• 한국식품영양학회지
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.30-38
• /
• 2010

Aflatoxin은 Aspergillus 속 곰팡이로부터 생성되며, 사람에게 있어서 간독성 및 간암을 유발하는 잠재력을 가진 곰팡이 독소이며, 지질과산화 반응은 aflatoxin $B_1$에 의한 세포 산화적 손상 시 발생하는 주요 현상 중의 하나이다. 방사선은 수술, 항암약물요법과 더불어 임상 시 중요한 치료 방법이나, 정상세포에 방사선을 조사하였을 때 반응성이 높은 활성산소와 과산화라디칼($OH^*$)을 생성하여 세포막의 불포화 지방산을 지질 과산화물로 변성시켜 세포 산화적 손상을 일으킨다. 본 연구는 곡류를 주식으로 하는 우리나라 사람들의 경우, aflatoxin $B_1$에 노출되기 쉽고 이들 중 일부는 위, 간, 담도 암과 같은 상복부 암으로 진단되어 간을 포함하는 부위에 대해 방사선 치료를 받을 수 있는 경우를 생각하여 흰쥐에게 aflatoxin $B_1$을 투여하거나 방사선과 aflatoxin $B_1$을 병합 처리하여 vitamin C가 간독성 유발요인과 연관된 간 기능 효소들의 변화와 전자현미경 실험에 의한 형태학적 관찰을 알아보고자 시행되었다. X-ray 조사는 실험기간 내 단 1회로 실험사육기간 첫 일에 조사하였고, X-ray 조사 후 vitamin C를 투여하였으며 vitamin C 투여 1시간 후 $AFB_1$을 투여하였다. Vitamin C와 AFB은 모두 복강투여로 실험 사육 첫 일부터 1회 시작하여 3일에 한번씩, 5회 반복 투여 하였으며 실험동물 사육기간은 총 15일로 하였다. GOT, ALK phatase, LDH는 유의적인 차이는 없으나 $AFB_1$을 투여한 2군에 비해 2군에 vitamin C를 투여한 3군이, 방사선과 $AFB_1$ 병합 처리한 4군에 비해 4군에 vitamin C를 투여한 5군이 각각 감소하는 경향이었다. 간 기능 효소 중 GPT는 대조군에 비해 $AFB_1$을 투여한 2군은 유의적인 차이가 없었으나 증가하였으며, 특히 2군에 비해 2군에 vitamin C를 투여한 3군은 수치가 p<0.001 수준에서 현저히 감소하였다. TEM을 이용한 간세포의 형태에서는 $AFB_1$ 단독 처리군의 세포(G2)는 세포의 핵과 핵막이 팽창되어 있으며, 소포체가 긴 막대 모양에서 원형으로 변형되어 나타나고, 미토콘드리아는 크리스테(cristae)가 분열되어 속이 빈 형태를 보여주고 있으나 여기에 vitamin C를 투여한 3군의 세포(G3)에서는 핵은 아직 약간 팽창된 모양을 하고 있으나 핵막의 모양이 거의 정상으로 되었으며, 소포체와 미토콘드리아도 거의 정상 모양을 회복하고 있다. X선 조사와 $AFB_1$ 병합 처리군인 4군의 세포(G4)는 조직의 상당한 파괴가 관찰되었으며, 여기에 vitamin C를 투여한 5군의 세포(G5)는 정상적이지는 않으나 파괴 정도가 덜 한 것을 볼 수 있었다. 이로써 $AFB_1$ 단독 투여군인 2군, 방사선과 $AFB_1$ 병합 처리한 4군에 각각 vitamin C를 혼합 투여한 3군과 5군에서 핵과 핵막 등이 정상에 가깝게 회복된 현상은 vitamin C의 항산화력에 의해 세포막 표면에 형성된 틈이나 팽창 상태가 가역적이고 반복적인 결합이 유도되어 핵과 핵막이 많이 회복된 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제33권5호
• /
• pp.407-418
• /
• 2000

Background: With open heart surgery(OHS), it has been recognized that many postoperative complications and postperfusion syndrome are associated with the activations of complements and leulocytes. Recently, some investigators also demonstrated that interlukin-6(IL-6) linked highly with postperfusion syndrome. The puropose of this study was to investigate the sequential changes of the IL-6 and to clarify each IL-6 relationship to the complements(C3, C4) and inflammatory response following cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). Material and Method: To determine serum levels of IL-6, complements, leukocytes, and biochemistric markers of liver and renal function, blood samples were taken from th radial artery in 30 adult patients undergoing OHS with CPB. Result: Serum IL-6 levels incrased significantly at 10 minutes after CPB-on(CPB-10) in comparison with the control levels and reached the peak at CPB-off(p<0.05). Serum complement levels declined rapidly at CPB-10 and remained at the lower levels during CPB(p<0.01). Sequential changes of IL-6 levels had positive correlations with the changes of total leukocytes and neutrophil fractions(p<0.05), but had negative correlations with lymphocyte fractions(p<0.05). Changes of C3 related postively to monocyte fractions(p<0.05). Postoperative levels of total protein and albumin, decreased significantly in comparison with the control levels(p<0.01), while the postoperative levels of AST(aspartate transaminase) and bilirubin increased (p<0.01). At CPB-off, IL-6 levels had negative correlations with total protein and albumin levels(r=-0.60, -0.47 respectively, p<0.05), whereas C3 levels had positive correlations with albumin levels(r=0.40, p<0.05). IL-6 levels, as well as neutrophil fractions, had positive correlations with aortic clamp time(ACT) and total bypass time(TBT) (IL-6; r=0.82, 0.79 respectively, neutrophil fractions; r=0.50, 0.56 respectively, p<0.05), wheres lymphocyte frations and albumin levels had negative correlations whith ACT and TBT(lymphocyte fractions; r=-0.52, -0.58 respectively, albumin; r=-0.58, -0.55 respectively, p<0.05). Conclusion: These data showed that elevated production of serum IL-6 during CPB may play a pivotal role in systemic inflammatory responses and prologed CPB period may be assosiated with more sever postperfusion syndromes.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.171-187
• /
• 1998

Garlic occupies a special position among the many foods of vegetable origin because it is the sole food for Koreans during the their lives. And vitamin A has been ingested by forms of food or additives. Cadmium has been described as one of the most dangerous trace elements in the food and environment of man and livestocks. Since the de novo synthesis of stress proteins can be detected early after exposure to some agents, analysis of cadmium-induced changes in gene expression , ie. alterations in patterns of protein synthesis, may be useful to develop as biomarkers of exposure and damage for food hygiene. He acute and chronic combine effects of cadmium (Cd, CdCl2 20mg/kg), garlic oil(Dds: diallyl disulfide 50mg/kg, 3 times a week) and vitamin A(Ra: retinol acetate 50,000 IU/kg, 3 times a week) on Wistar male rats were evaluated concerning cadmium contents, tissues enzyme activity, HSP expression histopathological and electron microscopical examinations. The results of the study are as follows ; 1. Less cadmium was absorbed through the digestive tracts, but the ratio of contents in tissue were not changed by the simultaneous adminstration of diallyl disufide or retinol acetate. 2. ALT(alanine aminotransferase) , AST(aspartate aminotransferase), glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, the key indices of the clinical changes in hepatic and renal function were significantly hanged by the cadmium treatment after 1 week in liver, after 4 weeks in kidney. 3. Histopathological changes in cadmium treated rats were appeared at 8 weeks age treatment in kidneys. Homogenous eosinophilic material was accumulated in cortical and collecting tubular lumens at 16 weeks. Degenerated or necrotized tubular cells were observed in cortex and medulla. Degenerated seminiferous tubules and homogeneous eosinophilic material was seen in interstitial tissue of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Calcium deposits were seen in degenerated seminiferous tubules and the tubules showed severe calcification of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Electron microscope changes in kidney were observed in rats treated with CdCl2 20 mg/kg. Proximal convoluted tubule cells showed selling of cytoplasm and narrow lumen. Capillary endothelial cells showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and swelling. Degenerated epithelial cells were accumulated in tubular lumen of kidney. 4. Enhanced synthesis of 70 KDa relateve molecular mass proteins were detected in 2 hours after cadmium, exposure, with maximum activity occurring at 8~48 hours. Induction of HSP 70 was evident at proximal tubules and glomeruli in kidney. Testicular cells produced enough HSP to be detected normally. From the above results, it could be concluded that HSP70 induction by the cadmium treatment was a rapid reaction to indicated the exposure of xenobiotics, and retinol acetate reduced the cadmium induced nephrotoxicity.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
• /
• 제16권3호
• /
• pp.116-128
• /
• 2003

Objectives : The incidence of allergic rhinitis has increased but treatment in most cases has only dealt with the symptoms. Medicine has been developed that shows fewer side effects. However, some side effects and the psychological stress over taking medicine has remained. There have been no studies so far performed on the effect of this Jeulminmilmae-tang's use, only. The purpose of this study was find out the therapeutic effects of its exclusive use on an Animal Model with Allergic Rhinitis. Methods : Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three group : normal group, control group and sample group. To induce the allergic rhinitis in control group and sample group, rats were sensitized intraperitoneally with 0.1$\%$ ovalumin solution 3 times at intervals of 1 week. Then intranasal sensitization was performed by diffusing 0.1$\%$ ovalumin solution 3 times at intervals of 2 days. After that time, rats in the sample group were oral administration treated by Jeulminmilmae-tang for 28 days. Compared with the sample group, rats in the control group were oral administration treated by normal saline for 28 days. We observed changes in nasal mucosa and submucosa; also changes in the segment of neutrophil, eosinophil, Iympocyte and monocyte in blood. We used the statistical methods of student t-test(p 〈0.05). And we observed the changes of AST, ALT of three groups and used anova test statistically. Results : The segment of eosinophil was significantly decreased in treated group when compared with the control group(p 〈0.05). The segment of neutrophil. in blood were decreased in the treated group when compared with the control group but. that was not significant statistically(p 〈0.05). There were some regrowth of the cilium in the treated group. Histologic changes showed edema congestion and expantion of grandular cells in nasal submucosa and hypertrophy of epithelium ill nasal mucosa were decreased in treated group when compared with control group. Effects of Jeulminmilmae-tang on the liver function were also studies in rats. Treatment of Jeulminmilmae-tang did not affected on AST and ALT. Conclusions : The results may suggest that oral administration treatment using Jeulminmilmae-tang decreases the inflammatory response on an Animal Model with Allergic Rhinitis.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.15-29
• /
• 1992

The gallbladder is known to have the function of the storage and the concentration of the bile produced by the liver. This function is carried out by the removal of water and inorganic electrolytes. Extrahepatic cholestasis or the impairment of excretion of the bile leads to the distension and loss of the function of the gallbladder. The purpose of this study was to examine the ultrastructural characteristics of the normal gallbladder epithelial cells, and their structural changes induced by the ligation of common bile duct of the rabbit. Common bile duct ligation was performed under ether anesthesia. The rabbits were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 14th day, respectively after operations. The tissue blocks of the gallbladder were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde prior to fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide, and embedded in the araldite mixture, and observed with JEM 100 CX-II electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. The normal gallbladder epithelium of adult rabbit demonstrated two cell types, the ordinary epthelial cell and the dark cell. The dark cells have electron dense cytoplasm, and were found much infrequently, whereas ordinary epthelial cells were found quite numerous. 2. The ordinary epthelial cells of normal gallbladder were provided with the regular microvilli at the free surface and the images of pinocytotic activities in the apical cytoplasm, and exhibit highly convoluted lateral surfaces with elaborated microfolds. These figures of the cells suggest that they are resorptive in functional activity. 3. In the early stages (1st, 3rd, 5th day groups) following the ligation, the apical cytoplasm of some cells is protruding from the free surface and lost their microvilli. Numerous mucous granules filled in the apical and supranuclear cytoplasm compactly. 4. In the late stages (7th, 14th day groups) following the ligation, many light cells containing mumerous mucous granules are seen, between the ordinary epthelial cells. Mucous granules are fused each other, and are discharged into the lumen from the apical cytoplasm. The lateral membranes are straight or undulating without any interdigitations. From the above results, it was concluded that in the cholestasis induced by the common bile duct ligation, there is a tendency for the mucosal epithelium of the rabbit gallbladder to have secretory rather than an absorptive function.

• 대한핵의학회지
• /
• 제37권6호
• /
• pp.418-427
• /
• 2003

목적: $^{99m}-lactosylated$ serum albumin ($^{99m}Tc-LSA$)은 간세포에 특이적으로 결합하는 간수용체 영상용 방사성의약품으로 새로이 합성되었다. 간섬유화를 유발하는 dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)을 투여한 간 손상 흰쥐 모델에서 $^{99m}Tc-LSA$의 역동학적인 간섭취를 조사하고 간효소치의 변화와 조직학적 소견을 비교하여, LSA의 간섭취가 간기능의 변화를 반영하는지를 연구하였다. 대상 및 방법: SD계 흰쥐에 DMN를 27 mg/kg으로 복강 내 주사하여 급성 간손상을 유도하고 대조군과 비교하였다. DMN을 주사한 흰쥐를 3일(DMN-3), 8일(DMN-8), 21일(DMN-21)에 $^{99m}Tc-LSA$ (1,665 mg/kg) 29 MBq를 정맥 주사하여, 30분 동안 동적 영상을 획득하고 간과 심장부위에 관심영역을 설정하여 간과 심장부위의 시간방사능 곡선을 얻었다. 간기능 평가를 위해 시간방사능 곡선을 이용하여 간섭취지수와 혈중제거지수를 구하였고 곡선 최적화를 시행하였다. DMN 투여군과 대조군의 간효소치의 변화와 간조직의 광학현미경 소견을 비교하였다. 결과: 대조군에서는 $^{99m}Tc-LSA$가 빠르게 간에 섭취되고 혈중에서 제거되었으나 DMN을 처리한 군에서는 간섭취가 낮았다. 간섭취지수의 비교에서 대조군에 비해 DMN 처리군에서 유의하게 간섭취지수가 낮았다(DMN-3: 0.842, BMN-8: 0.898, DMN-21: 0.91, 대조군: 0.96, p<0.05). 혈중제거지수의 비교에서도 대조군에 비해 DMN 처리군에서 혈중제거지수가 유의하게 높았다(DMN-3: 0.731, DMN-8: 0.654, DMN-21: 0.604, 대조군: 0.473, p<0.05). 비선형 회귀분석에서 $R_2$값은 0.9이상으로 좋은 일치를 보였고, 대조군에서 K값이 DMN처리군에 비해 크고 (DMN-3: 0.28, DMN-8: 0.41, DMN-21: 0.46, 대조군: 0.97, p<0.05), $T_{1/2}$값은 작았다(DMN-3: 2.5, DMN-8: 1.7, DMN-21: 1.5, 대조군: 0.7, p<0.05). 간효소치의 변화는 DMN-3군에서는 대조군에 비해 상승하였으나 DMN-8, DMN-21군에서는 간효소치의 상승이 관찰되지 않았다. 간조직 소견의 경우 DMN-3군에서 중심정맥 주위에 괴사가 관찰되었으나 DMN-8군, DMN-21군에서는 미약한 정도의 염증세포 침윤만이 관찰되었다. 결론: $^{99m}Tc-LSA$ 간신티그래피의 간섭취 정도는 간손상과 반비례하였으며 간섭취의 변화는 조직학적 손상이 심한 정도와 간손상후 회복되는 과정을 반영하여 주었다. $^{99m}Tc-LSA$ 간신티그래피가 간손상을 평가하고 간손상후 회복되는 과정을 추적하는 간수용체 영상용 방사성 의약품으로 사용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.1-25
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Yanghyuljanggeungunbo-tang(Yangxuezhuangjinjianbu-tang, YGKT) and electrical acupuncture treatment in spinal cord injury(SCI)-induced rats. Methods : The subjects were divided into 5 groups ; Normal, Control-no treatment after SCI, Experimental I(Exp. I)-taken with YGKT 500 mg/kg $0.5m{\ell}$ daily after SCI. Experimental II(Exp. II)-taken with electrical acupuncture after SCI and Experimental III(Exp. III)-taken with YGKT 500 mg/kg $0.5m{\ell}$ and electrical acupuncture after SCI. After each operation, the present author observed cytological changes, the motor behavior recovery and nerve regeneration by analysis of the motor behavior tests, EMG, hematological(AST, ALT, WBC), histological and immunological changes. Rats were tested by Motor behavior test at 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st day. Results : 1. All the experimental groups were improved compared with control group in the motor behavior tests including Tarlov test, Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale, modified inclined plane test, open field test, grid walk test and narrow beam test. Especially Exp. III was significantly improved among other groups. 2. In EMG test, H and M wave were significantly increased in Exp. III. 3. All the experimental groups were significantly decreased compared with control group in AST, ALT and WBC. 4. NGF, BDNF and Trk B of spinal cord gray matter in all the experimental groups were increased compared with control group. Especially, Exp. III was more effective. 5. In histological observations, muscle contraction and denaturation of gastrocnemius muscle of all the experimental groups were inhibited. Especially, those of Exp. III was more effective. On the observations of liver and kidney, cell atrophy and apoptosis of all the experimental groups were decreased compared with control group. Especially, those of Exp. III was more effective. Conclusions : It can be suggested that YGKT and electrical acupuncture may improve motor behavior, EMG, hematological, histological and immunological findings in SCI-induced rats. Especially, combination of these two treatments will be somewhat better in spinal nerve recovery and motor function improvement.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제66권3호
• /
• pp.332-339
• /
• 2023

Objective : The present study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of electrolyte imbalance in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) who underwent craniotomy and its influence on prognosis. Methods : A total of 156 patients with moderate to severe TBI were prospectively collected from June 2019 to June 2021. All patients underwent craniotomy and intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. We aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of electrolyte disturbance and to analyze the influence of electrolyte disturbance on prognosis. Results : A total of 156 patients with moderate and severe TBI were included. There were 57 cases of hypernatremia, accounting for 36.538%, with the average level of 155.788±7.686 mmol/L, which occurred 2.2±0.3 days after injury. There were 25 cases of hyponatremia, accounting for 16.026%, with the average level of 131.204±3.708 mmol/L, which occurred 10.2±3.3 days after injury. There were three cases of hyperkalemia, accounting for 1.923%, with the average level of 7.140±1.297 mmol/L, which occurred 5.3±0.2 days after injury. There were 75 cases of hypokalemia, accounting for 48.077%, with the average level of 3.071±0.302 mmol/L, which occurred 1.8±0.6 days after injury. There were 105 cases of hypocalcemia, accounting for 67.308%, with the average level of 1.846±0.104 mmol/L, which occurred 1.6±0.2 days after injury. There were 17 cases of hypermagnesemia, accounting for 10.897%, with the average level of 1.213±0.426 mmol/L, which occurred 1.8±0.5 days after injury. There were 99 cases of hypomagnesemia, accounting for 63.462%, with the average level of 0.652±0.061 mmol/L, which occurred 1.3±0.4 days after injury. Univariate regression analysis revealed that age, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score at admission, pupil changes, ICP, hypernatremia, hypocalcemia, hypernatremia combined with hypocalcemia, epilepsy, cerebral infarction, severe hypoproteinemia were statistically abnormal (p<0.05), while gender, hyponatremia, potassium, magnesium, intracranial infection, pneumonia, allogeneic blood transfusion, hypertension, diabetes, abnormal liver function, and abnormal renal function were not statistically significant (p>0.05). After adjusting gender, age, GCS, pupil changes, ICP, epilepsy, cerebral infarction, severe hypoproteinemia, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hypernatremia or hypocalcemia was not statistically significant, while hypernatremia combined with hypocalcemia was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion : The incidence of hypocalcemia was the highest, followed by hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia and hypermagnesemia. Hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypokalemia generally occurred in the early post-TBI period, hypernatremia occurred in the peak period of ICP, and hyponatremia mostly occurred in the late period after decreased ICP. Hypernatremia combined with hypocalcemia was associated with prognosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제30권6호
• /
• pp.865-871
• /
• 2017

Objective: The aim was to evaluate carcass characteristics, cut yield, and meat quality in lambs that were fed different inclusion levels of palm kernel cake. Methods: Forty-five woolless castrated male Santa $In{\hat{e}}s$ crossbred sheep with an initial average body weight of $23.16{\pm}0.35kg$ were used. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with five treatments, with palm kernel cake in the proportions of 0.0%, 7.5%, 15.0%, 22.5%, and 30.0% with nine replications per treatment. After slaughter, the gastrointestinal tract was weighed when it was full, after which it was then emptied. The heart, liver, kidney, pancreas perirenal fat were also collected and weighed. The carcass was split into two identical longitudinal halves and weighed to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Results: The empty body weight, carcass weight and yield, and fat thickness decreased linearly (p<0.05) as a function of palm kernel inclusion in the diet. There was no difference (p>0.05) for the rib eye area of animals that were fed palm kernel cake. There was a reduction in the commercial cut weight (p<0.05), except for the neck weight. The weights of the heart, liver, kidney fat, small, and large intestine, and gastrointestinal tract decreased. Nevertheless, the gastrointestinal content was greater for animals that were fed increasing levels of cake. For the other organs and viscera, differences were not verified (p>0.05). The sarcomere length decreased linearly (p<0.05), although an effect of the inclusion of palm kernel cake was not observed in other meat quality variables. It is worth noting that the red staining intensity, indicated as A, had a tendency to decrease (p = 0.050). Conclusion: The inclusion of palm kernel cake up to 30% in the diet does not lead to changes in meat quality characteristics, except for sarcomere length. Nevertheless, carcass quantitative characteristics decrease with the use of palm kernel cake.

• 대한핵의학회지
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 1975

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of the ETR test as compared to other thyroid function tests in normal persons, patients with thyroid disorders and patients with alterations of thyroxine-binding proteins. The ETR values were obtained from 35 cases as normal control, 63 hyperthyroid patients, 56 euthyroid patients, 23 hypothyroid patients, 10 pregnant women, 5 women taking oral contraceptive medication, 8 liver cirrhosis patients and 4 nephrotic syndrome patients. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The mean value of ETR obtained from the normal controls was $0.99{\pm}0.06$. 2. The mean ETR values of various thyroid states were $1.25{\pm}0.16$ in hyperthyroidism, $0.99{\pm}0.08$ in euthyroidism and $0.82{\pm}0.05$ in hypothyroidism and significant difference was found between these groups. 3. Seven out of 63 hyperthyroid patients(11.1%) and 2 out of 23 hypothyroid patients(8.7%) had ETR values within normal range and among the 56 euthyroid patients 6(10.7%) had ETR values outside normal range, so the diagnostic compatibility of ETR was 89.4% in thyroid diseases. 4. Even though the ETR value was well correlated with $^{131}I$-thyroid uptake rate, serum $T_3$ resin uptake rate and serum $T_4$, a high positive correlation was found (r=0.79) between ETR and $T_7$. 5. The mean ETR values from patients with alteration in TBG binding capacity were $0.99{\pm}0.05$ in pregnant women, $0.98{\pm}0.04$ in women with oral contraceptive medication, $1.04{\pm}0.09$ in liver cirrhosis patients and $0.94{\pm}0.02$ in nephrotic syndrome patients and most of them (85.2%) had ETR values within normal range. Our results, therefore, suggests that the ETR estimation does offer the simplest and most reliable single procedure for the screening and diagnosis of various thyroid diseases as a indirect indicator of serum-free thyroxine concentration without essential influence of changes in the thyroxine-binding proteins in serum.