Autoantibodies directed against the thyrotropin receptor have been well known to be an important pathogenesis of Graves' disease. However, the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease are still mainly dependent on thyroid function itself and clinical manifestation of thyrotoxic patients. That is mainly due to the low sensitivity of early generation of thyrotropin receptor assay methods. The development of sensitive thyrotropin receptor measuring tools through third generation immunometric assay made the diagnosis of Graves' disease with mild hyperthyroidism accurate and convenient for patients. Bioassay to detect thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin is also commercially available nowadays, which theoretically discriminate thyroid stimulating antibodies from thyrotropin receptor-blocking antibodies. Although the use of these serologic markers plays an informative role in accurately diagnosing Graves' disease and predicting the prognosis of disease, consideration of the heterogeneous nature of autoimmunity of Graves' disease and the limitation of indirect antibody assay is also required for proper management of Graves' disease patients. In this review, the clinical usefulness of thyrotropin receptor antibody in various clinical situations of Graves' disease was overviewed.
Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmunity ; Biological Assay ; Diagnosis ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Thyrotropin* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin

Thyroid function fluctuates during pregnancy. Thus, assessments of thyroid activity during childbearing years represent an important health metric. Since anti-thyroid drugs are potentially teratogenic, drug dosing and timing should be carefully calculated. Normally, diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism is performed to determine underlying causes (i.e., Graves' disease), to predict disease course and to make appropriate therapeutic decisions. In cases of maternal hyperthyroidism, these same measures also require the insight regarding the relationship between pregnancy and thyroid function, the effects of anti-thyroid drugs on pregnancy outcomes.

The distal thigh atrophy is a frequently associated sigh in the presence of knee pathology, and it is usually proved by the difference of the distal thigh circumference using tapeline measurement. But the proper position of measurement is known at this moment. From January of 1988 to December of 1991, we have 320 patients who had knee problems. Among them, 50 patients were selected as a sample of this study. We measured distal thigh circumference of normal and abnormal side by patella and also real circumference and area by taking cross sectional C-T image at each point of measurement. The obtained data are analysed by SPSS for statistical treatment. And the results are as follows: 1) We notice the largest difference on the point of 10cm above superior pole of patella. 2) The vastus medialis is the most conspicuously atrophied muscle among quadriceps and the atrophy of hamstring is minimal. 3) We have experienced the largest difference in cruciate ligament injury but a little difference in meniscus pathology. 4) There is no significantly difference between tapeline measurement and real circumference. As a conclusion of study, The position of 10cm above from the patella upper pole is the best site of clinical measurement of distal thigh circumference, and the muscle mainly associated with artophy is vastus medialis.
Atrophy ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Patella ; Pathology ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Thigh

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/*epidemiology ; *Diet ; Female ; Humans ; *Iodine ; Male ; *Nutritional Status ; Thyroid Neoplasms/*epidemiology

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Prevalence* ; Reference Values* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotropin*

Purpose: Elevated iodine intake is related to a higher prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). We investigated the short-term effect of dietary iodine restriction on thyroid function in patients with SCH with high iodine intakes. Methods: The iodine levels in 64 SCH patients with serum TSH levels from 4.0 to 10.0 mIU/L and normal serum fT4 levels (n = 64) were assessed using 24-hour urine iodine test results and iodine intake levels calculated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.Dietary iodine restriction was not recommended for patients with an iodine intake in the normal range (group A, n = 13), but seaweed restriction was recommended for patients with high iodine intakes (group B, n = 33). Thyroid functions and iodine levels were rechecked after three months. Another eighteen patients were prescribed thyroid hormone replacement therapy according to clinical criteria. Results: Median baseline iodine intake for the 64 patients was 290.61 μg/day, and median 24-hour urine iodine was 33.65 μmol/g of creatinine. The major source of dietary iodine was seaweed, which accounted for 72.2% of median baseline intake. Urine iodine and calculated iodine intake levels were positively correlated with serum TSH levels (p < 0.001 and p = 0.027, respectively), and calculated iodine intakes were significantly correlated with urine iodine levels (p = 0.001). In group B, iodine restriction significantly decreased urine iodine (p = 0.042) and TSH levels (p = 0.004), and conversion to euthyroid status was achieved in 16 of the 33 patients (48.5%). Conclusion Iodine intake and urine iodine levels are correlated with thyroid function in SCH patients, and dietary iodine restriction can aid functional thyroid recovery in patients with elevated iodine intakes.

Although some reports have been published on the protective effect of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii surface membrane proteins, few address the inhibitory activity of antibodies to dense granular proteins (GRA proteins). Therefore, we performed a series of experiments to evaluate the inhibitory effects of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to GRA proteins (GRA2, 28 kDa; GRA6, 32 kDa) and surface membrane protein (SAG1, 30 kDa) on the invasion of T. gondii tachyzoites. Passive immunization of mice with one of three mAbs following challenge with a lethal dose of tachyzoites significantly increased survival compared with results for mice treated with control ascites. The survival times of mice challenged with tachyzoites pretreated with anti-GRA6 or anti-SAG1 mAb were significantly increased. Mice that received tachyzoites pretreated with both mAb and complement had longer survival times than those that received tachyzoites pretreated with mAb alone. Invasion of tachyzoites into fibroblasts and macrophages was significantly inhibited in the anti-GRA2, anti-GRA6 or anti-SAG1 mAb pretreated group. Pretreatment with mAb and complement inhibited invasion of tachyzoites in both fibroblasts and macrophages. These results suggest that specific antibodies to dense-granule molecules may be useful for controlling infection with T. gondii.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Antigens, Protozoan ; Female ; Fibroblasts/parasitology ; Host-Parasite Relations ; Immunization, Passive ; Macrophages/parasitology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Protozoan Proteins/*immunology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Toxoplasma/*pathogenicity ; Toxoplasmosis/parasitology/*therapy

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Myiasis

PURPOSE: The association between autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) and vitamin D deficiency is controversial. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] and anti-thyroid antibody levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25(OH)D3, anti-thyroid antibodies, and thyroid function measured in 304 patients who visited the endocrinology clinic were analyzed. The patients were subgrouped into the AITDs or non-AITDs category according to the presence or absence of anti-thyroid antibodies. The relationship between anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and 25(OH)D3 was evaluated. RESULTS: The patients with elevated anti-thyroid antibodies had lower levels of serum 25(OH)D3 than those who did not (12.6+/-5.5 ng/mL vs. 14.5+/-7.3 ng/mL, respectively, p<0.001). Importantly, after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, a negative correlation (r=-0.252, p<0.001) was recognized between 25(OH)D3 and TPOAb levels in the AITDs group, but this correlation did not exist in the non-AITDs group (r=0.117, p=0.127). 25(OH)D3 level was confirmed as an independent factor after adjusting for co-factors that may affect the presence of TPOAb in the AITDs group. CONCLUSION: 25(OH)D3 level is an independent factor affecting the presence of TPOAb in AITDs. The causal effect of 25(OH)D3 deficiency to AITDs is to be elucidated.
Antibodies ; Body Mass Index ; Endocrinology ; Humans ; Methods ; Peroxidase* ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune* ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

In order to inquire the most-effective management of increased intracranial pressure(ICP), mannitol, steroid and hyperventilation were used in rabbits after ligation or non-ligation of the carotid artery. Mannitol was more effective than steroid and hyperventilation in the degree of the reduction of ICP. The intracranial pressure was decreased 43~45% for 25~30 minutes after injection of mannitol. Steroid was less effective than mannitol in the degree of the reduction of ICP. But the time of reduction of ICP was longer, that is, the degree of reduction was 24~60 minutes after injection of steroid. Hyperventilation is effective in the initial time only, for 10 minutes after hyperventilation. The degree of ICP reduction was 13.5~16.7 % for 10 minutes after hyperventilation. The combined group, that is three kinds of mangenent were used, is the most effective treatment to reduce ICP of ICP. The degree of the reduction of ICP was 42.1~49.3% for 20 minutes, 47.7~52.5% for 30minnutes. There was no significant difference between and non-ligation group.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Hyperventilation ; Intracranial Pressure* ; Ligation ; Mannitol ; Rabbits*