RESUMO
During menopausal transition, mild clinical signs of hyperandrogenism may appear as part of the normal aging process, but the development of frank virilization suggests a specific source of androgen excess. In this context, androgen-secreting tumors at both adrenal and ovarian levels should be ruled out. We present the case of a 51-year-old postmenopausal woman with signs of 12 month period virilization, associated with personal history of type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension, poorly managed in the past year. Laboratory tests showed elevation of serum androgen levels and hyperinsulinemia. Images were requested, revealing both enlarged homogeneous and solid ovaries, with preserved adrenal glands, which led to suspicion of a possible thecal hyperplasia of the ovarian stroma. Laparoscopic bilateral adnexectomy was performed and the pathological report confirmed the presumptive diagnosis. One month later after surgery, serum testosterone levels returned to values ââclose to spected for a postmenopausal woman. Finding the source of virilization in postmenopausal women is challenging, and they are usually associated with rare pathologies. A detailed medical history is essential to differentiate the progressive development of virilization that characterizes benign causes from the rapid progression that characterizes malignant tumors. The adequate interpretation of laboratory tests with complementary images, as well as looking for the association of pathologies causing elevated cardiovascular risk such as diabetes and hypertension are essential to establish a right diagnosis and treatment.
Durante la transición menopáusica pueden aparecer signos clínicos leves de hiperandrogenismo, como parte del proceso de envejecimiento normal, pero el desarrollo de virilización franca sugiere una fuente específica de exceso de andrógenos debiendo descartar la presencia de tumores secretores de andrógenos tanto a nivel adrenal como ovárico. Se presenta un caso de una mujer de 51 años postmenopáusica con signos de virilización de 12 meses de evolución, asociado a antecedente personal de diabetes tipo 2 e hipertensión arterial, de mal manejo en el último año. Las pruebas de laboratorio mostraron una franca elevación de los niveles de andrógeno sérico e hiperinsulinemia asociada. Las imágenes solicitadas evidenciaron ambos ovarios aumentados de tamaño de aspecto homogéneo y sólido, con glándulas adrenales de aspecto conservado, lo que hizo sospechar de una posible hiperplasia tecal del estroma ovárico. Se realizó una anexectomía bilateral por laparoscopia, cuya anatomía patológica confirmó la presunción diagnóstica. Los dosajes de testosterona sérica al mes de la cirugía retornaron a valores cercanos a la normalidad para una mujer postmenopáusica. El diagnóstico causal de virilización en mujeres posmenopáusicas es un desafío, y por lo general están asociadas con patologías poco frecuentes. Una historia clínica detallada es fundamental para diferenciar el desarrollo progresivo de virilización que caracteriza las causas benignas de la rápida progresión que caracteriza a los tumores malignos. La interpretación de pruebas correctas de laboratorio con imágenes complementarias, así como la búsqueda de antecedentes de riesgo cardiovascular como la diabetes y la hipertensión asociadas son fundamentales para establecer un correcto diagnóstico y tratamiento.
Assuntos
Doenças Metabólicas , Pós-Menopausa , Feminino , Humanos , Hiperplasia , Estudos Retrospectivos , VirilismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine vectors. However, and despite its utmost biological and epidemiological relevance, T. cruzi development inside the digestive tract of the insect remains a poorly understood process. METHODS/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: Here we showed that Gp35/50 kDa mucins, the major surface glycoproteins from T. cruzi insect-dwelling forms, are involved in parasite attachment to the internal cuticle of the triatomine rectal ampoule, a critical step leading to its differentiation into mammal-infective forms. Experimental evidence supporting this conclusion could be summarized as follows: i) native and recombinant Gp35/50 kDa mucins directly interacted with hindgut tissues from Triatoma infestans, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence assays; ii) transgenic epimastigotes over-expressing Gp35/50 kDa mucins on their surface coat exhibited improved attachment rates (~2-3 fold) to such tissues as compared to appropriate transgenic controls and/or wild-type counterparts; and iii) certain chemically synthesized compounds derived from Gp35/50 kDa mucins were able to specifically interfere with epimastigote attachment to the inner lining of T. infestans rectal ampoules in ex vivo binding assays, most likely by competing with or directly blocking insect receptor(s). A solvent-exposed peptide (smugS peptide) from the Gp35/50 kDa mucins protein scaffolds and a branched, Galf-containing trisaccharide (Galfß1-4[Galpß1-6]GlcNAcα) from their O-linked glycans were identified as main adhesion determinants for these molecules. Interestingly, exogenous addition of a synthetic Galfß1-4[Galpß1-6]GlcNAcα derivative or of oligosaccharides containing this structure impaired the attachment of Dm28c but not of CL Brener epimastigotes to triatomine hindgut tissues; which correlates with the presence of Galf residues on the Gp35/50 kDa mucins' O-glycans on the former but not the latter parasite clone. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying T. cruzi-triatomine interplay, and indicate that inter-strain variations in the O-glycosylation of Gp35/50 kDa mucins may lead to differences in parasite differentiation and hence, in parasite transmissibility to the mammalian host. Most importantly, our findings point to Gp35/50 kDa mucins and/or the Galf biosynthetic pathway, which is absent in mammals and insects, as appealing targets for the development of T. cruzi transmission-blocking strategies.
Assuntos
Mucinas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Protozoários/metabolismo , Triatoma/parasitologia , Trypanosoma cruzi/metabolismo , Animais , Doença de Chagas/parasitologia , Doença de Chagas/transmissão , Humanos , Mucinas/genética , Proteínas de Protozoários/genética , Reto/parasitologia , Trypanosoma cruzi/genéticaRESUMO
Introducción: La endometriosis intestinal es una forma severa de esta entidad, afectando hasta un 12% de estas pacientes. Su tratamiento quirúrgico resulta difícil debido a la distorsión anatómica que genera, más aún cuando el abordaje es el laparoscópico. Objetivo: Analizar la factibilidad y seguridad terapéutica de las resecciones colorrectales laparoscópicas por endometriosis severa. Diseño: Observacional retrospectivo de una base de datos prospectiva. Material y métodos: Pacientes operadas con diagnóstico de endometriosis con compromiso colorrectal a las cuales se les realizó una resección intestinal entre enero de 2003 y septiembre de 2013. Resultados: De 1343 casos operados, 17 pacientes fueron intervenidas por endometriosis severa con compromiso colorrectal. Edad media 35 años (rango 23 - 47), IMC medio 22 kg/m2 (rango 18 35).El segmento frecuentemente afectado fue el recto (52%) y la unión rectosigmoidea (30%).En 9 pacientes se realizó una resección anterior baja, 4 de ellas requirieron ostomía derivativa; 5 pacientes recibieron una Resección anterior alta y 3 pacientes una hemicolectomía derecha. Tiempo operatorio medio 187 min (rango 60 - 360) y el sangrado operatorio medio 90cc (rango 20 - 500). Índice de conversión 11%. No se registraron complicaciones intraoperatorias. Estadía hospitalaria media 4 días (rango 2 - 10).Morbilidad global 23%.Se observaron complicaciones postoperatorias mayores en 1 caso (dehiscencia anastomótica) y menores en 3 casos (retención urinaria). No se registró readmisión hospitalaria y la mortalidad fue nula. Conclusiones: El tratamiento laparoscópico de la endometriosis intestinal severa es una opción factible y segura. En centros entrenados, puede ser adoptada como primera opción en el manejo de la endometriosis pelviana con severo compromiso colorrectal.
Background: Deep infiltrating endometriosis with bowel involvement is an aggressive form of endometriosis with an incidence up to 12%.It´s surgical management represents a challenge because of the distortion of the anatomy this entity produces, even more so when the approach is laparoscopical. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and security of colorectal laparoscopic resections for bowel endometriosis. Materials and methods: All patients presenting to the Department of Colorectal Surgery with bowel endometriosis from January 2003 to September 2013 were identified from a prospective database and retrospectively analyzed. Results: From 1343 colorectal laparoscopic procedures, 17 patients received surgery because of bowel endometriosis. Median age 35 years (range 23 to 47) and median BMI 22 kg/m2 (range 18 to 35). The most affected segments included Rectum 52% and the Rectosigmoid junction 30%. Resections included 9 low anterior resections (4 of them required fecal diversion), 5 High anterior resections and 3 Right Hemicolectomies. Median operating time was 187 minutes (range 60 to 360). Conversion rate 11%. Median length of stay was 4 days (range 2 to 10). There were none intraoperative complications. Global morbidity rate was 23%. Postoperative major complications occurred in 5.8%: one patient presented an anastomotic leak. There were 3 minor complications consistent of urinary retentions. There were no readmissions and mortality rate was nule. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery of bowel endometriosis is a feasible and safe therapeutic option. In trained centers, it can be adopted as the first option in the management of deep infiltrating pelvic endometriosis with bowel involvement.