Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among asymptomatic elderly Filipinos at the Philippine General Hospital / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

The elderly are a peculiar group in terms of health management, as they often present with non-specific complaints which are challenging to interpret and may not present with the usual clinical picture of a disease. Objective. The study aims to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among asymptomatic, elderly Filipinos seen at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Methodology. Subjects aged 60 years and older seeking out-patient medical consult for non-thyroidal illness at the PGH were recruited. Patients with known thyroid or pituitary disease, previous thyroid or pituitary surgery, intake of medications known to affect thyroid hormone levels and critical illness were excluded. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and anti-thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO) levels were taken. Based on FT4 and TSH levels, subjects were classified as overt hypothyroid, subclinical hypothyroid, euthyroid, subclinical hyperthyroid, or overt hyperthyroid. Results. One hundred eighty subjects were recruited, of whom 152 (84%) were female. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (58.33%), followed by diabetes (36.67%). One hundred sixty-two (90%) were euthyroid, 12 (6.7%) subclinical hypothyroid, 4 (2.22%) subclinical hyperthyroid, and two (1.11%) overtly hyperthyroid. No one was overtly hypothyroid. There was a trend toward increasing prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, low HDL, obesity and overall cardiovascular risk among those with subclinical hypothyroidism. Conclusion. Subclinical hypothyroidism was the most prevalent thyroid dysfunction among asymptomatic elderly included in the study.

Atrial fibrillation and platelet reactivity.

BACKGROUND: The impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) upon platelet reactivity has not been investigated. METHODS: Subjects were 33 individuals with AF who consented to elective electrical cardioversion (ECV) immediately before ECV determination of surface-bound fibrinogen after stimulation i.e. platelet reactivity was carried out. A flow cytometer was employed. ADP (1.7 and 8.5 µmol/L) and a thrombin receptor activating peptide (54 and 74 µmol/L) were used as agonists. The analyses were repeated after 26±8(SD) months. RESULTS: Compared to day 1 subjects with AF (n=18) had a trend towards lower platelet reactivity at study end. It reached significance when using 1.7 µmol/L ADP. In contrast, after 26±8(SD) months sinus rhythm (SR) (n=15) was associated with significant lower reactivity with all agonists. CONCLUSION: After 26±8(SD) months patients returning with AF had higher platelet reactivity than those who remained with SR.

Screening for diabetes mellitus among asymptomatic overseas Filipino workers

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is becoming prevalent in developing countries like the Philippines. Mass screening is not recommended and is not cost effective. Targeted screening is a more practical way to detect people with disease.Overseas employment is one of the most common occupations in the country. Primary medical examination is done in pre-employment clinics with routine panel of diagnostics, urinalysis included. Fasting blood sugar(FBS) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) are not part of the panel of pre-employment medical examination for overseas Filipino workers (OFW). They are mostly done when they are referred to endocrinology or diabetes clinics when suspicion arises or glucosuria is noted on urinalysis. However, there are patients who consulted endocrinology clinics but deny any symptoms of diabetes.                                                                                                                                                                 OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of diabetes among OFW by employing FBS and OGTT among those who had urinalysis and referred to endocrinology clinic.RESULTS: Among the 192 OFWs with glucosuria, doing FBS detected 21 percent, 51 percent and 28 percent with diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and normal fasting glucose respectively. By doing OGTT among the OFW with normal FBS, 46 percent were reclassified as diabetic or have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). OGTT among those with IFG also detected 71 percent with diabetes or IGT. Overall the patients with glucosuria have a DM prevalence that is more than ten times that of the general population done by the National Nutrition and Health Survey in 2003.Among the 149 OFWs without glucosuria, FBS detected 36 percent, 54 percent, and 10 percent with DM, IFG and normal fasting sugar respectively. OGTT among those with normal FBS detected 67 percent of them to have diabetes or prediabetes. Doing the same among those with IFG reclassified 60 percent to have DM or IGT. Similarly the prevalence of DM is about ten times of the national survey.CONCLUSION: Among OFW with or without glucosuria referred for suspicion of diabetes FBS confirmed many to have diabetes and pre-diabetes. This prevalence is doubled by employing OGTT as part of the screening test.

Cortisol secreting adrenal adenoma in a patient with schizophrenia, rheumatic heart disease and myoma uteri: Difficult to find but easy to diagnose

The presence of cortisol - secret ing adenoma concomitantly with rheumatic heart disease, schizophrenia and myoma uteri is rare. This is a case of a 40 year old female with Schizophrenia who gradually developed Cushing's syndrome from an adrenal adenoma. She suffered a cardio-embolic stroke from Rheumatic heart disease which delayed hysterectomy for a bleeding intrauterine myoma. As ide f rom the phys ical f indings of Cushing's syndrome laboratory work up revealed an elevated 24 hour urine free cortisol with loss of normal diurnal cortisol secretion, suppressed 8AM ACTH level and negative suppression after a high dose dexamethasone. The patient underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for a 3.8 x 2.4 x 3 cm left adrenocortical adenoma. She required steroid supplementation. Menstrual flow immediately normalized, functional capacity improved and metabolic parameters such as weight, blood pressure and blood sugar were controlled six months after the surgery. Relapse of psychotic symptoms occurred eight months postoperatively because of non-compliance to antipsychotic medications. Cushing's syndrome if untreated can cause significant morbidities such as metabolic, hemodynamic, cardiovascular, bleeding disorder and psychiatric illness. These complications however can also be caused by primary medical illnesses like schizophrenia, rheumatic heart disease and myoma uteri. Treatment of the Cushing's syndrome may resolve some but not all the metabolic and hemodynamic problems and theoretically should also decrease the risk of complications of other primary illnesses concomitantly present. The presence of concomitant primary disease that can cause psychosis, cerebrovascular disease and metrorrhagia should also be investigated in a patient who has Cushing's syndrome. Prompt management of Cushing's syndrome would lessen the risk of complication attributed to schizophrenia, rheumatic heart disease and myoma uteri.

Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet.

BACKGROUND: Patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet show vitamin deficiency and reduced subjective health status. AIM: To study the biochemical and clinical effects of B vitamin supplementation in adults with longstanding coeliac disease. METHODS: In a double blind placebo controlled multicentre trial, 65 coeliac patients (61% women) aged 45-64 years on a strict gluten-free diet for several years were randomized to a daily dose of 0.8 mg folic acid,0.5 mg cyanocobalamin and 3 mg pyridoxine or placebo for 6 months. The outcome measures were psychological general well-being (PGWB) and the plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level, marker of B vitamin status. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients (88%) completed the trial. The tHcy level was baseline median 11.7 micromol/L (7.4-23.0), significantly higher than in matched population controls [10.2 micromol/L (6.7-22.6) (P < 0.01)]. Following vitamin supplementation, tHcy dropped a median of 34% (P < 0.001), accompanied by significant improvement in well-being (P < 0.01), notably Anxiety (P < 0.05) and Depressed Mood (P < 0.05) for patients with poor well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with longstanding coeliac disease taking extra B vitamins for 6 months showed normalized tHcy and significant improvement in general well-being, suggesting that B vitamins should be considered in people advised to follow a gluten-free diet.

Sharing life with a gluten-intolerant person--the perspective of close relatives.

BACKGROUND: Several studies indicate the importance of social support in the case of chronic disease. AIM: The aim was to explore dilemmas experienced by close relatives living with a person suffering from coeliac disease, and to describe the strategies they used to deal with these dilemmas. METHODS: Twenty-three informants were interviewed. A systematic inductive qualitative method, the critical incident technique was used. RESULTS: Disease-related worries included having bad conscience about not being affected by the disease, experiencing anxiety and witnessing the vulnerability of the affected relative in social situations. Dilemmas related to manage daily life were connected with increased domestic work, restricted freedom of action and the diseased person's preferential right of interpretation of health risks associated with the coeliac disease and deviations from the diet restrictions. Dilemmas related to disturbances in social life, concerned lack of information, knowledge and understanding. Different strategies were described to manage daily life. CONCLUSIONS: Close relatives experienced a variety of dilemmas that affected the situation of the whole family. The role of relatives in handling the coeliac disease with the diseased person in the everyday life might be underestimated, and to provide relatives with better knowledge regarding the disease might improve the situation also for patients.

Psychological well-being of adult coeliac patients treated for 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Adults with longstanding coeliac disease generally report reduced quality of life. Uncertainty remains whether this is a sign of depression, thought to be a feature of the disorder. AIM: To assess the psychological well-being in adults with long-treated coeliac disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one coeliac disease adults (59% women) aged 45-64 years diagnosed in 1984-1988 and showing evidence of remission 8-12 years later were examined by the Psychological General Well-being index. One hundred and eighty-two (57% women) adults of same age served as population controls. RESULTS: The coeliac disease patients showed no more signs of anxiety, depressed mood or distress than the controls as assessed by the Psychological General Well-being index, 103 (95% confidence interval (95% CI)=99-107) versus 103 (95% CI=100-106). However, unlike controls, the coeliac disease women showed a significantly lower Psychological General Well-being index than the coeliac disease men, 97 (95% CI=91-103) versus 111 (95% CI=106-117) (P<0.003). CONCLUSION: Long-treated adult coeliac disease patients showed no difference in psychological well-being to population controls, suggesting that signs of depressed mood is no feature of well-treated coeliac disease. The observation that coeliac disease women living in Sweden experience poorer outcome of treatment than coeliac disease men is a cause of concern and calls for further studies.

'Controlled by food'- lived experiences of coeliac disease.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the dilemmas experienced by women and men in their everyday lives in relation to their coeliac disease, and to explore the qualities of these dilemmas in relation to specific situations and living conditions. METHODS: We interviewed 43 informants, aged 20-40 years, using 'The Critical Incident Technique'. Interviews focused on situations that gave rise to confusion or discomfort in relation to disease. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively. RESULTS: We found 195 dilemmas, experienced in five arenas: food situation at work, during purchases, when travelling, in relation to meals at home and meals outside the home. Emotions, relationships and the management of daily life were the three main categories of dilemmas that emerged through the analysis. Specific emotions were experienced in relation to the disease, such as isolation, shame, fear of becoming contaminated by gluten and worries about being a bother. In the relationship with other persons the informants experienced a number of complicating dilemmas such as unwanted visibility, neglect, being forgotten, disclosure avoidance and risk taking. Dilemmas related to the management of daily life were restricted product choice, double work and constantly being on call. CONCLUSIONS: The lived experiences of coeliac disease were more varied and profound than expected. It is important to take psychological and social aspects into account in the treatment of patients with coeliac disease.

Diabetes control in Swedish community dwelling elderly: more often tight than poor.

OBJECTIVE: To determine glycaemic control in elderly patients with diabetes living in community dwelling. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional and open. Prospective with regard to blood glucose. SETTING: Community-dwelling in-patients. SUBJECTS: From a total number of 351 patients in seven Swedish centres of community dwelling we identified and recruited all 45 patients with diabetes receiving treatment with insulin, and/or oral medication. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood glucose was measured fasting, 2 h after breakfast, in the evening and at night, for three consecutive days. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c was 5.9 +/- 1.1% (range 3.6-8.6%). The patients were split in three HbA1c-groups for analysis: lower- (3.6-5.3%), middle- (5.4-6.3%) and higher-tertile (6.4-8.6%). The groups where similar with regard to age, time in community dwelling, ability to eat and move around independently, but body mass index was lower in the lower tertile (P < 0.003 and P < 0.04, compared with middle- and higher-tertiles). We recorded 14 episodes with blood glucose

Intestinal tissue transglutaminase in coeliac disease of children and adults: ultrastructural localization and variation in expression.

BACKGROUND: Tissue transglutaminase is the main antigen for the anti-endomysial antibodies used for diagnosis of coeliac disease and can with some specificity in vitro deamidate gliadins generating potent epitopes. The intestinal levels and the ultrastructural localization of tissue transglutaminase in normal and affected persons were investigated to provide further information on its role in this disease. Intestinal biopsies were taken from normal and coeliac children and adults. METHODS: The level of transglutaminase was analysed by means of a quantitative enzymatic assay and its ultrastructural localization by immunogold electronmicroscopy using a monoclonal antibody against tissue transglutaminase. RESULTS: In relation to normal individuals, the enzymatic activity of tissue transglutaminase in adult coeliac patients was increased. The enzyme was found in the enterocytes and in increased amount just beneath the enterocytes, where cytosolic and nuclear labelling of distinct elongated cells was seen in addition to extracellular labelling close to collagen fibrils. In children, the enzymatic activity and the immunogold labelling could not be shown to be related to disease. In all cases the enzyme activity was EDTA-sensitive. CONCLUSIONS: The increased amount of tissue transglutaminase activity in coeliac adults was shown to be due to the appearance of the enzyme in enterocytes and increased expression in the lamina propria. No evidence was found to support the idea of a changed localization or changed amounts as primary elements in coeliac disease pathogenesis, nor for the involvement of non-calcium dependent microbial transglutaminases.

High rate of gastrointestinal symptoms in celiac patients living on a gluten-free diet: controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of GI symptoms in adults with celiac disease (CD) treated with a gluten-free diet for several years. METHODS: We studied a cohort of adults with CD (n = 51; 59% women) aged 45-64 yr and proved to be in remission after 8-12 yr of treatment. They were examined by the GI Symptom Rating Scale, which comprises five syndromes: indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and reflux. A general population sample (n = 182; 57% women) of same age served as controls. RESULTS: Subjects with CD reported significantly more GI symptoms than the general population sample, as assessed by the GI Symptom Rating Scale total score (p < 0.01). This was particularly true for women with CD who scored worse than female controls for all syndromes on the GI Symptom Rating Scale. By contrast, the men with CD reported no more symptoms than male controls. The women with CD showed generally more complaints than the men with CD did, notably within indigestion, constipation, and abdominal pain, corresponding to a 2-fold higher rate of GI symptoms (60% vs 29%; p < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Adult CD patients on a gluten-free diet for several years experienced significantly more GI symptoms than the general population sample. This may have some of its origin in the composition of a gluten-free diet. The symptoms were more pronounced in the women. This may raise questions of an association with their subjective health status, which has been shown to be lower than in men with CD.

Evidence of poor vitamin status in coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet for 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Patients with coeliac disease are advised to keep to a lifelong gluten-free diet to remain well. Uncertainty still exists as to whether this gives a nutritionally balanced diet. AIM: To assess the vitamin nutrition status of a series of coeliac patients living on a gluten-free diet for 10 years. METHODS: Thirty adults with coeliac disease (mean age, 55 years; range, 45-64 years; 60% women), in biopsy-proven remission following 8-12 years of dietary treatment, were studied. We measured the total plasma homocysteine level, a metabolic marker of folate, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 deficiency, and related plasma vitamin levels. The daily vitamin intake level was assessed using a 4-day food record. Normative data were obtained from the general population of the same age. RESULTS: Coeliac patients showed a higher total plasma homocysteine level than the general population, indicative of a poor vitamin status. In accordance, the plasma levels of folate and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (active form of vitamin B-6) were low in 37% and 20%, respectively, and accounted for 33% of the variation of the total plasma homocysteine level (P < 0.008). The mean daily intakes of folate and vitamin B-12, but not of vitamin B-6, were significantly lower in coeliac patients than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the adult coeliac patients carefully treated with a gluten-free diet for several years showed signs of a poor vitamin status. This may have clinical implications considering the linkage between vitamin deficiency, elevated total plasma homocysteine levels and cardiovascular disease. The results may suggest that, when following up adults with coeliac disease, the vitamin status should be reviewed.

Living with coeliac disease: controlled study of the burden of illness.

BACKGROUND: Coeliac patients improve vastly when started on a gluten-free diet. After 10 years. however, women show a lower level of subjective health than men do. We investigated whether this could be explained by differences in the perceived disease burden. METHODS: We studied 68 coeliac patients (34 women) (mean age 57 years, range 32-75) and matched type-2 diabetes controls treated for a mean of 10 years. They were examined by a 9-item Burden of Illness (BI) protocol comprising perceived worries, restrictions and subjective outcome. The subjective health was assessed with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS: The importance of complying with the diet was ranked similarly high by male and female coeliac patients. However, women were less satisfied with the outcome at 10 years than men were, and expressed more concern about the impact on socializing with friends and having to abstain from important things in life. None of these aspects distinguished male and female diabetic patients. Coeliac women showed a higher BI sum score than men did, and this was inversely related to their SF-36 General health, Vitality and Mental Health scores. CONCLUSIONS: Coeliac women adhering to the treatment regimen for several years perceive the disease burden to be worse than men do. In the light of similar differences in their quality of life, inquiry is warranted into the way coeliac men and women are coping with the disorder.

[Oats can be included in gluten-free diet]. / Havre kan ingå i den glutenfria kosten.

In the management of coeliac disease, it has been widely accepted that oats must also be excluded from the diet, along with wheat, rye and barley. The article consists in a review of published reports, and an account of our experience of including oats in the gluten-free diets of adults. Oats were found to be safe and well tolerated by adults with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, though the risk of wheat contamination of commercial oat products remains a cause of concern. Similar findings were reported from a study of adolescents, but no such studies have been made of small children. Thus, the inclusion of oats, known to be a fibre-rich, naturally gluten-free food, would broaden the range of foodstuffs tolerable to coeliac patients, though for safety reasons they should be used only by adults until more information is available.

Quality of life of adult coeliac patients treated for 10 years.

BACKGROUND: For patients with coeliac disease, adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) is essential to restore the intestinal mucosa. It is less clear whether this ensures well-being of the patient. We have therefore assessed aspects of the quality of life of adult coeliac patients who had been on a GFD for 10 years. METHODS: By means of the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), the subjective health status was measured in 89 adult coeliac patients (61% women) aged 35-74 years. Patients shown to be in histologic remission (n=60) were evaluated by means of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). RESULTS: The coeliac patients scored significantly lower in the SF-36 than general population, notably within the General Health and Vitality domains. The low scoring was confined to the female patients, who also reported significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms in the GSRS than the male coeliacs. The functional status and perceived health of the coeliac patients appeared unrelated to their biopsy findings. CONCLUSIONS: After 10 years on a GFD adult coeliac patients fail to attain the same degree of subjective health as the general population. This is particularly true for female patients and suggests that factors beyond normalization of the intestinal mucosa are of importance for the perceived health status of coeliacs diagnosed in adult life.

[Patient readmission. Medical diagnosis and risk factors of emergency readmission within 14 days]. / Medicinska återinläggningar. Medicinsk diagnos och risken för akut återinläggning inom 14 dagar.

Every tenth patient discharged from a medical department at a general hospital in Sweden during the period, 1992-1994, required emergency re-admission within 14 days. The risk of re-admission appeared to be unrelated to the duration of hospitalisation before discharge or to the occupancy rate. However, a high risk of emergency re-admission was found to be associated with four diagnoses: acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, heart failure and chronic obstructive lung disease. Plans are under way to launch a multicentre intervention study of emergency re-admission to departments of medicine.

A multicentre comparison of once-daily subcutaneous dalteparin (low molecular weight heparin) and continuous intravenous heparin in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of the low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) dalteparin with unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the acute treatment of DVT patients who had not previously received UFH. DESIGN: An open randomized multicentre trial with blinded analysis of venograms. SETTING: Seven hospitals in Sweden, Finland and the USA. SUBJECTS: A total of 330 patients, of 20 years or older, with suspected DVT, verified using venography. INTERVENTIONS: Fixed-dose dalteparin (200 IU kg-1) given as a once-daily subcutaneous injection, or aPTT adjusted i.v. UFH infusion for 6 to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in Marder score in patients with confirmed DVT and two evaluable venograms; PE, bleeding events and follow-up. RESULTS: Marder scores improved in 51% (95% CI 42-60%) of 92 patients treated with dalteparin and in 62% (95% CI 53-70%) of 98 patients treated with UFH (P = 0.152). One dalteparin-treated patient had a PE confirmed by V/Q scan; another had progressive thrombosis with swelling in the affected limb. Bleeding complications occurred in six patients in each group. One patient treated with dalteparin and five treated with UFH died during the 6-month follow-up period as a result of underlying malignancy or heart disease. The 6-month recurrence rate was low with both treatments (dalteparin, 3/97; UFH, 2/103). CONCLUSIONS: Fixed-dose subcutaneous dalteparin given once daily from the start of treatment is of equivalent efficacy and safety to conventional UFH therapy in the routine management of DVT.