Antiviral activity of amiodarone in SARS-CoV-2 disease.

Amiodarone seems to exhibit some antiviral activity in the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Here we have examined the SARS-CoV-2 disease course in the entire population of the Czech Republic and compared it with the course of the disease in patients treated with amiodarone in two major Prague's hospitals. In the whole population of the Czech Republic SARS-CoV-2 infected 1665070 persons (15.6 %) out of 10694000 (100 %) between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2021. In the same time period only 35 patients (3.4 %) treated with amiodarone were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus out of 1032 patients (100 %) who received amiodarone. It appears that amiodarone can prevent SARS-CoV-2 virus infection by multiple mechanisms. In in-vitro experiments it exhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus replication inhibitions. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it may have beneficial effect on the complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 as well. Additionally, inorganic iodine released from amiodarone can be converted to hypoiodite (IO-), which has antiviral and antibacterial activity, and thus can affect the life cycle of the virus.

Iodine, thyroglobulin and thyroid gland.

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.

Radioimmunoassay of chromogranin A and free metanephrines in diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

This work discusses the clinical performance of chromogranin A, free metanephrine and normetanephrine determination in plasma using a radioimmunoanalytical methods for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Blood samples were collected from 55 patients (46 pheochromocytomas, 9 paragangliomas). A sampling of biological materials was performed preoperatively and about one week, six months and one year after adrenal gland surgery. The comparative group without a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma consisted of 36 pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma patients more than 4 months after adrenal gland surgery, and of 87 patients, 16 of them with multiple endocrine neoplasia, 9 with medullary and 5 with parafolicullar carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The rest were patients with various adrenal gland disorders. Chromogranin A, metanephrine and normetanephrine were determined in the EDTA-plasma using a radioimmunoassay kits Cisbio Bioassays, France and IBL International GmbH, Germany. Clinical sensitivity was 96 % for the combination of metanephrine and normetanephrine, and 93 % for chromogranin A. Clinical specificity was 100 % for the combination metanephrine and normetanephrine, and 96 % for chromogranin A. Falsely elevated levels of chromogranin A were observed in 1 patient with chronic renal insufficiency and 9 analyses were influenced by the administration of proton pump inhibitors. These results were excluded of CGA specificity. Both the combination of plasma free metanephrine, normetanephrine and chromogranin A as determined by radioimmunoassays, which are simple without the necessity of special laboratory material, are effective markers of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. Chromogranin A exerts association to malignity and all markers are associated with tumor mass.

Vitamin D supplementation changed relationships, not levels of metabolic-hormonal parameters in autoimmune thyroiditis.

In women with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and vitamin D deficiency we have found reference levels of relevant metabolic-hormonal parameters except for parathormone and total calcium. Three months supplementation with vitamin D (4300 IU/day, cholekalciferol) did not lead to significant changes of investigated hormonal parameters, while the levels of parathormone and calcium reached normal levels. However, a correlation analysis revealed marked changes in mutual relations. First, an inverse correlation of vitamin D with parathormone, insulin secretion (C peptide, insulin) and its efficiency (HOMA IR) disappeared. Relationships of vitamin D to hepatic insulin resistance (insulin/C peptide), to DHEA (both negative), and to DHEAS/DHEA ratio (positive) were newly found. Second, a positive correlation of CRP with insulin secretion remained, while its relation to insulin efficiency (HOMA IR, insulin/C peptide) was newly observed. Analogical positive correlations appeared also among anti TPO and insulinemia, insulin/C peptide, HOMA IR, and anti Tg to C peptide. A relationship of the CRP with anti TPO became significant (+). Third, out of glucose metabolism parameters only insulin/C peptide and glycemia did not correlate with vitamin D during its deficiency, while after supplementation insulin/C peptide alone correlated positively with both DHEAS and DHEA, and negatively with vitamin D.

Deconjugated urinary metanephrine, normetanephrine and 3-methoxytyramine in laboratory diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

This work discusses the clinical performance of deconjugated metanephrine (MN), normetanephrine (NMN) and 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) determined in the basal first morning urine using a chromatographic method with electrochemical detection for the clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL). Urine samples were collected from 44 patients (36 with PHEO, 8 with PGL) aged 54+/-17 (20-78) years (22 females, 22 males). A sampling of biological materials was performed preoperatively and about one week, six months and one year after adrenal gland surgery. The control group consisted of 34 PHEO/PGL patients more than 4 months after adrenal gland surgery. All subjects in the control group were without a diagnosis of PHEO or PGL. Clinical sensitivity was 55 % for MN, 64 % for NMN, 80 % for combination of both MN and NMN, and only 23 % for 3TM. Clinical specificity calculated from the control group was 93 % for MN, 95 % for NMN, 95 % for the combination MN and NMN, and 97 % for 3TM. Cut-off values for deconjugated metanephrines in the basal urine were 310 (MN), 690 (NMN) and 250 microg/l (3MT). Chromatographic determination of deconjugated urinary metanephrines, which is simple without the necessity of special laboratory material, can serve for the screening of PHEO or PGL patients. Urine NMN and 3MT exerts an association to malignity, and all markers are associated with tumor mass. However, the principal laboratory diagnosis of PHEO or PGL must be based on plasma-free metanephrines and plasma chromogranin A with better performance in the laboratory diagnosis of PHEO or PGL.

The relationship between iodine intake and serum thyroglobulin in the general population.

The relationship is shown between a concentration of urinary iodine and serum thyroglobulin in population studies carried out on a general population that was randomly selected from the registry of the General Health Insurance Company (individuals aged 6-98 years, 1751 males, 2420 females). The individuals were divided into subgroups with a urinary iodine concentration of <50, 50-99, 100-199, 200-299 and >/=300 microg/l. The mean and median of thyroglobulin were calculated in these subgroups. Tg concentrations were dependent on gender (males

Plasma adrenomedullin and subclinical cardiorenal syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether plasma adrenomedullin is involved in the previously reported significant inverse correlation between left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (peak velocity of early transmitral flow/peak velocity of early diastolic mitral annular motion ratio [E/E' ]) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, mild-to-moderate renal function impairment and LV relaxation impairment (E'≤7.1 cm/s). METHODS: Plasma adrenomedullin concentration, E/E' and eGFR were assessed in 82 patients with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Plasma adrenomedullin concentration was positively correlated with eGFR in patients with or without LV relaxation impairment, and inversely correlated with E/E' in patients with LV relaxation impairment. Multivariate linear regression analysis supported a role for plasma adrenomedullin in the association between E/E' and eGFR. CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that adrenomedullin modulates the interaction between the heart and kidneys in early subclinical cardiorenal syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

TRH-like peptides.

TRH-like peptides are characterized by substitution of basic amino acid histidine (related to authentic TRH) with neutral or acidic amino acid, like glutamic acid, phenylalanine, glutamine, tyrosine, leucin, valin, aspartic acid and asparagine. The presence of extrahypothalamic TRH-like peptides was reported in peripheral tissues including gastrointestinal tract, placenta, neural tissues, male reproductive system and certain endocrine tissues. Work deals with the biological function of TRH-like peptides in different parts of organisms where various mechanisms may serve for realisation of biological function of TRH-like peptides as negative feedback to the pituitary exerted by the TRH-like peptides, the role of pEEPam such as fertilization-promoting peptide, the mechanism influencing the proliferative ability of prostatic tissues, the neuroprotective and antidepressant function of TRH-like peptides in brain and the regulation of thyroid status by TRH-like peptides.

[Influence of iodine saturation on thyreopathy incidence in selected regions of the Czech Republic]. / Vliv saturace jódem na výskyt tyreopatií ve vybraných regionech u dospelé populace Ceské republiky.

Thyreopathy--a disorder of thyroid gland--is, together with diabetes, one of the most common endocrine diseases and, similarly to other endocrinopathies, higher prevalence is seen in women than in men. When eliminating iodine deficiency, it should to be taken into account that the mean ioduria in the general population reaches 100-200 microg/l, just 1.3% of the population does not reach ioduria of 50 microg/l and the prevalence of goitre in school children declines below 5%. The 1991 and 1997 period was a period of slight iodine deficiency (ioduria < 100 microg/I) and was followed, between 1998 and 2006, by a period of optimum iodine saturation (ioduria > 100 microg/l). Median ioduria observed over one year follow up differed in different age groups, highest values were seen in the 18-35 age group and declined with age. Median iodinuria depended on the year of follow up, age and gender (p < 0.0000). Thyroid gland hypofunction was more frequent in women and ioduria levels > 100 microg/I, thyroid gland hyperfunction was also more frequent in women but with ioduria levels < 100 microg/l. Hypofunction, subclinical hypofunction, hyperfunction and subclinical hyperfunction were more frequent in women. Of unexplained laboratory findings, isolated hypothyroxinemia was more frequent in women and isolated hyperthyroxinemia was more frequent in men. Euthyreosis was more frequent in men than women.

[Iodine deficiency in the world and in the Czech Republic--current status and perspectives]. / Jodový deficit ve svete i v Ceské Republice--soucasný stav a perspektivy.

Iodopenia is importance world-wide problem--the cause of spectrum of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). The "simple" way for its compensation is iodine supplementation--preferably by iodinization of salt: in the Czech Republic prevalence of IDD was very high in the past. The complex program for compensation of iodine deficiency realized in the CR includes improvement of salt iodization, supplementation of pregnant and lactating women, fortification of products for babies' nutrition and increasing use of iodinized salt in general population incl. food industry. Thus CR is country with compensated iodine deficiency according to criteria WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD. In future, however, systematic interest should be focused on optimalization of iodine saturation, esp. in pregnant women and evaluation of possible risk of supranormal iodine intake (impairment of thyroid function, activation of thyroid autoimmunity). Taking in account, the changes of nutrition and life style systematic monitoring of quality of iodine supplementation seems to be essential.

[Mid-term outcomes and survival rates in patients with radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) under current Czech healthcare system]. / Strednedobé výsledky a prezití nemocných po radikální retropubické prostatektomii (RRP) v soucasných podmínkách ceského zdravotnictví.

The mid-term results (5 yr) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) are outlined and compared with pre- and postoperative parameters of patients. While 5 years survival could be expected in as many as 92.4%, relatively higher age (majority over 65) brings a higher risk of complications with it, though fully comparable with international standards. No perioperative mortality was recorded (0%), obstructive symptoms post-operatively developed in 13.4% patients, who were subsequently managed successfully endoscopically. Continence with maximum one pad per 24 hours was recorded in 77.2%, the severe incontinence was only in 3.3%. Spontaneous erection was reported in 4.3%, but except for higher age, the other objective factors were involved.

Chromogranin A, a member of neuroendocrine secretory proteins as a selective marker for laboratory diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

The function of chromogranin A (CGA) is reviewed, and the radioimmunometric determination of plasma CGA was evaluated as a marker of pheochromocytoma using a comparison of pheochromocytoma patients immediately before surgery (group P, n=25, 635+/-451 ng/ml) with other groups of patients, i.e. pheochromocytoma patients approximately 1 year after removal of tumor (group PP, n=13, 69+/-33 ng/ml), medullary thyroid carcinoma patients (group M, n= 22, 106+/-59 ng/ml), congenital adrenal hyperplasy patients (n=33, 65+/-40 ng/ml), and controls (n=31, 66+/-29 ng/ml). A CGA level above cut off value 130 ng/ml was found in 24 of 25 patients in group P, 1 (relapse) of 13 patients in group PP, and 4 of 22 patients in group M. In the group P we found a significant association between the size of the tumors removed and plasma CGA concentrations (p=0.0016), and also a significant (p=0.0016) relationship between plasma CGA concentrations and PASS score rating the malignity of pheochromocytoma. We can conclude that plasma CGA concentration as determined by radioimmunometric assay (which is simple without the necessity of special laboratory equipment) is an effective marker of pheochromocytoma with association to malignity and tumor mass.

Relationship between pituitary-thyroid axis hormones and anthropometric parameters in Czech adult population.

Although the relationships between thyroid function and anthropometric parameters were studied in patients with thyroid disorders and in morbidly obese subjects, such data in normal healthy population are scarce. In our study, relationships between factors of body composition, fat distribution and age with hormones of the pituitary-thyroid axis were evaluated in a large, randomly selected sample of normal adult Czech population comprising of 1012 men and 1625 women. Our results exhibited weak, but significant relationships between body composition, body fat distribution and the parameters of pituitary-thyroid axis. Some of these associations were gender-specific. As shown by backward stepwise regression model, body fat distribution evaluated by centrality index (subscapular/triceps skinfold ratio) was negatively associated with free triiodothyronine (fT3) serum levels only in women, while a positive correlation of fT3 with BMI was specific for men. BMI was inversely related to free thyroxine (fT4) concentrations in women but not in men. The centrality index (CI) was positively related to TSH levels in both genders. The fT3/fT4 ratio, reflecting deiodinase activity, was inversely related to age and positively related to BMI in both genders, while the highly significant negative correlation between CI and fT3/fT4 ratio was specific for women.

Immunoprotective steroids and SHBG in non-treated hypothyroidism and their relationship to autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Immunomodulatory steroids, dehydroepiandrosterone and its 7-hydroxylated metabolites and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were determined in sera of 88 women aged 18-75 years. The group consisted of 34 healthy women, 37 women with subclinical and 17 women with manifest hypothyroidism. In all subjects the laboratory parameters of thyroid function (thyrotropin, free thyroxine and triiodothyronine) and thyroid autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin were determined. The aim was to find out 1) whether the above steroids and SHBG levels differ in individual groups according to thyroid status, 2) whether correlations exist among investigated steroids and thyroid laboratory parameters, and 3) whether the respective steroid and SHBG levels differ according to the presence of principal thyroid autoantibodies. With the exception of 7beta-hydroxy-dehydroepindrosterone levels, which were decreased in patients with manifest hypothyroidism (p<0.05), no significant differences in steroid and SHBG levels among groups according to diagnosis were found. On the other hand, significantly decreased levels of all the immunomodulatory steroids studied were found in subjects with positive titres of thyroid autoantibodies. This finding was supported by a tight negative correlation among the above steroids and thyroid autoantibodies. In addition, these steroids correlated negatively with thyrotropin and positively with free thyroid hormones. The results point to a negative relationship between the above mentioned immunoprotective steroids and the extent of the autoimmune process in hypothyroidism.

[Evaluation of results of iodine prophylaxis in Czech Republic]. / Hodnocení výsledku jodové profylaxe v ceské republice.

BACKGROUND: Improvement of system of iodine prophylaxis in Czech Republic resulted in compensation of iodine deficiency. Effects of increased iodine intake on the status of thyroid gland (volume, function, autoimmune disorders) should be determined. The aim of the study was to evaluate those effects in an epidemiological survey. METHODS AND RESULTS: A randomly selected sample of adult population (18-65 years old) from 3 regions was investigated using the same methods at the interval of 5 years. A significant increase of ioduria was proved with the marked increase of prevalence of high category (over 300 ug of I per 100 mL of urine). Volume of the thyroid gland decreased significantly in women, not in men. No significant changes of TSH were observed, however FT4 level slightly, but significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated epidemiological survey of the randomly selected sample of adult population in 3 regions verified the effectiveness of improved iodine prophylaxis with not unequivocally positive increase of high (supraphysiological) category of ioduria. Decrease of thyroid volume was proved in women only, a tendency of mild (clinically not important) increase of thyroid function was also observed.

[Changes in iodine supply in adult Czech population after iodine deficit eradication and causes. Random study of adults in two regions in the Czech republic with in between period of 5 years]. / Zmeny v zásobeni jodem Ceské dospelé populace po eradikaci jodového deficitu a jejich príciny. Randomizovaná studie dospelé populace dvou regionu Ceské republiky s odstupem 5 let.

INTRODUCTION: By iodine, similar to many other elements that are important for human body, the daily intake has some limitations. Neither deficiency, nor surplus are required. In the second half of the nineties in the 20th century, iodine deficiency in Czech republic could have been eradicated to a great extent. However, changes in iodine supply in population still have to be monitored, looking for the causes in nutrition. AIM: To monitor the changes in ioduria in adult population and search for causes of these changes in dietary habits. METHODS: In 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2005, urinary iodine was determined in randomly selected population of 1139 adults aged 18 to 65, domiciled in the regions Jablonec nad Nisou or Príbram. The measurement of iodine was based on alcaline ashing of urine specimens preceding Sandell-Koldhoff reaction. The information about possible nutrition sources of iodine (seafood, milk, salt, eggs, mineral water) was found out through questionnaires and controlled interviews. RESULTS: During the respective 5 years, significant increase of the mean level of urinary iodine from 117 +/- 3.09 microg/l to 193 +/- 8.17 microg/l occured. In both regions, significant increased frequency of supernormal values of urinary iodine (over 300 microg/l) occured: from 0% to 13-18%. However, the changes in the region Jablonec nad Nisou were more positive than in the other one: decrease of below-normal urinary iodine concentration (50 to 99 microg/l) from 43% to 22% in the region Jablonec nad Nisou was found, while the number of below-normal urinary iodine concentration in the other region increased from 24% to 33% and the number of adults with optimum iodine concentration has also decreased (from 75% to 53%). Nutrition changes of possible influence on the urinary iodine concentration (seafood, milk, eggs, salt, mineral water with iodine) were observed and significant increase in consumption of eggs, mineral water with iodine and milk was found out. The consumption of mineral water with iodine has increased from 5% to 10% in Jablonec nad Nisou and from 15% to 26% in Príbram. Multi-factor analysis of four major nutrition sources of iodine (consumption of milk, seafood, eggs and salt) has proven the biggest influence of regular egg and milk consumption on urinary iodine concentration in adults.

[Selenium deficiency of west Bohemia population]. / Deficit selenu v populaci západních Cech.

To estimate status and intake of selenium in inhabitants of the most Western region of the Czech Republic (Cheb region) 241 serum, 404 urine and 30 hair samples from randomly selected persons in the age between 6 and 65 years is performed. Serum and hair samples were analysed by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), while Se in urines was detected by means of fluorimetry. Urine iodine was determined in the same group by Sandell-Kolthoff method for the possibility to detect concomitant Se and I deficiency and/or correlations between these two essential trace elements necessary for metabolism of thyroid hormones. Average values of Se indexes are low (55.4 +/- 13.8 microg Se/L serum; 15.4 +/- 5.7 microg Se/L urine; 13.6 +/- 6.0 microg Se/g creatinine; 0.268 +/- 0.051 microg Se/g hair) and prove Se deficiency in the searched population. Statistical evaluation of Se in subgroups of boys, girls, men and women proved significant differences as far as age is concerned, gender differences were found only between boys and girls. Some significant and highly significant differences were found also in subgroups according age and gender (males and females in the age of 6, 10, 13, 18-35, 36-49 and 50-65 years). On the other hand, urine iodine average value (126 +/- 65 microg/L) is on the lower optimum level. By the use of correlation analysis, slight but significant correlations were found between Se and I in urine and some of thyroid hormone parameters and their influence on the organism.

[Iodine and thyroid hormones]. / Jod a tyreoldální hormony.

In the years 1995-2002, a survey was conducted involving 5 263 individuals (2 276 males, 2 987 females) between the ages of 6-98. They were selected randomly from the central registery in 7 counties in the Czech Republic. The level of urinary iodine in these individuals was established using the Sandell-Kolthoff rection which was preceded by the alkaline ashing of the samples as follows: (n = 5 263), thyroglobulin (TG, n = 3 902), thyrotropin(TSH, n = 5 162) freee thyroxin (fT4, n = 5 160) and free triiodothyronine (fT3, n = 4 931), where the thyroid hormones, TSH, and TG were determined in serum using immunoassays. The individuals were divided into groups according to their iodine deficiency, i.e. to the group with urinary iodine concentration < 50, 50-100, 100-200, and > 200 microg I/l of urine. In these groups the mean and median of TG, TSH, fT4, and fT3 were calculated. The means and medians of TG and fT4 increased with the decrease of urinary iodine, and conversely TSH decreased with the decrease of urinary iodine. The values of fT3 were relatively unaffected by the changes in the concentrations of urinary iodine. All the hormonal changes fell into the normal reference rang. It is evident from our results that in cases iodine deficiency in the organism, there is a tendency to raise the sensitivity thyrocytes to TSH stimulation rather than a rise in the concentration of circulating TSH. Of all the hormones observed, thyroglobulin was the best indicator of iodine retention in the organism.

Iodine saturation of Roma neonates in prague is not at an optimum level.

AIM: The purpose of our study was to determine urinary iodine as an indicator of iodine supplementation in Roma (Gypsy) neonates compared to majority population neonates. METHODS: The groups studied were formed by 30 full-term Roma neonates and 151 majority population neonates. Iodine was determined from samples of urine collected on the 4th day after delivery, after alkaline ashing, using the Sandell-Kolthoff method. RESULTS: The median of urinary iodine in Roma neonates was 92.15 microg/l urine and in neonates from majority population mothers it was 109.20 microg/l urine. The mean of urinary iodine in Roma neonates was 114.55 microg/l urine (SD 71.68 microg/l) and in neonates from majority population mothers it was 141.86 microg/l urine (SD 87.42 microg/l). The difference was not statistically significant. Majority population mothers more frequently consumed nutrition supplements containing iodine as well as fish. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to older data, supplementation of neonates with iodine is higher. However, it does not reach optimum levels. The urinary iodine median in Roma neonates lies in the mild iodine deficiency band.

[The volumes of the thyroid gland in adults aged 18-65 years in the Czech Republic--determination of the norms]. / Volumy stítné zlázy u dospelé populace ve veku 18-65 let v Ceské republice--stanovení norem.

OBJECTIVE: In the areas with moderate iodine deficit the sonographic examination of thyroid gland is a precious method of precise determination of its volume. The objective of the work was the sonographic examination of males and females aged 18-65 years and to determine the norms of the volumes of thyroid gland. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, by random sampling, there were sonographically examined 3 416 adults in 11 areas of the Czech Republic; there was chosen a set of 971 females and 681 males whose iodinuria level in first morning urine sample was equal or higher than 100 microg/l. This set was divided according to sex and into the age categories in 5-year interval. The measurement of 3 dimensions of the thyroid gland was determined by Medison-Kretz SA 600 sonographic device with the use of 7.5 MHz linear probe for the depth and width measurement and 3.5 MHz probe was used for the lengths measurement. The volume was determined for each lobe individually using Brunn's formula: V (ml) = 0.479 x length x depth x width. Our results imply the age-related increase of the volume of thyroid gland at both sexes (F-ratio = 1.99, p < 0.0001). At men and women the volume of thyroid gland fluently increases to the 30th year equally, from 30 years to 55 years it increases more rapidly in men while in women there is observed a moderate plateau. Further increase of the volume of thyroid gland is equally fluent from the age of 55 years. CONCLUSION: We managed to determine first own norms of the volumes of thyroid gland for men and women aged 18-65 years in the Czech Republic in five-year age categories. In terms of practical use we recommend 90th percentile as a limit for the evaluation of upper limit of thyroid gland and the 10th percentile for the evaluation of lower limit of the volume of thyroid gland.