Short-term foot complications in Charcot neuroarthropathy: A retrospective study in tertiary care centres in Spain / Complicaciones a corto plazo en el pie en la neuroartropatía de Charcot: estudio retrospectivo en centros de atención terciaria en España

Objectives: To assess the clinical characteristics of patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) in Spain and to identify predictors for CN-related complications. Patients and methods: A retrospective study was conducted at five tertiary hospitals with diabetic foot care units in Spain. Data were collected from 83 patients, including demographic profiles, foot factors, diabetes characteristics, and presence of microvascular and macrovascular comorbidity, and a podiatric examination was also performed. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine significant predictors of the predefined clinical events. Results: Signs of diabetic neuropathy were found in almost all patients (98.9%) at the initial assessment, approximately half of them had diabetic retinopathy or nephropathy (61.5% and 51.8%, respectively), and peripheral artery disease was uncommon (8.6%). Thirty-eight patients (47.5%) experienced one or more relevant clinical events: 22 (27.5%) a new foot ulcer; 7 (8.7%) a major amputation; 20 (25%) were admitted to hospital; and 4 (5%) died. Only the presence of diabetic nephropathy was independently associated to development of any of the complications studied (p = 0.009; odds ratio = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.12-10.1). Conclusions: Almost half the patients with CN attending specialised foot care units in tertiary hospitals experienced short-term CN-associated complications, and the risk was 3 times higher in those with a history of diabetic nephropathy

Objetivos: Determinar las características clínicas de pacientes con neuroartropatía de Charcot (NC) en España e identificar predictores de complicaciones relacionadas. Materiales y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo llevado a cabo en 5 hospitales terciarios de España con unidad de pie diabético. Se recopilaron datos de 83 pacientes incluyendo perfil demográfico, datos provenientes de la exploración podológica, características de la diabetes y presencia de comorbilidad micro y macro vascular. Para determinar los predictores significativos de acontecimientos clínicos predefinidos se utilizaron análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: Casi todos los pacientes (98,9%) tenían signos de neuropatía diabética en la evaluación inicial, aproximadamente la mitad tenían retinopatía o nefropatía diabética (61,5 y 51,8%, respectivamente) y la enfermedad arterial periférica era infrecuente (8,6%). Treinta y ocho pacientes (47,5%) experimentaron uno o más acontecimientos clínicos relevantes: 22 (27,5%) una nueva úlcera en el pie, 7 (8,7%) una amputación mayor, 20 (25%) fueron hospitalizados y 4 (5%) murieron. Solamente la presencia de nefropatía diabética se encontró independientemente asociada al desarrollo de alguna de las complicaciones estudiadas (p = 0,009; odds ratio = 3,37; 95% CI: 1,12-10,1). Conclusiones: Casi la mitad de los pacientes con NC atendidos en unidades de cuidado del pie diabético en hospitales terciarios experimentaron complicaciones asociadas a NC a corto plazo, y el riesgo entre aquellos sujetos con historia de úlcera previa era 3 veces mayor

Short-term foot complications in Charcot neuroarthropathy: A retrospective study in tertiary care centres in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical characteristics of patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) in Spain and to identify predictors for CN-related complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at five tertiary hospitals with diabetic foot care units in Spain. Data were collected from 83 patients, including demographic profiles, foot factors, diabetes characteristics, and presence of microvascular and macrovascular comorbidity, and a podiatric examination was also performed. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine significant predictors of the predefined clinical events. RESULTS: Signs of diabetic neuropathy were found in almost all patients (98.9%) at the initial assessment, approximately half of them had diabetic retinopathy or nephropathy (61.5% and 51.8%, respectively), and peripheral artery disease was uncommon (8.6%). Thirty-eight patients (47.5%) experienced one or more relevant clinical events: 22 (27.5%) a new foot ulcer; 7 (8.7%) a major amputation; 20 (25%) were admitted to hospital; and 4 (5%) died. Only the presence of diabetic nephropathy was independently associated to development of any of the complications studied (p = 0.009; odds ratio = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.12-10.1). CONCLUSIONS: Almost half the patients with CN attending specialised foot care units in tertiary hospitals experienced short-term CN-associated complications, and the risk was 3 times higher in those with a history of diabetic nephropathy.

Estudio descriptivo de las características del cáncer diferenciado de tiroides en Cataluña en el periodo 1998-2012. Registro CECaT / A descriptive study of the characteristics of differentiated thyroid cancer in Catalonia during the period 1998-2012. The CECaT registry

INTRODUCCIÓN: Recientemente, se ha constituido en Cataluña el Consorcio para el Estudio de Cáncer de Tiroides (CECaT). Se trata de una plataforma que reúne 20 hospitales y un instituto de investigación de la comunidad. Una de sus iniciativas ha sido la realización de un estudio retrospectivo de las características de pacientes tratados de cáncer diferenciado de tiroides (CDT). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron 1.855 pacientes de 11 hospitales tratados en el periodo (1998-2012). RESULTADOS: Del total, 1.470 (79,2%) eran mujeres. La edad media al diagnóstico fue de 47,7 (15,7) años, siendo significativamente mayor en los varones que en las mujeres, 49,3 (15) versus 47,3 (15,8); p = 0,02. El 88,9% eran carcinomas papilares. El tamaño del tumor fue de 21,5 (16) mm, siendo significativamente menor en las mujeres que en los hombres, 20,1 (14,5) mm y 26,6 (20,3) mm, respectivamente (p < 0,001). Tras un seguimiento de 5,5 (3,8) años, se disponía de la situación final en 1.355 pacientes. De ellos, 1.065 (78,6%) se encontraban libres de enfermedad, 239 (17,6%) mantenían enfermedad activa y 51 (3,8%) habían fallecido. El riesgo de no estar libre de enfermedad se relacionaba de forma significativa con: mayor edad al diagnóstico, sexo masculino, mayor tamaño del tumor, metástasis linfáticas iniciales, ausencia de signos de tiroiditis en el resto de la glándula, y presencia de invasión vascular y/o extraglandular del tumor. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran que las características del CDT de la cohorte son similares a las descritas en otros ámbitos geográficos

INTRODUCTION: The consortium for the study of thyroid cancer (CECaT), including 20 hospitals and one research institute, was recently created in Catalonia (Spain). One of the first initiatives of the group was to perform a descriptive analysis of the characteristics of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cohort included 1,855 patients from 11 hospitals treated over a period of 15 years (1998-2012). RESULTS: In this series, 1.470 (79.2%) patients were women. Mean age was 47.7 (15.7) years old. Age was significantly higher in male than in female patients, 49.3 (15) versus 47.3 (15.8); p = 0.02. Papillary thyroid carcinoma accounted for 88.9% of cases. Mean tumor size was 21.5 (16) mm, and was significantly lower in females than in males, 20.1 (14.5) mm and 26.6 (20.3) mm respectively (p < 0.001). After a follow-up period of 5.5 (3.7) years, information was available for 1,355 patient, of whom 1065 (78.6%) were free of disease, 239 (17.6%) had no tumor persistence, and 51 (3.8) % had died. The risk of persistent or recurrent disease was significantly associated to older age at diagnosis, male gender, larger tumor size, lymph node metastases at surgery, no signs of thyroiditis in the remaining thyroid tissue, and presence of vascular and/or extraglandular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics analyzed are similar to those reported in other parts of the world

A descriptive study of the characteristics of differentiated thyroid cancer in Catalonia during the period 1998-2012. The CECaT registry.

INTRODUCTION: The consortium for the study of thyroid cancer (CECaT), including 20 hospitals and one research institute, was recently created in Catalonia (Spain). One of the first initiatives of the group was to perform a descriptive analysis of the characteristics of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cohort included 1,855 patients from 11 hospitals treated over a period of 15 years (1998-2012). RESULTS: In this series, 1.470 (79.2%) patients were women. Mean age was 47.7 (15.7) years old. Age was significantly higher in male than in female patients, 49.3 (15) versus 47.3 (15.8); p=0.02. Papillary thyroid carcinoma accounted for 88.9% of cases. Mean tumor size was 21.5 (16) mm, and was significantly lower in females than in males, 20.1 (14.5) mm and 26.6 (20.3) mm respectively (p<0.001). After a follow-up period of 5.5 (3.7) years, information was available for 1,355 patient, of whom 1065 (78.6%) were free of disease, 239 (17.6%) had no tumor persistence, and 51 (3.8) % had died. The risk of persistent or recurrent disease was significantly associated to older age at diagnosis, male gender, larger tumor size, lymph node metastases at surgery, no signs of thyroiditis in the remaining thyroid tissue, and presence of vascular and/or extraglandular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics analyzed are similar to those reported in other parts of the world.

DNA methylation profiling of well-differentiated thyroid cancer uncovers markers of recurrence free survival.

Thyroid cancer is a heterogeneous disease with several subtypes characterized by cytological, histological and genetic alterations, but the involvement of epigenetics is not well understood. Here, we investigated the role of aberrant DNA methylation in the development of well-differentiated thyroid tumors. We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in the largest well-differentiated thyroid tumor series reported to date, comprising 83 primary tumors as well as 8 samples of adjacent normal tissue. The epigenetic profiles were closely related to not only tumor histology but also the underlying driver mutation; we found that follicular tumors had higher levels of methylation, which seemed to accumulate in a progressive manner along the tumorigenic process from adenomas to carcinomas. Furthermore, tumors harboring a BRAF or RAS mutation had a larger number of hypo- or hypermethylation events, respectively. The aberrant methylation of several candidate genes potentially related to thyroid carcinogenesis was validated in an independent series of 52 samples. Furthermore, through the integration of methylation and transcriptional expression data, we identified genes whose expression is associated with the methylation status of their promoters. Finally, by integrating clinical follow-up information with methylation levels we propose etoposide-induced 2.4 and Wilms tumor 1 as novel prognostic markers related to recurrence-free survival. This comprehensive study provides insights into the role of DNA methylation in well-differentiated thyroid cancer development and identifies novel markers associated with recurrence-free survival.

Low prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients with type 1 diabetes in a European Mediterranean population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of early carotid and coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients with type 1 diabetes with no history of ischemic heart disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients with type 1 diabetes (58% males; 38.6 ± 8.1 years, 20.4 ± 8.1 years of evolution; HbA1c 8.1 ± 2.3%; 52% nonsmokers; 26% retinopathy; 9% microalbuminuria) and 50 nondiabetic control subjects age and sex matched were studied. Carotid ultrasonography to determine common carotid artery intima-media thickness (c-IMT) and the presence of atheroma plaques and cardiac computed tomography for calcium analysis and quantification (coronary artery calcium score [CACS]) were performed. RESULTS: Most patients with type 1 diabetes and control subjects displayed a CACS of 0 (82 vs. 92%). Patients with type 1 diabetes with CACS ≥1 were older and had higher HbA1c (44.5 ± 5.1 vs. 36.7 ± 8.1 years [P < 0.001] and 8.5 ± 1.1 vs. 7.8 ± 1.0% [P < 0.003], respectively) and longer evolution of diabetes (25.4 ± 9.2 vs. 19.3 ± 7.4 years, P < 0.005) and mean c-IMT (0.67 ± 0.18 vs. 0.53 ± 0.11 mm, P < 0.001) compared with patients with CACS of 0. Smoking (P < 0.02), nephropathy (P < 0.05), retinopathy (P < 0.05), and male sex (P < 0.03) were significantly and positively associated with CACS ≥1. Mean c-IMT was significantly higher in patients with type 1 diabetes (0.55 ± 0.14 vs. 0.48 ± 0.14 mm, P < 0.01), and 11% of them presented atheroma plaques (8% of control subjects). Multivariant logistic regression analysis showed that c-IMT was related to CACS (ß = 6.87, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A small percentage of patients with type 1 diabetes showed data suggestive of subclinical atherosclerosis. Universal screening of coronary disease in this population is not justified. Carotid ultrasonography may be useful for screening in the subset of patients with cardiovascular risk factors and long disease evolution.