Determinants of intensive insulin therapeutic regimens in patients with type 1 diabetes: data from a nationwide multicenter survey in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the determinants of intensive insulin regimens (ITs) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: This multicenter study was conducted between December 2008 and December 2010 in 28 public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities. Data were obtained from 3,591 patients (56.0% female, 57.1% Caucasian). Insulin regimens were classified as follows: group 1, conventional therapy (CT) (intermediate human insulin, one to two injections daily); group 2 (three or more insulin injections of intermediate plus regular human insulin); group 3 (three or more insulin injections of intermediate human insulin plus short-acting insulin analogues); group 4, basal-bolus (one or two insulin injections of long-acting plus short-acting insulin analogues or regular insulin); and group 5, basal-bolus with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Groups 2 to 5 were considered IT groups. RESULTS: We obtained complete data from 2,961 patients. Combined intermediate plus regular human insulin was the most used therapeutic regimen. CSII was used by 37 (1.2%) patients and IT by 2,669 (90.2%) patients. More patients on IT performed self-monitoring of blood glucose and were treated at the tertiary care level compared to CT patients (p < 0.001). The majority of patients from all groups had HbA1c levels above the target. Overweight or obesity was not associated with insulin regimen. Logistic regression analysis showed that economic status, age, ethnicity, and level of care were associated with IT (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the prevalence of intensive treatment for T1D in Brazil, more effective therapeutic strategies are needed for long term-health benefits.

Relationship between adherence to diet, glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 1 diabetes: a nationwide survey in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: To determine the relationship between adherence to the diet reported by patients with type 1 diabetes under routine clinical care in Brazil, and demographic, socioeconomic status, glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between December 2008 and December 2010 in 28 public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities. The data was obtained from 3,180 patients, aged 22 ± 11.8 years (56.3% females, 57.4% Caucasians and 43.6% non-Caucasians). The mean time since diabetes diagnosis was 11.7 ± 8.1 years. RESULTS: Overall, 1,722 (54.2%) of the patients reported to be adherent to the diet without difference in gender, duration of diabetes and socioeconomic status. Patients who reported adherence to the diet had lower BMI, HbA1c, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, non HDL-cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure and had more HbA1c at goal, performed more frequently self-monitoring of blood glucose (p < 0.001), and reported less difficulties to follow specific schedules of diet plans (p < 0.001). Less patients who reported to be adherent were obese or overweight (p = 0.005). The quantity of food and time schedule of the meals were the most frequent complaints. Logistic regression analysis showed that ethnicity, (Caucasians, (OR 1.26 [1.09-1.47]), number of medical clinical visits in the last year (OR 1.10 [1.06-1.15]), carbohydrate counting, (OR 2.22 [1.49-3.30]) and diets recommended by diabetes societies', (OR 1.57 [1.02-2.41]) were related to greater patients' adherence (p < 0.05) and age, [adolescents (OR 0.60 [0.50-0.72]), high BMI (OR 0.58 [0.94-0.98]) and smoking (OR 0.58 [0.41-0.84]) with poor patients' adherence (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that it is necessary to rethink medical nutrition therapy in order to help patients to overcome barriers that impair an optimized adherence to the diet.

Regional differences in clinical care among patients with type 1 diabetes in Brazil: Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group.

BACKGROUND: To determine the characteristics of clinical care offered to type 1 diabetic patients across the four distinct regions of Brazil, with geographic and contrasting socioeconomic differences. Glycemic control, prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, screening for chronic complications and the frequency that the recommended treatment goals were met using the American Diabetes Association guidelines were evaluated. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted from December 2008 to December 2010 in 28 secondary and tertiary care public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities in north/northeast, mid-west, southeast and south regions. The data were obtained from 3,591 patients (56.0% females and 57.1% Caucasians) aged 21.2 ± 11.7 years with a disease duration of 9.6 ± 8.1 years (<1 to 50 years). RESULTS: Overall, 18.4% patients had HbA1c levels <7.0%, and 47.5% patients had HbA1c levels ≥ 9%. HbA1c levels were associated with lower economic status, female gender, age and the daily frequency of self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) but not with insulin regimen and geographic region. Hypertension was more frequent in the mid-west (32%) and north/northeast (25%) than in the southeast (19%) and south (17%) regions (p<0.001). More patients from the southeast region achieved LDL cholesterol goals and were treated with statins (p<0.001). Fewer patients from the north/northeast and mid-west regions were screened for retinopathy and nephropathy, compared with patients from the south and southeast. Patients from the south/southeast regions had more intensive insulin regimens than patients from the north/northeast and mid-west regions (p<0.001). The most common insulin therapy combination was intermediate-acting with regular human insulin, mainly in the north/northeast region (p<0.001). The combination of insulin glargine with lispro and glulisine was more frequently used in the mid-west region (p<0.001). Patients from the north/northeast region were younger, non-Caucasian, from lower economic status, used less continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, performed less SBGM and were less overweight/obese (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of patients, mainly in the north/northeast and mid-west regions, did not meet metabolic control goals and were not screened for diabetes-related chronic complications. These results should guide governmental health policy decisions, specific to each geographic region, to improve diabetes care and decrease the negative impact diabetes has on the public health system.

[Genetic and metabolic description of five patients with Berardinelli-Seip syndrome]. / Síndrome de Berardinelli-Seip: descrição genética e metabólica de cinco pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: To report the genetic and metabolic profile of patients with Berardinelli-Seip syndrome (BSCL) followed at Instituto da Criança, HC-FMUSP. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with clinical features of BSCL (n = 5), all female, were evaluated through serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipids, leptin, and liver enzymes. Abdominal sonography and DNA analysis were also performed. RESULTS: Leptin deficiency and hypertriglyceridemia were found in all the patients. Three progressed to diabetes mellitus. Four patients have mutations in AGPAT2 gene and one have a mutation in CAV1 gene. CONCLUSION: The earliest metabolic abnormalities were hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance, culminating in the onset of diabetes at the time of puberty. Mutations in the AGPAT2 gene were the most frequent in our patients.

Síndrome de Berardinelli-Seip: descrição genética e metabólica de cinco pacientes / Genetic and metabolic description of five patients with Berardinelli-Seip syndrome

OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil genético e metabólico de portadores da síndrome de Berardinelli-Seip (BSCL) acompanhados no Instituto da Criança do HC-FMUSP. SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Pacientes com as características clínicas da BSCL (n = 5), todas do sexo feminino, foram avaliadas com dosagens de glicose e insulina, lípides, leptina, enzimas hepáticas, análise de DNA, ultrassonografia abdominal. RESULTADOS: A deficiência de leptina e a hipertrigliceridemia foram constatadas nas cinco pacientes. Três evoluíram para diabetes melito (DM). Quatro tiveram mutação no gene AGPAT2 e uma no gene CAV1. CONCLUSÃO: As alterações metabólicas mais precoces foram a hipertrigliceridemia e a resistência insulínica, culminando no surgimento do DM à época da puberdade, sendo as mutações no gene AGPAT2 as mais frequentes em nossa casuística.

OBJECTIVE: To report the genetic and metabolic profile of patients with Berardinelli-Seip syndrome (BSCL) followed at Instituto da Criança, HC-FMUSP. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with clinical features of BSCL (n = 5), all female, were evaluated through serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipids, leptin, and liver enzymes. Abdominal sonography and DNA analysis were also performed. RESULTS: Leptin deficiency and hypertriglyceridemia were found in all the patients. Three progressed to diabetes mellitus. Four patients have mutations in AGPAT2 gene and one have a mutation in CAV1 gene. CONCLUSION: The earliest metabolic abnormalities were hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance, culminating in the onset of diabetes at the time of puberty. Mutations in the AGPAT2 gene were the most frequent in our patients.

Alternative management of diabetic ketoacidosis in a Brazilian pediatric emergency department.

DKA is a severe metabolic derangement characterized by dehydration, loss of electrolytes, hyperglycemia, hyperketonemia, acidosis and progressive loss of consciousness that results from severe insulin deficiency combined with the effects of increased levels of counterregulatory hormones (catecholamines, glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone). The biochemical criteria for diagnosis are: blood glucose > 200 mg/dl, venous pH <7.3 or bicarbonate <15 mEq/L, ketonemia >3 mmol/L and presence of ketonuria. A patient with DKA must be managed in an emergency ward by an experienced staff or in an intensive care unit (ICU), in order to provide an intensive monitoring of the vital and neurological signs, and of the patient's clinical and biochemical response to treatment. DKA treatment guidelines include: restoration of circulating volume and electrolyte replacement; correction of insulin deficiency aiming at the resolution of metabolic acidosis and ketosis; reduction of risk of cerebral edema; avoidance of other complications of therapy (hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hyperchloremic acidosis); identification and treatment of precipitating events. In Brazil, there are few pediatric ICU beds in public hospitals, so an alternative protocol was designed to abbreviate the time on intravenous infusion lines in order to facilitate DKA management in general emergency wards. The main differences between this protocol and the international guidelines are: intravenous fluid will be stopped when oral fluids are well tolerated and total deficit will be replaced orally; if potassium analysis still indicate need for replacement, it will be given orally; subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin analog is administered at 0.15 U/kg dose every 2-3 hours until resolution of metabolic acidosis; approximately 12 hours after treatment initiation, intermediate-acting (NPH) insulin is initiated at the dose of 0.6-1 U/kg/day, and it will be lowered to 0.4-0.7 U/kg/day at discharge from hospital.

[Prader-Willi syndrome: metabolic aspects related to growth hormone treatment]. / Síndrome de Prader-Willi: aspectos metabólicos associados ao tratamento com hormônio de crescimento.

AIM: The focus of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profile of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) patients treated with growth hormone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients (four boys and three girls) with ages between six years and six months and 14 years and 11 months were treated with GH 0.1 U/kg/day subcutaneous by six times a week, for two years. Anthropometric data, lipids, glucose, IGF-I and body composition were evaluated at baseline and after 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: IGF-I levels increased in all cases. Skin folds decreased. The mean reduction in body fat was 5.0% and the mean increased in lean mass was 7.6 kg in the prepubertal patients. The pubescent girl increased 4.8 kg and showed a 5.6% decrease in fat mass. A mean gain in the bone mass was 0.07 g/cm(2) (7.3%) in prepubescent cases, and 0.02 g/cm(2) (2.0%) in the pubescent girl. CONCLUSION: In our study GH treatment improved lean body and bone masses and had beneficial effect on lipid values.

Síndrome de Prader-Willi: aspectos metabólicos associados ao tratamento com hormônio de crescimento / Prader-Willi syndrome: metabolic aspects related to growth hormone treatment

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as alterações metabólicas de crianças e adolescentes portadores da Síndrome de Prader-Willi tratadas com hormônio de crescimento recombinante humano (rhGH). CASUíSTICA E MÉTODOS: Foram estudados sete pacientes: quatro meninos e três meninas, com idades de seis anos e seis meses a 14 anos e 11 meses. Receberam rhGH, 0,1 U/Kg/dia subcutâneo, seis vezes por semana, durante dois anos. Avaliamos dados antropométricos, lípides séricos, glicemia, IGF-I e composição corpórea, no início e após 12 e 24 meses de tratamento com rhGH. RESULTADOS: Todos os pacientes tiveram elevação do IGF-I. Houve diminuição das pregas cutâneas, sendo que a média de perda de massa adiposa foi de 5,0 por cento e a massa magra aumentou em média 7,6 kg nos pré-púberes, e a paciente púbere ganhou 4,8 kg e teve um decréscimo de 5,6 por cento de massa adiposa. Houve ganho de massa óssea de 0,07 g/cm² (7,3 por cento) nos pré-púberes e de 0,02 g/cm² (2,0 por cento) na menina púbere. CONCLUSÃO: Em nosso estudo, o uso do hormônio de crescimento na Síndrome de Prader-Willi melhorou a composição corpórea e demonstrou aumento da massa muscular e massa óssea com melhora dos níveis lipídicos.

AIM: The focus of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profile of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) patients treated with growth hormone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients (four boys and three girls) with ages between six years and six months and 14 years and 11 months were treated with GH 0.1 U/kg/day subcutaneous by six times a week, for two years. Anthropometric data, lipids, glucose, IGF-I and body composition were evaluated at baseline and after 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: IGF-I levels increased in all cases. Skin folds decreased. The mean reduction in body fat was 5.0 percent and the mean increased in lean mass was 7.6 kg in the prepubertal patients. The pubescent girl increased 4.8 kg and showed a 5.6 percent decrease in fat mass. A mean gain in the bone mass was 0.07 g/cm² (7.3 percent) in prepubescent cases, and 0.02 g/cm² (2.0 percent) in the pubescent girl. CONCLUSION: In our study GH treatment improved lean body and bone masses and had beneficial effect on lipid values.

Genitália ambígua: diagnóstico diferencial e conduta / Ambiguous genitalia: differential diagnosis and management

As ambiguidades genitais têm-se constituído em uma verdadeira emergência pediátrica e a adequada avaliaçäo decada caso pode evitar que o paciente seja criado num sexo inadequado, com interferência importante na sua saúde bio-psico-social. Os autores fazem uma abordagem da fisiopatologia da determinaçäo gonadal, bem como dos mecanismos envolvidos na diferenciaçäo sexual e fornecem elementos para o diagnóstico diferencial e conduta terapêutica.