Osmium (from Greek á½ÏÎ¼Î® osme, smell) is a chemical element with symbol Os and atomic number 76. It is a hard, brittle, bluish-white transition metal in the platinum group that is found as a trace element in alloys, mostly in platinum ores. Osmium is the densest naturally occurring element, with a density of 7004225900000000000â 22.59 g/cm3. Its alloys with platinum, iridium, and other platinum-group metals are employed in fountain pen nibs, electrical contacts, and other applications where extreme durability and hardness are needed.
Goiter is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. The most common cause of goiter worldwide is iodine deficiency in the diet. Goiter is often caused by (and a symptom of) hyperthyroidism in the United States, where iodized salt provides plenty of iodine.
Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs when your parathyroid glands produce too much PTH. This can happen if you have an adenomaâor non-cancerous tumorâon one of these glands. These tumors are the most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. In other cases, enlargement of at least two of your parathyroid glands can lead to this condition. Doctors often do not understand what causes this enlargement. In rare cases, parathyroid cancer may be the culprit. These tumors can cause hyperparathyroidism.