Indices Of Thyroid Function Research Articles

Embryo morphologic quality in relation to the metabolic and cognitive development of singletons conceived by in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a matched cohort study

Embryos with higher morphologic quality grading may have a greater potential to achieve clinical pregnancy that leads to a live birth regardless of the type of cleavage-stage embryos or blastocysts. Few studies have investigated the impacts of embryo grading on the long-term health of the offspring. This pilot study aimed to examine the associations between embryo morphologic quality and the physical, metabolic, and cognitive development of singletons conceived by invitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection at preschool age. This matched cohort study included singletons born to infertile couples who underwent fresh cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles with good- or poor-quality embryos from 2014 to 2016 at the reproductive center of the Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. A total of 144 children, aged 4 to 6 years, participated in the follow-up assessment from 2020 to 2021, and the response rate of poor-quality embryo offspring was 39%. Singletons in the good-quality embryo group were matched with singletons in the poor-quality embryo group at a 2:1 ratio according to the fertilization method and the children's age (±1 year). We measured the offspring's height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, thyroid hormone levels, and metabolic indicators. Neurodevelopmental assessments were performed using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition, and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition. We also collected data from the medical records. A linear regression model was used to analyze the association between embryo morphologic quality and offspring health outcomes. A total of 48 singletons conceived with poor-quality embryo transfer and 96 matched singletons conceived with good-quality embryo transfer were included in the final analysis. Age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, thyroid function, and metabolic indicators were comparable between the 2 groups. After adjustment for potential risk factors by linear regression model 1 and model 2, poor-quality embryo offspring exhibited a tendency toward higher free thyroxine levels than offspring of good-quality embryo transfers (beta, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.90; beta, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.91, respectively), but this difference was not clinically significant. Regarding neurodevelopmental assessments, there was no difference in the full-scale intelligence quotient based on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (109.96±12.42 vs 109.60±14.46; P=.88) or the general adaptive index based on the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (108.26±11.70 vs 108.08±13.44; P=.94) between the 2 groups. The subindices of the 2 tests were also comparable. These findings remained after linear regression analysis. At 4 to 6 years of age, singletons born from poor-quality embryo transfers have comparable metabolic and cognitive development as those born from good-quality embryo transfers using fresh cleavage-stage embryos. The results of this pilot study indicate that poor-quality embryos that can survive implantation and end in live birth are likely to have a developmental potential comparable to that of good-quality embryos.

Association of maternal thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity with adverse birth outcomes.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between thyroid function and autoimmunity and adverse birth outcomes. Serum levels of thyroid function were detected by electrochemiluminescence assay. Urine iodine concentration was detected using the acid digestion method. We used multiple linear regression to assess the correlation between thyroid function indicators and birth weight according to trimester stratification and binary logistic regression to evaluate the correlation between thyroid dysfunction and adverse birth outcomes. Reference ranges for trimester-specific thyroid hormones were established in our 2564 pregnant women cohort with mild iodine deficiency. The higher the maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone in the first trimester (B = 0.09, P = 0.048) and total triiodothyronine (TT3) in the third trimester (B = 0.16, P < 0.001) of TPOAbnegative women, the higher the birth weight Z-score, whereas in the second trimester, free-thyroxine of mothers with TPOAb negative was lower (B = −0.10, P = 0.026) and the birth weight Z-score was higher. Pregnant women with overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism had a higher risk of preterm births than euthyroid women (11.9% vs 4.5%; odds ratio (OR): 2.84; P = 0.009). Women with higher TT3 had a higher risk of preterm (17.0% vs 4.5%; OR: 4.19; P < 0.001) and LGA (34.0% vs 11.1%; OR: 3.70; P < 0.001) births than euthyroid women. In conclusion, thyroid function during pregnancy could affect birth weight and birth outcome.

Increased Central and Peripheral Thyroid Resistance Indices During the First Half of Gestation Were Associated With Lowered Risk of Gestational Diabetes—Analyses Based on Huizhou Birth Cohort in South China

ObjectivesThe study aimed to explore the relationship of thyroid function and resistance indices with subsequent risk of gestational diabetes (GDM).DesignThis was a longitudinal study embedded in the Huizhou Birth Cohort.MethodsA total of 2,927 women of singleton pregnancy were recruited from January to October of 2019. Thyroid central resistance indices were evaluated by Thyroid Feedback Quartile-Based index (TFQI), Thyrotrophy T4 Resistance Index (TT4RI), and TSH Index (TSHI) based on plasma-free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels during the first half of pregnancy. Thyroid peripheral sensitivity was assessed by free triiodothyronine (FT3) to FT4 ratio (FT3/FT4), a proxy of deiodinase activity. GDM was diagnosed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation by a standardized 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Multivariable linear and logistic regression was applied to examine the associations of thyroid markers with GDM risk.ResultsFT3 and FT3/FT4 were positively associated with both fasting and post-load glucose levels, while TSH, TSHI, TT4RI, and TFQI were negatively associated with 1 and 2 h post-load glucose levels. Compared with the lowest quartile, GDM risk in the highest quartile increased by 44% [odds ratio (OR) = 1.44; 95%CI, 1.08–1.92; ptrend = 0.027] for FT3 and 81% (OR = 1.81; 95%CI, 1.33–2.46; ptrend < 0.001) for FT3/FT4, while it lowered by 37% (OR = 0.63; 95%CI, 0.47–0.86; ptrend = 0.002] for TSHI, 28% for TT4RI (OR = 0.72; 95%CI, 0.54–0.97; ptrend = 0.06), and 37% for TFQI (OR = 0.63; 95%CI, 0.46–0.85; ptrend < 0.001).ConclusionsThis longitudinal study indicated that higher FT3 and FT3/FT4 and lower central thyroid resistance indices were associated with increased risk of GDM.

Iodine in household cooking salt no longer plays a crucial role in iodine status of residents in Tianjin, China.

The contribution of household cooking salt to population iodine status is decreasing in China, the applicability of the coverage rate of iodized salt (IS), proportion of adequately iodized salt (AIS), and salt iodine concentration (SIC) of household cooking salt used for iodine status assessment of residents requires further investigation. Through the IDD control project, 16,445 children and 4848 pregnant women were recruited from Tianjin, China and the relationship between the coverage rate of IS, proportion of AIS, SIC, and population iodine status was analyzed. Additionally, through the thyroid health survey project, 856 children with IS or noniodized salt were recruited. The effects of different household cooking salts on individual iodine status and thyroid health were analyzed. After adjusting for confounding factors, no relationship was found between the coverage rate of IS, proportion of AIS, SIC of household cooking salt, and iodine status of children and pregnant women (all P > 0.05). No differences in levels of thyroid function and structural indicators were found in children with different household cooking salts (all P > 0.05). Additionally, no relationship was found between noniodized salt exposure and goiter, overt hyperthyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, antibody single positivity, or subclinical hypothyroidism (all P > 0.05). Iodine in household cooking salt no longer plays a crucial role in iodine status in Tianjin, China. Other indicators must be identified as beneficial supplements for precise iodine status evaluation not only in Tianjin but also in other large cities in China.

Association between serum levels of TSH and free T4 and per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds concentrations in pregnant women

Many per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFASs) may disrupt maternal thyroid hormone homeostasis in pregnancy. Concerns should be raised regarding the PFASs exposure in pregnant women because thyroid hormones are involved in the early development of the fetus. In this study, we measured the concentrations of 13 PFASs, including five novel short-chain PFASs, in serum from 123 pregnant women in Beijing, China. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) or free thyroxine (FT4) levels and PFASs concentrations under consideration of the impacts of pregnancy-induced physiological factors. We found that perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) (β=0.189, 95%CI=-0.039, 0.417, p=0.10) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (β=-0.554, 95%CI=-1.16, 0.049, p=0.071) were suggestive of significant association with TSH in thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) negative women. No association was observed between all PFASs and FT4 levels after controlling for these confounding factors, such as BMI, gestational weight gain and maternal age. These findings suggest that it should pay more attention to the association between thyroid hormone levels and short-chain PFASs concentrations. Future studies could consider a greater sample and the inclusion of other clinical indicators of thyroid function, such as free T3 and total T3.

Determination of Serum Thyroglobulin Concentration in Simple Diffuse Goiter Patients with Known Iodine Status

Background: Thyroglobulin (TG) seems to be a valuable indicator of thyroid function and iodine nutrition status. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to observe the relationship between serum thyroglobulin and urinary iodine (UI) in simple diffuse goiter patients.Methods:This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study duration was 2 years, starting from May 2014 to March 2016. Total 87 patients with simple diffuse goiter attending the OPD Department of Endocrinology of BSMMU had been recruited as study population. A purposive sampling technique was followed for sample selection.Results:Serum thyroglobulin (ng/mL, mean±SD and median) was lowest in the age group 12-16 years (6.0±4.5, 5.16 ng/mL) followed by age&gt;31 years (8.8±8.1, 6.16 ng/mL), whereas other age groups showed level around 13.0 and 10.0 ng/mL (p= 0.520). Mean (±SD) Urinary Iodine was not statistically different among age groups (347.4± 226.5 vs. 337.08±188.9 vs. 300.5± 95.37 vs. 337.7± 225.42 vs. 278.3± 105.7, µg/L; F 0.451, p=0.771) while median values were 325.26 vs. 355.68 vs. 325.80 vs. 338.86 and 300.90 µg/L respectively. Neither thyroglobulin (5.76±5.72 vs. 11.60± 13.50; 3.47 vs. 8.9 ng/mL, m±SD and median; p=0.294) nor Urinary Iodine (373.5± 44.5 vs. 317.2± 180.32; 378.1 vs. 308.9 µg/L, m±SD and median; p=0.450) were statistically different between the gender groups. Similarly, thyroglobulin and Urinary Iodine were also statistically similar for grade-1 and grade-2 goiter (thyroglobulin: 6.79±4.33 vs. 11.67±13.69 and 6.74 vs. 8.02 ng/mL, m±SD and median, p=0.319; Urinary Iodine: 361.33± 51.60 vs. 317.09± 182.44, 362.69 vs. 305.35 µg/L, m±SD and median, p=0.498).Conclusion:Thyroglobulin seems to have an inverse association in iodine deficiency state and positive association in over sufficient state with UI. There was no statistically significant difference of TG concentration between males and females nor between Grade-1 and Grade-2 goiter.

The risk of perchlorate and iodine on the incidence of thyroid tumors and nodular goiter: a case-control study in southeastern China

BackgroundThe incidence rates of thyroid tumors and nodular goiter show an upward trend worldwide. There are limited reports on the risk of perchlorate and iodine on thyroid tumors, but evidence from population studies is scarce, and their impact on thyroid function is still uncertain. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the association of perchlorate and iodine with the risk of nodular goiter (NG), papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to assess the correlation between perchlorate and iodine with thyroid function indicators.MethodsA case–control population consisting of 184 pairs of thyroid tumors and nodular goiter matched by gender and age (±2 years) was recruited in this study. Serum and urine samples were collected from each participant. Thyroid function indicators in serum were tested by automatic chemical immunofluorescence, and perchlorate and iodine levels in urine were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, respectively. Conditional logistic regressions and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the associations.ResultsUrinary perchlorate concentration was significantly higher in total cases, NG and PTC than in the corresponding controls (P < 0.05). Perchlorate was positively associated with PTC (OR = 1.058, 95% CI: 1.009, 1.110) in a non-linear dose–response relationship, but there was no association between perchlorate and NG or PTMC. Iodine was not associated with the risk of thyroid tumors and NG and did not correlate with the thyroid function indicators. Furthermore, perchlorate showed a positive correlation with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) at iodine adequate levels (P < 0.05), and a negative correlation with free triiodothyronine (FT3) and a positive correlation with thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) at iodine more than adequate or excess levels (P < 0.05).ConclusionsPerchlorate can increase the risk of PTC in a non-linear dose–response relationship and disturb the thyroid hormone homeostasis and thyroid autoantibody levels.

Characteristics Scanning of Brain Structure and Function Changes in Patients with Different Degrees of Alzheimer's Disease.

Through the case control study on structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) scanning, MR spectrum (MRS), and neuropsychological assessment of the intracranial structures of Alzheimer's disease (AD), patients of different degrees (early, middle, and late), the early clinical features, imaging features, and neuropsychological characteristics of patients with AD were analyzed to provide help for the early diagnosis of AD. The data of MR scanning of the brain, bilateral MRS scan of the hippocampus, thyroid function and other laboratory indicators, and neuropsychological evaluation analysis were collected in 50 patients who had been diagnosed with AD. According to CDR, 50 patients were divided into the early AD group and the middle and advanced AD group, with 23 patients in the early AD group and 27 patients in the middle and advanced AD group. Retrospective study was conducted to analyze the general conditions, medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) grading, and the metabolic changes of bilateral MRS in the hippocampus of patients in both groups, so did the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), activities of daily living scale (ADL), and other neuropsychological assessment results. Moreover, the comparative analysis was carried out. The results showed that the MTA grade of medial temporal atrophy increased with the progressive severity of the disease in both groups. A statistical test was conducted on the reduction of hippocampal volume in the two groups, and the P was less than 0.05. Therefore, the MTA scale was of great value in the diagnosis and staging of early AD. However, when the diagnosis of early AD was treated by MTA visual evaluation alone, there was 23.8% false negative diagnosis. If the judgment of early AD only depended on the metabolic changes of hippocampus MRS or MR scanning of intracranial structures, it was likely to cause false negative diagnosis. Therefore, the combination of MRS analysis and MR scanning of intracranial structures was favorable for the early diagnosis and treatment of AD. Combined with neuropsychological assessment, AD patients were staged more effectively, which greatly improved the accuracy of AD diagnosis in the early stage.

Comparison of thyroid function in different emotional states of drug-na\xefve patients with bipolar disorder

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that bipolar disorder is closely related to thyroid dysfunction. Psychiatric drugs have a large or small effect on thyroid function, and thyroid hormone levels can also affect the effect of drug treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is assessment the thyroid function of drug-naive bipolar disorder across different mood states, with the expectation of providing support for treatment options.MethodsThe present study is a cross-sectional study. Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases diagnostic Criteria, Edition 10 (ICD 10) and who had never received medication were included in the study. The Montgomery Depression Scale (MADRS) was used to assess depressive symptoms and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) for manic symptoms. Thyroid function indicators include thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and total thyroxine (TT4). Levels of TSH, TT4, FT4, TT3, and FT3 were measured within 48 h of hospitalization, between 06:00 and 08:00.ResultsThe data analysis finally covered the data of 291 subjects (136 in a bipolar manic group, 128 in a bipolar depressive group, and 27 in a bipolar mixed group), including 140 males and 151 females, with an average age of 27.38 ± 8.01. There was no significant difference in age, sex, marital status, work status, family history, and course of illness among the manic group, depressive group, and mixed group. The level of FT3, the rate of thyroid hormone increased secretion, and the total abnormality rate of thyroid hormone secretion in the manic group were significantly higher than those in the depressive group.ConclusionThese findings indicate that thyroid functions were significantly different between depressive and manic episodes in BD patients. In clinical practice, it is necessary to take into account the differences in thyroid hormone levels in patients with BD across different emotional states in choosing drug.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of patients with hyperthyroidism combined with liver injury

Objective: To analyze, explore and evaluate the clinical characteristics, abnormal thyroid function and follow-up of anti-hyperthyroidism treatment mode in patients with hyperthyroidism (commonly abbreviated as HT) combined with liver injury. Methods: The clinical data of patients with hyperthyroidism combined with liver injury were retrospectively analyzed, and then patients were divided into treated and untreated group according to whether they received anti-hyperthyroidism treatment before the consultation. Patients' thyroid and liver function test indicators at the time of treatment were analyzed to determine the main cause of liver injury. The characteristics of liver injury were analyzed in the treatment group. Patients with severe thyroid toxicity and hyperthyroidism combined with liver injury were followed-up with anti-hyperthyroid therapy, mainly low-dose methimazole (MMI) and radioactive iodine therapy to evaluate its efficacy and safety. The comparison between data groups was performed by t-test, rank sum test and χ( 2) test. Results: Among the 43 cases with hyperthyroidism combined with liver injury, 19 were males and 24 were females, aged 49.0 ± 14.6 years-old; 16 cases (16/43, 37.21%) aged 40 to≤60 years- old, and 15 cases (15/43, 34.88%) aged > 60 years-old. There were 22 untreated cases (untreated group, accounting for 51.16%), and 21 treated cases with anti-hyperthyroidism (treatment group, accounting for 48.84%) at the time of consultation. Thyroid function indicators (FT3, FT4, TSH) and liver function indicators (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, total bilirubin) of the two groups were compared, and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The order of liver injury from mild to severe in patients with different treatment options were: methimazole (MMI) < propylthiouracil < radioactive iodine <traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Low-dose MMI was safe and effective in patients with different degrees of liver injury with anti-hyperthyroidism treatment. Conclusion: The incidence of hyperthyroidism combined with liver injury is age-related, mainly due to thyroid toxicity. Low-dose MMI is safe and effective in patients with different degrees of liver injury with anti-hyperthyroidism treatment.

Thyroid function and survival outcomes in women with uterine cancer

Objectives: Loss of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression has historically been associated with poor survival outcomes in women with uterine cancer, but the role of the remaining 46 nuclear hormone receptors remains unclear. Recently, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas demonstrated a novel association between loss of thyroid hormone receptor beta expression and increased survival in uterine cancer patients.1 The purpose of this study was to explore the association between clinical indices of thyroid function and survival outcomes in women diagnosed with uterine cancer. 1. Pique, D.G., Greally, J.M. & Mar, J.C. Identification of a novel subgroup of endometrial cancer patients with loss of thyroid hormone receptor beta expression and improved survival. BMC Cancer 20:857 (2020). Methods: A single-institution retrospective cohort study was performed examining all women diagnosed with uterine cancer from 2006-2016. Data regarding patient demographics, medical co-morbidities, histology, stage and treatment course were abstracted from the medical record. Historical records and thyroid function studies (TSH, T3, free T4) were used to identify patients who were euthyroid, hypothyroid, or hyperthyroid within 1 year prior to their cancer diagnosis until the end of the follow-up period. The primary outcome was time to death from cancer diagnosis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the association between thyroid dysfunction and survival by using thyroid status as a time-dependent covariate and adjusting for age, grade and stage of disease. Download : Download high-res image (177KB) Download : Download full-size image Results: A total of 1201 patients were included for analysis. One thousand thirty (86%) patients had no thyroid dysfunction at time of cancer diagnosis, 145 patients (12%) carried the baseline diagnosis of hypothyroidism and 26 patients (2%) had hyperthyroidism. Twenty three women with normal thyroid function at baseline developed thyroid dysfunction during follow-up (91% hypothyroid, 9% hyperthyroid). A total of 218 deaths were observed. There were no differences in survival among patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism compared to euthyroid patients [HR 0.72 (95% CI 0.47-1.12, p=0.15); HR 0.51 (95% CI 0.16-1.58, p=0.24) respectively]. Women diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction prior to cancer diagnosis were observed to have a 30% lower hazard of death compared to euthyroid women, although this did not achieve statistical significance [HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.46-1.07, p=0.10)]. Patients who developed thyroid dysfunction after cancer diagnosis were observed to have a 3.7 fold higher hazard of death compared to patients who remained euthyroid during followup [HR 3.70 (95% CI 1.60-8.30), p=0.01], but this did not maintain significance in models adjusting for age, grade and stage of disease. Conclusions: Thyroid dysfunction was not associated with a difference in survival in women with uterine cancer in our cohort. Timing of thyroid dysfunction relative to uterine cancer diagnosis may affect clinical outcomes. Additional studies are needed to explore the relationship of thyroid dysfunction and uterine cancer.

Association between Thyroid Function and Erythrocyte Indices in General Population from the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The purpose of the current investigation is to evaluate the relationship between erythrocyte indices and thyroid function in a general population from the southern region of Saudi Arabia. In a cross-sectional study conducted on 3,007 subjects examined associations among erythrocyte indices, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and free thyroxine. The average age of the population was 48.40±0.261 years, ranging from 13 years to 90 years, and the most represented age group was &lt;50 years. Thyroid dysfunction was observed in 8.41% of the study population, and the most common thyroid dysfunction was subclinical hypothyroidism followed by clinical hyperthyroidism. Most erythrocyte indices were significantly lower in the hypothyroidism group (both primary and subclinical) in comparison to the euthyroid group stratified by gender. According to our investigation, microcytic hypochromic anemia and normocytic normochromic anemia were detected in patients with hypothyroidism. Furthermore, females with subclinical hypothyroidism had a significantly higher prevalence of anemia than male population.

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and thyroid function in euthyroid adults: The Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2015.

ObjectivesLow-normal thyroid function is associated with numerous metabolic risk factors including insulin resistance (IR). Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a new surrogate marker of IR calculated by fasting triglyceride and glucose levels. Here, we investigated the association between thyroid function and TyG index in non-diabetic euthyroid adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was based on data from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2015 including 1482 individuals (741 men and 741 women). Serum thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were measured.ResultsAfter adjusting for confounders, there was an inverse relationship of TyG index with fT4 in men (β = –0.094, P = 0.009) and a positive relationship of TyG index with TSH in women (β = 0.078, P = 0.018). The lowest fT4 tertile in men (P = 0.001) and the highest TSH tertile in women (P = 0.010) exhibited increased TyG index after adjusting for confounders. The lowest fT4 tertile also showed increased homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) only in men (P = 0.006). Odds ratios (ORs) for the high TyG index, which was defined as the highest TyG quartile decreased in the highest and second highest tertile of fT4 in men (OR = 0.41 and OR = 0.45, respectively; P < 0.001) and increased in highest tertile of TSH in women (OR = 1.81, P = 0.031) after adjusting for confounders. The OR for high HOMA-IR defined as the highest HOMA-IR quartile was also lower in the highest and second highest fT4 tertiles in men (both OR = 0.47; P = 0.003).ConclusionsThis is the first study to suggest that TyG index is a good surrogate marker of IR in evaluating its relationship with thyroid function.

Changes in thyroid antibody and T lymphocyte subsets after radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.

The aim was to study the changes in thyroid antibody and T lymphocyte subsets after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of thyroid nodules in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Patients (n = 135) with autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid nodules were treated by RFA. The indices of thyroid function and thyroid antibody and T lymphocyte subsets were examined preoperation and on the 1st day and the 1st month after ablation. Any complications were recorded. The software SPSS 17.0.0 (version: 2008-8-23) running under Windows 8 was used for statistical analysis. The measurement data were expressed as x ± s, with P < 0.01 indicating a significant difference in the statistical data. Levels of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were in the normal range before ablation, and no significant changes occurred on the 1st day or in the 1st month after ablation. The change in the percentage of CD8+T cells and the absolute value of B cells were not statistically significant (P > 0.01), and the values were in the normal range. Compared with values recorded preoperation, the value of TG-Ab, TPO-Ab, CD4+/CD8+, the percentage of CD4+T cells, the absolute values of lymphocytes, T cells, CD4+T cells, and CD8+T cells decreased significantly at the 1st day after ablation (P < 0.01) and then recovered to preoperative levels during the first 30 days after ablation (P > 0.01). Within 1 month after ablation, none of the patients had complications such as active bleeding, infection, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, parathyroid gland injury, skin scald, and so on. After RFA of thyroid nodules in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroid function is not affected and no serious complications occurred. TG-Ab and TPO-Ab levels can be significantly decreased, and the distribution of T lymphocyte subsets can be changed in the short term after ablation.

Positive effects of selenium supplementation in women with newly diagnosed Hashimoto's thyroiditis in an area with low selenium status.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, are the most common ones among autoimmune diseases. The reported effects of selenium supplementation on the course of Hashimoto's thyroiditis are not consistent. It is therefore important to continue this line of research. The participants received selenium in the form of sodium selenite(IV) at a dose of 100µg/day for 6months. Newly diagnosed and previously untreated Hashimoto's thyroiditis with euthyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism. A total of 36 patients (aged 20 to 52years) qualified for this study, of whom 29 women were successfully enrolled and completed the intervention. Both before and after supplementation the following parameters in serum were tested: anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyroid function indicators, selenium as well as antioxidant status parameters and other biochemical parameters (lipid profile, glucose). Iodine supply and subjective assessment of physical and psychological health were also monitored. Selenium supplementation decreased significantly level of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies what might have had a stabilizing effect on thyroid function, as values of thyroid parameters were within normal range before and at the end of the study. Mean level of selenium among patients was not different to healthy people in Poland. Median of ioduria was within normal range. The study shows a potential way of protective effect of selenium in limiting development of overt hypothyroidism. The increase in the concentrations of Se and SELENOP in the serum of patients verifies successful supplementation and good compliance, but did not affect the antioxidant status parameters measured.

Associations of serum phthalate metabolites with thyroid hormones in GraMo cohort, Southern Spain

The general population is continuously exposed to phthalates via various consumer products. Epidemiological research relating phthalate exposure to thyroid function during non-developmental periods is limited. This study aimed to investigate the associations between specific serum phthalate metabolites and indicators of thyroid function in adults. We measured 10 serum phthalate metabolites and thyroid hormones – total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) – in a subsample of 207 adults from the GraMo cohort. This subsample was made up of men and women (in equal proportions) of middle age (49 ± 17 years) and from Southern Spain (province of Granada). Data on age, sex, body mass index, residence area, tobacco use, alcohol consumption and attained education were obtained from a questionnaire. Phthalate metabolites were log-transformed and categorized into tertiles. Cross-sectional associations of each metabolite with thyroid hormones were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted linear regression models. The mixture effect of metabolite phthalates was assessed using weighted quantile sum regression. After multivariable-adjustment, the following phthalate metabolites were significantly associated with TT3 in a dose-response manner: MMP (β = 0.90: 95% confidence interval 0.68,1.12), MEP (β = 0.67: 0.44, 0.90), MiBP (β = 0.49: 0.21, 0.77), MiDP (β = 0.27: 0.03, 0.52), MBzP (β = 0.51: 0.28, 0.73), MEHP (β = −0.59: −0.82, −0.35) and MiNP (β = -0.43: −0.71, −0.14), when comparing highest vs. lowest exposed. The sum of all metabolites was also linked to FT4 levels. No significant associations were observed for TSH except for MiNP. Although phthalate metabolites with different molecular weight showed opposite associations, overall metabolite concentrations seem to associate with increased TT3 and FT4 serum levels. The cross-sectional nature of this analysis limits causal inference.

Distribution of Myeloid and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood of Hyperprolactinemic Women

Dendritic cells (DCs) play key roles in regulating the immune response using the specialized function of processing and presenting antigens. Prolactin (PRL), a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, participates in DC maturation and function. The present study was aimed to determine the frequencies of peripheral blood DC subpopulations of myeloid DC (MDC) and plasmacytoid DC (PDC) in hyperprolactinemic (HPRL) women compared to normal healthy volunteers. This study was conducted on 70 women, including 35 HPRL patients and 35 matched healthy controls, whose PRL serum levels were in the normal range (lower than 25 ng/mL). Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured in both groups as an indicator of normal thyroid function. The electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method was applied to measure the serum levels of TSH and PRL. The frequencies of MDC and PDC in the peripheral blood samples of both groups were determined by flow cytometry. The mean serum PRL levels in the HPRL patients and healthy individuals were 46.41±21.96 and 13.75±11.19, respectively (p<0.0001); however TSH levels in both groups were similar and within the normal range (0.4-4.5 mIU/mL) (p=0.2). The frequencies of both MDC and PDC subpopulations in the peripheral blood of HPRL patients were significantly lower than they were in the healthy controls. However, the ratio of MDCs/PDCs in HPRL patients was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.8). Our study revealed that an increased level of serum PRL may lead to a reduction in the number of MDC and PDC subpopulations. These results could help clarify the complex relationship between the immune system and the neuroendocrine axis and may be of potential use in understanding the pathogenesis of endocrine and immune disorders.

Changes in bone mineral density, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and inflammatory factors in patients with hyperthyroidism.

The present study aimed to evaluate changes in bone mineral density, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH)D3] and inflammatory factors in patients with hyperthyroidism, in order to determine the correlations with the pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism. A total of 55 patients with hyperthyroidism (observation group) and 53 healthy patients (control group) enrolled at Weifang People's Hospital from March 2017 to February 2018 were randomly enrolled. The thyroid function, bone mineral density, 25-(OH)D3 and inflammatory factors were measured and compared between the two groups. The measurement data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and Student t-test was performed for the comparison between two groups. Chi-square test was used for enumeration data regarding sex. Pearson correlation analysis was performed for two-variable analysis on L1, 25-(OH)D3, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6 with FT3, respectively. In regards to the results, no difference in sex, age and body mass index (BMI) between the two groups were found but the thyroid function was markedly enhanced in the observation group compared to the control group. Bone mineral density index and 25-(OH)D3 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the inflammatory factors between the two groups (P<0.05). The L1, 25-(OH)D3 and IL-2 levels were significantly negatively correlated with thyroid function index and free triiodothyronine (FT3) while a statistically positive correlation was found between IL-6 and FT3 (P<0.05). In conclusion, abnormal levels of bone mineral density, 25-(OH)D3 and inflammatory factors are observed in patients with hyperthyroidism, and there are correlations between L1, 25-(OH)D3, IL-2, IL-6 and FT3 in the pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism, which provides new insight for the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.

Disrupted Topological Organization of the Brain Structural Network in Patients With Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy.

PurposeIncreasing evidence indicated that thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) might be a neural related disease more than an ocular disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the alterations of structural brain connectome in patients with TAO.MethodsTwenty-seven patients with TAO and 27 well-matched healthy controls underwent diffusion tensor imaging. Graph theoretical analyses, including global (shortest path length, clustering coefficient, small-worldness, global efficiency, and local efficiency) and nodal (nodal betweenness, nodal degree, and nodal efficiency) topological properties and network-based statistics were performed to evaluate TAO-related changes in brain network pattern. Correlations were assessed between the network properties and clinical variables, including disease duration, visual acuity, neuropsychiatric measurements, and serum thyroid function indexes.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, patients with TAO exhibited preserved global network parameters but altered nodal properties. We found decreased nodal betweenness and nodal degree in right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri, decreased nodal degree and nodal efficiency in the right orbital part of middle frontal gyrus (ORBmid), whereas increased nodal degree and nodal efficiency in the left cuneus. Decrease of structural connectivity strength was found involving the right ORBmid, right putamen, left caudate nucleus, and left medial superior frontal gyrus. Significant correlations were also found between nodal properties and neuropsychological performances as well as visual acuity.ConclusionsPatients with TAO developed disruption of structural brain network connectome. Disrupted topological organization of the brain structural network may be associated with the clinical-psychiatric dysfunction of patients with TAO.

Prediction of ipsilateral lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a combined dual-energy CT and thyroid function indicators study

BackgroundPredicting the possibility of ipsilateral lateral cervical lymph node metastasis (ipsi-LLNM) was crucial to the operation plan for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This study aimed to investigate the independent risk factors for ipsi-LLNM in PTC patients by combining dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) with thyroid function indicators.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 406 patients with a pathological diagnosis of PTC from Jan 2016 to Dec 2019. Ensure the DECT images were clear and the thyroid function indicators were complete. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses explored the independent risk factors for ipsi-LLNM. To evaluate the cutoff value of each risk factor by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.ResultsA total of 406 patients with PTC were analyzed, including 128 with ipsi-LLNM and 278 without ipsi-LLNM. There were statistical differences of parameters between the two groups (P < .0001), including serum Tg, Anti-Tg, Anti-TPO, the volume of the primary lesion, calcification, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), and iodine concentration (IC) in the arterial and the venous phases. Independent risk factors for ipsi-LLNM included serum Tg, Anti-Tg, ETE, and IC in the arterial and the venous phases (P < .05). The combined application of the above independent risk factors can predict the possibility of ipsi-LLNM, with an AUC of 0.834. Ipsi-LLNM was more likely to occur when the following conditions were met: with ETE, Tg > 100.01 ng/mL, Anti-Tg > 89.43 IU/mL, IC in arterial phase > 3.4 mg/mL and IC in venous phase > 3.1 mg/mL.ConclusionsThe combined application of DECT quantitative parameters and thyroid function indicators can help clinicians accurately predict ipsi-LLNM before surgery, thereby assisting the individualized formulation of surgical procedures.