Clinical application of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration in amniotic fluid for the prediction of preterm birth in symptomatic women.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth accounts for 60% to 80% of neonatal mortality. Approximately one-third of preterm births are caused by the spontaneous onset of preterm labor. Nevertheless, 70% to 90% of women diagnosed with preterm labor will not deliver within 7 days. Thus, many women will be unnecessarily treated by preterm labor with risk medications. Better tools are needed to categorize women in preterm labor into high or low risk of preterm delivery. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration in the amniotic fluid as a prognostic test to predict the risk of delivery within 48 hours or 7 days and before 34 0/7 or 37 0/7 weeks of gestation in women in preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 102 pregnant women presenting signs and symptoms of spontaneous preterm birth (22 0/7 to 34 0/7 weeks of gestation) were included. Amniotic fluid was obtained by amniocentesis, and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration was measured. Below normal concentration was defined as <0.5 multiples of the median of the standard curve according to gestational age. The risk of preterm delivery was estimated according to normal or lower-than-normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations. The predictive capacity of the test (below normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration) was evaluated to identify spontaneous preterm birth at 48 hours or 7 days from amniocentesis and less than 34 0/7 or 37 0/7 weeks at delivery. RESULTS: For the outcome delivery within 48 hours, lower-than-normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration had 94.6% sensitivity, 73.8% specificity, 96.0% negative predictive value, 3.61 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.07 negative likelihood ratio. For the outcome delivery within 7 days, the test had 93.9% sensitivity, 88.7% specificity, 94.0% negative predictive value, 8.31 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.07 negative likelihood ratio. For the outcomes of spontaneous preterm birth before 34 0/7 and 37 0/7 weeks of gestation, below normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations had 80.0% sensitivity, 83.0% specificity, 78.0% negative predictive value, 4.70 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.24 negative likelihood ratio and 64.1% sensitivity, 91.7% specificity, 44.0% negative predictive value, 7.70 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.39 negative likelihood ratio, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among patients in spontaneous preterm labor, the detection of lower-than-normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations (<0.5 multiples of the median) in amniotic fluid has an excellent predictive capacity to identify those patients at low risk of preterm delivery within 48 hours or 7 days.

Metástasis pancreática como debut de carcinoma papilar de tiroides: caso clínico y revisión del perfil clínico patológico y molecular / Papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with pancreatic metastases: report of one case

Pancreatic metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are exceptional. We report a 80-year-old man consulting for obstructive jaundice and dysphonia. Abdominal ultrasonography showed biliary dilation and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a pancreatic head mass of 36 mm. A left vocal cord paralysis was confirmed and cervical computed tomography (CT) showed multiple thyroid nodules of up to 35 mm associated with bilateral cervical lymph nodes (LN). Positron emission tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) evidenced hyper-metabolic activity in bilateral cervical LN, lungs, pancreas and left intercostal soft tissue, as well as left gluteus. Thyroid biopsy reported a tall-cell variant of PTC, and endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of pancreatic mass confirmed PTC metastasis. The molecular study was positive for BRAFV600E. Pancreatic metastasis from PTC can be accurately diagnosed with 18 F-FDG PET/CT and EUS-FNA, which is consistent with a predominant expression of BRAFV600E mutation and, thus, an aggressive presentation with poor short-term survival.

[Clinical features and management of 205 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus]. / Características clínicas, esquemas de tratamiento, grado de control y variables asociadas a este en una cohorte de adultos con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 en un centro terciario.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the details of insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) in Chile. AIM: To describe clinical features and treatment details of adults with T1D and its association with metabolic control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of medical records of patients with T1D treated in a clinical network. Demographic and clinical features, types and doses of insulin and glycated hemoglobin levels were registered. The use flash glucose monitors (FGM) and insulin pumps (CSII) were also recorded. RESULTS: 205 records were reviewed, with T1d lasting 12 ± 10 years. Twenty six percent had hypothyroidism, 1% had celiac disease, 12% had hypertension, 20% had dyslipidemia; 13% had diabetic retinopathy, 2% had diabetic nephropathy, 8% had neuropathy and 2% cardiovascular diseases. Mean body mass index was 25 kg/ m2 and mean glycated hemoglobin was 8%. Eighty-two percent used multiple daily injections, 18% used CSII and 24% used FGM. As basal insulin, 35% used slow acting analogs and 65% used ultra-slow analogs. As rapid acting insulin, 69 patients used Lispro, 79 Aspart and 50 Glulisin. Bolus doses were calculated using only capillary glucose in 22%, while 78% also considered carbohydrate consumption. Variables significantly associated to better control were the use of carbohydrates for dosing rapid insulin (A1c 7,85% vs 8,59%, p = 0,008), use of CSII (A1c 7,36% vs 8,16%, p = 0,008), and basal dose < 0,4 U/kg (A1c 7,81% vs 8,58%, p = 0,003). There were no differences regarding insulin type or use of FGM. CONCLUSIONS: The use of formulas considering carbohydrates for dosing rapid insulin, use of infusion pumps and physiological doses of basal insulin are significantly associated with a better metabolic control in adults with T1d.

Características clínicas, esquemas de tratamiento, grado de control y variables asociadas a este en una cohorte de adultos con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 en un centro terciario / Clinical features and management of 205 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: Few studies have evaluated the details of insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) in Chile. Aim: To describe clinical features and treatment details of adults with T1D and its association with metabolic control. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of patients with T1D treated in a clinical network. Demographic and clinical features, types and doses of insulin and glycated hemoglobin levels were registered. The use flash glucose monitors (FGM) and insulin pumps (CSII) were also recorded. Results: 205 records were reviewed, with T1d lasting 12 ± 10 years. Twenty six percent had hypothyroidism, 1% had celiac disease, 12% had hypertension, 20% had dyslipidemia; 13% had diabetic retinopathy, 2% had diabetic nephropathy, 8% had neuropathy and 2% cardiovascular diseases. Mean body mass index was 25 kg/ m2 and mean glycated hemoglobin was 8%. Eighty-two percent used multiple daily injections, 18% used CSII and 24% used FGM. As basal insulin, 35% used slow acting analogs and 65% used ultra-slow analogs. As rapid acting insulin, 69 patients used Lispro, 79 Aspart and 50 Glulisin. Bolus doses were calculated using only capillary glucose in 22%, while 78% also considered carbohydrate consumption. Variables significantly associated to better control were the use of carbohydrates for dosing rapid insulin (A1c 7,85% vs 8,59%, p = 0,008), use of CSII (A1c 7,36% vs 8,16%, p = 0,008), and basal dose < 0,4 U/kg (A1c 7,81% vs 8,58%, p = 0,003). There were no differences regarding insulin type or use of FGM. Conclusions: The use of formulas considering carbohydrates for dosing rapid insulin, use of infusion pumps and physiological doses of basal insulin are significantly associated with a better metabolic control in adults with T1d.