Thyroid nodules in Hispanic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A thyroid nodule (TN) is a discrete lesion in the thyroid gland radiologically distinct from the adjacent parenchyma, with a prevalence variable depending on the diagnostic method used and the study population. Thyroid disorders have been identified in more than 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, the prevalence of TN has not been frequently studied. We identified a prevalence of 27% TN in 55 SLE patients > 16 years of age. One-third of TN were >1 cm with radiological features of malignancy. The mean age of patients with TN was 39 ± 11 years, 93% women, and SLE duration 10 ± 6 years. Among patients, we reported family history of cancer in three cases (20%), thyroid disease in one (7%), and autoimmune disease in six (40%). Regarding treatment, 50% of patients with TN were treated with azathioprine vs. 23% of patients without TN (p = 0.02), with an OR of 3.94 (95% CI 1.12-13.84, p = 0.03). As a conclusion a high prevalence of TN in SLE patients was found. Prevalence of TN correlated only with history of azathioprine use. We don't know the long-term implications of our findings; however, a functional and morphological evaluation of the thyroid gland is warranted in all patients with SLE.

The effect of vertical sleeve gastrectomy on food choice in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Diets high in fat are implicated in the development and maintenance of obesity, and obese individuals display greater preferences for high-fat foods than do their lean counterparts. Weight-reduction bariatric surgery is associated with changes in food choice. In particular, after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), humans and rodents select or prefer foods that are lower in fat content. We asked whether a bariatric surgical procedure limited to the stomach, vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), causes a similar reduction of fat intake/preference. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Rats received VSG or Sham surgery or remained surgically naïve, and were assessed for food preference using three diet-choice paradigms. Using progressive-ratio (PR) and conditioned taste aversion paradigms, we further asked whether surgically induced changes in food choice are secondary to changes in the reward value of food and/or to the formation of a food aversion. Finally, food choice was compared between VSG- and RYGB-operated rats. RESULTS: VSG rats decreased their intake of dietary fat, and shifted their preference toward lower caloric-density foods. This change in food choice was not associated with changes in motivated responding on a PR schedule for either a fat or a carbohydrate food reinforcer. When VSG and RYGB were compared directly, both procedures caused comparable changes in food choice. The conditioned taste aversion paradigm revealed that VSG rats form an aversion to an intra-gastric oil administration whereas RYGB rats do not. CONCLUSIONS: VSG and RYGB, two anatomically distinct bariatric procedures, produce similar changes in food choice.

[Metoclopramide as a risk factor for postprandial hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes]. / Metoclopramida, factor de riesgo para hiperglucemia postprandial en diabetes tipo 2.

UNLABELLED: Diabetes mellitus is a pathology that has widely spread througout the world in the past decades. Postprandial hyperglycemia plays an important role in the progress of the disease due to the fact that increases the risk for cardiovascular events. This study's aim was to determine if the use of intravenous metoclopramide in patients with Diabetes Mellitus increases the postprandial glycemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort of patients hospitalized with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients were classified as exposed (metoclopramide 10 mg IV) and not exposed, and glycemia preprandial and postprandial at 30, 60 and 120 minutes was measured. RESULTS: There were 80 patients in each group, and in both groups the general characteristics were homogeneous. The postprandial glycemia in the exposed group was higher at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes, being only statistically significant at 120 minutes postprandial (p = < 0,001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the use of intravenous metoclopramide is a risk factor to develop postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic patients.

[Weight estimation in Mexican elderly outpatients from antropometric measures from the SABE Study]. / Estimación del peso en adultos mayores a partir de medidas antropométricas del Estudio SABE.

INTRODUCTION: The weight is an anthropometric parameter routinely used in ambulatory and hospital settings, and takes its importance, because often there are clinical conditions that impede it´s taking in a traditional scale. There are equations to estimate weight. However, they have not been designed for Mexican ambulatory patients. OBJECTIVE: To develop an equation to estimate weight in Mexican ambulatory patients from the Study of Health, Well Being and Aging, corresponding to Mexico city an surrounded area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The database of the Study of Health, Well Being and Aging of Mexico City was used, and adults of 60 years and older, who completed the anthropometric measures were included. Two groups of datasets were crated though random numbers, one for the design and the other for the validation of the equation. The equation was obtained from the first database and cross-validated in the second. RESULTS: The equations obtained were: (0.67)* (Knee height)+(0.46)* (Mid-arm circumference)+(0.60)* (waist circumference)+(0.38)* (hip circumference)+(0.53)* (calf circumference)-(0.17)* (Age in years)-80.01 and (0.69)* (Knee height)+(0.61)* (Mid-arm circumference)+(0.17)* (waist circumference)+(0.45)* (hip circumference)+(0.58)* (calf circumference)-(0.24)* (Age in years)-55.9 in men and women respectively. The correlation coefficients were 0.94 y 0.92 (p<0.001 for both). The differences between the real and estimated values were not significant. CONCLUSION: The equations developed in our analysis were confident and can be employed to estimate weight in ambulatory elderly. It is needed to test its validity in clinical scenarios were it is not possible to weight patients directly in the rest of the Mexican republic and adjust to specific populations.

[Risk factors for abnormal liver function tests of parenteral nutrition in a referral hospital in Mexico]. / Factores de riesgo para las anormalidades de enzimas hepáticas de la nutrición parenteral en un hospital de referencia de México.

INTRODUCTION: the abnormalities in liver function tests (LFTs) and liver complications (LC) from parenteral nutrition (PN) are common and usually multifactorial. These factors have not yet been assessed in the adult Mexican population. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the dose prescribed > 1 g/kg is a risk factor for the abnormalities in liver function tests (LFTs) from PN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cohort study including patients older than 15 years and excluding those managed at the intensive car unit or with abnormalities in liver enzymes before the start of PN. The exposed and non-exposed groups were those receiving > 1 g of lipids per kg of body weight or < 1 g/kg, respectively. LFTs were defined as an increase higher than 50% of the normal range for AST, ALT, AF or total bilirrubin. RESULTS: the incidence of LFTs abnormalities was 20 (47.6%) and 15 (41.6%) in the exposed and non-exposed groups, respectively (RR 1.14 95% IC: 0.69-1.88; p = 0.59). The most frequent liver damage pattern was cholestatic, followed by the mixed pattern and then hepatocellular. The dose of prescribed lipids > 1 g/kg was not associated with the development of LC from LFTs abnormalities. The higher the dose of proteins the lower the frequency of LFTs abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The dose of lipids prescribed >1 g/kg was not associated with the development of LFTs abnormalities from PN in our sample population. These findings should be confirmed in clinical trials.

Effects of pentoxifylline on the urinary protein excretion profile of type 2 diabetic patients with microproteinuria: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of pentoxifylline on the urinary protein excretion profile in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: 40 type 2 nonhypertensive diabetic patients were randomly allocated to receive either pentoxifylline 400 mg t.i.d. or placebo daily for 16 weeks. Eligible subjects were those with urinary albumin excretion between 20 and 200 microg/min. Subjects receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium antagonists, and diuretics as well as those with reduced renal function, pregnancy, urinary tract infection, and smoking were not included. A 6-month pretreatment stabilization phase aimed to reduce and stabilize fasting serum glucose levels was carried out. Urinary proteins were identified by electrophoresis, and immunodetection was identified by Western blot. Electrophoretic analysis was performed using molecular weight markers of 150, 132, 77, and 66 kDa to identify high-weight proteins, and 54, 41, 36, 27, 21, 14.3, and 12 kDa to identify low-weight proteins. RESULTS: At baseline, subjects in both groups who showed a glomerular tubular pattern did not differ in their urinary excretion profile. The urinary proteins identified were immunoglobulin G, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, and albumin (glomerular pattern) as well as alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, collagenase inhibitor, alpha1-microglobulin, trypsin inhibitor, lysozyme, and beta2-microglobulin (tubular pattern). Subjects who received pentoxifylline had reduced urinary excretion of high- and low-molecular weight proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary protein excretion in type 2 diabetic subjects shows a mixed, glomerular and tubular, pattern. Pentoxifylline reduces the excretion of both high and low molecular-weight urinary proteins.

Chondroptosis: an immunohistochemical study of apoptosis and Golgi complex in chondrocytes from human osteoarthritic cartilage.

The Golgi complex is thought to play an important role in the apoptotic process of osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes. However, the exact relationship between modifications of the Golgi complex and apoptosis in human OA cartilage requires to be established. We compared the patterns and immunolabeling intensities for anti-Golgi 58 K protein with apoptosis markers such as TUNEL and caspase-2L in OA cartilage removed from patients during knee total replacement surgery. We observed important modifications in labeling of the Golgi 58 K protein in OA chondrocytes compared with normal cell. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed co-localization between 58 K protein and caspase-2L, suggesting that this enzyme was localized in Golgi complex of OA chondrocytes. In addition, these cells labeled positive with the TUNEL technique, but in different proportions to caspase-2L. Our results support the concept, previously reported, that apoptosis in OA cartilage (chondroptosis) might be a variant of the classical apoptosis.

Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Although hypomagnesemia reduces insulin sensitivity, benefits of magnesium supplementation to non-diabetic insulin resistant subjects has not been established. Our purpose was to determine whether oral magnesium supplementation with magnesium chloride (MgCl2) 2.5 g daily modify insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was a 3 months randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Apparently healthy subjects were eligible to participate if they had insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index equal or greater than 3.0) and hypomagnesemia (Serum magnesium levels equal or lower than 0.74 mmol/l). Subjects were randomized to receive either, MgCl2 2.5 g daily or placebo by 3-months. RESULTS: At baseline there were not significant anthropometric or laboratory differences between both groups. At ending of the study, magnesium-supplemented subjects significantly increased their serum magnesium levels (0.61 +/- 0.08 to 0.81 +/- 0.08 mmol/l, p<0.0001) and reduced HOMA-IR index (4.6 +/- 2.8 to 2.6 +/- 1.1, p<0.0001), whereas control subjects did not (0.62 +/- 0.08 to 0.61 +/- 0.08 mmol/l, p=0.063 and 5.2 +/- 1.9 to 5.3 +/- 2.9, p=0.087). CONCLUSIONS: Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in hypomagnesemic non-diabetic subjects. Clinical implications of this finding have to be established.

A means to an end: an overview of a hyperlipidemia outcomes management program.

Quality management and improvement are increasingly important to managed care organizations (MCOs) as competition increases. One key area on which quality improvement programs can focus is MCO activity in helping patients remain healthy. Screening for and treatment of hyperlipidemia are important components of the preventive care of patients who are at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). This article summarizes the methodology of a three-phase hyperlipidemia outcomes management program being implemented by 27 US health plans. Phase 1 identifies inefficiencies in the clinical management of hyperlipidemia by assessing patients' attainment rates of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. This information is then used to develop a multifactorial intervention program for CHD prevention in phase 2. The interventions for physicians include provision of treatment algorithms for patients with varying degrees of hyperlipidemia, education programs encouraging appropriate treatment of hyperlipidemia, and academic detailing summarizing phase 1 results and providing applicable literature. In phase 3, patient records are reassessed at least 6 months after the educational intervention. This three-phase program has the potential to improve patient care, reduce unnecessary treatment costs, provide a means of quality improvement, and increase plan value to potential purchasers.

[A case of Cushing's syndrome caused by primary pigmentary nodular hyperplasia]. / Un caso de síndrome de Cushing por hiperplasia nodular pigmentaria primaria.

Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome in children and young adults. It is characterized by hypercorticolism resistant to dexamethasone suppression and at microscopic examination by multiple small black cortical nodules containing large cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and lipofuscin with internodular cortical atrophy. Its pathogenesis is unknown. Bilateral adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice. We report a case of Cushing's syndrome due to primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease in a 32 year old female and review the literature.

[Prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia in non-insulin dependent diabetes]. / Prevalencia de isquemia miocárdica silente en diabetes no insulinodependiente.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus with no symptoms of cardiac disease. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: 60 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; mean age 58 +/- 12 years, who had no symptoms of angina or any other clinical evidence of coronary artery disease and normal resting electrocardiogram. A control group of 57 healthy volunteers, matched for age and sex were included. MEASUREMENTS: All patients underwent a 24 hour electrocardiographic Holter monitoring test. An ischemic episode was defined as depression of the ST segment > or = 1 mm for > or = 1 min. RESULTS: 10 of the 60 diabetic (17%) were found to have silent myocardial ischemia and only 3/57 (5%) was detected in the controls. In a two years follow up, four diabetics developed symptomatic angina pectoris. CONCLUSIONS: Silent myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic diabetics occurs frequently; a lack of symptoms does not discard a myocardial ischemia, and the Holter recordings may help in its detection.

Purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of profilin from Phaseolus vulgaris.

Profilin from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was purified to homogeneity by poly-L-Pro affinity chromatography and gel filtration. The hypocotyl and symbiotic root nodule protein was detected as a single isoform with a 14.4-kD molecular mass and an isoelectric point of 5.3. Partial amino acid and DNA sequencing of a full-length cDNA clone confirmed its identity as profilin. An antibody generated against the purified protein binds to a protein with the same molecular mass in leaves and nodules. Immunolocalization of the protein showed a diffuse distribution in the cytoplasm of hypocotyls and nodules but enhanced staining at the vascular bundles. The strong identity of the sequence among the profilins of birch, maize, and bean suggests that it may play an important role in the signal transduction mechanism of plant cells and plant-bacterial symbioses.

[Experience with a screening program for gestational diabetes]. / Experiencia con un programa de escrutinio de diabetes gestacional.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of gestational diabetes (GD) in an outpatient clinic in northeastern Mexico. PATIENTS: 732 consecutive pregnant women referred for prenatal care during a two-year period. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME MEASURE: A 100 g glucose tolerance test was performed in the patients with sampling at 1, 2 and 3 hours postchallenge. The patients were classified according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association as normal, abnormal, and a third category of those showing a single abnormal value in the tolerance test. RESULTS: Six percent of the women (44/732) had GD and 1.4% (10/732) had one abnormal value. A comparison group was made with a subset of 44 of the 678 women who showed a normal tolerance test. No group differences were seen in parity, and age, nor in body weight gain or changes in body mass index, the latter measured in the initial and final weeks of pregnancy. Significant differences versus the normal women were seen in the GD group for cesarean births (43% vs 30%) and in macrosomy (25% vs 7%). The group with one abnormal test showed high values in cesareans (50%) and macrosomy (10%) but did not reach significant difference with the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: GD was higher in our study than in the only paper on GD prevalence reported in Mexico (3.9%). The higher incidence of cesareans and macrosomy in GD makes it necessary to consider therapeutic interventions in these cases.

[C-peptide measurement in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: its possible use in the insulin therapy decision]. / La medición del péptido C en los pacientes con diabetes mellitus (DM) Tipo II: su posible utilidad en la decisión de terapia insulínica.

Considering pancreatic reserve recognition a more rational basis for starting insulin therapy in NIDDM, during 1988 we studied fasting and post-breakfast plasma C-peptide levels in 31 patients (21 w, 10 m, mean age 48.2 +/- 17.7 yr), referred to our department for insulin therapy evaluation because of primary or secondary failure to other measures. Major features were obesity and chronically uncontrolled illness. Our patients were categorized as follows: group A, considered non responders which included four patients; group B, taken as responders consisting in seven; and a remaining of 20 hyperresponsive patients which formed group C; these with patients of group B, embodied an 87.1% of patients. Among nonresponders there was no any case of total B cell loss of function, and plasma C-peptide activity surpassed through those limits considered for ketoacidosis. We believe that these patients should be eligible candidates for insulin therapy. We failed to found out correlation of plasma C-peptide activity with either age or duration of illness. Our observation supports that fasting plasma C-peptide evaluation would suffice for pancreatic reserve evaluation. We conclude that our patients mainly presented an insulin resistant state associated with obesity thus enhancing the commonplace call for reinforcing nonpharmacologic treatment modalities such as caloric restriction, weight loss and exertion to achieve a better control in NIDDM patients.