Peyronie’s disease: Contemporary evaluation and management

Peyronie’s disease is a common yet poorly understood condition characterized by penile pain, curvature, sexual dysfunction and psychological bother. Peyronie’s disease represents a penile wound healing disorder, and is thought to arise from exuberant scarring in response to penile trauma in genetically predisposed men. In the absence of active treatment, the majority of men experience stable or worsening symptoms, with few reporting spontaneous resolution in penile curvature or other deformity. In contrast, penile pain improves or resolves in the majority of men. Treatment options vary based on symptom severity and stability. Several oral therapies are commonly prescribed, although to date there are no strong data to support any oral agents as monotherapy for Peyronie’s disease. Other options including penile traction therapy and intralesional injections result in modest improvements for many patients, particularly when used early after symptom onset. Penile straightening through approaches, such as penile plication and plaque incision or partial excision and grafting, represent the most rapid and reliable approach to correct penile curvature once the symptoms have stabilized. Side-effects vary based on the type of surgery carried out, and include penile shortening, sensation changes and erectile dysfunction in the minority of men. In patients with drug refractory erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease, placement of a penile prosthesis will address both issues, and is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. The current review provides a practical approach to the modern evaluation and management of patients presenting with Peyronie’s disease.     

The Mini Rhytidectomy

A technique is described in which superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is plicated from the deep temporal fascia above the zygoma to the level of the earlobe. This procedure requires only an extended preauricular incision. The neck is dealt with by liposuction. This technique is ideally suited to the younger patient requesting facelift and is based on a sound understanding of the anatomy of SMAS. The outcome of 35 patients who underwent this procedure during a 3.5-year period are described. There were no cases of facial nerve paresis or hair loss. There were no cases of skin necrosis but two patients developed small hematomas and one patient complained of a stretched preauricular scar. The mini facelift leads to a satisfactory result in the younger patient requesting rhytidectomy. The technique is simple and safe and can easily be performed on an ambulatory basis. Complications are uncommon and of a minor nature.     

Laparoscopic greater curvature plication: Surgical techniques and early outcomes of a Chinese experience

BackgroundLaparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP) is a novel restrictive bariatric procedure that can reduce the gastric volume by infolding the gastric greater curvature without gastrectomy. The objective of this study was to describe the surgical technique of LGCP and validate the efficacy and safety of LGCP for the treatment of obesity in obese Chinese patients with a relatively low body mass index (BMI).MethodsTwenty-two obese patients (mean age 33.8±6.0 years; mean BMI 37.0±7.0 kg/m²) underwent LGCP between September 2011 and September 2012. After dissecting the greater omentum and short gastric vessels, the gastric greater curvature plication with 2 rows of nonabsorbable suture was performed under the guidance of a 32-F bougie. The data were collected during follow-up examinations performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.ResultsAll procedures were performed laparoscopically. The mean operative time was 84.1 minutes (50–120 min), and the mean length of hospital stay was 3.8 days (2–10 d). There were no deaths or postoperative major complications that needed reoperation. The mean percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was 22.9%±6.9%, 38.6%±9.8%, 51.5%±13.5%, and 61.1%±15.9% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. At 6 months, type 2 diabetes was in remission in 2 (50%) patients, hypertension in 1 (33.3%) patient, and dyslipidemia in 11 (78.6%) patients. Decreases in the index for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and in insulin and glucose concentrations were observed.ConclusionsThe early outcomes of LGCP as a novel treatment for obese Chinese with a relatively low BMI are satisfactory with respect to the effectiveness and low incidence of major complications. Additional long-term follow-up and prospective, comparative trials are still needed.     

New technique for releasing tension to prevent widening of an abdominal scar

Abstract

We developed an easy way to release tension from an abdominal cutaneous suture by plicating the anterior rectus sheath for several centimetres. We used this in two patients and the scars were satisfactory. Plication of the fascia is an easy and effective way of releasing the tension of a cutaneous sutured line.     

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+ T cells), leptin level and weight loss after laparoscopic greater curvature plication in morbidly obese patients

Introduction

The aim of the study was to detect the effect of laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP) on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes – CD4+ and CD8+ T cells respectively), leptin level and weight loss in morbidly obese patients.

Material and methods

Morbidly obese patients (n = 20, age range: 25–50 years, body mass index (BMI) range: 37–45 kg/m²) who underwent LGCP were enrolled in a prospective study to determine the percentages of their peripheral blood T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) before and 4 months postoperatively using flow cytometry. Also, the level of their leptin before and 4 months postoperatively was established using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data are expressed as the percentage of total lymphocytes ± the standard error of the mean.

Results

A decrease in the BMI and loss of weight (31.20 ±1.2%) were confirmed 4 months postoperatively since BMI was 44.71 ±4.3 (range: 37–45) kg/m² preoperatively, and decreased to 31.80 ±1.1 (range: 24–33) kg/m² after surgery. The mean percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes significantly decreased postoperatively (38.2 ±1.5 before and 29.3 ±2.6 after operation for CD4+, 17.3 ±1.8 preoperatively and 9.5 ±1.7 postoperatively for CD8+, p < 0.05). The mean leptin level was 43.01 ±22.01 preoperatively while postoperatively it was 24.8 ±11.1 (p < 0.05), so the leptin level substantially decreased compared to its preoperative values.

Conclusions

This study found that weight loss after LGCP in morbidly obese patients led to decreases in levels of leptin and circulating immune cells compared to their preoperative values.     

强肾片合雷公腾多甙治疗系膜增生性肾小球肾炎的临床观察

中医药对骨髓间充质干细胞增殖及定向分化的影响已成为近年来研究的热点，其中活血化瘀类中药在这一方面的作用较为突出，我们就近年来活血化瘀中药对骨髓间充质干细胞增殖和定向分化的研究做一综述。     

Congenital unilateral diaphragmatic eventration in an adult: A rare case presentation

We present a rare case of 32 year old female with congenital diaphragmatic eventeration female presenting in an adult. She had symptoms of intermittent dyspnea and occasional epigastric discomfort. Patient had no previous history of trauma. Physical examination showed bowel sound involving the left hemithorax. Imaging modalities confirmed the diagnosis of a congenital left diaphragmatic eventeration. Patient underwent plication of the diaphragm using the abdominal approach. Intra-operatively, the left diaphragm was attenuated. Plication was done with 1st layer of imbricating silk heavy sutures buttressed by a second layer of interrupted absorbable sutures. She post-operatively had atelectasis on the left lung. Incentive spirometry and deep breathing exercises were started with resolution of the atelectasis after 1 week post-operatively. Patient had an unremarkable post-operative stay with resolution of symptoms. There are reports that diaphragmatic eventration diagnosed even as late 70 years old, highlighting the dogma that this is an asymptomatic disorder does not need all the time surgical therapy. But we still recommend surgical therapy as soon as diagnosis is confirmed. In this patient, there was no recurrence of symptoms after a follow-up of 2 years. Whether surgery indeed improved lung functions in these vastly asymptomatic patients, these questions could be an active area of research in the long term outcomes of these patients.     

Incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia secondary to plication for eventration of diaphragm

Diaphragmatic plication is the procedure of choice for congenital diaphragmatic eventration. In the absence of complications, most newborns with eventration do well after plication and have normal long-term respiratory functions. However complications are rare. Recurrence, ipsilateral pneumothorax and rupture of the diaphragm have been reported in literature. We report a case of incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia in a two-yearold child who had undergone plication for eventration of the diaphragm at six months of age