Endocrine Abstracts

As a component of thyroid hormones, iodine is essential for the development of the fetus, particularly for brain development. Though there has been no awareness of a problem of iodine deficiency in the UK for many years, it is becoming increasingly apparent that mild-to-moderate iodine-deficient is now present in certain population sub-groups. We assessed whether such a level of deficiency in UK pregnant women could be having an adverse effect on cognition in their offspring u...

Expression of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) protein, and correct membrane insertion, is required for efficient iodide uptake in thyroid and lactating breast. Radioactive iodide is routinely utilized to target remnant thyroid and metastasis after total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. Stimulation of NIS expression by high levels of TSH, however, is necessary to achieve radioiodide uptake into thyroid cancer sufficient for therapy. The majority of breast cancer also express...

As one of the oldest targets for molecular imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy, characterization of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) as a novel reporter and suicide gene offers the possibility of NIS gene transfer in nonthyroidal tumors followed by diagnostic and therapeutic application of radioiodine. Our previous work has convincingly demonstrated the high efficacy of radionuclide therapy after tumor-selective NIS gene delivery. As logical consequence of our pioneer s...