Iodine is an essential element in human physiology. It's well known to play vital role in thyroid functions. However it has been updated to be the most important element with the highest percentage of demand by the human body. This is because iodine is the heaviest and richest in electrons among required elements in the animal diet. Inorganic iodides are necessary for all living vegetable and animal cells, but only the vertebrates have the thyroid gland and its iodinated hormones. In humans, the total amount of iodine is about 30-50 mg and less than 30% is present in thyroid gland and its hormones. About 60-80% of total iodine is non-hormonal as contained in its extrathyroidal tissues. Dietary iodine deficiency is associated with the development of mammary pathology and cancer. Mammary gland embryogenetically derived from primitive iodide-concentrating ectoderma, and alveolar and ductular cells of the breast specialize in uptake and secretion of iodine in milk in order to supply offsrings with this important trace-element. Breast and thyroid share an important iodide-concentrating ability and an efficient peroxidase activity, which transfers electrons from iodides to the oxygen of hydrogen peroxide, forming iodoproteins and iodolipids, and so protect the cells from peroxidative damage. Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem, and differentiated thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent. The aim of these guidelines is to inform clinicians, patients, researchers, and health policy makers on published evidence relating to the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer.

Introduction: With the increasing levels of malaria parasite drug resistance, the herbal knowledge of indigenous communities for malaria treatment can play an important role in identification of any new antimalarial plants that is yet to be discovered. Methods: Information was collected by interviewing indigenous people, using a semistructured questionnaire. Collected plant samples were identified with the help of taxonomist, herbarium materials, and taxonomic keys in the flora of Nigeria. Results: There is increasing resistance of malaria parasites to chloroquine, the cheapest and commonly used drug for malaria in Nigeria. Artemisin, a product from medicinal plant indigenous to China, based on active principle of Artemisia annua, has been introduced into the Nigerian market. However not much has been done to project antimalaria properties of indigenous medicinal plants. This study thus, has the main objective of presenting medicinal plants used for malaria therapy in Imo State, South east Nigeria. Conclusions: This study highlights potential sources for the development of new antimalarial drugs from indigenous medicinal plants found in Owerri, Nigeria. Hence, there is need for scientific evaluation and standardization of these formulations of these dosages, if found effective, to eliminate the possibility of short to long term toxic effect.