Increased Thyroid Function Research Articles

Increased thyroid function in haemochromatosis.

Increased thyroid function in haemochromatosis.

Effects of thermal injury and of skin removal on thyroid function in the rat.

Thyroid I131 release rates have been measured in 6 rats before and after a 10–20% full thickness burn of the skin, and in 11 rats before and after resection of 10–20% of the dorsal skin surface. Thyroid function was inhibited for a variable period up to 30 hours after the burn in five of six animals. In contrast, flaying was followed in each of the 11 rats by increased thyroid function.

Application of endocrinological research methods in psychiatry.

The difficulties involved in any analysis of neuro-endocrine relationships are outlined. Whether disturbances arise primarily in the brain or in the endocrine system the series of repercussions usually results in a vicious circle which has to be broken at some point if therapy is to be tried. Hormone therapy of psychiatric cases has fallen into discredit because of its wide and indiscriminate use. Such treatment is only justified when the most exact and exhaustive tests of endocrine function have first been carried out. A number of such tests are discussed. Investigation of 131I metabolism of the thyroid makes it possible to detect borderline cases with only very slight (previously unsuspected) thyroid disturbances. In many such cases the correct treatment of the thyroid under- or over-function improves the mental condition. Insensitivity of the body tissues to thyroid hormone is assumed in cases where the radioactive tracer method shows an increased thyroid function while the B.M.R. is normal or decreased. The use of ACTH for clinical response tests for the adrenal cortex and for treatment of different mental cases is discussed, together with gonadal and pituitary anterior lobe function in its relation to mental disorder. Different psychopathological states can develop under identical endocrine conditions; different endocrine changes can be seen in cases which are to the psychiatrist 'identical entities'. The classical conception of psychiatric entities must be considered out of date if pathogenetic and causal analysis of mental disease is to be established.

PROTEIN-BOUND IODINE IN INFANTS FROM BIRTH TO ONE YEAR OF AGE

Statistical comparisons indicate that within 12 hours of birth the serum protein-bound iodine of the infant is of the same order of magnitude, on the average, as that present in maternal blood during pregnancy or within a few hours of delivery. During the remainder of the first week of life there occurs a transient statistically significant increase in the mean value of this iodine fraction. During the sixth to twelfth week the concentrations fall below those present neonatally, but at this time or at any subsequent age up to 1 year, they are still on the average above those encountered in euthyroid nonpregnant adults or in older children. The possible relationship of these higher mean values in infancy to increased thyroid function in the rapidly growing infant have been mentioned with emphasis on the elevated concentration of circulating thyroxin.

THE GOITER HEART

While it is generally believed that cardiac disturbances in patients with goiter are caused by hyperthyroidism, attention has been called recently to heart disease in goitrous patients who do not present symptoms of increased thyroid function. Davison1designated this condition as masked hyperthyroidism. He assumed that adenomas are for years spilling over into the circulation toxic products which, though not sufficient to produce an increase of the basal metabolic rate at any time, cause low grade toxemia which ultimately produces heart disease. Hertzler,2on the other hand, denied that cardiac disturbances in patients with long-standing goiter are due to hyperthyroidism and expressed the belief that the colloid in old goiters degenerates and forms a substance which when resorbed acts specifically on the heart muscle. He found that this degenerated colloid stains orange with Mallory's aniline blue method in contrast to the blue-stained colloid in exophthalmic goiter. Schmidt3