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Biomedical subjects

C Jaffiol

Publications and source records attributed to C Jaffiol.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

A case of hypersensitivity to thyroid hormones with normally functioning thyroid gland and increased nuclear triiodothyronine receptors.

A 52-year-old male presented himself with tachycardia crises which appeared first during childhood, increased in frequency without goiter or exophthalmos. Cardiac and adrenergic diseases were excluded. The thyroid function was normal regarding T4, free T4 and T3, TBG, radioiodine uptake, TSH and T3 suppressibility; however the TSH response to TRH was decreased. The lymphocyte nuclear T3 receptor was found with an affinity close to that of normal volunteers (Ka: 1.42 x 10(10) M-1 vs 1.95 +/- 0.35 x 10(10) M-1) and a binding capacity markedly increased (9.9 vs 3.7 +/- 0.4 fmol T3/100 micrograms DNA). Pindolol was inefficient on the dysrhythmia which disappeared with carbimazole and relapsed after withdrawal of the antithyroid drug. Under carbimazole, the plasma T4 markedly decreased (27.7 +/- 3.6 nmol/l) but the patient remained euthyroid. The clinical course and the laboratory data suggest that the tachycardia crises are the consequence of a hypersensitivity of the heart to thyroid hormones, associated with an increased number of T3 nuclear receptor sites in lymphocytes.

Carbimazole↗

[Methods of analysis of hormonal pulsatility].

Methods for detection and characterization of episodic fluctuations in circulating hormone levels are frequently used for endocrine investigations, related to the physiological importance of the pulsatile nature of hormone secretion in modulating target-cells response. Several sophisticated methods of pulse analysis have been recently developed and validated, aiming to minimize the false-positive and false-negative error rates. The present report mainly devoted to the clinician aims to analyze and discuss the main features of the most widely used methods for pulse detection.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗

Effects of ACE-inhibition on glucose metabolism.

ACE inhibition is widely used for treatment of arterial hypertension or congestive heart failure. No change occurs in glucose metabolism either in diabetic or non diabetic subjects. No change occurs in glucose metabolism in patients with chronic renal failure. Glucose intolerance induced by diuretics is attenuated when ACE inhibitor is associated with thiazides. In some very rare circumstances (with high plasmatic levels of norepinephrine), insulin sensitivity seems to be enhanced by captopril. Then, in clinical use, no adverse effect occurs with ACE inhibition in non diabetic or diabetic subjects. Under thiazide treatment, ACE inhibitors protect against glucose intolerance.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

[New techniques of thyroid medical imaging. Value and limitations in the exploration of isolated thyroid nodules].

The exploration of thyroid nodules deals mainly with the problem of detection of malignancy. Except in the cases of characteristic clinical situations which suggest at once malignancy, classical investigations offer mostly an insufficient approach including erroneous conclusions. Scintigraphy, whose morphological definition remains limited, can miss non- or hypofixing lesions. Pharmacological tests of nodule reduction by suppression of thyreostimulin do not provide specific informations. Fine needle- biopsy cannot absolutely exclude malignancy, depending too much of the sites of punction and of the difficulties of cytological analysis. Echography brings an important progress in the precision of thyroid volume, nodules counting and gross connections. The liquid or solid characterization is an important echographic information as well. Tomodensitometry provides useful data in the retrosternal and retrotracheal areas. The connections with aerodigestive tract are more clearly pointed out and the presence of metastatic nodes as well. Magnetic resonance imaging gives further information because of the ability of multiple longitudinal slices, and of the trial of a tissular characterization from signal analysis and ultrastructural macroanatomic study. Additive precisions will be likely in the future by a more accurate determination of criteria of malignancy. The complementarity of magnetic resonance imagery and fine needle-biopsy should lead to a more frequent use of these investigations before the decision of surgical removal.

Diagnostic Imaging↗

[Role of imaging in the exploration of the adrenal glands].

Currently, the major method of adrenal gland imaging is computed tomography. This method allows demonstration of normal adrenals and the diagnosis of adrenal masses (if these are greater than 1 cm in diameter). The examination should be directed by clinical signs and known laboratory investigations. Computed tomography is therefore the first line investigation to perform. Certain lesions may be better demonstrated by other methods: MRI and MIBG scintigraphy offer a greater specificity in the investigation of pheochromocytomas. In addition, scintigraphy can identify possible ectopic tumours or recurrences. Selective catheterisation of the adrenal veins allows aldosterone and cortisone secretions to be assayed. There remains the problem of the incidental finding of adrenal masses in either an asymptomatic patient or in the context of investigation of spread of a know cancer. These lesions may benefit from diagnostic percutaneous guided biopsy.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

[Variations in the metabolism of lipoproteins as a function of thyroid hormones].

Like the demonstrated action of thyroid hormones on low density lipoproteins receptors and lipoproteins metabolism enzymes, plasma lipoprotein assays provide an insight into the classical variations of cholesterol blood levels observed in thyroid gland pathology. Thyroid hormones seem to play an important part in the regulation of lipid metabolism by accelerating the endogenous production of cholesterol as well as its penetration into cells. However, their most original effect consists of stimulation of tissue cholesterol removal, which may confer these hormones an anti-atherogenic property. The exact underlying mechanisms, notably their effect on the quantitative and qualitative distribution of apoproteins among lipoproteins, remain to be explored. Measurements of the cholesterol flows entering and leaving peripheral cells seem to provide a more accurate index than lipoprotein concentration to evaluate the actions of thyroid hormones, particularly those on atherogenesis.

Cholesterol↗

[Pulsatile administration of LH-RH: diagnostic and therapeutic applications].

Hypothalamic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HHH), a disorder occurring in both sexes, is characterized by a partial or complete inability to synthesize and/or release LH-RH from the hypothalamus which result in absence or defects of amplitude and frequency of gonadotropin secretion. Long term substitution by pulsatile exogenous LH-RH usually result in complete normalization of both pituitary and gonadic hormones. Such a treatment allows differentiation between hypothalamic and pituitary causes of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Ovulation and fertility can be achieved in most of women with hypothalamic amenorrhea treated with pulsatile LH-RH using i.v. bolus doses of 25-100 ng/kg at 1-2 h intervals. In opposite LH-RH therapy yields inferior results to human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in chronic anovulatory patients with persistent LH secretion or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as shown by one randomized and several non-controlled studies. Successful pulsatile LH-RH treatment following a 2 months LH-RH analog suppression in PCOS previously refractory to LH-RH alone represents a new promising approach. The majority of men with complete HHH begin to produce sperm only after 1 year of therapy. Both the testicular volume and the mean sperm concentrations were below the normal values after 2 years of treatment in spite of normalization of testosterone, LH and FSH levels. Pulsatile LH-RH does not seem significantly improve the treatment of infertile HHH men compared to hMH/hCG.

Amenorrhea↗

The management of differentiated thyroid cancer in Europe in 1988. Results of an international survey.

In order to know how thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancers are investigated and treated in 1988, an international inquiry was performed by mean of a questionnaire based on a well-defined case report of a 35-year-old female with a solitary small thyroid nodule. Clinicians were asked to indicate their diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the reported case and to some variations. Analysis of the 157 responses from thyroid experts showed that three in vitro tests (sensitive-TSH, free T4 and total T4) and three in vivo tests (99mTc or radioiodide scintiscan, fine needle aspiration and ultrasonography) were performed most frequently. In the case of a solid and cold nodule and in the absence of fine needle aspiration results, 19% of respondents advocated suppressive therapy and 81% surgery. In the same clinical case, but whom fine needle aspiration had been performed and cytology was benign, surgery was advocated by 24%, suppressive therapy by 48% and a regular follow-up without treatment by 28% of respondents. When surgery was performed and the diagnosis was a differentiated thyroid cancer, (near) total thyroidectomy was more frequently chosen than partial thyroidectomy in both papillary (60 and 40%, respectively, of respondents) and follicular (74 and 26%, respectively, of respondents) cancers; 80% of clinicians did not change their surgical technique in relation to histological type of the tumour. Total thyroidectomy was more often recommended in most of the clinical or anatomical variations compared with the basic case report. Pre- or postoperative hormonal therapy was initiated with L-T4 and TSH suppression was controlled by sensitive-TSH and thyroglobulin determinations. After total thyroidectomy, 131I was used with similar modalities for papillary and follicular cancers to ablate a thyroid remnant.

Adult↗

[Value of triiodothyroacetic acid as suppressive treatment of the thyrotropin secretion in thyroid pathology].

Fifty-six patients were treated with triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) for its suppressive effect on the pituitary-thyroid function. Thirty of these patients had undergone partial thyroidectomy for benign goitre, and among these 14 had developed hyperplasia of the remaining thyroid tissue (group I); 18 presented with homogeneous or nodular goitre (group II); 8 had been thyroidectomized for carcinoma (group III). Before TRIAC was prescribed, thyroid hormones had been used in 33 patients, exerting a suppressive effect on the thyrotropic hormone in 4 patients of group III and producing signs of intolerance in 24 cases. TRIAC was administered in doses of 700-1,750 micrograms/day to all patients of group I and II, and combined with LT4 100 micrograms/day to group III patients. Suppression of the thyrotropic secretion was obtained in all group III patients and in 88 p. 100 of groups I and II patients. Thyroid gland hypertrophy regressed or disappeared in 21 patients of groups I and II, and no relapse or metastasis was observed in group III. TRIAC was well tolerated in all but one patients.

Adolescent↗

[Study of discrepancies between "ultra-sensitive" TSH and thyroid hormones levels].

TSH levels were determined by "ultra-sensitive" assay (TSH-US) in 1300 sera and compared to thyroid hormone (TH = TT3 and FT4) values. Discordant results were observed in 186 cases divided into 3 groups according to TSH-US and TH values. Clinical data obtained in discordant cases showed that most of the subjects (75%) were under treatment (antithyroid drugs, suppressive or replacement hormone therapy) or had been treated by surgery or 131I when the sera were drawn. Among the patients who had not been treated (25%) we found moderate or subclinical hyperthyroidism (toxic adenoma or goitre) or hypothyroidism. In conclusion, most of the discordant results proved consonant when the clinical or therapeutic data were taken into account.

Humans↗

Are pituitary and thyroid function tests useful for the monitoring of antithyroid drug treatment and the post therapeutic control of Graves' disease?

The control of Graves' disease patients treated with antithyroid drugs (ATD) involves monitoring the dose of ATD, the duration of therapy and the prediction of the long-term outcome of the disease. The sequential follow-up of free thyroid hormones and ultrasensitive TSH (USTSH) helps in monitoring of ATD therapy, except in patients complemented with thyroid hormones. The normalization of early thyroid uptake of radioiodine or pertechnetate, which seems to be closely related to circulating thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins, confirms the remission that leads to stopping ATD therapy. The raise of plasma USTSH in a normal range within the six months following ATD withdrawal is another indicator of remission. However, the post therapeutic course of Graves' patients remains unpredictable: late relapses and hypothyroidism may occur despite the normalization of the pituitary-thyroid axis, leading to a yearly clinical control with USTSH evaluation.

Antithyroid Agents↗

Thyroid stimulating antibody: an index of thyroid stimulation in Graves' disease?

Early (20 min) thyroid radio-iodine uptake (ERU) and thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSab) were determined in 27 untreated unselected patients with Graves' disease at the time of diagnosis. In 21 subjects the same tests were further performed in parallel during combined carbimazole-L-T3 therapy (mean duration of follow-up: 10.8 +/- 5.8 months; mean +/- SD). TSab was determined by a cAMP-human thyrocyte culture stimulation assay and expressed in microliter-equivalent of a TSab standard/ml (microliter-eq/ml). Before treatment, ERU, ranging from 15 to 54% of the injected dose (normal less than or equal to 8% dose) correlated with serum T3 (r: 0.54; P less than 0.01); TSab, ranging from 6 to 85 microliter-eq/ml was detected in 21/27 patients. There was a significant correlation between ERU and TSab (Spearman rank test: r: 0.57; P less than 0.01). During the first months of treatment, 5 of the 21 patients sequentially studied had undetectable TSab levels throughout the study and in these patients ERU decreased by 57% of its initial value; the remaining 16 subjects were divided into two groups according to ERU changes: in group A (9 patients), initial ERU decreased by 50% or more or the absolute value became less than 20% of the dose and TSab decreased from 10.9 +/- 4.8 microliter-eq/ml to 5.3 +/- 1.6 microliter-eq/ml (P less than 0.01); in group B (7 patients), the fall of ERU was less than 50% or the absolute value remained greater than 20% of the dose and TSab values remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Influence of the frequency of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration on ovulatory responses in women with anovulation.

In attempt to optimize gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment of anovulation, we compared the effect of intravenous GnRH administration at three pulse intervals (PI) during 63 cycles in 30 anovulatory patients who had: (1) amenorrhea secondary to anorexia nervosa (group I: 10 patients, 21 cycles); (2) unexplained anovulation with normal to high luteinizing hormone plasma levels (group II: 12 patients, 24 cycles); and (3) polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) (group III: 8 patients, 18 cycles). Ovulation was achieved more frequently in group I (85%) than in group II (41%) or in group III (50%). In both groups I and II, the frequency of ovulatory responses was not different with the PI used, and 6 of the 17 women treated for infertility conceived; 3 with 90-minute PIs, 2 with 64-minute PIs, and 1 with 128-minute PIs. In women with PCOD, seven of the nine ovulatory responses and three pregnancies were obtained with 128-minute PIs. The overweight women with PCOD did not respond reliably to GnRH at the doses used, i.e., 4 to 15 micrograms per pulse. In all groups, the urinary estrone and estradiol preovulatory peak, duration of luteal phase, progesterone levels, and preovulatory follicle diameter were unrelated to the frequency of GnRH administration.

Anovulation↗

[Value of the assay of thyroglobulin for postoperative surveillance of differentiated thyroid cancers].

Thyroglobulin has been evaluated among 30 control subjects and 81 thyroidectomized patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (50 papillary, 15 follicular, 16 mixed). 40 presented without residual thyroid tissue in the neck, 27 with residual tissue, 14 with metastases. Tg evaluation was performed on (78 dosages) and off thyroid hormone therapy (74 dosages), before and after withdrawal of thyroid medication in 25 patients. Tg was measured at different periods after surgical or radioiodine therapy of metastases (7 cases). The sera containing anti-Tg antibodies are rejected. The mean Tg levels was 11.9 +/- 8.5 ng/ml in the control group. In the group of patients with thyroid cancer, Tg levels were dependent on several factors: presence or not of residual thyroid tissue, presence or absence of a replacement therapy. All the patients on or off thyroid medication with metastases except one, presented with plasma Tg levels alone 5 ng/ml. In conclusion, plasma Tg appears as a good index for the research of metastases but only in patients without anti-Tg antibodies and residual thyroid tissue in the neck. Despite the existence of false negative results, a Tg undetectable in treated patients presenting a normal roentgen chest leads to avoid total body radioiodine scan and other usual radiologic investigations. On a opposite hand a plasma Tg greater than 50 ng/ml is highly suggestive of the presence of metastases.

Adult↗