Thyroid Diseases: Amino N

Abalovich M, Amino N, Barbour LA, Cobin RH, De Groot LJ, Glinoer D, Mandel SJ, Stagnaro-Green A. · Endocrinology Division, Durand Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. · J Clin Endocrinol Metab. · Pubmed #17948378 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective is to provide clinical guidelines for the management of thyroid problems present during pregnancy and in the postpartum. PARTICIPANTS: The Chair was selected by the Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee (CGS) of The Endocrine Society. The Chair requested participation by the Latin American Thyroid Society, the Asia and Oceania Thyroid Society, the American Thyroid Association, the European Thyroid Association, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and each organization appointed a member to the task force. Two members of The Endocrine Society were also asked to participate. The group worked on the guidelines for 2 yr and held two meetings. There was no corporate funding, and no members received remuneration. EVIDENCE: Applicable published and peer-reviewed literature of the last two decades was reviewed, with a concentration on original investigations. The grading of evidence was done using the United States Preventive Services Task Force system and, where possible, the GRADE system. CONSENSUS PROCESS: Consensus was achieved through conference calls, two group meetings, and exchange of many drafts by E-mail. The manuscript was reviewed concurrently by the Society's CGS, Clinical Affairs Committee, members of The Endocrine Society, and members of each of the collaborating societies. Many valuable suggestions were received and incorporated into the final document. Each of the societies endorsed the guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy requires special considerations because pregnancy induces major changes in thyroid function, and maternal thyroid disease can have adverse effects on the pregnancy and the fetus. Care requires coordination among several healthcare professionals. Avoiding maternal (and fetal) hypothyroidism is of major importance because of potential damage to fetal neural development, an increased incidence of miscarriage, and preterm delivery. Maternal hyperthyroidism and its treatment may be accompanied by coincident problems in fetal thyroid function. Autoimmune thyroid disease is associated with both increased rates of miscarriage, for which the appropriate medical response is uncertain at this time, and postpartum thyroiditis. Fine-needle aspiration cytology should be performed for dominant thyroid nodules discovered in pregnancy. Radioactive isotopes must be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. Universal screening of pregnant women for thyroid disease is not yet supported by adequate studies, but case finding targeted to specific groups of patients who are at increased risk is strongly supported.

Amino N. · No affiliation provided · Nat Clin Pract Endocrinol Metab. · Pubmed #17082799 No free full text.

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Nishihara E, Miyauchi A, Hirokawa M, Kudo T, Ohye H, Ito M, Kubota S, Fukata S, Amino N, Kuma K. · Kuma Hospital, Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan. · Endocrine. · Pubmed #17322585 No free full text.

Abstract: Benign thyroid teratomas are rare in adolescents and adults. We report on three cases of benign thyroid teratomas that presented as painful tumors in the neck after puberty. The tumor adjacent to the thyroid in each case showed rapid enlargement with predominant cystic lesions within several months. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed few findings suggesting the origin of the tumor. Cytological examination and culture of the aspirate failed to show cells originating from the thyroid or infectious findings, but revealed a small population of columnar epithelial cells or squamous epithelial cells. Chemical analysis of the aspirate showed levels of pancreatic enzymes higher than those in serum. The accumulation of cystic fluid in each case was refractory to drainage treatment or percutaneous ethanol injection therapy. The patients subsequently underwent resection of the tumor, and microscopic examination revealed various types of tissue including pancreas, adipose, cartilage, muscle, and skin, and the cystic wall was lined by gastric, intestinal, respiratory, and stratified squamous epithelium. Surgical resection was curative, and subsequent histologic examination revealed mature benign teratomas of the thyroid. The main characteristic of our cases presented the painful tumors due to the enlarged cystic formation lined by a variety of different types of epithelium, which agreed with previous cases of benign thyroid teratomas in adolescents and adults.

Amino N, Kubota S. · Department of Internal Medicine, Kuma Hospital. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #17154076 No free full text.

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Amino N, Kubota S. · Department of Internal Medicine, Kuma Hospital. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #16776207 No free full text.

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Kubota S, Amino N. · Department of Internal Medicine, Kuma Hospital. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #16776145 No free full text.

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Maeda I, Takano T, Yoshida H, Matsuzuka F, Amino N, Miyauchi A. · Central Laboratory for Clinical Investigation, Osaka University Hospital, 2-15 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. · J Mol Endocrinol. · Pubmed #16461921 links to  free full text

Abstract: Thyroid-specific genes, such as thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, Na+/I- symporter and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor, play fundamental roles in thyroid function and relate to many pathological conditions. Using sequence specific-differential display, we detected three genes that showed higher expression levels in normal thyroid tissues than in thyroid tumor tissues. After subcloning and sequencing analysis, one of the genes was revealed to be tensin3. The expression level of tensin3 was examined with real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Its expression levels were more depressed in thyroid tumor tissues than in normal thyroid tissues. The decrease was even more evident in two anaplastic carcinomas. High and moderate levels of tensin3 mRNA expression were observed in the thyroid and placenta respectively. Tensin3 mRNA was expressed only in low levels in other tissues, such as the brain, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney, skeletal muscle, white blood cells and prostate. These results show that tensin3 is a novel thyroid-specific gene and further investigations may reveal its relation to thyroid function or thyroid disease.

Amino N, Kubota S. · Kuma Hospital. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #16149508 No free full text.

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Takano T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine D2, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan. · Thyroid. · Pubmed #15929664 No free full text.

Abstract: Modern advances in molecular technology have given us the chance to establish a new insight into thyroid carcinogenesis. Gene expression in thyroid malignancies usually reveals highly consistent profiles, which leads to questioning of the classic concept of multistep carcinogenesis, in which cancer cells are produced from well-differentiated benign cells by transformation caused by accumulating damage to their genome. We propose a novel hypothesis of thyroid carcinogenesis, the fetal cell carcinogenesis hypothesis, in which cancer cells are derived from the remnants of three types of fetal thyroid cells, instead of normal thyroid follicular cells. This hypothesis explains well the clinical and biologic features and recent molecular evidence of thyroid carcinoma. It suggests the importance of clarifying the molecular mechanism of thyroid development and the identification of fetal thyroid cells, especially thyroid stem cells (TSCs), because such data will lead to better understanding of thyroid carcinogenesis and thyroid regeneration.

Takano T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita 565-0871. · Rinsho Byori. · Pubmed #12690633 No free full text.

Abstract: Recent advances in molecular-based techniques, especially RNA analyses such as differential display, serial analysis of gene expression(SAGE) and DNA arrays, have enabled us to detect the specific changes in mRNA in cancer tissues rapidly and easily. We have established a new method of preoperative molecular-based diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas, one of the most common cancers in females. This technique, Aspiration Biopsy RNA Diagnosis, ABRD, allows us to perform preoperative RNA analysis of the tumors by extracting RNA from tumor cells obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsies(FNABs). For example, by ABRD detection of oncofetal fibronectin or calcitonin mRNA in FNABs, three types of thyroid carcinomas, papillary, anaplastic and medullary carcinomas, were accurately diagnosed preoperatively without the help of cytological or pathological examinations by a skillful pathologist. Further, by real-time monitoring RT-PCR measuring the expression levels of these cancer-specific mRNAs, a fully automated system was established. Because ABRD can be performed without any severe invasion to the patients, in the near future, when more reliable systems of quantitative RNA analysis are developed, ABRD will probably become one of the standard tests for preoperative diagnosis of cancer.

Takano T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. · Rinsho Byori. · Pubmed #12652804 No free full text.

Abstract: Molecular-based diagnosis of carcinomas can be more easily established by utilizing specific mRNAs that are restrictively expressed in cancer tissues. Recently a new method of preoperative molecular-based diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas was established. This technique, Aspiration Biopsy RNA Diagnosis, ABRD, allows us to perform preoperative RNA analyses by extracting RNAs from tumor cells obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsies(FNABs). By ABRD detecting of oncofetal fibronectin or calcitonin mRNA in FNABs, papillary, anaplastic and medullary carcinomas are accurately diagnosed preoperatively. Further, by real-time monitoring RT-PCR, a fully automated system was established.

Takano T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan. · Endocr J. · Pubmed #12081246 links to  free full text

Abstract: Molecular-based diagnosis ofthyroid carcinomas can be more easily establishedby utilizing specific mRNAs that are expressed in a restricted manner in cancer tissues. Accordingly, several cancer-specific mRNAs in thyroid carcinomas have been identified by means of sequence specific-differential display (SS-DD), serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and other new techniques. By using these cancer-specific mRNAs, some new methods of preoperative diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas have been developed. In one such method, Aspiration Biopsy-Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ABRP), RNA is extracted from leftover cells within the needle used for fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs), thereby allowing cytological and molecular-based diagnoses to be performed simultaneously. ABRP provides both RNA information and a cytological diagnosis without further invasion to the patient. By ABRP detection of cancer-specific mRNAs, papillary, anaplastic and medullary carcinomas and a part of malignant lymphomas can be accurately diagnosed preoperatively. It remains to be clarified why cancer-specific mRNAs, especially those that are overexpressed in fetal tissues, can clearly distinguish benign tissues from carcinomas, while genomic alternations, such as mutations in the RAS or P53 gene cannot. Further, the widely accepted hypothesis of multi-step carcinogenesis cannot explain some of the clinical and experimental findings of thyroid carcinomas. Considering these facts, we propose a novel hypothesis of thyroid carcinogenesis, the "germ-cell carcinogenesis" hypothesis, in which cancer cells derive from the remnants of fetal thyroid germ cells (thyroblasts) instead of normal thyroid follicular cells.

Takano T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita 565-0871. · Rinsho Byori. · Pubmed #11797396 No free full text.

Abstract: Molecular-based diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas can be more easily established by utilizing specific mRNAs that are expressed only in cancer tissues. In a previous study, we introduced a new method of preoperatively diagnosing thyroid carcinomas. This technique, aspiration biopsy-RT-PCR(ABRP), facilitated simultaneous cytological and molecular-based diagnoses by extracting RNA from cells remaining within the needle used for fine needle aspiration biopsies(FNABs). ABRP provides both RNA information and a cytological diagnosis without further invasion to the patient. We proved that by ABRP detection of oncofetal fibronectin(onfFN) mRNA in FNABs, papillary and anaplastic carcinomas are accurately diagnosed preoperatively. Further, by real-time monitoring RT-PCR measuring onfFN mRNA, a fully automated system was established. It is not clarified, however, why cancer-specific mRNAs, especially those overexpressed in fetal tissues, can clearly distinguish benign tissues from carcinomas, while genomic alternation such as mutations in RAS or P53 gene cannot. Further, a widely accepted hypothesis, multi-step carcinogenesis, does not explain some of the clinical and experimental evidence from thyroid carcinomas. Considering these facts, we propose a new concept of thyroid carcinogenesis called "germ-cell carcinogenesis", in which cancer cells are derived from the remnant of fetal thyroid germ cells(thyroblasts) instead of normal thyroid follicular cells.

Amino N. · No affiliation provided · Nippon Naika Gakkai Zasshi. · Pubmed #11307539 No free full text.

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Hidaka Y, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. · Ryoikibetsu Shokogun Shirizu. · Pubmed #11269200 No free full text.

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Tada H, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. · Ryoikibetsu Shokogun Shirizu. · Pubmed #11269199 No free full text.

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Izumi Y, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. · Ryoikibetsu Shokogun Shirizu. · Pubmed #11269198 No free full text.

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Takano T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. · Ryoikibetsu Shokogun Shirizu. · Pubmed #11269027 No free full text.

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Amino N, Tada H. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. · Ryoikibetsu Shokogun Shirizu. · Pubmed #11269026 No free full text.

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Amino N, Tada H, Hidaka Y, Izumi Y. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan. · Endocr J. · Pubmed #11228038 No free full text.

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Tada H, Kashiwai T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita. · Rinsho Byori. · Pubmed #10804831 No free full text.

Abstract: Age dependent perturbations to endocrine systems are overviewed and the interpretation of the results of endocrinological tests for clinical decision are discussed referring to thyroid diseases as an example. The endocrine functions that are essential to life, such as adrenal and thyroid functions, show minimal change by aging. Their basal levels alter little, although production and degradation of hormones decrease. Some part of elderly persons show lower levels of triiodothyronine, which may, however, reflect deterioration of their physical condition and should not be overlooked as an age dependent change. Some endocrine function, such as gonadal function and calcium metabolism obviously reveal age dependent physiological change and their reference ranges for elderly persons are set separately. Thus, reference levels and clinical decision for endocrinological tests should be dependent on the properties of individual endocrine system.

Takano T, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita. · Rinsho Byori. · Pubmed #10804818 No free full text.

Abstract: Molecular-based diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas can be more easily established by utilizing specific mRNAs that are restrictedly expressed in cancer tissues. In light of this aspect, we searched for cancer-specific mRNAs using sequence specific-differential display(SS-DD) and serial analysis of gene expression(SAGE). By these techniques, we found several mRNAs that efficiently distinguished benign and malignant tissues. Among these, oncofetal fibronectin(onfFN) mRNA was expressed only in thyroid papillary and anaplastic carcinomas and it was considered the most preferable target for molecular-based diagnosis of these carcinomas. In a previous study, we introduced a new method of preoperative diagnosing thyroid carcinomas. This technique, aspiration biopsy-RT-PCR(ABRP), allows us to simultaneously perform cytological and molecular-based diagnoses by extracting RNA from leftover cells within the needle used for fine needle aspiration biopsies(FNABs). ABRP provides both RNA information and cytological diagnosis without further invasion to the patient. We demonstrated that by ABRP detection of onfFN mRNA in FNABs, papillary and anaplastic carcinomas may be accurately diagnosed preoperatively. Further, by real-time monitoring RT-PCR measurement of onfFN mRNA, a fully automated system was established.

Tatsumi K, Takeoka K, Amino N. · Osaka University Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #10483255 No free full text.

Abstract: Serum TSH (thyrotropin) measurement is the first-line test to evaluate the thyroid function. Recent sensitive serum TSH assays are based on immunometric assays (IMAs) that use two or more antibodies. Electrochemiluminescent immunoassay expanded both the functional sensitivity potential and the range of serum TSH measurement. It is usually combined with serum free T4 measurement to evaluate the thyroid function, but can be used alone when the pituitary function is normal. Serum TSH levels do not reflect the thyroid function, i) when thyroid function is changing widely, ii) in low T4-T3 states, iii) in central hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and iv) when antibodies such as heterophile antibodies, rheumatoid factors, and rarely anti-TSH antibodies are present.

Hidaka Y, Tada H, Amino N. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #10483249 No free full text.

Abstract: Thyroid dysfunction frequently (around 5%) occurs after delivery through immune rebound mechanism. More than half of the patients suffer from postpartum thyroiditis. Initially, patients have a thyrotoxic phase, later passing through euthyroidism to hypothyroidism and, finally, return to euthyroidism. After delivery, other forms of autoimmune thyroid dysfunction also occur, including Graves' disease, transient hypothyroidism without preceding destructive thyrotoxicosis, and persistent hypothyroidism. To include all these conditions, the term postpartum autoimmune thyroid syndrome is often used. To predict who will develop postpartum thyroid dysfunction, the measurement of anti-thyroid microsomal antibody (MCAb) during pregnancy is useful because 62% of subjects with positive MCAb show thyroid dysfunction after delivery.

Amino N, Tada H, Hidaka Y. · Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan. · Thyroid. · Pubmed #10447018 No free full text.

Abstract: Postpartum thyroid dysfunction is rather a common problem during the postpartum period being found in approximately 5% of mothers in the general population. It occurs from subclinical autoimmune thyroiditis that is aggravated after parturition and causes various types of thyroid dysfunction. Immune activity is physiologically suppressed during pregnancy so that the fetus is not rejected, and rebounds above the normal level after parturition. Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis also spontaneously ameliorate during pregnancy, and are often aggravated after parturition. The high-risk mothers for postpartum thyroid dysfunction are well screened by antithyroid microsomal antibody (MCAb) and 60% to 70% of MCAb-positive mothers develop postpartum thyroid dysfunction, which is transient in most cases. New onset of Graves' disease may be screened by thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb) and 70% of TSAb-positive mothers develop either transient or persistent postpartum Graves' disease that usually occurs 3 to 6 months postpartum. Immune rebound after parturition may cause not only autoimmune thyroid diseases but other autoimmune diseases, which may be investigated with similar strategies to those in postpartum autoimmune thyroid disease. Thus, we found that postpartum onset of rheumatoid arthritis was found in 0.08% of women in the general population and could be partially predicted by measuring rheumatoid factors in early pregnancy. There are several case reports of other autoimmune diseases that develop after delivery; postpartum renal failure or postdelivery hemolytic-uremic syndrome, postpartum idiopathic polymyositis, postpartum syndrome with antiphospholipid antibodies, postpartum autoimmune myocarditis. Many other possible postpartum autoimmune diseases are still unexplored. Puerperal diseases should be carefully examined in relation to autoimmune abnormalities in the affected organs.