Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P61278 (somatostatin)
 22,083 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In the last ten years several experimental data have suggested that growth factors may play an important role in modulating thyroid growth and function. Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is present in large quantities in thyroid tissue, where it appears to stimulate DNA synthesis and inhibit cellular function. Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs), Interleukin I (IL-I) and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) show the same stimulation on cell proliferation. On the contrary Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-beta) and somatostatin display inhibitory effects on follicular growth. Therefore it is likely that growth factors' altered production and/or their receptors abnormal expression on the thyroid cells surface might be involved in the development of multinodular goiter and some thyroid neoplasms.
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PMID:[Recent findings on the etiopathogenesis of multinodular goiter. II. Thyroid growth factors]. 178 8

Diagnostic strategy in thyroid cancer is conditioned by epidemiological, pathophysiological, cost-effective issues changing with age and countries. Nuclear medicine has a role mainly in differentiated carcinomas, i.e. in the large majority of thyroid cancers. In diagnosis of thyroid nodule (99m)Tc-perthecnetate is indicated in patients with low TSH levels, multinodular goiter, solid nodules at US negative at FNA. Radiolabeled somatostatin analogs or Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) can be used in suspicion of medullary carcinoma. There is no role in staging. WBS with 131I has a role after surgical resection of the thyroid gland and it is no more suggested before ablative therapy, because of the possible stunning effect. In the follow-up thyroglobulin (Tg) test is mandatory both after therapy withdrawal or after rhTSH administration. Some authors already suggest to use this test alone, as 1st step, in patients with differentiated carcinoma at low risk of recurrence, but this approach is not yet generally accepted and it has not yet been validated in tumors at intermediate/high risk. WBS with 131I is ever indicated when autoantibodies can affect reliability of Tg values and in presence of high Tg levels to better define a radiometabolic therapy. In case of negative WBS, PET-FDG can be proposed. In WBS, 123I can be an alternative to 131I, but it is not yet generally accepted mainly because of its higher costs. The clinical use of rhTSH to increase accuracy both of Tg and WBS can be already accepted in patients at high risk following hypothyroidism, with a worst prognosis or a low pituitary response.
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PMID:Nuclear medicine in diagnosis, staging and follow-up of thyroid cancer. 1524 6

Thyroid diseases are the commonest endocrine disorders in the general population. In most of the cases, they are consistent with benign conditions which may be asymptomatic or affect people at a variable extent. Since they often represent chronic conditions their prevalence increases by age and reaches in elderly the highest rates. Thyroid nodules are a common clinical finding. Most subjects with thyroid nodules have few or no symptoms. Thyroid nodules are more commonly non-functioning. However, in elderly, toxic multinodular goiter is the most frequent cause of spontaneous hyperthyroidism and often, it emerges insidiously from nontoxic multinodular goiter. Although autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in elderly subjects, other causes, such as drugs, neck radiotherapy, thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy, are frequently observed among these subjects. A small subset of medications including dopamine agonists, glucocorticoids and somatostatin analogs affect thyroid function through suppression of TSH. Other medications that may affect TSH levels are metformin, antiepileptic medications, lithium carbonate and iodine-containing medications. Other drugs can alter T4 absorption, T4 and T3 transport in serum and metabolism of T4 and T3, such as proton-pump inhibitors and antacids, estrogens, mitotane and fluorouracil, phenobarbital and rifampin. Amiodarone administration is associated with thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism. Thyroid cancer has similar characteristics in elderly as in general population, however the rate of aggressive forms such as the anaplastic histotype, is higher in older than younger subjects. Diagnosis of thyroid diseases includes a comprehensive medical history and physical examination and appropriate laboratory tests. A correct diagnosis of thyroid diseases in the elderly is crucial for proper treatment, which consists in the removal of medications that may alter thyroid function, in the use of levo-thyroxine in case of hypothyroidism, anti-thyroid drugs in case of hyperthyroidism and use of surgery, radioiodine therapy and percutaneous ablative procedures in selected cases. In conclusion, thyroid diseases in patients older than 60 years deserve attention from different points of view: the prevalence is different from the young adult; symptoms are more nuanced and makes difficult the diagnosis; age and comorbidity often force therapeutic choices and may limit safety and efficacy of therapy. Finally, in elderly patients for whom specific therapy is necessary, more gradual and careful therapeutic approach and close follow-up are recommended in order to minimize the alterations of thyroid function which are induced by many drugs commonly used in clinical practice.
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PMID:Thyroid diseases in elderly. 2201 51