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Loh TP, Ehrenkranz J, Halsall D, Hoff K, Spencer CA, Van Uytfanghe K, Köhrle J. Response to Fitzgerald et al. re: "Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Thyroid Hormones (Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine): An American Thyroid Association-Commissioned Review of Current Clinical and Laboratory Status". Thyroid 2024; 34:276-278. [PMID: 38236706 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Tze Ping Loh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joel Ehrenkranz
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - David Halsall
- Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly Hoff
- American Thyroid Association, Headquarters, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
| | - Carole A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Katleen Van Uytfanghe
- Ref4U-Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Josef Köhrle
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Berlin, Germany
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Van Uytfanghe K, Ehrenkranz J, Halsall D, Hoff K, Loh TP, Spencer CA, Köhrle J. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Thyroid Hormones (Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine): An American Thyroid Association-Commissioned Review of Current Clinical and Laboratory Status. Thyroid 2023; 33:1013-1028. [PMID: 37655789 PMCID: PMC10517335 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Background: Despite being the most performed laboratory endocrine investigation, the optimum use of thyroid tests (thyrotropin [TSH] and thyroid hormone [TH] measurement) is open to question and the interpretation of the results from these tests can be ambiguous. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) with its expertise support the endeavor of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) to improve and maintain standardization and harmonization of thyroid testing. ATA mandated an international interdisciplinary working group panel to survey the status of thyroid testing by reviewing the recent literature to revise or update the criteria as needed in mutual agreement and to inform clinical care. Summary: This review represents the conclusions on the clinical use of current routine TSH and TH (thyroxine [T4] and triiodothyronine [T3]) assays, taking into account geographic differences in disease prevalence and clinical and laboratory practice among writing members. The interaction between physiological, pathophysiological, and pharmacological factors and thyroid assays can affect their measurements and confound result interpretation. These factors need to be considered in the clinical context of the patient for appropriate test ordering and result interpretation. Despite significant advances in laboratory methods over the past 50 years, routine thyroid assays remain susceptible to idiosyncratic analytical interference that may produce spurious results. Improved standardization needs to be demonstrated through ongoing international efforts before results from different assays can be considered equivalent. Emerging technology (e.g., mass spectrometry) shows promise for improved analytical performance, but more evidence of its clinical utility and improved throughput is required before it can be considered for routine use. Close clinical-laboratory collaboration is encouraged to overcome and avoid the pitfalls in thyroid testing as well as resolve clinically discrepant results. The evidence base supporting the conclusions of this review is summarized in four detailed online technical supplements. Conclusions: Over the past five decades, testing for TSH, T4, and T3 has evolved from manual radioisotopic immunoassays to nonisotopic multiplexed immunometric assays using highly automated equipment. Despite these technical advances, physicians and laboratorians performing these analyses must understand limitations of these methods to properly order tests and interpret results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katleen Van Uytfanghe
- Ref4U—Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joel Ehrenkranz
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - David Halsall
- Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly Hoff
- American Thyroid Association, Headquarters, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
| | - Tze Ping Loh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Carole A. Spencer
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Josef Köhrle
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Berlin, Germany
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Loh TP, Ehrenkranz J, Halsall D, Spencer CA, Van Uytfanghe K, Köhrle J. Clinical interpretation of thyroid tests: considerations for reference intervals. Thyroid 2023; 33:404-406. [PMID: 36927102 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tze Ping Loh
- National University Hospital, Singapore. , Department of Laboratory Medicine, , Singapore, Singapore;
| | - Joel Ehrenkranz
- California Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pasadena, California, United States;
| | - David Halsall
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2153, Clinical BIochemistry, Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, CB2 0QQ;
| | - Carole A Spencer
- University Southern California, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States;
| | - Katleen Van Uytfanghe
- Ghent University, 26656, Ref4U (Former Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry) - Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gent, Belgium;
| | - Josef Köhrle
- Charité, Inst. Exp. Endokrinologie, Schumannstr. 20/21, Berlin, Germany, D-10098;
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Aghajanian P, Spencer CA, Wilson ML, Lee RH, Goodwin TM, Mestman JH. Evaluation of risk-factor-based screening for thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity in pregnancy. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2016; 84:417-22. [PMID: 25823873 DOI: 10.1111/cen.12782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether risk-factor-based screening for thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy performs well for detecting thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), a marker for autoimmune thyroid disease. STUDY DESIGN We prospectively evaluated pregnant women for thyroid dysfunction using The Endocrine Society's eleven screening questions. Serum was analysed for TPOAb. RESULT We enrolled 546 women. TPOAb positivity was higher in women with a personal (odds ratio (OR) = 8·0; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·7-37·4; P = 0·02) or family history of thyroid disease (OR = 2·7; 95% CI = 1·3-5·7; P = 0·02). There was no association between the number of positive responses and TPOAb positivity (P = 0·41). Risk-factor-based screening missed 18 women (33%) with TPOAb. CONCLUSION One-third of women with TPOAb were missed by the case-finding method. A personal or family history of thyroid disease was most strongly associated with TPOAb positivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Aghajanian
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carole A Spencer
- Department of Endocrinology, Keck School of Medicine, University Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Melissa L Wilson
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Richard H Lee
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thomas M Goodwin
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jorge H Mestman
- Department of Endocrinology, Keck School of Medicine, University Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Netzel BC, Grebe SKG, Carranza Leon BG, Castro MR, Clark PM, Hoofnagle AN, Spencer CA, Turcu AF, Algeciras-Schimnich A. Thyroglobulin (Tg) Testing Revisited: Tg Assays, TgAb Assays, and Correlation of Results With Clinical Outcomes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:E1074-83. [PMID: 26079778 PMCID: PMC4524993 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2015-1967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) by mass spectrometry (Tg-MS) is emerging as a tool for accurate Tg quantification in patients with anti-Tg autoantibodies (TgAbs). OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to perform analytical and clinical evaluations of two Tg-MS assays in comparison with immunometric Tg assays (Tg-IAs) and Tg RIAs (Tg-RIAs) in a cohort of thyroid cancer patients. METHODS A total of 589 samples from 495 patients, 243 TgAb-/252 TgAb+, were tested by Beckman, Roche, Siemens-Immulite, and Thermo-Brahms Tg and TgAb assays, two Tg-RIAs, and two Tg-MS assays. RESULTS The frequency of TgAb+ was 58%, 41%, 27%, and 39% for Roche, Beckman, Siemens-Immulite, and Thermo-Brahms, respectively. In TgAb- samples, clinical sensitivities and specificities of 100% and 74%-100%, respectively, were observed across all assays. In TgAb+ samples, all Tg-IAs demonstrated assay-dependent Tg underestimation, ranging from 41% to 86%. In TgAb+ samples, the use of a common cutoff (0.5 ng/mL) for the Tg-MS, three Tg-IAs, and the USC-RIA improved the sensitivity for the Tg-MSs and Tg-RIAs when compared with the Tg-IAs. In up to 20% of TgAb+ cases, Tg-IAs failed to detect Tg that was detectable by Tg-MS. In Tg-RIAs false-high biases were observed in TgAb+ samples containing low Tg concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Tg-IAs remain the method of choice for Tg quantitation in TgAb- patients. In TgAb+ patients with undetectable Tg by immunometric assay, the Tg-MS will detect Tg in up to 20% additional cases. The Tg-RIA will detect Tg in approximately 35% cases, but a significant proportion of these will be clinical false-positive results. The undetectable Tg-MS seen in approximately 40% of TgAb+ cases in patients with disease need further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Netzel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Stefan K G Grebe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - B Gisella Carranza Leon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - M Regina Castro
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Penelope M Clark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Andrew N Hoofnagle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Carole A Spencer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Adina F Turcu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (B.C.N., S.K.G.G., A.A.-S.), Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition (S.K.G.G., B.G.C.L., M.R.C., A.F.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (P.M.C.), Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom; Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.N.H.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98108; and University of Southern California (C.A.S.), Los Angeles, California 90089
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Angell TE, Spencer CA, Rubino BD, Nicoloff JT, LoPresti JS. In search of an unstimulated thyroglobulin baseline value in low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma patients not receiving radioactive iodine ablation. Thyroid 2014; 24:1127-33. [PMID: 24697314 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2013.0691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical use of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) as a tumor marker in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients following total thyroidectomy continues to evolve, due in part to the introduction of more sensitive (second generation) Tg immunometric assays (Tg(2G)IMA, functional sensitivity ≤ 0.10 ng/mL), and the implementation of new recommendations against radioactive iodine ablation (RAIA) for patients at the lowest risk of recurrence. As a result, there is a need to establish the optimal timing and interpretation of serum Tg values while on levothyroxine-induced suppression of thyrotropin (TSH) in thyroidectomized PTC patients with a thyroid remnant. This study examines the pattern of decline and eventual baseline value of unstimulated Tg (uTg) concentrations following total thyroidectomy in patients with low-risk PTC who did not receive RAIA. METHODS The medical records of consecutive patients with thyroid cancer seen at the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Serial uTg and TSH values from Tg-antibody negative low-risk PTC patients treated with total thyroidectomy and no RAIA were analyzed. Patients were stratified by degree of TSH suppression to assess the effect on uTg. Serial postoperative uTg values were evaluated for the temporal pattern of decline and ultimate baseline. Patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) were studied as a surgical reference group. RESULTS Records from 577 consecutive thyroid cancer patients were reviewed, of which 36 met all criteria for inclusion. By 6 months, uTg fell to <0.5 ng/mL in 61% of patients and all patients demonstrated uTg < 0.5 ng/mL 2 years after surgery. During a median follow up of 5.7 years, uTg values remained below this level. The median uTg values in patients with papillary microcarcinoma, PTC, and MTC were similar at 0.11, 0.12, and 0.09 ng/mL, respectively. Further decline in uTg was not observed once the TSH was <0.5 mIU/L. CONCLUSIONS The uTg values during TSH suppression in Tg antibody-negative, low-risk PTC patients who did not receive RAIA were below 0.5 ng/mL by 6 months postoperatively in most cases and remained stable over the duration of patient follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor E Angell
- 1 Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California
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Abstract
CONTEXT Thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) are primarily measured in serum in conjunction with thyroglobulin (Tg)--the primary tumor marker used to monitor patients with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). Every specimen needs TgAb testing to authenticate that the Tg measurement is not compromised by TgAb interference. When present, TgAb concentrations per se can be monitored as a surrogate tumor marker. OBJECTIVES The aims of the study were: 1) to review published reports concerning whether there are associations between DTC, thyroid autoimmunity (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), and the presence of TgAb; and 2) to evaluate the methodological factors that influence TgAb interference with serum Tg testing. DATA SOURCES PubMed was used to identify studies published over the last 55 yr that focused on DTC relationships with thyroid autoimmunity and the presence of thyroid autoantibodies. RESULTS Many studies have reported significant associations between papillary thyroid cancer and Hashimoto's thyroiditis that may have a favorable prognostic significance. TgAb is detected in approximately 20% of DTC patients and may be a more specific thyroid tumor marker than thyroid peroxidase antibodies. TgAb interferes with Tg immunometric assay (IMA) measurements, causing falsely low/undetectable Tg values, especially when TgAb concentrations are high and serum Tg concentrations (measured by RIA) are low. TgAb concentrations respond to changes in Tg-secreting thyroid tissue such that the TgAb trend can be used as a more reliable surrogate DTC tumor marker than Tg IMA. Current TgAb assays may not always detect interfering TgAb because of insensitivity and specificity differences. It is critical to retain the same method for long-term TgAb monitoring. CONCLUSIONS Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis frequently have TgAb detected and may have a higher risk for papillary thyroid cancer. Although TgAb interferes with Tg IMA measurements, TgAb trends can be used as a surrogate DTC tumor marker in preference to Tg IMA, provided that the same method is used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole A Spencer
- University of Southern California, 126 W. Del Mar Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91105, USA.
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Abstract
Improvements in the sensitivity of the serum TSH assay have revolutionized our strategies for investigating thyroid function and firmly established TSH as the first-line thyroid function test for most clinical situations, including pregnancy. As a single hormone determination, serum TSH provides the most sensitive index to reliably detect thyroid function abnormalities. Normal thyroid function is important to ensure the best possible pregnancy outcome; in addition, disorders of the thyroid gland are relatively frequent in women of childbearing age. The aim of this article is, therefore, to present relevant information on analytical, as well as clinical, aspects regarding serum TSH determination and its usefulness to detect subtle thyroid function abnormalities associated with the pregnant state, namely overt and subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. As these disorders are associated with poor pregnancy outcome, the authors of the present article are in favor of serum TSH measurement for all pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Glinoer
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Haute 322, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
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Lee RH, Spencer CA, Montoro MN, Aghajanian P, Goodwin TM, Miller EA, Petrovic I, Braverman LE, Mestman JH. Effect of thyroid peroxidase antibodies on thyroid-stimulating hormone reference limits in a primarily Latina population. Obstet Med 2009; 2:154-6. [DOI: 10.1258/om.2009.090039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the paper is to determine the prevalence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and assess its effect on the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference range during pregnancy in a primarily Latina population. Serum samples were collected from healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant controls. TSH reference ranges were calculated when TPOAb-positive patients were either included or excluded. A total of 134 pregnant women and 107 non-pregnant controls were recruited. Positive TPOAb titres were found in 23 (17.2%) of the 134 pregnant women, and in 14 (13.1%) of the 107 non-pregnant controls. When the TPOAb-positive women were included in the TSH analysis, the upper reference limit using two different methods was consistently higher: 0–2.2 fold in the non-pregnant women, 2.01–2.78 fold in the first trimester, 3.18–4.7 fold in the second and 1.05–1.42 fold in the third. The lower TSH reference limit was not affected by the inclusion of TPOAb-positive subjects. In conclusion, inclusion of TPOAb-positive patients results in higher upper reference limits during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Carole A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Martin N Montoro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Paola Aghajanian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - T Murphy Goodwin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Erin A Miller
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ivana Petrovic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Lewis E Braverman
- Department of Medicine, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jorge H Mestman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA
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Aghajanian P, Mestman JH, Wilson ML, Lee RH, Goodwin TM, Pathak B, Patil S, Spencer CA. 205: Comparison of the performance of four thyroid peroxidase antibody assays in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.10.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Aghajanian P, Spencer CA, Lee RH, Wilson ML, Goodwin TM, Pathak B, Patil S, Mestman JH. 206: An evaluation of risk-factor based screening for thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.10.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Lee RH, Spencer CA, Mestman JH, Miller EA, Petrovic I, Braverman LE, Goodwin TM. Free T4 immunoassays are flawed during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009; 200:260.e1-6. [PMID: 19114271 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2008] [Revised: 08/09/2008] [Accepted: 10/07/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracies of 2 free thyroxine immunoassays during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN Serum was collected from healthy, thyroid peroxidase antibody-negative women during each trimester and nonpregnant controls. Thyrotropin, total T4 (TT4), free T4 index (FT4I), and 2 different FT4 immunoassays were studied. RESULTS As expected, TT4 was elevated in all 3 trimesters compared to controls (P < .001). FT4I was elevated in the 1st trimester as compared with controls (P < .05) and returned to the nonpregnant range in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. In contrast, 1st trimester FT4 immunoassay values were either comparable or lower than controls and by the 2nd and 3rd trimesters had decreased to approximately 65% of controls. CONCLUSION Neither FT4 immunoassay accurately reflects established free T4 changes during pregnancy. TT4 and the FT4I retained an appropriate inverse relationship with TSH throughout pregnancy and appear to provide a more reliable free T4 estimate.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND It is accepted that markedly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are associated with impaired cognitive function. However, the findings regarding the association between mildly elevated TSH levels and cognition are equivocal. The objective of this study was to assess the relation between TSH levels in the normal to mildly elevated range (0.3-10.0 mIU/L) and several domains of cognitive function. METHODS A healthy, community-based sample of 489 men and women (40-88 years old, mean = 60.5 years) enrolled in the B-Vitamin Atherosclerosis Intervention Trial were studied. A neuropsychological test battery was used to assess a broad array of cognitive functions. Four uncorrelated neuropsychological factors were extracted by principal component analysis. Using multivariable linear regression, performance on each factor was examined in relation to TSH levels, controlling for age, gender, race-ethnicity, education, homocysteine levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and smoking status. RESULTS TSH levels were not associated with any of the four factor scores in the total sample or in younger (age < 60) or older (age >or= 60) subjects, although there was a trend for older subjects with higher levels of TSH to do more poorly on paragraph recall (p = 0.06). Gender-stratified analyses showed that TSH was positively associated with scores on word list learning for females only (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS In this community-based sample of middle-aged to older individuals, increasing TSH levels were not associated with significantly reduced cognitive performance in any domain. Further exploration of the effects of gender on the association between TSH and cognition is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan A. St. John
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Victor W. Henderson
- Departments of Health Research & Policy (Epidemiology) and Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Nicole M. Gatto
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Carol A. McCleary
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Carole A. Spencer
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Howard N. Hodis
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Wendy J. Mack
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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Spencer CA, Lopresti JS. Measuring thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin autoantibody in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 4:223-33. [PMID: 18268520 DOI: 10.1038/ncpendmet0757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2007] [Accepted: 01/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Measurement of serum thyroglobulin is primarily used as a tumor marker in the postoperative management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, the technical quality of current thyroglobulin assay methods varies and influences the clinical utility of this test. Two different methodologic approaches are used to measure serum thyroglobulin: the original competitive radioimmunoassay methodology and noncompetitive immunometric assay methods. Although the newer immunometric assays offer the technical benefits of eliminating the use of isotopes, using smaller specimen volumes, and having higher sensitivity potential, shorter turnaround times and the convenience of automation, immunometric assays also have a higher propensity for interference from both thyroglobulin autoantibodies and heterophilic antibodies, if present in the specimen. It is critical that physicians understand the technical limitations inherent in thyroglobulin measurement in order to effectively use this test for the postoperative management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole A Spencer
- University of Southern California, Edmondson Building, Room 111, 1840 North Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
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Spencer CA, Hollowell JG, Kazarosyan M, Braverman LE. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-thyroperoxidase antibody relationships demonstrate that TSH upper reference limits may be skewed by occult thyroid dysfunction. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007; 92:4236-40. [PMID: 17684054 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-0287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The setting of the TSH upper reference limit impacts the diagnosis of mild hypothyroidism and is currently controversial. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to evaluate factors influencing the TSH reference range. DESIGN Nonpregnant subjects aged 12 yr and older from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III were used to study the relationships between TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibodies in different ethnic groups. RESULTS TPOAb prevalence was lowest (<3%) when TSH was between 0.1 and 1.5 mIU/liter in women and between 0.1 and 2.0 mIU/liter in men and progressively increased to above 50% when TSH exceeded 20 mIU/liter. TSH reference range parameters (2.5th, 50th, and 97.5th percentiles) were analyzed according to thyroid antibody status, race/ethnicity, and age for the 14,202 subjects made up of non-Hispanic Blacks (B), non-Hispanic whites (W), and Mexican-Americans (M) who did not report thyroid disease or taking thyroid-altering medications and whose total T(4) was within the reference range. For each age group of each ethnicity, the inclusion of antibody-positive subjects increased TSH medians and upper limits (97.5th percentiles). The TSH upper limit was lower for the entire B cohort vs. W or M. However, this difference was lost when age cohorts with a similar prevalence of TPOAb (B age 40-49 yr vs. W and M age 20-29 yr) were compared. CONCLUSIONS Ethnic differences in TSH were not present when populations with the same relative frequency of thyroid antibodies were compared. TSH upper reference limits may be skewed by TPOAb-negative individuals with occult autoimmune thyroid dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90032, USA.
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Spencer CA, Bergoglio LM, Kazarosyan M, Fatemi S, LoPresti JS. Clinical impact of thyroglobulin (Tg) and Tg autoantibody method differences on the management of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005; 90:5566-75. [PMID: 15985472 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2005-0671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Changes in thyroglobulin (Tg) and/or Tg antibody (TgAb) methods can disrupt the serial monitoring of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients. OBJECTIVE This study compared Tg measurements made in TgAb-negative and TgAb-positive sera using four RIA and 10 immunometric assay (IMA) methods. DESIGN TgAb detection using a panel of 12 direct methods was contrasted with four Tg recovery tests. Sera from 110 normal euthyroid subjects (68 TgAb negative/42 TgAb positive) and 131 TgAb-negative DTC patients had Tg and/or TgAb analyses made by 10 laboratories in four countries. Euthyroid controls were used to compare Tg and TgAb ranges, sensitivities, and TgAb interference, whereas DTC patients were used to study Tg assay specificities, hook effects, and the influence of high Tg levels on TgAb measurements. RESULTS Tg methods had high between-method variability [47 +/- 3% (+/-sem)] that was only marginally reduced by CRM-457 standardization (37 +/- 3%). All methods had suboptimal sensitivity, and some failed to detect Tg in some normal euthyroid controls. Although direct TgAb measurements were more reliable than exogenous recovery tests, TgAb status was only concordant in 65% of sera. Only four of 42 (9.5%) sera containing TgAb had antibody detected by all direct methods. All IMA methods reported paradoxically undetectable Tg for many TgAb-positive euthyroid controls, suggesting TgAb interference, whereas RIA methods reported appropriate normal range values for these same subjects. Some sera displaying interference had TgAb detected by only a minority of methods. CONCLUSIONS Specificity differences, suboptimal sensitivity, hook effects, and an inability to reliably detect interfering TgAb compromise the clinical utility of current Tg and TgAb methods. All of the IMA methods were prone to underestimate serum Tg in the presence of TgAb, whereas the RIA methods appeared resistant to TgAb interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
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Spencer CA, Jamrozik K, Lawrence-Brown M, Norman PE. Lifestyle still predicts mortality in older men with established vascular disease. Prev Med 2005; 41:583-8. [PMID: 15917056 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2004] [Revised: 11/30/2004] [Accepted: 12/29/2004] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is uncertain whether accepted associations between health behaviors and mortality are pertinent to elderly people. No previous studies have examined the patterns of lifestyle in elderly men with and without clinically evident vascular disease by using a lifestyle score to predict survival. METHODS We measured prevalence of a healthy lifestyle (four or more healthy behaviors out of eight) and examined survival in 11,745 men aged 65-83 years participating in a randomized population-based trial of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Perth, Western Australia. After stratifying participants into five groups according to history and symptoms of vascular disease, we compared survival of men in each subgroup with that of 'healthy' men with no history or symptoms of vascular disease. RESULTS Invitations to screening produced a corrected response of 70.5%. After adjusting for age and place of birth, having an unhealthy lifestyle was associated with an increase of 20% in the likelihood of death from any cause within 5 years (95% CI: 10-30%). This pattern was consistently evident across subgroups defined by history of vascular disease, but was less evident for deaths from vascular disease. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through to old age, regardless of history of vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole A Spencer
- School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Although improvements in life expectancy have been attributed in part to the adoption of a more prudent lifestyle, few studies have examined the association of lifestyle with survival, using several lifestyle factors simultaneously, in a healthy elderly population. METHODS We investigated the association of health related behaviors with mortality in 7989 men aged 65 to 83 years participating in a population-based trial in Perth, Western Australia, by calculating a lifestyle score as a simple tally of how many of eight prudent behaviors each individual followed. RESULTS Invitations to screening produced a corrected response of 70.5%. Out of a possible score of 8, 46% of men had a score of less than 5. Within 5 years, a total of 703 men (9%) had died from any cause. The hazard ratio in men with a low lifestyle score was 1.3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-1.5] compared with men with a score of 5 or more. CONCLUSIONS Lifestyle remains an important predictor of mortality even in old age. Survival in older men without a history of cardiovascular disease can potentially be enhanced by promoting a healthy lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole A Spencer
- School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Clifton St, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907, Australia
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of the present paper was to investigate whether screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) causes health-related quality of life to change in men or their partners. METHODS A cross-sectional case-control comparison was undertaken of men aged 65-83 years living in Perth, Western Australia, using questionnaires incorporating three validated instruments (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, EuroQol EQ-5D and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) as well as several independent questions about quality of life. The 2009 men who attended for ultrasound scans of the abdominal aorta completed a short prescreening questionnaire about their perception of their general health. Four hundred and ninety-eight men (157 with an AAA and 341 with a normal aorta) were sent two questionnaires for completion 12 months after screening, one for themselves and one for their partner, each being about the quality of life of the respondent. RESULTS Men with an AAA were more limited in performing physical activities than those with a normal aorta (t-test of means P = 0.04). After screening, men with an AAA were significantly less likely to have current pain or discomfort than those with a normal aorta (multivariate odds ratio: 0.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3-0.9) and reported fewer visits to their doctor. The mean level of self-perceived general health increased for all men from before to after screening (from 63.4 to 65.4). CONCLUSIONS Apart from physical functioning, screening was not associated with decreases in health and well-being. A high proportion of men rated their health over the year after screening as being either the same or improved, regardless of whether or not they were found to have an AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole A Spencer
- School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
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Abstract
A workshop entitled, "The Impact of Maternal Thyroid Diseases on the Developing Fetus: Implications for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Screening," was held in Atlanta, Georgia, January 12-13, 2004. The workshop was sponsored jointly by The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The American Thyroid Association. This paper reports on the individual session that examined the ability to detect and treat thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy. For this session, presented papers included: "Laboratory Reference Values in Pregnancy" and "Criteria for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy." These presentations were formally discussed by invited respondents and by others in attendance. Salient points from this session about which there was agreement include the following: thyrotropin (TSH) can be used as marker for hypothyroidism in pregnancy, except when there is iodine deficiency usually evidenced by elevated serum thyroglobulin (Tg). We need more longitudinal studies of TSH during pregnancy in iodine-sufficient populations without evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease to develop trimester-specific TSH reference ranges. Current free thyroxine (FT4) estimate methods are sensitive to abnormal binding-protein states such as pregnancy. There is no absolute FT4 value that will define hypothyroxinemia across methods. Total thyroxine (TT4) changes in pregnancy are predictable and not method-specific. TT4 below 100 nmol/L (7.8 microg/dL) is a reasonable indicator of hypothyroxinemia in pregnancy. Women with known hypothyroidism and receiving levothyroxine (LT4) before pregnancy should plan to increase their dosage by 30% to 60% early in pregnancy. Women with autoimmune thyroid disease prior to pregnancy are at increased risk for thyroid insufficiency during pregnancy and postpartum thyroiditis and should be monitored with TSH during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan J Mandel
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Norman PE, Jamrozik K, Lawrence-Brown MM, Le MTQ, Spencer CA, Tuohy RJ, Parsons RW, Dickinson JA. Population based randomised controlled trial on impact of screening on mortality from abdominal aortic aneurysm. BMJ 2004; 329:1259. [PMID: 15545293 PMCID: PMC534438 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.38272.478438.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 322] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2004] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in men reduces mortality. DESIGN Population based randomised controlled trial of ultrasound screening, with intention to treat analysis of age standardised mortality. SETTING Community based screening programme in Western Australia. PARTICIPANTS 41,000 men aged 65-83 years randomised to intervention and control groups. INTERVENTION Invitation to ultrasound screening. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Deaths from abdominal aortic aneurysm in the five years after the start of screening. RESULTS The corrected response to invitation to screening was 70%. The crude prevalence was 7.2% for aortic diameter > or = 30 mm and 0.5% for diameter > or = 55 mm. Twice as many men in the intervention group than in the control group underwent elective surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (107 v 54, P = 0.002, chi2 test). Between scheduled screening and the end of follow up 18 men in the intervention group and 25 in the control group died from abdominal aortic aneurysm, yielding a mortality ratio of 0.61 (95% confidence interval 0.33 to 1.11). Any benefit was almost entirely in men aged between 65 and 75 years, where the ratio was reduced to 0.19 (0.04 to 0.89). CONCLUSIONS At a whole population level screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms was not effective in men aged 65-83 years and did not reduce overall death rates. The success of screening depends on choice of target age group and the exclusion of ineligible men. It is also important to assess the current rate of elective surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm as in some communities this may already approach a level that reduces the potential benefit of population based screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Norman
- School of Surgery and Pathology, University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, PO Box 480, Fremantle, WA 6959, Australia.
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Norman PE, Jamrozik K, Lawrence-Brown MM, Le MTQ, Spencer CA, Tuohy RJ, Parsons RW, Dickinson JA. Population based randomised controlled trial on impact of screening on mortality from abdominal aortic aneurysm. BMJ 2004. [DOI: 10.1136/bmj.329.7477.1259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been shown to predict a number of cardiovascular outcomes. CRP levels have also been found to be elevated in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The aim of this study was to assess the relation between CRP levels and rates of expansion of small AAAs. METHODS AND RESULTS A cohort of men with small aneurysms was identified in a trial of screening with ultrasound scanning. After initial screening, men were rescanned at 6- to 12-month intervals. CRP levels were measured at the first follow-up visit. Rates of expansion and risk factors for expansion were assessed with the use of data from 545 men who attended for at least 1 scan after CRP levels were measured. These men were followed for a median of 48 (range, 5 to 69) months. The mean annual rate of expansion was 1.6 mm. The median CRP level was 2.6 mg/L in men with the smaller AAAs (30 to 39 mm, n=433) compared with 3.5 mg/L in men with larger AAAs (40 to 54 mm, n=112) (P=0.007). The multivariate age-adjusted logistic model confirmed initial aortic diameter to be the only factor associated with rapid expansion with an odds ratio of 7.2 (95% CI, 4.3,12.2) for an initial diameter of 40 to 54 mm relative to one of 30 to 39 mm. CONCLUSIONS Most small aneurysms expand slowly. CRP levels are elevated in larger aneurysms but do not appear to be associated with rapid expansion. The most useful predictor of aneurysmal expansion in men is aortic diameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Norman
- School of Surgery and Pathology, The University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia.
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Mazzaferri EL, Robbins RJ, Spencer CA, Braverman LE, Pacini F, Wartofsky L, Haugen BR, Sherman SI, Cooper DS, Braunstein GD, Lee S, Davies TF, Arafah BM, Ladenson PW, Pinchera A. A consensus report of the role of serum thyroglobulin as a monitoring method for low-risk patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003; 88:1433-41. [PMID: 12679418 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2002-021702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 353] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have provided new information regarding the optimal surveillance protocols for low-risk patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). This article summarizes the main issues brought out in a consensus conference of thyroid cancer specialists who analyzed and discussed this new data. There is growing recognition of the value of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) as part of routine surveillance. An undetectable serum Tg measured during thyroid hormone suppression of TSH (THST) is often misleading. Eight studies show that 21% of 784 patients who had no clinical evidence of tumor with baseline serum Tg levels usually below 1 micro g/liter during THST had, in response to recombinant human TSH (rhTSH), a rise in serum Tg to more than 2 micro g/liter. When this happened, 36% of the patients were found to have metastases (36% at distant sites) that were identified in 91% by an rhTSH-stimulated Tg above 2 micro g/liter. Diagnostic whole body scanning, after either rhTSH or thyroid hormone withdrawal, identified only 19% of the cases of metastases. Ten studies comprising 1599 patients demonstrate that a TSH-stimulated Tg test using a Tg cutoff of 2 micro g/liter (either after thyroid hormone withdrawal or 72 h after rhTSH) is sufficiently sensitive to be used as the principal test in the follow-up management of low-risk patients with DTC and that the routine use of diagnostic whole body scanning in follow-up should be discouraged. On the basis of the foregoing, we propose a surveillance guideline using TSH-stimulated Tg levels for patients who have undergone total or near-total thyroidectomy and (131)I ablation for DTC and have no clinical evidence of residual tumor with a serum Tg below 1 micro g/liter during THST.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Mazzaferri
- Division of Endocrinology, Shands Hospital, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Demers
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
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Baloch Z, Carayon P, Conte-Devolx B, Demers LM, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Henry JF, LiVosli VA, Niccoli-Sire P, John R, Ruf J, Smyth PPA, Spencer CA, Stockigt JR. Laboratory medicine practice guidelines. Laboratory support for the diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease. Thyroid 2003; 13:3-126. [PMID: 12625976 DOI: 10.1089/105072503321086962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 647] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Baloch
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA
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Hollowell JG, Staehling NW, Flanders WD, Hannon WH, Gunter EW, Spencer CA, Braverman LE. Serum TSH, T(4), and thyroid antibodies in the United States population (1988 to 1994): National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002; 87:489-99. [PMID: 11836274 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.87.2.8182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2082] [Impact Index Per Article: 94.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
NHANES III measured serum TSH, total serum T(4), antithyroperoxidase (TPOAb), and antithyroglobulin (TgAb) antibodies from a sample of 17,353 people aged > or =12 yr representing the geographic and ethnic distribution of the U.S. population. These data provide a reference for other studies of these analytes in the U.S. For the 16,533 people who did not report thyroid disease, goiter, or taking thyroid medications (disease-free population), we determined mean concentrations of TSH, T(4), TgAb, and TPOAb. A reference population of 13,344 people was selected from the disease-free population by excluding, in addition, those who were pregnant, taking androgens or estrogens, who had thyroid antibodies, or biochemical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The influence of demographics on TSH, T(4), and antibodies was examined. Hypothyroidism was found in 4.6% of the U.S. population (0.3% clinical and 4.3% subclinical) and hyperthyroidism in 1.3% (0.5% clinical and 0.7% subclinical). (Subclinical hypothyroidism is used in this paper to mean mild hypothyroidism, the term now preferred by the American Thyroid Association for the laboratory findings described.) For the disease-free population, mean serum TSH was 1.50 (95% confidence interval, 1.46-1.54) mIU/liter, was higher in females than males, and higher in white non-Hispanics (whites) [1.57 (1.52-1.62) mIU/liter] than black non-Hispanics (blacks) [1.18 (1.14-1.21) mIU/liter] (P < 0.001) or Mexican Americans [1.43 (1.40-1.46) mIU/liter] (P < 0.001). TgAb were positive in 10.4 +/- 0.5% and TPOAb, in 11.3 +/- 0.4%; positive antibodies were more prevalent in women than men, increased with age, and TPOAb were less prevalent in blacks (4.5 +/- 0.3%) than in whites (12.3 +/- 0.5%) (P < 0.001). TPOAb were significantly associated with hypo or hyperthyroidism, but TgAb were not. Using the reference population, geometric mean TSH was 1.40 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter and increased with age, and was significantly lower in blacks (1.18 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter) than whites (1.45 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter) (P < 0.001) and Mexican Americans (1.37 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter) (P < 0.001). Arithmetic mean total T(4) was 112.3 +/- 0.7 nmol/liter in the disease-free population and was consistently higher among Mexican Americans in all populations. In the reference population, mean total T(4) in Mexican Americans was (116.3 +/- 0.7 nmol/liter), significantly higher than whites (110.0 +/- 0.8 nmol/liter) or blacks (109.4 +/- 0.8 nmol/liter) (P < 0.0001). The difference persisted in all age groups. In summary, TSH and the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies are greater in females, increase with age, and are greater in whites and Mexican Americans than in blacks. TgAb alone in the absence of TPOAb is not significantly associated with thyroid disease. The lower prevalence of thyroid antibodies and lower TSH concentrations in blacks need more research to relate these findings to clinical status. A large proportion of the U.S. population unknowingly have laboratory evidence of thyroid disease, which supports the usefulness of screening for early detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph G Hollowell
- Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Emergency and Environmental Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
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Hollowell JG, Staehling NW, Flanders WD, Hannon WH, Gunter EW, Spencer CA, Braverman LE. Serum TSH, T(4), and thyroid antibodies in the United States population (1988 to 1994): National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002. [PMID: 11836274 DOI: 10.1210/jc.87.2.489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 409] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
NHANES III measured serum TSH, total serum T(4), antithyroperoxidase (TPOAb), and antithyroglobulin (TgAb) antibodies from a sample of 17,353 people aged > or =12 yr representing the geographic and ethnic distribution of the U.S. population. These data provide a reference for other studies of these analytes in the U.S. For the 16,533 people who did not report thyroid disease, goiter, or taking thyroid medications (disease-free population), we determined mean concentrations of TSH, T(4), TgAb, and TPOAb. A reference population of 13,344 people was selected from the disease-free population by excluding, in addition, those who were pregnant, taking androgens or estrogens, who had thyroid antibodies, or biochemical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The influence of demographics on TSH, T(4), and antibodies was examined. Hypothyroidism was found in 4.6% of the U.S. population (0.3% clinical and 4.3% subclinical) and hyperthyroidism in 1.3% (0.5% clinical and 0.7% subclinical). (Subclinical hypothyroidism is used in this paper to mean mild hypothyroidism, the term now preferred by the American Thyroid Association for the laboratory findings described.) For the disease-free population, mean serum TSH was 1.50 (95% confidence interval, 1.46-1.54) mIU/liter, was higher in females than males, and higher in white non-Hispanics (whites) [1.57 (1.52-1.62) mIU/liter] than black non-Hispanics (blacks) [1.18 (1.14-1.21) mIU/liter] (P < 0.001) or Mexican Americans [1.43 (1.40-1.46) mIU/liter] (P < 0.001). TgAb were positive in 10.4 +/- 0.5% and TPOAb, in 11.3 +/- 0.4%; positive antibodies were more prevalent in women than men, increased with age, and TPOAb were less prevalent in blacks (4.5 +/- 0.3%) than in whites (12.3 +/- 0.5%) (P < 0.001). TPOAb were significantly associated with hypo or hyperthyroidism, but TgAb were not. Using the reference population, geometric mean TSH was 1.40 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter and increased with age, and was significantly lower in blacks (1.18 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter) than whites (1.45 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter) (P < 0.001) and Mexican Americans (1.37 +/- 0.02 mIU/liter) (P < 0.001). Arithmetic mean total T(4) was 112.3 +/- 0.7 nmol/liter in the disease-free population and was consistently higher among Mexican Americans in all populations. In the reference population, mean total T(4) in Mexican Americans was (116.3 +/- 0.7 nmol/liter), significantly higher than whites (110.0 +/- 0.8 nmol/liter) or blacks (109.4 +/- 0.8 nmol/liter) (P < 0.0001). The difference persisted in all age groups. In summary, TSH and the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies are greater in females, increase with age, and are greater in whites and Mexican Americans than in blacks. TgAb alone in the absence of TPOAb is not significantly associated with thyroid disease. The lower prevalence of thyroid antibodies and lower TSH concentrations in blacks need more research to relate these findings to clinical status. A large proportion of the U.S. population unknowingly have laboratory evidence of thyroid disease, which supports the usefulness of screening for early detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph G Hollowell
- Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Emergency and Environmental Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to test, in men undergoing ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in Western Australia, clinical impressions that the prevalence of AAA is high in Dutch migrants and low in migrants from Mediterranean countries. METHODS In a population-based trial, men undergoing screening for AAA completed a questionnaire covering their place of birth, smoking habits and consumption of alcohol, meat, fish, salt and milk. We examined the variation by place of birth in the mean, median, 95th and 99th centiles of infrarenal aortic diameter and the prevalences of AAA defined by criteria of 30 mm, 50 mm and by the 95th and 99th centiles, in men born in Australia, of aortic diameter adjusted for height. FINDINGS Overall, 12,203 (70.5%) of the 19 583 men took up the invitation to undergo ultrasound screening. The prevalence of AAA defined by absolute diameter was higher than average in men born in The Netherlands or Scotland (more of whom had ever smoked or smoked currently) and lower in men of Mediterranean origin (more of whom drank alcohol currently). There were no consistent relationships with simple dietary data. Correction of aortic diameter for height eliminated the significant heterogeneity in prevalence of large AAA, although a threefold variation in prevalence of AAA exceeding the 95th centile of height-adjusted diameter in Australian men persisted. INTERPRETATION In our cohort of men, which is subject to both 'healthy migrant' and 'survivor' effects, if it exists at all, any 'Mediterranean paradox' for AAA is more modest than that for coronary disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Jamrozik
- Department of Public Health, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia.
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Abstract
During lytic infection, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) represses host transcription, recruits RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) to viral replication compartments, and alters the phosphorylation state of the RNAP II large subunit. Host transcription repression and RNAP II modifications require expression of viral immediate-early (IE) genes. Efficient modification of the RNAP II large subunit to the intermediately phosphorylated (IIi) form requires expression of ICP22 and the UL13 kinase. We have further investigated the mechanisms by which HSV-1 effects global changes in RNAP II transcription by analyzing the RNAP II holoenzyme. We find that the RNAP II general transcription factors (GTFs) remain abundant after infection and are recruited into viral replication compartments, suggesting that they continue to be involved in viral gene transcription. However, virus infection modifies the composition of the RNAP II holoenzyme, in particular triggering the loss of the essential GTF, TFIIE. Loss of TFIIE from the RNAP II holoenzyme requires viral IE gene expression, and viral IE proteins may be redundant in mediating this effect. Although viral IE proteins do not associate with the RNAP II holoenzyme, they interact with RNAP II in complexes of lower molecular mass. As the RNAP II holoenzyme containing TFIIE is necessary for activated transcription initiation and RNAP II large subunit phosphorylation in uninfected cells, virus-induced modifications to the holoenzyme may affect both of these processes, leading to aberrant phosphorylation of the RNAP II large subunit and repression of host gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- H L Jenkins
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
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Becker L, Gabel BR, Spencer CA, Marcovina SM, Koschinsky ML. Effect of low-density lipoprotein buoyant density and cholesterol content on the formation of lipoprotein(a) particles. Clin Exp Med 2001; 1:121-5. [PMID: 11699729 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-001-8022-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a unique lipoprotein which resembles low-density lipoprotein (LDL) both in lipid composition and the presence of apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100). Lp(a) is, however, distinguishable from LDL by the presence of an additional glycoprotein apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], which is covalently attached to apo B-100 by a single disulfide bond. It is now generally accepted that Lp(a) assembly is a two-step process in which the initial non-covalent interaction between apo(a) and apo B-100 is mediated by the weak lysine binding sites present in kringle IV types 6, 7 and 8 of apo(a). In the present study, we have investigated the effect of LDL heterogeneity on Lp(a) assembly in a group of 111 individuals. The three parameters of LDL composition assessed in this study were the cholesterol content, the apo B content, and the relative flotation rate (a measure of LDL buoyancy and thus size). We found no correlation between the size of LDL particles and the extent of Lp(a) formation; a weak negative correlation was observed between cholesterol content of LDL and Lp(a) formation (P=0.042). This may suggest a role for free (i.e., surface-associated) cholesterol in the ability of LDL to form Lp(a) particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Becker
- Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the feasibility of selective screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) based on identification of a target group of manageable size defined by risk factors for AAA. SETTING Male residents of Perth, Western Australia, aged 65-83 years, who participated in a randomised controlled trial of ultrasound screening for AAA. METHODS Eligible men were identified from the electoral roll and invited to attend a screening clinic. Those who attended completed a questionnaire, had a limited physical examination, and underwent an ultrasound examination to identify the maximum diameter of the infrarenal aorta. Data on risk factors collected from the first 8995 men seen were used to calculate a multivariate risk score for the remaining 2755 men who were screened. Centiles of the risk score were used to define potential target groups for screening and the sensitivity and specificity of each of these selective screening strategies were calculated. We repeated the calculation separately for AAAs of at least 30 mm, 40 mm, and 50 mm in diameter. RESULTS We found that screening half of the male population aged 65-83 years would find approximately 75% of AAAs, regardless of their size, whereas screening only current smokers in this population would find approximately 20% of AAAs. CONCLUSIONS Selective screening for AAA using easily recognisable risk factors is feasible but is not worthwhile as approximately 25% ofclinically significant cases would be missed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
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Spencer CA. Serum thyroglobulin measurements: clinical utility and technical limitations in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Endocr Pract 2000; 6:481-4. [PMID: 11155225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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Jamrozik K, Norman PE, Spencer CA, Parsons RW, Tuohy R, Lawrence-Brown MM, Dickinson JA. Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm: lessons from a population-based study. Med J Aust 2000; 173:345-50. [PMID: 11062788 DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2000.tb125684.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To test the acceptability of screening and to identify modifiable risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in men. DESIGN A trial of ultrasound screening for AAA in a population-based random sample of men aged 65-83 years, and a cross-sectional case-control comparison of men in the same sample. PARTICIPANTS 12,203 men who had an ultrasound examination of their abdominal aorta, and completed a questionnaire covering demographic, behavioural and medical factors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of AAA, and independent associations of AAA with demographic, medical and lifestyle factors. RESULTS Invitations to screening produced a corrected response of 70.5%. The prevalence of AAAs (> 30 mm) rose from 4.8% in men aged 65-69 years to 10.8% in those aged 80-83 years. The overall prevalence of large (> 50 mm) aneurysms was 0.69%. In a multivariate logistic model Mediterranean-born men had a 40% lower risk of AAA (> 30 mm) compared with men born in Australia (odds ratio [OR], 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8), while ex-smokers had a significantly increased risk of AAA (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.9-2.8), and current smokers had even higher risks. AAA was significantly associated with established coronary and peripheral arterial disease and a waist:hip ratio greater than 0.9; men who regularly undertook vigorous exercise had a lower risk (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7-1.0). CONCLUSION Ultrasound screening for AAA is acceptable to men in the likely target population. AAA shares some but not all of the risk factors for occlusive vascular disease, but the scope for primary prevention of AAA in later life is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Jamrozik
- Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
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36
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Abstract
All nuclear RNA synthesis is repressed during the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. In addition, RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), nascent RNA and many transcription factors disengage from DNA during mitosis. It has been proposed that mitotic transcription repression and disengagement of factors are due to either mitotic chromatin condensation or biochemical modifications to the transcription machinery. In this study, we investigate the requirement for chromatin condensation in establishing mitotic transcription repression and factor loss, by analyzing transcription and RNAP II localization in mitotic cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1. We find that virus-infected cells enter mitosis and that mitotic viral DNA is maintained in a nucleosome-free and noncondensed state. Our data show that RNAP II transcription is repressed on cellular genes that are condensed into mitotic chromosomes and on viral genes that remain nucleosome free and noncondensed. Although RNAP II may interact indirectly with viral DNA during mitosis, it remains transcriptionally unengaged. This study demonstrates that mitotic repression of transcription and loss of transcription factors from mitotic DNA can occur independently of nucleosomal chromatin condensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 1Z2.
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Haugen BR, Pacini F, Reiners C, Schlumberger M, Ladenson PW, Sherman SI, Cooper DS, Graham KE, Braverman LE, Skarulis MC, Davies TF, DeGroot LJ, Mazzaferri EL, Daniels GH, Ross DS, Luster M, Samuels MH, Becker DV, Maxon HR, Cavalieri RR, Spencer CA, McEllin K, Weintraub BD, Ridgway EC. A comparison of recombinant human thyrotropin and thyroid hormone withdrawal for the detection of thyroid remnant or cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999; 84:3877-85. [PMID: 10566623 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.84.11.6094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant human TSH has been developed to facilitate monitoring for thyroid carcinoma recurrence or persistence without the attendant morbidity of hypothyroidism seen after thyroid hormone withdrawal. The objectives of this study were to compare the effect of administered recombinant human TSH with thyroid hormone withdrawal on the results of radioiodine whole body scanning (WBS) and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels. Two hundred and twenty-nine adult patients with differentiated thyroid cancer requiring radioiodine WBS were studied. Radioiodine WBS and serum Tg measurements were performed after administration of recombinant human TSH and again after thyroid hormone withdrawal in each patient. Radioiodine whole body scans were concordant between the recombinant TSH-stimulated and thyroid hormone withdrawal phases in 195 of 220 (89%) patients. Of the discordant scans, 8 (4%) had superior scans after recombinant human TSH administration, and 17 (8%) had superior scans after thyroid hormone withdrawal (P = 0.108). Based on a serum Tg level of 2 ng/mL or more, thyroid tissue or cancer was detected during thyroid hormone therapy in 22%, after recombinant human TSH stimulation in 52%, and after thyroid hormone withdrawal in 56% of patients with disease or tissue limited to the thyroid bed and in 80%, 100%, and 100% of patients, respectively, with metastatic disease. A combination of radioiodine WBS and serum Tg after recombinant human TSH stimulation detected thyroid tissue or cancer in 93% of patients with disease or tissue limited to the thyroid bed and 100% of patients with metastatic disease. In conclusion, recombinant human TSH administration is a safe and effective means of stimulating radioiodine uptake and serum Tg levels in patients undergoing evaluation for thyroid cancer persistence and recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- B R Haugen
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA
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38
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Ringel MD, Balducci-Silano PL, Anderson JS, Spencer CA, Silverman J, Sparling YH, Francis GL, Burman KD, Wartofsky L, Ladenson PW, Levine MA, Tuttle RM. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of circulating thyroglobulin messenger ribonucleic acid for monitoring patients with thyroid carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999; 84:4037-42. [PMID: 10566646 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.84.11.6164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Patients with thyroid cancer are monitored for disease recurrence by measurement of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and iodine-131 (131I) scanning. To enhance sensitivity and to circumvent antibodies that interfere with Tg immunoassays, we have developed RT-PCR assays that detect circulating thyroid messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts. We now report results using a sensitive quantitative Tg mRNA assay (Taqman; ABI, Foster City, CA) in comparison with immunoassay in patients previously treated for thyroid cancer. We evaluated 107 patients: 84 during T4 therapy, 14 after T4 withdrawal, and 9 at both time points. All patients had near-total thyroidectomy, and 92% received postoperative 131I. Serum TSH, Tg protein, and Tg mRNA were measured. Patients were grouped based on most recent 131I scan or pathologically confirmed disease as having no detectable thyroid tissue (n = 33), thyroid bed uptake (n = 37), cervical/regional adenopathy (n = 21), or distant metastases (n = 16). During T4 therapy, median (range) Tg mRNA values (pg Tg Eq/microg thyroid RNA) for the groups were 1.5 (0-26.8), 9.4 (0.5-90.0), 15.4 (0.2-92), and 12.4 (1.9-16.6), respectively. Using a value of 3 pg Tg Eq/microg thyroid RNA as cut-point, Tg mRNA was positive in 38% of patients with no uptake, 75% with thyroid bed uptake, 84% with cervical/regional disease, and 94% with distant metastases. The median Tg mRNA value for patients with no uptake was lower than the median values for patients with thyroid bed uptake (P = 0.009) or with detectable thyroid tissue at any site (P = 0.010). Patients with negative 131I whole body scans were also less likely to have detectable Tg mRNA levels than were patients with thyroid bed uptake (P < 0.001) or any detectable thyroid tissue at any location (P < 0.001). Similar differences between these groups were seen after T4 withdrawal and for the 23 patients with circulating anti-Tg antibodies, when analyzed separately. Eight of the nine patients studied with low and high TSH concentrations displayed greater amounts of circulating Tg mRNA after T4 withdrawal. In three patients followed prospectively, the amount Tg mRNA correlated with the presence and absence of cervical metastases. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that a quantitative Tg mRNA assay can identify thyroid cancer patients with recurrent or residual thyroid tissue with greater sensitivity and similar specificity to Tg immunoassay during T4 therapy. The assay was unaffected by anti-Tg antibodies, responded to TSH-stimulation, and was reduced after surgical removal of metastases. These data suggest that this quantitative Tg mRNA assay may be a sensitive marker of tumor recurrence or response to therapy, particularly in patients with anti-Tg antibodies.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/blood
- Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/diagnostic imaging
- Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/therapy
- Autoantibodies/blood
- Carcinoma, Papillary/blood
- Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnostic imaging
- Carcinoma, Papillary/therapy
- Female
- Humans
- Immunoassay
- Iodine Radioisotopes
- Male
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/blood
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnostic imaging
- Prospective Studies
- RNA, Messenger/blood
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Thyroglobulin/blood
- Thyroglobulin/genetics
- Thyroglobulin/immunology
- Thyroid Neoplasms/blood
- Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
- Thyroid Neoplasms/therapy
- Thyroidectomy
- Thyrotropin/blood
- Thyroxine/administration & dosage
- Thyroxine/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Ringel
- Department of Medicine, Washington Hospital Center and Medstar Research Institute, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
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39
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Abstract
BACKGROUND We tested whether behaviours such as discarding obvious fat on meat, cessation of smoking, avoidance of passive smoking, habitual use of reduced fat milk, prudent consumption of alcohol and regular but moderate physical exercise are associated with a reduction of cardiovascular risk. METHODS This was a population-based case-control study done in Perth, Western Australia. The cases (n = 336) were men aged 27-64 years with a first-ever acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the period 1992-1993, and who survived at least 28 days. The controls (n = 735) were participants in a population-based survey of cardiovascular risk factors conducted during May-November 1994. Both groups completed the same questionnaire and the data were analysed with multiple logistic regression using backward elimination technique. RESULTS Among men aged 27-64 years simple measures such as participation in nonvigorous exercise (odds ratio [OR] = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.7), and avoidance of added salt (OR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9) are associated with significant and important protection from AMI. CONCLUSION After 25 years of falling mortality in Australia, lifestyles can still be significantly improved to reduce heart disease even further.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.
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Long MC, Leong V, Schaffer PA, Spencer CA, Rice SA. ICP22 and the UL13 protein kinase are both required for herpes simplex virus-induced modification of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II. J Virol 1999; 73:5593-604. [PMID: 10364308 PMCID: PMC112617 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.73.7.5593-5604.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection alters the phosphorylation of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), resulting in the depletion of the hypophosphorylated and hyperphosphorylated forms of this polypeptide (known as IIa and IIo, respectively) and induction of a novel, alternatively phosphorylated form (designated IIi). We previously showed that the HSV-1 immediate-early protein ICP22 is involved in this phenomenon, since induction of IIi and depletion of IIa are deficient in cells infected with 22/n199, an HSV-1 ICP22 nonsense mutant (S. A. Rice, M. C. Long, V. Lam, P. A. Schaffer, and C. A. Spencer, J. Virol. 69:5550-5559, 1995). However, depletion of IIo still occurs in 22/n199-infected cells. This suggests either that another viral gene product affects the RNAP II large subunit or that the truncated ICP22 polypeptide encoded by 22/n199 retains residual activity which leads to IIo depletion. To distinguish between these possibilities, we engineered an HSV-1 ICP22 null mutant, d22-lacZ, and compared it to 22/n199. The two mutants are indistinguishable in their effects on the RNAP II large subunit, suggesting that an additional viral gene product is involved in altering RNAP II. Two candidates are UL13, a protein kinase which has been implicated in ICP22 phosphorylation, and the virion host shutoff (Vhs) factor, the expression of which is positively regulated by ICP22 and UL13. To test whether UL13 is involved, a UL13-deficient viral mutant, d13-lacZ, was engineered. This mutant was defective in IIi induction and IIa depletion, displaying a phenotype very similar to that of d22-lacZ. In contrast, a Vhs mutant had effects that were indistinguishable from wild-type HSV-1. Therefore, UL13 but not the Vhs function plays a role in modifying the RNAP II large subunit. To study the potential role of UL13 in viral transcription, we carried out nuclear run-on transcription analyses in infected human embryonic lung cells. Infections with either UL13 or ICP22 mutants led to significantly reduced amounts of viral genome transcription at late times after infection. Together, our results suggest that ICP22 and UL13 are involved in a common pathway that alters RNAP II phosphorylation and that in some cell lines this change promotes viral late transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Long
- Departments of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
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41
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Abstract
Thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement is primarily used to monitor patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) for tumor recurrence. Serum Tg levels principally integrate 3 variables: the mass of thyroid tissue present (benign or neoplastic); the degree of thyrotropin (TSH) receptor stimulation and tumor's intrinsic ability to synthesize and secrete Tg--a factor that needs to be assessed by a preoperative serum Tg determination. Serum Tg measurements should be interpreted relative to the TSH status of the patient. When TSH is low (on levothyroxine [LT4] therapy) basal serum Tg may be undetectable and recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) administration may be needed to increase serum Tg into the measureable range. The Tg fold response to rhTSH (rhTSH-stimulated Tg/basal Tg) is an index of the tumor's sensitivity to TSH. Normal thyroid remnant and well-differentiated thyroid tumors display a greater (>10-fold) serum Tg response to TSH stimulation compared with less well-differentiated tumors (<3-fold). The factors influencing the response include the magnitude and chronicity of the serum TSH elevation, the mass of thyroid tissue and the TSH receptor status of the tumor. Technical problems still compromise the clinical utility of serum Tg measurement. Thyroglobulin autoantibodies are present in approximately 20% of all DTC patients and cause either underestimation or overestimation of serum Tg measurements made by immunometric assay (IMA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods, respectively. Other technical problems include poor interassay precision, "hook" effects (IMA methods), intermethod standardization differences, and suboptimal sensitivity for detecting small amounts of tumor during TSH suppression. When TSH is suppressed, the basal serum Tg provides an integrated index of thyroid tissue mass and its capability to secrete Tg. Serial measurements of basal Tg concentrations can be used to monitor tumor progression or regression. The development of a low (<1 ng/mL) serum Tg (on LT4 therapy) by the second postoperative year signifies a low 5-year recurrence risk whereas a rising serum Tg in the face of TSH suppression is an abnormal response consistent with recurrence. The optimal degree of TSH suppression for a patient should be based on clinical judgment, relative to tumor staging and the risks from iatrogenic hyperthyroidism. Despite current technical limitations, serum Tg measurement is the cornerstone of long-term monitoring for most DTC patients. For optimal use of serum Tg, it is necessary to understand the pathophysiology of Tg secretion, the limitations of Tg methods and the use of rhTSH to overcome the insensitivity of current Tg methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
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Galloway AM, Spencer CA, Anderson CW, Allalunis-Turner MJ. Differential stability of the DNA-activated protein kinase catalytic subunit mRNA in human glioma cells. Oncogene 1999; 18:1361-8. [PMID: 10022818 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1202433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) functions in double-strand break repair and immunoglobulin [V(D)J] recombination. We previously established a radiation-sensitive human cell line, M059J, derived from a malignant glioma, which lacks the catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) of the DNA-PK multiprotein complex. Although previous Northern blot analysis failed to detect the DNA-PKcs transcript in these cells, we show here through quantitative studies that the transcript is present, albeit at greatly reduced (approximately 20x) levels. Sequencing revealed no genetic alteration in either the promoter region, the kinase domain, or the 3' untranslated region of the DNA-PKcs gene to account for the reduced transcript levels. Nuclear run-on transcription assays indicated that the rate of DNA-PKcs transcription in M059J and DNA-PKcs proficient cell lines was similar, but the stability of the DNA-PKcs message in the M059J cell line was drastically (approximately 20x) reduced. Furthermore, M059J cells lack an alternately spliced DNA-PKcs transcript that accounts for a minor (5-20%) proportion of the DNA-PKcs message in all other cell lines tested. Thus, alterations in DNA-PKcs mRNA stability and/or the lack of the alternate mRNA may result in the loss of DNA-PKcs activity. This finding has important implications as DNA-PKcs activity is essential to cells repairing damage induced by radiation or radiomimetric agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Galloway
- Experimental Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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43
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Spencer CA, Takeuchi M, Kazarosyan M, Wang CC, Guttler RB, Singer PA, Fatemi S, LoPresti JS, Nicoloff JT. Serum thyroglobulin autoantibodies: prevalence, influence on serum thyroglobulin measurement, and prognostic significance in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998; 83:1121-7. [PMID: 9543128 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.83.4.4683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of circulating thyroid autoantibodies (TgAb or antithyroid peroxidase) was increased nearly 3-fold in patients with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) compared with the general population (40% vs. 14%, respectively). Serum TgAb (with or without antithyroid peroxidase) was present in 25% of DTC patients and 10% of the general population. Serial postsurgical serum TgAb and serum Tg patterns correlated with the presence or absence of disease. Measurements of serum Tg were made in 87 TgAb-positive sera by a RIA and two immunometric assay (IMA) methods to study TgAb interference. TgAb interference, defined as a significant intermethod discordance (>41.7% coefficient of variation) between the Tg RIA and Tg IMA values relative to TgAb-negative sera, was found in 69% of the TgAb-positive sera. TgAb interference was characterized by higher Tg RIA vs. IMA values and was, in general, more frequent and severe in sera containing high TgAb concentrations. However, some sera displayed marked interference when serum TgAb was low (1-2 IU/mL), whereas other sera with very high TgAb values (>1000 IU/mL) displayed no interference. An agglutination method was found to be too insensitive to detect low TgAb concentrations (1-10 IU/mL) causing interference. Exogenous Tg recovery tests were an unreliable means for detecting TgAb interference. Specifically, the exogenous Tg recovered varied with the type and amount of Tg added and the duration of incubation employed. Further, recoveries of more than 80% were found for some sera displaying gross serum RIA/IMA discordances. The measurement of serum Tg in DTC patients with circulating TgAb is currently problematic. It is important to use a Tg method that provides measurements that are concordant with tumor status. IMA methods are prone to underestimate serum when TgAb is present, increasing the risk that persistent or metastatic DTC will be missed. The RIA method used in this study provided more clinically appropriate serum Tg values in the group of TgAb-positive patients with metastatic DTC. Furthermore, as serial serum TgAb measurements paralleled serial serum Tg RIA measurements, TgAb concentrations may be an additional clinically useful tumor marker parameter for following TgAb-positive patients. Disparities between serial serum Tg and TgAb measurements might alert the physician to the possibility of TgAb interference with the serum Tg measurement and prompt a more cautious use of such data for clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA
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Parsons GG, Spencer CA. Mitotic repression of RNA polymerase II transcription is accompanied by release of transcription elongation complexes. Mol Cell Biol 1997; 17:5791-802. [PMID: 9315637 PMCID: PMC232427 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.17.10.5791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear RNA synthesis is repressed during the mitotic phase of each cell cycle. Although total RNA synthesis remains low throughout mitosis, the degree of RNA polymerase II transcription repression on specific genes has not been examined. In addition, it is not known whether mitotic repression of RNA polymerase II transcription is due to polymerase pausing or ejection of transcription elongation complexes from mitotic chromosomes. In this study, we show that RNA polymerase II transcription is repressed in mammalian cells on a number of specific gene regions during mitosis. We also show that the majority of RNA polymerase II transcription elongation complexes are physically excluded from mitotic chromosomes between late prophase and late telophase. Despite generalized transcription repression and stripping of RNA polymerase II complexes from DNA, arrested RNA polymerase II ternary complexes appear to remain on some gene regions during mitosis. The cyclic repression of transcription and ejection of RNA polymerase II transcription elongation complexes may help regulate the transcriptional events that control cell cycle progression and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G G Parsons
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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45
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Abstract
Lytic infection of mammalian cells with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) results in rapid repression of host gene expression and selective activation of the viral genome. This transformation in gene expression is thought to involve repression of host transcription and diversion of the host RNA polymerase (RNAP II) transcription machinery to the viral genome. However, the extent of virus-induced host transcription repression and the mechanisms responsible for these major shifts in transcription specificities have not been examined. To determine how HSV-1 accomplishes repression of host RNAP II transcription, we assayed transcription patterns on several cellular genes in cells infected with mutant and wild-type HSV-1. Our results suggest that HSV-1 represses RNAP II transcription on most cellular genes. However, each cellular gene we examined responds differently to the transcription repressive effects of virus infection, both quantitatively and with respect to the involvement of viral gene products. Virus-induced shutoff of host RNAP II transcription requires expression of multiple immediate-early genes. In contrast, expression of delayed-early and late genes and viral DNA replication appear to contribute little to repression of host cell RNAP II transcription. Modification of RNAP II to the intermediately phosphorylated (II(I)) form appears unlinked to virus-induced repression of host cell transcription. However, full repression of host transcription is correlated with depletion of the hyperphosphorylated (IIO) form of RNAP II.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Lees-Miller SP, Long MC, Kilvert MA, Lam V, Rice SA, Spencer CA. Attenuation of DNA-dependent protein kinase activity and its catalytic subunit by the herpes simplex virus type 1 transactivator ICP0. J Virol 1996; 70:7471-7. [PMID: 8892865 PMCID: PMC190814 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.70.11.7471-7477.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is involved in several fundamental nuclear processes, including DNA double-strand break repair, V(D)J recombination, and transcription by RNA polymerases I and II. In this study, we show that infection of mammalian cells with herpes simplex virus type 1 attenuates DNA-PK activity by specifically depleting the p350/DNA-PKcs catalytic subunit. The half-life of the p350/DNA-PKcs protein decreases from greater than 24 h to less than 4 h following infection. The depletion of DNA-PK activity and p350/DNA-PKcs abundance is dependent on expression of the viral immediate-early protein ICP0. As ICP0 acts as a promoter-independent transactivator of gene expression, these data suggest that ICP0 may function by directly or indirectly targeting the p350/DNA-PKcs subunit of DNA-PK, thereby altering the inhibitory effects of DNA-PK on RNA polymerase II transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Lees-Miller
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
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Spencer CA. Recoveries cannot be used to authenticate thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements when sera contain Tg autoantibodies. Clin Chem 1996; 42:661-3. [PMID: 8653888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Abstract
Abstract
Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements are used as a tumor marker for monitoring patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The clinical utility of six different Tg methods [RIA or immunometric assay (IMA)] currently used in Europe and the US was evaluated, with focus on methodologic standardization, sensitivity, interassay precision across the typical clinical monitoring interval (6 to 12 months), "hook" effects (IMA methods), and Tg autoantibody interference. The methods evaluated were: DYNOtest Tg (Henning), OptiQuant Tg (Kronus), SELco Tg (Medipan), Thyroglobulin IRMA (Pasteur), Nichols Chemiluminescent ICMA (Corning Nichols), and an RIA developed by us (USC Endocrine Services Laboratory). The clinical impact of the current methodologic problems on the use of serum Tg measurements is reviewed. Optimal performance goals are recommended for manufacturers developing and laboratories and physicians selecting a serum Tg method to use for serial long-term monitoring of thyroid cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Spencer
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
| | - M Takeuchi
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
| | - M Kazarosyan
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
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