Comorbidities Drive the Majority of Overall Mortality in Low-Risk Mucinous Pancreatic Cysts Under Surveillance

Background & AimsThe Charlson Comorbidity Index (CACI) has been suggested as a tool to determine comorbidity burden and guide management for patients with mucinous pancreatic cysts (Intrapapillary Mucinous Neoplasms and Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms), but has not been studied well among “low-risk” mucinous pancreatic cysts i.e. without worrisome features (WF) and high-risk stigmata (HRS). This study sought to determine the comorbidity burden among surveillance population of low-risk pancreatic cysts and provide their follow-up mortality outcomes.MethodsA single center study retrospectively reviewed a prospective pancreatic cyst database and included individuals with low-risk cysts undergoing serial imaging during 2016. Electronic medical records were reviewed to determine their baseline age-adjusted CACI (age-CACI). After 4 years, their progression to WF, disease specific (pancreatic malignancy-related, DSM), extra-pancreatic (EPM), and overall mortalities (OM) were determined using Kaplan-Meir Survival Analysis.Results502 individuals underwent prospective surveillance. The study included 440 individuals with low-risk suspected or presumed mucinous cysts and excluded 50 and 12 individuals with WF and HRS respectively. Over a median follow-up of 56 months, 12 WF progressions, 2 DSMs, 42 EPMs, and 44 OMs were observed. Baseline age-CACI had good predictive capacity for 4-year EPM (Area-Under Curve: 0.87; p< .0001). The median age-CACI of 4 enabled cohort stratification into Low (age-CACI <4) and High CACI (age-CACI ≥4) groups. A significantly higher OM (p< .001) was observed among the High CACI group as compared to the Low CACI group.ConclusionThrough real-time application of CACI to patient outcomes, our analysis supports incorporation of this comorbidity assessment tool in making shared surveillance decisions among low-risk pancreatic cyst population.     

SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus on the management of thyroid nodules: Synthesis and algorithms

The SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus deals with the management of thyroid nodules, a condition that is a frequent reason for consultation in endocrinology. In more than 90% of cases, patients are euthyroid with benign and non-progressive nodules that do not warrant specific treatment. The clinician's objective is to detect malignant thyroid nodules at risk of recurrence and death, toxic nodules responsible for hyperthyroidism or compressive nodules warranting treatment. The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules requires close collaboration between endocrinologists, nuclear medicine physicians and surgeons but also involves other specialists. Therefore, this consensus statement was established jointly by 3 societies, the French Society of Endocrinology (SFE), the French Association of Endocrine Surgery (AFCE) and the French Society of Nuclear Medicine (SFMN); the various working groups included experts from other specialties (pathologists, radiologists, pediatricians, biologists, etc.). This specific text is a summary chapter taking up the recommendations from specific sections and presenting algorithms for the exploration and management of thyroid nodules.     

SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus on the management of thyroid nodules: Epidemiology and challenges in the management of thyroid nodules

The SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus deals with the management of thyroid nodules, a condition that is a frequent reason for consultation in endocrinology. In more than 90% of cases, patients are euthyroid, with benign non-progressive nodules that do not warrant specific treatment. The clinician's objective is to detect malignant thyroid nodules at risk of recurrence and death, toxic nodules responsible for hyperthyroidism or compressive nodules warranting treatment.The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules requires close collaboration between endocrinologists, nuclear medicine physicians and surgeons, but also involves other specialists. Therefore, this consensus statement was established jointly by 3 societies: the French Society of Endocrinology (SFE), French Association of Endocrine Surgery (AFCE) and French Society of Nuclear Medicine (SFMN); the various working groups included experts from other specialties (pathologists, radiologists, pediatricians, biologists, etc.). This section deals with epidemiology and challenges in the management of thyroid nodules.     

Documento de consenso de poliquistosis renal autosómica dominante del grupo de trabajo de enfermedades hereditarias de la Sociedad Española de Nefrología. Revisión 2020

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most frequent cause of genetic renal disease and accounts for 6–10% of patients on kidney replacement therapy (KRT).Very few prospective, randomized trials or clinical studies address the diagnosis and management of this relatively frequent disorder. No clinical guidelines are available to date. This is a revised consensus statement from the previous 2014 version, presenting the recommendations of the Spanish Working Group on Inherited Kidney Diseases, which were agreed to following a literature search and discussions. Levels of evidence mostly are C and D according to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (University of Oxford). The recommendations relate to, among other topics, the use of imaging and genetic diagnosis, management of hypertension, pain, cyst infections and bleeding, extra-renal involvement including polycystic liver disease and cranial aneurysms, management of chronic kidney disease and KRT and management of children with ADPKD. Recommendations on specific ADPKD therapies are provided as well as the recommendation to assess rapid progression.     

[Translated article] Spanish Asthma Management Guidelines (GEMA) v.5.1. Highlights and Controversies

In this fifth phase of development, the contents of the Spanish Asthma Management Guidelines (GEMA), which include versions 5.0 and 5.1, have undergone a thorough review. The aim here is to set the main changes in context. These could be summarized as follows: DIAGNOSIS: new FE_NO cut-off and severity classification based on treatment needed to maintain control; INTERMITTENT ASTHMA: a more restrictive concept and treatment extended to include a glucocorticoid/adrenergic combination as needed; MILD ASTHMA: glucocorticoid/adrenergic therapy as needed as an alternative in case of low therapeutic adherence to conventional fixed-dose steroids; SEVERE ASTHMA: readjustment of phenotypes, incorporation of triple therapy in a single inhaler, and criteria for selection of a biologic in severe uncontrolled asthma; OTHERS: specific scoring in childhood asthma, incorporation of certain organizational aspects (care circuits, asthma units, telemedicine), new sections on COVID-19 and nasal polyposis.     

Toxic trace elements at gastrointestinal level

Many trace elements are considered essential [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu)], whereas others may be harmful [lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As)], depending on their concentration and chemical form. In most cases, the diet is the main pathway by which they enter our organism. The presence of toxic trace elements in food has been known for a long time, and many of the food matrices that carry them have been identified. This has led to the appearance of legislation and recommendations concerning consumption. Given that the main route of exposure is oral, passage through the gastrointestinal tract plays a fundamental role in their entry into the organism, where they exert their toxic effect. Although the digestive system can be considered to be of crucial importance in their toxicity, in most cases we do not know the events that occur during the passage of these elements through the gastrointestinal tract and of ascertaining whether they may have some kind of toxic effect on it. The aim of this review is to summarize available information on this subject, concentrating on the toxic trace elements that are of greatest interest for organizations concerned with food safety and health: Pb, Cd, Hg and As.     

Pretomanid(PA-824)治疗耐多药结核病的应用建议

耐多药结核病治疗疗程长达18~24个月、药物不良反应重、患者治疗依从性差,部分患者因耐药谱广泛,不能选择二线抗结核药物组成有效的治疗方案,导致死亡率高。因此,耐多药结核病治疗新药的研究是全球结核病控制的重要问题,也是我国改变耐多药结核病防治现状亟待解决的问题。全球结核病药物研发联盟研发的pretomanid(PA-824)与贝达喹啉和利奈唑胺组成的BPaL方案,针对严重耐多药结核病的治疗,具有疗程短、全程口服、治疗依从性高、治愈率高等优势,为严重耐多药结核病患者的治疗带来了新的希望。该方案于2020年被世界卫生组织在全球推荐使用。目前,贝达喹啉和利奈唑胺两种药品已经在我国上市,并作为二线抗结核药物用于耐多药结核病治疗。因此,亟待PA-824能早日在我国获批使用,以挽救更多耐多药结核病患者的生命。为此,中国防痨协会联合中国疾病预防控制中心结核病预防控制中心组织全国结核病防治、临床和基础研究等领域的专家,经反复讨论撰写了《Pretomanid(PA-824)治疗耐多药结核病的应用建议》,以期为加快PA-824及BPaL方案在我国的注册使用提供参考。     

中国社区肺结核主动筛查循证指南

为实现终止结核病流行策略目标,迫切需要实施更强有力的措施来改善结核病患者的发现和治疗管理,而主动筛查作为实现目标的重要组成部分,旨在确保结核病患者的早期诊断。中国防痨协会结核病控制专业分会和老年结核病防治专业分会与《中国防痨杂志》编辑委员会共同组织专家,在解读吸收世界卫生组织2021年最新指南证据和建议的基础上,补充了后续新发表的文献和我国国内的相关文献和研究证据,结合中国结核病防治实践和研究结果制订了本指南。本指南系统总结了症状筛查、胸部影像学检查、C反应蛋白检测等筛查技术的特点,提出了在肺结核患者密切接触者、既往结核病患者、HIV/AIDS者、老年人、糖尿病患者和高疫情地区的一般人群等社区人群中开展肺结核主动筛查的方式,为国家和各地完善和优化重点人群肺结核主动筛查策略提供循证依据。