Iodine and iron status of pregnant women in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Objective: Adequate iodine and Fe intakes are imperative during pregnancy to prevent fetal defects, but such data are not available in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We aimed to assess iodine and Fe status in pregnant women from Lubumbashi.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Evaluation of iodine content in table salt consumed in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: DR Congo has adopted universal salt iodization to reduce disorders due to iodine deficiency. Since 1994, only iodized salt can be imported, but there is currently no routine monitoring of the iodine content of distributed salt. It is therefore unclear if iodine deficiency remains a health problem, particularly in pregnant women.

To treat or not to treat euthyroid autoimmune disorder during pregnancy?

Background: Subclinical autoimmune hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and has a deleterious effect on fetal development. The aim of this study was to evaluate a screening and treatment strategy of subclinical hypothyroidism, and to establish normal ranges of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T(4)) during pregnancy.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on 784 consecutive files of pregnant women; the files were systematically searched for thyroid function and antithyroid antibodies in order to determine the effect and the prevalence of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) during pregnancy, and to evaluate treatment with levothyroxin (LT(4)) in TPO-Ab carriers.

Bone density and markers of bone remodeling in type 1 male diabetic patients.

Aims: To assess the prevalence and severity of bone disease in type 1 diabetic patients and to determine serum markers of bone remodeling as well as their relationship with bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods: BMD [by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)] and serum markers of bone remodeling [osteocalcin, c-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX)], leptin and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were measured in 42 adult males with type 1 diabetes. Twenty-four non-diabetic subjects served as controls.

Intense 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by the thymus on PET scan does not necessarily herald recurrence of thyroid carcinoma.

This is the first report of intense fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) uptake secondary to thymic hyperplasia during follow-up for thyroid carcinoma. A 36-yr-old woman underwent thyroidectomy for a papillary carcinoma measuring 4 cm in diameter. After two doses of radioiodine, thyroglobulin (Tg) remained detectable following recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) stimulation.