Periodicals in andrology： an overview

Andrology is a medical specialty which is concerned with male reproductive andsexual functions. There are several peer-reviewed andrology journals.1-9 As shown in Table 1, we highlighted alphabetically on some selected andrology periodicals. However, there are additional periodicals which are not included in Table 1. For example：     

Impact of zoledronic acid on control of metastatic spinal cord compression

BACKGROUND: Zoledronic acid was demonstrated to reduce the rate of skeletal-related events, a hypernym including various outcomes, in patients with bone metastases. In contrast to other studies, this matched-pair analysis focused solely on the impact of zoledronic acid on metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 98?patients with MSCC receiving radiotherapy plus zoledronic acid were matched 1:2 to 196?patients receiving radiotherapy alone for ten potential prognostic factors. Both groups were compared for local control of MSCC within the irradiated region, overall control of MSCC (local and distant MSCC control), and survival. RESULTS: The 1-year local control rates were 90% after radiotherapy plus zoledronic acid and 81%, after radiotherapy alone (p?=?0.042). The 1-year overall control rates were 87% and 75%, respectively (p =?0.016), and the 1-year survival rates were 60% and 52%, respectively (p?=?0.17). Results were significant in the Cox proportional hazards model regarding local control (p?=?0.024) and overall control (p =?0.008). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, zoledronic acid was associated with improved control of MSCC in irradiated patients.     

Continuing Medical Education Program in Echocardiography

Article Title: Parachute Mitral Valve in Adults – A Systematic Overview (Echocardiography 2010;27:580)     

Distribution of HLA-B27 and its alleles in patients with reactive arthritis and with ankylosing spondylitis in Tunisia

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the frequency of HLA-B27 and its alleles in reactive arthritis (ReA) and in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Tunisia. HLA-B27 alleles were typed by PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers. We studied 17 patients with ReA associated with urethritis or with gastrointestinal infection; 42 HLA-B27-positive patients with AS and 100 healthy controls. Eleven ReA patients (67.7%) were HLA-B27 positive. There was an increased frequencies of HLA-B27 (P = 7.76 × 10⁻¹², OR = 59.30) and a moderate increase of HLA-B51 (P = 0.015; OR = 4.91) alleles in ReA patients when compared with healthy controls. Four B27 subtypes were identified: B*2702, 05, 09 and B*2712. The distribution of these alleles in the ReA patients was 37.5% for B*2702 and B*2705. Only these two subtypes were detected in 18 (42.8%) and 24 (57.1%), respectively, of the AS patients. B*2709 and B*2712 were relatively rare in ReA patients and were identified in one case each. Our results showed a restricted number of HLA-B27 subtypes associated with ReA and AS. B*2702 and 2705 were common in ReA and AS patients.     

Reperfusion syndrome: relationship of coronary blood flow reserve to left ventricular function and infarct size

OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that the reperfusion syndrome (RS), defined as an additional elevation of the ST segment upon reperfusion, may be a marker of microcirculatory reperfusion injury during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of the RS is unknown, and its prognostic implications are controversial. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with an anterior AMI treated < or =12 h after onset by primary coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were studied. Coronary velocity reserve (CVR), an index of microcirculatory function, was measured using a Doppler guidewire. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, infarct size (percent defect) and LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) were evaluated by radionuclide ventriculography, 201T1 single-photon emission computed tomography and contrast ventriculography, respectively. RESULTS: Baseline ST elevation and pain-to-TIMI 3 time were similar in patients with and without RS. Patients with RS (10/21) had a lower post-PTCA CVR than patients without RS (median [95% confidence interval]: 1.2 [1-1.3] vs. 1.6 [1.5-1.7], p < 0.005). Even though predischarge CVR was similar in the two groups, infarct size at six weeks (26 [21 to 37] vs. 14 [10-17]% 201T1 defect, p = 0.001) and predischarge LVESVi (45% [40 to 52] vs. 30% [29 to 38] mL/m2, p = 0.001) were larger, and LV ejection fraction at six weeks (40% [37 to 46] vs. 55% [50 to 60], p = 0.004) was lower in patients with RS than in patients without RS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RS during primary PTCA for an anterior AMI have a transiently lower CVR than patients without RS, but sustained LV dysfunction and larger infarct size, suggesting that RS is a marker of microcirculatory reperfusion injury.     

Relevant factors in mitral valve reconstructive surgery. Report of 150 cases

150 patients had mitral valve repair for mitral valve incompetence. There were 57 males and 93 females with a mean age of 22 years, 39% were less than 15 years of age. 60% of the patients were in Class II NYHA and 40% in Class III and IV. According to Carpentier's classification, isolated type I was present in 18 patients (12%), type II in 98 patients (64%) and type III in 34 cases (24%). Mitral repair included correction of valve prolapse, valvular enlargement with pericardial patch and annuloplasty with semi-rigid ring in 128 cases and PTFE patch along the posterior leaflet in 12 cases. The perioperative mortality rate was 2.6% (4 patients). All patients had early post-operative echocardiography. According to this, mitral regurgitation was absent or tiny in 135 patients (92%), grade II in 10 cases and grade III in 2 cases. It was moderate or important in twelve patients (8%). In the late post-operative period, three patients were lost to follow-up. All the others patients were reoperated upon for mitral dysfunction in a mean time of 37 months. The reason for reoperation was in the majority of the cases the recurrence of mitral regurgitation related to increase of valvular and sub valvular disease. The late mortality rate is 7% (10 patients). Out of 126 reviewed survivors on the long run, 71 patients (56%) are asymptomatic in class I, 53 patients (42%) in class II and 2 patients in class III NYHA. Mitral valvuloplasty is the preferred procedure in mitral insufficiency surgical management. It is associated to a low early mortality and morbidity rate. Despite the need for reoperation in about 10% of the cases in the long follow-up, mitral repair offers a good quality of life without anticoagulant treatment.     

Approaches to the reversal of malnutrition,inflammation, and atherosclerosis in end-stage renal disease

Uremic malnutrition and chronic inflammation are important comorbid conditions that predict poor clinical outcome in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. These conditions are also closely associated with cardiovascular disease, the major cause of death in ESRD patients. A pathophysiologic link between malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis has been proposed in this patient population. Indeed, multiple lines of evidence suggest that chronic inflammation can predispose ESRD patients to a catabolic and atherogenic state. Malnutrition can also result from chronic inflammation and can accelerate the progression of cardiovascular disease. Whereas a single common etiology has not been identified in this complex process, nutritional and anti-inflammatory interventions provide potential treatment options to counter the high mortality and morbidity in ESRD patients.