Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy as the first line of treatment of symptomatic thyroid cysts.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and security of ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (US-PEIT) for the treatment of recurrent symptomatic thyroid cysts in two high-resolution consultations of thyroid nodule in the Valencian Community. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised thirty-three consecutive patients (51 ±â€¯12 years, 76% women) with symptomatic benign thyroid cysts relapsed after drainage and benign cytology prior to treatment. Through ultrasound, maximum cyst diameter and volume were determined, and the content of the cyst was drained. We then instilled between 2 and 4 ml of ethanol (according to initial volume). We followed up with ultrasound at one, 3, 6 and 12 months and we calculated the total volume and the Volume Reduction Rate (VRR). We evaluated the perceived pain using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The initial median cyst volume was 11.6 ml (8.5-16.5) A single session of US-PEIT was required in 22 patients (67%), two in 8 (24%) and three in 3 (9%). During PEIT, 49% of the patients experienced virtually no pain, 39% mild pain and 12% moderate pain. There were no complications. After 6 months of follow up the median VRR was 93% (84-98). All the patients achieved a volume reduction of more than 50%, 94% of more than 70% and 56% of more than 90%. Twenty-four patients completed a year of follow-up, achieving a VRR of 97% (93-98). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience US-PEIT has proven to be an effective, safe treatment of symptomatic thyroid cysts. For this reason it can be considered as the first line of treatment and included in the portfolio of services of a high-resolution consultation.

Evaluation of Immunoglobulin G Absorption from Goat Colostrum by Newborn Piglets.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether piglets absorb immunoglobin G (IgG) from goat colostrum and the potential effects of its ingestion on suckling piglets. Thirty-eight piglets with body weights ranging from 1000 to 1700 g were assigned to one of the three experimental treatments: Control group (C), where piglets were allowed to suckle normally, and porcine and goat groups. The piglets from the last two groups were removed from the sows after birth and received an oral 20 mL dose every 3 h of porcine (PC) or goat colostrum (GC), respectively, during first 12 h of life. Then, they were returned to newly farrowing sows to continue suckling until 20 d. The apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) of IgG at 12 h was calculated as total serum IgG divided by ingested IgG. No diarrhea or symptoms of intolerance were observed at any time. On day 20, body weight and the number of dead piglets were similar in all three treatments (p > 0.05). At 12 h, the concentration of goat IgG in the serum of piglets fed GC was 8.11 mg/mL. AEA was 20.9% for goat IgG and 26.3% for porcine IgG (p > 0.05). Therefore, goat colostrum seems a promising alternative to study new feed supplements or artificial rearing of newborn piglets.