ABSTRACT
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a high prevalence and risk of progression to cirrhosis and other complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Likewise, the presence of NAFLD implies a high risk of developing T2DM, determining a bidirectional relationship between them. The diabetology and hepatology societies, developed a joint initiative aiming to unify criteria, reviewing the definitions, diagnostic criteria, risk stratification, treatment, and follow-up of patients with NAFLD and T2DM. The key questions to be discussed were defined by a panel of specialists in diabetology and hepatology. The Delphi methodology was used to reach consensus on the respective recommendations. Based on the discussion generated among the experts, diagnostic and treatment algorithms were proposed, as well as an indication for referral and the role of the different specialists involved in the management of these patients. Strengthening multidisciplinary work with patients with NAFLD and T2DM will allow the early recognition of the disease, the prevention of the progression to cirrhosis, and reducing the associated complications.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications , Gastroenterology , Chile/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignant disease that presents as a sporadic or familial primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). The latter is associated with some genetic syndromes. It occurs with equal frequency in both sexes, unlike PHP caused by parathyroid adenoma that is more common in women. It should be suspected in cases of severe hypercalcemia, with high parathyroid hormone levels and a palpable cervical mass. Given the difficulty in distinguishing between parathyroid carcinoma and adenoma prior to the surgery, the diagnosis is often made after parathyroidectomy. The only curative treatment is complete surgical resection with oncologic block resection of the primary tumor to ensure free margins. Adjuvant therapies with chemotherapy or radiation therapy do not modify overall or disease-free survival. Recurrences are common and re-operation of resectable recurrent disease is recommended. The palliative treatment of symptomatic hypercalcemia is crucial in persistent or recurrent disease after surgery since morbidity and mortality are more associated with hypercalcemia than with tumor burden.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Parathyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Parathyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary , Hypercalcemia/etiology , Parathyroid Hormone , Parathyroidectomy , Neoplasm Recurrence, LocalABSTRACT
Osteoporosis is a silent and frequent disease, which increases fracture risk. Approximately half of women and one of five men over 50 years old will suffer an osteoporotic fracture throughout their lives. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) allows a real bone mineral density (BMD) measurement in different parts of the skeleton and is considered the "gold standard" for quantifying osteoporosis with high accuracy and precision. The Board of the Chilean Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes (SOCHED) required from the Bone Disease Study Group to develop a consensus about the "Correct use of bone densitometry in clinical practice in Chilean population". Therefore, we elaborated 25 questions which addressed key aspects about the indications for a DXA scan, and the details of how to perform and report this test. Since some of the evidence obtained was of low quality or inconclusive, we decided to create a multidisciplinary group of national experts in osteoporosis to develop a consensus in this subject. The group consisted of 22 physicians including endocrinologists, gynecologists, geriatricians, radiologists, rheumatologists and nuclear medicine specialists. Using the Delphi methodology to analyze previously agreed questions, we elaborated statements that were evaluated by the experts who expressed their degree of agreement. The final report of this consensus was approved by the SOCHED board.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging , Absorptiometry, Photon/standards , Bone Density , Societies, Medical , Chile , Consensus , Endocrinologists/standardsABSTRACT
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and obesity are a public health problem in Chile. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment alternative to achieve a significant and sustained weight reduction in patients with morbid obesity. The results of controlled clinical trials indicate that, compared to medical treatment, surgery for obese patients with DM2 allows a better control of blood glucose and cardiovascular risk factors, reduces the need for medications and increases the likelihood for remission. Consensus conferences and clinical practice guidelines support bariatric surgery as an option to treat DM2 in Class III Obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40) regardless of the glycemic control and the complexity of pharmacological treatment and in Class II Obesity (BMI 35-39,9) with inadequate glycemic control despite optimal pharmacological treatment and lifestyle. However, surgical indication for patients with DM2 and BMI between 30-34.9, the most prevalent sub-group, is only suggested. The Chilean Societies of Endocrinology and Diabetes and of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery decided to generate a consensus regarding the importance of other factors related to DM2 that would allow a better selection of candidates for surgery, particularly when weight does not constitute an indication. Considering the national reality, we also need a statement regarding the selection and characteristics of the surgical procedure as well as the role of the diabetologist in the multidisciplinary team.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/surgery , Bariatric Surgery/methods , Obesity/surgery , Societies, Medical , Body Mass Index , Chile , Risk Factors , Treatment Outcome , Medical IllustrationABSTRACT
Background: The prevalence of thyroid cancer has increased, particularly in nodules smaller than 10 mm, probably due to the growing use of routine thyroid ultrasound. There is controversy about the biological behavior of micro carcinomas and the relevance of their early detection. Aim: To characterize the clinical presentation of thyroid cancer over 20 years in an University medical center and to evaluate the differences between macro and micro carcinomas. Patients and Methods: We reviewed 1547 surgical biopsy records of thyroid cancer in our institution obtained between 1991 and 2010. Results: We observed a sustained increase in the rate of thyroidectomies for thyroid cancer (per 1000 surgical procedures) in the study period. Papillary, follicular, mixed, medullary and anaplastic carcinomas were observed in 95, 3, 2, 0.5 and 0.1% of biopsies, respectively. The incidence of tumors of less than 10 mm (micro carcinoma) also increased. Those findings were associated with a significant decrease in tumor aggressiveness, determined by a low frequency of surgical margin involvement of thyroid capsule, perithyroid tissue invasion, vascular permeation and lymph node metastases. Conclusions: The increased prevalence of thyroid cancer, especially of micro carcinomas, may reflect the greater use of diagnostic ultrasound or represent a real change in the biological behavior of this disease and our data suggest that further studies are needed to know the impact of early treatment in the outcome of those patients because of the real less histologic agressiveness of micro carcinomas.