwent right central compartment node dissection owing to recurrence of differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma received 150 mCi of I as an adjuvant therapy. Uptake was observed at the thyroid bed and right lower neck, suggesting thyroid remnant tissues and/or lymph node metastasis on a whole-body scan obtained 5 days after I administration. SPECT/CT was performed and the uptake at the right lower neck was finally diagnosed as a lung metastasis. This case illustrates the benefit of SPECT/CT for a patient with equivocal findings on an I planar image.