Objective To evaluate the safety and rationality of total/near total bilateral thyroidectomy(TBT) for patients with bilateral multinodular goiter(BMG). Methods From January 2003 to December 2006,311 BMG cases were preoperatively divided into two groups, 130 cases in group A underwent TBT, and 181 cases in group B were treated with subtotal/partial bilateral thyroidectomy. Results There were 6 and 2 eases in group A and group B respectively diagnosed by intraoperative frozen biopsy as BMG, but identified as papillary carcinoma by final pathology. Hence the 6 cases in group A avoided reoporation, while the 2 cases in group B underwent a resection of the remnant gland. Transient hoarseness developed in 3 (2.42%, 3/124) and 3 (1.68%, 3/179) eases in group A and group B respectively (P =0.48). Transient hypocalcemia developed in 11 (8.87% ,11/124) and 9(5.03% ,9/179) cases in group A and group B respectively(P =0.16). There was no postoperative goiter recurrence in group A, but recurrence developed in 12 cases (6.70%,12/179) in group B(P=0.02). Conclusions Total bilateral thyroidectomy is safe and rational for the management of bilateral thyroid goiter.

Iron is an essential trace element for both humans and bacteria. It plays a vital role in life, such as in redox reactions and electron transport. Strict regulatory mechanisms are necessary to maintain iron homeostasis because both excess and insufficient iron are harmful to life. Competition for iron is a war between humans and bacteria. To grow, reproduce, colonize, and successfully cause infection, pathogens have evolved various mechanisms for iron uptake from humans, principally Fe 3+ -siderophore and Fe 2+ -heme transport systems. Humans have many innate immune mechanisms that regulate the distribution of iron and inhibit bacterial iron uptake to help resist bacterial invasion and colonization. Meanwhile, researchers have invented detection test strips and coupled antibiotics with siderophores to create tools that take advantage of this battle for iron, to help eliminate pathogens. In this review, we summarize bacterial and human iron metabolism, competition for iron between humans and bacteria, siderophore sensors, antibiotics coupled with siderophores, and related phenomena. We also discuss how competition for iron can be used for diagnosis and treatment of infection in the future.
Humans ; Siderophores/metabolism* ; Iron/metabolism* ; Bacteria ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Biological Transport