Metabolic and psychological effects of short-term increased consumption of less-processed foods in daily diets: A Pilot Study.

AIM: This study evaluated whether the consumption of locally produced food without additives might have a positive effect on known risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, and levels of fasting glucose and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Attention was focused on various types of cheese, sausages, fresh pasta, pastries, biscuits and chocolate without additives to make them palatable and durable for transport. METHODS: Healthy volunteers were randomized to purchase the foods under study from either local producers not using additives (group 1) or supermarkets (group 2). At baseline and after 6 months, both groups underwent evaluation for weight, blood pressure, VAT, serum sodium, potassium, fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide and creatinine levels, and also the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) by examiners blinded to group allocation. At baseline, the state part of the STAI and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV were also performed, and body mass index, HOMA index and estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated. RESULTS: Data for 159 subjects (89 in group 1, 70 in group 2) were analyzed. Baseline evaluations did not differ between groups. At 6 months, HOMA scores and fasting glucose levels were lower in group 1 than in group 2 (P<0.01). Also, in group 1, VAT (P=0.006), systolic blood pressure (P=0.001) and BDI-II score (P=0.0005) were decreased, whereas serum fasting glucose (P=0.04) and C-peptide (P=0.03) levels, and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.02), were increased in group 2. CONCLUSION: Consumption of the locally produced food under study improved some of the major risk factors for NCDs after 6 months.

Surgical remission of Cushing's syndrome reduces cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have questioned the reversibility of complications of Cushing's syndrome (CS) after successful surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of patients with CS who achieved disease remission compared with those patients with persistent hypercortisolism and matched controls. DESIGN: A retrospective study of 75 patients with CS followed at an academic center. METHODS: Cardiovascular risk profile was evaluated in 51 patients with CS in remission (group 1) and 24 patients with persistent disease (group 2) and compared with 60 controls. Mortality of patients with CS was compared with the background population. RESULTS: In group 1, the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors dropped after disease remission even if it remained higher at the last follow-up than in the control group. In group 2, the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors remained unchanged during follow-up. The rate of cardiovascular and thromboembolic events was higher in group 2 than in group 1, as was the mortality rate (two deaths in group 1 and nine in group 2; ratio of two SMRs, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.011-0.512). Survival was significantly longer in group 1 than in group 2 (87 months, 80-98 vs 48 months, 38-62; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Successful surgical treatment of hypercortisolism significantly improves cardiovascular risk and may reduce the mortality rate. Patients with persistent disease have increased morbidity and mortality when compared with patients in remission.

Management of adjuvant mitotane therapy following resection of adrenal cancer.

Whenever adrenal cancer (ACC) is completely removed we should face the dilemma to treat by means of adjuvant therapy or not. In our opinion, adjuvant mitotane is the preferable approach in most cases because the majority of patients following radical removal of an ACC have an elevated risk of recurrence. A better understanding of factors that influence prognosis and response to treatment will help in stratifying patients according to their probability of benefiting from adjuvant mitotane, with the aim of sparing unnecessary toxicity to patients who are likely unresponsive. However, until significant advancements take place, we have to deal with uncertainty using our best clinical judgement and personal experience in the clinical decision process. In the present paper, we present the current evidence on adjuvant mitotane treatment and describe the management strategies of patients with ACC after complete surgical resection. We acknowledge the limit that most recommendations are based on personal experience rather than solid evidence.

Hyalinizing trabecular tumor of the thyroid: a case report.

Hyalinizing trabecular tumor (HTT) of the thyroid is a rare neoplasm that was first described by Carney in 1987. It is a tumor of follicular derivation with peculiar nuclear, architectural, histochemical, and immunohistochemical features. We report a case of HTT in a 69-year-old woman with a mutinodular goiter. Since the clinical and ultrasonographic features were nonspecific, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the left lobe-dominant node was performed that resulted in an indeterminate cytologic diagnosis (category THY-3). The patient underwent total thyroidectomy, with a histologic diagnosis of HTT. We discuss the clinical and diagnostic approach, including the role of FNAB, and the pathologic features of HTT with special reference to the possible differential diagnosis. Total thyroidectomy or hemithyroidectomy represent adequate treatments, while radioiodine ablation is not standard. Although rare cases of malignant HTT have been documented, this tumor should be considered a benign neoplasm or, at most, a neoplasm of extremely low malignant potential. As a consequence, once this diagnosis is rendered, clinical management should be conservative, which may include a precautionary annual follow-up in order to exclude the very rare possibility of recurrence, as exceptionally reported.