Geographic variation in groundwater iodine and iodine deficiency in Israel, The West Bank and Gaza.

Background: Iodine deficiency during pregnancy and infancy is the world's most common preventable cause of mental retardation. Previous studies have shown a high incidence of goiter and low groundwater iodine concentrations in northern Israel.

Objective: We examined the relationship between low groundwater iodine and iodine deficiency in pregnant women and schoolchildren.

Maxillary sinusitis caused by Pleurophomopsis lignicola.

An immunocompetent 59-year-old man developed sinusitis over a 6- to 8-month period after cutting down a rotted maple tree (Acer sp.). A polypoid obstruction with a bloody drainage was evident in his right nasal cavity.

Tuberculin testing in a tertiary hospital: product variability.

Nine percent of 2,721 hospital employees, previously tuberculin negative, were PPD positive when tested with 5 TU of PPD (Aplisol, Parke-Davis). Seventy percent of the positive reactions were found to be erroneous on retesting with Tubersol (Connaught). The excessive potency of Aplisol led to excessive expenditures of time and money investigating a nonexistent outbreak.

Oral iodized oil for correcting iodine deficiency: optimal dosing and outcome indicator selection.

Oral iodized oil is the major alternative to iodized salt for correcting endemic iodine deficiency. This study responds to a need for better guidelines in its use. Schoolchildren, aged 6-11 yr, from a severely iodine-deficient area of Algeria received iodized poppy seed oil (Lipiodol) in a single oral dose containing 120, 240, 480, or 960 mg iodine (groups A-D) or in an im injection of 480 mg iodine (group E).

Thyroglobulin is a more sensitive indicator of iodine deficiency than thyrotropin: development and evaluation of dry blood spot assays for thyrotropin and thyroglobulin in iodine-deficient geographical areas.

Immunometric assays were developed for thyrotropin and thyroglobulin using time-resolved fluorescence as the measurement signal. The assays were suitable for measurements in serum/plasma or in dry blood spots (3 mm diameter). Both assays have acceptable coefficients of variation for dry blood spots (intra-assay median CV < 10%, interassay CV < 15%) in the concentration range of interest (thyrotropin 3-250 mU/l, thyroglobulin 10-500 micrograms/l).