Response of luteinizing hormone secreting pituitary adenoma to a long-acting somatostatin analogue

A large pituitary tumour was discovered in a 20 year old man who came to medical attention because of grand-mal seizures. The tumour produced biologically active LH as demonstrated by supranormal plasma LH and plasma testosterone values. Free alpha-subunit values were also elevated. In contrast, plasma FSH was in the lower normal range. Transsphenoidal operation failed to remove all tumour tissue. Detailed studies were carried out in the postoperative period. TRH and GnRH administration were associated with a rise of plasma LH and alpha-subunit, whereas plasma FSH was low and unresponsive. Bromocriptine treatment was ineffective. In contrast, both during and after treatment with SMS 201-995 for 6 weeks, a decrease of basal plasma LH values was observed. Furthermore, the administration of a single dose of SMS 201-995 reproducibly induced a decrease of plasma LH lasting for a period of about 6 h. The study suggests that SMS 201-995 may be useful in the treatment of patients with gonadotrope cell adenomas.     

Neuropathy of the ulnar nerve caused by an aneurysm of the ulnar artery at the wrist. A case report and review of the literature

A case is reported of neuropathy of the ulnar nerve caused by an aneurysm of the ulnar artery at the wrist. A review of the literature is given.     

Bromocriptine-responsive Cushing's disease associated with anterior pituitary corticotroph hyperplasia or normal pituitary gland

Cushing's disease may originate from either the anterior pituitary lobe or the neurointermediate lobe, a major characteristic of the latter group being bromocriptine responsiveness. This study of two patients with Cushing's disease demonstrates that bromocriptine responsiveness also may be associated with anterior pituitary corticotroph hyperplasia or a normal pituitary gland. The two patients were a 14-yr-old boy (patient 1) and a 29-yr-old woman (patient 2); their cortisol production rates were 121 and 234 mumol/24 h (normal values, less than 80 mumol/24 h), respectively. A single oral dose of 2.5 mg bromocriptine resulted in a gradual decrease in plasma cortisol from 680 to 130 nmol/L after 6 h in patient 1 and from 640 to 170 nmol/L after 4 h in patient 2. Both patients then received medical treatment for a period of 2 yr. Whereas sodium valproate was ineffective, bromocriptine (5 mg/day) abruptly decreased the cortisol production rate to 60 mumol/24 h in patient 1 and to 138 mumol/24 h in patient 2, and both patients had a partial clinical remission. Despite an increase in bromocriptine dosage to 30 mg daily and 24 mg/day cyproheptadine, the clinical and biochemical remission was not sustained in patient 1, and no further improvement occurred in patient 2. Total hypophysectomy then was performed in both patients. Sections of the pituitary from patient 1 showed diffuse anterior pituitary corticotroph hyperplasia, with early nodule formation in some areas. The sections from patient 2 showed normal numbers and distribution of corticotrophs. We conclude that the heterogeneous nature of Cushing's disease cannot be explained on the basis simply of anterior vs. intermediate lobe origin of the disease.     

Primary treatment of macroprolactinomas with Parlodel LAR

Five patients, 3 women and 2 men, with macroprolactinomas characterized by extrasellar extension and basal plasma prolactin levels ranging from 4.6 to 102 U/l received six monthly injections of 50-100 mg Parlodel LAR, an injectable long-acting repeatable form of bromocriptine. The following observations were made: 1. Plasma prolactin levels fell dramatically in all patients and values in the normal range were obtained in 3 patients. 2. In all patients, the onset of tumour reduction was visible on CT scans made one week after the first Parlodel LAR injection. After six Parlodel LAR injections, tumour size was reduced by more than 75% in 3 patients and by 50-75% in two patients. 3. Diminished visual acuity (one patient), bitemporal hemianopia (2 patients), and oculomotor and trochlear nerve dysfunction (one patient) were restored to normal after the first Parlodel LAR injection. 4. Hypogonadism normalized in 2 patients and improved in one patient, whereas plasma gonadotropins remained low in the 2 postmenopausal women. In one patient with hypothyroidism and hypocorticism, thyroid and adrenal functions normalized. It is concluded that bromocriptine retard (50-100 mg monthly) is a useful alternative for oral treatment of patients with prolactinomas, especially in those patients with compliance problems on oral bromocriptine therapy.     

Genome-wide microRNA analysis of HPV-positive self-samples yields novel triage markers for early detection of cervical cancer

Offering self-sampling for HPV testing improves the effectiveness of current cervical screening programs by increasing population coverage. Molecular markers directly applicable on self-samples are needed to stratify HPV-positive women at risk of cervical cancer (so-called triage) and to avoid over-referral and overtreatment. Deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the development of cervical cancer, and represent potential triage markers. However, it is unknown whether deregulated miRNA expression is reflected in self-samples. Our study is the first to establish genome-wide miRNA profiles in HPV-positive self-samples to identify miRNAs that can predict the presence of CIN3 and cervical cancer in self-samples. Small RNA sequencing (sRNA-Seq) was conducted to determine genome-wide miRNA expression profiles in 74 HPV-positive self-samples of women with and without cervical precancer (CIN3). The optimal miRNA marker panel for CIN3 detection was determined by GRridge, a penalized method on logistic regression. Six miRNAs were validated by qPCR in 191 independent HPV-positive self-samples. Classification of sRNA-Seq data yielded a 9-miRNA marker panel with a combined area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 for CIN3 detection. Validation by qPCR resulted in a combined AUC of 0.78 for CIN3+ detection. Our study shows that deregulated miRNA expression associated with CIN3 and cervical cancer development can be detected by sRNA-Seq in HPV-positive self-samples. Validation by qPCR indicates that miRNA expression analysis offers a promising novel molecular triage strategy for CIN3 and cervical cancer detection applicable to self-samples.     

Treatment of macroprolactinomas with a new non-ergot, long-acting dopaminergic drug, CV 205-502

Eleven patients with prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas were treated with the new non-ergot, long-acting dopamine agonist, CV 205-502, for a period of 2-18 months (mean 11 months). Tumour volumes ranged from 1.9 to 64 ml in seven patients who were newly diagnosed, and from 0.1 to 3.1 ml in four patients who had been treated for macroprolactinomas by oral bromocriptine or depot bromocriptine (Parlodel LAR). Plasma prolactin values ranged from 3.5 to 360 U/l before institution of CV 205-502 treatment in these 11 patients. The following observations were made: (1) plasma prolactin values fell dramatically in all patients, and values within the normal range were obtained in five patients at once-daily doses of CV 205-502 between 0.075 and 0.300 mg; (2) tumour size reduction was obtained in all patients with macroadenomas on pretreatment CT scans. Tumour reduction was associated with the development of a partial empty sella in five patients, and with visualization of the pituitary in six cases; (3) bitemporal hemianopia (five patients) disappeared in four patients and improved in one patient. Oculomotor palsy receded in one patient; (4) signs of anterior pituitary insufficiency improved or normalized in most cases affected; (5) mild nausea or dizziness during the first days of CV 205-502 treatment and/or during several days after a dose increase were observed in three patients. We conclude that CV 205-502 in a once daily dose is an effective and safe alternative in the long-term treatment of macroprolactinomas.     

A qualitative study exploring the experiences of parents of children admitted to seven Dutch pediatric intensive care units

Purpose  

To explore parents' experiences during the admission of their children to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).     

Construction and psychometric testing of the EMPATHIC questionnaire measuring parent satisfaction in the pediatric intensive care unit

Purpose

To construct and test the reliability and validity of the EMpowerment of PArents in THe Intensive Care (EMPATHIC) questionnaire measuring parent satisfaction in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods

Structured development and psychometric testing of a parent satisfaction-with-care instrument with the results of two cohorts of parents (n?=?2,046) from eight PICUs in the Netherlands.

Results

In the first cohort, 667/1,055 (63%) parents participated followed by 551/991 (56%) parents in the second cohort. The empirical structure of the instrument was established by confirmatory factor analysis with the first sample of parents confirming 65 statements within five theoretically conceptualized domains: information, care and cure, organization, parental participation, and professional attitude. The standardized factor loadings were greater than 0.40 in 63 statements. Cronbach??s ??, a measure of reliability, per domain ranged from 0.73 to 0.93 in both cohorts with no significant difference documenting the reliability over time. Beside rigorous content and face validity, the congruent validity of the instrument showed adequate correlation with four gold standard questions measuring overall satisfaction. The non-differential validity was confirmed with no significant differences between the population characteristics and the domains, except that parents with a child for a surgical admission were more satisfied on information issues.

Conclusions

The final EMPATHIC questionnaire incorporates 65 statements. The empirical structure of the satisfaction statements and domains was satisfactory. The reliability and validity proved to be adequate. The EMPATHIC questionnaire is a valid quality performance indicator to measure quality of care as perceived by parents.