Therapeutic ultrasound for treatment of hypothyroidism

项目摘要 甲状腺是内分泌系统中的一个调节器官，对许多基本过程至关重要， 呼吸和心率、新陈代谢和体重、月经周期和体温。甲减 是一种常见疾病，尤其是在老年人中，影响5-20%的女性和3-8%的男性， 在美国崛起。甲状腺激素替代疗法用于治疗甲状腺功能减退症， 在治疗优化和剂量调整方面存在各种问题。我们的主要目标是确定 超声是否可以作为一种非侵入性和非药物治疗方法， 甲状腺功能减退在这里，我们提出了一个新的探索性研究，以确定是否以及如何超声可能 刺激和控制甲状腺功能，如合成和释放代谢激素 三碘甲状腺原氨酸（T3）和甲状腺素（T4）在生理相关的背景下。我们过去和现在的 研究工作已经表明低强度治疗超声从胰腺β细胞释放胰岛素 和啮齿类动物胰腺在生理水平而不损害细胞活力。这一发现为 超声治疗可能用于改善其他内分泌疾病的分泌缺陷。长期 我们在工程，生物科学和医学学院之间的合作研究计划的目标， 乔治华盛顿大学是为了发展一个机制的理解的作用，治疗 超声波在促进激素释放方面的应用，作为各种内分泌疾病的潜在治疗方法。主要 本提案的目的是确定超声是否以及以何种方式影响甲状腺释放 在体外啮齿类动物甲状腺模型中的激素。本研究工作的具体目标1将侧重于确定 超声刺激甲状腺释放代谢激素的有效性和安全性， 假设超声治疗促进甲状腺内分泌激素T3和T3的释放， 或者没有其他分泌产物被释放。具体目标2将侧重于确定 超声波对甲状腺代谢激素释放的影响， 超声对甲状腺代谢激素T3和T4释放的作用与钠的转运有关 离子和过氧化氢的产生。如果成功，我们提出的方法可能会开辟新的战略， 以对抗各种内分泌和代谢疾病。

Project Abstract The thyroid gland is a regulatory organ within the endocrine system vital to many essential processes including breathing and heart rate, metabolism and body weight, menstrual cycles, and body temperature. Hypothyroidism is a common disease especially among the elderly, affecting 5–20% of women and 3–8% of men, and is on the rise in the United States. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is used for treatment of hypothyroidism but suffers from various problems with therapy optimization and dose adjustment. Our main goal is to determine whether ultrasound can serve as a non-invasive and non-pharmacological method for treatment of hypothyroidism. Here, we propose a novel exploratory study to determine if and how ultrasound may stimulate and control thyroid gland function such as synthesis and release of metabolic hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in a physiologically relevant context. Our previous and ongoing research work has shown that low intensity therapeutic ultrasound releases insulin from pancreatic beta cells and rodent pancreas at physiological levels without compromising cell viability. This finding opens the doors for possible use of ultrasound therapy in ameliorating secretory defects in other endocrine diseases. The long-term goal of our collaborative research program among Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences and Medicine at The George Washington University is to develop a mechanistic understanding of the role of therapeutic ultrasound in enhancing release of hormones as a potential treatment of various endocrine diseases. The main objective of this proposal is to determine whether and in what way ultrasound may impact release of thyroid hormones in an in vitro rodent thyroid gland model. Specific Aim 1 of this research work will focus on determining the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound stimulation of the thyroid gland for release of metabolic hormones with the hypothesis that ultrasound treatment promotes release of endocrine thyroid hormones T3 and T3 with little or no other secretory products being released. Specific Aim 2 will focus on determination of mechanisms of ultrasound impact on release of thyroid metabolic hormones with the hypothesis that the mechanism of ultrasound action on the release of thyroid metabolic hormones T3 and T4 is related to the transport of sodium ions and generation of hydrogen peroxide. If shown successful, our proposed approach may open new strategies to combat various endocrine and metabolic diseases.