J.H. Lazarus

LONG-TERM TREATMENT OF HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS WITH THYROXINE

Abstract Thyroid function was assessed in Summary twelve patients with Hashimotos thyroiditis at the time of diagnosis, after 10 years on thyroxine therapy, and 6 weeks after stopping thyroxine (T4). Before therapy five patients were hypothyroid and seven were euthyroid. Goitre size decreased significantly in eleven patients during thyroxine therapy. The destructive process in Hashimotos thyroiditis was not arrested by treatment with thyroxine. Evidence for this was that the mean serum-level of protein-bound iodine-127 (P.B. 127 I) fell significantly from 3·1 before T4 therapy to 1·6 6 weeks after stopping T4. There were significant falls in 48-hour 131 I uptake, P.B. 131 I, thyroid clearance, and absolute iodine uptake. Two patients in whom the precipitin test had initially been positive developed negative tests after 10 years and had low or negative tanned-red-cell (T.R.C.) titres. Two patients became negative for microsomal antibody over the 10-year period. There was no

Quantitative studies of the inhibitory effect of perchlorate on the concentration of 36ClO4−125I− and 99mTcO4− in salivary glands of male and female mice

[36Cl]-Perchlorate, [125I]-iodide and [99mTc]-pertechnetate were concentrated in the mouse submandibular salivary gland in the order 36ClO4− = 99mTcO4− >125I−. Gland plasma (GP) concentration ratios for 36ClO4− and 99mTcO4− rose to a maximum of 12 compared to a value of five for 125I−. In the case of all the anions studied, a significantly higher concentration was observed in male compared to female mice. This anion concentration difference between the sexes was of the same order for 36ClO4− and 99mTcO4− and was smaller in the case of 125I−. Results suggest that 36ClO4− is concentrated in the duct cells of the salivary gland. The serum perchlorate levels required to decrease the (GP) ratio to 1 varied for the different anions and was in the order 99mTcO4− >36ClO4− >125I−. The concentration of perchlorate required to inhibit the concentrating mechanisms for the three anions was greater in males than females. The lowest dose of ClO4− used (0.28 μ-equiv./kg) was such that it did not inhibit 125I−or 99mTcO4− uptake in either sex. With a dose of 1.43 μ-equiv./kg, the ClO4− concentrating mechanisms for 125I− and 99mTcO4− were inhibited in the female but not in the male.

Sex differences in human parotid salivary secretion of iodide, pertechnetate and bromide.

Abstract Parotid salivary flow rates were studied using a variety of stimuli in convalescent patients after injection of a solution containing 132I, 99mTcO4− and 82Br. Lemon juice and salt produced significantly higher flow rates in men than in women. However, for any given flow rate there was no significant difference between the sexes in the saliva to plasma ( S P ) ratio produced by any of the anions. The inverse relation between the S P ratio of each of the anions and salivary flow rate was confirmed.

Secretion of lithium in human parotid saliva in manic depressive patients treated with lithium carbonate

Abstract The secretion of lithium in parotid saliva has been investigated in 13 manic depressive patients after 3 months therapy and in 12 patients after 20 months therapy with lithium carbonate (Priadel). Lithium was concentrated in saliva up to four times the plasma level. No significant effect on salivary flow rate was observed. There was a positive linear correlation (r = 0.52, p The parotid salivary secretion of lithium (a) varies with the duration of administration (b) resembles that of potassium but also shows significant differences from that cation.

Simultaneous Quantitative Measurement of 131I-Iodine and 99mTc-Pertechnetate Uptake by Human Salivary Glands Using Scintiscanning with Validation by Direct Estimation in Biopsy Samples

Abstract. 131I‐iodide and 99Tc‐pertechnetate concentration in human salivary glands has been measured simultaneously in vivo by quantitative scintiscanning in 7 thyrotoxic subjects. The mid scan times were 5, 12 and 20 min. and the gland to plasma ratio (G/P) of 131I rose to 4.03±0.82 (s.e.) in the parotid and 10.7 ±3.1 (s.e.) in the submandibular glands. Corresponding values for G/P 99mTcO4‐were 2.70 ±0.34 in the parotid and 5.3 ± 1.2 in the submandibular glands. Values obtained at parotidectomy 1 h after intravenous administration of a mixture containing 125I‐ and 99mTcO4‐ to 6 patients were 4.13 ± 0.85 for G/P 125I‐ and 2.50 ± 0.62 for G/P99mTcO4‐. G/P131I‐ (or G/P125I‐) and G/P 99mTeO4‐, derived by both methods, were significantly correlated in parotid and submandibular glands. There was a significant correlation between G/P 131I‐/G/P 99mTcO4‐ in the parotid glands and G/P131I‐/G/P99mTcO4‐ in the submandibular glands. ‐It is concluded that 1. salivary gland values of 131I‐ and 99mTcO4,‐as measured by scintiscanning are very close to values obtained by direct counting of excised human salivary gland tissue and 2. that the secretion processes in both glands are physiologically related.

Medical students repeating the fourth year at the University of Glasgow1

The fourth year of medical studies at the University of Glasgow is an integrated course. In addition to clinical teaching in the wards the students receive systematic instruction in medicine and surgery to which there are contributions from physicians, surgeons, pathologists, psychiatrists, and teachers from other disciplines. Examinations covering the years work replace the written part of the final MB, ChB examination in medicine and surgery, previously taken at thc end of the sixth year. Marks are allocated as follows: 20% each for an examination in December, March, and June covering the terms work, 20% in June for an examination covering the years work, and 20% for a dissertation on some topic in medicine. The examinations are of the objective type in which a common stem is followed by a set of six items, any number of which may be correct. The questions are marked as previously described (Harden, Lever, and Wilson, 1969; Lever, Harden, Wilson, and Jolley, 1970). Dissertations are scored independently by a minimum of two examiners for originality, accuracy, review of the literature, and presentation. Where there is a discrepancy they are assessed by a third examiner. Students who fail to obtain a pass mark for the years work have the opportunity t o redeem themselves in an oral examination in June. Those who fail to do so have another written and oral examination in September. Students failing to pass in June or September are required to repeat the years work. At this stage of the students career repetition of a year of study implies a serious defect in either the student or the teacher, as faults in selection procedures or failure of the student to

The influence of parotin on serum calcium in rabbits

Abstract Ito (1954) reported that parotin A, the protein fraction prepared from the salivary gland, caused a fall in serum calcium. This claim has been investigated using a preparation made from human parotid saliva and a bio assay in rabbits. Animals fasted but given no injection or other treatment showed a fall in serum calcium. The serum calcium also fell in rabbits fasted and given parotin by intravenous injection but an equally large fall was observed in controls given saline. It has, therefore, not been possible to confirm that parotin reduces serum calcium levels in fasting rabbits.