The presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is variable throughout the world. The present study explored retrospective data submitted to the Indian PHPT registry ( http://www.indianphptregistry.com ) between July 2005 and June 2015 from 5 centres covering four different geographical regions. The clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological characteristics of PHPT patients across India were analysed for similarity and variability across the centres. A total of 464 subjects (137 men and 327 women) with histopathologically proven PHPT were analysed. The mean age was 41 ± 14 years with a female:male ratio of 2.4:1. The majority (95%) of patients were symptomatic. Common clinical manifestations among all the centres were weakness and fatigability (58.7%), bone pain (56%), renal stone disease (31%), pancreatitis (12.3%) and gallstone disease (11%). Mean serum calcium, parathyroid hormone and inorganic phosphorus levels were 11.9 ± 1.6 mg/dL, 752.4 ± 735.2 pg/mL and 2.8 ± 0.9 mg/dL, respectively. Sestamibi scanning had better sensitivity than ultrasonography in the localisation of parathyroid adenoma; however, when these two modalities were combined, 93% of the cases were correctly localised. Mean parathyroid adenoma weight was 5.6 ± 6.5 g (0.1-54 g). It was concluded that the majority of PHPT patients within India are still mainly symptomatic with >50% of patients presenting with bone disease and one-third with renal impairment. Compared to Western countries, Indian patients with PHPT are younger, biochemical abnormalities are more severe, and adenoma weight is higher. As our observation is largely derived from a tertiary care hospital (no routine screening of serum calcium level), the results do not reflect racial differences in susceptibility to PHPT.

BACKGROUND:Obesity has become a major health problem across the world. In women, it is known to cause anovulation, subfecundity, increased risk of fetal anomalies and miscarriage rates. However, in women going for assisted reproduction the effects of obesity on egg quality, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, live birth rates are controversial.OBJECTIVES:To assess the effect of women’s body mass index (BMI) on the reproductive outcome of non donor In vitro fertilization (IVF)/Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The effects of BMI on their gonadotrophin levels (day 2 LH, FSH), gonadotrophin dose required for ovarian stimulation, endometrial thickness and oocyte/embryo quality were looked at, after correcting for age and poor ovarian reserve.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Retrospective study of medical records of 308 women undergoing non donor IVF cycles in a University affiliated teaching hospital. They were classified into three groups: normal weight (BMI<25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI>25 <30 kg/m2) and obese (BMI>30 kg/m2). All women underwent controlled ovarian hyper stimulation using long agonist protocol.RESULTS:There were 88 (28.6%) in the normal weight group, 147 (47.7%) in the overweight and 73 (23.7%) in the obese group. All three groups were comparable with respect to age, duration of infertility, female and male causes of infertility. The three groups were similar with respect to day 2 LH/FSH levels, endometrial thickness and gonadotrophin requirements, oocyte quality, fertilization, cleavage rates, number of good quality embryos and clinical pregnancy rates.CONCLUSION:Increase in body mass index in women does not appear to have an adverse effect on IVF outcome. However, preconceptual counselling for obese women is a must as weight reduction helps in reducing pregnancy-related complications.

Background: Neurocognitive impairments from brain tumours may interfere with the ability to drive safely. In 9 of 13 Canadian provinces and territories, physicians have a legal obligation to report patients who may be medically unfit to drive. To complicate matters, brain tumour patients are managed by a multidisciplinary team; the physician most responsible to make the report of unfitness is often not apparent. The objective of the present study was to determine the attitudes and reporting practices of physicians caring for these patients. Methods: A 17-question survey distributed to physicians managing brain tumour patients elicited: (1) Respondent demographics; (2) Knowledge about legislative requirements; (3) Experience of reporting Barriers and attitudes to reporting. Fisher exact tests were performed to assess differences in responses between family physicians (fps) and specialists. Results: Of 467 physicians sent surveys, 194 responded (42%), among whom 81 (42%) were specialists and 113 (58%) were fps. Compared with the specialists, the fps were significantly less comfortable with reporting, less likely to consider reporting, less likely to have patients inquire about driving, and less likely to discuss driving implications. A lack of tools, concern for the patient–physician relationship, and a desire to preserve patient quality of life were the most commonly cited barriers in determining medical fitness of patients to drive. Conclusions: Legal requirements to report medically unfit drivers put physicians in the difficult position of balancing patient autonomy and public safety. More comprehensive and definitive guidelines would be helpful in assisting physicians with this public health issue.

Background: Tight glycemic control in the critically ill is known to reduce both the morbidity and the mortality.It is essential that intensivists and endocrinologists involved in the care of these patients have a good understanding of the concepts related to this condition. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices about achieving tight glycemic control in the critically ill among the endocrinologists and intensivists practicing in the city of Chennai. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires containing ten questions pertaining to clinical outcomes, drawbacks, target levels of glycemic control and insulin regimen in achieving tight glycemia in the critically ill were sent to a total of six endocrinologists and 52 intensivists practicing in Chennai.Results: All those who were administered the questionnaires responded. Majority of the responders (88%) believed in tight glycemic control in the critically ill because of better outcomes from hospitalization. A minority did not for fear of hypoglycemia. Fifty percent agreed on the cut off value of 110 mg/dL as followed in the Van den Berghe study. Seventy percent used glucometer for monitoring sugar levels. Most preferred using regular insulin as infusion. Conclusions: There seems to be a good understanding and standard practices among the endocrinologists and intensivists in achieving strict glycemic control in the critically ill. Setting up of standard intensive care unit glycemic control protocols will settle all the methodological differences and make the practices more uniform.

No abstract

Background: Adrenal insufficiency is a common occurrence in the critically ill and it is essential that intensivists and endocrinologists involved in the care of these patients have a good understanding of the concepts related to this condition. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices about adrenal insufficiency in the critically ill among the endocrinologists and intensivists practicing in the city of Chennai. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires containing ten questions pertaining to adrenal insufficiency in the critically ill were sent to a total of six endocrinologists and 52 intensivists practicing in Chennai. Results: About 77% of all the respondents agreed to the fact that adrenal insufficiency is a frequent occurrence in critical illness. But 57% of them felt that there is no need for routine evaluation of critically ill patients for adrenal insufficiency. Random serum cortisol was selected by 62% of the responders as the method for evaluating adrenal function in the critically ill. There is clearly no agreement among the endocrinologists or the intensivists on the various cut off levels for diagnosis. Neither is there a clear consensus on the method followed for treatment of patients with adrenal insufficiency in the critical care unit. Conclusion: There is no concordance in the knowledge, attitudes or practices on adrenal insufficiency in the critically ill among the endocrinologists and intensivists in Chennai. There is a need for developing standard diagnostic and treatment guidelines and making it available for all the practicing endocrinologists and intensivists.

Objective: A rare disease. Background: von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant familial syndrome with a multitude of benign and malignant multivisceral tumors and one-third of them harbor pheochromocytoma (PCC). We intend to present one such rare case and challenges in its surgical management. Case: A 38-year-old lady presented with hypertension and episodic headache. Biochemical evaluation was suggestive of hypercatecholaminism. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the presence of a heterogeneous intensity lesion in the left suprarenal area suggestive of PCC. Multiple cysts were seen in both the kidneys as well as in the pancreatic head and tail. Imaging of the brain and spine showed a left cerebellar and spinal cord hemangioblastoma, respectively. I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) showed high uptake in the left suprarenal region. After adequate preparation, she underwent left adrenalectomy. Histopathology was consistent with adrenal PCC and the patient was biochemically cured of hypercatecholaminism. The presence of PCC and other manifestations of VHL type 2A were evident in this patient. Conclusion:The presence of multiple renal and pancreatic cysts can camouflage adrenal tumors intraoperatively. Careful identification, dissection, and differentiation of PCC from these cysts are crucial. Multicentricity and multifocality of PCC are not uncommon in VHL and these patients need lifelong close follow-up for other tumors as well.

SUMMARYWe present a case of an 8-year-old girl with a painless swelling in her neck. An ultrasonogram revealed a cystic nodule with internal echoes, lying posterior to right lobe of thyroid, and MRI confirmed it. Thyroid scintigraphy did not show any uptake in the swelling. Intraoperatively, the lesion was densely adherent to the thyroid gland, hence a hemithyroidectomy was performed. Histopathology showed it to be an ectopic cervical thymic cyst with parathyroid tissue. BACKGROUND