Congenital goiter was reported in a number of herds of Afrikander cattle in the 1950's. Some affected animals were assembled and maintained as a closed herd. Although considerable biochemical research into the nature of the disease has been conducted, no definitive report has described the mode of inheritance of the defect. This paper presents the results of breeding studies that indicate the defect is inherited as an autosomal recessive. Southern blot analysis of the thyroglobulin gene confirms this finding. In addition, serum levels of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone, thyrotropin), T3 (3,4,3'-tri-iodothyronine), T4 (thyroxine), rT3 (3,3',5'-tri-iodothyronine), and DIT (diiodotyrosine) of goitrous animals are compared with normal animals.

Africa, Southern↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Morbidity, mortality, and albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients: a three-year prospective study of a random cohort in general practice.

In a 3-year prospective study, the prevalence of albuminuria and its relationship to macrovascular disease, pre-existing vascular risk factors and mortality rate were studied in a random cohort of 290 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in general practice. Newly occurring micro- or macroalbuminuria was associated with significantly (p less than 0.05) higher systolic blood pressure: median (IQ range) 157 (140-170) vs 150 (130-160) mmHg, in addition to higher serum triglycerides: median (IQ range) 2.71 (1.84-4.25) vs 1.84 (1.35-3.14) mmol l-1, and C-peptide levels: median (IQ range) 1.30 (0.98-2.16) vs 1.10 (0.82-1.58) nmol l-1, at 3-year follow-up. Patients with macroalbuminuria at final examination had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride and beta 2-microglobulin levels, decreased HDL-cholesterol, and a significantly higher prevalence of carotid artery stenoses and peripheral vascular disease. Patients dying from vascular causes showed significantly higher urinary albumin levels at entrance as compared to the surviving patients: median (IQ range): 42.2 (11-249.7) vs 10.4 (4.6-28.0) mg l-1, p less than 0.008, and overall mortality rate was significantly linked with the presence of macroalbuminuria (26% vs 5% in normoalbuminuric patients). A comparison between the results of the initial and the final examination indicated an overall worsening of renal variables (albuminuria: median (IQ range): female 9.5 (4.5-21) vs 13.4 (5.1-39.7) mg l-1, (p less than 0.05); male 13.8 (4.7-34.1) vs 32.6 (8.1-78.7) (p less than 0.001), despite a significant improvement in metabolic variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Non-palpable breast lesions in asymptomatic women: diagnostic value of initial ultrasonography and comparison with mammography.

AIM: This prospective double-blind study was designed to assess (i) if primary breast screening by ultrasonography is capable of detecting breast cancer independent of tissue density and (ii) if the rate of unnecessary biopsies remains acceptable when diagnostics are based on ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bilateral breast ultrasonography was performed in 448 asymptomatic women as the initial diagnostic method. Sonograms were interpreted using a set of standardized diagnostic criteria. Subsequently, mammograms were obtained. The radiologists reading the mammograms were blinded to the sonographic results. RESULTS: Overall, 3 non-palpable breast cancers were detected by ultrasound and mammography. All 3 ultrasonographically detected breast cancers were smaller than 1 cm (0.7, 0.7, 0.6 cm). All 3 carcinomas were correctly detected by both methods. For ultrasonography, the false positive rate was 1.1% (n=5) and for mammography 0.6% (n=3). When both methods were combined, the rate of unnecessary open biopsies was 1.6% (n=7). The ratio of benign to malignant lesions was 3.7/1. CONCLUSION: Without prior mammography, primary high-resolution breast ultrasonography is capable of detecting non-palpable breast carcinomas in asymptomatic women at an early stage. The rate of unnecessary open biopsies is low and the ratio of benign to malignant biopsies acceptable.

Adult↗