Dietary iodine intake and urinary iodine excretion in patients with thyroid diseases. (41/1350)

This study was conducted to examine the usual iodine intake in patients with thyroid diseases and to compare iodine status with normal subjects. The dietary iodine intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and urinary iodine excretion was measured in 184 patients diagnosed with thyroid diseases and 207 normal subjects. The average usual iodine intake of patients with thyroid diseases was 673.8 +/- 794.9 ug/day and that of normal subjects was 468.9 +/- 481.9 ug/day. Among the patients with thyroid diseases, higher values were found in the patients with thyroid cancer (1460.6 +/- 1044.8 ug/day) and lower values were found in patients with simple goiter (443.5 +/- 470.4 ug/day). The urinary iodine excretions of patients and normal subjects were 4.33 +/- 5.70 mg/L and 2.11 +/- 0.69 mg/L, respectively. The iodine intake and urinary iodine excretion of patients with thyroid diseases were significantly higher than those of normal subjects (p < 0.05). The dietary iodine intake and urinary excretion of patients with thyroid cancer were significantly higher than other patients with thyroid diseases and normal subjects because of the use of seaweed or seaweed-containing dietary supplements (p < 0.01). This study suggests that the habitual ingestion of seaweed-containing dietary supplements in addition to dietary iodine intake will have adverse effects due to its excessive iodine intake.  (+info)

The role of micronutrients in psychomotor and cognitive development. (42/1350)

The literature on the effects of micronutrients on cognitive, motor and behavioural development is reviewed focusing mainly on children. Iron, zinc, iodine and vitamins are discussed. The review is selective and concentrates on the more recent work and areas of controversy. There are well established associations with poor development and iron and iodine deficiency but the deficiencies usually occur in disadvantaged circumstances and establishing causal relationships is difficult.  (+info)

Thyroid function. (43/1350)

Normal thyroid status is dependent on the presence of many trace elements for both the synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones. Iodine is most important as a component of the hormones, thyroxine and 3,3',5-tri-iodothyronine (T3) and iodine deficiency may affect approximately one billion people throughout the world. Selenium is essential for normal thyroid hormone metabolism being involved with selenium-containing iodothyronine de-iodinases that control the synthesis and degradation of the biologically active thyroid hormone, T3. Additionally, selenoperoxidases and thioredoxin reductase protect the thyroid gland from peroxides produced during the synthesis of hormones. The roles of iron, zinc and copper in the thyroid are less well defined but sub- or supraoptimal dietary intakes of all these elements can adversely affect thyroid hormone metabolism.  (+info)

Dramatic synergism between excess soybean intake and iodine deficiency on the development of rat thyroid hyperplasia. (44/1350)

The effects of defatted soybean and/or iodine-deficient diet feeding were investigated in female F344 rats. Rats were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 animals, and fed basal AIN-93G diet in which the protein was exchanged for 20% gluten (Group 1), iodine-deficient gluten (Group 2), 20% defatted soybean (Group 3) and iodine-deficient defatted soybean (Group 4). At week 10, relative thyroid gland weights (mg/100 g body wt) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in Groups 2 (15.5 +/- 1.3) and 4 (81.7 +/- 8.6) than in Group 1 (8.4 +/- 2.0) and pituitary gland weights (mg/100 g body wt) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in Groups 3 (9.1 +/- 0. 6) and 4 (9.7 +/- 1.5) than in Group 1 (6.5 +/- 1.5). Serum biochemical assays revealed thyroxine to be significantly (P < 0.05) lower in Groups 2 and 4 than in Group 1. On the other hand, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in Groups 3 and 4 than in Group 1. This was particularly striking for TSH (ng/ml) at week 10 in Group 4 (126 +/- 11) as compared with Groups 1 (4.36 +/- 0.30), 2 (4.84 +/- 0.80) and 3 (5. 78 +/- 0.80). Histologically, marked diffuse follicular hyperplasia of the thyroid was evident in Group 4 rats. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling indices (%) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Groups 2 (4.8 +/- 2.5) and 4 (13.2 +/- 1.1) than in Group 1 (0.4 +/- 0.5). Ultrastructurally, severe disorganization and disarrangement of mitochondria were apparent in thyroid follicular cells of Group 4. In the anterior pituitary, dilated rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and increased secretory granules were remarkable in this group. Our results thus strongly suggest that dietary defatted soybean synergistically stimulates the growth of rat thyroid with iodine deficiency, partly through a pituitary-dependent pathway.  (+info)

Simple microplate method for determination of urinary iodine. (45/1350)

BACKGROUND: Urinary iodine is a good biochemical marker for control of iodine deficiency disorders. Our aim was to develop and validate a simple, rapid, and quantitative method based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction, incorporating both the reaction and the digestion process into a microplate format. METHODS: Using a specially designed sealing cassette to prevent loss of vapor and cross-contamination among wells, ammonium persulfate digestion was performed in a microplate in an oven at 110 degrees C for 60 min. After the digestion mixture was transferred to a transparent microplate and the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction was performed at 25 degrees C for 30 min, urinary iodine was measured by a microplate reader at 405 nm. RESULTS: The mean recovery of iodine added to urine was 98% (range, 89-109%). The theoretical detection limit, defined as 2 SD from the zero calibrator, was 0.11 micromol/L (14 microg/L iodine). The mean intra- and interassay CVs for samples with iodine concentrations of 0.30-3.15 micromol/L were < or = 10%. The new method agreed well with the conventional chloric acid digestion method (n = 70; r = 0.991; y = 0.944x + 0.04; S(y|x) = 0.10) and with the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method (n = 61; r = 0.979; y = 0.962x + 0.03; S(y|x) = 0.20). The agreement was confirmed by difference plots. The distributions of iodine concentrations for samples from endemic areas of iodine deficiency diseases showed similar patterns among the above three methods. CONCLUSIONS: Our new method, incorporating the whole process into a microplate format, is readily applicable and allows rapid monitoring of urinary iodine.  (+info)

Relationship between the pixel value in digital subtraction angiography and iodine concentration: study in high iodine concentration with original phantom. (46/1350)

Quantitative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) image analysis based on densitometry is widely accepted and used. For the densitometoric DSA image analysis, it is required that there is a linear relationships between the pixel values on DSA images (DSA values) and contrast medium iodine concentration or the thickness of the vessels or the chambers filled with contrast material. We studied on relationship between the DSA value and iodine concentration especially in high iodine concentration. As for the relationship between DSA values and iodine concentration on the DSA images at low concentration, DSA phantom had a good linear relationship. However, the relationship at the high iodine concentration, DSA phantom sometimes lost this linear relationship. Our results suggested that it was necessary to identify relationship between DSA values and iodine concentration in each DSA system, especially in high iodine concentration setting, for densitometoric DSA image analysis.  (+info)

Coverage and cost of iodized oil capsule distribution in Tanzania. (47/1350)

Distribution of oral iodized oil capsules (IOC) is an important intervention in areas with iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and low coverage of iodized salt. The mean reported coverage of 57 IOC distribution campaigns from 1986-1994 of people aged 1-45 years in 27 districts of Tanzania was 64% (range 20-96%). This declined over subsequent distribution rounds. However, due to delayed repeat distribution, only 43% of person-time was covered, based on the programme objective of giving two IOC (total 400 mg iodine) at 2-year intervals. Three different capsule distribution strategies used in 20 distribution rounds in 1992-1993 were analyzed in depth. Withdrawal of financial support for district distribution expenses under the 'district team' strategy, and the subsequent change to integrated 'primary health care' distribution, increased delays and capsule wastage. The third, more vertical strategy, 'national and district teams', accomplished rapid distribution of IOC about to expire and subsequently a return to the initial 'district team' allowance strategy was made. Annual cost of 'district team' distribution was 26 cents per person (400 mg iodine/2 years). Cost analysis revealed that the IOC itself accounts for more than 90% of total costs at the levels of coverage achieved. IOC will be important in the elimination of IDD in target areas of severe iodine deficiency and insufficient use of iodized salt, provided that high coverage can be achieved. Campaign distribution of medication with high item cost and long distribution intervals may be more cost-effectively performed if separated from regular PHC services at their present resource level. However, motivating health workers and community leaders to do adequate social mobilization remains crucial even if logistics are vertically organized. Insufficient support of distribution expenses and health education may lead to overall wastage of resources.  (+info)

Iodometric detection of Haemophilus influenzae beta-lactamase: rapid presumptive test for ampicillin resistance. (48/1350)

Strains of Haemophilus influenzae type b sporadically isolated from clinical specimens are ampicillin resistant due to production of a beta-lactamase. This enzyme which inactivates ampicillin and penicillin G is not produced by ampicillin-susceptible strains. Various characteristics of beta-lactamase production and ampicillin resistance of three H. influenzae type b isolates were investigated. A sensitive iodometric test was employed to detect beta-lactamase; positive results were obtained in 5 min with 10(9) bacteria taken from cultures on a nutritionally adequate agar medium. This simple chemical test will enable the hospital laboratory to obtain presumptive evidence of ampicillin resistance on the same day that H. influenzae is isolated.  (+info)