Selenium supplementation in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy: an update

Effects of Applying Different Doses of Selenite to Soil and Foliar at Different Growth Stage on Selenium Content and Yield of Different Oat Varieties

(1) Background: With the increase in people’s consumption of processed oat products, the production of selenium (Se)-enriched oat has become a possibility to supplement the human body with Se. Therefore, the effects of various factors on the Se-enriched ability and yield of different oat varieties were comprehensively studied. (2) Methods: cv.“Pinyan 5” and cv.“Bayou 18” were applied at the stem-elongation stage and heading stage in the Jinzhong (JZ), and cv.“Bayou 1” and cv.“Jinyan 18” were applied at the heading stage and flowering stage in the northwestern Shanxi (JXB) with different doses of Na₂SeO₃ (0, 5.48, 10.96, 21.92, 43.84, 65.76, 98.64, 0, 5.48, 10.96, 21.92, 43.84, 65.76, 98.64, 147.96 g hm⁻²) by soil application and foliar spraying. (3) Results: The grain Se content and yield of oat were affected by the variety, Se application dose, stage and method of Se supplementation. Additionally, the Se content in oat grain was positively correlated with the Se application dose while the yield of oat first increased and then decreased with the Se application dose. (4) Conclusions: In the JZ and JXB, 21.92 g hm⁻² and 43.84 g hm⁻² Se was sprayed on the leaves of cv.“Bayou 18” and cv.“Bayou 1” at the heading stage, respectively, was the most effective Se biofortification program.

Variations in the Antithyroid Antibody Titre During Pregnancy and After Delivery

Background

Immunosuppression occurs during pregnancy, and the antithyroid antibody titre drops, rebounding after delivery. We aimed to determine variations in antithyroid antibody titres during pregnancy and after delivery.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted in a single centre. Antibody titres of 142 patients were measured to assess variations in the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TRAbs), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs), and thyroid globulin antibodies (TgAbs). We compared the titres of each antibody between adjacent time periods (eg, first trimester (T1) vs second trimester (T2), T2 vs third trimester (T3), T3 vs the postpartum period (PP)) by paired t-test or the Wilcoxon test. Then, we analysed data from patients with complete laboratory examination results in all four periods with the Friedman test, performing comparisons among groups.

Results

In the TgAb group, significant differences existed between T1 and T2 and between T2 and T3 in the LT4 subgroup and between T1 and T2 in the no-medication subgroup. In the TRAb group, significant differences existed between T1 and T2 in the LT4 subgroup. In the TPOAb group, significant differences existed among each group in the LT4 subgroup, and there were significant differences between T1 and T2 and between T2 and T3 in the no-medication subgroup. The Friedman test showed that the P-values were 0.013 and 0.004 in the LT4 and no-medication subgroups of the TgAb group, respectively; 0.122 in the LT4 subgroup of the TRAb group; and <0.001 and 0.272 in the LT4 and no-medication subgroups of the TPOAb group, respectively. In the LT4 subgroup of the TgAb group, the P-values for comparisons of time periods were 0.602 between T1 and T2, 0.602 between T2 and T3, 0.006 between T1 and T3, and 0.602 between T3 and PP. In the no-medication subgroup of the TgAb group, the P-values were 0.078 between T1 and T2, 1.000 between T2 and T3, 0.011 between T1 and T3, and 0.078 between T3 and PP. In the LT4 subgroup of the TPOAb group, the P-values were 0.09 between T1 and T2, 0.014 between T2 and T3, <0.001 between T1 and T3, and 0.772 between T3 and PP.

Conclusion

We can conclude that the TgAb and TPOAb titres dropped during pregnancy.

A pilot study on the beneficial effects of additional selenium supplementation to methimazole for treating patients with Graves’ disease

Background/aim

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a combination use of methimazole (MMI) and selenium (Se) in the treatment of Graves’ disease (GD).

Materials and methods

A total of 103 newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism patients were randomized to MMI and MMI + Se combination groups. After treatment for 6 months, the levels of triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) were observed. An in vitro culture model of thyroid cells was established and the protein expression and mRNA levels of TRAb, TPOAb, and TGAb were determined by western blot and RT-PCR.

Results

A significant decrease in the levels of FT3, FT4, TRAb, TPOAb, and TGAb were observed in both groups along with a marked increase in TSH levels. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments showed that the protein expression and mRNA levels of TRAb, TPOAb, and TGAb decreased significantly. Also, compared to the MMI group, there was a greater improvement of these indices in the MMI + Se group.

Conclusion

We suggest that the combined use of MMI and Se could improve the thyroid activity in patients, which may provide an effective therapy for the treatment of GD in clinical settings.

Thiol-disulfide homeostasis as an oxidative stress marker in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy

Purpose: To evaluate thiol-disulfide homeostasis (TDH) and its relationship with clinical findings in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Methods: This study included 52 patients with GO and 34 healthy controls. Tests of TDH were conducted using the novel automated spectrophotometric method. Clinical activity score (CAS) and ophthalmopathy index were evaluated and relationships with native thiol, disulfide levels and disulfide/native thiol % ratios were analyzed. Results: The mean plasma native thiol levels in GO patients were significantly lower than that of normal controls (p = 0.013) . The mean plasma disulfide levels and disulfide/native thiol % ratio were found to be significantly higher in GO patients than in controls (p = 0.041, p = 0.022; respectively). The mean native thiol levels of active GO patients (n = 24) were significantly lower than that of patients with inactive GO (n = 28) (p = 0.044). The mean disulfide levels and disulfide/native thiol % ratios of active GO patients were significantly higher than that of patients with inactive GO (p = 0.034, p = 0.001; respectively). There was a negative correlation between native thiol and CAS (r = -0.532, p = 0.001) and a positive correlation between disulfide/native thiol % ratio and CAS (r = 0.601, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The impairment of TDH indicates the presence of oxidative stress in moderate-to-severe GO, particularly in active GO and smokers.

Selenium and Thyroid Disease: From Pathophysiology to Treatment

Introduction. Selenium is a micronutrient embedded in several proteins. In adults, the thyroid is the organ with the highest amount of selenium per gram of tissue. Selenium levels in the body depend on the characteristics of the population and its diet, geographic area, and soil composition. In the thyroid, selenium is required for the antioxidant function and for the metabolism of thyroid hormones. Methods. We performed a review of the literature on selenium's role in thyroid function using PubMed/MEDLINE. Results. Regarding thyroid pathology, selenium intake has been particularly associated with autoimmune disorders. The literature suggests that selenium supplementation of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis is associated with a reduction in antithyroperoxidase antibody levels, improved thyroid ultrasound features, and improved quality of life. Selenium supplementation in Graves' orbitopathy is associated with an improvement of quality of life and eye involvement, as well as delayed progression of ocular disorders. The organic form of selenium seems to be the preferable formulation for supplementation or treatment. Conclusion. Maintaining a physiological concentration of selenium is a prerequisite to prevent thyroid disease and preserve overall health. Supplementation with the organic form is more effective, and patients with autoimmune thyroiditis seem to have benefits in immunological mechanisms. Selenium supplementation proved to be clinically beneficial in patients with mild to moderate Graves' orbitopathy.

Lipid peroxidation, proteins modifications, anti-oxidant enzymes activities and selenium deficiency in the plasma of hashitoxicosis patients

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the oxidative stress profile in hashitoxicosis (HTX) and to compare it with that of healthy subjects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Spectrophotometric methods were used to evaluate the oxidative stress markers. The selenium level was investigated by atomic absorption.

RESULTS

High levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and conjugated dienes were found in HTX patients (p = 0.034 and p = 0.043, respectively) compared with healthy controls. For antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities increased, whereas that of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) decreased (p = 0.000, p = 0.014, p = 0.000, respectively) compared with controls. A reduction in the level of selenium (p = 0.029) and thiol groups (p = 0.008) were shown in patients; however, levels of carbonyl group and malondialdehyde (MDA) protein adducts decreased (p = 0.000) compared with controls. Positive correlation was shown between levels of free thyroxine (FT4) and TBARS (r = 0.711, p = 0.048) and between FT4 level and SOD activity (r = 0.713, p = 0.047). Conversely, GPx activity presented a negative correlation with FT4 and free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels (r = -0.934, p = 0.001; r = -0.993, p = 0.000, respectively). In addition, GPx activity showed positive correlation with selenium level (r = 0.981, p = 0.019) and the FT3 level correlated negatively with the level of thiol groups (r = -0.892, p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows the presence of an oxidative stress and selenium deficiency in HTX patients and suggests that the hyperthyroid state is strongly implicated in the establishment of this disturbed oxidative profile.

Role of the Sigma-1 receptor in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting spinal cord motoneurons (MN) with an associative connection to Frontotemporal Lobar Dementia (FTLD). The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) bound Sigma-1 Receptor (S1R) chaperone protein localizes to specialized ER cisternae within 10 nm of the plasma membrane in spinal cord ventral horn cholinergic post synaptic C-terminals. Removal of the S1R gene in the Superoxide Dismutase-1 (SOD-1) mouse model of ALS exacerbated the neurodegenerative condition and resulted in a significantly reduced longevity when compared to the SOD-1/S1R wild type (WT) mouse. The proposed amelioration of the ALS phenotype by the S1R is likely due to a "brake" on excitation of the MN as evidenced by a reduction in action potential generation in the MN of the WT when compared to the S1R KO mouse MN. Although the precise signal transduction pathway(s) regulated by the S1R in the MN has/have not been elucidated at present, it is likely that direct or indirect functional interactions occur between the S1R in the ER cisternae with voltage gated potassium channels and/or with muscarinic M2 receptor signaling in the post synaptic plasma membrane. Possible mechanisms for regulation of MN excitability by S1R are discussed.