Prevalence of low bone mineral density in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of low bone mass density in cystic fibrosis patients as well as to evaluate the factors associated with bone mass in such patients. METHODS: Bone mass density was measured by dual-photon X-ray absorptiometry of lumbar spine (L1-L4), in patients ≤19 years old, or lumbar spine and femur (total and neck) in patients ≥20 years old. Evaluations of nutritional status, biochemical parameters, and lung function were performed. Medication data were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were included in the study (25 males/ 33 females), mean age 23.9 years (16-53 years). The prevalence of bone mass below the expected range for age at any site was 20.7%. None of the subjects had history of fracture. Lumbar spine Z-score in cystic fibrosis patients correlated positively with body mass index (r= 0.3, p=0.001), and forced expiratory volume in the first second (% predicted) (r=0.415, p=0.022). Mean lumbar spine Z-score was higher in women (p=0.001), in patients with no pancreatic insufficiency (p=0.032), and in patients with no hospitalization in the last 3 months (p=0.02). After multivariate analysis, body mass index (p= 0.001) and sex (p=0.001) were independently associated with Z-score in lumbar spine. CONCLUSION: Low bone mass is a frequent problem in patients with CF, being independently associated with body mass index, and male sex.

Prevalence of low bone mineral density in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis / Prevalência de densidade mineral óssea baixa em adolescentes e adultos com fibrose cística

Objective The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of low bone mass density in cystic fibrosis patients as well as to evaluate the factors associated with bone mass in such patients. Methods Bone mass density was measured by dual-photon X-ray absorptiometry of lumbar spine (L1-L4), in patients ≤19 years old, or lumbar spine and femur (total and neck) in patients ≥20 years old. Evaluations of nutritional status, biochemical parameters, and lung function were performed. Medication data were obtained from medical records. Results Fifty-eight patients were included in the study (25 males/ 33 females), mean age 23.9 years (16-53years). The prevalence of bone mass below the expected range for age at any site was 20.7%. None of the subjects had history of fracture. Lumbar spine Z-score in cystic fibrosis patients correlated positively with body mass index (r= 0.3, p=0.001), and forced expiratory volume in the first second (% predicted) (r=0.415, p=0.022). Mean lumbar spine Z-score was higher in women (p=0.001), in patients with no pancreatic insufficiency (p=0.032), and in patients with no hospitalization in the last 3 months (p=0.02). After multivariate analysis, body mass index (p= 0.001) and sex (p=0.001) were independently associated with Z-score in lumbar spine. Conclusion Low bone mass is a frequent problem in patients with CF, being independently associated with body mass index, and male sex. .

Objetivo Determinar a prevalência de massa óssea baixa em pacientes adolescentes e adultos com fibrose cística e estudar os fatores potencialmente associados. Métodos Densidade mineral óssea foi determinada por absorciometria por dupla emissão de raios X na coluna lombar em pacientes ≤ 19 anos e na coluna e no fêmur em pacientes ≥ 20 anos. Avaliações nutricionais, bioquímicas e pulmonares foram realizadas. Dados referentes ao tratamento farmacológico foram coletados. Resultados 58 pacientes foram incluídos no estudo (25 homens/33 mulheres), média de idade de 23,9 anos (16-53). Massa óssea abaixo da esperada foi verificada em 20,7% dos pacientes. Não houve histórico de fratura. Z-score da coluna lombar associou-se positivamente com índice de massa corporal (r=0,3; p=0,022), volume expiratório forçado (% previsto) (r=0,415; p=0,001). A média do Z-score da coluna foi mais alta nas mulheres que nos homens (p=0,001), em pacientes que não possuíam insuficiência pancreática (p=0,02) e em pacientes que não haviam sido hospitalizados nos últimos três meses (p=0,032). Os fatores encontrados como preditores independentes de Z-score da coluna lombar foram sexo masculino (p=0,001) e índice de massa corporal (p=0,001). Conclusão Massa óssea baixa é frequente em pacientes com FC, estando associada independentemente com índice de massa corporal e sexo masculino. .

Hypovitaminosis D in patients with cystic fibrosis: a cross-section study in South Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have a susceptibility to vitamin D deficiency because of nutrient malabsorption. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in CF patients and the factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. METHODS: We evaluated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D <30 ng/mL, as suggested recently by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and factors associated with its serum levels. Patients with confirmed CF were included. Nutritional status and hospital admissions were evaluated. Serum C-reactive protein, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, albumin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels were measured. Lung function was evaluated by spirometry, and clinical and chest radiographic scores were assessed. Statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were included. Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 61%. Patients with pancreatic insufficiency had a trend to have higher vitamin D levels. Sixteen patients had severe lung disease with percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s predicted below 40%. After multivariate analysis, body mass index and hospitalization in the last month remained significantly associated with serum vitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D insufficiency is still a problem in CF patients, even in those receiving supplementation.

Two weeks of a low-iodine diet are equivalent to 3 weeks for lowering urinary iodine and increasing thyroid radioactive iodine uptake.

BACKGROUND: The importance of restricting iodine intake to increase thyroid uptake of ¹³¹I is well-known, but its minimum duration is not clear. The present study aimed at determining whether 3 weeks is superior to 2 weeks for a low-iodine diet (LID) as a means of increasing the thyroid uptake of ¹³¹I and reducing urinary iodine. A second goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of a questionnaire about ingestion and exposure to iodine to predict individuals in whom the LID would be less effective. METHODS: Forty-six outpatients who came to the Nuclear Medicine Unit of Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Brazil, for thyroid evaluation, were randomized to receive an LID for 2 or 3 weeks. Questionnaires regarding their exposure to iodine, the thyroid uptake of ¹³¹I, and the iodine and iodine/creatinine ratio in urine samples were administered or obtained at the beginning and end of the diet. RESULTS: The questionnaire indicated exposure to exogenous iodine in five patients during their LID, all in the 3-week group. Their thyroid ¹³¹I uptake was significantly lower than patients who did not give a history of iodine exposure (p = 0.016). The comparative analysis between the 2-week and 3-week diet groups was then performed excluding the five contaminated patients. The ¹³¹I uptake increased by 43% in the 2-week group and 26.7% in the 3-week group (p = 0.105). Both diets for 2 and 3 weeks caused significant decrease in urinary iodine (p < 0.001), without a difference between the groups (63.2% in the 2-week group and 60.9% in the 3-week group, p = 0.955). There was no difference in the percentage of patients with urinary iodine ≤100 µg/L (p = 0.25) and urinary iodine ≤50 µg/L (p = 0.86) between the groups. A correlation between urinary iodine and iodine/creatinine ratio (r = 0.516; p < 0.001) was observed. CONCLUSION: Two weeks of an LID are probably sufficient to augment thyroid uptake of ¹³¹I, with little or no benefit from longer periods of an LID. Questionnaires regarding exposure to iodine similar to those employed here should identify individuals in whom the LID has not been as effective in increasing the thyroid uptake of ¹³¹I.

Intra- and interindividual iodine excretion in 24 hours in individuals in southern Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To evaluate the variability of 24-hour urinary iodine (UI) excretion intra- and interindividually on three days of a week in healthy subjects, living in southern Brazil, and the correlation among the urinary excretion of iodine and sodium. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, including 47 volunteers: 18 individuals with one, 15 individuals with two and 14 individuals with three 24-hour urine samples. Iodine, creatinine and Na(+) excretion in urine during 24-hour were measured. RESULTS: Mean height, weight, BMI and 24-hour urinary excretion of creatinine were higher in men. UI and urinary sodium were correlated (n = 89, r = 0.524, p = 0.000). UI excretion varied widely, both inter- and intraindividually, on the 3 days of the week, but the mean excretion of UI was similar. In single individuals, the ratio between the maximum and minimum 24-hour UI excretion (m/m) ranged from 1.03 to 2.87, and the median coefficient of variation (CV) was 21% (P25 = 7.0% and P75 = 36.8%), with a range of 1%-51%. 24-hour UI excretion varied greatly among individuals on Sunday (CV = 47.5% and m/m = 7.75), Monday (CV = 38.7% and m/m = 4.60) and Thursday (CV = 40.4% and m/m = 4.50). UI was adequate in the group of 14 people, however, the UI excretion of two women suggested iodine intake persistently below that recommended by WHO. CONCLUSION: The variability of 24-hour UI excretion on different days in the same individual is lower than that observed among individuals.

Urinary iodine in 24 h is associated with natriuresis and is better reflected by an afternoon sample.

AIMS: We aimed to assess the extent of variability in urinary iodine (UI) within a day, to determine the period of the day when UI was better associated with the UI in 24 h, and to study the relationship between UI and urinary sodium. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 60 volunteers. Four urine samples were collected from each participant (A: from breakfast to lunch; B: from lunch to dinner; C: from dinner to bedtime, and D: from bedtime to breakfast) and were compared with the 24-hour sample (calculated from samples A-D ). UI, creatinine and Na(+) levels were measured in the partial samples and in the 24-hour sample. RESULTS: The content of iodine and sodium in urine varied during the day (p < 0.001). The UI concentration from lunch to dinner was closest to the 24-hour UI concentration using the method of Bland and Altman. There were correlations between the UI content in the different periods of the day and in 24 h: A (r = 0.54; p < 0.000), B (r = 0.78; p < 0.000), C (r = 0.37; p = 0.004) and D (r = 0.77; p < 0.000). UI and urinary sodium content were strongly correlated in all periods of the day (samples A and B: r = 0.69, p < 0.000; sample C: r = 0.85, p < 0.000, and sample D: r = 0.78, p < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: There was a within-day variation in UI content, which was strongly associated with urinary sodium content. Iodine concentration in the afternoon urine sample better reflected the 24-hour UI concentration. Therefore, urine collected in the afternoon is probably the best to evaluate iodine sufficiency in subjects with similar dietary habits.

Câncer de mama: mortalidade crescente na Região Sul do Brasil entre 1980 e 2002 / Increase in breast cancer mortality in Southern Brazil from 1980 to 2002

O câncer de mama é apontado como o tipo de câncer mais prevalente no mundo. No Brasil, as taxas de mortalidade por câncer de mama continuam elevadas, observando-se diferenças inter-regionais. Foi realizado um estudo ecológico de série temporal (1980-2002) na Região Sul, com dados anuais do Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS (DATASUS), para avaliar o comportamento do coeficiente de mortalidade por câncer de mama, padronizado por idade. Utilizou-se regressão linear simples e múltipla para estimar as taxas de mortalidade e as diferenças entre os três Estados. O Rio Grande do Sul parte de um patamar mais elevado e apresenta maior taxa média de mortalidade (14,45), sendo significativamente diferente (p < 0,001) quando comparado com Santa Catarina (8,93) e Paraná (9,95). Observou-se um aumento anual de 0,47 óbito na taxa de mortalidade por câncer de mama, independente do Estado. Conclui-se que há uma tendência similar de aumento da mortalidade por câncer de mama nos três Estados da Região Sul, com índices significativamente maiores no Rio Grande do Sul, enfatizando-se a importância da identificação dos fatores relacionados a esse quadro alarmante e o estabelecimento de medidas efetivas a fim de reverter esses números.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the world. Breast cancer mortality rates are high in Brazil and show striking variations between geographic regions. A time-trend ecological study was performed in Southern Brazil from 1980 to 2002. Data were collected from the Mortality Information System (Ministry of Health) to assess age-standardized mortality rates. Linear regression for mortality time-trend analysis and multiple regression for mortality differences among three States were calculated. The highest mean mortality rate (14.45) was observed in Rio Grande do Sul, significantly greater (p < 0.001) than in Santa Catarina (8.93) and Paraná (9.95). An annual increase of 0.47 in the mortality rate was observed in the three States of Southern Brazil. According to these results, the South of Brazil and especially the State of Rio Grande do Sul showed a significant upward trend in breast cancer mortality. Continued efforts are needed to help explain these numbers and reverse the present situation.

[Increase in breast cancer mortality in Southern Brazil from 1980 to 2002]. / Câncer de mama: mortalidade crescente na Região Sul do Brasil entre 1980 e 2002.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the world. Breast cancer mortality rates are high in Brazil and show striking variations between geographic regions. A time-trend ecological study was performed in Southern Brazil from 1980 to 2002. Data were collected from the Mortality Information System (Ministry of Health) to assess age-standardized mortality rates. Linear regression for mortality time-trend analysis and multiple regression for mortality differences among three States were calculated. The highest mean mortality rate (14.45) was observed in Rio Grande do Sul, significantly greater (p < 0.001) than in Santa Catarina (8.93) and Paraná (9.95). An annual increase of 0.47 in the mortality rate was observed in the three States of Southern Brazil. According to these results, the South of Brazil and especially the State of Rio Grande do Sul showed a significant upward trend in breast cancer mortality. Continued efforts are needed to help explain these numbers and reverse the present situation.