Metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer: worst prognosis in patients with metachronous metastases.

PURPOSE: To describe the overall survival and progression-free survival in patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma with synchronous and metachronous metastatic involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 101 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who had metastatic involvement at diagnosis or during follow-up, who were treated at the National Cancer Institute between January 1, 2010 and December 31 of 2015. RESULTS: 81 patients (80.2%) were women and the mean age at diagnosis was 49 years (12-80). Synchronous metastases were detected in 54.5% of patients and metachronous metastasis was diagnosed in 45.5% of patients, in whom the mean time between initial diagnosis and the finding of distant metastases was 5 years. Pulmonary involvement occurred in almost all patients, with 131I uptake in 58% of synchronous metastases and in 21% of metachronous. There were 10 events in the patients with 131I-avid metastases with a median time to progression that was not reached, and there were 23 events in patients with 131I-refractory metastases with a median time to progression of 96 months; The median time to progression was significantly longer in patients with synchronous metastases compared to those with metachronous metastases (Not reached vs 95 months, P = 0.017) The 5-year overall survival rate was 95% to the entire cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The present study contributes to the expansion of the knowledge about this clinical course of DTC with the finding of a worst prognosis in patients with metachronous metastases.

SDHB exon 1 deletion: A recurrent germline mutation in Colombian patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) (known as PPGL in combination) are rare neuroendocrine tumors of the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal ganglia. About 40% of the patients with PPGL have a hereditary predisposition. Here we present a case-series of 19 unrelated Colombian patients with a clinical diagnosis of PPGL tumors that underwent germline genetic testing as part of the Hereditary Cancer Program developed at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Colombia (INC-C), the largest reference cancer center in the country. Ten of 19 patients (52.63%) were identified as carriers of a pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline variant in a known susceptibility gene. The majority of the P/LP variants were in the SDHB gene (9/10): one corresponded to a nonsense variant c.268C>T (p.Arg90*) and eight cases were found to be carriers of a recurrent CNV consisting of a large deletion of one copy of exon 1, explaining 42% (8/19) of all the affected cases. Only one additional case was found to be a carrier of a missense mutation in the VHL gene: c.355T>C (p.Phe119Leu). Our study highlights the major role of SDHB in Colombian patients with a clinical diagnosis of PGL/PCC tumors and supports the recommendation of including the analysis of large deletions/duplications of the SDHB gene as part of the genetic counselling to improve the detection rate of hereditary cases and their clinical care.

Carcinoma adrenocortical: Presentación y desenlaces en una institución oncológica / Adrenocortical carcinoma: Presentation and outcomes at an oncological institute

Resumen Introducción: El carcinoma adrenocortical es una neoplasia endocrina infrecuente pero con un comportamiento altamente agresivo y pobre pronóstico. Dado su baja prevalencia, la experiencia de los centros de referencia es fundamental para aumentar el conocimiento de esta entidad. Métodos: Se elaboró una serie de casos de pacientes con carcinoma adrenocortical, tratados en una institución oncológica de referencia entre enero de 2007 y diciembre de 2017. Se describieron las características clínicas e histopatológicas de los pacientes. Se estimó el tiempo de supervivencia libre de progresión y el tiempo de supervivencia global (SG) de forma gráfica y con funciones de tiempo al evento mediante la función de Kaplan-Meier. Resultados: Se identificaron 19 pacientes, 14 de los cuales fueron mujeres con edad media al diagnóstico de 43.4 años (rango 20 - 65). El 58% de los pacientes tuvo secreción hormonal, siendo el síndrome de Cushing el predominante. 7 pacientes tuvieron compromiso metastásico al momento del diagnóstico. Todos los pacientes fueron llevados a adrenalectomía y el estado postquirúrgico en 10 pacientes fue R0. Al final del periodo de estudio, 11 pacientes estaban vivos. La mediana de supervivencia libre de progresión fue de 18 meses +/- 7.86 y la mediana de supervivencia global fue de 30 meses +/-19.80. Conclusión: En la población de pacientes analizada, se encontraron desenlaces de supervivencia libre de progresión y supervivencia global similares a lo reportado en centros de alta experiencia en patología adrenal.

Abstract Introduction: Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare endocrine neoplasm, but with highly aggressive behavior and a poor prognosis. Given its low prevalence, the experience of reference centers is essential to characterize the factors associated with this disease. Methods: It is a case series of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma, treated at a reference oncology institute between January 2007 and December 2017. The clinical and histopathological characteristics of patients are described. Progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were estimated graphically and with time-to-event data using the Kaplan-Meier function. Results: 19 patients were identified; 14 of them were women with a mean age at diagnosis of 43.4 years (range 20-65). 58% of the patients had hormone secretion, with Cushing's syndrome being the predominant one. 7 patients had metastatic compromise at the time of diagnosis. All patients underwent adrenalectomy, and R0 was the post-surgical status in 10 of them. At the end of the study period, 11 patients were alive. The median progression-free survival was 18 months +/- 7.86, and the median overall survival was 30 months +/- 19.8. Conclusion: In the analyzed patient population, outcomes of progression-free survival and overall survival were similar to that reported at centers with extensive experience in adrenal disease.

Safety and efficacy of sorafenib in patients with advanced thyroid carcinoma: a phase II study (NCT02084732)

ABSTRACT Objective: Sorafenib significantly prolonged progression-free survival in patients with iodine-refractory advanced thyroid cancer. The present study was initiated before sorafenib was approved in Colombia and therefore represents an effort by an oncology institution to evaluate its efficacy and safety in this population. Subjects and methods: This phase II clinical trial had a single treatment arm. We included adult patients with progressive metastatic iodine-refractory thyroid cancer who received treatment with sorafenib 800 mg/day (400 mg every 12 hours) up to a maximum of 24 months or until the occurrence of limiting related toxicity, the progression of the disease, or voluntary withdrawal. Results: Nineteen patients received the treatment and were included in the safety analysis. However, for the efficacy analysis, 6 patients were excluded because they received only one month of therapy. Thirteen (68%) patients were women, and the mean age at diagnosis was 61.8 years. No complete responses were observed; 5 patients had a partial response (35.7%), 6 patients had stable disease, and 3 showed progression. Mean progression-free survival was calculated at 18 months (95% CI 10.7-20.3). Overall survival was estimated at 21.3 months (95% CI 17.8-24.8). Conclusion: For the first time in Colombia, the efficacy of sorafenib was evaluated in patients with advanced and progressive thyroid carcinoma refractory to radioactive iodine, with an efficacy and a safety profile similar to those previously reported.

Safety and efficacy of sorafenib in patients with advanced thyroid carcinoma: a phase II study (NCT02084732).

OBJECTIVE: Sorafenib significantly prolonged progression-free survival in patients with iodine-refractory advanced thyroid cancer. The present study was initiated before sorafenib was approved in Colombia and therefore represents an effort by an oncology institution to evaluate its efficacy and safety in this population. METHODS: This phase II clinical trial had a single treatment arm. We included adult patients with progressive metastatic iodine-refractory thyroid cancer who received treatment with sorafenib 800 mg/day (400 mg every 12 hours) up to a maximum of 24 months or until the occurrence of limiting related toxicity, the progression of the disease, or voluntary withdrawal. RESULTS: Nineteen patients received the treatment and were included in the safety analysis. However, for the efficacy analysis, 6 patients were excluded because they received only one month of therapy. Thirteen (68%) patients were women, and the mean age at diagnosis was 61.8 years. No complete responses were observed; 5 patients had a partial response (35.7%), 6 patients had stable disease, and 3 showed progression. Mean progression-free survival was calculated at 18 months (95% CI 10.7-20.3). Overall survival was estimated at 21.3 months (95% CI 17.8-24.8). CONCLUSION: For the first time in Colombia, the efficacy of sorafenib was evaluated in patients with advanced and progressive thyroid carcinoma refractory to radioactive iodine, with an efficacy and a safety profile similar to those previously reported.

Exposure to radiotherapy for first primary cancer as a risk factor for second primary thyroid cancer: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Second primary neoplasms are associated with high mortality and morbidity rates in cancer survivors successfully treated for the first malignancy. Studies suggested an association between the type of first neoplasm and risk of subsequent thyroid cancer, with part of this risk attributable to exposure to radiotherapy during treatment of the first primary tumor. This study aimed to determine whether radiotherapy is a risk factor for thyroid cancer in patients previously treated for another neoplasm. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included patients diagnosed with their first cancer between 2007 and 2017. Patients who subsequently developed thyroid cancer as a second primary neoplasm were defined as "cases", and patients who did not develop a second cancer were defined as "controls". Exposure to radiotherapy was the primary risk factor of interest; other risk factors were the site to which radiotherapy was delivered and the first neoplasm type. RESULTS: Exposure to radiotherapy was associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer (odds ratio [OR]=2.410, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.219-4.764), in particular, in women (OR=3.121, 95% CI: 1.232-7.907) and in patients receiving radiotherapy to the thorax (OR=6.298, 95% CI: 2.581-15.370). The median survival time from first cancer recovery to thyroid cancer occurrence was 63.80 months; there was no difference in survival between patients who did and did not receive radiotherapy (P=0.899). CONCLUSION: Radiation to the thorax can increase the risk of thyroid cancer as a second neoplasm among patients with cancer successfully treated for their first cancer.

Characterization of the ergometric properties of commercial bioactive dairy peptides.

The thermodynamic properties of bioactive peptides provide insights into their functional behavior and their biological efficacy. We conducted precise analyses of the density, the ultrasonic velocity and the relative attenuation of serial dilutions of three commercial dairy peptides prepared by enzymatic methods. From these we determined the partial specific volume and the partial specific adiabatic compressibility coefficient for the peptides. At concentrations greater than ~2.5 â€‹mg â€‹mL-1, the apparent values for specific volume and adiabatic compressibility were constant, differing between the three peptides at ±3% for specific volume and ±70% for compressibility. Both specific volume and adiabatic compressibility were highly dependent on concentration, indicating the importance of precise low concentration measurements to obtain correct values for these thermodynamic parameters. From these parameters it was apparent that restructuring of water molecules around the peptides (and their associated counterions) led to compact solutes that were also incompressible. These thermodynamic analyses are critical for understanding how the properties and the beneficial effects of bioactive peptides are influenced by their chemical environment.

Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pheochromocytoma is a generally benign neoplasm derived from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. It is characterized by the production of large amounts of catecholamines and also by the capacity to secrete bioactive peptides such as cytokines, mainly interleukin-1 IL-1, interleukin-6 IL-6 and TNF alpha. Case presentation: 24-year-old man, who consulted for fever, myalgia, and choluria. His laboratory tests were compatible with a systemic inflammatory response without infectious or autoimmune causes. However, a fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) revealed a left adrenal mass, without extra-adrenal lesions. On admission, increased levels of differentiated urine methanephrines, elevated baseline cortisol, non-suppressed adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and positive low dose dexamethasone suppression test for cortisol were found. With suspicion of catecholamine and ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma, a tumor resection was performed, which conspicuously resolved all alterations of the inflammatory response. The histologic findings confirmed a pheochromocytoma, but the immunostaining for ACTH was negative. A literature review and the comparison of the findings with other reported cases allowed inferring that this was a case of interleukin-producing pheochromocytoma. Conclusion: Pheochromocytoma may be a cause of febrile syndrome, with IL-6 being the main mediator, which explains the manifestations of systemic inflammation and ACTH-mediated hypercortisolism.

RESUMEN Introducción. Un feocromocitoma es una neoplasia generalmente benigna de las células cromafines de la médula suprarrenal que se caracteriza por producir grandes cantidades de catecolaminas y que tiene la capacidad de secretar citoquinas como interleucina-1 IL-1, interleucina-6 IL-6 y factor de necrosis tumoral (TNF) alfa. Presentación del caso. Paciente masculino de 24 años de edad, quien consultó por fiebre, mialgias y coluria. El sujeto presentó laboratorios compatibles con respuesta inflamatoria sistémica sin causa infecciosa o autoinmune y estudio de tomografía por emisión de positrones con fluoro-desoxiglucosa que evidenció masa suprarrenal izquierda sin lesiones extra-adrenales. Al ingreso, los niveles de metanefrinas diferenciadas en orina y de cortisol basal se encontraban elevados; la hormona adrenocorticotropa (ACTH) no estaba suprimida, y el test de supresión de cortisol con dexametasona registró rango de hipercortisolis-mo. Se sospechó diagnóstico de feocromocitoma productor de catecolaminas y ACTH, por lo que se llevó a resección tumoral, con lo cual, llamativamente, se resolvieron todas las anomalías de respuesta inflamatoria. El reporte de patología confirmó un feocromocitoma, pero la inmunotinción para ACTH fue negativa. La revisión de la literatura y la comparación de los hallazgos con otros casos reportados permitieron inferir que se trató de un feocromocitoma productor de interleucinas. Conclusión. El feocromocitoma puede ser una causa de síndrome febril, siendo la IL-6 el mediador principal que explicaría las manifestaciones de inflamación sistémica y el hipercortisolismo mediado por ACTH.

Uso de metformina y un inhibidor de SGLT2 en el manejo de lipodistrofia congénita generalizada. Reporte de caso / Use of metformin and an SGLT2 inhibitor to treat congenital generalized lipodystrophy. Case report

Resumen Introducción. La lipodistrofia congénita generalizada (LCG) es un síndrome genético autosómico recesivo extremadamente raro que se caracteriza por ausencia generalizada de tejido adiposo, deficiencia en la producción de hormonas como la leptina y complicaciones metabólicas potencialmente serias como diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2), esteatohepatitis e hipertrigliceridemia. Presentación del caso. Paciente femenina de 17 años con un diagnóstico tardío de LCG y con diabetes mellitus (erróneamente clasificada como tipo I), hipertrigliceridemia severa e infecciones a repetición. Luego de introducir metformina y un inhibidor del SGLT2 en el manejo de la paciente, se logró un adecuado control metabólico. Conclusión. Con frecuencia, el desconocimiento de algunas enfermedades huérfanas lleva a diagnósticos erróneos y, por tanto, a tratamientos inadecuados que en algunos casos pueden empeorar la condición clínica de los pacientes. Por lo anterior, en el caso de la LCG, es necesario que la comunidad médica tenga una mejor comprensión de sus aspectos diagnósticos y terapéuticos para brindar un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportunos.

Abstract Introduction: Generalized congenital lipodystrophy (GDL) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genetic syndrome characterized by generalized absence of adipose tissue, deficient production of hormones such as leptin, and potentially serious metabolic complications such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), steatohepatitis and hypertriglyceridemia. Case presentation: This is the case of a 17-year-old female patient with a late diagnosis of GDL and with diabetes mellitus (erroneously classified as type 1), severe hypertriglyceridemia and recurrent infections. Adequate metabolic control was achieved after the introduction of metformin and an SGLT2 inhibitor. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge about some orphan diseases usually leads to misdiagnosis and, therefore, to inadequate treatments that may worsen the clinical condition of patients. Therefore, in the case of GDL, the medical community should have a better understanding of its diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in order to provide timely diagnosis and treatment.

Síndrome de Cushing exógeno de difícil diagnóstico / Exogenous Cushings syndrome with a difficult diagnosis

Resumen Introducción: el síndrome de Cushing (SC) es un grupo de signos y síntomas causados por la exposición crónica al exceso de glucocorticoides. El uso de fármacos con glucocorticoides es la causa más frecuente, pero algunos productos vendidos como suplementos nutricionales o medicamentos naturistas para el control de los dolores articulares pueden contenerlos de forma oculta, lo cual dificulta el enfoque diagnóstico Presentación del caso: paciente de 40 años con signos clínico típicos de síndrome de Cushing con resultados discordantes en las pruebas diagnósticas para identificar su origen. Finalmente se logra establecer que el paciente consumía de forma crónica un producto "naturista" conocido como artrin®, el cual fue analizado en el laboratorio de la institución con resultados positivos para cortisol. Conclusión: la exposición crónica a glucocorticoides exógenos, ya sea subrepticia, desconocida o prescrita, causa SC y debe distinguirse tempranamente de las formas endógenas para evitar la realización de pruebas diagnósticas y tratamientos inadecuados.(Acta Med Colomb 2020; 45. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2020.1500).

Abstract Introduction: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a group of signs and symptoms caused by chronic exposure to excessive glucocorticoids. The use of medications containing glucocorticoids is the most common cause, but they may be hidden in some products sold as nutritional supplements or naturopathic medications, which makes the diagnostic approach more difficult. Case presentation: this was a 40-year-old patient with typical clinical signs of Cushing's syndrome and discordant results of diagnostic tests to identify its origin. It was ultimately determined that the patient had been chronically taking a "naturopathic" product known as artrin®, which was analyzed in the institution's lab and found to contain cortisol. Conclusion: chronic exposure to exogenous glucocorticoids, whether surreptitious, unknown or prescribed, causes CS and should be promptly distinguished from endogenous forms to avoid inappropriate diagnostic tests and treatments.(Acta Med Colomb 2020; 45. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2020.1500).

Hipercalcemia maligna en pacientes con tumores neuroendocrinos. Reporte de 2 casos de tumores pancreáticos productores de péptido relacionado con hormona paratiroidea / Malignant hypercalcaemia in patients with neuroendocrine tumours. Report of 2 cases of parathyroid hormone-related peptide-secreting pancreatic tumours

Resumen La hipercalcemia maligna mediada por péptido relacionado con hormona paratiroidea (PR-PTH) es una manifestación poco común en tumores neuroendocrinos. Presentamos dos pacientes con tumores neuroendocrinos de páncreas con metástasis a hígado pero sin compromiso óseo en quienes se evidenció hipercalcemia maligna asociada a elevación de PR-PTH, con PTH suprimida. En ambos casos se logró normalizar temporalmente la calcemia con el uso de análogos de somatostatina, pero durante la evolución se requirió adición de bisfosfonatos en uno de ellos. Con la discusión de estos casos, la revisión de la literatura y de los casos similares publicados esperamos contribuir al mejor conocimiento de esta enfermedad.

Abstract Parathyroid hormone-related peptide-mediated hypercalcaemia (PTH-rp) is rare in patients with neuroendocrine tumours. The clinical cases are thus presented on two patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours with liver metastases, but without bone involvement and with hypercalcaemia associated with elevated PTH-rp and with PTH suppressed. In both cases, it was possible to temporarily bring the calcium levels back to normal with the use of somatostatin analogues, but during the course of the disease, the addition of bisphosphonates was required in one of them. With the discussion of these cases and the review of the literature and similar published cases, it is hoped to contribute to provide better knowledge of this disease.

Resultados del tratamiento multidisciplinario de tumores neuroendocrinos de intestino delgado / Outcomes of multidisciplinary treatment of neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine

Resumen Objetivos: Describir los resultados del tratamiento de pacientes con tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) del intestino delgado tratados por un grupo multidisciplinario. Métodos: Estudio tipo serie de casos en pacientes con diagnóstico histológico confirmado de tumor neuroendocrino con primario intestinal entre el 1 de mayo de 2004 y el 30 de abril de 2014. Resultados: En el periodo del estudio se atendieron en la institución 301 pacientes con diagnóstico de TNE de diferentes localizaciones, de los cuales 48 casos de primario intestinal reunieron los criterios de inclusión. La cirugía con intención curativa o paliativa fue la primera línea de tratamiento en la mayoría de pacientes (n = 35; 72,9%) y se logró remisión completa en 13 de ellos. Los análogos de somatostatina fueron la primera línea de manejo en el 14,5%. Al momento de la última valoración: 13 pacientes (27,1%) estaban libres de enfermedad; 17 pacientes (35,4%) se encontraban estables, y 7 pacientes (14,6%) con enfermedad en progresión. Más del 50% de los pacientes permanecieron vivos a los 5 años luego del diagnóstico. La mayor edad al momento del diagnóstico, la presencia de síndrome carcinoide, el compromiso metastásico, el grado histológico, y los valores elevados de marcadores bioquímicos (cromogranina A y 5-hidróxi indol ácido acético), fueron factores que se encontraron asociados a un peor pronóstico de supervivencia. Conclusiones: En el presente artículo se resumen los resultados clínicos del tratamiento de los pacientes con TNE de primario intestinal en un grupo multidisciplinario y la confrontación de dichos resultados con los datos disponibles en la literatura.

Abstract Aim: To describe the outcomes in a group of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the small intestine treated in a multidisciplinary group. Methods: A descriptive study based on the clinical records of patients with confirmed histological diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumor with intestinal primary between 1 May 2004 and 30 April 2014 Results: A total of 301 patients diagnosed with NETs in different locations were treated during the study period, of which 48 cases of intestinal primary met the inclusion criteria. Surgery with curative or palliative intent was the first line of treatment in most patients (n = 35, 72.9%) and complete remission was achieved in 13 of them. Somatostatin analogues were the first line of management in 14.5%. At the time of the last assessment, 13 patients (27.1%) remained disease-free, 17 patients (35.4%) with persistent but stable disease, and 7 patients (14.6%) had progressive disease. More than 50% of the patients remained alive at 55 months after diagnosis. The higher age at diagnosis, the presence of carcinoid syndrome, the metastatic compromise, the histological grade, and elevated biochemical markers (Chromogranin A and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid) were factors associated with a worse survival prognosis. Conclusions: A summary is presented on the clinical outcomes of the treatment of patients with NET of primary intestinal by a multidisciplinary group, as well as the comparison of these outcomes with the data available in the literature.

Model for the Correlation between Anodic Dissolution Resistance and Crystallographic Texture in Pipeline Steels.

This paper presents a novel physical⁻mathematical model to describe the relationship between the crystallographic texture and corrosion behavior of American petroleum institute (API) 5L steels. Symmetric spherical harmonic functions were used to estimate the material's corrosion resistance from crystallographic texture measurements. The predictions of the average corrosion resistance index made from the crystallographic texture were in good agreement with those obtained from potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements for the studied steels. This agreement validates the capacity of this model and opens the possibility of applying it as a novel criterion for materials selection and design stages to combat corrosion problems.

Pacientes pediátricos con choque séptico que ingresan a la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología / Paediatric patients with septic shock admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the National Cancer Institute

Resumen Introducción: La sepsis es una de las principales causas de muerte en niños, y para pacientes con cáncer el riesgo es mayor. Un estudio reciente del grupo de oncología del instituto nacional de cancerología muestra que la principal causa de ingreso a la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico (UCIP) del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC) es el choque séptico. Es importante describir a esta población para buscar potenciales intervenciones tempranas y efectivas. Objetivo: Describir el curso clínico en los pacientes pediátricos con cáncer que ingresaron con diagnóstico de choque séptico entre octubre de 2011 a diciembre del 2013 a la UCIP del INC. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de todos los pacientes oncológicos menores de 18 años que ingresaron a la UCIP con diagnóstico de choque séptico. Se midieron datos demográficos, diagnósticos de ingreso, microorganismos aislados y tanto resultados clínicos como resultados del tratamiento. La mortalidad observada se comparó con la mortalidad esperada utilizando el puntaje PIM3 (Pediatric Index of Mortality 3). Resultados: Se incluyó un total de 109 pacientes, con una edad mediana de 7 años. La mediana de estancia en la unidad fue de 7 días (RIC = 10,1). La neutropenia febril con shock (27%) fue el diagnóstico infeccioso más frecuente. El 79% de los pacientes presentaban neoplasias hematológicas. Las bacterias Gram-negativas fueron el microorganismo más común recuperado. La mortalidad observada fue del 24,7% mientras que la mortalidad esperada fue del 14,3%. Conclusión: Los pacientes en este grupo presentan características similares a las informadas en otras series. Sin embargo, la mortalidad observada fue mayor que la mortalidad esperada. Este hallazgo debe ser explorado por estudios adicionales para establecer si se trata de una baja calibración del puntaje PIM3 o de diferencias particulares en el diagnóstico y manejo de estos pacientes.

Abstract Introduction: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in children, and for patients with cancer the risk is even greater. A recent study by our group shows that the main cause of admission to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of the National Cancer Institute (INC) is septic shock. It is important to better describe this population to look for potential early and effective interventions. Objective: To describe the clinical course of paediatric patients with cancer and with a diagnosis of septic shock who were admitted to the PICU of the INC between October 2011 and December 2013. Materials and methods: Descriptive study of all cancer patients under 18 years of age who were admitted to the PICU with a diagnosis of septic shock. A record was made of demographic data, admission diagnoses, any microorganisms isolated, as well as clinical and treatment outcomes. The observed mortality was compared to the expected mortality using the PIM3 score (Paediatric Index of Mortality 3) Results: The study included a total of 109 patients, with a mean age of 7 years old. The median length of stay in the unit was 7 days (IRQ 10.1). Febrile neutropenia with shock (27%) was the most frequent infectious diagnosis. The large majority (79%) of the patients had haematological malignancies. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common microorganism isolated. The observed mortality was 24.7%, while the expected mortality was 14.3%. Conclusion: Although the patients in this group have similar characteristics to those reported in other series, the observed mortality was greater than the expected mortality. This finding should be explored by additional studies to establish if it is a question of low calibration of the PIM3 score or of particular differences in the diagnosis and management of these patients.

Embolización de metástasis hepáticas en insulinoma maligno: de la hipoglicemia a la hiperglicemia / Embolisation of liver metastasis in malignant insulinoma: from hyperglycaemia to hypoglycaemia

Resumen Se describe el caso de un paciente de 75 años sin antecedentes de relevancia, que fue diagnosticado con insulinoma maligno en estado avanzado, con metástasis hepáticas, con síntomas por hipoglucemia hiperinsulinémica refractaria al tratamiento, y con diazóxido y octreotide de acción corta. El paciente presentó una respuesta clínica poco esperada a la embolización transarterial de metástasis hepáticas, pues a pesar de que persisten las lesiones tumorales, desarrolló hiperglucemia persistente y requirió manejo con insulina. Adicionalmente, se hace una breve revisión de la literatura sobre las opciones terapéuticas disponibles para el tratamiento sintomático de la hipoglucemia hiperinsulinémica.

Abstract The case is presented of a 75 year-old man who was diagnosed with malignant insulinoma in an advanced stage with diffuse liver metastases and symptoms due to hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia refractory to treatment with diazoxide and short-acting octreotide. The patient had an unexpected clinical response to trans-arterial embolisation of liver metastases, since, despite still having the tumour, he developed persistent hyperglycaemia that required insulin treatment. A brief review of the literature is also presented on the treatment options for hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia.

Hepatic metastasis of a parathyroid carcinoma treated with intra-arterial embolization / Metástasis hepática de un carcinoma de paratiroides tratada con embolización intraarterial

Abstract This paper reports the case of a patient with parathyroid carcinoma and metastatic parathyroid carcinoma in the liver, as well as persistent hypercalcemia resistant to the management with zoledronic acid and cinacalcet. The patient was treated with intra-arterial embolization using polyvinyl alcohol microspheres in the right hepatic artery, achieving an excellent biochemical control after the intervention.

Resumen Se reporta el caso de una paciente con carcinoma de paratiroides metastásico al hígado con hipercalcemia de muy difícil control pese a manejo con ácido Zoledrónico y Cinacalcet. La paciente fue llevada a embolización intraarterial con microesferas de alcohol polivinílico de la arteria hepática derecha, con lo que se obtuvo un excelente control bioquímico después de la intervención.

Salivary hormones and IgA in relation to physical performance in football.

Salivary biomarkers have shown to be useful to assess physiological stress in football, but their relationship with physical performance is unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of a football match on salivary cortisol, testosterone and immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in elite footballers, and to examine the relationship of physical performance during the match to these biomarkers. Nine elite football players were assessed before, during and after a friendly international match. Physical performance during the match was measured by time-motion analysis, whilst salivary cortisol, testosterone and IgA were measured before and 10 min post-match. The results showed that players covered an average of 9463 ± 458 m during the match. Salivary cortisol did not change post-match. Testosterone and IgA concentrations decreased by 30.6% and 74.5%, respectively. The testosterone/cortisol (T/C) ratio decreased by 64.2% after the match. Changes in testosterone concentrations correlated (r = 0.85) with distance covered. Pre- and post-match testosterone levels correlated with post-match IgA concentrations (r = 0.8 and 0.89, respectively). These results suggest that a football match induces catabolic stress as indicated by the decreased T/C ratio. It seems that footballers with smaller decreases in testosterone levels covered more distance and decreased their immune function less.

Caracterización de los pacientes de una Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico exclusivamente oncológica / Characterization of the patients in an exclusively oncology Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Objetivo: La ley colombiana en 2010 propone disminuir la mortalidad por cáncer en menores de 18 años. El Instituto Nacional de Cancerología en respuesta, crea la primera Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico para paciente oncológico en el país. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir las características demográficas y patológicas de los pacientes atendidos en esta unidad desde octubre de 2011 hasta junio de 2013. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo prospectivo, que incluyó todos los pacientes menores de 18 años de edad, con sospecha o diagnóstico confirmado de cáncer. Se reportaron sus diagnósticos y características demográficas, y se describió la mortalidad encontrada. Resultados: Se describieron 261 ingresos con 201 pacientes, 53% de sexo femenino, con una mediana de edad de 7 años. La estancia hospitalaria promedio fue de 6 días. La frecuencia de la mortalidad fue 32 pacientes (15,9%), la mayoría de ellos por disfunción multiorgánica en relación con choque séptico. Se observó una frecuencia alta de ventilación mecánica invasiva, uso de vasoactivos, terapias de reemplazo renal y diagnóstico infeccioso en los pacientes que fallecieron. Conclusiones: Se concluyó que el comportamiento de los pacientes del estudio se asemeja a lo reportado en la literatura, excepto que en este caso las infecciones se presentaron con mayor frecuencia en los casos de mortalidad, por lo cual se hace importante explorar los condicionantes de esto en estudios futuros.

Objective: In 2010, Colombian law aimed to lower cancer mortality in children under the age of 18 years. The Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in response to this law, created the first Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the country exclusively for pediatric cancer patients. The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and pathological characteristics of patients in this unit from October 2011 to June 2013. Methods: This was a prospective observational descriptive study. It included all patients under 18 years of age with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of cancer. Their demographic characteristics and diagnoses were recorded, as well as the mortality. Results: The results showed 261 admissions in 201 patients, of whom 53% were female, and with a median age of 7 years. The mean hospital stay was 6 days. The number of deaths in the PICU was 32 patients (15.9%). The majority of them died with multiple organ dysfunctions or in septic shock. A higher frequency was found in the use of invasive mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs, renal replacement therapies, and with more infections and readmissions among the mortality cases. Conclusions: In summary, the behavior found in this cohort of patients was similar to that reported in the literature, except that in this case having an infectious diagnosis was more frequent than that previously reported among the mortality cases. It is important to determine the reasons for this relationship in future studies.

Patient with neuropsychiatric symptoms and insulinoma of difficult preoperative localization / Paciente con síntomas neuropsiquiátricos e insulinoma de difícil localización preoperatoria

This paper describes the case of a patient with neuropsychiatric symptoms who was diagnosed with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia with high suspicion of insulinoma, even after conventional diagnostic imaging was unable to locate it. A selective angiography of the pancreatic arteries and a calcium stimulation test were conducted to determine its location. The patient underwent a distal pancreatectomy using an intraoperative ultrasound, resulting in the disappearance of her symptoms.

Se describe el caso de una paciente con síntomas neuropsiquiatricos, a quien, finalmente, se le diagnosticó hipoglucemia hiperinsulinemica con alta sospecha de Insulinoma, aunque las imágenes diagnosticas convencionales no lograron localizarlo. Fue necesaria la realización de arteriografía selectiva de arterias pancreáticas y test de estimulación con calcio para su ubicación. La paciente fue llevada a pancreatectomia distal con ecografía intraoperatoria, consiguiendo la resolución de los síntomas.