Risk factors associated with the need for insulin in patients with gestational diabetes in a reference hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina: retrospective cohort study / Factores de riesgo asociados al requerimiento de insulina en pacientes con diabetes gestacional en un hospital de referencia en Buenos Aires, Argentina: estudio de cohorte retrospectiva

Objectives: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to assess factors potentially associated with out-of-target glycemic control and the need for insulin. Materials and methods: Retrospective descriptive cohort. Women with GDM delivered at a reference hospital between January 2018 and September 2020 were included; women delivered in a different institution were excluded. Measured variables were age, body mass index (BMI) at the start of pregnancy, family history of diabetes, gestational age at the time of diagnosis, blood glucose levels at baseline and following oral glucose tolerance test, fructosamine, Hba1c, and insulin therapy use. A descriptive exploratory analysis of factors associated with poor glycemic control was conducted using uni and multivariate analyses. Results: Of the patients with GDM, 44 % were out of target for blood glucose with lifestyle and dietary measures. The exploratory analyses revealed a potential increase in the risk of poor glycemic control associated with initial blood glucose level on OGTT (raw OR: 3.57; 95 % CI: 2.1 - 6.1), BMI > 25 kg/m2 (OR: 1.97, 95 % CI: 1.15 - 3.34), and more advanced gestational age at the time of diagnosis as a protective factor against the need for insulin therapy (OR: 0.45, 95 % CI: 0.27- 0.75). However, these associations were not confirmed in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: A baseline blood glucose value greater than 95 mg/dl and BMI of more than 25 kg/m2 could be associated with poor glycemic control in women with GDM. Studies that assess these variables and control for confounding factors are needed in order to identify the factors associated with insulin requirement in pregnant women.

Objetivos: describir las características clínicas y sociodemográficas de las gestantes con diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus gestacional (DMG) y evaluar posibles factores asociados al control glucémico fuera de objetivo y requerimiento de insulina. Materiales y métodos: cohorte retrospectiva descriptiva. Se incluyeron mujeres con DMG atendidas en un hospital de referencia entre enero de 2018 y septiembre de 2020; se excluyeron mujeres con parto realizado en otra Institución. Las variables medidas fueron edad, índice de masa corporal al inicio del embarazo, antecedentes familiares de diabetes, edad gestacional al diagnóstico, glucemia basal y glucemia post prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa, fructosamina, Hba1c, y uso de insulinoterapia. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y exploratorio de los factores asociados al mal control glucémico por medio del análisis uni y multivariado. Resultados: el 44 % de las pacientes con DMG presentaron control glucémico fuera de objetivo con medidas higiénico-dietéticas. El análisis exploratorio mostró que podría haber un incremento en el riesgo del mal control glucémico asociado al valor inicial de la glucemia durante la PTOG (OR crudo: 3,57, IC 95 %: 2,1 - 6,1), el IMC > 25 kg/m2 (OR: 1,97, IC 95 %: 1,15 - 3,34) y la mayor edad gestacional al momento del diagnóstico como factor protector del requerimiento de la insulinoterapia (OR: 0,45, IC 95 %: 0,27 - 0,75). Sin embargo, estas asociaciones no se confirmó en el análisis multivariado. Conclusiones: el valor de la glucemia basal mayor a 95 mg/dl, el IMC mayor a 25 kg/m2 podrían estar asociadas al mal control glucémico en las mujeres con DMG. Se necesitan estudios que evalúen estas variables con control de los factores de confusión para determinar los factores que indican el uso de insulina en mujeres gestantes.

Factores de riesgo asociados al requerimiento de insulina en pacientes con diabetes gestacional en un hospital de referencia en Buenos Aires, Argentina: estudio de cohorte retrospectiva / Risk factors associated with the need for insulin in patients with gestational diabetes in a reference hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina: retrospective cohort study

Objetivos: Describir las características clínicas y sociodemográficas de las gestantes con diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus gestacional (DMG) y evaluar posibles factores asociados al control glucémico fuera de objetivo y requerimiento de insulina. Materiales y métodos: Cohorte retrospectiva descriptiva. Se incluyeron mujeres con DMG atendidas en un hospital de referencia entre enero de 2018 y septiembre de 2020; se excluyeron mujeres con parto realizado en otra Institución. Las variables medidas fueron edad, índice de masa corporal al inicio del embarazo, antecedentes familiares de diabetes, edad gestacional al diagnóstico, glucemia basal y glucemia post prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa, fructosamina, prueba de hemoglobina glicosilada (HbAlc), y uso de insulinoterapia. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y exploratorio de los factores asociados al mal control glucémico por medio del análisis uni y multivariado. Resultados: El 44 % de las pacientes con DMG presentaron control glucémico fuera de objetivo con medidas higiénico-dietéticas. El análisis exploratorio mostró que podría haber un incremento en el riesgo del mal control glucémico asociado al valor inicial de la glucemia durante la PTOG (OR crudo: 3,57, IC 95 %: 2,1 - 6,1), el IMC > 25 kg/m2 (OR crudo: 1,97, IC 95 %: 1,15 - 3,34) y la mayor edad gestacional al momento del diagnóstico como factor protector del requerimiento de la insulinoterapia (OR crudo: 0,45, IC 95 %: 0,27 - 0,75). Sin embargo, estas asociaciones no se confirmaron en el análisis multivariado. Conclusiones: El valor de la glucemia basal mayor a 95 mg/dl, el IMC mayor a 25 kg/m2 podrían estar asociadas al mal control glucémico en las mujeres con DMG. Se necesitan estudios que evalúen estas variables con control de los factores de confusión para determinar los factores que indican el uso de insulina en mujeres gestantes.

Objectives: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to assess factors potentially associated with out-of-target glycemic control and the need for insulin. Material and methods: Retrospective descriptive cohort. Women with GDM delivered at a reference hospital between January 2018 and September 2020 were included; women delivered in a different institution were excluded. Measured variables were age, body mass index (BMI) at the start of pregnancy, family history of diabetes, gestational age at the time of diagnosis, blood glucose levels at baseline and following oral glucose tolerance test, fructosamine, Hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c), and insulin therapy use. A descriptive analysis was done. An exploratory analysis of factors associated with poor glycemic control was also conducted using uni and multivariate analyses. Results: Of the patients with GDM, 44 % were out of target for blood glucose with lifestyle and dietary measures. The exploratory analyses revealed a potential increase in the risk of poor glycemic control associated with initial blood glucose level on OGTT (crude OR: 3.57; 95 % CI:2.1-6.1), BMI > 25 kg/m2 (crude OR:1.97,95 % CI: 1.15 - 3.34), and more advanced gestational age at the time of diagnosis as a protective factor against the need for insulin therapy (crude OR: 0.45, 95 % CI: 0.27- 0.75). However, these associations were not confirmed in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: A baseline blood glucose value greater than 95 mg/dl and BMI of more than 25 kg/m2 could be associated with poor glycemic control in women with GDM. Studies that assess these variables and control for confounding factors are needed in order to identify the factors associated with insulin requirement in pregnant women.

Relación entre el índice de masa corporal y el nivel de los ácidos grasos circulantes maternos como predictores de la presencia de la macrosomía fetal / Relationship between body mass index and maternal circulating fatty acid levels as predictors of the presence of fetal macrosomia

Introducción: los recién nacidos con peso elevado al nacer presentan mayor riesgo de complicaciones en el parto y problemas de salud a largo plazo. Un factor poco explorado durante la gestación es el nivel de los ácidos grasos circulantes. Materiales y métodos: estudio prospectivo donde se estudiaron mujeres durante el embarazo hasta el parto. Se analizaron las variables antropométricas y la medición de ácidos grasos libres entre las semanas 24-28 de gestación. Resultados: se incluyeron 27 pacientes, de las cuales cuatro (13,8%) dieron a luz a recién nacidos macrosómicos. Las pacientes se agruparon según el índice de masa corporal (IMC) preembarazo en normopeso y sobrepeso u obesidad. Los bebés macrosómicos correspondieron al grupo de madres con sobrepeso y obesidad que, además, tuvieron un incremento significativo de los niveles de ácidos grasos libres (2067 uM, ICC: 947,5-1590 vs 1212 uM, ICC: 13367-2247; p<0,05) en el grupo obesidad y sobrepeso. Los valores de glucemia basal y posteriores a la prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa no mostraron diferencias. El análisis multivariado reveló que tener obesidad o sobrepeso al inicio del embarazo resulta en un odds ratio (OR) de ácidos grasos libres de 1,0023 (IC9 5%:1,0000-1,0046), mientras que la prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa presentó un OR: 1,0186 (IC 95%: 0,9645-1,0756). Conclusiones: los resultados muestran el rol del IMC pregestacional sobre el riesgo de tener hijos macrosómicos, lo que confirma la necesidad de mejorar el estado nutricional de las mujeres antes y durante el embarazo.

Introduction: neonates with high birth weight are at increased risk of birth complications and long term health problems. An unexplored factor during gestation is the level of circulating fatty acids. Materials and methods: prospective study where women were studied during pregnancy until delivery. Anthropometric variables and free fatty acid measurements were analyzed between 24-28 weeks of gestation. Results: we included 27 patients, of whom 4 (13.8%) gave birth to macrosomic newborns. Patients were grouped according to pre-pregnancy mass index (BMI) into normal weight and overweight or obese. Macrosomic neonates corresponded to the group of overweight and obese mothers, who also presented a significant increase in free fatty acid levels (2067 uM, ICC: 947,5-1590 vs 1212 uM, ICC: 13367-2247; p<0.05) was found in the obese and overweight group. Basal and post oral glucose tolerance test showed no differences, Multivariate analysis showed that being obese or overweight at the beginning of pregnancy results in an OR of free fatty acids 1,0023 (95%CI: 1,0000-1,0046), while oral glucose tolerance test presented an OR: 1,0186 (95%CI: 0,9645-1,0756). Conclusions: the results show the role of pre-gestational BMI on the risk of having macrosomic children, confirming the need to improve the nutritional status of women before and during pregnancy

Regulation of the cellular redox state and the expression of DNA methyltransferase-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Graves' disease.

BACKGROUND: Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder characterised by excessive production of thyroid hormones, which induces increased cellular metabolism in most tissues and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of ROS on cell viability and the expression of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT-1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease or treated with methimazole. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For this study, women patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease (n=18), treated with methimazole (n=6) and healthy subjects (n=15) were recruited. ROS were evaluated by flow cytometry, and the viability/apoptosis of PBMC was analysed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Genomic expression of CAT, GPx-1, SOD-1 and DNMT-1 was quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS: We found high levels of ROS and increased expression of CAT, GPx-1, SOD-1 and DNMT-1 in PBMC from patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease. Methimazole treatment reversed these parameters. Cell viability was similar in all study groups. CONCLUSIONS: ROS induces the expression of CAT, GPx-1, and SOD-1. The activity of these enzymes may contribute to the protection of PBMC from the harmful effect of free radicals on cell viability. Increased expression of DNMT-1 may be associated with aberrant methylation patterns in immunoregulatory genes contributing to autoimmunity in Graves' disease.

Treatment with Intramuscular Levothyroxine in Refractory Hypothyroidism.

INTRODUCTION: Orally and daily levothyroxine (LT4) is the treatment of choice for hypothyroidism. In the majority of cases, the lack of effectiveness by this way may be due to poor adherence; however, gastrointestinal malabsorption may explain more cases of thyroxine refractoriness than previously reputed, due to the number of occult forms of these disorders. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old white man with a diagnosis of low risk of recurrence of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma was treated with total thyroidectomy, 30 mCi iodine 131, and oral LT4. A year before he presented a gastric adenocarcinoma that required a partial gastrectomy. He evolved with multiple episodes of intestinal subocclusion that had to be treated with enterectomy in the first instance, then digestive rest and total parenteral nutrition. In spite of having made increases in oral LT4 dose (3 µg/kg), the patient persisted with a thyroid-stimulating hormone level >100 mIU/L. For this reason, we decided to administer intramuscular LT4. CONCLUSION: Since there are no guidelines or consensus of intramuscular LT4 use, our experience and how we decided the dose and way of administration are presented in this article to contribute to future cases.