Non-proteinuric diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of chronic kidney disease: Results of a general population survey in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy traditionally produces significant proteinuria prior to the development of renal impairment. However, this clinical paradigm has recently been questioned. The current study evaluated the impact of diabetes mellitus on the prevalence of renal disease in general population. METHODOLOGY: Data from of the HERMEX survey, an observational, cross sectional, population based study were used. The final sample included 2813 subjects (mean age 51.2 years, 53.5% female). Four hundred patients have diabetes. Urinary albumin excretion (UAE) rate was analyzed and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the CKD-EPI formula. RESULTS: Among participants without diabetes, 2.9%(2.2-3.6) had a GFR < 60 ml/min. Prevalence of abnormal UAE in population without diabetes was 3.3% (2.6-4.0). The global prevalence of renal disease was 5.6%(4.8-6.6). Prevalence of GFR <60 ml/min in subjects with diabetes was 8.8%(6.4-11.9)(p<0.001,Chi-square test). Prevalence of abnormal UAE in population with diabetes was 14.1%(7.7-19.8)(p< 0.001,Chi-square test). CKD prevalence was 20.3%(16.6-24.6)(p<0.001,Chi-square test). The logistic regression analysis showed a positive independent association of CKD with age, high blood pressure and albuminuria. No significant relationship was found with diabetes mellitus CONCLUSIONS: CKD is more prevalent in population with diabetes. Nevertheless, most of patients with diabetes and CKD have no albuminuria. An increased cardiovascular burden seems to produce this clinical presentation.

The H.U.G.E. Formula (Hematocrit, Urea, Sex) for Screening Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in an Age-Stratified General Population.

AIM: To evaluate the screening power of the HUGE formula for the detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a Spanish population sample obtained from the HERMEX study, a survey of cardiovascular risk factors carried out in the region of Extremadura, stratified by age. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional, population-based study. The final sample included 2,813 subjects selected from Health Care System records. Anthropometric data and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Hematocrit, urea, creatinine and microalbuminuria were analyzed, after which the HUGE formula was applied. Renal function, assessed as eGFR based on serum creatinine, was estimated following the MDRD-4 formula. RESULTS: Using the HUGE formula, the estimated prevalence of CKD was 2.2% (men 2.2%, women 2.1%). The prevalence of CKD increased with age (5.0% in persons aged 60- 70 years and 9.6% in individuals over 70 years of age, p < 0.001) whereas with the MDRD formula the prevalence values were 9.8% and 15.5% respectively. The HUGE formula was seen to be highly specific (0.99). CKD was more common in persons >70 years, obese subjects, hypertensive patients, dyslipidemic subjects and those with microalbuminuria. Multivariate analysis revealed an independent negative association of CKD as the dependent variable with SBP, serum triglyceride levels and microalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: The HUGE formula allows the prediction of CKD in the general population to be honed without relying on serum creatinine levels. This method was found to have a higher specificity than the MDRD-4 formula. Moreover, it could reduce the excessively extensive diagnostic suspicion of CKD in women.

Guideline for the acquisition and preparation of conventional and endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration specimens for the diagnosis and molecular testing of patients with known or suspected lung cancer.

RATIONALE: Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-TBNA are widely accepted tools for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer and the initial procedure of choice for staging. Obtaining adequate specimens is key to provide a specific histologic and molecular diagnosis of lung cancer. OBJECTIVES: To develop practice guidelines on the acquisition and preparation of conventional TBNA and EBUS-TBNA specimens for the diagnosis and molecular testing of (suspected) lung cancer. We hope to improve the global unification of procedure standards, maximize the yield and identify areas for research. METHODS: Systematic electronic database searches were conducted to identify relevant studies for inclusion in the guideline [PubMed and the Cochrane Library (including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)]. MAIN RESULTS: The number of needle aspirations with both conventional TBNA and EBUS-TBNA was found to impact the diagnostic yield, with at least 3 passes needed for optimal performance. Neither needle gauge nor the use of miniforceps, the use of suction or the type of sedation/anesthesia has been found to improve the diagnostic yield for lung cancer. The use of rapid on-site cytology examination does not increase the diagnostic yield. Molecular analysis (i.e. EGFR, KRAS and ALK) can be routinely performed on the majority of cytological samples obtained by EBUS-TBNA and conventional TBNA. There does not appear to be a superior method for specimen preparation (i.e. slide staining, cell blocks or core tissue). It is likely that optimal specimen preparation may vary between institutions depending on the expertise of pathology colleagues.

The HUGE formula (hematocrit, urea and gender): association with cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between chronic renal failure (CFR) defined through HUGE (hematocrit, urea and gender) formula score and the patient's cardiovascular risk measured through cardiovascular disease antecedents such as ischemic cardiopathy, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 2,831 subjects. Mean age was 51.2±14.7 years and 53.5% were female. Serum creatinine, urea, hematocrit and 24h proteinuria were analyzed. HUGE score was calculated from gender, urea and hematocrit. GFR was estimated from uncalibrated serum creatinine using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation (MDRD-4). UAE was measured in first morning urine sample. RESULTS: Using HUGE formula 2.2% (n = 61) of subjects had CRF. Of them, 12 (19.7%) had cardiovascular disease history. Among patients without CRF (n = 2770), 194 subjects had history of previous cardiovascular diseases (0.07%; p < 0.001 Square Chi test). Using the MDRD-4 formula 4.0% of subjects (n = 113) had a GFR < 60 ml/min. Of them, 18 (15.9%) had cardiovascular disease history. Among patients without CRF (n = 2718), 188 subjects had history of previous cardiovascular diseases (0.07%; p < 0.001 Square Chi test). Odd's ratio for cardiovascular diseases using HUGE definition of CRF was 3.25 (p = 0.001, Mantel-Haenszel test). CFR was associated to higher pulse pressure (PP) and increased urinary albumin excretion. CONCLUSIONS: A significant cardiovascular risk was associated to the diagnosis of CRF through HUGE formula. This relation was closer than the obtained using MDRD estimated GFR in spite of a bigger sample. HUGE formula seems to be a useful tool for diagnosing CRF and evaluate the cardiovascular risk of these patients.

Prevalence of abnormal urinary albumin excretion in elderly people: a Spanish survey.

OBJECTIVES: HERMEX is a population-based study, which tries to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the population of Extremadura, Spain. This report provides the data concerning albuminuria in the elderly people recruited in the survey. DESIGN AND METHODS: 3,402 subjects were randomly selected from the database of the Health Care System of Extremadura. The final sample included 2,813 subjects (mean age 51.2 years, 53.5 % female). Urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) in the first morning urine sample was analyzed. Albuminuria was diagnosed when UAER (albumin-to-creatinine ratio) was ≥ 22 mg/g in men or ≥ 31 mg/g in women. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal UAER in the elderly population was 10.9 % (microalbuminuria: 8.9 %; overt proteinuria: 1.8 %). The younger subjects showed a lower prevalence of microalbuminuria (3.4 %, p < 0.001). Elderly patients showed a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors than the younger ones. The elderly had higher systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure than the younger ones. Furthermore, the elderly subjects had lower plasma levels of HDL cholesterol, but higher triglycerides, glucose, creatinine, and glycosylated hemoglobin; no differences were found for total and LDL cholesterol. When the prevalence of causes of microalbuminuria was compared between age groups, we found a sharp increase in diabetic and, especially, hypertensive patients in the elderly group. The multivariate analysis showed an independent association of microalbuminuria with systolic blood pressure and plasma creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of abnormal UAER in elderly people was detected in a randomly selected sample of Spanish general population. In most elderly patients, microalbuminuria was associated with high blood pressure and, less frequently, with diabetes mellitus.

Central airway stabilization for tracheobronchomalacia improves quality of life in patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is characterized by excessive collapsibility of the central airways, typically during expiration. TBM may be present in as many as 50% of patients evaluated for COPD. The impact of central airway stabilization on symptom pattern and quality of life is poorly understood in this patient population. METHODS: Patients with documented COPD were identified from a cohort of 238 patients assessed for TBM at our complex airway referral center. Pulmonary function testing, exercise tolerance, and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) measures were assessed at baseline and 2 to 4 weeks following tracheal stent placement/operative tracheobronchoplasty (TBP). Severity of COPD was classified according to the GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) staging system. RESULTS: One hundred three patients (48 women) with COPD and moderately severe to severe TBM were identified. Statistically and clinically significant improvements were seen in HRQOL measures, including the transitional dyspnea index (stent, P = .001; TBP, P = .008), the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (stent, P = .002; TBP, P < .0001), and the Karnofsky performance score (stent, P = .163; TBP, P < .0001). The improvement appeared greatest following TBP and was seen in all GOLD stages. Clinical improvement was also seen in measured FEV(1) and exercise capacity as assessed by 6-min walk test. CONCLUSIONS: Central airway stabilization may provide symptomatic benefit for patients with severe COPD and concomitant severe airway malacia. Operative airway stabilization appears to impart the greatest advantage. Long-term follow-up study is needed to fully ascertain the ultimate efficacy of both stenting and surgical airway stabilization in this patient group.

Autofluorescence imaging videobronchoscopy in the detection of lung cancer: from research tool to everyday procedure.

Autofluorescence imaging videobronchoscopy (AFI) is one of the new systems of autofluorescence bronchoscopy designed for thorough examination of bronchial mucosa. The integration of autofluorescence and videobronchoscopy provides clear images of normal and pathologically altered bronchial mucosa. Major indications for AFI include evaluation of early-stage lung cancer and detection of precancerous lesions. However, in recent years, the indications for AFI are widening, and this tool might find its place in routine daily bronchoscopic practice. With new indications for AFI, such as evaluation of tumor extension or follow-up after surgical resection, this tool might be more often used by bronchoscopists. A sharp learning curve and clear distinction between healthy and pathologically altered mucosa make this technology acceptable for young and inexperienced bronchoscopists. One of the major disadvantages of AFI is low specificity in the detection of premalignant lesions and early-stage lung cancer. This disadvantage could be overcome with the appearance of new and improved technologies in autofluorescence, such as the addition of backscattered light analysis, ultraviolet spectra, fluorescence-reflectance or dual digital systems. Quantitative image analysis is also one of the ways to improve objectivity and minimize observer errors. However, one of the most appropriate solutions would be the addition of AFI to narrow band imaging, and merging the two technologies into one videobronchoscope.

Exercise and respiratory training improve exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with severe chronic pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with restricted physical capacity, limited quality of life, and a poor prognosis because of right heart failure. The present study is the first prospective randomized study to evaluate the effects of exercise and respiratory training in patients with severe symptomatic PH. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients with PH (21 women; mean age, 50+/-13 years; mean pulmonary artery pressure, 50+/-15 mm Hg; mean World Health Organization [WHO] class, 2.9+/-0.5; pulmonary arterial hypertension, n=23; chronic thromboembolic PH, n=7) on stable disease-targeted medication were randomly assigned to a control (n=15) and a primary training (n=15) group. Medication remained unchanged during the study period. Primary end points were the changes from baseline to week 15 in the distance walked in 6 minutes and in scores of the Short Form Health Survey quality-of-life questionnaire. Changes in WHO functional class, Borg scale, and parameters of echocardiography and gas exchange also were assessed. At week 15, patients in the primary and secondary training groups had an improved 6-minute walking distance; the mean difference between the control and the primary training group was 111 m (95% confidence interval, 65 to 139 m; P<0.001). Exercise training was well tolerated and improved scores of quality of life, WHO functional class, peak oxygen consumption, oxygen consumption at the anaerobic threshold, and achieved workload. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure values at rest did not change significantly after 15 weeks of exercise and respiratory training (from 61+/-18 to 54+/-18 mm Hg) within the training group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that respiratory and physical training could be a promising adjunct to medical treatment in severe PH. The effects add to the beneficial results of modern medical treatment.

[Tuberculosis of the biliary system: presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / Tuberculosis de la vía biliar: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

We present the case of a female patient with tuberculosis of the gallbladder, the adipose tissue and lymph nodes surrounding the common bile duct; the patient presented with obstructive jaundice. We discuss the diagnostic criteria, approach to the biliary tract and treatment of this type of patients.