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American Family Physician Mar 2016Hyperthyroidism is an excessive concentration of thyroid hormones in tissues caused by increased synthesis of thyroid hormones, excessive release of preformed thyroid... (Review)
Review
Hyperthyroidism is an excessive concentration of thyroid hormones in tissues caused by increased synthesis of thyroid hormones, excessive release of preformed thyroid hormones, or an endogenous or exogenous extrathyroidal source. The most common causes of an excessive production of thyroid hormones are Graves disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma. The most common cause of an excessive passive release of thyroid hormones is painless (silent) thyroiditis, although its clinical presentation is the same as with other causes. Hyperthyroidism caused by overproduction of thyroid hormones can be treated with antithyroid medications (methimazole and propylthiouracil), radioactive iodine ablation of the thyroid gland, or surgical thyroidectomy. Radioactive iodine ablation is the most widely used treatment in the United States. The choice of treatment depends on the underlying diagnosis, the presence of contraindications to a particular treatment modality, the severity of hyperthyroidism, and the patient's preference.
Topics: Antithyroid Agents; Diagnostic Imaging; Disease Management; Humans; Hyperthyroidism; Thyroid Gland; Thyroidectomy
PubMed: 26926973
DOI: No ID Found -
Physiological Research Sep 2020Iodine is essential in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones that affect metabolic processes in the organism from the prenatal state to the elderly. The immediate... (Review)
Review
Iodine is essential in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones that affect metabolic processes in the organism from the prenatal state to the elderly. The immediate indicator of iodine intake is the concentration of iodine in urine, but the indicator of iodine intake in the longer term of several months is thyroglobulin (Tg). Tg negatively correlated with increasing intake of iodine in population that do not suffer from thyroid disease, while a more than adequate to excessive iodine intake leads to an increase in Tg. The dependence of Tg on iodine can be described by a U-shaped curve. Thyroglobulin in serum is elevated in thyroid disease mainly in hyperthyroidism (diagnosis E05 of WHO ICD-10 codes) and in goiter (diagnosis E04 of WHO ICD-10 codes). Tg values decrease below 20 microg/l after effective treatment of patients with thyroid disease. Thyroglobulin may thus be an indicator of thyroid stabilization and the success of the thyroid gland treatment.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Iodine; Thyroglobulin; Thyroid Diseases; Thyroid Gland
PubMed: 33094621
DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934514 -
Journal of Radiation Research Apr 2018The thyroid gland is vulnerable not only to external radiation but also to internal radiation, because the thyroid cells can incorporate radioactive iodine when... (Review)
Review
The thyroid gland is vulnerable not only to external radiation but also to internal radiation, because the thyroid cells can incorporate radioactive iodine when synthesizing thyroid hormones. Since radiation-induction of thyroid neoplasia, including thyroid cancer, is well recognized, the data on radiation-related thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction are summarized and reviewed. High-dose irradiation, irrespective of being external or internal, is strongly associated with a risk of hypothyroidism (with the prevalence ranging from 2.4% to 31%) and of Graves' hyperthyroidism (with the prevalence being up to 5%). It is easy to understand that high-dose irradiation induces hypothyroidism with some frequency, because high-dose irradiation destroys the thyroid gland. On the other hand, the basis for development of hyperthyroidism is mechanistically unclear, and it is merely speculative that autoantigens may be released from damaged thyroid glands and recognized by the immune system, leading to the development of anti-thyrotropin receptor antibodies and Graves' hyperthyroidism in subjects who are immunologically predisposed to this ailment. In contrast, the data on moderate to low-dose irradiation on thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction are inconsistent. Although it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion, some data may suggest a transient effect of moderate- to low-dose irradiation on hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis, implying that the effect, if it exists, is reversible. Finally, no report has shown a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of moderate- to low-dose irradiation-induced Graves' hyperthyroidism.
Topics: Autoimmunity; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Humans; Radiation; Thyroid Gland
PubMed: 29069397
DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrx054 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is currently a tremendous global health problem. COVID-19 causes considerable damage to a wide range of vital organs most prominently the... (Review)
Review
SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is currently a tremendous global health problem. COVID-19 causes considerable damage to a wide range of vital organs most prominently the respiratory system. Recently, clinical evidence for thyroidal insults during and after COVID-19 has been accumulated. As of today, almost all non-neoplastic thyroid diseases, i.e., Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, subacute, painless and postpartum thyroiditis, have been reported as a complication of COVID-19, and causality by the virus has been strongly implicated in all of them. Similar thyroid problems have been reported in the past with the SARS-CoV outbreak in 2002. In this review, we briefly look back at the reported evidence of alteration in thyroid functionality and thyroid diseases associated with SARS-CoV and then proceed to examine the issue with COVID-19 in detail, which is then followed by an in-depth discussion regarding a pathogenetic link between Coronavirus infection and thyroid disease.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Thyroid Diseases; Thyroid Gland
PubMed: 34276567
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.708333 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2017Endocrine disruptor compounds are exogenous agents able to interfere with a gland function, exerting their action across different functional passages, from the... (Review)
Review
Endocrine disruptor compounds are exogenous agents able to interfere with a gland function, exerting their action across different functional passages, from the synthesis to the metabolism and binding to receptors of the hormone produced. Several issues, such as different levels and time of exposure and different action across different ages as well as gender, make the study of endocrine disruptors still a challenge. The thyroid is very sensitive to the action of disruptors, and considering the importance of a correct thyroid function for physical and cognitive functioning, addressing this topic should be considered a priority. In this review, we examined the most recent studies, many of them concentrating on maternal and child exposure, conducted to assess the impact of industrial chemicals which showed an influence on thyroid function. So far, the number of studies conducted on that topic is not sufficient to provide solid conclusions and lead to homogeneous guidelines. The lack of uniformity is certainly due to differences in areas and populations examined, the different conditions of exposures and the remarkable inter-subject variability. Nonetheless, the European Commission for Health and Food Safety is implementing recommendations to ensure that substances identified as endocrine disruptors will be withdrawn from the market.
Topics: Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Male; Maternal Exposure; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Hormones
PubMed: 29194390
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18122583 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2017Physical and mental health requires a correct functioning of the thyroid gland, which controls cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems, and affects... (Review)
Review
Physical and mental health requires a correct functioning of the thyroid gland, which controls cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems, and affects behavior and cognitive functions. Microgravity, as occurs during space missions, induces morphological and functional changes within the thyroid gland. Here, we review relevant experiments exposing cell cultures (normal and cancer thyroid cells) to simulated and real microgravity, as well as wild-type and transgenic mice to hypergravity and spaceflight conditions. Well-known mechanisms of damage are presented and new ones, such as changes of gene expression for extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton proteins, thyrocyte phenotype, sensitivity of thyrocytes to thyrotropin due to thyrotropin receptor modification, parafollicular cells and calcitonin production, sphingomyelin metabolism, and the expression and movement of cancer molecules from thyrocytes to colloids are highlighted. The identification of new mechanisms of thyroid injury is essential for the development of countermeasures, both on the ground and in space, against thyroid cancer. We also address the question whether normal and cancer cells show a different sensitivity concerning changes of environmental conditions.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Space Flight; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Neoplasms; Weightlessness
PubMed: 28471415
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18050972 -
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine... Jun 2012Iodine is required for the production of thyroid hormones. Normal thyroid function during pregnancy is important for both the mother and developing fetus. This review... (Review)
Review
Iodine is required for the production of thyroid hormones. Normal thyroid function during pregnancy is important for both the mother and developing fetus. This review discusses the changes in thyroid physiology that occur during pregnancy, the significance of thyroid function tests and thyroid antibody titers assessed during pregnancy, and the potential obstetric complications associated with maternal hypothyroidism.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Thyroid Function Tests; Thyroid Gland
PubMed: 22658718
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2012.03.004 -
BMC Veterinary Research Oct 2021Goats are increasingly being kept as companion animals, thus their owners expect advanced medical care, including modern diagnostic imaging. Computed tomography (CT) is...
BACKGROUND
Goats are increasingly being kept as companion animals, thus their owners expect advanced medical care, including modern diagnostic imaging. Computed tomography (CT) is now widely used in veterinary medicine, in both clinical practice and for scientific purposes. So far, the CT appearance of various body parts has been described in goats, but reports on thyroid gland CT are still lacking. The thyroid gland in goats may become enlarged due to dietary, genetic or neoplastic disorders. CT examination, as in other animals and humans, could aid in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases in goats and could be used for research purposes. The aim of the study was to present the CT characteristics of the normal caprine thyroid gland, in particular its dimensions, volume and density.
RESULTS
Fifty-seven goats were included in the study. None of the animals had clinical, CT, post-mortem or histopathologic abnormalities in the thyroid gland. CT features of the thyroid gland were determined, such as dimensions, volume, density, location and shape. The presence of the thyroid isthmus and ectopic thyroid tissue was also assessed. The gland was visible in every animal as two homogenous, highly attenuating, well-circumscribed lobes located in the most cranial part of the trachea. The mean dimensions of the thyroid lobe were 30.3 × 12.7 × 6.7 mm, the mean density was 80.9 Hounsfield Units (HU) and the mean volume was 1.32 cm or 1.39 cm, depending on the method used. Also, the internal parathyroid glands were visible in some animals.
CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, the normal CT appearance of the thyroid gland has been presented. CT clearly shows the thyroid gland in goats and therefore can be used in clinical practice and for research. The results of the current study may serve as a radiological guideline for practitioners and may be the basis for further CT studies on normal and diseased caprine thyroid glands.
Topics: Animals; Female; Goat Diseases; Goats; Thyroid Gland; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 34696796
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03047-w -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Edition) Jun 2011Since the identification of thyroid hormone receptors on the testes, thyroid has been suggested to have a significant impact on the male reproductive tract,... (Review)
Review
Since the identification of thyroid hormone receptors on the testes, thyroid has been suggested to have a significant impact on the male reproductive tract, spermatogenesis, and male fertility. Several research articles on the role of thyroid in spermatogenesis or male infertility have been published in the last three decades. We conducted an exhaustive literature search was conducted in order to create an up-to-date review of literature. This review aims to discuss the impact of thyroid on testicular development, spermatogenesis, hypo- or hyper- thyroidism and male infertility, and the management of thyroid related abnormal semen profile. The literature revealed that thyroid significantly impacts testicular development and that abnormal thyroid profile affects semen quality and male fertility by compromising testicular size, sperm motility and ejaculate volume. A clear link exists between thyroid hormones, testicular development and spermatogenesis. Thyroid disease negatively affects spermatogenesis and consequently may cause male infertility. In such cases, infertility is reversible, but more studies need to be conducted, especially in post-pubertal males to cement the current findings.
Topics: Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Spermatogenesis; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Hormones
PubMed: 21622096
DOI: 10.2741/e292 -
Hormones (Athens, Greece) 2007Although the association of thyroid disorders with tuberculosis has been known for a long time, the diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis is rare. Differential diagnosis can...
Although the association of thyroid disorders with tuberculosis has been known for a long time, the diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis is rare. Differential diagnosis can be very difficult without fine needle aspiration. The clinical course of the disease may resemble toxic goiter or acute thyroiditis or may follow a subacute or chronic pattern without specific symptomatology. We describe a 49-year old male patient with thyroid tuberculosis presenting as thyroid enlargement, fever, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, normal thyroid function tests, and a chest x-ray indicating the presence of a lesion with distinct calcification in the lower lobe of the right lung. Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland, although very rare, should be considered as a possible diagnosis when localized swelling, cold abscess or thyroid nodule with or without a cystic component are present.
Topics: Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Male; Radiography; Thyroid Diseases; Thyroid Gland; Tuberculosis, Endocrine
PubMed: 17324921
DOI: No ID Found