Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) reduces the activity of radioiodine required to treat multinodular goiter (MNG), but acute airway compression can be a life-threatening complication. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we assessed the efficacy and safety (including airway compression) of different doses of rhTSH associated with a fixed activity of 131I for treating MNG. Euthyroid patients with MNG (69.3 ± 62.0 mL, 20 females, 2 males, 64 ± 7 years) received 0.1 mg (group I, N = 8) or 0.01 mg (group II, N = 6) rhTSH or placebo (group III, N = 8), 24 h before 1.11 GBq 131I. Radioactive iodine uptake was determined at baseline and 24 h after rhTSH and thyroid volume (TV, baseline and 6 and 12 months after treatment) and tracheal cross-sectional area (TCA, baseline and 2, 7, 180, and 360 days after rhTSH) were determined by magnetic resonance; antithyroid antibodies and thyroid hormones were determined at frequent intervals. After 6 months, TV decreased significantly in groups I (28.5 ± 17.6%) and II (21.6 ± 17.8%), but not in group III (2.7 ± 15.3%). After 12 months, TV decreased significantly in groups I (36.7 ± 18.1%) and II (37.4 ± 27.1%), but not in group III (19.0 ± 24.3%). No significant changes in TCA were observed. T3 and free T4 increased transiently during the first month. After 12 months, 7 patients were hypothyroid (N = 3 in group I and N = 2 in groups II and III). rhTSH plus a 1.11-GBq fixed 131I activity did not cause acute or chronic changes in TCA. After 6 and 12 months, TV reduction was more pronounced among patients treated with rhTSH plus 131I.

Recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) enhances 131I uptake, permitting a decrease in radiation for the treatment of multinodular goiter (MNG). Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single 0.1-mg dose of rhTSH, followed by 30 mCi 131I, in patients with MNG. Seventeen patients (15 females, 59.0 ± 13.1 years), who had never been submitted to 131I therapy, received a single 0.1-mg injection of rhTSH followed by 30 mCi 131I on the next day. Mean basal thyroid volume measured by computed tomography was 106.1 ± 64.4 mL. 131I 24-h uptake, TSH, free-T4, T3, thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid antibodies, and thyroid volume were evaluated at regular intervals of 12 months. Mean 131I 24-h uptake increased from 18.1 ± 9.7 to 49.6 ± 13.4% (P < 0.001), a median 2.6-fold increase (1.2 to 9.2). Peak hormonal levels were 10.86 ± 5.44 mU/L for TSH (a median 15.5-fold increase), 1.80 ± 0.48 ng/dL for free-T4, 204.61 ± 58.37 ng/dL for T3, and a median of 557.0 ng/mL for thyroglobulin. The adverse effects observed were hyperthyroidism (17.6%), painful thyroiditis (29.4%) and hypothyroidism (52.9%). Thyroid volume was reduced by 34.3 ± 14.3% after 6 months (P < 0.001) and by 46.0 ± 14.6% after 1 year (P < 0.001). Treatment of MNG with a single 0.1-mg dose of rhTSH, followed by a fixed amount of radioactivity of 131I, leads to an efficacious decrease in thyroid volume for the majority of the patients, with a moderate incidence of non-serious and readily treatable adverse effects.

Relatamos o caso de uma mulher de 53 anos com episódios de hipoglicemia espontânea com um ano de evolução. A paciente referia fraqueza, sudorese e tremores, especialmente após as refeições. A avaliação laboratorial confirmou hipoglicemia com altos níveis de insulina e peptídeo C. A tomografia axial computadorizada (TAC) de abdome evidenciou uma grande massa com calcificações na cauda do pâncreas. Após ressecção cirúrgica o exame histológico revelou insulinoma maligno. Após 12 meses de acompanhamento a paciente permanecia assintomática e normoglicêmica.

We report on a case of a 53-year-old woman with episodes of spontaneous hypoglycemia in the last year, before her first visit in our outpatient clinic. She complained of weakness, sweating and trembling specially after meals. Blood tests confirmed low plasma glucose values and elevated insulin and C-peptide levels. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large mass with calcifications in the pancreas tail. Surgery was performed and histological evaluation revealed a malignant insulinoma. Since then, she has been followed for twelve months with no symptoms of hypoglycemia and no evidence of relapse.

O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar se um novo exame de punção aspirativa com agulha fina (PAAF) deve ser realizado em pacientes que já foram submetidos a tal procedimento e tiveram o diagnóstico citopatológico compatível com doença nodular benigna de tireóide. Quarenta e um pacientes com o diagnóstico clínico e laboratorial de bócio nodular foram submetidos a duas PAAFs, com intervalo mínimo de seis meses, e comparados quanto aos seus laudos e características citopatológicas. Além do resultado das punções, foram observadas as seguintes características (média±DP): idade= 44,3±13,1 anos; início do aparecimento do nódulo= 5,1±8,1 anos (mediana= 2,0 anos); volume nodular= 18,6±21,6ml (mediana= 9,6ml) e volume tireoidiano= 42,8±30,8ml (mediana= 33,5ml), ambos baseados na ecografia; captação de 131I em 24h= 13,2±5,4%; níveis de triiodotironina (T3)= 142,0±34,5ng/dl, de tiroxina (T4)= 8,6±1,5µg/dl, de hormônio tireoestimulante (TSH)= 1,7±1,0mUI/L e de tireoglobulina (TG)= 59,3±47,8ng/ml. O estudo demonstrou predominância do sexo feminino (40 de 41); nódulo misto (23 de 41) e frio (29 de 41), com padrão multinodular (23 de 41). Na avaliação citopatológica, o segundo laudo foi idêntico ao primeiro em 40 de 41 pacientes (97,6%), embora houvessem características citopatológicas distintas em 39 dos 41 pacientes estudados (95,1%), apontando para a própria heterogeneidade do nódulo colóide. Concluímos que a PAAF é um método diagnóstico seguro na doença nodular de tireóide. A não concordância nos detalhes citopatológicos das punções seqüenciais revela a grande heterogeneidade da morfologia do bócio colóide.

This study aimed to verify whether a new fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy should be performed in patients who have already been submitted to the procedure with a cytopathologic diagnosis of benign thyroid nodular disease. Forty-one patients with clinical and biochemical diagnosis of nodular goiter were submitted to two fine needle aspiration biopsies with an interval of at least six months, and compared as to their final results and cytopathologic characteristics. Apart the aspiration biopsies the following characteristics were observed (mean±SD): age= 44.3±13.1y; time from initial detection= 5.1±8.1y (median= 2.0 y); nodule volume= 18.6±21.6ml (median= 33.5ml); thyroid volume= 42.8±30.8ml (median= 33.5ml), both based on echography; 24h 131I thyroid uptake= 13.2±5.4%; triiodothyronine (T3)= 142.0±34.5ng/dl; thyroxine (T4)= 8.6±1.5µg/dl; thyrotropin (TSH)= 1.7±1.0mUI/L; thyroglobulin (TG)= 59.3±47.8ng/ml. The study showed the predominance of female (40/41), mixed (23/41) and cold nodules (29/41), with a multinodular pattern (23/41). On cytopathologic evaluation, the second result was identical to the initial one in 40 out of 41 patients (97.6%), in spite of distinct biopsy characteristics in 39 of the 41 patients studied (95.1%), pointing to the heterogeneity of the colloid nodule. We conclude that FNA is a safe procedure for the diagnosis of benign thyroid nodular disease. Differences in the cytopathologic details of the sequential biopsies reveal the large heterogeneous spectrum of the colloid nodule.

RESUMO Os propósitos desse estudo são: reportar as alterações oftalmológicas mais prevalentes na Doença de Graves, discutir alguns pontos controversos sobre os achados clínicos das alterações oculares, e demonstrar a necessidade de acompanhamento oftalmológico desses pacientes. Para avaliar os pacientes com oftalmopatia, idealizou-se um protocolo que visa padronizar o atendimento em uma primeira consulta, - avaliando os principais sintomas ou sinais. Os dados foram analisados através do método do qui-quadrado. Cento e sessenta e nove pacientes portadores de oftalmopatia foram examinados. A idade variou entre 04 a 82 anos (36,23 ± 13,16) sendo que a maioria dos pacientes eram brancos (89,1%) e do sexo feminino (77,57%). A principal queixa relatada foi sensação de corpo estranho (63,03%). Cento e cinqüenta (90,9%) pacientes apresentaram acuidade visual (AV) de 20/25 ou melhor em pelo menos um dos olhos após correção óptica. Cento e oito (66,26%) tiveram alguma alteração de motilidade ocular ou retração palpebral. Setenta e nove (47,88%) pacientes apresentaram alteração na exoftalmometria em pelo menos um dos olhos, sendo geralmente bilateral. Ceratite puntata foi encontrada em 77 (46,66%) pacientes. Somente 12 (7,27%) apresentaram pressão intra-ocular (PIO) elevada (maior que 20 mmHg) e 4 (2,42%) apresentaram alterações de FO. Alteração da motilidade ocular, proptose e alterações corneanas foram os achados mais freqüentes. Baixa acuidade visual, dor ocular e sensação de corpo estranho foram os principais sintomas. Demonstrou-se a necessidade do exame oftalmológico nesses pacientes, mesmo naqueles sem hipertireoidismo no momento do exame, sendo que o estado clínico bem como o sexo e raça (p>0,05) não se relacionaram com os achados oculares, exceto a exoftalmia menos prevalente na raça negra (p<0,05).

SUMMARY The purposes of this study are to report the most frequent ophthalmologic findings in Graves’ Disease, discuss some controversial standpoints due to clinical findings of ocular abnormalities and prove the neccessity of ophthalmic exam in these patients. We established a protocol to better evaluate the patients with ophthalmopathy in order to standardize the first ophthalmic exam in these patients, evaluating the main signs and symptoms. The results were analysed using the qui-square method. One hundred and sixty nine patients with Graves' Ophthalmopathy between the ages of 04 and 82 (36.23 ± 13.16) were examinated. The most part of patients were white (89.1%) and female (77.56%). The main complain was foreign body sensation (63.03%). One hundred and fifty (90.9%) patients had 20/25 visual acuity (VA) or better in the best eye after optic correction. One hundred and eight (66.26%) had ocular motion limitation or lid retraction. Seventy nine (47.88%) had alterations in the exophthalmometry at least in one eye. Stippling of cornea was found in 77 (46.66%) patients. Twelve (7.27%) had raised intraocular pressure (lOP) only, and 4 (2.42%) fundus abnormalities. Ocular motion alteration, proptosis and cornea alterations were the main signs. Poor visual acuity, ocular pain and foreign body sensation were the most frequent symptoms. We proved that is necessary an early ophthalmic exam in these patients, including the patients who did not have hyperthyroidism in the moment of ocular exam. Clinical stage and differences of sex and race (p>0.05) were not related to ocular findings, except proptosis which was less in the black people group (p<0.05).

Resumo Após fazer-se um estudo sobre aspectos gerais de familias, gêneros e algumas espécies de Gymnotoidei e outros peixes elétricos amazônicos, bem como sobre seus habitats e hábitos de vida, analisam-se os órgãos elétricos e respectivas descargas em várias espécies. Procuram estabelecer-se as funções da descarga do órgão elétrico. (DOE) na vida do animal, correlacionando-se a mesma com o comportamento e outros eventos. Em seguida, estuda-se a eletrorrecepção, seus órgãos dos sentidos especiais e processamento cerebral, inclusive o uso de eletrorrecepção por peixes não elétricos. Conclui-se o trabalho, Interpretando-se o possível significado ecológico e prático dos fatos observados.

Summary An overview of the families, genera and some species of the Gymnotoidei is presented with a review of their behaviour and natural history. Characteristics of the electric organs and electric organ discharge (EOD) for various species are presented. The role of EOD on the animal's life is discussed, especially as it relates to behaviour and other events. Electroreception, its special sense organs and brain-processing, including use by non-electric fish is discussed. The results of these studies are interpreted in terms of their pratical and ecological significance in the life of this group of fish.