The determinants for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) recent burden are matters of debate. Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are well established risks for several cancers even though no link with GEP-NETs was yet established. Our aim in this study was to investigate whether well-differentiated GEP-NETs were associated with obesity and MetS. Patients with well-differentiated GEP-NETs (n = 96) were cross-matched for age, gender, and district of residence with a control group (n = 96) derived from the general population in a case-control study. Patients presented gastro-intestinal (75.0%) or pancreatic (22.9%) tumors, grade G1 (66.7%) or G2 (27.1%) with localized disease (31.3%), regional metastasis (16.7%) or distant metastasis (43.8%) at diagnosis, and 45.8% had clinical hormonal syndromes. MetS was defined according to Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. Well-differentiated GEP-NETs were associated with MetS criteria as well as the individual components’ waist circumference, fasting triglycerides, and fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.003, p = 0.002, p = 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively). The likelihood of the association was higher when the number of individual MetS components was greater than four. MetS and some individual MetS components including visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, and increased fasting glucose are associated with well-differentiated GEP-NET. This data provides a novel insight in unraveling the mechanisms leading to GEP-NET disease.

With the objective of evaluating Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus resistance to cipermetrina and amitraz, were collected engorged tick females from cattle on 20 farms on the Santa Catarina Plateau, in southern Brazil, between January of 2004 and May of 2006. Were also received 20 groups of engorged R. (B.) microplus females, collected by cattle farmers requesting acaricidal efficacy (AE) testing. Were performed in vitro tests, which consisted of immersing engorged females in cypermethrin (0.015%) and in amitraz (0.025%). An AE ≥95% was considered indicative of effectiveness. Of the 20 collected groups, 18 (90%) showed cypermethrin resistance and 1 (5%) showed amitraz resistance. Of the 20 received groups, 19 (95%) showed cypermethrin resistance and 2 (10%) showed amitraz resistance. The AE of cypermethrin was found to be ≥95%, 85-94%, and 55-64%, respectively, in 4 (57.1%), 2 (28.6%), and 1 (14.3%) of 7 reference groups, collected in the 1997-2001 period. The AE of amitraz was ≥95% in all of those groups. Among the groups of specimens received for analysis in that period, the AE of amitraz was ≥95% in 6 (85.71%) and 75-84% in 1 (14.28%). R. (B.) microplus resistance to acaricides is increasing on the Santa Catarina Plateau.Keywords: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, cattle tick, acaricide resistance. ResumoCom os objetivos de avaliar a resistência do Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus à cipermetrina e ao amitraz no Planalto Catarinense, no período de janeiro de 2004 a maio de 2006, foram coletadas teleóginas em bovinos de 20 propriedades onde os produtores autorizaram a coleta (amostras por conveniência) e recebidas teleóginas de mais 20 propriedades com objetivo de diagnóstico de eficácia. Os testes in vitro foram realizados por imersão de teleóginas em cipermetrina (0,015%) e amitraz (0,025%). Considerando a eficácia igual ou superior a 95%, das 20 propriedades amostradas, 18 (90%) apresentaram resistência à cipermetrina e uma (5%) ao amitraz. Das 20 propriedades com teleóginas para diagnóstico, 19 (95%) apresentaram resistência à cipermetrina e duas (10%) ao amitraz. No período de agosto de 1997 a dezembro de 2001, das sete amostras coletadas, em quatro (57,1%) a eficácia da cipermetrina foi ≥95%, em duas (28,6%) entre 85% e 94% e em uma, (14,3%) entre 55% e 64%. A eficácia do amitraz foi ≥95%, em teleóginas de todas as propriedades. Nas amostras para diagnóstico, seis (85,71%) apresentaram eficácia para o amitraz ≥95% e uma (14,28%) entre 75% e 84%. A resistência desse ixodídeo aos carrapaticidas testados é crescente no Planalto Catarinense.Palavras-chave: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, carrapato dos bovinos, resistência a acaricidas.

Purpose To assess the accuracy of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling both in the differential diagnosis of adrenocorticotrophic hormone dependent Cushing’s syndrome and predicting the localization on the pituitary. Methods The authors evaluated all patients that undergone bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling in a tertiary centre, between January 1995 and March 2018. The probable diagnosis of Cushing’s disease was made when the basal central/peripheral gradient was>2 and/or>3 after stimulation with corticotrophin releasing hormone. The localization was suggested when the inter-sinus gradient was>1.4. The results obtained were compared with the post operatory results: compatible histology and positive immunohistochemistry to adrenocorticotrophic hormone and/or the presence of criteria of cure. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive positive value were calculated. Results A total of 49 patients were evaluated (75.5% female; mean age 45.4±16.3 years old). Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling was compatible with Cushing’s disease in 27 out of 28 confirmed cases in histology or by criteria of cure, and was compatible with ectopic secretion in the 2 cases confirmed as ectopic secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (sensitivity 96.4%; specificity 100%). The lateralization calculated was concordant with the results after surgery in 17 out of 27 patients with Cushing’s disease – predictive positive value of 63%. Magnetic resonance had a higher predictive value to lateralization – 70.0%. Conclusions Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling is a safe and reliable procedure to diagnose Cushing’s disease, with great sensitivity and specificity. Nevertheless, the capacity of this procedure to lateralize the lesion inside the pituitary is limited.

Conflict of interest: noneObjective: optimism is an important variable that has consistently been shown to affect adjustment to quality of life in chronic diseases. This study aims to clarify if dispositional optimism exerts a moderating or a mediating influence on the personality traits-quality of life association, in Portuguese chronic patients. Methods: multiple regression models were used to test the moderation and mediation effects of dispositional optimism in quality of life. A sample of 729 patients was recruited in Portugal's main hospitals and completed self-reported questionnaires assessing socio-demographic and clinical variables, personality, dispositional optimism, quality of life (QoL) and subjective well-being (SWB). Results: the results of the regression models showed that dispositional optimism did not moderate the relationships between personality traits and quality of life. After controlling for gender, age, education level and severity of disease perception, the effects of personality traits on QoL and in SWB were mediated by dispositional optimism (partially and completely), except for the links between neuroticism/openness to experience and physical health. Conclusion: dispositional optimism is more likely to play a mediating, rather than a moderating role in personality traits-quality of life pathway in Portuguese chronic patients, suggesting that "the expectation that good things will happen" contributes to a better quality of life and subjective well-being.