Normalization of the vagina by dilator treatment alone in Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Various surgical and non-surgical treatment options are available for women with congenital vaginal agenesis. We report results of vaginal dilation therapy delivered by a multi-disciplinary team as first line treatment for vaginal agenesis. METHODS: Twenty-six women were recruited into a prospective observational study: 18 had Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) and 8 had Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS). All women underwent a vaginal dilation programme co-ordinated by a clinical nurse specialist with input from a clinical psychologist. Vaginal length was compared to a normal reference range, and psycho-sexual questionnaires were completed before and after therapy. RESULTS: Twenty-one (81%) patients completed the programme. Seventeen of these 21 (81%) were sexually active without any reported difficulties, whereas 4 were on a maintenance regime. In those who completed the programme the mean vaginal length increased from 4.0 to 8.5 cm and 86% achieved a vaginal length within the normal range. Subjective appraisal of vaginal size recorded that the number of women who reported that their vaginal size was 'more or less normal' increased from 1 to 12 following treatment. Questionnaire scores for sexual satisfaction and sexual depression improved in the CAIS group but did not alter significantly in the MRKH group. CONCLUSION: Non-surgical dilation delivered by a multi-disciplinary team is an effective alternative to vaginal surgery and usually normalizes vaginal length.     

TDP-43 in familial and sporadic frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin inclusions

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a major pathological protein of sporadic and familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive, tau-negative inclusions (FTLD-U) with or without motor neuron disease (MND). Thus, TDP-43 defines a novel class of neurodegenerative diseases called TDP-43 proteinopathies. We performed ubiquitin and TDP-43 immunohistochemistry on 193 cases of familial and sporadic FTLD with or without MND. On selected cases, immunoelectron microscopy and biochemistry were performed. Clinically defined frontotemporal dementias (FTDs) included four groups: 1) familial FTD with mutations in progranulin (n = 36), valosin-containing protein (n = 5), charged multivesicular body protein 2B (n = 4), and linked to chromosome 9p (n = 7); 2) familial cases of FTD with unknown gene association (n = 29); 3) sporadic FTD (n = 72); and 4) familial and sporadic FTD with MND (n = 40). Our studies confirm that the spectrum of TDP-43 proteinopathies includes most cases of sporadic and familial FTLD-U with and without MND and expand this disease spectrum to include reported families with FTD linked to chromosome 9p but not FTD with charged multivesicular body protein 2B mutations. Thus, despite significant clinical, genetic, and neuropathological heterogeneity of FTLD-U, TDP-43 is a common pathological substrate underlying a large subset of these disorders, thereby implicating TDP-43 in novel and unifying mechanisms of FTLD pathogenesis.     

Symptoms and symptom distress in localized prostate cancer

For over a decade, symptom distress has been a key concept in several studies of cancer. However, the definition of symptom distress is still unclear, and there are few measures targeting symptom distress, in general, and specific cancers, in particular. Prostate cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of death in American men. Many men with clinically localized prostate cancer may experience unique and multidimensional symptoms that occur from diagnosis through treatment, and thereafter. These symptoms associated with the disease and its treatments are in the form of physical and psychological sequelae such as urinary and bowel problems and sexual dysfunction. The purposes of this article are to (1) systematically review literature on symptoms and symptom distress in localized prostate cancer and (2) synthesize evidence of symptom distress applications and measurement in this group. A comprehensive, systematic review was conducted to identify original, data-based studies of symptoms and symptom distress in localized prostate cancer. Clarification of symptom distress and more comprehensive information about symptoms and symptom distress will provide nurses with a better foundation for developing self-management interventions aimed at ameliorating symptom distress and, ultimately, enhancing the quality of life of patients with localized prostate cancer.     

Metabolic syndrome: pathogenesis, medical care and dental implications

BACKGROUND: The dental literature contains little information about metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its dental implications. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: The authors conducted a MEDLINE search for the period 2000 through 2005, using the term "metabolic syndrome" to define its pathophysiology, medical treatment and dental implications. RESULTS: MetS is the co-occurrence of abdominal obesity, hyper-triglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, hypertension and impaired fasting glucose, which results from consumption of a high-calorie diet and decreased levels of physical activity superimposed on the appropriate genetic setting. Components of MetS synergistically promote the development of atherosclerosis, resulting in myocardial infarction and stroke. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Deteriorating oral health status is associated with worsening of the atherogenic profile. Tooth loss often results in chewing difficulties because of inadequate occlusive surfaces and may lead to alterations in food selection and dietary quality. This, in turn, adversely affects body composition and nutritional status, both of which are related to vascular health. Dentists should develop treatment plans that preserve and restore the dentition, thus ensuring maximum masticatory efficiency and affording patients the optimum opportunity to consume food that will not foster atherogenesis.     

Acute Toxicity of Eight Oil Spill Response Chemicals to Temperate,Boreal, and Arctic Species

The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the acute toxicity of selected shoreline washing agents (SWA) and dispersants, and (2) assess interspecies differences in sensitivity to the products. Eight shoreline washing agents (Hela saneringsvæske, Bios, Bioversal, Absorrep K212, and Corexit 9580) and chemical dispersants (Corexit 9500, Dasic NS, and Gamlen OD4000) were tested on five marine species, algae Skeletonema costatum, planktonic copepod species Acartia tonsa (temperate species), Calanus finmarchicus (boreal species) and Calanus glacialis (Arctic species), and benthic amphipod Corophium volutator. For most products, A. tonsa was the most sensitive species, whereas C. volutator was the least sensitive; however, these species were exposed through different media (water/sediment). In general, all copepod species displayed a relatively similar sensitivity to all products. However, A. tonsa was somewhat more sensitive than other copepods to most of the tested products. Thus, A. tonsa appears to be a candidate species for boreal and Arctic copepods for acute toxicity testing, and data generated on this species may be used as to provide conservative estimates. The benthic species (C. volutator) had a different sensitivity pattern relative to pelagic species, displaying higher sensitivity to solvent-based SWA than to water-based SWA. Comparing product toxicity, the dispersants were in general most toxic while the solvent-based SWA were least toxic to pelagic species.     

Gender differences in prognosis after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to clarify the gender differences in the prognosis, as well as mortality and morbidity, of patients who have undergone esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Methods

The clinical results of esophagectomy were compared between 975 male and 156 female patients with esophageal cancer.

Results

The male to female ratios of cervical and thoracic esophageal cancer were 1.87 and 7.38, respectively (P < 0.01). The incidence of preoperative comorbidities was 32.4 and 17.4 %, respectively, and the rates of both tobacco and alcohol abuse were significantly lower in the females than in the males. The mortality rate was lower in the females (3.8 %) than in the males (5.7 %), although the differences were not significant. The overall survival was significantly better in the female than in the male patients (P = 0.039). The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 32.6 and 20.5 % in the males and 39.5 and 32.5 % in the females, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed gender to be an independent prognostic factor. However, no significant differences were recognized in disease-specific survival.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the prognosis of females with esophageal cancer is better than that of males after esophagectomy, most likely due to multiple clinical factors, such as a more favorable lifestyle and general status.