Influence of Hashimoto thyroiditis on the development of thyroid nodules and cancer in children and adolescents

It is unclear whether patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) are predisposed to develop thyroid nodules and/or thyroid cancer. The objective of our study was therefore to assess the prevalence of thyroid nodules and/or cancer in patients with HT and to look for possible prognostic factors. A retrospective survey of 904 children/adolescents with HT (709 females, 195 males) regularly followed in nine Italian centers of pediatric endocrinology was performed. Median period of follow-up was 4.5 years (1.2 to 12.8 years). We evaluated free T4, TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroid ultrasound yearly. One hundred seventy-four nodules were detected, with an annual incidence rate of 3.5%. Ten nodules were malignant (8 papillary and 2 papillary follicular variant), giving a 5.7% prevalence of cancer among patients with nodules. The severity of hypo-echogenity at ultrasound, TPOAb, and free T4 serum concentrations were predictive for the appearance of new nodules. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between TPOAb titer and the development of thyroid cancer. In conclusion, HT seems to influence the development of thyroid nodules, but not cancer in children and adolescents

DMSO and Temperature Contributions to Synthesis of Silver Nano-Particles by the Bacterium Shewanella oneidensis

Nanomaterial are widely used in different areas such as optical device, drug delivery, chemicals, mechanics, magnetics, catalysis, energy science, Nano therapeutics and space industries depend on the special physical properties. However, most methods to produce nanoparticles are expensive or environmental unfriendly which can involve in toxic chemical. Another reason is that the nanoparticles from bio-based protocols are hydrophilic which is compatible with biological materials. In this project, we chose Shewanella oneidensis which is Gram-negative bacterium as the organism to produce sliver nanoparticles from sliver nitrate solution. The mechanism of bacterial of ion metal ion reduction to stable metal nanoparticles is unclear, but the NADH-dependent reeducates, quinines, and soluble electron-shuttles are thought to play an important role in metal reduction. This research focused on the temperature and DMSO affects the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Shewanella Oneidensis. At various temperatures, the bio-activity of bacterium is different which can affect the silver nanoparticles reducing rate and the spherical size and nanoparticle geometry. DMSO is an aprotic, polar solvent which can penetrate skin and other membranes without damaging the cells. Due to this property of DMSO, DMSO was utilized as a co-solvent, which may change biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. The synthesis processes were carried out at different temperatures and DMSO concentration and the nanoparticle formation monitored by using UV-vis spectrometer scans of the aqueous layer of reaction at 0 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/1429/thumbnail.jp

Levothyroxine Treatment in Pediatric Benign Thyroid Nodules

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of levothyroxine therapy in benign thyroid nodules in pediatrics. Methods: Data from 78 euthyroid children and adolescents with benign thyroid nodules were retrospectively collected. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: levothyroxine treated (n = 36) and nontreated (n = 42), and the clinical, laboratory and sonographic features of the 2 groups were compared. Nodules were considered benign according to histology, fine-needle aspiration biopsy or by features suggestive for benignity. The groups were followed up for 2.4 +/- 1.3 years, and treated patients received a mean dose of levothyroxine of 1.69 +/- 0.66 mu g/kg/clay. Results: Patients in the treated and nontreated groups were comparable for age, sex and follow-up. A reduction in nodule diameter from 2.24 +/- 0.94 to 1.86 +/- 1.17 cm (p = 0.039) was observed in treated patients, whereas the nodule diameter increased from 1.66 +/- 0.86 to 1.78 +/- 0.91 cm in nontreated patients (p = 0.024). In the treatment group, 11 patients (30.6%) had a reduction greater than 50% and significantly decreased palpable nodules (p < 0.001). A nonsignificant reduction in reported symptoms was observed, too. The change in nodule size was directly correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone levels (r = 0.640, p < 0.001) and inversely with levothyroxine dose (r = 0.389, p = 0.009). In nontreated subjects, both palpable nodules and symptoms increased. Conclusion: This study supports levothyroxine treatment effectiveness in shrinking benign nodules. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

Serum Thyrotropin Concentration in Children with Isolated Thyroid Nodules

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration and nodule nature in pediatric patients with thyroid nodules, with the aim of identifying a marker able to differentiate benign and malignant nodules. Study design This was a retrospective analysis of serum TSH concentrations in a multicentric case series of 125 pediatric patients with benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Results Of the 125 patients, 99 had benign thyroid nodules and 26 had differentiated thyroid cancer (24 papillary and 2 follicular). Final diagnosis was based on surgery in 57 cases and on a benign cytology plus clinical follow-up in 68 cases. Serum TSH concentration was significantly higher in patients with thyroid cancer compared with those with benign nodules (3.23 ± 1.59 mU/L vs 1.64 ± 0.99 mU/L; P 2.8 mU/L), serum TSH concentration can serve as a predictor of thyroid cancer in pediatric patients with thyroid nodules and can inform the decision of when to submit patients to further investigation by cytology. © 2013 Mosby Inc. All rights reserved