Effect of academic examination stress on hormonal level in healthy medical technology students

Stress may alter many physiological functions and may lead to psychiatric diseases, such as anxiety and depression. In this study, the effect of academic exam stress on thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], thyroxin T4, triiodothyronine T3, Testosterone, and cortisol were studied Blood samples were taken from students before examination Another blood samples were collected from the same students during normal collage days. The results obtained showed stress caused significant increase in the hormones measured except the triiodothyronine, which shows no significant increase during stress. It has been suggested that acute increase of TSH level may result from central catecholaminergic stimulation and increased levels of catecholamines Stress was accompanied by increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function

Effects of acute and chronic maternal deprivation on hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis in rat pups with hyperthyroidal mothers

Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine problem encountered in human pregnancy. It is well known that hyperthyroidism induces an increase in the activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis. Between the age of 4 and 14 days, the HPA axis of the rat displays a relative stress hyporesponsive period [SHRP]. There are no reports about development of the HPA axis in rat pups of hyperthyroid mothers. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of acute and chronic maternal deprivation on their pups HPA axis function of hyperthyroid mothers and the influence of treatment administration to hypothyroid mothers from conception to the end of experiment. 30 adult female rats were used after induction of pregnancy and hyperthyroidism. Maternal deprivation for 24 hours was done at two different ages during postnatal development at mid and outside the SHRP. Also, repeated maternal deprivation was done in another group. Now, pups groups are: Control deprived, control non deprived, treated deprived, treated non deprived, nontreated deprived and nontreated nondeprived. The plasma thyroxin [T4] levels of treated deprived groups were significantly lower than non treated groups, while, plasma thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] levels of treated groups were significantly higher than non treated deprived groups. There is no significant difference in plasma T4 between control and treated nondeprived group. There is no significant difference in plasma corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin hormone [ACTH] in treated deprived in comparison to treated nondeprived at postnatal day 9 and with repeated maternal deprivation. With repeated deprivation plasma corticosterone levels were not different in nontreated deprived group in comparison with the nontreated nondeprived group. Maternal deprivation in rats with hyperthyroidal mother depended on the age of pups at which procedure is applied

Contrast induced complications in congenital heart diseases

Renal and thyroid dysfunctions were reported in children after exposure to iodine containing radiological contrast agents. With this background, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of iodine containing radiological contrast media on serum creatinine, free thyroxine [FT4] and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] in children with congenital heart diseases [CHD]. This study comprised 60 patients [45 males and 15 females] with CHD following up in the Cardiology clinic of Ain Shams University hospitals whose ages ranged from 7 months to 12 years [mean +/- SD 6.5 +/- 3.9 years]. Patients were compared to a control group comprised of 15 age and sex matched apparently healthy participants [9 males and 6 females] whose ages ranged from 6 months to 12 years [mean +/- SD = 8.2 +/- 1.6 years]. All participants were subjected to careful history taking, thorough clinical examination and Creatinine, FT4 and TSH were measured before performance of procedures utilizing iodine containing radiological contrast agent in order to ascertain normality of their basal levels. The second sample was taken in the first day [24 hours] after exposure and the third sample was taken one week after exposure. The third sample for creatinine assessment was taken on the third to fifth day [instead of one week] after exposure. Weekly assessment was done for patients with significant creatinine or TSH elevation or decreased FT4 until normalization of their levels. Decreased FT4 with elevated creatinine and TSH occurred in 20 patients [representing 33.3%] of the study group comprised of 60 patients with CHD. Peak elevation of creatinine levels occurred 3-5 days after exposure and normalized by the second week [about 10 days] after exposure while peak decreased FT4 levels occurred by the first week and normalized by the third week after exposure. On the other hand, TSH levels exhibited progressive elevation reaching peak stable levels by 3-4 weeks followed by spontaneous progressive decrease till TSH normalization 8-10 weeks after exposure to iodine containing radiological contrast agents .There was a statistically highly significant [P = <0.001] relation between the ingested dose of iodine containing radiological contrast agent / kilogram body weight versus decreased FT4 or elevated creatinine or TSH. All affected patients [20 patients] had negative history of other imaging procedures using iodine containing radiological contrast agents performed during the present study or in the last month before inclusion in the present study which rules out sources of exposure to iodine other than procedures utilizing iodine containing radiological contrast agent performed during the present study and none of the patients received drugs during the period of the study that could alter levels of creatinine or thyroid hormones. Diagnostic procedures utilizing iodine containing radiological contrast agents produce decreased FT4 with elevated creatinine and TSH which were statistically highly significantly [P = <0.001] related to the dose of contrast agent / kilogram body weight used during performance of these procedures to patients with CHD irrespective of their ages or type of CHD. Thus pediatricians and cardiologists should be alert to the possible occurrence of these complications after exposure to iodine containing radiological contrast agent in order to supply regular laboratory assessment, follow up and early management if needed

Single daily dose of carbimazole in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

BACKGROUND. The antithyroid drugs, methimazole and carbimazole, are conventionally used in divided daily doses. However, these drugs have a longer intrathyroidal than a plasma half-life. We undertook this prospective, controlled study, in an area of mild iodine deficiency, to compare the efficacy of a single daily dose of carbimazole with divided doses in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. METHODS. Nineteen patients with hyperthyroidism received 30 mg of carbimazole daily at bed time (group A) while 14 received 10 mg of carbimazole every 8 hours (group B). These patients were assessed clinically and biochemically by estimation of serum total thyroxine, total triiodothyronine and thyrotropin before and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after treatment. RESULTS. There was no significant difference between mean baseline concentrations of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. After 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks there was a decline in their concentrations which was similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Euthyroidism was achieved in 4.6 +/- 1.4 weeks (range 2-6 weeks) in group A and in 3.8 +/- 1.2 weeks (range 3-6 weeks) in group B (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. We conclude that carbimazole in a single daily dose is an effective method for treating hyperthyroidism in an area of mild iodine deficiency and its efficacy is comparable to divided dose therapy. This practical and acceptable method of treatment can be specially useful in patients who find it difficult to remember to take divided doses.