The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of neck ultrasonography compared to (131)I whole-body scan (WBS) and circulating thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement after thyroid hormone withdrawal in the follow-up of children with thyroid papillary cancer, who had previously undergone total thyroidectomy for the diagnosis of neck lymph node metastases (LNM). Forty-five children were examined. Neck ultrasonography and diagnostic WBS were conclusive about the presence or absence of LNM in 35 patients. Diagnostic WBS revealed the presence of LNM in 6 cases not detected by neck ultrasonography; neck ultrasonography was positive in 3 cases that were negative at diagnostic WBS but confirmed by post-(131)I therapy WBS. One patient with suspicious neck lymphnodes at neck ultrasonography not confirmed by WBS was considered as a false-positive result of neck ultrasonography. Neck ultrasonography and thyroglobulin (Tg) were conclusive about the presence or absence of LNM in 29 patients. Tg was elevated in 10 subjects with negative neck ultrasonography (7 had also lung and/or mediastinic LNM). Tg was undetectable in 5 patients in whom the presence of LNM was confirmed by neck ultrasonography and WBS. In conclusion, our study in children demonstrates that neck ultrasonography can detect LNM that are not suspected by palpation, diagnostic WBS, or serum Tg determination. Furthermore, neck ultrasonography can pinpoint the anatomic site of the LNM.

Objectives. Mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) is a systemic vasculitis frequently associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A possible link between HCV infection and type 2 diabetes has been suggested. This study evaluated the prevalence and clinical phenotype of diabetes in MC-HCV⁺ patients. Methods. Two hundred and twenty-nine consecutively recruited MC-HCV⁺ patients were compared with 217 sex- and age-matched controls without HCV infection. Results. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was significantly higher in MC-HCV⁺ patients than in controls (14.4 vs 6.9%, P < 0.01). Diabetic MC-HCV⁺ patients were leaner than diabetic patients without MC-HCV (P < 0.0001), and showed significantly lower total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P < 0.001) and lower systolic (P = 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.005). MC-HCV⁺ diabetic patients had non-organ-specific autoantibodies more frequently (34 vs 18%, P = 0.032) than non-diabetic MC-HCV⁺ patients. Conclusions. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is higher in patients with MC-HCV than in controls. Diabetic MC-HCV⁺ patients show an attenuated diabetic phenotype and are more likely to carry non-organ-specific autoantibodies.

Aim: Owing to their catalytic properties as reactive oxygen species scavengers, cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) have become an extremely promising candidate for medical applications, especially in the treatment of diseases where oxidative stress has been proposed as one of the main pathogenesis factors. Materials & methods: In this work, nanoceria antioxidant power has been tested in primary cultured skin fibroblasts, derived from healthy individuals, by evaluating the mitochondrial function both in basal condition and after an oxidative insult. Results & conclusion: Combined with a clear lack of toxicity, antioxidant activity makes nanoceria promising in a wide range of clinical applications sharing the common signature of a global bioenergetic dysfunction.