Thyroid autoantibodies in women with and without thyroid disorders in an iodine-replete area

To compare the prevalence of positive autoantibodies in patients with thyroid disorders and healthy subjects in an iodine-replete area of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we studied 930 women in a clinic-based study: 698 patients [286 hypothyroid, 140 hyperthyroid, 272 with simple goitre] and 232 healthy women. Serum thyroxine [T4], triiodothyronine [T3], thyroid stimulating hormone, and antithyroid antibodies were measured. Positive autoantibodies were detected in 75.5% of patients with hypothyroidism, 73.6% of those with hyperthyroidism, 48.9% of those with simple goitre and 35.8% of the control group [P < 0.001]. Autoimmunity may have a role in the genesis of common thyroid disorders

Is iron deficiency responsible for endemic goiter in semirom?

In spite of iodine fortification programs, goiter is still hyperendemic in Semirom, a mountainous region in the central part of Iran. This study was conducted to assess whether iron deficiency could be responsible for the high prevalence of goiter in this region. A total of 1828 schoolchildren, aged 7-13 years, were evaluated for presence of goiter, and 220 cases were randomly selected. Urine and serum samples were collected from these children and assayed for urinary iodine concentraton [UIC] and serum ferritin, iron, thyroxine [T4] and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] concentrations. In the 1828 children evaluated, 670 cases [36.7%] were goitrous, with goiters of grade 1 or 2. The mean UIC in children was 19.3 +/- 9.1 micro g/dl. Mild [UIC <10 micro g/dl] and moderate [UIC <5 micro g/dl] iodine deficiency was detected in 6.4% and 3.2% of cases, respectively. Only 1.8% of children were severly iodine deficient [UIC <2 micro g/dl]. The median serum ferritin concentration was 26.6 ng/ml [95% CI: 24.2-28.9], and 11 cases [5%] had serum ferritin concentrations less than 20 ng/ml. Goiter rate was 48.3% and 50.3% in children with low and normal serum ferritin levels, respectively [P = NS]. It seems that factors other than iodine and iron deficiency may, at least partly, be responsible for the high prevalence of goiter in the area studied. Further investigations for evaluating other micronutrient deficiencies and autoimmunity in goitrous children would contribute to the planning more effective goiter control programs

[ Prevalence of clinical goiter and urinary iodine concentration in 8-12 years old students of Semirom in 2004 [15 years after execution of national program for elimination of iodine deficiency disorders]]

With respect to the high prevalence of goiter in Semirom before the initiation of National Program for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders [NPEIDD], the impact of the program on the prevalence of goiter in 8-12 years old students of Semirom was investigated in this study, after 15 years of sucessful execution of NPEIDD. After excluding students with any clinical evidence of hyper- or hypo-thyroidism, 1817 students aged 8-12 years were recruited based on a cluster sampling method. The participants were examined for the presence of goiter by experiencd endocrinologists. Urinary iodine was measured in 182 examined students, too. Chi- Square statistical method was used to analyze the data. Goiter was detected in 36.7% of the students [grade 1: 30.4%, grade 2: 6.3%]. The median urinary iodine was 18.5 and mean was 19.37 +/- 9.22 ?g/dl in collected specimens. The adequacy of urinary iodine in students of Semirom confirms the success of NPEIDD, however, the higher than expected prevalence of goiter in the region suggests the probable role of other goitrogenous or autoimmune factors. Further studies should be performed to investigate the possible causes

Topical finasteride in hirsutism: a double blind randomized trial on adult women

Finasteride partially blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone through inhibition of 5 alpha reductase in hair follicles. Finasteride cream can penetrate to dermis to arrive at hair follicle due to its solubility. Therefore, it is expected to be used in treatment of hirsutism with less systemic adverse effects. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of finasteride cream 0.5% in management of idiopathic hirsutism. Finasteride [0.5%] and placebo creams were administered to 35 women with hirsutism on the face. Medication and placebo creams, each one was used on one side of the face in an area of excessive hair growth, which were not necessarily symmetrical. The side for the finasteride and placebo creams were chosen randomizly and blindly in 1cm 2 areas on each side of the face. Hair numbers were counted and the thickness of all hairs was also measured by micrometer and their mean was calculated, at the start of therapy and after 6 months. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS software using Paired and Student t-tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. The mean of hair numbers decreased at placebo-applied side from 12.20 +/- 6.15 to 10.50 +/- 4.90 [P<0.0001] and at finasteride- treated side from 11.37 +/- 6.15 to 8.47 +/- 4.62 [p<0.0001]. Mean of hair thickness at placebo side decreased from 2.92 +/- 0.84