Vitamin D,selenium,and antidiabetic drugs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

BACKGROUND Diabetes and thyroiditis are closely related.They occur in combination and cause significant damage to the body.There is no clear treatment for type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT).While single symptomatic drug treatment of the two diseases is less effective,combined drug treatment may improve efficacy.AIM To investigate the effect of a combination of vitamin D,selenium,and hypoglycemic agents in T2DM with HT.METHODS This retrospective study included 150 patients with T2DM and HT treated at The Central Hospital of Shaoyang from March 2020 to February 2023.Fifty patients were assigned to the control group,test group A,and test group B according to different treatment methods.The control group received low-iodine diet guidance and hypoglycemic drug treatment.Test group A received the control treatment plus vitamin D treatment.Test group B received the group A treatment plus selenium.Blood levels of markers of thyroid function[free T3(FT3),thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH),free T4(FT4)],autoantibodies[thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAB)and thyroid globulin antibody(TGAB)],blood lipid index[low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),total cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol(TG)],blood glucose index[fasting blood glucose(FBG),and hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)]were measured pre-treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment.The relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3[25(OH)D3]level and each of these indices were analyzed.RESULTS The levels of 25(OH)D3,FT3,FT4,and LDL-C increased in the order of the control group,test group A,and test group B(all P<0.05).The TPOAB,TGAB,TC,TG,FBG,HbA1c,and TSH levels increased in the order of test groups B,A,and the control group(all P<0.05).All the above indices were compared after 3 and 6 months of treatment.Pre-treatment,there was no divergence in serum 25(OH)D3 level,thyroid function-related indexes,autoantibodies level,blood glucose,and blood lipid index between the control group,test groups A and B(all P>0.05).The 25(OH)D3 levels in test groups A and B were negatively correlated with FT4 and TGAB(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combination drug treatment for T2DM with HT significantly improved thyroid function,autoantibody,and blood glucose and lipid levels.

Exploring the relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and male fertility:A meta-analytic and meta-regression perspective on hormonal and seminal factors

Objective:To explore the relationship between Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism(HT)and male fertility,focusing on hormonal and seminal factors.Methods:A systematic literature search was conducted across databases such as PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE,Scopus,Cochrane,and Google Scholar,covering studies published from January 2000 to March 2024.Studies investigating the impact of HT on semen quality parameters and reproductive hormones were included.Pooled effect estimates were calculated using standard mean difference(SMD)and 95%confidence intervals(CI).Results:A total of 8 studies with 8965 participants were included.HT significantly affected semen quality and reproductive hormone levels.Specifically,there was a notable decrease in progressive morphology(SMD=-0.78;95%CI:-1.40 to-0.17;P=0.01)and sperm motility(SMD=-1.151;95%CI:-1.876 to-0.425;P=0.002).In addition,there were no significant changes in reproductive hormones,although there were elevated levels of luteinizing hormone(SMD=0.437;95%CI:0.000 to 0.874;P=0.050)and follicle-stimulating hormone(SMD=0.293;95%CI:-0.171 to 0.758;P=0.216),with a slight impact on testosterone levels(SMD=-1.143;95%CI:-2.487 to 0.200;P=0.095).Conclusions:This systematic review and meta-analysis provides robust evidence of the detrimental effects of HT on semen quality and reproductive hormones,underscoring the necessity for thorough evaluation and management of thyroid function in male infertility assessments.

DNA Methylation of KLRC1 and KLRC3 in Autoimmune Thyroiditis:Perspective of Different Water Iodine Exposure

Objective This study aimed to identify differentially methylated genes(DMGs) associated with natural killer cells in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis(AIT), focusing on the influence of varying water iodine exposure levels.Methods Participants were divided into categories based on median water iodine(MWI)concentrations: iodine-fortified areas(IFA, MWI < 10 μg/L), iodine-adequate areas(IAA, 40 ≤ MWI ≤ 100μg/L), and iodine-excessive areas(IEA, MWI > 300 μg/L). A total of 176 matched AIT cases and controls were recruited and divided into 89, 40, and 47 pairs for IFA, IAA, and IEA, respectively. DMGs were identified using 850K Bead Chip analysis for 10/10 paired samples. Validation of DNA methylation and m RNA expression levels of the DMGs was conducted using Methyl Target^(TM) and QRT-PCR for 176/176paired samples.Results KLRC1, KLRC3, and SH2D1B were identified as significant DMGs. Validation revealed that KLRC1 was hypomethylated and highly expressed, whereas KLRC3 was hypermethylated and highly expressed in individuals with AIT. Furthermore, KLRC1 was hypomethylated and highly expressed in both IFA and IEA.Conclusion The DNA methylation status of KLRC1 and KLRC3 may play crucial roles in AIT pathogenesis. Additionally, DNA methylation of KLRC1 seems to be influenced by different iodine concentrations in water.

Vitamin D, selenium in type 2 diabetes and Hashimoto's thyroiditis: Is it effective?

The study by Feng et al,explores treatment approaches for these coexisting conditions.It emphasizes the potential advantages of selenium and vitamin D supplementation but also raises methodological and patient selection concerns.Findings indicate a complex interplay between interventions and disease markers,prompting the need for further research.Despite limitations,the study offers valuable insights into managing the intricate relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.The authors'contributions shed light on potential treatment avenues,although careful consideration of study design and patient characteristics is warranted for future investigations in this domain.

Vitamin D and selenium for type 2 diabetes mellitus with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis:Dosage and duration insights

This letter discusses the publication by Feng et al.Iodine,selenium,and vitamin D are closely associated with thyroid hormone production in humans;however,the efficacy of selenium and vitamin D supplementation for type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis(HT)remains controversial.In the retrospective study we discuss herein,the authors highlighted significant improvements in thyroid function,thyroid antibodies,blood glucose,and blood lipid in T2DM patients with HT following addition of vitamin D and selenium to their antidiabetic regimens,underscoring the value of these supplements.Our team is currently engaged in research exploring the relationship between micronutrients and HT,and we have obtained invaluable insights from the aforementioned study.Based on this research and current literature,we recommend a regimen of 4000 IU/day of vitamin D and 100-200μg/day of selenium for over three months to six months for patients with HT,particularly for those with concurrent T2DM.

Two Case Studies of Painless Thyroiditis with Special Presentation

This article reports two cases of painless thyroiditis with special manifestations. Patient 1 was a 76-year-old female patient who presented with palpitations and chest tightness and was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism by thyroid ultrasound and electrocardiogram, which is a painless thyroiditis with atrial fibrillation as the first symptom. Patient 2 is a 44-year-old male patient, with only palpitations, diagnosed as T3 thyroiditis by liver function and thyroid function tests, and accompanied by abnormal liver function, belonging to the painless thyroiditis with elevated FT3 only. This article points out that painless thyroiditis has multiple manifestations and is easily misdiagnosed as other diseases. Therefore, patients with symptoms such as palpitations and chest tightness should undergo cytologic or pathologic examination in time to avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Coexistence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in a context of Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Papillary thyroid cancer(PTC)represents 80%-85%of thyroid cancer and its prevalence has been rising in the last decades.Primary thyroid lymphoma(PTL)accounts for 3%of extranodal lymphomas and about 5%of thyroid malignancies,having a prevalence of one or two cases per million people.Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue lymphoma represents approximately30%of PTL.Both entities have an indolent course and a very good prognosis.Diagnosis is made by ultrasound and fine needle aspiration(FNA)or surgery specimen pathology.They have also been associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis(HT),but pathogenesis and its links remains to be known.Treatment remains controversial and surgery is generally accepted in cases of disease limited to thyroid,as the present.Patients with thyroid nodules should be observed and followed.If there is an enlargement by ultrasound or clinical symptoms,FNA should be performed promptly.Patients with HT deserve additional surveillance,since this condition is associated with both PTC and PTL.In this case,the management with surgery and radioactive iodine ablation therapy was effective for both entities.Patients with thyroid nodules should be properly evaluated with ultrasound and thyroid function tests.If there is an enlargement of the neck,reported by symptoms or ultrasound,it requires further investigation.HT is associated to both PTC and PTL so if the enlargement of the nodules is on this context additional tests such as FNA should be performed.In this case,the patient was managed with surgery and radioactive iodine ablation therapy and it was effective for both entities.

Effect of sub-acute exposure to TiO_2 nanoparticles on oxidative stress and histopathological changes in Juvenile Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Increasing application of nanotechnology highlights the need to clarify and understand nanotoxicity. Mammalian and in vitro studies have raised concerns about the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles （TiO2-NPs）, but there are limited data on ecotoxicity to aquatic organisms. In this work, the sub-acute toxicity of TiO2-NPs to carp （Cyprinus carpio） was assessed. Superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POD） activities and lipid peroxidation （LPO） levels in liver, gill and brain tissues of carps varied with concentration of TiO2-NPs suspensions and exposure time （up to 8 d）. As a result, 100 and 200 mg/L TiO2-NPs caused statistically significant decrease in SOD, CAT and POD activities and significant increase in LPO levels in tissues （P 〈 0.05）, suggesting that the fish exposed to these two concentrations of TiO2-NPs suffered from the oxidative stress. The extent of depletion of antioxidant enzymes activities and the elevation of LPO in the liver was the greatest, indicating that the liver might be the most susceptible organ to TiO2-NPs exposure. In addition, carps had gill pathologies including edema and thickening of gill lamellae as well as gill filaments, and liver pathologies including necrotic and apoptosis hepatocytes after exposed to 100 and 200 mg/L TiO2-NPs for 20 d. These results indicated a potential risk from TiO2-NPs released into the aqueous environment.

Role of color Doppler in differentiation of Graves' disease and thyroiditis in thyrotoxicosis

AIM:To evaluate the role of thyroid blood flow assessment by color-flow Doppler ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis and compare it to technetium pertechnetate thyroid scanning. METHODS:Twenty-six patients with thyrotoxicosis were included in the study. Clinical history was taken and physical examination and thyroid function tests were performed for all patients. Thyroid autoantibodies were measured. The thyroid glands of all patients were evaluated by gray scale ultrasonography for size, shape and echotexture. Color-flow Doppler ultrasonography of the thyroid tissue was performed and spectral flow analysis of both inferior thyroid arteries was assessed. Technetium99 pertechnetate scanning of the thyroid gland was done for all patients. According to thyroid scintigraphy, the patients were divided into two groups:18 cases with Graves' disease and 8 cases with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. All patients had suppressed thyrotropin. The diagnosis of Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis was supported by the clinical picture and follow up of patients. RESULTS:Peak systolic velocities of the inferior thyroid arteries were significantly higher in patients with Graves' disease than in patients with thyroiditis (P = 0.004 in the right inferior thyroid artery and P = 0.001 in left inferior thyroid artery). Color-flow Doppler ultrasonography parameters demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 87.5% in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis. CONCLUSION:Color Doppler flow of the inferior thyroid artery can be used in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis, especially when there is a contraindication of thyroid scintigraphy by radioactive material in some patients.

Presence of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

·AIM: To determine the prevalence of ophthalmopathy in Hashimoto’s patients and to make a comparison in subgroups of patients·METHODS: The study involved 110 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients and 50 control subjects attending to the endocrinology department of the hospital. Subgroup classification of patients was made as euthyroid,subclinic and clinic in Hashimato’s thyroiditis. All patients were evaluated by a single experienced ophthalmologist for the prevalence and characteristics of eye signs.·RESULTS:Theoverallprevalencesofeyechanges were22.7%(25 patients) in patients and 4%(2 persons) in control subjects respectively(P =0.002). In patients the most common symptom was retrobulbar eye pain with or without any eye movement. Thirteen patients had significant upper eyelid retraction(11.8%). Six patients had eye muscle dysfunction as reduced eye movements in up gaze. In control patients one person had proptosis and another had lid retraction. The clinical activity score and classification of the ophthalmopathy did not show any significant differences among subgroups.·CONCLUSION:Theeyesignsweremostlymild(22.7%)and the most common eye sign was the presence of upper eyelid retraction(11.8%). Additionally six patients had eye muscle dysfunction as reduced eye movements in up gaze. Therefore we recommend to make a routine ophthalmic examination in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients in order not to omit the associated ophthalmopathy.

Clinical and Pathological Features of Riedel's Thyroiditis

Objective To evaluate the clinical and pathological features of Riedel's thyroiditis(RT),and current diagnostic and treatment methods for that disease.Methods Five RT cases identified by surgery and pathological examinations at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1985 to 2009 were analyzed and compared with the cases reported in the literature in terms of clinical and pathological features.Immunohistochemical staining of kappa and lambda light chains was carried out for RT tissues from all the five patients.Results All the five cases were females,aged 45-55 years.Elevation of serum thyroid autoantibodies was found in only one patient,who had longer disease duration than the others.Pathological examination revealed invasive fibrosclerosis of the thyroid follicles,thyroid capsule,and the surrounding tissues.In RT tissues,the number of cells containing lambda chains was a little higher than those containing kappa chains.Conclusions RT is a rare disease which might be more common in middle-aged females than in other populations.Pathological features include the destruction of thyroid follicle,extension into surrounding tissues by inflammatory cells and fibrous tissues.Immunohistochemical staining of kappa and lambda chains could help diagnose RT.

Subacute Thyroiditis as Seen Initially in ENT Department—— A Reportof30 Cases

To assess the pharyngeal presentations and the diagnostic value of thyroid SPECT and thyroid fine needle aspiratory biopsy (FNAB) in subacute thyroiditis (SAT) as seen initially in ENT department, 30 patients, during the course of SAT, were examined for pharyngeal symptoms and tested for serum T 3, T 4 level. The thyroid SPECT imaging or thyroid FNAB were performed. Our results showed that, of the 30 patients, 21 had sore throat of various degrees, and 9 had abnormal sensation of throat. Six were diagnosed as having SAT by only SPECT, in the remaining 24, the final diagnoses was established by SPECT combined with FNAB. Two of them were finally diagnosed as having SAT by trial treatment with oral prednisone. It is concluded that sore throat and abnormal sensation of pharynx are the important presentations of SAT, and thyroid SPECT imaging and thyroid FNAB are valuable in diagnosing SAT.

Immune Intervention Effects on the Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis

To explore im mune intervention effects of the combined use of cycloporin A (Cs A ) and 1,2 5 - dihydroxyvitam in D3[1,2 5 (OH ) 2 D3]at low doses on experimental autoim mune thyroiditis (EAT) ,porcine thyroglobulin (p TG) was injected into a CBA mouse at the dose of 10 0μg on day 0 and day14 to establish the model of EAT.The immune prevention group from day0 to day2 8, and treatm ent group from day10 to day38were daily adm inistered Cs A(10 mg/ kg) intragastri- cally and/ or1,2 5 (OH) 2 D3(0 .2 μg/ kg) ip.After im munized by p TG,the m ice were sacrificed on day2 8and day38to examine their thyroid gland pathologically,and to check the levels of serum porcine thyroglobulin antibodies (p TGAb) ,porcine thyromicrosom al antibodies (p TMAb) .The incidences of EAT in the immune prevention group and treatment group,with administration of low dose of Cs A and 1,2 5 (OH) 2 D3,were decreased respectively by 4 4 .4 4 % and 37.5 0 % .Those of severe disease in the two groups were decreased respectively by71.4 3% and6 0 .32 % .The levels of serum p TGAb and p TMAb in the imm une prevention group were lower than those of the positive control group.It was concluded thatcombined use of Cs A and1,2 5 (OH) 2 D3at low doses could effectively prevent EAT with a synergic effect.

A STUDY ON THE CLINICAL EFFECT AND IMMUNOLOGICAL MECHANISM IN THE TREATMENT OF HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS BY MOXIBUSTION

71 cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis were treated by moxibustion and their immune functionand thyroid function were observed.It was found that moxibustion was able to reduce thethyroid amibodies in the peripheral blood of the patients with hypothyroidism and to recovertheir thyroid function.It was also found that moxibustion could lower the thyroid antibodysecretory levels and ADCC(antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity)activities ofthe lymphocytes,in addition,the action of moxibustion in reducing the secretion of thyroidantibodies was related to its action of regulating the proportions of T lymphocyte subsets.The results indicate that the treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis by moxihustion is probably accomplished through its effect in regulating the relationship among the T lymphocytesubsets.

Ascher syndrome: a rare case of blepharochalasis combined with double lip and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Dear Editor,I am Dr. Yao Fu, from the Department of Ophthalmology,Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. I write to present a rare case of Ascher syndrome.Ascher syndrome was described first in 1920, presenting as a combination of blepharochalasis, double lip, and non-toxic goitre(1)It is considered to be a rare, sporadic.

Coeliac disease in Dutch patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and vice versa

AIM: To define the association between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and coeliac disease in Dutch patients. METHODS: A total of 104 consecutive patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis underwent coeliac serological tests (antigliadins, transglutaminase and endomysium antibodies) and HLA-DQ typing. Small intestinal biopsy was performed when any of coeliac serological tests was positive. On the other hand, 184 patients with coeliac disease were subjected to thyroid biochemical (thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine) and thyroid serological tests (thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase antibodies). RESULTS: Of 104 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, sixteen (15%) were positive for coeliac serology and five patients with documented villous atrophy were diagnosed with coeliac disease (4.8%; 95% CI 0.7-8.9). HLA-DQ2 (and/or -DQ8) was present in all the five and 53 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (50%; 95% CI 43-62). Of 184 patients with coeliac disease, 39 (21%) were positive for thyroid serology. Based on thyroid biochemistry, the 39 patients were subclassified into euthyroidism in ten (5%; 95% CI 2-9), subclinicalhypothyroidism in seven (3.8%; 95% CI 1.8-7.6), and overt hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) in 22 (12%; 95% CI 8-16). Moreover, four patients with coeliac disease had Graves’ disease (2%; 95% CI 0.8-5) and one patient had post-partum thyroiditis. CONCLUSION: The data from a Dutch population confirm the association between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and coeliac disease. Screening patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis for coeliac disease and vice versa is recom- mended.

In the Basis of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, to Form Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, Metastasized and Then to De-Differentiate into Poorly Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Thyroid squamous cell carcinoma is very rare. At present, it is limited to case reports. Since the thyroid follicular epithelium is the non-squamous epithelium, how primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thyroid occurs is still a controversial issue. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is considered to be an independent risk factor for thyroid cancer, under the basis of HT, how tumor cells evolve and develop to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and particularly to de-differentiate into SCC is elusive. We report a 72-year-old female patient who developed multiple subtypes of PTC on a basis of HT, and finally to de-differentiate into SCC within the local foci of lymph node metastasis. We found that there was a variety of sub-types of PTC in this patient in the background of HT. SCC was found within local lymph node metastasis. Pathomorphology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular pathology have confirmed that the SCC was derived from PTC, and then developed into poorly differentiated SCC and/or anaplastic carcinoma. We also conducted a comprehensive literature review.

Effect of IL-10 gene transmission on the PTg-stimulated splenocytes proliferation and Th1 cytokines production from experimental autoimminue thyroiditis rats

To investigate the effects of gene therapy with IL-10 on PTg-induced proliferation of splenocytes and Thl cytokine production from PTg-stimulated splenocytes. Methods： EAT rats were divided into four groups ：group A （PBS＋PLL） , group B （pORF＋PLL）, group C （pORFmIL10＋PLL）, and group D （pORFmIL10＋ MEM）. The substances mixed with lipofectamine were injected into the thyroid tissues of rats on the 18th dday after immunization. The rats were sacrificed at the 8th week. In vitro proliferative responses to ConA and different concentration of PTg were measured by culturing 4 ×105 splenocytes pulsed with 18.5KBq of [^3H] thymidine for the final 12h and then harvested for liquid scintillation counting. In vitro splenocytes were cultured with PTg （25 mg/L）. Thl cytokine IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-2 were detected by ELISA. Results： The proliferative response to PTg was suppressed in group C, compared with that of group A and B （P 〈 0.05）. The levels of IFN-γ,TNF-αand IL-2 in the supernatant of PTg-stimulated splenocytes were 3548.25±779.47 pg/ml, 27.66±10.50 pg/ml and 3617.73±609.15 pg/ml, respectively, which were much lower in group C than those in group A and B（P 〈 0.01, P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.001, respectively）. Conclusion： IL- 10 gene transmission in thyroid tissues could inhibit PTg specific proliferation of splenocytes from EAT rats and the secretion 6f Th1 cytokines from PTg-stimulated splenocytes.

Selenium Supplementation Alleviates Autoimmune Thyroiditis by Regulating Expression of Th1/Th2 Cytokines

Selenium （Se） is an essential trace element. Autoimmune thyroid diseases （AITD） are destructive inflammatory or anti-receptor autoimmune diseases characterized by reactivity to self-thyroid antigens. However, the effects of Se on the cytokines in AITD are still unclear. So we researched the role of Selenium （Se） and Thl/Th2 cytokine productions in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases （AITD）.

Prevalence of coeliac disease in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis in a Turkish population

AIM:To investigate the prevalence of coeliac disease in a series of Turkish patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.METHODS:Sera from 136 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed autoimmune thyroiditis and 119 healthy blood donors were tested for IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Endoscopic mucosal biopsy from the second part of duodenum was performed in patients with positive antibody test.RESULTS:Eight patients(5.9%)and one control subject(0.8%)were positive for IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody(OR:7.38,95% CI:0.91-59.85,P = 0.04).Six patients and one control agreed to take biopsies.Histopathological examination revealed changes classified as Marsh Ⅲa in one,Marsh Ⅱ in one,Marsh Ⅰ in two,and Marsh 0 in two patients with autoimmune throiditis,and MarshⅠin one blood donor.CONCLUSION:Turkish patients with autoimmune thyroiditis have an increased risk of coeliac disease and serological screening may be useful for early detection of coeliac disease in these patients.Our findings need to be confirmed in a larger series of patients.