Multidisciplinary protocol of preoperative and surgical management of patients with pituitary tumors candidates to pituitary surgery

The optimal planning of preoperative diagnosis, management and treatment of pituitary tumors (PT) candidates to pituitary surgery (PS) requires a multidisciplinary approach involving a team of endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, ENT, neuro-ophthalmologists and neuroradiologists with experience in pituitary diseases. Such teams improve surgical results, minimize complications and facilitate their correct treatment if occurring, and optimize the hormonal, ophthalmological and radiological preoperative and follow-up evaluation. We have developed a clinical practice protocol for patients with PT who are candidates to PS based on the most recent national and international guidelines and the relevant literature regarding PT published in the last years. The protocol has been elaborated by a multidisciplinary team of a Spanish Pituitary Tumor Center of Excellence (PTCE) that includes at least one neurosurgeon, ENT, neuroradiologist, neuro-ophthalmologist, endocrine pathologist and endocrinologist specialized in pituitary diseases. We elaborated this guideline with the aim of sharing our experience with other centers involved in the perioperative and surgical management of PT thereby facilitating the management of patients undergoing PS.     

Plasma CCK levels in patients with pancreatic insufficiency

After stimulation with a Lundh test meal, plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and output of pancreatic enzymes were measured in 33 patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and 26 healthy subjects. Patients with impairment of pancreatic function were subdivided into those with moderate and severe insufficiency. Plasma CCK and PP were measured by radioimmunoassay. Fasting plasma CCK in patients with pancreatic insufficiency (5.8±1.1 pmol/liter) did not differ significantly from controls (4.2±0.6 pmol/liter). After endogenous stimulation with a Lundh meal, plasma CCK increased in both groups without significant differences over 2 hr. Basal and stimulated plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) were markedly decreased only in patients with severe pancreatic insufficiency. Our results demonstrate that basal and meal-stimulated CCK levels in patients with pancreatic insufficiency do not differ from controls. Furthermore the extent of functional impairment of the exocrine pancreas did not influence basal and postprandial CCK release.     

BK virus nephropathy in a pediatric patient after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

We report the case of a seven‐yr‐old Caucasian girl who presented with progressive deterioration of renal function 13 months after HSCT for myelodysplastic syndrome. BK virus nephropathy was suspected and confirmed. After reduction of immunosuppression and treatment with IVIG, leflunomide, ciprofloxacin, and cidofovir, clearance of BK virus from blood was achieved, and further progression or renal failure was prevented. We believe that BK virus nephropathy should be considered in cases of renal function deterioration in all immunocompromised patients.     

The utility of cervical elastosonography in prediction of cervical insufficiency: cervical elastosonography and cervical insufficiency

Objective: To evaluate the utility of cervical elastosonography (ES) in prediction of cervical insufficiency (CI).

Methods: A total of 40 women, of which 20 who had previously received the diagnosis of CI and 20 healty women were included in the study. None of the women were pregnant. All subjects underwent sonographic evaluation including cervical length measurement and ES of uterine cervix. Adjacent muscular tissue was the reference point for elastosonography evaluation. Tissue strain ratio values were obtained from all the patients.

Results: The area around the internal cervical os of the group with CI was found to be significantly softer as compared to the control group (higher SR rate, p?<?0.05). Furthermore, the outer parts of the cervix (sites A and D) were also found harder in the group that had CI (lower SR rate, p?<?0.05).

Conclusions: According to our knowledge, this is preliminary study to evaluate the predictive value of cervical ES in CI and we concluded that ES can be used as reliable method to determine CI but it is necessary to be studied in different cohort groups.     

生殖道局部细胞免疫与黄体功能不全患者不孕的关系

目的:探讨生殖道局部细胞免疫与黄体功能不全患者不孕的关系.方法:研究纳入21例确诊为黄体功能不全(luteal phase deficiency,LPD)的患者作为研究组,同时纳入18例健康体检者最为对照组,使用放射免疫法(radiation immunity analysis,RIA)对排卵期两组血清、宫颈黏液中白细胞介素1-β(IL-1β)以及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的表达进行检测;使用化学发光免疫分析仪检测两组黄体期的血清孕酮水平.结果:黄体期,研究组血清孕酮水平明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);排卵期,研究组宫颈黏液中IL-1β以及TNF-α水平与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);研究组宫颈黏液中IL-1β以及TNF-α水平与黄体中期血清孕酮水平存在负相关(r=-0.888,P＜0.05;r=-0.849,P＜0.05);宫颈黏液中IL-1β水平与TNF-α水平存在正相关(r=0.797,P＜0.05).结论:排卵期生殖道局部细胞免疫受到激活,可能是LPD患者发生不孕的主要免疫因素之一,亦能够间接的影响黄体发育从而造成LPD的发生.     

Utility of complete blood count parameters to detect premature ovarian insufficiency in cases with oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea

Background

There are very few biomarkers available to diagnose cases with premature ovarian failure. Some complete blood count parameters have been introduced to be diagnostic biomarkers for several disorders associated with inflammatory process. Due to the evidence that indicated chronic inflammatory process to be underlying pathophysiology in premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), we aimed to assess the predictive value of complete blood count parameters for POI diagnosis.

Method

A total of 96 women diagnosed to have premature ovarian failure were compared with 110 otherwise healthy women in terms of some basal hormone levels and complete blood count parameters.

Results

Mean age was similar between groups. Neutrophil/lymphocyte and mean platelet volume/lymphocyte ratios were significantly higher in group with POI (P < .001, P < .003, respectively). In group with POI, there were significant correlations between anti‐Mullerian hormone and follicle stimulating hormone (r = −.30, P <.05), anti‐Mullerian hormone and white blood cell count (r = .23, P < .05). Mean platelet volume/lymphocyte ratio significantly predicted cases with POI (AUC = 0.607, %95 CI: 0.529‐0.684; P < .001).

Conclusions

Neutrophil/lymphocyte and mean platelet volume/lymphocyte ratios are elevated in POI. There have been some controversies about the value of neutrophil/lymphocyte in POI diagnosis. We suggest mean platelet volume/lymphocyte ratio as a new biomarker in early POI because it is cheap and easily accessible compared to anti‐Mullerian hormone.

     

Microvascular resistance in response to iodinated contrast media in normal and functionally impaired kidneys

Contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) is considered to result from intrarenal vasoconstriction, and occurs more frequently in impaired than in normal kidneys. It was hypothesized that iodinated contrast media would markedly change renal blood flow and vascular resistance in functionally impaired kidneys. Thirty‐six patients were enrolled (32 men; mean age, 75.3 ± 7.6 years) undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography and were divided into two groups based on the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m² (CKD and non‐CKD groups, n = 18 in both). Average peak velocity (APV) and renal artery resistance index (RI) were measured by Doppler flow wire before and after administration of the iodinated contrast media. The APV and the RI were positively and inversely correlated with the eGFR at baseline, respectively (APV, R = 0.545, P = 0.001; RI, R = ?0.627, P < 0.001). Mean RI was significantly higher (P = 0.015) and APV was significantly lower (P = 0.026) in the CKD than in the non‐CKD group. Both APV (P < 0.001) and RI (P = 0.002) were significantly changed following contrast media administration in the non‐CKD group, but not in the CKD group (APV, P = 0.258; RI, P = 0.707). Although renal arterial resistance was higher in patients with CKD, it was not affected by contrast media administration, suggesting that patients with CKD could have an attenuated response to contrast media.     

结核性毁损肺并发细小病毒B19感染和重度血小板减少症一例的临床诊治分析

2021年1月16日,浙江大学医学院附属杭州市胸科医院结核ICU收治1例20岁女性结核性毁损肺并发细小病毒B19感染和可疑噬血细胞综合征致重度血小板减少症患者。该患者因“咳嗽伴消瘦3个月,黑便15d,加重伴鼻出血2d”入住我院。经完善实验室和影像学、骨髓穿刺活检及骨髓液病原微生物宏基因组检测等检查后,诊断为重度贫血、左侧结核性毁损肺、呼吸衰竭、细胞免疫功能障碍、重度血小板减少原因待查、细小病毒B19感染、可疑噬血细胞综合征(死亡后疑诊)。予抗结核、抗感染、输注红细胞悬液及血小板和血浆、免疫球蛋白冲击治疗后,病情未见好转。于入院第5日因呼吸衰竭加重而应用体外膜氧合技术后病情有所缓解,但在次日突然因右侧胸腔出现气胸且压缩右肺约50%而导致双肺呼吸功能基本丧失,在血小板持续低下、凝血功能未能改善的情况下,患者最终因难以纠正的呼吸衰竭、气道和消化道大量出血而死亡。笔者认为当结核性毁损肺患者并发血小板明显减少时,须积极寻找血小板减少原因;当同时并发细胞免疫功能抑制时,应考虑是否并发了机会性感染;当血小板减少症原因不明、难以纠正,且并发机会性感染时,应高度警惕噬血细胞综合征的发生。     

Morphological and functional recovery following acute and acute recurrent pancreatitis in children: A prospective sequential 2-point evaluation

BackgroundThe functional and morphological recovery following an episode of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children still remains ill understood as research exploring this is limited. We aimed to characterize the morphological and functional changes in pancreas following AP and ARP (acute recurrent pancreatitis) in children.MethodsChildren with AP were followed prospectively and assessed at two time points at least 3 months apart, with the first assessment at least 3 months after the AP episode. Exocrine and endocrine functions were measured using fecal elastase and fasting blood sugar/HbA1c levels respectively. Morphological assessment was done using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging and cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP).ResultsSeventy-three children (boys:59%; mean age:8.4 ± 3.2years) were studied and 21 of them (29%) progressed to ARP. Altered glucose homeostasis was seen in 19 (26%) at first and 16 (22%) at second assessment and it was significantly more in ARP group than the AP group at first (42.8%vs19.2%; p = 0.03) as well as second assessment (38.1%vs15.3%; p = 0.03). Twenty-one children (28.7%) at first and 24 (32.8%) at second assessment developed biochemical exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. EUS detected indeterminate and suggestive changes of chronic pancreatitis in 21% at first (n = 38) and 27.6% at second assessment (n = 58). On MRCP, main pancreatic duct and side branch dilatation were seen in 15 (20.5%) and 2 (2.7%) children respectively.ConclusionsMore than one-quarter of children have evidence of altered glucose homeostasis and biochemical exocrine pancreatic insufficiency following an episode of AP. Similarly, morphological features of chronicity seen in some of the children suggest that a fraction of subjects may develop chronic pancreatitis on longer follow-up.     

护理路径在颅脑损伤致呼吸衰竭中的应用效果

目的：探讨护理路径在颅脑损伤致呼吸衰竭中的应用效果。方法选取2010年12月—2012年12月泸州医学院附属医院收治的颅脑损伤致呼吸衰竭患者134例,采用随机数字法将患者分成了护理路径组和常规护理组,每组67例。护理路径组给予护理路径措施,常规护理组给予常规护理,比较两组患者呼吸机使用时间、住院费用、护理满意度、并发症发生情况。结果护理路径组的呼吸机使用时间短于常规护理组,住院费用少于常规护理组,护理满意度高于常规护理组,并发症发生率均低于常规护理组,差异有统计学意义（ P<0.05）。结论护理路径应用于颅脑损伤致呼吸衰竭患者护理中,可提高治疗效果,缩短呼吸机使用时间,减少住院费用,提高护理满意度,减少并发症。