Creating a data dictionary for pediatric autonomic disorders.

PURPOSE: Whether evaluating patients clinically, documenting care in the electronic health record, performing research, or communicating with administrative agencies, the use of a common set of terms and definitions is vital to ensure appropriate use of language. At a 2017 meeting of the Pediatric Section of the American Autonomic Society, it was determined that an autonomic data dictionary comprising aspects of evaluation and management of pediatric patients with autonomic disorders would be an important resource for multiple stakeholders. METHODS: Our group created the list of terms for the dictionary. Definitions were prioritized to be obtained from established sources with which to harmonize. Some definitions needed mild modification from original sources. The next tier of sources included published consensus statements, followed by Internet sources. In the absence of appropriate sources, we created a definition. RESULTS: A total of 589 terms were listed and defined in the dictionary. Terms were organized by Signs/Symptoms, Triggers, Co-morbid Disorders, Family History, Medications, Medical Devices, Physical Examination Findings, Testing, and Diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Creation of this data dictionary becomes the foundation of future clinical care and investigative research in pediatric autonomic disorders, and can be used as a building block for a subsequent adult autonomic data dictionary.

Non-ICU hospital care of diabetes mellitus in the elderly population.

The concept of lower is better when considering the goal for glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus has recently been challenged due to recent studies, such as ACCORD, ADVANCE, and VADT, which have observed increased morbidity and mortality from intensive control, especially in older adults, and in those with long duration of diabetes disease and chronic complications. Although evidence in younger patients suggest that blood glucose levels should not be above 180 mg/dl (10.0 mmol/l), there are many unanswered questions and controversies regarding the benefits and risks, methods to achieve and maintain these levels while avoiding hypoglycemia (<70 mg% (3.9 mmol/l)) in the older population. Since the population is aging with a greater life expectancy, it is crucial that these questions be answered. Although several studies of inpatient non-ICU diabetes management have been published, few include older patients. This review will examine available recommendations and explore those controversies regarding non-ICU hospital management in this vulnerable patient population. Additional conditions that impact upon achieving glycemic control will also be discussed. Finally, the older individual has many special needs which may be more important to consider than in young or middle-aged individuals, when transitioning care from in-hospital to home in a patient-centered approach, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and European Society for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).

Synchronous papillary thyroid carcinoma and primary hyperparathyroidism: diagnosis and management issues.

The occurrence of a papillary thyroid carcinoma in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism is rare. Awareness of this condition will enable clinicians to evaluate for possible thyroid pathology in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Both of these endocrine conditions could then be managed with a single surgery involving concomitant resection of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. We report a case of a 53-year-old woman with a parathyroid adenoma and a unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma, and detail the clinical features, diagnosis, and management.