Search

It is well established that iodine supplementation is effective in correcting iodine deficiency and reducing goiter prevalence. In Italy, legislation has allowed the production of iodized salt since 1972, but its consumption is on a voluntary basis. In the present study, the efficacy of legislative measures that made compulsory the availability of iodized salt in foodstores has been evaluated. Urinary iodine excretion and thyroid size, scored according to Pan American Health Organization recommendations, were determined prior to (1981) and 10 years after (1991) the introduction of legislative measures in the whole schoolchildren population residing in a restricted area of the Tuscan Appennines. Moreover, in 1991, thyroid volume was determined by ultrasonography. In 1981, mean urinary iodine excretion was 47.1±22.4 mg/kg creatinine (0.412 μmol/l) and goiter prevalence was 60%, indicating a moderate iodine deficiency. Eighty of the families subsequently used iodized salt on a regular basis; as a result of this excellent compliance, in 1991 the mean urinary iodine excretion increased to 129.7±73 mg/kg creatinine (1.24 μmol/l) and goiter prevalence dropped to 8.1%. The results of this study underline the effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis in correcting iodine deficiency and abating endemic goiter in schoolchildren, and suggest that implementation of measures that make compulsory the availability of iodized salt in foodstores overcomes the fact that there is no law governing the exclusive production and trading of iodized salt.

Abstract. Amiodarone, an iodine-rich drug, represents at the present, at least in Europe, one of the most common sources of iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction. The drug may induce both hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. In spite of the large iodine intake occurring during amiodarone therapy, 131I thyroid uptake is detectable in patients with amiodarone-iodine-induced hypothyroidism, irrespective of the presence or absence of underlying thyroid disease. In contrast, in patients with amiodarone-iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis, 131I thyroid uptake is normal or even elevated in those with co-existent underlying thyroid disorders, whereas it is very low in those with an apparently normal thyroid gland. Perchlorate discharge test was performed in 8 patients with hypothyroidism and in 5 patients with hyperthyroidism induced by amiodarone: a positive test was found in all hypothyroid patients and a negative test in all hyperthyroid patients.

Abstract. The ontogeny of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in pancreata of human foetuses from 15–36 weeks of gestation and of infants has been studied. TRH was detectable in the pancreas of a 15 week old foetus; a progressive increase of pancreatic TRH content was observed until the 34th week of gestation, whereas a progressive decrease was found in the late period of pregnancy and in 1 year old infants. In contrast, the pancreatic insulin content showed a progressive increase during the entire pregnancy and in the first year after birth. These data indicate that TRH and insulin have different ontogenetic patterns in the human pancreas.