Challenges and opportunities for quality densitometry in Latin America.

Latin America and the Caribbean region account for 8% of the world's total population. Experts from 18 countries were invited to contribute to this article to provide the best available data on the number, types, and quality of densitometry, DXA experts, the local/national incidence and prevalence of osteoporosis and fragility fractures, and other uses and information on the challenges and opportunities for quality densitometry with examples of local initiatives. Osteoporosis is the primary reason for densitometry in our region, which is not a priority for public health in most countries. Access and quality are major challenges, and there is a clear trend to concentrate on densitometry services in the largest cities. Urgent action is needed to face the rapidly increasing burden of osteoporosis in our region, including robust and up to date epidemiology, access to health professionals, and quality densitometry. Health professionals require better access to training, courses, and other activities at a more local or regional level.

Resultados del Programa Nacional de Trasplante Hepático del Uruguay a 10 años de su inicio / Results of the National Program of Liver Transplantation in Uruguay 10 years after it was initiated / Resultados do Programa Nacional de Transplante de Fígado do Uruguai 10 anos após seu início

Resumen: Introducción: el trasplante hepático (TH) constituye el tratamiento de elección en pacientes con enfermedades hepáticas severas e irreversibles, sin opción de tratamientos alternativos eficaces. La medición de indicadores de calidad permite detectar problemáticas susceptibles de ser mejoradas a fin de optimizar los resultados. Objetivo: presentar los resultados del Programa Nacional de Trasplante Hepático (PNTH) del Uruguay a 10 años de su implementación y compararlos con los estándares de calidad internacionales. Material y método: estudio retrospectivo de los TH realizados del 14/7/2009 al 14/7/2019. Resultados: N: 190 TH. Edad promedio: 45 años. Sexo: 60% hombres. MELD promedio al TH: 21. Principales indicaciones: cirrosis (59%) y hepatocarcinoma (21%). Mortalidad posoperatoria: 7,4% y perioperatoria: 2,1% (estándares <10% y 1%). Tasa de retrasplante: precoz 3,7% y tardío 4,2% (estándares <5% y 8%). Tasa de reintervención: 13,1% (estándar <10%) y de no función primaria: 2,6% (estándar <2%). Sobrevida: 86,6% al año, 81,8% a 3, 77,4% a 5 y 63,2% a 10 años (estándares >80, 75, 70 y 60%). Pacientes evaluados en menos de 30 días: 47% (estándar >75%). Tasa de hígados no implantados sin causa objetiva: 0,5% (estándar <1%). El 86% de los usuarios expresaron satisfacción (estándar >80%). Mortalidad en lista: 19% (estándar <15%). Mortalidad precoz con hígado funcionante: 1% (estándar <1%). Conclusiones: el PNTH del Uruguay cumple con la mayoría de los indicadores de calidad, presentando resultados en sobrevida por encima de los estándares internacionales.

Summary: Introduction: liver transplantation constitutes the first therapy chosen by patients with severe and irreversible liver conditions, when no effective alternative options are available. Measurement of quality indicators allow for the detection of problems that may be solved in order to optimize results. Objective: to present the results obtained in the National Program of Liver Transplantation in Uruguay, 10 years after its implementation and to compare them to international quality standards. Method: retrospective study of liver transplantations performed from July 14, 2009 through July 14, 2019. Results: N: 190 Liver transplantations (LT). Average age: 45 years old. Gender: 60% male. MELD average MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Disease) upon LT: 21. Main indications: cirrhosis he(59%) y hepatocarcinoma (21%). Post-surgery mortality: 7.4% and peri-operative mortality 2.1% (standards <10 and 1%). Re-transplantation rate: early 3.7% and late 4.2% (standards <5% and 8%). Reoperation rate: 13.1% (standard <10%) and of non-primary function: 2.6% (standard <2%). Survival: 86.6% per year, 81.8% after 3 years, 77.4% after 5 and 63.2% after 10 years (standards >80, 75, 70 and 60%). Patients assessed in less than 30 days: 47% (standard >75%). Non-implanted livers with no objective cause rate: 0.5% (standard <1%). 86% of users stated they were satisfied (standard >80%). Mortality in the waiting list: 19% (standard <15%). Early mortality with functioning liver: 1% (standard <1%). Conclusions: national Program of Liver Transplantation in Uruguay meets most quality indicators standards, evidencing survival results that are above international standards.

Resumo: Introdução: o transplante de fígado (TH) é o tratamento de escolha em pacientes com doenças hepáticas graves e irreversíveis, sem a opção de tratamentos alternativos eficazes. A medição de indicadores de qualidade permite detectar problemas que podem ser melhorados para otimizar os resultados. Objetivo: apresentar os resultados do Programa Nacional de Transplante de Fígado (PNTH) do Uruguai 10 anos após sua implantação e compará-los com os padrões internacionais de qualidade. Materiais e métodos: estudo retrospectivo do HT realizado de 14/07/2009 a 14/07/2019. Resultados: N: 190 TH. Idade média: 45 anos. Sexo: 60% homens. Escala MELD média no TH: 21. Principais indicações: cirrose (59%) e hepatocarcinoma (21%). Mortalidade pós-operatória: 7,4% e peri-operatória 2,1% (padrões <10 e 1%). Taxa de retransplante: 3,7% inicial e 4,2% tardio (padrão <5% e 8%). Taxa de reintervenção: 13,1% (padrão <10%) e não função primária: 2,6% (padrão <2%). Sobrevivência: 86,6% em 1 ano, 81,8% em 3, 77,4% em 5 e 63,2% em 10 anos (padrões> 80, 75, 70 e 60%). Pacientes avaliados em menos de 30 dias: 47% (padrão> 75%). Taxa de fígados não implantados sem causa objetiva: 0,5% (padrão <1%). 86% dos usuários expressaram satisfação (padrão> 80%). Mortalidade em lista de espera: 19% (padrão <15%). Mortalidade precoce com fígado funcionante: 1% (padrão <1%). Conclusões: o PNTH do Uruguai cumpre a maioria dos indicadores de qualidade, apresentando resultados de sobrevivência acima dos padrões internacionais.

Anticuerpos anti-tiroglobulina en el seguimiento de pacientes con cáncer diferenciado de tiroides: ¿marcadores de enfermedad residual o recidivante? / Anti thyroglobulin antibodies in the follow up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

Background: Anti thyroglobulin antibodies are present in 25 percent of patients treated for a differentiated thyroid cancer, invalidating thyroglobulin determination. Those patients subjected to total thyroidectomy and free of disease, should reduce the production of these antibodies, due to the lack of antigenic stimulus. Therefore, anti thyroglobulin antibodies could be useful to detect early relapses. Aim: To assess the relationship between anti thyroglobulin antibodies and the evolution of the disease in patients treated for thyroid cancer. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of 26 patients treated for thyroid cancer with positive anti thyroglobulin antibodies, followed for three years. These were divided in those with or without lymphocytic thyroiditis (19 and 7 respectively). Results: At the first year of follow up, anti thyroglobulin antibody concentration was 401ñ94.9 UI/ml (xñsem) in patients with thyroiditis and 38.9ñ8.9 UI/ml in those without thyroiditis (p < 0.005). During the three years of follow up, no differences in anti thyroglobulin antibodies were observed between patients with or without tumor relapse. Conclusions: Concentration of anti thyroglobulin antibodies was higher in patients with thyroiditis and did not differentiate patients with tumor relapse

Hiperparatiroidismo primario, aislado y de carácter familiar: caso clínico / Familial and isolated primary hyperparathyroidism: report of an affected family

Familial hyperparathyroidism can be a part of a type 1 or 2 multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, can be associated to mandibular fibromas or can appear as an isolated disease. We report a family with 11 members affected by a primary hyperparathyroidism, all with a history of kidney stones and without evidences of other endocrine tumors. Not knowing the familial history of the disease, only one adenoma was resected in four cases and in all, the disease recidivated. Two were operated again, performing a total parathyroidectomy and heterologous autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue in the forearm. The presentation form of primary hyperparathyroidism in this family, is similar to other reported cases. It is more aggressive, is diagnosed at a lower age, has a higher incidence of recurrence and multiglandular involvement than the sporadic disease