Hepatic Steatosis, Carbohydrate Intake, and Food Quotient in Patients with NAFLD.

Is steatosis related to the spontaneous carbohydrate intake in patients with NAFLD? We performed dietary records for 24 patients with NAFLD, 3 months after their liver biopsy was performed and before the deliverance of a dietary advice. The food quotient, indicator of the proportion of calories from carbohydrates, was calculated as (1.00×% calories from carbohydrates/100) + (0.70×% calories from lipids/100) + (0.81×% calories from proteins/100). The associations between diet variables and steatosis% on the hepatic biopsies were tested by regression analysis, and diet variables were compared according to the presence of fibrosis. The subjects displayed a large range of steatosis, 50.5% ± 25.5 [10-90], correlated with their energy intake (1993 ± 597 kcal/d, r = 0.41, P < 0.05) and food quotient (0.85 ± 0.02, r = 0.42, P < 0.05), which remained significant with both variables by a multivariate regression analysis (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). For the 17/24 patients with a hepatic fibrosis, the energy intake was lower (fibrosis: 1863 ± 503 versus others: 2382 ± 733 kcal/d, P < 0.05), and their food quotients did not differ from patients without fibrosis. Hepatic steatosis was related to the energy and carbohydrate intakes in our patients; the role of dietary carbohydrates was detectable in the range of usual carbohydrate intake: 32% to 58% calories.

Can continuous glucose monitoring systems predict glycemia?

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the arrow on a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) screen predicts the course of the capillary glucose level 15 min later. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with type 1 diabetes (age, 40±13 years; diabetes duration, 19±12 years; hemoglobin A1c, 8.5±1.5%) admitted for education in the use of a CGMS performed 242 observations: the arrow was noted at time 0, and the interstitial and capillary glucose levels were noted at time 0 and 15 min later. RESULTS: The capillary glucose courses were -15±28 mg/dL after a descending arrow (n=55), +1±23 mg/dL after a stable arrow (n=147) (P<0.001 vs. descending), and +2±23 mg/dL after an ascending arrow (n=40) (P<0.01 vs. descending), with similar findings for the 67 observations after an interstitial glucose level <100 mg/dL. There were 4.5% grossly erroneous arrows: six descending with later increasing and five ascending with later decreasing capillary glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is a large room for improvement, the arrow on the CGMS screen does predict the decline in capillary glucose 15 min later.

Screening for liver fibrosis by using FibroScan(®) and FibroTest in patients with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes are at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease leading to cirrhosis. Existing guidelines do not advocate screening for liver related complications amongst persons with diabetes. AIM: The aim of this prospective study was to identify patients with severe liver fibrosis amongst patients hospitalized for their diabetes, using non-invasive methods, and to evaluate factors associated with severe fibrosis. METHODS: Consecutive patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes had clinical, biological parameters and liver fibrosis evaluation. Severe fibrosis was predicted when FibroTest was >0.59 or liver stiffness >8.7 kPa. RESULTS: A total of 277 patients were evaluated (type 1 diabetes 52%). The prevalence of severe fibrosis was 15.5%. By univariate analysis, factors associated with severe fibrosis were age, type 2 diabetes, body mass index, metabolic syndrome, previous cardiovascular events, no retinopathy, past history of foot ulcer, and elevated alanine aminotransferase. By multivariate analysis, factors associated with severe fibrosis were age >50 years, type 2 diabetes, no retinopathy, and past history of foot ulcer. CONCLUSION: This study showed an elevated prevalence of severe fibrosis in hospitalized diabetic patients, especially patients aged 50 years or older with type 2 diabetes, or with a past history of foot ulcer.

Tumor sólido quístico papilar del páncreas: Presentación de un caso clínico. Hospital "Dr. Luís Ortega" de Porlamar

El tumor sólido quistito papilar de páncreas, es una patología poco frecuente, con bajo grado de malignidad, que afecta fundamentalmente a mujeres jóvenes y de difícil diagnostico dada la poca especificidad de los síntomas. Se presenta en este artículo un caso clínico, y se revisa la literatura en cuanto a la presentación clínica, métodos diagnósticos y alternativas terapéuticas.

Solid-cystic-papillary tumor, this tumor appears to be rare, low degree malignant, strong female preponderance a diagnostic challenge, due to the lack or specificity of the symptoms. In this article one case is presented, and a review of the literature, focusing in the clinical presentation, diagnostic methods and therapeutic alternatives is made.