Implementation and Monitoring of a Telemedicine Model in Acromegalic Outpatients in a Low-Income Country During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Telemedicine is a resource to provide health care to patients social distancing and prevent their exposure to the risk of contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in medical-hospital settings. This study evaluated a virtual model of care in acromegalic patients. Methods: We recruited 78 acromegalic patients, 65% female, median age 63 years. Outpatient management was remodeled to simplify access to care by (1) adoption of virtual meetings; (2) collection of blood samples at home; (3) abolishment of printed prescription and provision of electronic files directly to central pharmacy; and (4) drugs delivered to patients' home. Patients and physicians filled electronic surveys 48 h after each consultation. Results: The patients expressed satisfaction with convenience (91.1%), decreased wait time (85.1%), and saving money (79.2%) compared to face-to-face visits. Most patients felt supported by the medical team (89.1%) and kept the prescriptions updated (84.8%). The physicians reported resolutive appointments in 92.2% of cases, despite longer time to reach the patients and subsequent calls to complement missing information. Satisfaction and patient-provider relationship were maintained during the study, but the choice for virtual appointment for the next appointment fell from 78.7% to 34.8% after 6 months. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was confirmed in 13% of patients, mostly mild and moderate manifestations. Conclusion: Telemedicine is a tool for medical care in underserved populations, feasible even in low-income countries. This study suggests that it is difficult to sustain exclusive remote care for more than 6 months. The method could be adopted interchangeably with in-person consultations in acromegalic patients with stable disease.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy improves the quality of life of patients with acromegaly.

BACKGROUND: The delayed diagnosis, altered body image, and clinical complications associated with acromegaly impair quality of life. PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of the cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) technique "Think Healthy" to increase the quality of life of patients with acromegaly. METHODS: This non-randomized clinical trial examined ten patients with acromegaly (nine women and one man; mean age, 55.5 ± 8.4 years) from a convenience sample who received CBT. The intervention included nine weekly group therapy sessions. The quality of life questionnaire the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered during the pre- and post-intervention phases. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to assess the occurrence of significant differences. RESULTS: According to the SF-36, the general health domain significantly improved (d' = - 0.264; p = 0.031). The mental health domain improved considerably (d' = - 1.123; p = 0.012). Physical functioning showed a non-significant trend toward improvement (d' = - 0.802; p = 0.078), although four of the five patients who showed floor effects improved and remained at this level. Regarding emotional well-being, five patients showed floor effects and four improved, and the condition did not change among any of the four patients who showed ceiling effects. No significant changes were found with regard to the other domains. No significant differences in the BDI were found before or after the intervention. CONCLUSION: The technique presented herein effectively improved the quality of life of patients with acromegaly with different levels of disease activity, type, and treatment time.

Outbreak of candidemia caused by fluconazole resistant Candida parapsilosis strains in an intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia is an increasing problem in tertiary care hospitals worldwide. Here, we report the first outbreak of candidemia caused by fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis (FRCP) strains in Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of clinical and microbiological data of all candidemic episodes diagnosed from July 2011 to February 2012 in a 200-bed tertiary care hospital. Initial yeast identification and susceptibility testing were performed using the VITEK 2 - System. Isolates of Candida spp. resistant to fluconazole were sent to a reference laboratory (LEMI-UNIFESP) for further molecular identification and confirmation of resistance by CLSI microdilution test. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with FRCP infection. RESULTS: We identified a total of 40 critically ill patients with candidemia (15 women) with a median age of 70 years. The incidence of candidemia was 6 cases/1,000 patients admissions, including 28 cases (70 %) of infection with C. parapsilosis, 21 of which (75 %) were resistant to fluconazole. In only 19 % of FRCP candidemia cases had fluconazole been used previously. The results of our study indicated that diabetes is a risk factor for FRCP candidemia (p = 0.002). Overall, mortality from candidemia was 45 %, and mortality from episodes of FRCP infections was 42.9 %. CONCLUSIONS: The clustering of incident cases in the ICU and molecular typing of strains suggest horizontal transmission of FRCP. Accurate vigilant monitoring for new nosocomial strains of FRCP is required.

Geographical information system (GIS) as a new tool to evaluate epidemiology based on spatial analysis and clinical outcomes in acromegaly.

Geographical information systems (GIS) have emerged as a group of innovative software components useful for projects in epidemiology and planning in Health Care System. This is an original study to investigate environmental and geographical influences on epidemiology of acromegaly in Brazil. We aimed to validate a method to link an acromegaly registry with a GIS mapping program, to describe the spatial distribution of patients, to identify disease clusters and to evaluate if the access to Health Care could influence the outcome of the disease. Clinical data from 112 consecutive patients were collected and home addresses were plotted in the GIS software for spatial analysis. The buffer spatial distribution of patients living in Brasilia showed that 38.1% lived from 0.33 to 8.66 km, 17.7% from 8.67 to 18.06 km, 22.2% from 18.07 to 25.67 km and 22% from 25.68 to 36.70 km distant to the Reference Medical Center (RMC), and no unexpected clusters were identified. Migration of 26 patients from 11 others cities in different regions of the country was observed. Most of patients (64%) with adenomas bigger than 25 mm lived more than 20 km away from RMC, but no significant correlation between the distance from patient's home to the RMC and tumor diameter (r = 0.45 p = 0.20) nor for delay in diagnosis (r = 0.43 p = 0.30) was found. The geographical distribution of diagnosed cases did not impact in the latency of diagnosis or tumor size but the recognition of significant migration denotes that improvements in the medical assistance network are needed.

[The impact of non-thrombolytic management of acute ischemic stroke in older individuals: the experience of the Federal District, Brazil]. / Impacto da adoção de medidas inespecíficas no tratamento do acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico agudo em idosos: a experiência do Distrito Federal, Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of a non-specific, decentralized treatment protocol for ischemic stroke in older individuals on the quality of the care provided in the public health care system (SUS, Sistema Único de Saúde) in the Federal District. METHOD: This retrospective historical control study employed data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Two time periods were compared: before and after the adoption of a protocol based on non-specific measures (medical therapy without alteplase) and decentralized care. A set of 2 369 admissions of patients older than 60 years with ischemic stroke was analyzed for the period of 2006/2007, and 5 207 admissions for 2010/2011. The variables were frequency, length of stay, mortality, lethality of ischemic stroke, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and hospital reimbursement for ischemic stroke admissions. Effectiveness was evaluated based on mortality and lethality rates and efficiency was evaluated based on length of stay, use of ICU, and reimbursed amounts. RESULTS: In the second time period, there was an increase of 119.8% in the number of ischemic stroke admissions (P = 0.0001), increase of 27.3% in absolute mortality, decrease of 5.0% in lethality rate (P = 0.02), and increase of 130.6% in ICU utilization rate (P = 0.0001). There was no difference between the periods regarding mean number of inpatient days and reimbursed amounts. CONCLUSIONS: The indicators used in the present study showed improved effectiveness of acute ischemic stroke treatment with the use of a non-specific, decentralized protocol. However, no impact was observed on efficiency.

RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FRACTURE OF THE LUMBOSACRAL SPINE AND ITS COMPROMISE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CIRRHOTICS.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatic disease is associated with osteoporosis, osteopenia or osteomalacia. Osteoporosis and fractures due to bone fragility present high prevalences and are more frequent in patients with liver cirrhosis than in the general population. The search for a diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis in this population may allow early intervention and modify unfavorable outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To know the prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis and of fracture due to bone fragility in individuals with liver cirrhosis, the associated risk factors, and its compromise in their quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Observational, transversal study performed with 71 liver cirrhosis patients of the Hepatology Service of the Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, DF, Brazil, between July 2017 and December 2018. The patients were submitted to bone densitometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine and of the femoral neck, to x-ray of the lumbosacral spine and to the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) for the evaluation of quality of life (QoL). The Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) major was calculated for patients >50 years old. The analyses were performed for the evaluation of the risk factors associated with lumbosacral spine fracture. RESULTS: The majority (62%) of the 71 evaluated patients was diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia on DXA. Of the 44 patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis, 52.3% were female, with a mean age of 62.6±9.51 years old, with the majority (72.7%) being Child A, cirrhotics of alcoholic etiology (36.4%), and with an intermediate QoL according to the CLDQ (3.3). Regarding the patients with lumbosacral spine fracture, the mean age was 61.6±11.1 years old, 60% were female, most of them Child A (66.7%), of alcoholic etiology (46.7%), and with an intermediary QoL according to the CLDQ (3.5). The presence of osteopenia and/or osteoporosis was associated with lumbosacral fracture (P<0.001), without correlation with the other analyzed variables: age, body mass index, gender, presence and absence of ascites, Child-Pugh classification, vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus serum concentration, cirrhosis etiology and FRAX major. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hepatic osteodystrophy was high, and the occurrence of lumbosacral spine fracture was more associated with osteoporosis and/or osteopenia among the cirrhotic patients studied. The QoL was intermediate and with no differences between cirrhotics with and without fracture.

Role of the addition of cabergoline to the management of acromegalic patients resistant to longterm treatment with octreotide LAR.

The aim of this prospective open trial was to evaluate the efficacy in normalizing IGF-I levels of the addition of cabergoline to the treatment of acromegalic patients partially responsive to Octreotide-LAR (OCT-LAR), a long acting somatotastin analog (SSA). Fifty-two patients who did not achieve hormonal control after longterm therapy (at least, 12 months) with OCT-LAR (30 mg every 28 days intramuscularly) were given cabergoline in addition to the SSA treatment. Normalization of IGF-I levels was achieved in 40.4% of patients by 6 months after the addition of cabergoline (1.0-3.0 mg/week; mean, 2.19 ± 0.64), and these patients were considered responsive. Compared to non-responsive subjects, responsive patients had significantly lower mean %ULNR-IGF-I and GH levels. However, the rate of hyperprolactinemia and positive immunohistochemical staining for PRL was similar in both groups, before the addition of cabergoline. Responsive patients were followed for at least 12 months on combination treatment and persisted with normal IGF-I levels. Patients with baseline %ULNR IGF-I up to 220% and/or GH up to 5 ng/ml were those who benefited the most from combination treatment. No patients with %ULNR-IGF-I>250% reached normalization of IGF-I levels. Our findings demonstrated that the addition of cabergoline, even at relatively low doses, is effective in both short- and long-term control of IGF-I levels in acromegalic patients partially responsive to octreotide LAR, particularly in those with mild/moderately elevated GH/IGF-levels, irrespective of prolactin status.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the indigenous population, aged 19 to 69 years, from Jaguapiru Village, Dourados (MS), Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an indigenous Brazilian population. METHODS: Indigenous Brazilians aged 18-69 years from Jaguapiru Village, Dourados, MS were studied. Participants were selected by simple random sampling of 360 houses in the village. The abdominal circumference of the population was evaluated, and measurements <80 cm for females or <90 cm for males were considered normal. Capillary blood glucose levels by glucometer and oral glucose tolerance tests were measured, and, when necessary, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 632 indigenous Brazilians in the study, 281 were males. We observed that 287 (45.4%) presented abdominal circumference values greater than normal; of those, 199 were women (43.4% of all women in the study) and 88 were men (26.1% of all men in the study). CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome is common in the Indian Jaguapiru Village.

[Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in indigenous people from Aldeia Jaguapiru, Brazil]. / Prevalência de diabetes melito e tolerância à glicose diminuída nos indígenas da Aldeia Jaguapiru, Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance in indigenous people from Aldeia Jaguapiru, in Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul. METHODS: Between August 2007 and July 2008, individuals aged 18-69 years were evaluated. To obtain the simple random sample for the study, 349 houses were picked from among the total 1 255 houses in the village. Pregnant women, nonindigenous individuals, and their descendents, and those using glucocorticoids were excluded from the sample. Six hundred and six people were studied (268 men and 338 women). Capillary glucose was measured with a glucose meter, and the oral glucose tolerance test was performed as necessary. RESULTS: A 4.5% prevalence was observed for DM and 2.2% for impaired glucose tolerance, with higher frequency among women. Among diabetics, 44.4% had not been previously diagnosed. Obesity was present in 14.2% of men and 30.8% of women. The prevalence of hypertension was 29.7% for the overall group and 67.5% in diabetics and individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. There was no statistical relationship between smoking and the presence of DM and impaired glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of DM and impaired glucose tolerance was lower in this sample compared to the Brazilian population. However, the prevalence of obesity was higher, and that of hypertension was similar. Nutritional guidance and encouragement of physical activity are recommended in Jaguapiru as preventive measures for DM.

Safety culture in the perception of public-hospital health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating safety culture in the perception of professionals working in public hospitals of the Unified Health System (SUS) of Distrito Federal, Brazil, three years after the implementation of the National Patient Safety Program (PNSP). METHODS: Analytical cross-sectional study conducted in eleven public hospitals using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) in electronic format. Stratified sampling was estimated according to the proportion of the total number of professionals in each hospital, as well as the representativeness of each professional group. The results of the total score and domains equal to or greater than 75 were considered positive. Descriptive and inferential analyses of professional groups and hospitals were carried out. RESULTS: 909 professionals participated. The total score by professional group was negative (62.5 to 69.5) and the domains differed statistically in all cases. The eleven hospitals had a negative total score (61.5 to 68.6). The domains to attain positive performance were job satisfaction, stress recognition and teamwork climate. The lowest results were in working conditions and management perception domains, for which none of the hospitals had an average above 75. Differences were also found for domain means across hospitals, except in management perception. DISCUSSION: Three years after the implementation of PNSP, the safety culture in eleven hospitals evaluated was weak, although the domains of job satisfaction, stress recognition and teamwork climate had positive results. The results can contribute to decision-making by managers, as safety culture is an essential element in the implementation of patient safety policy.

Luteinizing hormone beta mutation and hypogonadism in men and women.

Selective luteinizing hormone deficiency due to mutations in the luteinizing hormone beta-subunit gene (LHB) is a rare cause of hypogonadism. We describe the clinical features of a consanguineous family in which three siblings, two men and one woman, had hypogonadism related to isolated luteinizing hormone deficiency. These subjects have a newly discovered homozygous mutation of a 5' splice site in LHB: IVS2+1G-->C. This mutation disrupts the splicing of messenger RNA (mRNA), generating a gross abnormality in the processing of the luteinizing hormone beta-subunit mRNA, which abrogates the secretion of luteinizing hormone. We also determined that the female phenotype of this LHB mutation is characterized by normal pubertal development, secondary amenorrhea, and infertility.

Management of prolactinomas in Brazil: an electronic survey.

Dopamine agonists are the treatment of choice for prolactinomas. However, there are still controversies concerning dose, treatment duration and criteria for drug withdrawal in different clinical situations. The aim of this study was to assess diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to prolactinomas among members of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM). SBEM members answered a questionnaire sent by e-mail that included 18 questions related to controversial issues about the management of prolactinomas. Among SBEM members, 721 (approximately 24% of total) answered the questionnaire. Concerning the diagnosis, 38% of the respondents stated that prolactin levels < 100 ng/ml would exclude the presence of a prolactinoma. Most of them favored the screening for macroprolactin in asymptomatic individuals instead of a routine screening (74% vs. 26%). Regarding the treatment, 70% of the respondents chose cabergoline as the drug of choice to treat macroprolactinomas whereas similar proportions advised cabergoline or bromocriptine as the best treatment for microprolactinomas (52% vs. 48%). Only 20% and 34% of respondents favored treatment withdrawal 2-3 years after prolactin normalization in patients with macroprolactinomas and microprolactinomas, respectively. In case of pregnancy, only 58 and 70% of respondents advocated discontinuation of treatment with dopamine agonists in patients with macroprolactinomas and microprolactinomas, respectively. Finally, only 36% would allow breast-feeding without restriction, 44% would restrict it to patients with microprolactinomas and 20% would not recommend it for women with prolactinomas There are several points of disagreement among SBEM members regarding the management of prolactinomas.

Fibrous mastopathy: clinical, imaging, and histopathologic findings of 31 cases.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the cases of patients with a histological diagnosis of fibrous mastopathy, diabetic mastopathy, or lymphocytic mastopathy in association with other autoimmune diseases, and to conduct histological and imaging studies as well as follow up of the lesions. METHODS: Thirty-one patients meeting predetermined histopathological criteria for diabetic mastopathy, fibrous mastopathy, or lymphocytic mastopathy were analyzed for several factors: age at diagnosis; clinical manifestations; parity; breastfeeding; use of sex steroids for hormonal replacement therapy or hormonal contraception; associated diseases; mammographic findings; breast magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound; histological and cytological diagnosis; immunohistochemical and immunophenotyping identification of T- and B-lymphocytes and macrophages, and alpha-smooth muscle actin; and follow up. RESULTS: Fibrous mastopathy was present among diabetic and non-diabetic patients, patients with autoimmune diseases, and healthy individuals. Relapses were found in one-quarter of the lesions and spontaneous regression was observed in one case. There was a predominance of T-lymphocytes over B-lymphocytes in the fibrous mastopathic lesions (P < 0.001). Macrophages were demonstrated in 95.2% of the lesions. All of the lesions displayed reactivity for alpha-smooth muscle actin, a characteristic of myofibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrous mastopathy does not occur in diabetic patients only; fibrous mastopathy may also occur in healthy subjects; the lesion is characterized by a higher number of T-lymphocytes over B-lymphocytes, the presence of absolute lobular lymphocytic infiltrate, reactivity for alpha-smooth muscle actin, and macrophages. Relapses were found in one-quarter of the lesions and spontaneous regression was observed in one case.

Depressed mood and poor quality of life in male patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess mood and quality of life in male hemodialysis patients, and to correlate mood swings with the different domains of the quality of life questionnaire. METHOD: Forty-seven male patients undergoing regular hemodialysis for more than six months were included in the study. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire, in a version translated into and adapted to Portuguese, were used. RESULTS: The patients' age was 39.4±8.9 years (median±SD). Depression was observed in 32 (68.1%) patients according to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. A significant negative correlation was found between the results from the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the following parameters of the specific dimensions of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire: list of symptoms and problems (rs=-0.399; p=0.005), quality of social interaction (rs=-0.433; p=0.002), and quality of sleep (rs=-0.585; p<0.001). Among the generic domains, mood showed a significant negative correlation with general health (rs=-0.475; p<0.001), emotional well-being (rs=-0.354; p=0.015), social functioning and energy/fatigue (rs=-0.518; p<0.001). The other parameters of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire did not show significant correlations with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. CONCLUSION: Mood showed a negative correlation with the various scores of quality of life assessed by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire, suggesting a possible influence of mood on the quality of life of chronic renal patients undergoing hemodialysis.

What Is the Impact of Residual Obesity on the Risk for Postoperative Body-Contouring Surgery Complications in Postbariatric Patients?

BACKGROUND: There are an increasing number of patients presenting for plastic surgery after massive weight loss, and many of these patients have residual obesity that may compromise outcomes. The impact of residual obesity on the development of postoperative complications in postbariatric patients undergoing plastic surgery procedures is unclear. METHODS: We report the outcomes of 207 patients who underwent plastic surgery following RYGB from January 2011 to December 2018. RESULTS: Two hundred and seven patients (196 females, 11 males) with a mean age of 42 years underwent 335 separate operations. The average BMI at the time of plastic surgery was 27.43 kg/m2. The average weight loss was 47.08 kg. The prevalence of comorbidities was 26.6% and the most important presurgery comorbidities were arterial hypertension (10.1%) and diabetes mellitus (4.8%). Of the 207 patients who underwent surgery, 78.3% (168/207) underwent abdominoplasty and 45.0% underwent mammoplasty. The overall rate of complications was 27.5%. The prevalence of postoperative complications was not significantly different between patients with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and patients with a BMI < 30 kg/m2 (33.3% vs 25.9%, respectively; p = 0.344). CONCLUSION: In this group of patients, with specified anthropometric and clinical profiles, the residual obesity did not influence the incidence of postoperative complications in postbariatric patients after plastic surgery.

Long-term real-life outcomes in a georrefered cohort of acromegalic patients in Brazil.

PURPOSE: Epidemiological data on acromegaly therapeutic outcomes in real-life conditions are scarce in Brazil. Information on the geographical accessibility to the dispensation of medicines and its impact on biochemical control is also poorly known. We aimed to describe the clinical outcomes of long-term therapy in patients with acromegaly at a referral medical centre in Brazil and to perform a spatial analysis of patients according to the distance from home to the drug-dispensing pharmacies aiming to evaluate its impact on biochemical control. METHODS: Global retrospective data analysis of 111 patients followed at the University Hospital of Brasília from January 1980 to March 2015 was performed, as well as a separate review of 17 new cases operated on from April 2015 to June 2019 according to surgery results. Spatial analysis of patients under pharmacological treatment applying Geographic Information System (GIS) software (ArcGIS, ESRI, Redlands, CA) was performed. RESULTS: Considering surgery alone, the cure rate was 23% from 1980 to 2015 and 29.4% from 2015 to 2019. In the long-term follow-up of the 111 patients from 1980 to 2015, 25.2% (n = 29) were cured, 40.6% (n = 44) presented controlled disease and 34.2% (n = 38) were biochemically uncontrolled after a period of follow-up of 8.9 ± 6.4 years. Biochemical control obtained in patients on pharmacological treatment (n = 76) was 58% (n = 44) after 5.8 ± 3.8 years. The distance from home to the drug-dispensing pharmacy did not influence biochemical control (p = 0.7616). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients presented with disease under control. No evidence on the effect of the distance between home and drug-dispensing pharmacies on biochemical control was obtained.

Entropy and uniformity as additional parameters to optimize the effectiveness of bone CT in the evaluation of acromegalic patients.

PURPOSE: Acromegaly is considered an important cause of secondary osteoporosis. However, studies on bone mineral density (BMD) have yielded conflicting results and there are few studies that evaluate an accurate imaging method for early diagnosis of osteoporosis in these patients. The objective of this study was to assess whether entropy and uniformity on computed tomography (CT) scans are useful parameters for optimization of assessment of bone fragility in patients with acromegaly. METHODS: We included 34 patients and 36 controls matched for age and sex in a cross-sectional study. Patients and controls underwent CT scan of the lumbosacral spine, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and blood tests. A software was developed to calculate the entropy and uniformity by a region of interest (ROI) of the trabecular bone of the first lumbar vertebra (L1). RESULTS: The acromegalic group presented higher mean bone entropy (6.87 ± 0.98 vs. 6.03 ± 1.68, p = 0.013) and lower mean bone uniformity (0.035 ± 0.704 vs. 0.113 ± 0.205, p = 0.035) than control group. Analyzing only acromegalics, mean bone entropy was higher and bone uniformity was lower in patients with hypogonadism than patients without hypogonadism (7.28 ± 0.36 vs. 6.74 ± 1.08, p = 0.038 and 0.008 ± 0.002 vs. 0.043 ± 0.079, p = 0.031) respectively. Patients with acromegaly presented higher BMD and Z-score in the femoral neck than control group (1.156 ± 0.108 vs. 0.925 ± 0.326 g/cm2, p = 0.043 and 0.6 ± 0.6 vs. -0.05 ± 0.8, p = 0.041, respectively). Entropy was negatively correlated with T-score of the lumbar spine (rp = -0.357, p = 0.033) in control group and uniformity was positively correlated with T-score of the lumbar spine, neck, and total hip, respectively (rp = 0.371, p = 0.031; rp = 0.348, p = 0.043 and rp = 0.341, p = 0.049) in acromegalic group. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified that entropy and uniformity are a relevant parameters data in bone fragility assessment in acromegalic patients.

The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Acromegalics After a 9-Month Follow-Up.

Introduction: The quality of life of acromegalics is compromised. Treatment with the "Think healthy and feel the difference" technique has been described as effective in the improvement of the quality of life of these patients in the short term. However, its effectiveness in the long term needs to be evaluated. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the good results obtained from the "Think healthy and feel the difference" technique in the short term persists in the long term, after the end of the treatment. Method: This is a non-randomized longitudinal study with 23 acromegalic divided into two groups: an intervention group with 10 patients and a control group with 13 patients. The intervention itself covered nine group sessions, organized weekly, using a technique called "Think healthy and feel the difference." The control group did not receive the aforementioned treatment. The Short Form 36 Question Health Survey (SF-36) and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered before the sessions began, at the end of the nine therapy sessions and at the 9-month follow-up. Results: At the end of the treatment, the results of the SF-36 showed improvement in the mental health of the intervention group compared to the control group. The effects of therapy were maintained at the 9 month follow-up. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, applied in a group format, can improve the quality of life of acromegalic patients in the short- and long-term.

Quality of life and predictive factors for complications in patients undergoing abdominoplasty after gastric bypass: A retrospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major health risk factor associated with medical complications, such as cardiovascular disease, that may compromise outcomes. Furthermore, obesity may lead to difficulties in daily life, altering the quality of life and generating psychological disorders such as devalued self-image and depression. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the quality of life and predictive factors of postoperative complications in patients who underwent abdominoplasty after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. SETTING: Bariatric and postbariatric center, North Wing Regional Hospital, Brasília, Brazil. METHODS: Data were analyzed from a prospective registry of postbariatric patients who underwent abdominoplasty from January 2011 to December 2016. Variables examined included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), complications, and comorbidities. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess outcome measures. The quality-of-life assessment was measured with the Moorehead-Ardelt quality-of-life questionnaire. RESULTS: One hundred and seven postbariatric patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 41 years. BMI at the time of abdominoplasty (current BMI) was 27.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2, and the average weight loss before abdominoplasty was 47.7 ± 17.3 kg. Pre-weight loss BMI (max BMI) was 45.5 ± 7.6 kg/m2, and ∆BMI was 18.6 ± 9.3 kg/m2. The overall rate of complications was 23.4%. Among the studied factors in the multivariate analysis, amount of removed tissue in the abdomen >2000 g, ∆BMI >20 kg/m2, and age >40 years significantly increased the rates of postoperative complications. In our study, abdominoplasty improved the quality of life of patients (mean quality-of-life scores, 2.1 ± 0.9). CONCLUSION: The amount of removed tissue in the abdomen, ∆BMI >20 kg/m2, and age >40 years led to significantly more complications in patients undergoing abdominoplasty after gastroplasty. In addition, this study demonstrated that abdominoplasty should be proposed to patients with massive weight loss to improve quality of life.