Prevailing Food Intake, Physical Activity and Health Beliefs in a Rural Agricultural Community in the Philippines: Factors to Consider Prior to a Diabetes Prevention Program.

Objective: A diabetes prevention program is being proposed in the rural agricultural town of San Juan, Batangas, Philippines. This study aims to determine the prevailing level of food intake, physical activity, and health beliefs prior to any intervention. Methodology: Adults were recruited via random sampling with proportional allocation. Interviews were done to determine food intake and physical activity. Small group discussions were held to determine prevailing health beliefs. Results: The average energy intake (1,547 kcal/d) is only 72% of the recommended values for Filipinos. Only 12% of the respondents achieved the recommended energy intake. Carbohydrates comprise a large part (71%) of calorie intake. A majority (91%) already have moderate to high levels of physical activity. There are prevailing health beliefs that need to be considered when dietary modifications and physical activity interventions are to be done. Conclusion: Internationally recommended diabetes prevention interventions such as reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity may not be directly applicable here. We recommend that the features of a diabetes prevention program for this locale must include the following: 1) introduction of affordable plant sources of proteins; 2) decreasing the proportion of rice as a source of carbohydrates in the diet; 3) maintaining the level of physical activity; and 4) being sensitive to the prevailing health beliefs.

AIDS presenting as radial bone tuberculosis and pyogenic methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is a rare initial presentation of HIV. We report a case of a 25-year-old, apparently well man presenting with a traumatic, pathological fracture of the right radius. He had a 2-week history of low-grade fever, swelling and purulent discharge of the radial aspect of his right forearm. Osteomyelitis, secondary bacteraemia and pneumonia were clues that led physicians to test for HIV. Multiple debridement, sequestrectomy and vacuum-assisted closure were done. Tissue cultures revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus He was treated successfully with 6 weeks of culture-guided intravenous oxacillin, staphylococcal decontamination and first-line anti-TB regimen (rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide). Antiretroviral agents were started thereafter. Successful infection control and preservation of limb functionality was achieved with a multidisciplinary team approach. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of an adult patient with HIV presenting with tuberculous and pyogenic osteomyelitis of the radial bone.

Association of sunlight exposure with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among working urban adult Filipinos.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of different levels of sunlight exposure, measured using the Filipino sunlight exposure questionnaire (SEQ) with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels among working urban adult Filipinos. METHODS: Seventy-five adult participants, living and working in Metro Manila, for at least 1 year, were grouped according to their perceived sunlight exposure pattern: low sunlight exposure (mostly indoor work); moderate sunlight exposure (both indoor and outdoor work); and high sunlight exposure (mostly outdoor work). After completion of the self-administered Filipino SEQ, they underwent serum 25-OHD level determination. Strength of correlation between the SEQ scores and 25-OHD levels was computed. RESULTS: Serum 25-OHD levels generally increased with increasing sunlight exposure levels. The overall Pearson's correlation between the SEQ scores and 25-OHD levels of the participants was 0.396 (P = 0.001). The correlation for the individual domains was 0.342 for intensity of sunlight exposure (P = 0.003), 0.321 for factors affecting sunlight exposure (P = 0.005), and 0.256 for sun protection practices (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The sunlight exposure of working urban adult Filipinos, as measured by the Filipino SEQ, has an overall significant, direct and moderate association with serum 25-OHD levels. This Filipino SEQ can serve as a valuable clinical tool for sunlight exposure assessment to identify individuals at risk for vitamin D deficiency.

Multiple brown tumours from parathyroid carcinoma.

We report a case of a 29-year-old woman who suffered from severe bilateral inguinal pain and left mandibular mass. CT scan showed innumerable expansile osteolytic bone masses on the iliac wings, femur, ribs and vertebral bodies, diffuse skeletal osteopaenia, calyceal lithiasis on the right kidney and a left thyroid mass. Ionised calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) were elevated. Parathyroid sestamibi scan showed a hyperfunctioning left inferior parathyroid gland. Biopsy of the left mandibular mass was consistent with brown tumour. The patient underwent parathyroidectomy of the enlarged parathyroid gland. Final histopathology, however, revealed parathyroid carcinoma, 4.7 cm in widest dimension, with capsular and vascular space invasion. The patient underwent repeat surgery, specifically, left thyroid lobectomy, isthmectomy and central node dissection. Intact PTH decreased from 681.3 to 74 pg/mL (normal range: 10-65) 24 hours postoperatively. Follow-up at 6 months showed normal serum calcium levels, size reduction of bone lesions and improvement of quality of life.

Fluoxymesterone-induced gynaecomastia in a patient with childhood aplastic anaemia.

Gynaecomastia is a benign condition characterised by enlargement of the male breast. Drug-induced gynaecomastia merits deep consideration as it may account for as many as 25% of all cases of gynaecomastia in adults. Although the mechanism is not fully clear, some mechanisms include oestrogen-like activities, stimulation of testicular production of oestrogens, inhibition of testosterone synthesis or blockade of androgen action. Anabolic steroids, in particular when used during the pubertal stage, may cause significant irreversible gynaecomastia. We report a case of 28-year-old Filipino man with persistent gynaecomastia from fluoxymesterone used for aplastic anaemia during his prepubertal stage. Hormonal work ups for gynaecomastia all turned out normal, thus isolating the drug as the cause. The patient was unable to undergo breast reconstruction surgery due to haematological contraindications, but eventually referred to psychiatry for counselling. This case will highlight the paradoxical effect of androgenic steroid used during childhood on male breast proliferation during puberty.

Where is the culprit? A case of acromegaly that defied the management algorithm.

A 30-year-old Filipino man presented with a 11-year history of coarse facial features and progressive enlargement of hands and feet. Initial work-up revealed elevated insulin-like growth factor-1 and non-suppressible growth hormone level after 75 g glucose challenge test. Initial cranial MRI performed in the year 2010 showed absence of pituitary adenoma. The patient was lost to follow-up. He again consulted in the year 2011 and a repeat cranial MRI and a dedicated pituitary MRI were performed and both did not reveal any pituitary mass. Further investigation included chest and abdominal CT scan, both of which did not show any neoplasm. At present, there has been no practice guideline on the management of acromegalic patients on whom the identifiable source cannot be found. The patient was given the option to undergo surgical exploration of the pituitary gland or medical treatment with somatostatin analogues. He decided to undergo surgery but has not given consent for the procedure.

A Filipino woman with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome.

A 47-year-old Filipino woman presented with goitre of 3 months' duration. She had no symptoms of thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism. Her thyroid was diffusely enlarged. Thyrotropin was elevated and free thyroxine was low. Ultrasound revealed slightly enlarged thyroid with diffuse parenchymal disease. Antithyroid peroxidase antibody was elevated. She was started on levothyroxine at 1.6 mcg/kg body weight/day and dose was adjusted to maintain the thyrotropin level within normal limits. Four years after the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis was made, the patient started to experience malaise, generalised weakness and fatigue. Functional screening for other autoimmune endocrinopathy was done. Fasting 8 a.m serum cortisol was noted to be markedly decreased. She was diagnosed with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 (Schmidt syndrome). Physiologic dose of prednisone was started which afforded significant improvement in the patient's symptoms. The patient is on regular follow-up and clinically well.

46 XY gonadal dysgenesis in adulthood 'pitfalls of late diagnosis'.

Disorders of sex development (DSD) include congenital conditions where developments of chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex are atypical. Ostrer in 2000, reported a prevalence of 1:20 000 for 46 XY DSD and complete gonadal dysgenesis. A 21-year-old patient consulted for sexual ambiguity at the out-patient department of the Philippine general hospital. At birth, the perceived female external genitalia and clitoromegaly, led the parents to register and eventually rear the patient as a female. At puberty, he developed masculine features and growth of phallus. Patient was more interested in male activities and began to identify himself as male in the community. The discrepancy between his birth certificate and his male gender jeopardised his ambition to become a policeman; this led him to seek medical consult. On physical examination, he was phenotypically male. The external genitalia showed the phallus length of 3.5 cm and perineoscrotal hypospadias. Chromosomal sex was normal 46 XY with neither numerical nor structural aberrations in all cell lines, serum testosterone was low and gonadotrophins were elevated. Whole abdominal CT scan showed bilaterally undescended testes and a 4.5 cm blind vaginal pouch seen on genitogram. Bilateral orchidectomy with first stage repair of hypospadias was performed. On histopathology, the right testis was fibrotic and the left testis showed minimal testicular tissue with absent spermatids. The clinical, endocrine, cytogenetic and histopathologic data are consistent with gonadal dysgenesis syndrome.

The tale of two tumours: an undiagnosed case of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Pituitary metastasis is an infrequent clinical problem occurring in 1%-5% of various autopsy series. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma as the primary malignancy was reported in only 2.1% of the cases. A 53-year-old Filipina presented with 7 months history of progressive loss of vision and headaches. She underwent thyroidectomy 2 years prior to admission for an enlarging neck mass. After then, she was lost to follow-up. Physical examination revealed visual field loss, galactorrhea and a 3×4 cm firm suprasternal mass. Imaging showed a 4.5×5×5 cm mass in the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses with extension into the sella and suprasellar regions. Biopsy of the mass was consistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma, metastatic. For that, she underwent completion thyroidectomy, followed by surgical debulking of the sellar mass. Postoperatively, there was minimal improvement in vision and 13 months after, she is still on constant follow-up in our clinic, and is due for radioiodine therapy.

Crossing the other side of the algorithm: a challenging case of adrenal Cushing's syndrome.

The diagnosis of endogenous Cushing's syndrome and its aetiology involved documenting the hypercotisolism and then determining whether that hypercortisolism is adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent (ACTH-dependent) or not. Hence, following the algorithm, an undetected ACTH level points to an adrenal Cushing's while a detectable or elevated ACTH level points to either a pituitary or ectopic Cushing's syndrome. The authors present a case of florid adrenal Cushing's syndrome initially presenting with a normal ACTH level, which led to the investigation for an ACTH-secreting tumour. Adding to the confusion, a MRI done showed an intrasellar focus. Knowledge of how ACTH-dependent (versus ACTH-independent) Cushing's syndrome manifests clinically, supported by results of repeat laboratory tests, led to the true diagnosis. This case illustrates that a detectable ACTH does not rule out an adrenal Cushing's syndrome nor does a positive pituitary imaging confirm Cushing's disease.

Hypercalcaemia from genitourinary tuberculosis in a female with multiple exostoses.

The authors present a puzzling case of nephrolithiasis, hypercalcaemia, amenorrhoea, short stature and gross skeletal deformities in a 30-year-old female. Multiple pituitary hormone deficiency and metabolic bone disease were initially considered but were eventually excluded. The final diagnosis is genitourinary tuberculosis (TB) which caused the hypercalcaemia, nephrolithiasis and amenorrhoea, and also found to have the syndrome of multiple exostoses which explained the gross skeletal deformities and the short stature. After treatment with anti-TB therapy, there was resolution of hypercalcaemia and return of regular menstruation. The short stature and gross skeletal deformities remain as part of the congenital syndrome.

A case of Kallmann syndrome.

Kallmann syndrome (KS), a rare genetic disorder, refers to the association between hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia or hyposmia due to abnormal migration of olfactory axons and gonadotropin-releasing hormone producing neurons. The authors report a case of a 26-year-old Filipino male who presented with eunuchoid body proportion, absence of facial and axillary hair and sparse pubic hair, micropenis and bilaterally descended prepubertal testes. Associated findings were hyposmia, high pitched voice, absence of puncta and smooth philtrum. Hormonal assay showed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. He has normal male karyotype. Ultrasonography revealed no renal abnormalities. MRI of the brain showed hypoplastic left olfactory bulb and aplastic right olfactory bulb. These findings are characteristic of KS. Androgen replacement with testosterone was started to induce virilisation. Our patient is now on regular follow-up to monitor response to treatment.

Primary carcinoid tumour of the liver in a young Filipino female.

A 22-year-old female patient presented with rapid weight loss and an abdominal mass of 6 months duration. No other symptoms were noted. Liver function tests and α-fetoprotein were normal. Initial abdominal CT scan showed a large hepatic mass occupying both lobes of the liver, which was diagnosed as carcinoid tumour by liver biopsy. Workups to search for a primary lesion in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas by oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy and holoabdominal triphasic CT scan with triple contrast failed to reveal the presence of a primary tumour. Subcentimetre pulmonary nodules, believed to be metastatic, were detected on chest CT scan. Bone scan showed no evident bone metastasis. Because of the non-resectability of the tumour, transarterial chemoembolisation was offered as an alternative to treatment, however, the patient opted for palliative care. She succumbed to respiratory failure 6 months after diagnosis.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of persons with type 2 diabetes in a rural community: phase I of the community-based Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Program in San Juan, Batangas, Philippines.

AIMS: 1. To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of persons with type 2 diabetes in the rural community of San Juan, Batangas, Philippines. 2. To determine the association between patient factors such as age, sex, duration of diabetes, and type of diabetes on knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding diabetes. METHODS: Cross-sectional analytic study done among persons with type 2 diabetes in the rural community. Participants were selected using stratified cluster sampling. Data were collected using two main methods: use of investigator-administered questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs). RESULTS: 156 diabetic residents were included. The overall mean percentage score on knowledge was 43%. Less than half of the respondents strongly believed in the need for patient autonomy (38%). 35 respondents were included in the FGDs. Only 4 out of 35 diabetic respondents owned a glucose meter while only 16 out of the 35 consult their doctors on a regular basis. CONCLUSIONS: The study comprises Phase I of the proposed 5-year community-based DSME Program in the Philippines. It highlights the importance of evaluating knowledge, attitudes and practices as crucial means to understand observed behaviors and guide behavioral change.

Virilising ovarian tumour in a woman with an adrenal nodule.

Androgen secreting tumours are the least commonly encountered androgen excess disorders, having a prevalence of 0.2%. Androblastomas of the ovary comprise less than 0.5% of all ovarian tumours. Pure Leydig cell tumours are very rare and almost always show secretion of male sex hormones. A 41-year-old multipara Filipino woman presented with a 2-year history of amenorrhoea and virilisation characterised by hirsutism, androgenic alopecia, masculine habitus and clitoromegaly. Diagnostic evaluation showed markedly elevated serum testosterone and normal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Normal ovaries were seen on initial transvaginal ultrasound. A low dose dexamethasone suppression test suggested an ovarian source. A left adrenal nodule was seen on CT scan. Doppler transvaginal ultrasound revealed a solid lobulated structure in the right ovary. The patient underwent surgery and histopathology showed a Leydig cell tumour, hilar type. Serum testosterone levels normalised 3 days after surgery. Specific clinical and biochemical investigation of androgen secreting neoplasms is very important for correct diagnosis of these rare tumours.