Ethnicity, Clothing Style, and Body Mass Index are Significant Predictors of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency in Germany with respect to ethnicity, sex, and clothing style. METHODS: We analyzed the routine diagnostic work-ups of 1,231 adult (45.9 ± 17.9 years old) German (n = 1,034) and Turk residents (n = 197) referred with nonspecific symptoms to the Thyroid Centers at St. Elisabeth-Hospital in Dorsten, Germany and Bottrop, Germany to assess for metabolic diseases. All subjects underwent a routine examination that consisted of a questionnaire, lab tests for 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25OHD), and thyroid profile. Turk females with traditional clothing (headscarf and covered legs and arms) were considered to wear "covered clothing." Logistic-regression was performed to identify factors that could predict vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) and insufficiency (20-30 ng/mL). RESULTS: Vitamin D insufficiency was seen in 33% of Germans and 74.1% of Turks, and vitamin D deficiency was present in 11.3% and 44.2% of Germans and Turks, respectively (P<.001). The mean 25OHD value in Turk females with covered clothes was lower than that in Turk females with conventional clothing (16.3 ± 12.3 vs. 27.2 ± 15.8, P<.001). Vitamin D insufficiency was present in 86.0% of Turk females with covered clothing versus 62.8% with conventional clothing (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6, P = .002). Ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and clothing style were significant predictors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency by logistic regression (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Vitamin D insufficiency among Turk residents in Germany is higher compared to Germans. The highest prevalence was present in Turk females with covered clothing. (2) Monitoring vitamin D in Turk residents in Germany is warranted. (3) Vitamin D supplements and access to facilities with sunlight exposure for females with covered clothing and all individuals with poor diets or limited access to sun exposure may prevent future health burden due to vitamin D insufficiency.

Diagnostic accuracy of [99mTc]Tc-Sestamibi in the assessment of thyroid nodules.

[99mTc]Tc-Sestamibi (MIBI) is an increasingly used tool for evaluation of thyroid nodules. However, there is a lack of evidence about the accuracy of this method in the European population. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of MIBI for the differentiation of thyroid nodules in a large cohort. 161 patients underwent MIBI, followed by a thyroidectomy. We used a dual phase MIBI protocol. Interpretation of the images included a scoring system from 0 (absent) to 3 (increased); this was to provide a scale for the uptake of the thyroid nodule in comparison to the paranodular tissue. Additionally, we evaluated the tracer uptake trend in late images compared to early images. We used the final histopathology as the reference standard. Scores 0-1 in early images, scores 0-2 in late images, and an absence of increasing uptake in the thyroid nodule in late images, showed the best predictive values to exclude malignancy, respectively (negative predictive value (NPV) 89%). Highest sensitivity (91%) for malignant nodules was evident in early images with a score 1-3. Highest specificity (91%) was obtained when the negative was defined as an absence of uptake-increase, in the late images. This study confirms that the most valuable feature of MIBI is the high NPV. Thus, with the appropriate interpretation method, high sensitivity and specificity, and moderate PPV can be obtained.

May bone-targeted radionuclide therapy overcome PRRT-refractory osseous disease in NET? A pilot report on (188)Re-HEDP treatment in progressive bone metastases after (177)Lu-octreotate.

Bone metastases (BM) of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NET) can be effectively controlled by peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Eventually, however, BM may become refractory and determine survival. We aimed to assess the clinical benefit of bone-targeted radionuclide therapy (BTRT) in this subgroup of patients failing PRRT. A small cohort of n=6 patients with progressive BM failing PRRT with (177)Lu-octreotate (mean cumulative activity, 46.7 GBq) were treated with a total of 11 cycles BTRT using 2.6-3.3 GBq (188)Re-HEDP per cycle and a median cumulative activity of 5.9 GBq. Pain palliation was quantified applying the visual analogue scale (VAS). The mean VAS decreased from 6.6 (range 5-8) to 3.7 (range 2-7). Five patients experienced partial resolution of bone pain (≥ 2 steps reduction on the VAS for at least 2 weeks) and one patient had no significant improvement. Flare phenomena occurred in 2 patients and lasted for 2-3 days. Tumor response consisted of stable disease in 2 and progressive disease in 4 patients. No regression of bone metastases has been observed. The median overall survival was 5 months (range 2-9). Relevant myelosuppression (grade 3-4; self-limited with no interventions or hospitalization), occurred 4-6 weeks post-treatment, and after 2 (18.1%) administrations or in 1 (16.7%) patient. No other relevant toxicities or treatment-related death was observed. (188)Re-HEDP may be safely applied in patients with bone metastatic GEP-NET previously treated with (177)Lu-octreotate. While acceptable pain relief may be expected, no tumor-regression or long-term disease stabilization with apparent survival benefit has been observed. This disputes the use of BTRT as salvage anti-tumor therapy in PRRT-refractory neuroendocrine bone metastases.