scholarly journals Acromegaly: Role of Surgery in the Therapeutic Armamentarium

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Guinto ◽  
Miguel Abdo ◽  
Erick Zepeda ◽  
Norma Aréchiga ◽  
Moisés Mercado

Acromegaly is a complex disease that requires the intervention of a multidisciplinary team. The most frequent clinical manifestations are growing of distal parts of the body and some areas of the face. Patients may also present arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, colonic polyps, cardiomegaly, neurological and endocrine changes secondary to the presence of a GH-secreting tumor in pituitary or extrapituitary origin, or eutopic hypothalamic GHRH hypersecretion and peripheral GHRH hypersecretion. Surgery is the first treatment used for most patients, regardless of the cause. In the great majority of cases, pituitary tumor can be removed through a transsphenoidal approach. Craniotomy is reserved for those cases with giant tumors, particularly when they grow toward the middle or posterior cranial fossa. Best surgical results are obtained when the tumor is confined into the sella turcica or if it has a regular suprasellar extension. When the disease cannot be controlled with surgery, medical treatment is indicated. Somatostatin analogues are included as the first line of medication, followed by dopamine agonist and growth hormone receptors antagonists. Radiation therapy can be also indicated in two main forms for residual tumor with medically refractory patients: radiosurgery for small tumors or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for larger ones.

Author(s):  
Ginevra Danti ◽  
Federica Flammia ◽  
Benedetta Matteuzzi ◽  
Diletta Cozzi ◽  
Valentina Berti ◽  
...  

AbstractNeuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are heterogeneous tumours with a common phenotype descended from the diffuse endocrine system. NENs are found nearly anywhere in the body but the most frequent location is the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (GI-NENs) are rather uncommon, representing around 2% of all gastrointestinal tumours and 20–30% of all primary neoplasms of the small bowel. GI-NENs have various clinical manifestations due to the different substances they can produce; some of these tumours appear to be associated with familial syndromes, such as multiple endocrine neoplasm and neurofibromatosis type 1. The current WHO classification (2019) divides NENs into three major categories: well-differentiated NENs, poorly differentiated NENs, and mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms. The diagnosis, localization, and staging of GI-NENs include morphology and functional imaging, above all contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), and in the field of nuclear medicine imaging, a key role is played by 68Ga-labelled-somatostatin analogues (68Ga-DOTA-peptides) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/TC). In this review of recent literature, we described the objectives of morphological/functional imaging and potential future possibilities of prognostic imaging in the assessment of GI-NENs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
E.V. Zaitseva ◽  

The immune system protects the body. When defenses are compromised, people with hereditary immunological disorders become vulnerable to many life-threatening infections. Inborn errors of immunity (primary immunodeficiencies), manifested in patients in increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and malignant neoplasms. Today, this group of diseases is still considered quite rare. However, the development of diagnostic technologies expands the list of nosologies associated with inborn errors of immunity. Neonatal screening for inborn errors of immunity could solve many of the problems of these patients, but the procedure is not carried out in the Russian Federation. Therefore, diagnostics based on an analysis of the clinical manifestations of diseases. In most cases, the disease is diagnosed in early childhood. Here, the role of both the parents of the child-patient and the medical staff is important. The health and life of the child depends on their awareness of the disease, methods of diagnosis, treatment. This group of diseases is chronic, under an hour, severe. In the absence of timely diagnosis and proper therapy, it can be fatal. The article describes the experience of applied quantitative research conducted by the method of questioning patients with primary immunodeficiencies (parents of underage patients), about their disease, methods of treatment, problems arising in the long-term struggle with this complex disease. The author notes that patients and primary care doctors or general practitioners are poorly informed about diseases associated with primary immunodeficiencies. It is concluded that it is necessary to increase the informational medical culture of the population, especially the young, as participants in the interaction "doctor-patient" and representatives of the interests of minor children-patients with inborn errors of immunity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-383
Author(s):  
Vasily N. Afonyushkin ◽  
N. A. Donchenko ◽  
Ju. N. Kozlova ◽  
N. A. Davidova ◽  
V. Yu. Koptev ◽  
...  

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widely represented species of bacteria possessing of a pathogenic potential. This infectious agent is causing wound infections, fibrotic cystitis, fibrosing pneumonia, bacterial sepsis, etc. The microorganism is highly resistant to antiseptics, disinfectants, immune system responses of the body. The responses of a quorum sense of this kind of bacteria ensure the inclusion of many pathogenicity factors. The analysis of the scientific literature made it possible to formulate four questions concerning the role of biofilms for the adaptation of P. aeruginosa to adverse environmental factors: Is another person appears to be predominantly of a source an etiological agent or the source of P. aeruginosa infection in the environment? Does the formation of biofilms influence on the antibiotic resistance? How the antagonistic activity of microorganisms is realized in biofilm form? What is the main function of biofilms in the functioning of bacteria? A hypothesis has been put forward the effect of biofilms on the increase of antibiotic resistance of bacteria and, in particular, P. aeruginosa to be secondary in charcter. It is more likely a biofilmboth to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and provide topical competition in the face of food scarcity. In connection with the incompatibility of the molecular radii of most antibiotics and pores in biofilm, biofilm is doubtful to be capable of performing a barrier function for protecting against antibiotics. However, with respect to antibodies and immunocompetent cells, the barrier function is beyond doubt. The biofilm is more likely to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and providing topical competition in conditions of scarcity of food resources.


2020 ◽  
pp. 14-17
Author(s):  
Irina A. Shkuratova ◽  
◽  
Lyudmila I. Drozdova ◽  
Aleksander I. Belousov ◽  

Mycotoxicological monitoring of forages shows that the problem of mycotoxicosis has been relevant for several decades. Minimal doses of mycotoxins in feed lead to a decrease in milk productivity, increased sensitivity to infectious and non-infectious diseases. When several mycotoxins enter the body simultaneously, a synergistic effect develops, causing a significant increase in toxicity. Feed contaminated with several types of fungi and their toxins is dangerous for dairy cattle. It was found that the feed mixture contained the types of associations of Aspergillus spp. fungi + Fusarium; Aspergillus spp. + Penicillium spp. + Mucor spp; Fusarium + Penicillium; Mucor spp. + Fusarium + Ustilaginales. Pathogenetic features of metabolic and morphological changes in highly productive cows with polymycotoxicosis were studied. Feeding food contaminated with various metabolites of mold fungi leads to the development of signs of chronic toxemia in animals. Clinical manifestations are the development of diarrhea and dehydration, with a decrease in milk productivity. Metabolic disorders feature the development of an inflammatory process, metabolic acidosis, hyperfermentonemia, with an increase in the amount of creatinine and urea in the blood serum. Metabolic signs indicate the development of hepatorenal syndrome due to structural disorders of the liver and kidneys. Histological signs of polymicotoxicosis are intracapillary and hemorrhagic glomerulonephritis, hepatocyte micronecrosis, and proliferation of connective tissue stroma cells, which leads to the development of atrophic cirrhosis in the interstitial and circular phases.


Author(s):  
E.P. Dolgov ◽  
◽  
A.A. Abramov ◽  
E.V. Kuzminova ◽  
E.V. Rogaleva ◽  
...  

The article presents the data on the study of the influence of mycotoxins combination (T-2 toxin at the concentration of 0.095 mg/kg and aflatoxin B1 in the concentration of 0.019 mg/kg) on the body of quails and the results of pharmacocorrection of toxicosis with a complex consisting of beet pulp and lecithin. Structural changes in the intestines of quais at fodder mycotoxicosis are described. The use of antitoxic feed additives in poultry led to a weakening of the action of xenobiotics, which was confirmed by an increase in the safety of poultry and increase in body weight of quails, a decrease in the clinical manifestations of intoxication, as well as in positive changes in the structure of the intestine of the poultry during histological examination.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 807-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madalena Sousa ◽  
Jácome Bruges-Armas

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex disease with significant impression in today's world. Aside from the most common types recognized over the years, such as type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), recent studies have emphasized the crucial role of genetics in DM, allowing the distinction of monogenic diabetes. Methods: Authors did a literature search with the purpose of highlighting and clarifying the subtypes of monogenic diabetes, as well as the accredited genetic entities responsible for such phenotypes. Results: The following subtypes were included in this literature review: maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) and maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD). So far, 14 subtypes of MODY have been identified, while three subtypes have been identified in NDM - transient, permanent, and syndromic. Discussion: Despite being estimated to affect approximately 2% of all the T2DM patients in Europe, the exact prevalence of MODY is still unknown, accentuating the need for research focused on biomarkers. Consequently, due to its impact in the course of treatment, follow-up of associated complications, and genetic implications for siblings and offspring of affected individuals, it is imperative to diagnose the monogenic forms of DM accurately. Conclusion: Currently, advances in the genetics field allowed the recognition of new DM subtypes, which until now, were considered slight variations of the typical forms. Thus, it is imperative to act in the close interaction between genetics and clinical manifestations, to facilitate diagnosis and individualize treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212199404
Author(s):  
He Yu ◽  
Xinyu Ma ◽  
Nianting Tong ◽  
Zhanyu Zhou ◽  
Yu Zhang

Importance: This is the first reported case of acute exudative paraneoplastic polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy (AEPPVM) in a patient with thymoma, accompanied by myasthenia gravis (MG) and polymyositis. Objective: To examine the pathogenesis of ocular disease in a patient with yolk-like fundus lesions and thymoma, MG, and polymyositis throughout the body based on clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and genetic testing to determine the appropriate treatment course. Design, setting, and participants: We describe a 63-year-old woman who presented to our tertiary medical center with a 3-month history of reduced visual acuity in both eyes. Concurrent fundoscopy revealed a 2.0 × 1.7-mm, unifocal, yellow, round vitelliform lesion in the macular region, surrounded by multifocal, shallow, yellow-white pockets of subretinal fluid. The patient’s medical history included thymoma with thymectomy treatment, combined with pericardiectomy and postoperative radiotherapy (20 years prior), followed by a diagnosis of MG with suspect thymic association (15 years prior). Three years prior, the patient had been diagnosed with polymyositis related to paraneoplastic syndrome; 1 year prior, she had been examined for pleural thickening due to suspected metastatic tumor. Results: On her most recent follow-up visit at 3 months after initial diagnosis, the patient was stable with no clinically significant progression in ocular or systemic conditions.


Author(s):  
Shatishraj Jothee ◽  
Mohamed Swarhib Shafie ◽  
Faridah Mohd Nor

Abstract Background Previous reported cases on excited delirium syndrome studied on the common clinical manifestations of the syndrome. The usual forensics implication for the syndrome is that death commonly is associated with restraint procedures by law enforcement agencies; however, not many cases reported highlights the difficulties in attributing a violent scene of death to the syndrome. Case presentation We present a case of a partially naked body found in an apartment unit under suspicious circumstances with multiple injuries. The scene of death was violent, and the body was found with blood wiped all over the floor and walls. Investigators believed a violent crime had occurred, and a suspect was reprimanded. However, upon autopsy, it was found that all injuries were superficially inflicted and were unlikely to have been part of an act of commission or caused his death. Internal examination found no remarkable pathology. Toxicology revealed a presence of psychostimulants, that is, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ethyl alcohol. Reconstruction of events by the witness, who was initially suspected of the ‘murder’, revealed that the injuries and his death could likely be explained by an episode of excited delirium. Conclusion The case highlights the challenges faced when attributing excited delirium syndrome as a cause of death. The syndrome can present with injuries from aggressive or bizarre behaviour, coupled with the destruction of property, which may confuse investigators on the possible manner of death.


1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Daan

The analysis of motivational systems underlying temporal organisation in animal behaviour has relied primarily on two conceptual functional frameworks: Homeostasis and biological clocks. Homeostasis is one of the most general and influential concepts in physiology. Walter Cannon introduced homeostasis as a universal regulatory principle which animals employ to maintain constancy of their ‘internal milieu’ in the face of challenges and perturbations from the external environment. Cannon spoke of “The Wisdom of the Body”, the collective of responses designed to defend the ideal internal state against those perturbations.


2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Jung Chen ◽  
Cheng-Loong Liang ◽  
Kang Lu

Object. Transthoracic endoscopic T2–3 sympathectomy is currently the treatment of choice for palmar hyperhidrosis. Compensatory sweating of the face, trunk, thigh, and sole of the foot was found in more than 50% of patients who underwent this procedure. The authors conducted this study to investigate the associated intraoperative changes in plantar skin temperature and postoperative plantar sweating. Methods. One hundred patients with palmar hyperhidrosis underwent bilateral transthoracic endoscopic T2–3 sympathectomy. There were 60 female and 40 male patients who ranged in age from 13 to 40 years (mean age 21.6 years). Characteristics studied included changes in palmar and plantar skin temperature measured intraoperatively, as well as pre- and postoperative changes in plantar sweating and sympathetic skin responses (SSRs). In 59 patients (59%) elevation of plantar temperature was demonstrated at the end of the surgical procedure. In this group, plantar sweating was found to be exacerbated in three patients (5%); plantar sweating was improved in 52 patients (88.1%); and no change was demonstrated in four patients (6.8%). In the other group of patients in whom no temperature change occurred, increased plantar sweating was demonstrated in three patients (7.3%); plantar sweating was improved in 20 patients (48.8%); and no change was shown in 18 patients (43.9%). The difference between temperature and sweating change was significant (p = 0.001). Compared with the presympathectomy rate, the rate of absent SSR also significantly increased after sympathectomy: from 20 to 76% after electrical stimulation and 36 to 64% after deep inspiration stimulation, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions. In contrast to compensatory sweating in other parts of the body after T2–3 sympathetomy, improvement in plantar sweating was shown in 72% and worsened symptoms in 6% of patients. The intraoperative plantar skin temperature change and perioperative SSR demonstrated a correlation between these changes.


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