Iodine fortification of vegetables improves human iodine nutrition: in vivo evidence for a new model of iodine prophylaxis.

Background: Iodine deficiency is the result of insufficient intake of dietary iodine and as a consequence causes multiple adverse effects. About 2 billion individuals in the world are affected by iodine deficiency. It has been found that the most effective way to control iodine deficiency is through the universal salt iodization.

Incidental versus clinically evident thyroid cancer: a 5-year follow-up study.

Background: The incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer in patients undergoing surgery for presumed benign thyroid disease (incidental thyroid cancer) is not negligible. The purpose of this study was to verify if incidental thyroid cancers have a different clinical course than the clinically evident thyroid cancer.

Methods: A group of patients with incidental thyroid cancer (n = 95) has been compared to a control group with clinically evident thyroid cancer (n = 93).

New echocardiographic techniques in the evaluation of left ventricular mechanics in subclinical thyroid dysfunction.

The new echocardiographic techniques for the study of physiopathological intramyocardial phenomena include video densitometry (VD), integrated backscatter (IBS), and color Doppler myocardial imaging (CDMI). Being more independent from cardiac load and from rotational and translational heart motion, these new sensible, noninvasive techniques such as CDMI and IBS show a real incremental value in comparison with conventional echocardiography and allow to detect subtle functional and textural abnormalities of intramural myocardium, partially undetectable by conventional two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction (STD), both in its hypo- and hyperthyroidism form, has a relatively high prevalence in general population (9-15% with a lower percentage of adult males), hence it could be very useful to study more deeply heart involvement in these physiopathological conditions and understand the complex relationship between thyroid and heart.

Proportion of type 1 and type 2 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis has changed over a 27-year period in Italy.

Context: Two main forms of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) exist. Type 1 AIT is a form of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. Its management is complex and includes thionamides, potassium perchlorate and, occasionally, thyroidectomy.

Glucocorticoid response in amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis resulting from destructive thyroiditis is predicted by thyroid volume and serum free thyroid hormone concentrations.

Context: Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) resulting from destructive thyroiditis (type 2) is commonly treated with glucocorticoids, but time needed to restore euthyroidism may be unacceptable for patients with underlying cardiac disorders.

Objective: The objective of this prospective study was to identify factors affecting the response to glucocorticoids in a large cohort of patients with type 2 AIT followed prospectively.

Setting: This study was conducted at university centers.

Early textural and functional alterations of left ventricular myocardium in mild hypothyroidism.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac function and texture in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) both by conventional and new ultrasonic intramyocardial tissue techniques. sHT was characterized by normal serum free tetraiodotironine and free triiodotironine levels and slightly increased serum TSH level. Twenty-four patients affected by sHT and 24 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were studied.

Incidental thyroid carcinoma in a large series of consecutive patients operated on for benign thyroid disease.

Background: The diagnosis of incidental thyroid carcinoma (ITC) in patients operated on for a benign disease is frequent. This study aims to determine both its clinical effect and the possibility of identifying this class of patients preoperatively.

Methods: A total of 998 consecutive patients (697 women and 301 men; mean age, 49.

Gonadotrophin receptor blocking antibodies measured by the use of cell lines stably expressing human gonadotrophin receptors are not detectable in women with 46,XX premature ovarian failure.

Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined by cessation of ovarian function after puberty and before the age of 40. The syndrome is characterized by amenorrhoea, oestrogen deficiency and elevated levels of gonadotrophins. Autoimmunity has been proposed as a mechanism for some cases of destruction or malfunction of ovarian follicles.

Treatment of type II amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis by either iopanoic acid or glucocorticoids: a prospective, randomized study.

Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) may occur either in the presence of underlying thyroid disease (type I AIT) or in apparently normal thyroid glands (type II AIT). Type II AIT, a destructive thyroiditis, often favorably responds to glucocorticoids. Iopanoic acid (IopAc) is an iodinated cholecystographic agent that inhibits deiodinase activity and reduces the conversion of T(4) toT(3).

Preparation with iopanoic acid rapidly controls thyrotoxicosis in patients with amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis before thyroidectomy.

Background: Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) may develop either in apparently normal glands (type II AIT) or in the presence of thyroid abnormalities (type I AIT). Sometimes AIT is resistant to conventional treatment. Thyroidectomy was used in patients with AIT, but in patients who are thyrotoxic it may be hazardous.

Comparison of two different doses of iodide in the prevention of gestational goiter in marginal iodine deficiency: a longitudinal study.

Objective: A prospective randomized trial was performed to assess the usefulness of iodine supplementation in the prevention of goiter in pregnant women living in marginally iodine-deficient areas.

Design: Eighty-six pregnant women were recruited and randomized in two groups and treated daily for up to six months after delivery with 200 microg iodide (group A) or 50 microg iodide (group B). Sixty-seven women (32 in group A and 35 in group B) completed the study.