Impact of an inpatient multidisciplinary glucose control management program.

OBJECTIVE: Glycemic control has been increasingly recognized as a critical element in inpatient care, but optimal management of blood glucose in the hospital setting remains challenging. The aims of this study were to describe and evaluate the impact of the implementation of an inpatient multidisciplinary glucose control management program on glucose control in hospitalized patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records and glucose monitoring data obtained by point- of-care testing (POCT) in hospitalized patients before (May 2014) and after (June 2015 and May 2017) the implementation of the program. RESULTS: We analyzed 6888, 7290, and 7669 POCTs from 389, 545, and 475 patients in May 2014, June 2015, and May 2017, respectively. Hyperglycemia (≥ 180 mg/ dL) occurred in 23.5%, 19.6%, and 19.3% POCTs in May 2014, June 2015, and May/2017, respectively (p < 0.001), while severe hyperglycemia (≥ 300 mg/dL) was observed in 2.5%, 2.2%, and 1.8% of them, respectively (p = 0.003). Hyperglycemia (≥ 180 mg/dL) reduced significantly from May 2014 to June 2015 (16.3%, p < 0.001) and from May 2014 to May 2017 (178%, p < 0.001). No significant changes occurred in hypoglycemic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an inpatient multidisciplinary glucose control management program led to significant reductions in hyperglycemic events. The key elements for this achievement were the development of institutional inpatient glycemic control protocols, establishment of a multidisciplinary team, and continuing educational programs for hospital personnel. Altogether, these actions resulted in improvements in care processes, patient safety, and clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients.

Pancreatic fat deposition is increased and related to beta-cell function in women with familial partial lipodystrophy.

BACKGROUND: To study pancreatic fat deposition and beta-cell function in familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) patients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, eleven patients with FPLD, and eight healthy volunteers were matched for age and body mass index and studied at a referral center. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and the Dixon method of magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantify pancreatic and liver fat. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, lipids and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance values were measured, and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed. The insulinogenic index, Matsuda insulin sensitivity index and beta-cell disposition index were calculated. RESULTS: The FPLD group presented a higher waist-to-hip ratio and fat mass ratio and lower total, truncal and lower-limb fat masses. Pancreatic and liver fat contents (log transformed) were significantly higher in the FPLD group (5.26 ± 1.5 vs. 4.08 ± 0.64, p = 0.034 and 0.77 ± 0.50 vs. 0.41 ± 0.18, p = 0.056, respectively). Pancreatic fat was inversely related to the DI (r = - 0.53, p = 0.027) and HDL-cholesterol (r = - 0.63, p = 0.003) and directly related to WHR (r = 0.60; p = 0.009), HbA1c (r = 0.58; p = 0.01) and serum triglyceride (r = 0.48, p = 0.034). Higher triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol levels were observed in the FPLD group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated for the first time that pancreatic fat deposition is increased in FPLD. Moreover, an inverse relationship was demonstrated between pancreatic fat and beta-cell function. The findings of this study may be consistent with the expandability hypothesis and the twin cycle hypothesis.

Impact of an inpatient multidisciplinary glucose control management program

ABSTRACT Objective: Glycemic control has been increasingly recognized as a critical element in inpatient care, but optimal management of blood glucose in the hospital setting remains challenging. The aims of this study were to describe and evaluate the impact of the implementation of an inpatient multidisciplinary glucose control management program on glucose control in hospitalized patients. Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records and glucose monitoring data obtained by point- of-care testing (POCT) in hospitalized patients before (May 2014) and after (June 2015 and May 2017) the implementation of the program. Results: We analyzed 6888, 7290, and 7669 POCTs from 389, 545, and 475 patients in May 2014, June 2015, and May 2017, respectively. Hyperglycemia (≥ 180 mg/ dL) occurred in 23.5%, 19.6%, and 19.3% POCTs in May 2014, June 2015, and May/2017, respectively (p < 0.001), while severe hyperglycemia (≥ 300 mg/dL) was observed in 2.5%, 2.2%, and 1.8% of them, respectively (p = 0.003). Hyperglycemia (≥ 180 mg/dL) reduced significantly from May 2014 to June 2015 (16.3%, p < 0.001) and from May 2014 to May 2017 (178%, p < 0.001). No significant changes occurred in hypoglycemic parameters. Conclusions: The implementation of an inpatient multidisciplinary glucose control management program led to significant reductions in hyperglycemic events. The key elements for this achievement were the development of institutional inpatient glycemic control protocols, establishment of a multidisciplinary team, and continuing educational programs for hospital personnel. Altogether, these actions resulted in improvements in care processes, patient safety, and clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients.

Dynamic Risk Stratification in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Treated Without Radioactive Iodine.

CONTEXT: Although response to therapy assessment is a validated tool for dynamic risk stratification in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treated with total thyroidectomy (TT) and radioactive iodine therapy (RAI), it has not been well studied in patients treated with lobectomy or TT without RAI. Because these responses to therapy definitions are heavily dependent on serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels, modifications of the original definitions were needed to appropriately classify patients treated without RAI. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the response to therapy assessment in patients with DTC treated with lobectomy or TT without RAI. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a retrospective study, which took place at a referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 507 adults with DTC were treated with lobectomy (n = 187) or TT (n = 320) without RAI. They had a median age of 43.7 y, 88% were female, 85.4% had low risk, and 14.6% intermediate risk. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Main outcome measured was recurrent/persistent structural evidence of disease (SED) during a median followup period of 100.5 months (24-510). RESULTS: Recurrent/persistent SED was observed in 0% of the patients with excellent response to therapy (nonstimulated Tg for TT < 0.2 ng/mL and for lobectomy < 30 ng/mL, undetectable Tg antibodies [TgAb] and negative imaging; n = 326); 1.3% with indeterminate response (nonstimulated Tg for TT 0.2-5 ng/mL, stable or declining TgAb and/or nonspecific imaging findings; n = 2/152); 31.6% of the patients with biochemical incomplete response (nonstimulated Tg for TT > 5 ng/mL and for lobectomy > 30 ng/mL and/or increasing Tg with similar TSH levels and/or increasing TgAb and negative imaging; n = 6/19) and all (100%) patients with structural incomplete response (n = 10/10) (P < .0001). Initial American Thyroid Association risk estimates were significantly modified based on response to therapy assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data validate the newly proposed response to therapy assessment in patients with DTC treated with lobectomy or TT without RAI as an effective tool to modify initial risk estimates of recurrent/persistent SED and better tailor followup and future therapeutic approaches. This study provides further evidence to support a selective use of RAI in DTC.

Is radioactive iodine- 131 treatment related to the occurrence of non-synchronous second primary malignancy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer?

Objective Much controversy relates to the risk of non-synchronous second primary malignancies (NSSPM) after radioactive iodine treatment (RAI-131) in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. This study evaluated the relationship between RAI-131 and NSSPM in DTC survivors with long-term follow-up. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis of 413 DTC cases was performed; 252 received RAI-131 and 161 were treated with thyroidectomy alone. Exclusion criteria were: prior or synchronous non-thyroidal malignancies (within the first year), familial syndromes associated to multiple neoplasms, ionizing radiation exposure or second tumors with unknown histopathology. Results During a mean follow-up of 11.0 ± 7.5 years, 17 (4.1%) patients developed solid NSSPM. Patients with NSSPM were older than those without (p = 0.02). RAI-131 and I-131 cumulative activity were similar in patients with and without NSSPM (p = 0.18 and p = 0.78, respectively). Incidence of NSSPM was 5.2% in patients with RAI-131 treatment and 2.5% in those without RAI-131 (p = 0.18). Using multivariate analysis, RAI-131 was not significantly associated with NSSPM occurrence (p = 0.35); age was the only independent predictor (p = 0.04). Under log rank statistical analysis, after 10 years of follow-up, it was observed a tendency of lower NSSPM-free survival among patients that received RAI-131 treatment (0.96 vs . 0.87; p = 0.06), what was not affected by age at DTC diagnosis. Conclusion In our cohort of DTC survivors, with a long-term follow-up period, RAI-131 treatment and I-131 cumulative dose were not significantly associated with NSSPM occurrence. A tendency of premature NSSPM occurrence among patients treated with RAI-131 was observed, suggesting an anticipating oncogenic effect by interaction with other risk factors.

Is radioactive iodine- 131 treatment related to the occurrence of non-synchronous second primary malignancy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer?

OBJECTIVE: Much controversy relates to the risk of non-synchronous second primary malignancies (NSSPM) after radioactive iodine treatment (RAI-131) in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. This study evaluated the relationship between RAI-131 and NSSPM in DTC survivors with long-term follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 413 DTC cases was performed; 252 received RAI-131 and 161 were treated with thyroidectomy alone. Exclusion criteria were: prior or synchronous non-thyroidal malignancies (within the first year), familial syndromes associated to multiple neoplasms, ionizing radiation exposure or second tumors with unknown histopathology. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 11.0 ± 7.5 years, 17 (4.1%) patients developed solid NSSPM. Patients with NSSPM were older than those without (p = 0.02). RAI-131 and I-131 cumulative activity were similar in patients with and without NSSPM (p = 0.18 and p = 0.78, respectively). Incidence of NSSPM was 5.2% in patients with RAI-131 treatment and 2.5% in those without RAI-131 (p = 0.18). Using multivariate analysis, RAI-131 was not significantly associated with NSSPM occurrence (p = 0.35); age was the only independent predictor (p = 0.04). Under log rank statistical analysis, after 10 years of follow-up, it was observed a tendency of lower NSSPM-free survival among patients that received RAI-131 treatment (0.96 vs . 0.87; p = 0.06), what was not affected by age at DTC diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In our cohort of DTC survivors, with a long-term follow-up period, RAI-131 treatment and I-131 cumulative dose were not significantly associated with NSSPM occurrence. A tendency of premature NSSPM occurrence among patients treated with RAI-131 was observed, suggesting an anticipating oncogenic effect by interaction with other risk factors.

Update on differentiated thyroid cancer staging.

In this review, we demonstrate how initial estimates of the risk of disease-specific mortality and recurrent/persistent disease should be used to guide initial treatment recommendations and early management decisions and to set appropriate patient expectations with regard to likely outcomes after initial therapy of thyroid cancer. The use of ongoing risk stratification to modify these initial risk estimates is also discussed. Novel response to therapy definitions are proposed that can be used for ongoing risk stratification in thyroid cancer patients treated with lobectomy or total thyroidectomy without radioactive iodine remnant ablation.

On the crucial ventilatory setting adjustment from two- to one-lung ventilation.

Lung mechanics, histology, oxygenation and type-III procollagen (PCIII) mRNA were studied aiming to evaluate the need to readjust ventilatory pattern when going from two- to one-lung ventilation (OLV). Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: the left lung was not ventilated while the right lung received: (1) tidal volume (V(T))=5 ml/kg and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)=2 cm H(2)O (V5P2), (2) V(T)=10 ml/kg and PEEP=2 cm H(2)O (V10P2), and (3) V(T)=5 ml/kg and PEEP=5 cm H(2)O (V5P5). At 1-h ventilation, V5P2 showed hypoxemia, alveolar collapse and impaired lung function. Higher PEEP minimized these changes and prevented hypoxemia. Although high V(T) prevented hypoxemia and maintained a higher specific compliance than V5P2, a morphologically inhomogeneous parenchyma and higher PCIII expression resulted. In conclusion, the association of low V(T) and an adequate PEEP level could be useful to maintain arterial oxygenation without inducing a possible inflammatory/remodeling response.