• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.991-998
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• 2009

Purpose : Thyroid hormone is essential for development of the brain in early life. Thyroid dysfunction is more common in the first 2-4 postnatal weeks of life in premature infants than in term infants. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and clinical course of thyroid dysfunction in prematurity. Methods : Premature infants admitted to and given neonatal screenings at Dankook University Hospital between April 1999 and March 2008 were included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed medical records and categorized subjects into six groups: normal, hypothyroidism, hyperthyrotropinemia, hypothyroxinemia, delayed onset of hypothyroidism, and delayed onset of hyperthyrotropinemia. Results : Among 599 subjects, 136 (23%) had initially abnormal thyroid function test (TFT); transient hypothyroxinemia was the most frequent condition (118, 20%). In addition, 8 (17%) of 46 subjects with initially normal TFT levels showed delayed onset of hyperthyrotropinemia with or without low free thyroxine ($fT_4$). Thyroxine was prescribed for 10 patients (1.7%) due to low $fT_4$ levels but was discontinued in 9 patients during follow-up. Thyroid scan confirmed ectopic thyroid in one patient. Conclusion : Thyroid dysfunction was frequently seen in premature infants, but most of the conditions were transient. In addition, some infants showed delayed TSH elevation on routine follow-up. Therefore, a recheck of the thyroid function of premature infants at 3-4 weeks is recommended, even if normal thyroid function is initially seen, especially in prematurity of less than 33 weeks of gestational age or birth weight of less than 2,500 grams.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2001

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a member of the glycoprotein hormone family which includes FSH, hCG, TSH. These hormone family is characterized by a heterodimeric structure composed a common $\alpha$-subunit noncovalently linked to a hormone specific $\beta$-subunit. The correct conformation of the heterodimer is also important for efficient secretion, hormone-specific post-translational modifications, receptor binding and signal transduciton. To determine $\alpha$ and $\beta$-subunits can be synthesized as a single polypeptide chain (tethered-hCG) and also display biological activity, the tethered-hCG molecule by fusing the carboxyl terminus of the hCG $\beta$-subunit to the amino terminus of the $\alpha$-subunit was constructed and transfected into chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells. We also constructed C-terminal deletion mutants (D9l, D89, D88, D87, D86, D84, D83) of single chain hCG to determine the biological function (secretion, LH-activity, receptor binding, cAMP production) of these mutants. Between six and eight stably transfected pools of cells expressing wild type and mutant hCGs were selected for neomycin resistant. The hCGs secreted by the stably transfected cells into serum-free media were collected and quantified by radioimmunoassay, as described in protocol (DPC(hCG IRMA). LH activity was in terms of testosterone production and aromatase activity in primary cultured rat Leydig cells. The tethered-wthCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric hCG. The D83hCG mutant was not detected in this assay. It is suggest that hCG C-terminal part is very important for hCG secretion. Now, we checking the LH-like activity of these mutant hCGs. These data indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.430-442
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• 1997

Due to the lowering of biological functions resulted from old age, the elderly is known to have many different clinical laboratory data compared with the young adults. But, in korea, such study is lacking. This research is to find the differences between the elderly and the young adults, and also to know the sexual differences, by comparing the outcomes of the clinical. laboratory data. Along with that, it is to help clinical usage of the data in the future. The age of the elderly was between 60 and 83(average age 63.8), and that of the young. controls was between 20 and 35. In both sexes, MCV, MCH, ESR, CRP, AST, ALT, ${\gamma}$GTP, ALP, BUN, total cholesterol were significantly higher in the elderly than in the controls. And lymphocyte count(%), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total protein, albumin, $T_3$ were significantly lower in the elderly than in the controls(P<0.05). Hemoglobin, Hct, platelet count, $T_4$ were significantly lower only in the male elderly, and eosinophil count(%), creatinine were significantly higher only in the female elderly(P<0.05). HDL cholesterol was significantly higher only in the male elderly(P<0.01). There were no significant difference between two groups regarding WBC count, segment neutrophil count(%), monocyte count(%), TSH. Many clinical laboratory data are different between the elderly and the young adults, and some clinical laboratory data also have sexual differences.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2523-2527
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• 2014

Background: Serum thyroglobulin detection plays an essential role during the follow-up of thyroid cancer patients treated with total/near total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relationship between stimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level at the time of high dose $^{131}I$ ablation and risk of recurrence, using a three-level classification in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) according to the ATA guidelines. Also we investigated the relationship between postoperative stimulated Tg at the time of ablation and DxWBS results at 8-10 months thereafter. Materials and Methods: Patients with radioiodine accumulation were regarded as scan positive (scan+). If there was no relevant pathological radioiodine accumulation or minimal local accumulation in the thyroid bed region, this were regarded as scan negative (scan-) at the time of DxWBS. We classified patients in 3 groups as low, intermediate and high risk group for assessment of risk of recurrence according to the revised ATA guidelines. Also, we divided patients into 3 groups based on the stimulated serum Tg levels at the time of $^{131}I$ ablation therapy. Groups 1-3 consisted of patients who had Tg levels of ${\leq}2ng/ml$, 2-10 ng/ml, and ${\geq}10ng/ml$, respectively. Results: A total of 221 consecutive patients were included. In the high risk group according to the ATA guideline, while 45.5% of demonstrated Scan(+) Tg(+), 27.3% of patients demonstrated Scan(-) Tg(-); in the intermediate group, the figures were 2.3% and 90.0% while in the low risk group, they were 0.6% and 96.4%. In 9 of 11 patients with metastases (81.8%), stimulated serum Tg level at the time of radioiodine ablation therapy was over 10, however in 1 patient (9.1%) it was <2ng/mL and in one patient it was 2-10ng/mL (p=0.005). Aggressive subtypes of DTC were found in 8 of 221 patients and serum Tg levels were ${\leq}2ng/ml$ in 4 of these 8. Conclusions: We conclude that TSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin level at the time of ablation may not determine risk of recurrence. Therefore, DxWBS should be performed at 8-12 months after ablation therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2003

Background : Recent discoveries on the physiology of an erection have demonstrated that the organic causes of impotence are more common, and psychogenic impotence is correspondingly less common than was formally believed. The incidence of sexual dysfunctions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is largely unknown or may be perfunctorily attributed to the associated illness or to aging. This study investigated whether or not the impotence was related to the COPD itself as well as whether or not it nay stem from organic causes in a notable proportion of such patients. Methods : The sexual function was evaluated in 10 COPD patients and 10 normal control subjects. A nocturnal Rigi Scan was performed to evaluate the erectile function of each group. The level of hormones such as the free testosterone, prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was measured, and a pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis was performed. Results : The time duration and frequency of a penile erection were significantly lower in COPD patients than the controls (p<0.05). In addition, the $PaO_2$ levels correlated with the time duration of the penile erection. Conclusion : These results suggest that COPD is one of the causes of organic erectile dysfunction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1115-1118
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• 2016

Background: There is controversy about ablation efficacy of low or high doses of radioiodine-131 (RAI) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). The purpose of this prospective study was to determine efficacy of 30 mCi and 100 mCi of RAI to achieve successful ablation in patients with low to intermediate risk DTC. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross sectional study was conducted from April 2013 to November 2015. Inclusion criteria were patients of either gender, 18 years or older, having low to intermediate risk papillary and follicular thyroid cancers with T1-3, N0/N1/Nx but no evidence of distant metastasis. Thirty-nine patients were administered 30 mCi of RAI while 61 patients were given 100 mCi. Informed consent was acquired from all patients and counseling was done by nuclear physicians regarding benefits and possible side effects of RAI. After an average of 6 months (range 6-16 months; 2-3 weeks after thyroxin withdrawal), these patients were followed up for stimulated TSH, thyroglobulin (sTg) and thyroglobulin antibodies, ultrasound neck (U/S) and a diagnostic whole body iodine scan (WBIS) for ablation outcome. Successful ablation was concluded with stimulated Tg< 2ng/ml with negative antibodies, negative U/S and a negative diagnostic WBIS (triple negative criteria). ROC curve analysis was used to find diagnostic strength of baseline sTg to predict successful ablation. Results: Successful ablation based upon triple negative criteria was 56% in the low dose and 57% in the high dose group (non-significant difference). Based on a single criterion (follow-up sTg<2 ng/ml), values were 82% and 77% (again non-significant). The ROC curve revealed that a baseline sTg level ${\leq}7.4ng/ml$ had the highest diagnostic strength to predict successful ablation in all patients. Conclusions: We conclude that 30 mCi of RAI has similar ablation success to 100 mCi dose in patients with low to intermediate risk DTC. A baseline $sTg{\leq}7.4ng/ml$ is a strong predictor of successful ablation in all patients. Low dose RAI is safer, more cost effective and more convenient for patients and healthcare providers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10905-10909
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of FNA-Tg for detecting lymph node metastases in patients with a history of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Materials and Methods: A total of 58 patients with DTC diagnosis and evidence of single or multiple suspicious cervical lymph nodes were assessed. All underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy with (35 cases) or without (23 cases) radioiodine (RAI) ablation, followed by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy. A total of 68 lymph nodes were examined by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (US-FNA) for both cytological examination and FNA-Tg measurement. Serum Tg and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels were also measured. Diagnostic performance including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of FNAC and FNA-Tg were calculated and compared. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to estimate the relationship between FNA-Tg and serum TgAb. Results: The FNA-Tg levels were significantly higher with DTC metastatic lymph nodes (median 927.7 ng/mL, interquartile range 602.9 ng/mL) than non-metastatic lymph nodes (median 0.1 ng/mL, interquartile range 0.4 ng/mL) (p<0.01). Considering 1.0 ng/mL as a threshold value for FNA-Tg, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of FNA-Tg were 95.7%, 95.5%, 95.6%, 97.8% and 91.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and accuracy of the combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg were significantly higher than that of FNAC alone (p<0.05). The diagnostic performance of FNA-Tg was not significantly different between cases with or without RAI ablation, and the serum TgAb levels did not interfere with FNA-Tg measurements. Conclusions: Measurement of FNA-Tg is useful. The combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg is more sensitive and accurate for detecting lymph node metastases in patients with a history of DTC than FNAC alone. Serum TgAbs appear to be irrelevant for measurement of FNA-Tg.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.200-205
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• 1994

그레이브스 갑상선기능항진증은 자가면역질환의 하나로 방사성 옥소가 간편하고 경제적이며 효과적인 치료법임이 알려져 있는데 방사성 옥소 투여 후 갑상선 조직의 자극 및 파괴에 따라 각종 항원의 노출의 증가와 이에 대한 자가항체의 변동이 예상된다. 저자들은 추정 갑상선 무게를 고려한 6-10 mCi의 방사성 옥소를 투여 받은 그레이브스 갑상선기능항진증 환자 90명을 2년간 추적하여 치료 전 후의 혈청 갑상선자극 면역글로불린(TBIIl)활성도와 thyroglobulin 및 antithyroglobulin antibody의 변화를 관찰하였다. 1) 대상환자 90명의 연령분포는 14-58세(중앙치 30)였으며 여자가 72명(80%)이었다. 2) 평가대상 환자 중 치료 전 TBIIl 활성도가 정상범위였던 경우는 15명(30%)이었고 증가된 경우는 35명(70%)이었다. 치료 전보다 치료 3개월 후에 TBII 활성도가 더 증가된 경우는 31명(62% )이었다. 3) TBII 활성도가 치료 전에 증가하였거나, 치료 전에 정상범위였다가 치료 3개월 후에 증가한 환자의 TBII 활성도의 동태는 치료 3개월 후에 가장 높았고 그 후 점차 감소하였다. 이들의 TBIIl 활성도가 15%이내로 정상화된 정도는 치료 후 6개월에 40%, 12개월에 82%였다. 4) 치료 전 antithyroglobulin antibody가 양성인 경우 80%에서 3개월 후에도 혈청 thyroglobulin의 동태는 치료 3개월 후에 높았다가 증가가 없었으며 치료 전 antithyroglobulin antibody가 음성인 경우 60%에서 치료 3개월 후에 혈청 thyroglobulin의 증가가 있었다. 5) antithyroglobulin antibody가 음성인 경우의 혈청 thyroglobulin의 동태는 치료 3개월 후에 높았다가 점차 감소하는 경향을 보였으며 antithyroglobulin antibody가 양성인 경우의 혈청 thyroglobulin의 동태는 치료 후 시간이 지남에 따라 점차 감소하였다. 6) 치료 전 antithyroglobulin antibody가 음성인 경우 치료 후 시간 경과에 따라 동시에 측정한 혈청 TBII 활성도와 thyroglobulin 사이에는 통계적으로 유의한 상관관계가 있었다(p<0.01). 한편 치료 전 antithyroglobulin antibody가 양성인 경우 치료 후 시간 경과에 따라 동시에 측정한 혈청 TBII 활성도와 thyroglobulin 사이에는 통계적으로 유의한 상관관계가 없었다(p= 0.16). 이상의 결과로 방사성 옥소를 투여 받은 그레이브스 갑상선기능항진증 환자에서 혈청 TBII 활성도는 항갑상선제를 투여 받은 경우와는 달리 초기에 증가하였다가 시간이 지남에 따라 점차 감소함을 알 수 있었으며 그 감소 정도는 항갑상선제만을 쓴 경우보다 더 빠를 것으로 생각된다. 따라서 혈청 TBII 활성도와 thyroglobulin은 방사성 옥소 치료효과의 관찰에 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 생각되며 특히 antithyroglobulin antibody가 음성인 경우 혈청 thyroglobulin은 혈청 TBII 활성도를 반영할 것으로 사료된다.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.343-349
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• 2007

Radioiodide transport has been extensively and successfully used in the evaluation and management of thyroid disease. The molecular characterization of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) and cloning of the NIS gene has led to the recent expansion of the use of radioiodide to cancers of the breast and other nonthyroidal tissues exogenously transduced with the NIS gene. More recently, discoveries regarding the functional analysis and regulatory processes of the NIS molecule are opening up exciting opportunities for new research and applications for NIS and radio iodide. The success of NIS based cancer therapy is dependent on achievement of maximal radioiodide transport sufficient to allow delivery of effective radiation doses. This in turn relies on high transcription rates of the NIS gene. However, newer discoveries indicate that nontranscriptional processes that regulate NIS trafficking to cell membrane are also critical determinants of radioiodide uptake. In this review, molecular mechanisms that underlie regulation of NIS transcription and stimuli that augment membrane trafficking and functional activation of NIS molecules will be discussed. A better understanding of how the expression and cell surface targeting of NIS proteins is controlled will hopefully aid in optimizing NIS gene based cancer treatment as well as NIS based reporter-gene imaging strategies.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.699-705
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• 2005

Transgender is the severe type of gender identity disorder. The prevalence rate of transgender is reported to occur to about 1 out of 50,000 men, and about 1 out of 10,000 women. As for Korea, it is estimated to have about 1400 transgender patients. Lately, not only the numbers of them are increasing but also they are influencing our society increasingly. As for female transgender patients, they take female hormone for a long term before and even after the operation to maintain their physical identity of female. We have analyzed insulin like growth factor-1(IGF-1), insulin like growth factor protein binding-3(IGFBP-3), female hormone, male hormone and thyroid hormone in female transgender patients who have undergone the gender reassignment operation. We examined the changes of hormone level due to having female hormone steadily, and also examined how the steady use of the hormone could affect body organs. As for IGF-1, it showed significantly low in the female transgender group compared to control ($319.30{\pm}37.4$ vs $539{\pm}55.0$, p<0.05). As for IGFBP-3, there was no significant difference ($2859{\pm}200.3$ vs $2607{\pm}262.5$, p>0.05). As for female hormone, there was no significant differences in FSH($13.42{\pm}13.8$ vs $8.95{\pm}3.5$, p>0.05), estradiol($104.41{\pm}97.1$ vs $121.68{\pm}60.2$, p>0.05), and LH($7.62{\pm}5.6$ vs $7.4{\pm}3.3$, p>0.05). Even in comparison of testosterone, there was no significant differences($0.23{\pm}0.09$ vs $0.33{\pm}1.33$, p>0.05). As for thyroid hormone, there was no significant differences in TSH and free T4($1.34{\pm}0.94$ vs $1.71{\pm}0.12$, $1.4{\pm}0.37$ vs $1.46{\pm}0.17$, p>0.05). Therefore, this study concludes that apart from the decreased level of IGF-1, the possible endocrine side-effect problem due to female hormone seems to be low because there was no differences of female, male, and thyroid hormone level compared with normal female. Further study will be required in metabolic change including bone metabolism occurred by decrease level of IGF-I.