Colposcopic genital findings in prepubertal girls assessed for sexual abuse

After the introduction of the colposcope for the examination of children suspected of being sexually abused in Leeds, a study was undertaken to describe the findings in detail. A total of 109 consecutive prepubertal girls, mean age 70.4 months were assessed including colposcopic genital and anal examination, and peer group review of reports and photographs. Fifty nine children had signs consistent with blunt force penetrating trauma (hymenal transection/major notch, scar, or hymenal attenuation). Transections were encountered most commonly at 6 o'clock (directly posterior). In 46 the hymenal orifice was gaping with thigh abduction only and in 47 the hymenal orifice transverse diameter was greater than 4 mm on labial separation. Overall, physical findings were commonly present and in only two cases were no signs recorded. Non-specific and frequent findings included patterns of labial and introital reddening. Supportive hymenal signs including swelling, rounding of edge, thickening, distortion, and loss of symmetry were common. Labial fusion was present in 20. Urethral dilatation with labial separation was noted in 14. Physical findings including normality are consistent with abuse and even minor anogenital signs as well as negative findings should be documented. Colposcopy and photography are valuable tools in peer review, teaching, and case management.     

Radiological evidence of constipation in urinary tract infection

Little objective evidence has been published to support the claim that constipation is an important contributory factor in recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in childhood. Using a radiological scoring system, two observers assessed faecal loading from abdominal radiographs of children with proved UTIs. There was a significant increase in the degree of faecal loading in children with UTI when compared with controls (r = 0.237). This difference was mainly accounted for by girls with recurrent (greater than five) UTIs. This study confirms an association between recurrent UTI and faecal loading. Further studies are needed to establish if there is a causal relationship and benefits from treatment.     

Clinical stage I and II Hodgkin's disease: Long-term results of therapy without laparotomy: Experience at one institution

Background: We concluded a program in which we administeredradiotherapy only to clinical stages I and II Hodgkin's diseasepatients at standard risk, with the addition of 4 cycles ofcombination chemotherapy before radiotherapy for high-risk patients. Patients and methods: From 1980 to 1991, 313 patients with clinicalstages I or II Hodgkin's disease underwent treatment in ourhospital. Fifty percent of the patients in groups previouslyidentified as being at high risk for relapse received 4 cyclesof combination chemotherapy before radiotherapy. The remaininghalf of the patients received radiotherapy only. Results: Low- and high-risk patients aged 15–59 yearshad, respectively, complete remission (CR) rates of 97% and94%, 5-year survivals of 95% and 91%, and 5-year freedom fromrelapse (FFR) rates of 78% and 89%. Older low- and high-riskgroups had CR rates of 97% and 93%, 5-year survivals of 60%and 56% and 5-year FFR of 77% and 93%, respectively. Conclusion: Here we present our favorable results after treatingstandard-risk patients with clinical stages I and II Hodgkin'sdisease with radiotherapy only. With the addition of chemotherapy,the rate of relapse in the high-risk patients was reduced belowthat of the standard-risk patients. Overall survival was thesame for the high- and standard-risk patients. adjuvant chemotherapy, Hodgkin's disease, radiotherapy, stages I and II     

Gonadal function and fertility in patients with bilateral testicular germ cell malignancy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate gonadal function and fertility in patients with bilateral testicular cancer (TC). METHODS: In 1999, 63 patients with bilateral invasive TC or carcinoma in situ (CIS) in the contralateral testis completed a mailed questionnaire evaluating their fatherhood (Cases). Their gonadal function had also been assessed after the first orchiectomy for TC before further treatment.The results were compared with those from 174 patients with unilateral TC (Controls). RESULTS: In Cases the post-orchiectomy serum levels of FSH and LH were above those of the Controls (p<0.001). Serum testosterone was similar, whereas sperm concentrations were lower in Cases (p<0.001). In Cases with metachronous invasive TC the level of serum FSH was associated with the interval between the two diagnoses. After the first orchiectomy, 10 of 25 Cases (40%) initiated a pregnancy, in 4 Cases by assisted fertilization. In the Control group 74% of the patients who attempted fatherhood succeeded (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: After unilateral orchiectomy for TC elevated serum FSH and/or oligospermia represent a high-risk factor of metachronous bilateral TC or synchronous CIS. At least one-third of these patients attempting fatherhood are successful after the first orchiectomy. Assisted fertilization is often necessary and the overall paternity rate is below that of patients with unilateral TC.     

Tumour necrosis factor alpha and its promoter polymorphisms' role in the phenotypic expression of hemochromatosis

BACKGROUND: The majority of hemochromatosis patients are homozygous for the HFE-C282Y mutation. However, less than half of C282Y homozygous subjects identified by population screening studies actually develop the disease. The cytokine TNF-alpha is implicated in the regulation of iron metabolism at different levels. Our aim was to study the role of TNF-alpha and its promoter polymorphisms in the phenotypic expression of hemochromatosis in individuals with and without the C282Y mutation. METHODS: We studied 4 groups of 10 subjects each: (1) C282Y homozygotes without clinical hemochromatosis; (2) C282Y homozygotes with hemochromatosis; (3) secondary hemochromatosis (without C282Y mutation); and (4) controls. Groups were age-matched and sex-matched. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the release of TNF-alpha was measured. Additionally, the G/A polymorphisms at position -238 and -308 of the TNF-alpha, gene were determined by PCR and RFLP analysis in 178 hemochromatosis patients and 41 controls. RESULTS: TNF-alpha production from PBMC at 8 and 24 h after increasing concentrations of LPS stimulation were similar in the four groups. The prevalence of TNF-alpha polymorphisms was similar in patients and controls. The prevalences of cirrhosis, siderosis, median s-ferritin and median ALT values were similar in patients with and without the TNF-alpha polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Neither TNF-alpha, released from PBMC nor the presence of TNF-alpha polymorphisms seem to be associated with disease manifestation in hemochromatosis.     

'Patient satisfaction' in hospitalized cancer patients

Predictors of 'patient satisfaction' with hospitalization at a specialized cancer hospital in Norway are examined in this study. Two weeks after their last hospitalization, 2021 consecutive cancer patients were invited to rate their satisfaction with hospitalization, quality of life, anxiety and depression. Compliance rate was 72% (n = 1453). Cut-off levels separating dissatisfied from satisfied patients were defined. It was found that 92% of the patients were satisfied with their stay in hospital, independent of cancer type and number of previous admissions. Performance of nurses and physicians, level of information perceived, outcome of health status, reception at the hospital and anxiety independently predicted 'patient satisfaction'. The model explained 35% of the variance with an area under the curve of 0.76 of the Receiver Operator Curve. Cancer patients' satisfaction with their hospital stay was high, and predicted by four independently predictive variables related to the performance of caregivers. These suggest areas for further improvement in the healthcare service.     

Short Form 36 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A comparison based on patients with testicular cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the scorings of anxiety and depression assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A [Anxiety] and HADS-D [Depression]) with the scorings on the eight subscales of Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) assessed by the same patients. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study 736 long-term survivors after treatment for testicular cancer (TC) completed HADS and SF-36. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated on item and scale level to assess the associations between the HADS and the SF-36 scales and, in particular, between HADS and PCS and MCS, respectively. Independent predictors for PCS and MCS were identified by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: HADS-A and HADS-D were significantly associated with the SF-36 summary scales. HADS-A explained 5% of the variance of PCS and 49% of the variance of MCS. The comparable figures for HADS-D were 10% and 45%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis the HADS-D scoring independently predicted the level of PCS together with the patients' educational level, long-lasting working disability and age (variance: 30%). Both HADS-D and HADS-A remained independent parameters for MCS (variance: 58%) together with the patient's civil status. HADS-D item D4 ("slowed down") was similarly associated with both PCS and MCS. CONCLUSION: In univariate analyses HADS-D and HADS-A were statistically associated with PCS and MCS. The highest r values were observed for the associations between HADS and MCS, in particular between HADS-A and MCS. In the multivariate analyses HADS-D, but not HADS-A, contributed to PCS, whereas both HADS-A and HADS-D were associated with MCS. This pattern of different predictions of the summary scales of SF-36 supports a clinical practice that anxiety and depression should be assessed separately. Additional use of a self-rating instrument for depression and anxiety, such as HADS, is recommended when SF-36 is used for quality of life (QL) assessment.     

Dilution of respiratory solutes in exhaled condensates

Most exhaled water is produced as gaseous water vapor, which can be collected in cooled condensers. The presence of nonvolatile solutes in these condensates suggests that droplets of respiratory fluid (RF) have also been collected. However, calculation of RF solute concentrations from condensates requires estimation of the dilution of RF droplets by water vapor. We used condensate electrolyte concentrations to calculate the dilution of RF droplets in condensates from 20 normal subjects. The total ionic concentration (conductivity) was 497 plus minus 68 (mean plus minus SEM) muM. Of this, 229 plus minus 43 muM was NH(4)(+), but little NH(4)(+) was collected from subjects with tracheostomies, indicating oral formation. The Na+ concentration in condensate ([Na+](cond)) averaged 242 plus minus 43 muM. Large variations in [Na(+)](cond) correlated well with variations of K+ in condensate ([K+](cond)) and Cl-) in condensate ([Cl-](cond)), and were attributed to differences in respiratory droplet dilution. Dividing condensate values of ([Na+] + [K+] ) by those of plasma indicated that RF represented between 0.01% and 2.00% of condensate volumes. Calculated values for Na+, K+, Cl-, lactate, and protein in RF were [Na+](RF) = 91 +/- 8 mM, [K+](RF) = 60 +/- 11 mM, [Cl-](RF) = 102 +/- 17 mM, [lactate](RF) = 44 +/- 17 mM, and [protein](RF) = 7.63 +/- 1.82 g/dl, respectively.