Miscellaneous
	Smyth et al., Dublin, Ireland, investigated possible associations between iodine status, thyroid dysfunction and breast cancer. In 529 patients with breast cancer and asymptomatic for thyroid disease it was shown that thyroid volume was increased (>18.0 ml) in 32% as compared to 10.5% in matched controls (p<0,001). In the whole group of breast cancer patients elevated TSH (>4.0 mU/l) was found in 8.0% vs. 2.8% ( p<0.02) respectively and TPO-Ab positivity in 33.2% vs. 18.3% (p<0.05) respectively. Although iodine status between the two groups did not differ, tissue iodine levels were significantly lower in breast cancer tissues than in benign (fibro-adenoma) breast tumors, corresponding to a lower expression of NIS in malignant- versus benign breast tumors. (Comment: Apparently patients with breast cancer have significantly higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity. The same authors showed previously that prognosis in breast cancer patients who also have circulating thyroid autoantibodies is better than without these antibodies). Duntas et al., Athens, Greece, measured circulating levels of oxidized-LDL in thyroid disease. They found in 33 acute hyperthyroid-, 29 hypothyroid patients, and 57 controls that hypothyroidism is accompanied by enhanced levels of oxidized-LDL while in hyperthyroidism levels are not different from controls. The highest concentrations of oxidized-LDL are however found in smokers irrespective of thyroid function. (Comment: Oxidized-LDL is a well known atherogenic factor). Faber et al., Frederiksberg, Denmark, measured the relationship between mood and the TSH response to TRH in bipolar affective disorder. In 19 patients who were followed for 3 years, it was found that ?TSH was negatively correlated to changes in mood in either direction. In other words, worsening of mood correlated with a reduction in the TSH response to TRH. These changes in TSH response occurred already in minor changes in mood suggesting that the test can be used to detect beginning of mood changes in patients with bipolar affective disorder. Obuobie et al., Cardiff, Wales, UK, assessed central arterial stiffness in patients with hyper- and hypothyroidism. They studied 20 untreated hyperthyroid patients vs. 20 matched controls and 10 hypothyroid patients vs. 12 matched controls and found decreased central arterial stiffness in untreated hyperthyroidism and increased in stiffness in untreated hypothyroidism. After treatment central arterial stiffness moved towards control values in both groups. Before as well as after treatment, central arterial stiffness correlated with age being the major predictor of altered central arterial stiffness. Bourdoux et al., Brussels, Belgium, measured serum thyroid function parameters and urinary iodine in 818 school children in an area of iodine prophylaxis in Central African Republic in June '99 and December '99. Urinary iodine was 18.8 µg/dl and 31.8 µg/dl respectively. Serum T3 and T4 values were normal but median TSH was elevated at the two time points, 2.62 and 2.67 mU/l. The authors suggest that excessive iodine prophylaxis might be the cause of the increased TSH and emphasize the crucial need to monitor iodine intake by collecting biochemical data. (Comment: It has been shown earlier that, especially in the elderly, moderate to mild iodine excess may result in hypothyroidism, see Laurberg et al Thyroid 11,457, 2001). Ostapenko et al., Minsk, Belarus and Bethesda and New York, USA, measured Tg in 9334 Belarusian subjects, living in an area of moderate iodine deficiency, who were aged 0-18 years at the time of the Chernobyl accident . The subjects included 4671 without thyroid and laboratory abnormality (normals), 53 with carcinoma all but one papillary, 496 with solitary nodules and 198 with multiple nodules. Compared to the normal group the other three groups had significantly elevated Tg. Tg concentrations were also significantly elevated in subjects with WHO grade 2 diffuse goiter or with ultrasound volumes > 200% as compared to unexposed matched controls. It appeared that Tg was higher in those subjects that had urinary iodine excretion less than 100 µg/l. Despite these data, the authors conclude that although the average Tg was significantly elevated in carcinoma subjects and subjects with nodules, its sensitivity was too low to be useful as a screening parameter for detection of thyroid carcinoma and nodule formation after 131I exposure in areas of moderate iodine deficiency.