Thyroid Hormone Resistance: Multicentrical Case Series Study.

Resistance to thyroid hormone syndrome (RTHS) is defined as increased thyroxine and triiodothyronine associated with normal or increased thyrotropin. This is usually due to a pathogenic variant of the gene coding for thyroid hormone receptor B (THRB). THRB is a rare genetic disorder characterized by an altered response of target tissue to the thyroid hormone action. Retrospective cross-sectional observational study with diagnosis of RTHS evaluated in secondary and tertiary hospitals for 6 years, from 2014 to 2020, in order to describe variables including age, sex, anthropometric data, clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients, who were divided according to age, in a pediatric group from 0 to 14 years (index cases), and an adult group composed of adult relatives of index cases. A molecular analysis of the THRB gene was performed. The total retrospective cohort included 7 pediatric patients and 15 adults. We found 22 cases with a clear male predominance (14/22). Mean age is 24.8 years old (22 days-70 years). Patients were referred because of symptoms 18.2% (4/22), analysis results 22.7% (5/22), or familial study 59.1% (13/22). About 31.8% (7/22) cases show goiter, 31.8% (7/22) sympathetic symptoms and 13.6% (3/22) abnormalities in behavior. In most cases, 77.3%, (17/22) show familial background of thyroid abnormalities. It is important to remark that 18.2% (4/22) relatives received previous incorrect treatments such as thyroidectomy, because of wrong diagnosis. In conclusion, a better understanding of RTHS, its prompt molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling, could avoid unnecessary tests and inappropriate treatments.

Understanding the role of social support and social support network for depression among informal dementia caregivers: a pilot clinical project on caregivers in NYC.

This study aims to explore the association of depressive symptoms with the informal social support network reported by dementia caregivers participating in a community-based caregiver support program. Caregivers in a community-based dementia caregiver program completed an intake assessment, including the social support network instrument. Measures were completed for caregivers' social support network, using the social support network instrument (SSNI). Measures also included depression, caregiver strain, basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and demographics. Findings suggest the effects of social supports and social network on caregivers' depressive symptoms. Caregivers who had financial supports were less likely to have depressive symptoms. Also, the frequency of contact among social network variables predicted the decrease of depressive symptoms.

Interprofessional education at the meso level: taking the next step in IPE.

The downstream demand for professionals with competence in Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) has contributed to the substantial growth in the upstream demand for interprofessional education (IPE). The majority of IPE programs focuses exclusively on direct care practitioners and seldom include those responsible for the administration and management of care. Unfortunately, complex reimbursement mechanisms along with the multiple agencies and departments regulating the delivery, evaluation, and reimbursement of care can result in unintended barriers to IPC and eventually IPE. The Healthcare Services Planning and Management Program (HSPMP) is an innovative model of IPE that was designed to improve system wide collaboration among those responsible for the reimbursement, management and administration of the delivery of care. Although HSPMP was not developed in the US, this innovative model has the potential to develop the systemic integration needed to break down the barriers to the delivery and evaluation of IPE and IPC.  The aim of this article is to introduce HSPMP to the US as a model of IPE that could help facilitate better integration of the US health care system and help to reduce some of the consequences resulting from the current fragmented system of care.

Training the Next Generation of Gerontological Social Worker Scholars.

The rapid growth of the aging population in the United States has produced concern over whether the social work profession will be able to meet the needs of elders and their caregivers. Currently, a shortage of gerontological social workers trained specifically to work with this population exists, and based on projections, this shortage will only become more critical over the next few decades. In order to address this shortage, one approach has been adopted that seeks to increase the number of gerontological social work faculty, who can then encourage Bachelor and Master of Social Work students to consider working with older adults, and prepare them with the knowledge and skills necessary for doing so. In this commentary, we describe a program that adopts this approach and the measures used to determine its success, and conclude with a brief description of three articles included in this issue of the JGSW that analyze and report the results of these measures.

Unmet needs in self-directed HCBS programs.

Unmet need for long-term services and supports has been linked to a variety of harmful health outcomes. One suggested strategy for ameliorating unmet need is to give participants control of a budget and let them construct individualized plans. The evaluation of the Cash and Counseling controlled experiment (CCDE) documented a marked reduction in unmet need when compared to traditional agency-based solutions, but it also showed significant unmet needs remained. This paper reanalyzes 76 case studies from the CCDE to, for the first time gain an understanding of what those unmet needs are, who sees them, and what participants, caregivers and support brokers think might reduce this problem. Using a collective or multiple case study approach to understand this phenomenon, unmet needs were sorted into five categories using real life experiences of respondents. Unmet needs for assistance in managing the employer and budget tasks of self-direction were also captured.This paper discusses situations where the clinician researchers documented needs that were not expressed by the care recipients and provides a picture of where and why unmet needs remain.The paper concludes with strategies for reducing unmet needs and training future social workers.

The Tasks and Characteristics of Supportive Support Brokers.

In the United States, under the Cash and Counseling or budget authority model of self-directed personal assistance where the participant manages his or her own services and supports, the Support Broker role was established to assist and coach the participant. The support broker role grew out of a person-centered planning process where focus groups and surveys helped ascertain what potential participants wanted to help them establish a self-directed alternative. But, despite this role being described in policy guidance from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid, little research has been conducted examining the functions, activities and usefulness of this position. This study draws on 76 ethnographic case studies with early Cash and Counseling participants, examines what participants and their caregivers actually saw the support broker doing, and looks at what the participants found helpful and less than helpful. Participants and family caregivers saw support broker duties as falling into four areas: Coaching, Problem Solving, Advocacy and Monitoring. Equally important was how the support broker performed these duties. Key aspects of quality included: Familiarity, Supportive Relationship, Proactive Engagement, Responsiveness, Knowledge and Cultural Friendliness. These findings can provide the basis for establishing quality indicators for self-direction.

Opportunities and Challenges to Build Behavioral Health Crisis Capacity in Rural America.

This column shares lessons learned from a 1-year pilot implementation of a crisis response program deploying crisis professionals to rural parts of Albany County, New York. The data (325 crisis interventions for 191 unique individuals, 57% of cases resolved on the scene) suggest that the program helps fill the crisis services gap in these communities. Police were present on 80% of cases. Educating police to build confidence in the program and providing clearer guidelines on the triage process for dispatchers may be important strategies to continue shifting crisis response duties from traditional first responders to crisis professionals.

Growth hormone treatment in small for gestational age children. A single-center experience / Tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento en niños nacidos pequeños para la edad gestacional. Experiencia de un centro.

Introduction. Small for gestational age (SGA) children usually have a final height of 1 SD below the mean. Three groups are established based on anthropometric characteristics at birth: low birth weight (LBW), short birth length (SBL), or both. Objectives. To describe the characteristics of SGA patients seen at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology of a tertiary care hospital and to analyze the course of SGA children without catch-up growth at 4 years of age who were receiving treatment with growth hormone (GH), according to their diagnosis. Methods. Retrospective study of SGA patients seen between 2004 and 2021. Results. A total of 89 SGA children were studied; 44/89 started treatment with GH (11/44 LBW, 8/44 SBL, and 25/44 both). Their mean age at diagnosis was 3.87 years; their mean height at treatment initiation was -2.99 SD in SGA children diagnosed by LBW, -2.85 SD in those with SBL, and -3.17 SD in those with both LBW and SBL. Their final height was -1.77, -1.52, and -1.23 SD, respectively, with a total gain of 1.22, 1.33, and 1.93 SD, respectively, thus reaching their target height with a difference of 0.36 ± 0.08 SD. Conclusion. Less than half of SGA children referred to the clinic required treatment with GH because they were not yet 4 years old or had not completed their catch-up growth. SGA patients according to birth weight and length had worse percentiles at diagnosis and a greater response to GH.

Introducción. Los pequeños para la edad gestacional (PEG) suelen tener una talla final 1 DE bajo la media. Se diferencian tres grupos según antropometría al nacimiento: de peso reducido (PRN), de longitud reducida (LRN) o ambos. Objetivos. Describir las características de los pacientes PEG atendidos en el Servicio de Endocrinología Pediátrica de un hospital de tercer nivel, y analizar la evolución de niños PEG sin crecimiento recuperador a los 4 años de edad, en tratamiento con hormona del crecimiento (GH), según su diagnóstico. Métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes PEG atendidos desde 2004 hasta 2021. Resultados. Se estudiaron 89 PEG; 44/89 iniciaron tratamiento con GH (11/44 PRN, 8/44 LRN y 25/44 ambos). La edad media al diagnóstico fue de 3,87 años; la talla media al inicio del tratamiento fue de -2,99 DE en los PEG diagnosticados por PRN, -2,85 DE en aquellos diagnosticados por LRN y -3,17 DE en los diagnosticados por bajo PRN y LRN. La talla final fue de -1,77, -1,52 y -1,23 DE, respectivamente, lo que supone una ganancia total de 1,22, 1,33 y 1,93 DE, respectivamente, alcanzando así su talla diana con una diferencia de 0,36 ± 0,08 DE. Conclusión. Menos de la mitad de los PEG derivados a la consulta precisaron tratamiento con GH, por no tener la edad de 4 años aún, o haber completado el crecimiento recuperador. Aquellos pacientes PEG según peso y longitud al nacimiento presentaron percentiles peores al diagnóstico y una mayor respuesta a GH.

Racial and ethnic diversity in senior centers: comparing participant characteristics in more and less multicultural settings.

The 2008 Health Indicators Project surveyed a probability sample (N = 1,870) of New York City senior center participants. Attendees of racially and ethnically diverse and nondiverse senior centers were compared across 5 domains: demographics; health and quality of life; social support networks; neighborhood perceptions and engagement; health service access/utilization. Although homogeneous and diverse center participants demonstrate similar health and quality-of-life outcomes, those from diverse centers demonstrate greater risk of social isolation, receive less family support, and more likely seek medical care from hospitals or community clinics. Implications and future directions for research, practice and policy are discussed.

A role for the diabetes nurse educator to telemedically support children with type 1 diabetes on continuous glucose monitoring? The COVID-19 lockdown experience.

The role of diabetes nurse educators during the COVID-19 lockdown to telematically provide routine reviews of glycaemic control in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using continuous glucose monitoring systems is evaluated. Implementing these routines in the day-to-day clinical practice could reduce in-person clinic visits and improve glucose control.

Impact of interprofessional collaboration on chronic disease management: Findings from a systematic review of clinical trial and meta-analysis.

Improvement of chronic disease management demands effective collaborative relationships between health and social-care which is achieved through teamwork. Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) are recognized as essential for the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare. Although IPC and IPE are key components of primary care, evidence of studies evaluating how an IPE intervention prior to IPC improved chronic patient outcomes remains scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of IPC interventions on the management of chronic patients compared to usual care. A systematic review and meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) on IPC interventions on chronicity management and their impact on clinical and process outcomes was conducted. Of the 11,128 papers initially retrieved, 23 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses results showed the reduction of systolic blood pressure (Mean Difference (MD) -3.70; 95 % CI -7.39, -0.01), glycosylated hemoglobin (MD -0.20; 95 % CI -0.47, -0.07), LDL cholesterol (MD -5.74; 95 % CI -9.34, -2.14), diastolic blood pressure (MD -1.95; 95 % CI -3.18, -0.72), days of hospitalization (MD -2.22; 95 % CI -4.30, -0.140). A number of positive findings for outcomes related to IPC were found reflecting an improvement of quality of care and an enhancement in the delivery of patient-centered and coordinated care. Moreover, the need for a purposeful systemic approach linking interprofessional education with interprofessional collaboration and patient health and wellbeing is necessary.

Care transitions and social needs: A Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research (GEAR) Network scoping review and consensus statement.

OBJECTIVES: Individual-level social needs have been shown to substantially impact emergency department (ED) care transitions of older adults. The Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research (GEAR) Network aimed to identify care transition interventions, particularly addressing social needs, and prioritize future research questions. METHODS: GEAR engaged 49 interdisciplinary stakeholders, derived clinical questions, and conducted searches of electronic databases to identify ED discharge care transition interventions in older adult populations. Informed by the Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients' Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) framework, data extraction and synthesis of included studies included the degree that intervention components addressed social needs and their association with patient outcomes. GEAR convened a consensus conference to identify topics of highest priority for future care transitions research. RESULTS: Our search identified 248 unique articles addressing care transition interventions in older adult populations. Of these, 17 individual care transition intervention studies were included in the current literature synthesis. Overall, common care transition interventions included coordination efforts, comprehensive geriatric assessments, discharge planning, and telephone or in-person follow-up. Fourteen of the 17 care transition intervention studies in older adults specifically addressed at least one social need within the PRAPARE framework, most commonly related to access to food, medicine, or health care. No care transition intervention addressing social needs in older adult populations consistently reduced subsequent health care utilization or other patient-centered outcomes. GEAR stakeholders identified that determining optimal outcome measures for ED-home transition interventions was the highest priority area for future care transitions research. CONCLUSIONS: ED care transition intervention studies in older adults frequently address at least one social need component and exhibit variation in the degree of success on a wide array of health care utilization outcomes.

Senior gambling: risk or reward?

For a growing number of older adults, a day outing to a local casino has become one of the more enjoyable and accessible opportunities for socialization and entertainment. Unfortunately, for some older adults this growing pastime increases their risk for developing a gambling problem or, worse yet, a gambling addiction. The consequences of problematic gambling behaviors for individuals living on a fixed income require greater attention by social work researchers, practitioners, and providers of senior services. The development and implementation of a Gambling Education Workshop for older adults attending senior centers in a large metropolitan area, along with qualitative interviews with a sample of workshop participants, are reported in this article. Among the findings from this project are the needs for greater awareness of the risk factors associated with problematic gambling, as well as greater awareness among older adults about the consequences associated with gambling.

Tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento en niños nacidos pequeños para la edad gestacional. Experiencia de un centro / Growth hormone treatment in small for gestational age children. A single-center experience

Introducción. Los pequeños para la edad gestacional (PEG) suelen tener una talla final 1 DE bajo la media. Se diferencian tres grupos según antropometría al nacimiento: de peso reducido (PRN), de longitud reducida (LRN) o ambos. Objetivos. Describir las características de los pacientes PEG atendidos en el Servicio de Endocrinología Pediátrica de un hospital de tercer nivel, y analizar la evolución de niños PEG sin crecimiento recuperador a los 4 años de edad, en tratamiento con hormona del crecimiento (GH), según su diagnóstico. Métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes PEG atendidos desde 2004 hasta 2021. Resultados. Se estudiaron 89 PEG; 44/89 iniciaron tratamiento con GH (11/44 PRN, 8/44 LRN y 25/44 ambos). La edad media al diagnóstico fue de 3,87 años; la talla media al inicio del tratamiento fue de -2,99 DE en los PEG diagnosticados por PRN, -2,85 DE en aquellos diagnosticados por LRN y -3,17 DE en los diagnosticados por bajo PRN y LRN. La talla final fue de -1,77, -1,52 y -1,23 DE, respectivamente, lo que supone una ganancia total de 1,22, 1,33 y 1,93 DE, respectivamente, alcanzando así su talla diana con una diferencia de 0,36 ± 0,08 DE. Conclusión. Menos de la mitad de los PEG derivados a la consulta precisaron tratamiento con GH, por no tener la edad de 4 años aún, o haber completado el crecimiento recuperador. Aquellos pacientes PEG según peso y longitud al nacimiento presentaron percentiles peores al diagnóstico y una mayor respuesta a GH.

Introduction. Small for gestational age (SGA) children usually have a final height of 1 SD below the mean. Three groups are established based on anthropometric characteristics at birth: low birth weight (LBW), short birth length (SBL), or both. Objectives. To describe the characteristics of SGA patients seen at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology of a tertiary care hospital and to analyze the course of SGA children without catch-up growth at 4 years of age who were receiving treatment with growth hormone (GH), according to their diagnosis. Methods. Retrospective study of SGA patients seen between 2004 and 2021. Results. A total of 89 SGA children were studied; 44/89 started treatment with GH (11/44 LBW, 8/44 SBL, and 25/44 both). Their mean age at diagnosis was 3.87 years; their mean height at treatment initiation was -2.99 SD in SGA children diagnosed by LBW, -2.85 SD in those with SBL, and -3.17 SD in those with both LBW and SBL. Their final height was -1.77, -1.52, and -1.23 SD, respectively, with a total gain of 1.22, 1.33, and 1.93 SD, respectively, thus reaching their target height with a difference of 0.36 ± 0.08 SD. Conclusion. Less than half of SGA children referred to the clinic required treatment with GH because they were not yet 4 years old or had not completed their catch-up growth. SGA patients according to birth weight and length had worse percentiles at diagnosis and a greater response to GH.

[Importance of the exhaustive anamnesis to an unexplained unilateral gynecomastia in a child]. / Importancia de la anamnesis exhaustiva ante una ginecomastia unilateral inexplicada en un niño.

Gynecomastia consists of breast enlargement due to a hormonal imbalance between estrogens and androgens. Unilateral and important breast growth requires ruling underlying pathologic disorders out. Mechanical cause is uncommon, causing enlargement by repeated stimulation. We report a 6-year-old boy with unilateral gynecomastia. Hyperprolactinemia is the only abnormal finding at laboratory tests. After repeated inquiries, a continuous breast selfstimulation is detected. Its relation with gynecomastia is verified because prolactin normalizes and breast regressed in further revisions, after stopping stimulus.

La ginecomastia es el crecimiento de la mama por un desequilibrio hormonal entre estrógenos y andrógenos. Un crecimiento importante y unilateral requiere descartar patologías subyacentes. Una causa poco frecuente es la traumática, que provoca aumento de tamaño por estimulación repetida. Se presenta el caso de un niño de 6 años con ginecomastia unilateral. Se destaca como único hallazgo en las pruebas complementarias hiperprolactinemia. Rehistoriando, se detecta una continua autoestimulación mamaria manual y oral a través de mordiscos de meses de evolución. Tras el cese del estímulo, se observa la involución de la mama y la normalización de los niveles de prolactina séricos.

A psychoeducational model for Hispanic Alzheimer's disease caregivers.

PURPOSE: More than 14 million persons are projected to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by the year 2020; therefore, it is not surprising that the literature contains numerous caregiver intervention studies. What is surprising is that although minority elders represent one of the fastest growing segments of the older population, they are seldom discussed in the intervention literature. DESIGN AND METHODS: A purposive sample of Hispanic caregivers participated in a 5-day, 20-hr psychoeducational program to increase the caregivers' understanding and acceptance of AD, repertoire of coping skills, knowledge of resources, and expression of concerns and emotions of caregiving. Pre- and posttests were administered to determine if participation in the program improved caregivers' knowledge of the progression and management of AD, as well as knowledge of appropriate community-based services. RESULTS: Caregivers demonstrated a significant improvement on the Caregiver Knowledge Survey, an increased awareness of community-based services, increased willingness to attend support groups, and overall satisfaction with the program. IMPLICATIONS: Culturally sensitive intervention research with minority AD caregivers provides the opportunity to increase understanding and improve coping skills.

Mind-body techniques, race-ethnicity, and depression among urban senior center participants.

As the older adult population grows and becomes more diverse, more of its members are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). There are mixed findings regarding racial and ethnic differences in the use of CAM. This article explores racial and ethnic differences in use of a category of CAM known as mind-body techniques (MBT) among senior center participants with symptoms of depression. It also examines the relationship between use of MBT and depression severity. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a representative sample of senior center participants in New York City, from which a subsample of those with depressive symptoms was drawn. Racial and ethnic differences in MBT use were identified, as was a significant negative relationship between MBT use and depression severity. African American elders were more likely to have used MBT than other racial or ethnic groups. When controlling for race or ethnicity, health status, and barriers to medical care, predictors of depression severity included health status, experiencing barriers to medical care, and Hispanic identity. Findings suggest that being female or younger is associated with a higher likelihood of using CAM. Contrary to some prior research, education level was not associated with use of MBT.