[Proinsulin: physiology, measurement, and interest in clinical biology]

The proinsulin molecule results from the cleavage of pre-pro-insulin, produced in pancreatic beta cells. Its subsequent -cleavage allows the release of insulin, the key hormone of glycemia regulation and C-peptide in equimolar proportions. During fasting trial, insulinoma diagnosis relies on inadequately high insulin and C-peptide serum levels concomitant with an hypoglycemia. In this context, proinsulin assay can be interesting in the cases of discrepancy between the two parameters. In diabetes, endoplasmic reticulum stress and beta cells inflammation, lead to the secretion of misfolded proinsulin molecules. Thus, in type 2 diabetes, proinsulin/insulin ratio increases with the degree of insulin resistance. In type 1 diabetes, proinsulin/C-peptide ratio could predict the onset of diabetes in relatives. In our practice, serum pro-insulin determined using an Elisa immunoassay (Millipore®) during fasting trial can be complementary to C-peptide and insulin assays in relation to glycemia to label an hypoglycemia. In case of glucose intolerance and diabetes, proinsulin could thus be measured.

ACTH-secreting metastatic prostate cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation

Cushing's syndrome (CS) due to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion (EAS) can result from a variety of tumours and rarely from those of prostatic origin. We present a male patient in his early 60s with ACTH-secreting metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (ICD-O code 8574/3) years after prostatectomy and androgen-deprivation therapy, initially presenting with Cushingoid features. After open radical prostatectomy and bilateral orchiectomy for disease recurrence, the patient was found to have metastatic liver and bone lesions highly suggestive of metastatic prostatic cancer. About 10% of cells on liver biopsy expressed ACTH, a finding consistent with EAS as the cause of CS. His stay was complicated with multiple infections and ultimate death. Hence, we report a case of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation who presented with CS. We also emphasize the importance of adequate and timely treatment.

A pilot school-based health center intervention to improve asthma chronic care in high-poverty schools

OBJECTIVE

To test the feasibility and effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention administered through school-based health centers (SBHCs) to improve asthma control for children in high-poverty schools with not well controlled asthma.

METHODS

Students 4-14 years old with persistent asthma were enrolled from three SBHCs. The centers' advanced practice providers received training on evidence-based asthma guidelines. Students randomized to the intervention received directly observed therapy of their asthma controller medication, medication adjustments as needed by the centers' providers, and daily self-management support. Students randomized to usual care were referred back to their primary care provider (PCP) for routine asthma care.

RESULTS

We enrolled 29 students. Students in the intervention group received their controller medication 92% of days they were in school. Ninety-four percent of follow-up assessments were completed. During the study, 11 of 12 intervention students had a step-up in medication; 2 of 15 usual care students were stepped up by their PCP. Asthma Control Test scores did not differ between groups, although there were significant improvements from baseline to the 7 month follow-up within each group (both p < .01). Both FEV₁% predicted and FEV₁/FVC ratio significantly worsened in the usual care group (both p = .001), but did not change in the intervention group (p = .76 and .28 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot data suggest that a multifaceted intervention can be feasibly administered through SBHCs in communities with health disparities. Despite the small sample size, spirometry detected advantages in the intervention group. Further study is needed to optimize the intervention and evaluate outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03032744.

Diagnostic Performance of FDG-PET/CT Scan as Compared to US-Guided FNA in Prediction of Axillary Lymph Node Involvement in Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-d-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) PET/non-contrast CT compared with those of ultrasound (US)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) for axillary lymph node (ALN) staging in breast cancer patients.

Patients and Methods

Preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/non-contrast CT was performed in 268 women with breast cancer, as well as ALN dissection or sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. One hundred sixty-four patients underwent US-guided FNA in combination with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. The diagnostic performance of each modality was evaluated using histopathologic assessments as the reference standard. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were compared to evaluate the diagnostic ability of several imaging modalities.

Results

Axillary ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was positive in 180 patients, and 125 patients had axillary metastases according to the final pathology obtained by ALN dissection and/or SLN dissection. Of the patients with positive ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in the axilla, 21% had false-positive results, whereas 79% were truly positive. Eighty-eight patients had negative ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in the axilla, among which 25% were false-negative. ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT had a sensitivity of 86.59% and a specificity of 63.46% in the assessment of ALN metastasis; on the other hand, US-guided FNA had a sensitivity of 91.67% and a specificity of 87.50%. The mean primary cancer size (p = 0.04) and tumor grade (p = 0.04) in combination were the only factors associated with the accuracy of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for detecting metastatic ALNs.

Conclusion

The diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for the detection of axillary node metastasis in breast cancer patients was not significantly different from that of US-guided FNA. Combining ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT with US-guided FNA or SLN biopsy could improve the diagnostic performance compared to ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT alone.

Echocardiographic assessment of mitral valve regurgitation, pattern and prevalence, expanding clinical awareness through an institutional survey with the perspective of a quality improvement project

BACKGROUND

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequently reported in everyday echocardiograms; accurate assessment is essential for appropriate management and decision making.

OBJECTIVE

We performed a self-audit in order to define the prevalence and pattern of MR and to evaluate methods of assessment with the perspective of developing a quality improvement project.

METHODS AND SETTING

This retrospective analytical study was conducted in a university hospital.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

age more than 18 years and medical records available within the facility, including a "complete" medical history. Using the picture archiving and communication system, we reviewed 961 echocardiograms performed over a 6-month period. The methods of assessment of native mitral valve regurgitation were reported, and also relevant medical data were collected using an electronic archiving system.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Among the 961 patients reviewed, 322 (33.50%) had MR, with variable grades. MR pattern (organic versus functional) was not specified in 49.68% of cases. "Eyeball" assessment and "color jet area" were the most frequently used methods for MR assessment (90.06% and 27.95%, respectively), while "vena contracta" and "flow convergence" methods were rarely implemented (1.55% and 2.17%, respectively). Discussion is made according to current guidelines, while showing the strengths and weaknesses of each method.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of MR was 33.50%, and in nearly half of cases, the MR pattern was not specified. Qualitative and semi-quantitative methods of assessment were mostly used; quantitative assessment should be implemented more frequently, in accordance with current guidelines. Increasing clinical awareness by creating and implementing a quality improvement project is essential in this context.