Detectability and surgical outcomes in parathyroid surgery - a single-centre experience.

The incidence of primary hyperparathyroidismand referrals for the removal of parathyroid adenomas are increasing. Factors that improve the detectability, and ultimately the surgical outcome, are the focus of this retrospective study. We included 117 patients who had parathyroid operations with intraoperative monitoring of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Sestamibi, ultrasound and, in selected cases, fusion with computed tomograms (CT), were done to locate the lesion preoperatively. Concentrations of calcium and PTH before and after operation, specimen weight, and preoperative vitamin D concentrations, were assessed. The sensitivity of sestamibi and ultrasound for the preoperative location of adenomas was 92% and 80%, respectively. Sestamibi located them more accurately in patients with low preoperative concentrations of vitamin D (p = 0.037) and with heavier adenomas (p < 0.001). We found no significant association between the preoperative concentrations of PTH and detectability on preoperative scans (p = 0.058). Postoperative follow up showed that 97% of the 117 patients were biochemically cured. Accurate location helps to lower morbidity as it facilitates a targeted approach. Further studies are needed to explore the role of vitamin D in the location of parathyroid adenomas before parathyroidectomy.

Maternal transmission of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus represents a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by impaired glucose homeostasis. The disorder runs in families but the mechanism underlying this is unknown. Many, but not all, studies have suggested that mothers are excessively implicated in the transmission of the disorder. A number of possible genetic phenomena could explain this observation, including the exclusively maternal transmission of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). It is now apparent that mutations in mtDNA can indeed result in maternally inherited diabetes. Although several mutations have been implicated, the strongest evidence relates to a point substitution at nucleotide position 3243 (A to G) in the mitochondrial tRNA(leu(UUR)) gene. Mitochondrial diabetes is commonly associated with nerve deafness and often presents with progressive non-autoimmune beta-cell failure. Specific treatment with Coenzyme Q10 or L-carnitine may be beneficial. Several rodent models of mitochondrial diabetes have been developed, including one in which mtDNA is specifically depleted in the pancreatic islets. Apart from severe, pathogenic mtDNA mutations, common polymorphisms in mtDNA may contribute to variations of insulin secretory capacity in normal individuals. Mitochondrial diabetes accounts for less than 1% of all diabetes and other mechanisms must underlie the maternal transmission of Type 2 diabetes. Possibilities include the role of maternally controlled environments, imprinted genes and epigenetic phenomena.

Abnormal serum free thyroid hormone levels due to heparin administration.

Fractionated or unfractionated heparin may produce artefactual elevation in measured concentrations of free thyroid hormones. Although the specific cause is unknown, it may be a consequence of displacement of thyroid hormones from their binding sites by free fatty acids liberated in vitro. We describe four cases of heparin-induced abnormalities in free thyroid hormone measurements where some diagnostic confusion was generated. Increasing physician awareness of this poorly appreciated entity may avert diagnostic confusion and unnecessary investigation.

Evaluation of a computer-generated discharge summary for patients with acute coronary syndromes.

The discharge summary from hospital to community physician contributes importantly to patient management, but deficiencies in its preparation are well documented. We sought to determine the preferences of general practitioners for standard dictated or computer-generated discharge summaries for patients with acute coronary syndromes. The majority (68.5%) of GPs preferred the computerized summary and particularly liked its comprehensive content, concise style, ease of access to relevant information, clarity and ease of reading. Most (66.9%) thought the computer-generated summary provided the clearer management plan and 70.8% recommended its use for other specialities. In addition, its speed of generation enables GPs to receive a summary within seven days of patient discharge.

Comparison of case fatality in south Asian and white patients after acute myocardial infarction: observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare mortality in south Asian (Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi) and white patients in the six months after hospital admission for acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: District general hospital in east London. PATIENTS: 149 south Asian and 313 white patients aged < 65 years admitted to the coronary care unit with acute myocardial infarction from 1 December 1988 to 31 December 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All cause mortality in the first six months after myocardial infarction. RESULTS: The admission rate in the south Asians was estimated to be 2.04 times that in the white patients. Most aspects of treatment were similar in the two groups, except that a higher proportion of the south Asians received thrombolytic drugs (81.2% v 73.8%). After adjustment for age, sex, previous myocardial infarction, and treatment with thrombolysis or aspirin, or both, the south Asians had a poorer survival over the six months from myocardial infarction (hazard ratio 2.02 (95% confidence interval 1.14 to 3.56), P = 0.018), but a substantially higher proportion were diabetic (38% v 11%, P < 0.001), and additional adjustment for diabetes removed much of their excess risk (adjusted hazard ratio 1.26 (0.68 to 2.33), P = 0.47). CONCLUSION: South Asian patients had a higher risk of admission with myocardial infarction and a higher risk of death over the ensuing six months than the white patients. The higher case fatality among the south Asians, largely attributable to diabetes, may contribute to the increased risk of death from coronary heart disease in south Asians living in Britain.

Prognosis in acute myocardial infarction: comparison of patients with diagnostic and nondiagnostic electrocardiograms.

Prognosis in acute myocardial infarction has been compared in patients with and without diagnostic ECGs. Of 817 patients, 89.4% had ST elevation, 2.4% had left bundle branch block, and 8.2% had no ST elevation. Patients without ST elevation had a hospital mortality rate of 3.0% compared with 14.0% and 40.0%, respectively, in patients with ST elevation and left bundle branch block (p = 0.0001). Event-free survival at 6 months in patients without ST elevation was 85.6% (74.1% to 92.3%), compared with 72.9% (69.4% to 76.0%) and 31.0% (12.0% to 52.3%) in patients with ST elevation and left bundle branch block (p < 0.001). The excess risk associated with ST elevation was largely attributable to the severity of infarction: after adjustment for Q-wave development and heart failure, the hazard ratio fell from 2.24 (1.43 to 4.38) to 1.76 (0.86 to 3.59). In conclusion, acute myocardial infarction has a considerably better prognosis when it is unassociated with ST elevation or left bundle branch block. This finding may have important implications for interventional management.

Acute myocardial infarction in women: survival analysis in first six months.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence that being female has on the outcome of acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Observational follow up study. SETTING: London district general hospital. PATIENTS: 216 women and 607 men with acute myocardial infarction admitted to a coronary care unit from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All cause mortality and recurrent ischaemic events in the first six months. RESULTS: Event free survival (95% confidence interval) at six months was 63.3% (56.3% to 69.4%) in women and 76.1% (72.4% to 79.4%) in men, P < 0.001. The difference was confined to the first 30 days but thereafter the hazard plots for women and men converged, with reduction of the hazard ratio from 2.36 (1.70 to 3.27) to 0.81 (0.44 to 1.48). Women were older, but their excess risk persisted after adjustment for age, other baseline variables, and indices of severity of infarction (hazard ratio 1.53 (1.09 to 2.15), P = 0.015). Women tended to be treated with thrombolysis less commonly than men but the difference was small. Substantially fewer women than men, however, were discharged taking beta blockers (23.3% v 41.4%, P < 0.001), and although additional adjustment for discharge treatment did not further reduce the point estimate of the hazard ratio (1.84 (0.89-3.83)), the 95% confidence interval was wide and statistical significance was lost. CONCLUSIONS: Women with acute myocardial infarction have a worse prognosis than men but the excess risk is confined to the first 30 days and is only partly explained by age and other baseline variables. The tendency for women to receive less vigorous treatment than men must be remedied before gender can be considered to be an independent determinant of risk.