Thyroid function in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome: an Italian multicenter study of 339 patients

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


http://bit.ly/2Utm32E

Effects of biochar addition on the NEE and soil organic carbon content of paddy fields under water-saving irrigation

Abstract

The addition of biochar has been reported as a strategy for improving soil fertility, crop productivity, and carbon sequestration. However, information regarding the effects of biochar on the carbon cycle in paddy fields under water-saving irrigation remains limited. Thus, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar addition on the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO₂ and soil organic carbon (SOC) content of paddy fields under water-saving irrigation in the Taihu Lake region of China. Four treatments were applied: controlled irrigation (CI) without biochar addition as the control (CA), CI with biochar addition at a rate of 20 t·ha⁻¹ (CB), CI with biochar addition at a rate of 40 t·ha⁻¹ (CC), and flooding irrigation (FI) with biochar addition at a rate of 40 t·ha⁻¹ (FC). Biochar addition increased rice yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 24.0–36.3 and 33.4–42.5%, respectively, compared with the control. In addition, biochar addition increased the NEE of CI paddy fields. The average NEE of paddy fields under CB and CC was 2.41 and 30.6% higher than that under CA, respectively. Thus, the increasing effect of biochar addition at a rate of 40 t·ha⁻¹ was considerably better than those of the other treatments. Apart from biochar addition, irrigation mode was also identified as an influencing factor. CI management increased the NEE of paddy fields by 17.6% compared with FI management. Compared with CA, CB increased total net CO₂ absorption by 10.0%, whereas CC decreased total net CO₂ absorption by 13.8%. Biochar addition also increased SOC, dissolved organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon contents. Therefore, the joint regulation of biochar addition and water-saving irrigation is a good technique for maintaining rice yield, increasing IWUE, and promoting soil fertility. Furthermore, when amended at the rate of 20 t·ha⁻¹, biochar addition will be a good strategy for sequestering carbon in paddy fields.

http://bit.ly/2FY2e0l

An Institutional Experience of Tumor Progression to Pituitary Carcinoma in a 15-Year Cohort of 1055 Consecutive Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors

Abstract

Pituitary carcinoma is a rare disease, defined by the presence of cerebrospinal or distant metastasis of a pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET). To review our institutional experience of pituitary carcinoma, we searched the database of the UHN Endocrine Oncology Site group and the University Health Network pathology laboratory information system from 2001 to 2016. Among 1055 PitNETs from 1169 transsphenoidal resections, we identified 4 cases of pituitary carcinoma, indicating that pituitary carcinoma represents around 0.4% of PitNETs. All four patients were women. The age at initial presentation ranged from 23 to 54 years. Two patients had Cushing disease with corticotroph tumors; one was initially a densely granulated corticotroph tumor that evolved to become sparsely granulated, while the other was a Crooke cell tumor. One patient had a functioning sparsely granulated lactotroph tumor and one had a clinically silent poorly differentiated PIT1 lineage tumor. Apart from a relatively high Ki67 labeling index (≥ 10%) in three tumors, there were no cytomorphologic features at the time of initial presentation that could predict subsequent metastatic behavior. The time from diagnosis of the pituitary neuroendocrine tumor to the diagnosis of malignancy was 3 to 14 years. Therapies included somatostatin analogs, external beam radiotherapy, chemotherapies including capecitabine/temozolomide, everolimus, sunitinib, bevacizumab, and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). One patient died of disease 18 years after initial diagnosis, underscoring the protracted course of this ultimately fatal neuroendocrine malignancy.

http://bit.ly/2RqTa5u

HDR interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) in the treatment of primary and recurrent head and neck malignancies

Abstract

Background

Interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy; IRT) reemerged in the last decades as a potentially useful tool in head and neck oncology after a set of clear technical improvements were developed.

Methods

Sixty‐one high dose ratio (HDR) IRT treatments were recommended and performed on 58 patients. We classified the cases into four relatively homogeneous groups based on the clinical needs that led to the recommended IRT. Also, we separately evaluated primary and recurrent cases.

Results

Disease‐specific survival was significantly different among the four treatment groups. The group with the best prognosis was the cohort treated locally by exclusive interstitial IRT for resectable midface malignancies (2‐year relapse‐free survival = 82%, disease‐specific survival = 89%).

Conclusion

HDR IRT is a valuable tool in well‐defined clinical situations and, in particular, in recurrences. In midface malignancies, it could become the preferred primary treatment.

http://bit.ly/2WxFFo4

Assessing functional outcomes in head and neck surgical oncology

Abstract

Background

A reliable method of measuring functional outcomes is essential to inform treatment decisions in head and neck cancer.

Methods

Members of the American Head and Neck Society were surveyed regarding their use of functional outcome assessment tools. Qualitative statistical analysis was performed to identify major tools used and to clarify obstacles to functional outcome assessment. A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify available tools.

Results

A total of 142 surgeons were surveyed. 44.12% of respondents use at least 1 tool to assess functional outcomes. The most frequently used tools were modified barium swallow, MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory, and functional endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES). 72.65% of respondents reported barriers to assessment, most frequently a lack of support to administer the tests or to collect, apply or analyze the results. Review of the literature revealed 173 available tools.

Conclusions

Although a wide variety of validated tools are available in the literature to assess functional outcomes after head and neck surgery, major obstacles to their use persist. The lack of a standard measure that is practical and transferable continues to impair research progression in this field.

http://bit.ly/2RtuIAf

Preoperative ultrasound evaluation of lymph nodes for extramammary Paget's disease in the genital area

http://bit.ly/2Uv9WCa

Unusual Manifestation of Ulcerative Colitis

The relationship of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is understood as extraintestinal rheumatic manifestations. CRMO is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, noninfectious disorder of the skeletal system of unknown origin. The disease course is not always recurrent. The association of CRMO and ulcerative colitis (UC) is very rarely reported. We report a case of a 10-year-old Saudi female who was diagnosed with CRMO, when she developed fever in association with left foot pain, and ulcerative colitis was confirmed endoscopically and histologically based on a previous settled diarrheal illness and severe iron deficiency anemia which required blood. Both conditions responded well to IBD therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of chronic, multifocal osteomyelitis associated with pediatric UC in Saudi Arabia. This report supports the use of IBD therapy in treating CRMO.

http://bit.ly/2CXBMjg