Echinococcosis, although eradicated in many countries, is still widespread in communities in which agriculture is dominant, and cystic hydatidosis is a significant public health problem in regions where echinococcosis is endemic. Hydatid cysts may be found in almost any part of the body, but most often in the liver and lungs. Other organs affected occasionally include the brain, muscle, kidney, bone, heart and pancreas. This report documents a rare case with a cystic nodule in the thyroid detected by ultrasonography. The patient was a 40-year-old woman with an euthyroid multinodular goitre. Ultrasonography revealed a cystic nodule, and the ultrasonic appearance of the cyst liquid showed multiple echoes, suggesting that the nodule could be a hydatid cyst. Bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy was performed. Postoperative examination of the nodule showed it to be a solitary primary thyroid hydatid cyst.

OBJECTIVE— The aim of the present study was to investigate any relationship between serum ubiquitin levels and electroneurographic changes in peripheral nerves for patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— The study involved 34 patients(19 men, 15 women; mean age 46 ± 13 years) with type 2 diabetes. Serum ubiquitin values were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Measurement of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was performed on three motor(median, tibial, and peroneal) and three sensory (median, ulnar, and sural)nerves. The value of motor compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was obtained from the sum of median, tibial, and peroneal motor nerve amplitudes,and sensory compound nerve action potential (CNAP) was computed as the sum of median and ulnar sensory nerve amplitudes. RESULTS— Patients with diabetes were divided into three groups: group 1 (n = 8) had normal electroneurography results, group 2 (n = 8) had slowed NCV, and group 3 (n = 18) had low values of motor CMAP and/or sensory CNAP as well as slowed NCV. Mean ubiquitin level in group 3 (20.4 ± 2.9 ng/dl) was significantly higher than that in group 1 (11.2 ± 1.1 ng/dl, t = 11.5, P <0.0001) and group 2 (13.2 ± 2.7 ng/dl, t = 5.9, P< 0.0001). Serum ubiquitin levels were inversely correlated with motor CMAP(r = -0.68) and sensory CNAP (r = -0.61) values. CONCLUSIONS— The results of this study indicate that there could be a relationship between the diminished amplitudes of axons of the peripheral nerve and the increase in serum ubiquitin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Further studies are required to confirm this relationship.

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SubjectsThe subjects of the study were chosen among the people who were born in Erzurum and still living there. Study sample was drawn through cluster sampling method. Each 39 Summary: It is believed that total goiter prevalence in Turkey is as high as 30.5%. The iodine deficiency is the distinct etiologic factor in the development of goiter. The aim of this study was to determine goiter prevalence and iodine deficiency in adults living in Erzurum (1659 m above sea level) for at least 10 year. The study involved 340 people (192 females, 148 males). The median age was 38.5 year (ranging from 20 to 76 years). Ultrasound-measured thyroid volume (TV) for men (TV>25 ml) and for women (TV>18 ml) was considered goiter indicator. By this evaluation, goiter was diagnosed in 94 (27.6 %) cases, whereas the goiter prevalence, based on the palpation method, was 5.6%. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured by ammonium persulfate method. UIC in subjects with goiter was significantly lower than that of the others (median values 5.0 vs 7.8 µg/dl, p<0.0001). While the value of UIC≥10 µg/dl (no. 121, 36.6%) was accepted normal, the extent of iodine deficiency in other subjects was classified as severe (UIC<2.0 µg/dl, no.53, 15.6%), moderate (UIC =2.0-4.9 µg/dl, no.75, 22%) and mild (UIC=5.0-9.9 µg/dl, no.91, 26.8%). TV values were found to be significantly different among the four groups (p<0.05). TV values were significantly correlated with body surface area and UIC (r=0.15 and r= -0.16, respectively, p<0.005). Also, the prevalence of thyroid nodules was estimated as 2.1% by palpation and 18% by ultrasonography. We conclude that goiter originating from iodine deficiency has been an important health problem in Erzurum. Besides taking measures at national level, local factors and risks which interfere with the nationwide efforts should also be dealt with for the eradication of the iodine deficiency problem. In the region, periodical evaluation of iodine level and iodine related disorders will guide the measures to be taken for the well being of people's general health.

In this study, we investigated gingival enlargement in patients with acromegaly as a component of the disease. Eleven patients (5 males, 6 females) were evaluated. Diagnosis was confirmed with typical clinical features and laboratory. Oral examinations were carried out by the same periodontist. During the examination, plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depths, and gingival enlargement values were evaluated. Duration of the disease was between 0.2 and 13 yr. Seven patients had pituitary macroadenomas and four had microadenomas during their initial diagnosis. Only one patient was newly diagnosed. The other patients had previously undergone surgery. Gingival enlargement was found in eight patients. Seven patients with gingival enlargement also had prognathism, and one patient had prognathism associated with gingival enlargement. These findings demonstrate that acromegaly that results in overgrowth in various organs should be considered one of the causes of gingival enlargement.