Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: characteristics at presentation, and evaluation of clinical and histological features associated with a worse prognosis in a Latin American cohort

ABSTRACT Objective We aimed to describe the presentation of papillary microcarcinoma (PTMC) and identify the clinical and histological features associated with persistence/recurrence in a Latin American cohort. Subjects and methods Retrospective study of PTMC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, with or without radioactive iodine (RAI), and who were followed for at least 2 years. Risk of recurrence was estimated with ATA 2009 and 2015 classifications, and risk of mortality with 7th and 8th AJCC/TNM systems. Clinical data obtained during follow-up were used to detect structural and biochemical persistence/recurrence. Results We included 209 patients, predominantly female (90%), 44.5 ± 12.6 years old, 183 (88%) received RAI (90.4 ± 44.2 mCi), followed-up for a median of 4.4 years (range 2.0-7.8). The 7th and 8th AJCC/TNM system classified 89% and 95.2% of the patients as stage I, respectively. ATA 2009 and ATA 2015 classified 70.8% and 78.5% of the patients as low risk, respectively. Fifteen (7%) patients had persistence/recurrence during follow-up. In multivariate analysis, only lymph node metastasis was associated with persistence/recurrence (coefficient beta 4.0, p = 0.016; 95% CI 1.3-12.9). There were no PTMC related deaths. Conclusions Our series found no mortality and low rate of persistence/recurrence associated with PTMC. Lymph node metastasis was the only feature associated with recurrence in multivariate analysis. The updated ATA 2015 and 8th AJCC/TNM systems classified more PTMCs than previous classifications as low risk of recurrence and mortality, respectively.

Kinesioterapia respiratoria en la bronquiolitis aguda: estrategia terapéutica, bases fisiológicas e impacto clínico / Chest physical therapy in acute bronchiolitis: therapeutic strategies, physiological basis and clinical impact

Acute bronchiolitis (AB) is a common acute respiratory disease that affects children younger than 2 years. The main etiological factor is given by respiratory syncytial virus. The role of chest physical therapy (CPT) in the management of this condition has been studied in recent years with discrepant results because conventional CPT has been designed for use in adult patients, which significantly compromises external validity of the studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of these treatment protocols in infants. In this sense prolonged slow expiration (PSE) arises as a therapeutic alternative, since the physiological purpose of its implementation responds to the mechanism by which the respiratory function deteriorates in this patient´s group. In recent years, successive reports have been published regarding the benefits PSE technique on the clinical course of patients with AB, which have shown that helps to reduce the hyperinflation and improve airway clearance in infant, without triggering dynamic hyperinflation. In the present review were addressed in an integrated manner the most relevant aspects related to bronchial obstruction mechanism in infant, physiological effect and impact of PSE. This report intended to be a contribution to advance the development of future research that will contribute to enrich the knowledge of this discipline.

La bronquiolitis aguda (BA) es una enfermedad respiratoria aguda frecuente que afecta a niños menores de 2 años, siendo su principal agente etiológico el virus respiratorio sincicial. El rol de la kinesioterapia respiratoria(KTR) en el manejo de esta patología ha sido materia de estudio en los últimos años con resultados discrepantes debido a que las técnicas de KTR convencional han sido diseñadas para su aplicación en el paciente adulto, lo que compromete significativamente la validez externa de los estudios que han evaluado la efectividad de estos protocolos terapéuticos en lactantes. En este contexto, surge la técnica de espiración lenta prolongada (ELPr) como alternativa terapéutica, puesto que el sustrato fisiológico de su ejecución responde al mecanismo mediante el cual se deteriora funcionalmente la mecánica ventilatoria en este grupo de pacientes. En los últimos años, se han publicado reportes consecutivos respecto a los beneficios de la técnica de ELPr sobre el curso clínico de los pacientes con BA, donde se ha observado contribuye a reducir la hiperinsuflación y permeabilizar la vía aérea del lactante, sin gatillar hiperinsuflación dinámica; pilares claves en la disfunción respiratoria en estos pacientes. En la presente revisión se abordaron de manera integrada los aspectos más relevantes vinculados a mecanismo de obstrucción bronquial del lactante, efecto fisiológico de la ELPr e impacto cínico de su ejecución. Datos que pretenden ser un aporte para avanzar en el desarrollo de investigaciones futuras que contribuyan a enriquecer el conocimiento de esta disciplina.