Thyroid Vein Research Articles

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS TREATED BY EXCISION OF THYMIC TUMOR

Since Weigert's1discovery of a thymic tumor in a patient who had died of myasthenia gravis, much speculation has arisen concerning the role of the thymus in this curious disease. Postmortem studies disclosed tumors, hyperplasia or enlargement of the thymus in approximately 50 per cent of the cases collected by Norris.2It appears likely that this high incidence of pathologic changes in the thymus is more than coincidental. There are few instances in the literature of successful removal of thymic tumor for myasthenia gravis. Sauerbruch, as cited by others,3excised a tumor in 3 cases. Two of his patients died of mediastinitis shortly after operation; the third case is of particular interest here. A woman aged 20 had pronounced myasthenia gravis and hyperthyroidism. After ten weeks' rest in the hospital her condition remained unchanged. Ligation of the right superior thyroid artery and vein failed to lessen the

THYROID HORMONE IN BLOOD AND TISSUES IN RELATION TO BASAL METABOLIC RATE11

THE STUDY of thyroid hormone was begun 10 years ago (1) and in collaboration with J. W. Cavett it was observed that thyroglobulin was purified by re peated solution and reprecipitation (2). The results of this paper together with the second of the series (3) tended to show that thyroxin is built up within the thyroglobulin molecule, since the number of molecules of tyrosineèdiiodotyrosineèthy roxin was constant within experimental error while the thyroxin content was increasing from 0.005 t 0 0.35%. (Schmidt, (4), expressed the same view of the formation of other proteins.) The senior author took these thyroglobulins to Svedberg's laboratory and found them to be polydisperse in comparison with thyroglobulin forced out of living thyroid glands by centrifugal force (5). Hektoen, Carlson and Schulhof by precipitation reaction found thyroglobulin in the blood of the thyroid vein but not in other locations in dogs not fed thyroid (6).

The Precipitin Reaction of Thyroglobulin

The Precipitin Reaction of Thyroglobulin

Thrombosis of the superior thyroid vein from a cervical abscess, between larynx and thyroid. Diagnosis made at autopsy

Thrombosis of the superior thyroid vein from a cervical abscess, between larynx and thyroid. Diagnosis made at autopsy

The variations of the inferior thyroid vein of the domestic cat

The variations of the inferior thyroid vein of the domestic cat

The effect of anemia and of double hyperemia on hyperplastic goitre

In a dog showing a bilaterally symmetrical hyperplastic goitre, Dog 16, the following vascular changes were made: 1. Ligation of the internal jugular vein below the mouth of the inferior thyroid vein and above the superior thyroid vein (passive hyperemia). 2. Section of the internal jugular vein below the origin of inferior thyroid vein and anastomosis of the distal end to the central end of the left common carotid artery. Results. — Clinically, on the left side (anemic), no marked change was observed. On the right side (hyperemic), a great temporary swelling followed by a marked decrease in size of the right lobe occurred. Seven months later the left lobe measured 8 by 4.5 by 3 centimeters, and the right lobe measured 5 by 2.5 by 2 centimeters.

The survival of engrafted thyroid and renal tissue

THYROID.One lobe of the thyroid of a dog was removed and replaced with reversal of the circulation, i. e., the central end of the superior thyroid artery was anastomosed to the peripheral end of the superior thyroid vein, and the central end of the vein was anastomosed to the peripheral end of the artery.After a lapse of more than two years the lobes of the gland were compared and specimens were taken and examined microscopically.Results. — The unoperated lobe in size was somewhat hyper-normal (perhaps compensatory hypertrophy) and microscopically showed hyperplasia. The operated (auto-engrafted) lobe in size was hyponormal. Structurally, it was markedly fibrous; but it was found to contain cellular elements which appeared normal and normally staining colloid, the arrangements and proportions being abnormal.