Complete laboratory diagnosis of Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome.

The definition of Insulin autoimmune syndrome includes the presence of high levels of blood insulin and insulin autoantibodies. We encountered a 45-years-old white man with a high insulin serum value that do not fit with the C-peptide result. To discard or to confirm an analytical interference and diagnose a possible Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome we performed the following investigations: dilution linearity test, heterophilic antibody blocking, polyethylene glycol precipitation, measurements with alternative assays, and gel filtration chromatography by size exclusion. The latter technique confirmed that most of the insulin was complexed with a 150-kDa protein, corresponding to immunoglobulin G, identified as insulin autoantibodies. These antibodies were responsible for hypoglycemia attacks in the patient, who had a previous autoimmune disease. This case highlights the importance of carefully analyzing the results and ruling out possible interferences, as well as considering all kinds of pathologies, even if they are infrequent.

Macroprolactin: From laboratory to clinical practice.

Prolactin measurement is very common in standard clinical practice. It is indicated not only in the study of pituitary adenomas, but also when there are problems with fertility, decreased libido, or menstrual disorders, among other problems. Inadequate interpretation of prolactin levels without contextualizing the laboratory results with the clinical, pharmacological, and gynecological/urological history of patients leads to erroneous diagnoses and, thus, to poorly based studies and treatments. Macroprolactinemia, defined as hyperprolactinemia due to excess macroprolactin (an isoform of a greater molecular weight than prolactin but with less biological activity), is one of the main causes of such erroneous diagnoses, resulting in poor patient management when not recognized. There is no unanimous agreement as to when macroprolactin screening is required in patients with hyperprolactinemia. At some institutions, macroprolactin testing by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation is routinely performed in all patients with hyperprolactinemia, while others use a clinically based approach. There is also no consensus on how to express the results of prolactin/macroprolactin levels after PEG, which in some cases may lead to an erroneous interpretation of the results. The objectives of this study were: 1. To establish the strategy for macroprolactin screening by serum precipitation with PEG in patients with hyperprolactinemia: universal screening versus a strategy guided by the alert generated by the clinician based on the absence or presence of clinical symptoms or by the laboratory when hyperprolactinemia is detected. 2. To create a consensus document that standardizes the reporting of prolactin results after precipitation with PEG to minimize errors in the interpretation of the results, in line with international standards.

Estrategia comunitaria municipal «yonomebenzo». Actividades y resultados en el período 2017-2020 / Municipal community strategy

Objetivo: Describir las actividades, el proceso y los resultados de la estrategia comunitaria Yonomebenzo desde 2017 a 2020. Metodología:Monitorización del proceso mediante evaluaciones periódicas para comprobar su impacto y desarrollar las actividades pendientes. Adaptación a la pandemia del coronavirus.Trabajar sobre la factibilidad del proceso a medio y largo plazo mediante el desarrollo de distintas estrategias. Intervención: Escuela del sueño: servicio centrado en personas ancianas ofreciendo alternativas saludables para facilitar el descanso nocturno.Oficina municipal del sueño: espacio abierto a población general sobre hábitos correctos de sueño.Mapeo de activos en salud (localizasalud): desarrollado en coordinación con Comisión de Salud Comunitaria municipal, enmarcado en la estrategia de Promoción de Salud y Prevención del Ministerio de Sanidad.Estrategia municipal de farmacias comunitarias: red voluntaria de 18 farmacias comunitarias. Factibilidad del proceso:A medio plazo: a través de los recursos económicos de ayudas del Ministerio de Sanidad y presupuestos municipales participativos.A largo plazo: municipalización de distintas actividades para financiarlas mediante presupuestos ordinarios. Intervenciones pendientes: Adaptación de actividades al contexto de la pandemia. Evaluación: Monitorización del consumo de benzodiacepinas (BZD) en dosis diaria definida/1.000 habitantes/año (DHD) y su adecuación. Aplicabilidad de la estrategia:Implicarla en contexto comunitario de atención centrada en el paciente, con profesionales de distintos ámbitos, asociaciones municipales y ciudadanía para mejorar el uso de BZD y desmedicalizar procesos cotidianos.Incorporar esta actividad comunitaria como programa municipal.Empoderar la población para controlar su propia salud. (AU)

Objective: Report the activities, process and results obtained from the Yonomebenzo community strategy from 2017 to 2020. Methodology: Follow up has been performed by means of periodic evaluations to verify the impact and develop new and pending activities.Adapting to the coronavirus pandemic.Medium and long-term feasibility has been improved by means of different strategies. Intervention. In addition to the activities performed up until 2016, new activities include:Sleeping school: focused on elderly people, offering healthy tips to improve night rest.Municipal Sleep Support Office: available for the entire population, emphasizes correct sleep hygiene.Health assets mapping (localizasalud): in collaboration with the municipal Community Health Commission, a Health Promotion and Prevention strategy carried out by the Ministry.Community-Pharmacies Municipal Strategy: implying 18 voluntary community pharmacies. Feasibility of the process:Medium term: by means of financial grants from the Ministry and participatory municipal budgets.Long term: municipalization of different activities to finance them by means of ordinary budgets. Interventions pending. Adaptation of activities against the backdrop of the pandemic. Evaluation. Monitoring of benzodiazepine (BZD) consumption as daily defined dose/1000 inhabitants/year (DDD) and its suitability. Application of the strategy:Implicate this into a community context for patient-focused care, with professionals from different areas, municipal associations and citizens to improve the use of BZD and stop treating ordinary processes as medical issues.Incorporate this community activity as a municipal programme.Empower the population to monitors its own health. (AU)

Lower Survival and Increased Circulating Suppressor Cells in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma with Deficit of Vitamin D Levels Using R-GDP Plus Lenalidomide (R2-GDP): Results from the R2-GDP-GOTEL Trial.

The search of prognostic factors is a priority in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) due to its aggressiveness. We have recently found that the level of circulating MDSCs is a good marker of survival in a translational study based on a trial (EudraCT Number: 2014-001620-29), using lenalidomide combined with R-GDP (rituximab plus gemcitabine, cisplatin, and dexamethasone). Since Vitamin D is a known immunomodulator, we have studied blood levels of these cell populations comparing patients with deficit of vitamin D levels (<15 ng/mL with those with normal levels >15 ng/mL. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare cells distributions between groups, Wilcoxon test to compare cells distribution at different times and Spearman test to measure the association between cell populations. Patients with vitamin D deficit maintained the increased level of immune suppressor cells, whereas we observed a depletion of all immune suppressor cells in patients with normal vitamin D levels. In conclusion, we have confirmed the importance of vitamin D in the response to treatment in R/R DLBCL, suggesting that vitamin D deficit may be involved in the immune deficit of these patients, and thus, vitamin D supplementation in these patients may help to obtain a better response, warranting further investigation.

Macroprolactin: From laboratory to clinical practice. / Macroprolactina: del laboratorio a la práctica clínica. Recomendaciones del grupo de trabajo de laboratorio de la SEEN y de la comisión de hormonas de la SEQCML sobre la medición e informe del resultado de la macroprolactina.

Prolactin measurement is very common in standard clinical practice. It is indicated not only in the study of pituitary adenomas, but also when there are problems with fertility, decreased libido, or menstrual disorders, among other problems. Inadequate interpretation of prolactin levels without contextualizing the laboratory results with the clinical, pharmacological, and gynecological/urological history of patients leads to erroneous diagnoses and, thus, to poorly based studies and treatments. Macroprolactinemia, defined as hyperprolactinemia due to excess macroprolactin (an isoform of a greater molecular weight than prolactin but with less biological activity), is one of the main causes of such erroneous diagnoses, resulting in poor patient management when not recognized. There is no unanimous agreement as to when macroprolactin screening is required in patients with hyperprolactinemia. At some institutions, macroprolactin testing by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation is routinely performed in all patients with hyperprolactinemia, while others use a clinically based approach. There is also no consensus on how to express the results of prolactin/macroprolactin levels after PEG, which in some cases may lead to an erroneous interpretation of the results. The objectives of this study were: 1. To establish the strategy for macroprolactin screening by serum precipitation with PEG in patients with hyperprolactinemia: universal screening versus a strategy guided by the alert generated by the clinician based on the absence or presence of clinical symptoms or by the laboratory when hyperprolactinemia is detected. 2. To create a consensus document that standardizes the reporting of prolactin results after precipitation with PEG to minimize errors in the interpretation of the results, in line with international standards.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in early autumn to ensure vitamin D sufficiency in mid-winter in professional football players.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There is growing awareness that vitamin D sufficiency is required for overall optimal health. Most experts agree that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of at least 75 nmol/L, as sufficient vitamin D status. Our aim was to investigate the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration required in mid-October to ensure vitamin D sufficiency in early February, and to assess the rate of vitamin D insufficiency in both seasons. METHODS: We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathormone, and other related biochemical parameters, in a sample of 28 professional football players homogeneous in factors influencing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in a sunny area of southern Spain. RESULTS: The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 122.7 nmol/L was required; 14.3% reached this level. Ninety-three percent had levels ≥75 nmol/L in mid-October, and 64% had levels <75 nmol/l in early February (χ(2) test, ρ = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the homogeneity in sunlight exposure and vitamin D intake few football players reached the level ensuring vitamin D sufficiency in mid-winter, and two thirds had vitamin D insufficiency in early February. Given our findings, it would be advisable to assess the vitamin D levels in early autumn, although additional studies are necessary.