[Abnormalities of sexual development in Puerto Rico: status report]. / Anomalías de desarrollo sexual en Puerto Rico: estado de situación.

Puerto Rico presents the highest incidence in the world of anomalous sexual development. The authors have collected over 3100 cases in the past 19 years. Clinical and laboratory studies suggest possible estrogenic contamination of meats and poultry products. Variation in diet provides protection to a significant number of patients. The possibility of mycotic contamination of food employed in animal husbandry by Fusarium sp., and mycotoxins capable of estrogenic effects have been suggested in a preliminary study. Private and government investigators are active in the study of the condition, but more fiscalizing action is needed. A detailed study of food components for possible contaminants determination is considered mandatory.

Prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in the Bayamon region.

The purpose of this study was to describe our experience in the Bayamon region with respect to the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in our pediatric diabetic population. We identified a total of 78 patients with IDDM and all were examined to ascertain the presence of goiter. Thyroid profile, free thyroxine, thyrotropin, and thyroid microsomal autoantibodies were measured by radioimmunoassay in 65 of these patients. The data was analyzed using the Chi square test in order to correlate thyroid dysfunction with respect to sex and thyroid autoimmunity. Our results revealed a prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in our IDDM patients of 15%, 40% of them had a goiter (p less than 001) and most of them were female (9 of 12). This is the lowest prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in diabetic children reported in Hispanic groups in the United States thus far.