Síndrome de Twiddler: dos casos con distinto eje de rotación / Twiddler´s syndrome: two cases with different rotation axes

El síndrome de Twiddler es una rara complicación de los pacientes portadores de marcapasos, que fue descrito en 1964 por Bayliss et al como "rotación espontánea subconsciente, inadvertida o deliberada, del generador por parte del paciente, dando lugar a un desplazamiento y mal funcionamiento del marcapasos". Presentamos dos casos clínicos con este síndrome, que presentan la particularidad de estar producidos por rotación del marcapasos sobre dos ejes diferentes. En ambos casos pudo identificarse un factor de riesgo común, y los dos se solucionaron con una reintervención quirúrgica (AU)

Thyroid function during pregnancy and the postpartum period: iodine metabolism and disease states.

OBJECTIVE: To review various aspects of thyroid function during and early after pregnancy. METHODS: We discuss biochemical and potential pathologic changes in the thyroid associated with the gestational and postpartum periods. RESULTS: Urinary iodine excretion during the last trimester of gestation in healthy euthyroid women shows that, in areas with mild iodine intake, iodine supplementation is necessary during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This measure should be considered in iodine-sufficient areas as well. Thyroglobulin is the main biochemical marker of persistent thyroidal stimulation. Alterations in thyroid volume during pregnancy can persist after delivery, especially in breast-feeding mothers. In most patients, the goitrogenic stimulus of pregnancy can be suppressed with iodine supplementation. Autoimmune thyroid disease during pregnancy and the postpartum period is reflected by monitoring of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab). Women with positive test results for TPO-Ab early in gestation showed a highly significant decrease in free thyroxine and increased thyroid-stimulating hormone levels late in gestation. The main marker of Graves' disease during pregnancy is thyroid-stimulating antibodies. Nonautoimmune gestational hyperthyroidism differs from Graves' disease in that thyroid-stimulating antibodies are not detectable. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be alert to the fact that pregnancy can induce thyroidal pathologic conditions.

Comparison of fluoxetine and placebo in the treatment of obesity.

Our study aims at assessing the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine as compared with placebo in the treatment of obesity using a double-blind crossover design. We studied 42 obese women (body mass index 35.9 +/- 5.3 kg/m2). The obese patients were randomized to start treatment with fluoxetine (group A) or placebo (group B) for 3 months (period 1). After a 1-month washout period, treatment was crossed for the following 3 months (period 2). There was no significant difference in weight loss when the patients were treated with fluoxetine (group A period 1 and group B period 2) as compared with patients treated with placebo (group B period 1 and group A period 2). There were no significant differences in monthly weight reduction during both treatments. In conclusion, we demonstrated that serotoninergic drugs such as fluoxetine need further investigation before being used indiscriminately in obese subjects.

[Long-term evolution of immunologic and thyroid function in Graves disease according different therapeutic options]. / Evolución inmunológica y de la función tiroidea a largo plazo en la enfermedad de Graves según distintas opciones terapéuticas.

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was carried out to compare the evolution of thyroid hormones, thyroglobulin (Tg) and immunoglobulins inhibiting the binding of thyrotropin to its receptor (TBII) in patients with Graves disease treated with antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine and subtotal thyroidectomy. METHODS: Ninety-five patients with Graves disease were studied, being distributed according to clinical criteria: Group I (n = 35) patients treated with antithyroid drugs; Group II (n = 30) patients who received 131I; and Group III (n = 30) patients treated with subtotal thyroidectomy. The thyroid hormones, Tg, antithyroglobulin antibodies and TBII were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), prior to treatment, and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of follow up, except in those patients from Group III who were followed up to 24 months. RESULTS: The rate of reactivation at 12 months did not significantly differ among the three groups. At 24 months a higher percentage of reactivations was observed in Group I (42%), versus Group II (16%, p < 0.001) and Group III (13%, p < 0.005). At 36 months reactivation was 30% in Group I, versus 5% in Group II (p < 0.01). Upon comparison of the TBII values among the three groups, the highest basal values corresponded to Group III with significant differences being found versus Group I (p < 0.05) and Group II (p < 0.001). TBII concentrations in the three groups studied remained high at 6 and 12 months with no significant differences being observed. Negativization was shown in the TBII at 24 months in Group II with a significant difference being seen versus Group I and III. At 36 months negativization was seen in the TBII in Group I with significant differences with respect to Group II. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of reactivation following antithyroid treatment is greater to that obtained in groups treated with iodine or surgery. The earliest negativization of TBII was obtained with radioiodine.

[Gestational diabetes: new approaches to an old and growing problem]. / Diabetes gestacional: nuevos planteamientos a un antiguo y creciente problema.

Gestational diabetes is defined as glucose intolerance of variable severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Gestational Diabetes generally disappears as soon as the pregnancy is terminated. The prevalence of gestational diabetes is 2% to 13%, depending on the genetic characteristics and environment of the population under study. Classic risk factors identify a population of women at risk of gestational diabetes (obesity, family history of diabetes, or previous poor obstetric history); however, these risk factors identify only 60% of women diagnosed as having gestational diabetes. Therefore, it is necessary to screen all pregnant women, regardless of history, for gestational diabetes. The optimal time to screen for gestational diabetes in pregnancy is between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. The screening test consist of 50 g of oral glucose followed by a plasma determination at 1 hour. If the plasma glucose 1 hour after the oral load is > or = 140 mg/dl, a glucose tolerance test is indicated. The goal of management (diet, insulin and exercise) of the gestational diabetic women is to maintain normoglycemia, needed to avoid complications for the fetus and mother.