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Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard in the staging of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, several noninvasive methods are under evaluation for clinical use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of hepatobiliary function through technetium-99m-N-(-3-bromo-2,4,6-trimethylacetanilide) iminodiacetic acid (Tc-mebrofenin) scintigraphy in evaluating liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HCV infection.We studied 62 patients with HCV (18 men, 44 women). The patients were allocated into three groups according to histopathological score: group 1: portal/periportal fibrosis (21 patients; eight men, 13 women); group 2: bridging fibrosis (23 patients; seven men, 16 women); and group 3: incomplete/complete cirrhosis (18 patients; three men, 15 women). As a control group, 20 healthy volunteers (six men and 14 women) were studied. Hepatocyte mebrofenin uptake rate, the time required for maximal hepatic activity (Tmax), and the time required for peak activity to decrease by 50% (T1/2max) were calculated using Tc-mebrofenin cholescintigraphy. Scintigraphic parameters were correlated with biochemical parameters and liver histopathology.The uptake rates were significantly decreased in all groups with fibrosis compared with the controls (P0.05). The correlation between the severity of fibrosis and Tc-mebrofenin uptake rate was strongly significant (r=-0.81, P0.0001). Tmax and T1/2max were significantly prolonged in groups 2 and 3 compared with the controls. Histopathology score was correlated moderately with Tmax and T1/2max (r=0.61, P0.0001 and r=0.52, P0.0001, respectively).The assessment of hepatobiliary function by Tc-mebrofenin scintigraphy may be a good choice for assessing the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with HCV.

Nasal packing may influence the mucociliary clearance of the nose in the postoperative healing phase. In an attempt to overcome some of this problem, a haemostatic septal suturing technique was conceived. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the effects of nasal packing and septal suturing technique on mucociliary clearance by rhinoscintigraphy. Forty-eight adult patients who had undergone septoplasty were included in the investigation. Preoperatively, the patients were allocated into three groups: group 1, fingerstall packs filled with gauze and smeared with vaseline were used (11 male, 4 female); group 2, silicon septal splint packs were used (11 male, 4 female); group 3, haemostatic septal sutures were used (14 male, 4 female). Mucociliary clearance was measured by rhinoscintigraphy in all patients before surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. The nasal mucociliary clearance was presented as the velocity (mm/min) of nasal mucociliary transport of the (99m)Tc-MAA droplet. The mean velocity of nasal mucociliary clearances before and after surgery for group 1, group 2 and group 3 were 1.85 +/- A 0.67 versus 2.43 +/- A 0.78 mm/min, 2.36 +/- A 0.80 versus 2.92 +/- A 0.96 mm/min and 2.03 +/- A 0.58 versus 2.62 +/- A 0.65 mm/min, respectively. A significant difference in nasal mucociliary clearance was observed after surgery in all groups (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups regarding mucociliary clearance before and after surgery. Patients with septal deviation have a prolonged mucociliary transit time as compared with postoperative. Nasal packing did not significantly influence the mucociliary clearance in the postoperative healing phase.

Extensive research has shown that non-wood fibers are able to be substituted for wood fibers. The major shortcoming of non-fibers is their high silica content that causes some operational problems in mills, and hence silica should be kept in pulps. By keeping silica in pulps, however, the mechanical properties of papers are reduced, and a dry strength additive may be required. In this study, cationic polyvinyl alcohols (C-PVA) with two different molecular weights were prepared, and employed as dry strength additives. The adsorption of polymers on rice straw fibers obtained via soda-air-anthraquinone (AQ) pulping under various conditions was investigated thoroughly. Convincing results demonstrated that high molecular weight polymers performed more efficiently on dry strength enhancements of papers, while they adsorbed less than lower molecular weight polymers on fibers. However, the stiffness of fibers was increased to a larger extent by applying a higher molecular weight C-PVA.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease characterized by debilitating fatigue of at least 6 months' duration. The pathophysiology and the localization of the underlying HPA axis disturbance are a matter of debate. Our aim was to evaluate the hypothalamopituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by the 1 mu g adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) test and metyrapone test in patients with CFS and to compare the size of the adrenal glands of the patients with that of the control subjects. Twenty patients (14 females, 6 males) with CFS were included in the study. Fifteen healthy subjects (12 females, 3 males) served as matched controls. ACTH stimulation test was carried out by using 1 mu g ACTH, intravenously, as a bolus injection after an overnight fast, and blood samples for cortisol were drawn at 0, 30, and 60 minutes. Metyrapone at a dosage of 30 mg/kg was taken orally at 11:00 PM with a snack. The following morning, blood was sampled for serum 11-deoxycortisol between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. Peak cortisol responses to 1 mu g ACTH test were significantly lower in the CFS group (620.7 +/- 146.2 nmol/L) than in the control group (838.7 +/- 129.6 nmol/L) (P < 0.05). The lowest peak cortisol response after the 1 mu g ACTH test was 575.8 nmol/L in normal subjects. Nine patients with CFS had peak cortisol responses to 1 mu g ACTH test lower than 575.8 nmol/L. 11-deoxycortisol response to metyrapone was significantly lower in the patients with CFS (114.2 +/- 31.1 nmol/L) than in the healthy subjects (186.5 +/- 15.7 nmol/L) (P < 0.05). The lowest 11-deoxycortsol level after metyrapone in the controls was 168.3 nmol/L. Nineteen of 20 patients with CFS had lower 11-deoxycortisol level after metyrapone than detected in normal subjects. Eight patients had both subnormal 11-deoxycortisol response to metyrapone and subnormal cortisol response to 1 mu g ACTH test. On the other hand, 10 patients had subnormal 11-deoxycortisol response to metyrapone but normal cortisol response to 1 mu g ACTH test. Thickness of the right and left adrenal glands were similar between the patients with CFS and healthy subjects (P > 0.05). We conclude that the perturbation of the HPA axis in CFS is characterized by underactivation of the HPAaxis.

Nutrition plays a role in the etiology of osteoporosis. Two of the most important nutrients for bone health are calcium and vitamin D. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D] is the most sensitive clinical index of vitamin D status and has been found to be positively related to bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged and elderly women, and positive relations exist between the BMD of adult women and their calcium consumption throughout life. The aim of the present study was to determine relationships between BMD, serum vitamin D levels and dietary calcium intake of female young adult students who dressed in different styles. We studied two groups of volunteer female students (total = 67). Students in the first group dressed in a style that exposed the skin to sunlight, students in the second group wore dresses completely covering the skin except for the face and hands. Serum 25-(OH)D levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, BMDs were determined at the lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and calcium intakes were estimated with a 3-day food recording questionnaire. The serum 25-(OH)D level was significantly lower in the second group. There was no significant difference in BMD between the two groups. The dietary calcium intake of the two groups were lower than the adequate intake of 1000 mg daily for this age. There was a correlation between the serum 25-(OH)D level and BMD at the femoral neck in the first group. Our results indicate that vitamin D and calcium requirements for normal bone mineral accrual in young adults may advance until a certain age, and the covered dressing style causes vitamin D insufficiency and most of the students were under risk for osteoporosis in later life.

Primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) is characterized by widespread chronic pain that affects the musculoskeletal system, fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbance, headache and postural hypotension. The pathophysiology of PFS is unknown. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis seems to play an important role in PFS. Both hyperactivity and hypoactivity of the HPA axis have been reported in patients with PFS. In this study we assessed the HPA axis by 1 mug ACTH stimulation test and metyrapone test in 22 patients with PFS and in 15 age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)- matched controls. Metyrapone (30 mg/kg) was administered orally at 23:00 h and blood was sampled at 08:30 h the following morning for 11-deoxycortisol. ACTH stimulation test was carried out by using 1 mug (iv) ACTH as a bolus injection after an overnight fast, and blood samples were drawn at 0, 30 and 60 min. Peak cortisol level (659.4+/-207.2 nmol/l) was lower in the patients with PFS than peak cortisol level (838.7+/-129.6 nmol/l) in the control subjects (p

Twenty-nine patients with DSM-IV diagnoses of schizophrenia were categorized into deficit syndrome (n = 14) and non-deficit syndrome (n = 15) subgroups on the basis of the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome. The patients, who had all been free of antipsychotic medication for at least 3 weeks, and 17 sex- and age-matched normal controls were studied with single-photon emission computed tomography with Tc-99m HMPAO. Age at onset, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total scores, BPRS positive symptom subscores and duration of illness were similar between the two schizophrenic subgroups. As expected, the deficit patients had more negative symptoms than the non-deficit patients. There were no statistically significant correlations between clinical parameters and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values. The deficit syndrome subgroup showed diminished rCBF in the frontal regions bilaterally, right parietal regions and right superior temporal region compared with the control groups. Deficit patients showed significantly lower rCBF perfusion ratios in the right superior and inferior frontal cortex than did the non-deficit patients. No differences were detected between the controls and the non-deficit schizophrenic patients in terms of rCBF perfusion indices. The results of the present study confirm previous reports of different patterns of rCBF in deficit vs. non-deficit schizophrenic subgroups. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dopamine D(2) blocking typical antipsychotic drugs are known to change the cerebral perfusion patterns of schizophrenic patients, especially in the frontal cortex and basal ganglia. In recent years atypical antipsychotics such as olanzapine, which have high serotonin 5-HT(2A)/dopamine D(2) occupation ratios, have been shown to be more effective in the treatment of schizophrenia symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of the schizophrenic patients treated with olanzapine in a within-subject design. Twenty-four patients with schizophrenia participated as subjects in the study. Each subject was scanned in a medication-free state and after 6 weeks of 10 mg/day fixed dose olanzapine treatment. Despite the clinical improvement seen in the patients, repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that olanzapine produced no significant changes in cortical rCBF after the six-week treatment. This finding indicates that unlike typical antipsychotics olanzapine has no negative effect on cortical cerebral perfusion patterns of schizophrenic patients.

To measure maternal serum and amniotic fluid leptin concentrations in pregnant women diagnosed antenatally as having fetuses with a neural tube defect in the second trimester.Twenty pregnant women who had fetuses with a neural tube defect detected on ultrasonography (neural tube defect group) in the second trimester and 20 women who had abnormal triple screens indicating an increased risk for Down syndrome but had healthy fetuses (control group) were enrolled in the study. Amniotic fluid was obtained by amniocentesis, and maternal serum samples were taken simultaneously.The mean leptin levels in amniotic fluid (P.001) and maternal serum (P.05) of patients who had fetuses with a neural tube defect were found to be significantly higher than control group levels. The mean leptin levels in maternal serum of both groups were also higher than leptin levels in amniotic fluid (P.05 for the neural tube defect group and P.001 for the control group). Although there were significant correlations between maternal weight, weight gain, body mass index at the time of amniocentesis, and maternal serum leptin concentrations in both groups, a significant correlation between leptin concentrations in maternal serum and amniotic fluid was found only in the neural tube defect group (P.05).We found significantly higher leptin levels in both amniotic fluid and maternal serum of patients who had fetuses with a neural tube defect. We suggest that the main source of leptin in amniotic fluid of pregnant women who had fetuses with a neural tube defect is the leakage into amniotic fluid from cerebrospinal fluid. The increase of maternal serum leptin concentrations has been attributed to the transportation of amniotic fluid leptin to the maternal circulation.

To determine whether low dose ketoconazole (KTZ) has antithyroid action, we studied thyroid function tests in the 13 rats treated with KTZ (20 mg/kg twice daily) for thirty days. Serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels were decreased (P 0.05) at the end of treatment. Histopathological analysis of the thyroid glands demonstrated an increase in cylindrical cells in study group, but the epithelial cells were mainly cubical in control group. These findings showed that low dose KTZ had antithyroid effect in rats. The responsible mechanisms may be direct effect of the drug on thyroid gland.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recently identified as an aetiological agent in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The present study was designed to determine the pulmonary clearance rate of Tc-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Tc-99m-DTPA) in asymptomatic HCV antibody positive (HCV Ab+) patients and the role of 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy in the early detection of lung involvement. Twenty-six non-smoker HCV Ab+ and HCV-RNA (+) patients (20 female, six male; aged 43 + 11 years), with no clinical pulmonary symptoms, and normal radiological findings, were studied. Thirty-one healthy non-smoker volunteers (24 female, seven male; aged 40 +/- 10 years) were taken as a control group. Tc-99m-DTPA aerosol inhalation scintigraphy and pulmonary function tests were performed in all patients and in controls. On the basis of the scintigrams the percentage decline in activity per minute (Kep) was evaluated, which represented an accurate parameter of lung membrane permeability. The mean Kep values of healthy controls (0.78 +/- 0.13 for left lung, 0.79 +/- 0.14 for right lung) were significantly lower than HCV Ab+ patients (1.10 +/- 0.31 for left lung, 1.11 +/- 0.34 for right lung, P < 0.001). But no significant change was observed in PFT (P > 0.05). We conclude that subclinical alveolitis and/or interstitial lung disease may be present in patients with HCV Ab+, since it is known that an increase in the epithelial permeability of the lung is an early manifestation of interstitial disease. (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams Wilkins).

Objective: Endothelin (ET), a vasoactive mediator, like others which originate from the endothelium or circulating cells, may participate in myocardial injury. In full-term neonates of mild pre-eclamptic mothers (NMPM), it identifies minor myocardial damage missed by other biochemical markers. The present study was designed to determine the diagnostic value of ET concentrations in NMPM. Methods: Seventeen NMPM were studied (10 boys and seven girls), and 17 healthy full-term (nine boys and eight girls) were selected for a control group. Birthweights in NMPM and control group were 2950 g (2.300−3.850) and 3.350 g (2.650−4.000), respectively. The ET measured by the radioimmunoassay method, Troponin T (TnT) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and creatine kinase (CK-MB) determined in chemical 1 analysis. Results: Serum ET and TnT concentrations in NMPM (3.32 pg/mL vs 0.74 ng/mL) were significantly higher than the control group (0.82 pg/mL vs 0.10 ng/mL) (P

The drugs used to treat diabetes mellitus are diverse and include several classes. One class is sulfonylureas which primarily cause serum glucose reduction by stimulating the release of preformed insulin from the pancreatic islets. Gliclazide, a second generation sulfonylurea, is used to control glycemic levels in non-insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus. We report a 14 year-old non-diabetic girl who developed hepatitis, hemiplegia and dysphasia after ingestion of an overdose of gliclazide (20 mg/kg/day) in a suicide attempt. Our purpose is to draw attention to the severity of gliclazide-induced neurological signs. To the best of our knowledge, gliclazide-induced hemiplegia and dysphasia have not been previously reported in the literature.

1. In this study, the authors sought to test the hypothesis that Li (lithium) treatment can induce alterations in PRL (prolactin) secretion in euthymic bipolar patients compared to controls and that short and long-term administration can lead to prolactin changes different from each other. 2. Twenty euthymic bipolar male patients on long-term lithium carbonate treatment for more than 6 months and 15 euthymic male bipolar patients on short-term Li treatment for shorter than 6 months who met DSM-IV criteria for bipolar affective disorder were included in the study. Seventeen age-matched healthy control males were chosen among the hospital staff. The mean +/- SD duration of Li use was 68.93+/-46.31 months in the long-term lithium-treated group and 4+/-3.42 months in the short-term lithium-treated group. 3. Serum PRL values in the long-term Li-treated group were significantly lower than those of the control group, while there was no significant difference in PRL values between the short-term Li-treated group and the control group. 4. Our study documents that short-term (6 months) Li treatment does not induce any significant changes in PRL release in bipolar patients compared to normal control subjects while long-term Li treatment (6 months) leads to lower PRL release compared to the controls. Furthermore, PRL has wide intra-interindividual and circadian variations Li-PRL relationship seems to be very complex and probably depends on various interactions among dopamine, serotonin and PRL. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm the data.

A 15-year-old boy was hospitalized with a 1-month history lumbago and fever. His family history was noncontributory for tuberculosis, and the findings of the physical examination were normal. The sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level were 55 mm/hour and 48 mg/l, respectively. The result of a purified protein derivative test was 11 x 10 mm. Results of other tests, including rheumatologic studies, serum agglutination for brucellosis, chest radiography, abdominal ultrasonography, and myelography, were normal. The bone biopsy revealed chronic active inflammation. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not cultured from clinical specimens. However, the patient's symptoms improved after antituberculosis drugs were begun.

Depression is an important problem among diabetic patients. We have investigated the effect of some antidepressant drugs on plasma glucose and insulin levels in normoglycaemic and alloxan-induced diabetic mice. For this purpose the effects of nortryptiline (as an example of a tricyclic antidepressant) and fluoxetine and sertraline (as examples of selective 5-HT re-uptake inhibitors) were examined on plasma glucose and insulin levels. Nortryptiline significantly increased glucose levels and reduced insulin levels in all animals. Although neither fluoxetine nor sertraline induced changes in insulin levels, both significantly reduced the blood glucose levels of mice. These results suggest that antidepressive treatment has important risks particularly for diabetics. Tricyclic antidepressants might induce an important decrease in glucose tolerance and worsen the control of diabetic patients. Selective 5-HT re-uptake inhibitors, on the other hand, might reduce plasma glucose independently of insulin levels. This point is particularly important and should be remembered when insulin or oral antidiabetic agents are administered to diabetics, because of the possible risk of hypoglycaemia.

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of 201 Tl scintigraphy to differentiate between malignant and benign neck masses. Fifty-eight patients with neck masses, whose diagnoses were confirmed by histological examination, were examined. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 201 T1 scintigraphy were 80%, 96% and 88% respectively; when salivary gland masses were excluded, these values were 87%, 95% and 91% respectively. Our results suggest that 201 T1 scintigraphy is highly reliable in determining the malignancy of neck masses, especially when salivary gland masses are excluded.

Background: Regional brain perfusion in patients during alcohol-withdrawal has been relatively less studied with brain SPECT technique. In this study, the hypothesis that possible regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) alterations due to alcohol withdrawal might be transitory in a homogenous group of alcoholic patients in terms of their physical-nutritional and cognitive functional conditions was investigated. Methods: Fifteen right-handed male inpatients with alcohol-withdrawal, diagnosed according to DSM-IIIR criteria, and 6 male physically-mentally healthy control subjects were included in the study. The first Technetium 99m-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (Tc-99m-HMPAO) brain SPECT investigation was performed on the day of admission in nonmedicated conditions and the second one was performed after all the withdrawal symptoms had subsided in the patients. As an indicator of the change in the brain perfusion, a relative perfusion index was used and the relative tracer activity was expressed as the ratio of mean cortical region of interest activity to mean the whole cortical brain activity. Results: We found significantly reduced left frontal and right frontal, parietal and temporal rCBF values in the patients during the alcohol-withdrawal compared to those of their remitted state while they were not different from in the control group ( p Conclusions: Our data indicate that the alterations in rCBF during the alcohol-withdrawal are more pronounced both in the frontal cortex and in overall right hemisphere regions. Furthermore, the frontal hypoperfusion may be transitory with recovery from alcohol-withdrawal whereas temporal hypoperfusion may continue after recovery probably depending on the previously administered high-dose benzodiazepines.

The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of thallium-201 scintigraphy to primary tumour detection in patients with malignant neck masses and to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity. A total of 30 patients with histopathologically proven malignant tumours were included in the study. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of Tl-201 scintigraphy were found to be 54%, 75% and 57% respectively. These results suggest that Tl-201 scintigraphy has a limited value in the detection of the primary tumour in patients with malignant masses of the neck.

We report a newborn infant who has congenital hypothyroidism associated with profound and persistent neonatal hypoglycemia, Persistent and marked hypoglycemia has not been previously reported in congenital hypothyroidism to our knowledge. The cause of this condition may be reduced glyconeogenesis or insulin clearance.

An experimental study was planned to evaluate Tc-99m-citrate, Ga-67-citrate and Tc-99m(V) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) as agents for the visualization of acute appendicitis. Appendiceal ligation was performed through a midline incision in 24 rabbits. Twenty-four hours later the animals were divided into three equal groups. The rabbits were injected through the aurical vein with 1 mCi (37 MBq) Tc-99m-citrate in group I, 0.5 mCi (18.5 MBq) Ga-67-citrate in group II and 1 mCi (37 MBq) Tc-99m(V) DMSA in group III. After 3 h, static images of the rabbits were obtained with a gamma camera. There were positive images in seven, six and five rabbits in groups I, II and III respectively. The image quality was better in group I than in the other groups. Also, the mean uptake in group I was significantly higher than those of other two groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups II and III (P > 0.05). All rabbits had appendicitis confirmed histologically. In conclusion, these results show that Tc-99m-citrate is preferable to Ga-67-citrate and Tc-99m(V) DMSA for the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal inflammations such as appendicitis, because of higher concentration ratios, simple and rapid preparation, low cost, excretion mainly through the kidneys and fast blood clearance.

In a patient with ocular melanoma scintigraphy obtained with 99mTc-GSH clearly demonstrated the histologically proven ocular lesion both in planar and SPECT images. 99mTc-sestamibi study obtained in the same patient three days later was negative. 99mTc-GSH is a potential alternative to the currently used radiopharmaceuticals for imaging both cutaneous and ocular melanomas and their metastases.

Objective To investigate the effects of low dose flutamide (250mg/d) on hirsutism score and some hormone levels in women with hirsutism. Design Nonrandomized, prospective clinical trial. Patients Forty-one patients with moderate-severe hirsutism were included in the study. Intervention Hirsute patients received 250mg/d flutamide for a period of 6 months. Main Outcome Measures Hirsutism score, FSH, LH, E 2 , total T, free T, androstenedione, DHEAS, PRL, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels were detected in all the patients before treatment and every 3 months during treatment. Results Treatment with the antiandrogen flutamide resulted in a particularly rapid and marked decrease in the hirsutism score, which decreased from 17.48±5.35 to 5.07±2.89 after 6 months. No significant changes in the levels of hormone and no serious side effects were observed in the study. Conclusion The low-dose flutamide, 250mg/d, is a cost-effective drug in the treatment of hirsutism. Low-dose flutamide may be used in place of high-dose flutamide, 500 to 750mg/d.

Introduction The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic importance of basal cortisol concentrations and cortisol response to corticotropin, and to determine the effects of physiological dose steroid therapy on mortality in patients with sepsis.

A 14-year-old boy was admitted with a 1-week history of fatigue, fever, vomiting, and swelling and pain of the ankle. With physical examination, arthritis of the right ankle was diagnosed. The sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level were 133 mm/hour and 47 mg/I, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from blood, joint fluid, and bone. During follow-up, septic arthritis also was observed in the right wrist and left elbow, and osteomyelitis developed in the tibia, mandible, and the 9th to 11th ribs. Computed tomography of the brain was performed to explain his persistent vomiting. During treatment, various antibiotics were used and surgical interventions were performed. He was discharged from the hospital without complications.

Thyroid function was studied in 27 male workers occupationally exposed to lead. The mean blood lead concentration of the workers was 17.07 μmg/dl /[standard deviation (SD) 8.96, range 6–36/]. The mean and SD duration of lead exposure was 16.70 and 5.38 (range 1–22) years. The total thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyrotropin /[thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)/] concentrations in serum showed an increase compared with the normal values of the Kayseri population (n = 30). However, these values were in the “normal” range of the Kayseri population and Amerlex Firm. In regression equations, the duration of lead exposure and age had a weak but significant association with T4. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 12:45–49, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.