• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.12-22
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• 2023

Graves disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, accounting for more than 90% of cases in Korea. Patients with GD are treated with any of the following: antithyroid drugs (ATDs), radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, or thyroidectomy. Most patients begin treatment with ATDs, and clinical guidelines suggest that the appropriate treatment period is 12 to 18 months. While RAI treatment and surgery manage thyrotoxicosis by destroying or removing thyroid tissue, ATDs control thyrotoxicosis by inhibiting thyroid hormone synthesis and preserving the thyroid gland. Although ATDs efficiently control thyrotoxicosis symptoms, they do not correct the main etiology of GD; therefore, frequent relapses can follow. Recently, a large amount of data has been collected on long-term ATDs for GD, and low-dose methimazole (MMZ) is expected to be a good option for remission. For the long-term management of recurrent GD, it is important to induce remission by evaluating the patient's drug response, stopping ATDs at an appropriate time, and actively switching to surgery or RAI therapy, if indicated. Continuing drug treatment for an extended time is now encouraged in patients with a high possibility of remission with low-dose MMZ. It is also important to pay attention to the quality of life of the patients. This review aimed to summarize the appropriate treatment methods and timing of treatment transition in patients who relapsed several times while receiving treatment for GD.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.19-24
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• 2010

We analyzed and compared the concentration of total cholesterol (CHOL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) in serum and the serum protein electrophoresis fractions of thyroid disease patients. In comparison with the average of reference, our data showed that the average concentration of CHOL, LDL cholesterol and TG in hyperthyroidism patients were decreased significantly, but HDL cholesterol was increased significantly. In hypothyroidism patients, CHOL, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and TG were all increased significantly. In comparison of the concentration of lipids in each patient to reference range, 28.3% of hyperthyroidism patients showed abnormally low level of total cholesterol. In the patients with hypothyroidism, the percentage of patients showed abnormally high level of CHOL, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and TG were 37.7%, 10%, 68.8% and 49.1%, respectively. In our studies of serum protein electrophoresis, the average of ${\alpha}_2$-globulin and $\gamma$-globulin in hyperthyroidism patients were increased and $\beta$-globulin was decreased significantly. In hypothyroidism patients, the average of $\gamma$-globulin was increased and $\beta$-globulin was decreased significantly. In comparison of protein fractions of each patient to reference range, 38.3% and 50.0% of hyperthyroidism patients showed abnormally high levels of ${\alpha}_2$-globulin and $\gamma$-globulin, but 73.3% of patients showed abnormally low level of $\beta$-globulin. In hypothyroidism patients, 70.4% of patients were abnormally decreased in $\beta$-globulin and 63.9% of patients were abnormally increased in $\gamma$-globulin. These data suggest that the concentrations of CHOL, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and TG are not critical data for clinical interpretation of hyperthyroidism, but the levels of them are useful for interpretation of hypothyroidism patients. Our results of serum protein electrophoresis suggest that the concentration of serum protein electrophoresis fractions can be useful to understand the thyroid disease.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.119-124
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• 1995

Traditionally, wound drainage after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has been widely used to prevent airway obstruction due to accumulation of hematoma or seroma within the paratracheal dead space. Recently, however, the routine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has become a matter of controversy. To determine whether the rouine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery is warranted, a prospective study on the complications after various types of thyroid or parathyroid surgery without wound drains was conducted. Three hunded sixty-six consecutive patients underwent thyroid or parathyorid surgeries by one surgeon from January through December 1994 were included in this study. Of these, only 38 patients (10.4%) required the wound drains. Indications for drainage included the patients with a large dead space(n=9) or wet operative field at the conclusion of surgery(n=11), and patients with radical neck disection(n=18). In the remaining 328 patients(89.6%), the wounds were closed without drains after thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy(n=226), bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy(n=21), total or near-total thyroidectomy(n=62), isthmusectomy(n=9) and parathyroid surgery(n=l0). Histologic findings revealed benign tumors in 214(65.2%), carcinoma in 89(27.1%), Graves' disease in 15(4.7%), hyperparathyroidism in 7(2.1%) and parathyroid cyst in 3(0.9%). Among the 328 patients without drain used, wound related complications were seen in only 15 patients(4.6%); 12 patients with seroma and 3 patients with hematoma. All but one complications could be controlled by two or three aspirations, and the remaining one patient required re-exploration. There were no instances of laryngeal nerve palsy or wound infection. The mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 2.8 days with a range of 1 to 11 days. These results support the routine use of drains is not warranted in most thyroid or parathyroid surgeries.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

Objectives Thyroid hormone deficiency during the neurodevelopmental period can impair brain development and induce psychiatric symptoms. This study examined the association between thyroid dysfunction and the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia patients, and the treatment response of patients with schizophrenia. Methods Three hundred thirty-eight schizophrenia patients, with no prior history of thyroid disease or taking medication associated with it, were studied. We assessed the blood thyroid hormone level, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores on the day of admission and discharge, admission period, dose of administered antipsychotics, and the number of antipsychotic combinations. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test. Results The percentage of schizophrenia patients who presented with abnormal thyroid hormone level was 24.6%. High total triiodothyronine (TT3) (p = 0.003), low TT3 (p = 0.001), and high free thyroxine (fT4) (p < 0.001) groups showed a higher BPRS score on admission than did the normal thyroid hormone group, while thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were not significantly correlated with the severity of symptoms. Furthermore, thyroid hormone was not associated with the treatment response assessed by the rate of BPRS score reduction, admission days, use of clozapine, and dose of antipsychotics. Conclusions The TT3 and fT4 hormone levels were significantly associated with the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia patients. These relations suggested that thyroid dysfunction may be associated with the severity of schizophrenia. And hence, further analysis of the results of the thyroid function test, which is commonly used in cases of psychiatric admission, is required.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.133-141
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• 1987

To evaluate the values of the thyroid autoantibody measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and compare it with hemagglutination method (HA) in the normal and the thyroid disease, data were obtained from total 618 persons; 236 healthy persons, 217 patients with Graves' disease (including 113 patients with undertreated Graves' disease), 100 Hashimoto's disease, 31 thyroid nodule, and 34 simple goiter. RSR kit made in England was used and could be detected to at least 3 U/ml. The positive rates of normal group were antimicrosomal antibody (AMA) 31.8%, antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA) 44.5% by RIA and there was no considerable change in sex and age distribution. In Graves' disease, the positive rates of AMA and ATA were 90.4, 76.9% by RIA, 85, 39% by HA. In Hashimoto's disease, 94,91 % by RIA, and 87,48% by HA, respectively. The autoantibody titer by RIA in thyroid autoimmune disease as well as in normal group was more senisitive than that by HA, especially in ATA. There were linear relationships between the titer of RIA and that of HA in AMA of Graves' disease and AMA and ATA of Hashimoto's disease. There was no relationship among thyroid autoantibody, free $T_4$ index, TBII, and TSH. The titers of AMA and ATA were found to decrease in patients with Graves' disease during the course of antithyroid drug therapy. Of the 236 normal subjects, thirty-seven (15.7%) had concentrations of above 7.5 U/ml in AMA, forty. four (18.6%) above 9 U/ml in ATA. These values were considered as the upper limit for the normal range. In Graves' disease, 82.7, 53.8% were above 7.5, 9 U/ml, respectively; In Hashimoto's disease, 82, 79% were positive. We conclude that RIA was more sensitve than HA in measuring the thyoird autoantibody, but we will study further more for determining the normal range and its interpretation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제27권10호
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• pp.1037-1047
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• 1994

Dietary iodine intake and urinary iodide excretion were meassured from 110 patients with various thyroid hormone diseses(hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, simple goiter and thyroid adenoma) and 67 normal control subjects. Iodine intake was assessed on the 24-hour recall dietary data using the compiled lists of food iodine values developed from various countries. Urinary iodide concentrations of drink water samples were measured with the iodide-selective electrode. The average iodine intake of the thyroid patients was 411$\mu\textrm{g}$, which was 87% higher(p<0.05) than that of the control subjects(220$\mu\textrm{g}$). Patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism or simple goiter excreted the most(0.6442ppm) amount of iodide respectively in the urine, with the control subject in the middle(0.5229ppm). Iodide concentrations of the drinking water samples were found to be in the range of 0.0015ppm to 0.0214ppm, which seemed to vary depending on the kind(underground water vs public water) and the location.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.138-142
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• 2015

L-thyroxine (LT4) withdrawal prior to radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation therapy is a commonly used method for successful treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, a prolonged period of hypothyroidism induced by LT4 withdrawal is sometimes associated with impaired quality of life and cardiopulmonary dysfunction in PTC patients. Furthermore, LT4 withdrawal may have a trophic effect on residual cancer by means of increased thyrotropin. We report on 2 cases of metastatic PTC patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) whose disease showed rapid worsening after LT4 withdrawal and RAI therapy. The first case is a 65-year-old woman who had PTC with multiple distant metastases and MPE. During LT4 withdrawal for RAI therapy, MPE showed rapid worsening, and the patient required repetitive therapeutic thoracentesis. The second case is a 49-year-old woman with PTC who underwent 3 additional operations for cancer recurrence in the neck lymph nodes and 6 times of RAI treatments. While preparing for the $7^{th}$ RAI treatment by withdrawing LT4, she developed MPE which became progressively aggravated after RAI therapy. Both patients experienced increased pleural effusion during the LT4 withdrawal period and a rise in the thyroglobulin level was observed after RAI therapy. MPE was not controlled with therapeutic thoracentesis and pleurodesis. Eventually, both patients died of rapid disease progression after RAI therapy. In summary, LT4 withdrawal may have an adverse effect on metastatic PTC patients, particularly those with MPE.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2017

Background: Chronic kidney disease is considered a risk factor for thyroid nodules as well as thyroid dysfunction such as hypothyroidism. Among patients on hemodialysis, we assessed the size of thyroid nodule and goiter at baseline and 1 year later with ultrasonography. Methods: We prospectively selected 47 patients with hemodialysis at January 2012 and reviewed their medical records. We checked goiter and thyroid nodules at January 2012 and December 2012. Results: In the hemodialysis patients (n=47), 24 patients (51.1%) had thyroid nodules and 33 patients (70.2%) had goiter at baseline. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was higher in patients with thyroid nodules ($204.4{\pm}102.9$ vs. $129.9{\pm}93.6pg/mL$, p=0.01). Thyroid ultrasonography was conducted in 29 patients after 1 year. The thickness of the thyroid isthmus increased ($2.8{\pm}1.6$ vs. $3.2{\pm}1.9mm$, p=0.003), but the number of nodules did not change ($1.2{\pm}1.9$ vs. $1.4{\pm}2.0$, p=0.109). PTH was associated with the enlargement of thyroid nodules significantly through logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Thyroid goiter and nodules in hemodialysis patients were more prevalent than in the general population. PTH influenced the production of thyroid nodules in hemodialysis patients. Regular examination with thyroid ultrasonography and thyroid function test should be considered in hemodialysis patients.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.14-23
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• 2017

Background and Objectives: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic performances of grayscale ultrasound (US) and quantitative parameters obtained from texture analysis of grayscale US and elastography images in evaluating patients with diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). Materials and Methods: From September to December 2012, 113 patients (mean age, $43.4{\pm}10.7years$) who had undergone preoperative staging US and elastography were included in this study. Assessment of the thyroid parenchyma for the diagnosis of DTD was made if US features suggestive of DTD were present. Nine histogram parameters were obtained from the grayscale US and elastography images, from which 'grayscale index' and 'elastography index' were calculated. Diagnostic performances of grayscale US, texture analysis using grayscale US and elastography were calculated and compared. Results: Of the 113 patients, 85 (75.2%) patients were negative for DTD and 28 (24.8%) were positive for DTD on pathology. The presence of US features suggestive of DTD showed significantly higher rates of DTD on pathology, 60.7% to 8.2% (p<0.001). Specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value was highest in US features, 91.8%, 84.1%, and 87.6%, respectively (all ps<0.05). Grayscale index showed higher sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) than US features. All diagnostic performances were higher for grayscale index than the elastography index. Area under the curve of US features was the highest, 0.762, but without significant differences to grayscale index or mean of elastography (all ps>0.05). Conclusion: Diagnostic performances were the highest for grayscale US features in diagnosis of DTD. Grayscale index may be used as a complementary tool to US features for improving sensitivity and NPV.

• 한방비만학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.29-41
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• 2006

Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as a normal serum free thyroxine level combined with an elevated thyroid stimulating hormone level. The causes of subclinical hypothyroidism are the same as those of overt hypothyroidism. There is good evidence that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with progression to overt disease. The management of subclinical hypothyroidism is remains controversial. Patients with a serum thyroid stimulating hormone level greater than 10 mU/L have a higher incidence of elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations; however, evidence is lacking for other associations. There is insufficient evidence that hormone treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism is beneficial. The use of thyroid stimulating hormone level lone as a diagnostic and assessment tool for hypothyroidism is inadequate because this test cannot identify numerous conditions this sentence is unclear in its meaning. Using an expanded list of clinical signs and symptoms associated with dysfunction of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid axis, it is possible to hypothesize that subclinical hypothyroidism may be more common in a population of patients with early signs of age-related diseases than most practitioners realize. To improve thyroid function in subclinical hypothyroidism patients, practitioners should become familiar with foods and nutrients that can hinder or support thyroid function.