Detection of Leishmania infantum in the smegma of infected dogs / Detecção de Leishmania infantum no esmegma de cães infectados

Considering the venereal transmission of visceral leishmaniasis from dogs to bitches, the aim of this study was to verify if the penile surface and smegma from infected dogs can be the source of parasites in bitches. Twelve Leishmania infantum infected dogs had semen and smegma samples collected for submission to PCR identification of the DNA of the parasite. Semen (41.7 percent) and smegma (50.0 percent) have similar positive incidence (P>0.05; Fisher's exact test), with 58.3 percent of the dogs positive for semen and/or smegma samples. The proportion of positivity for both semen and smegma was 33.3 percent, but 8.3 percent was positive only for semen, and 16.7 percent only for smegma, revealing a moderate agreement between tests (K=0.5; Kappa index). It was concluded that Leishmania infantum is present in the smegma of contaminated dogs and it can be a source of parasites for the semen and the bitch...

Tendo em vista a transmissão venérea da leishmaniose visceral do cão para a cadela, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se a superfície peniana e o esmegma de cães infectados poderiam ser a fonte de parasitas para a fêmea. Amostras de sêmen e esmegma de 12 cães infectados com Leishmania infantum foram submetidas à identificação do DNA do parasita por PCR. As incidências de positividade no sêmen (41,7 por cento) e no esmegma (50,0 por cento) foram semelhantes (P>0,05; teste exato de Fisher), sendo 58,3 por cento dos cães positivos para sêmen e/ou esmegma. A positividade para sêmen e esmegma juntos ocorreu em 33,3 por cento, mas em 8,3 por cento dos casos apenas no sêmen, e em 16,7 por cento apenas no esmegma, o que revela uma concordância moderada entre os testes (K=0,5; índice Kappa). Conclui-se que a Leishmania infantum está presente no esmegma de cães contaminados, podendo ser a fonte de parasitas para o sêmen e a cadela...

Effect of Topical Steroid (0.05% Clobetasol Propionate) Treatment in Children With Severe Phimosis

PURPOSE: We report our experience with the use of a topical steroid, 0.05% clobetasol propionate, for the treatment of phimosis with clinical complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes of all patients presenting with phimosis to a single institution during the time period from October 2008 to May 2012. A total of 88 patients who had a Kikiros retractability grade of 4 or 5 and phimosis-associated clinical complications, such as ballooning of the prepuce, balanoposthitis, or a history of urinary tract infection (UTI), were instructed to apply 0.05% clobetasol propionate cream to the slightly retracted foreskin and to massage gently while retracting the foreskin. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated at 4 weeks from the initiation of therapy. RESULTS: A total of 60 of the 88 patients (68.2%) showed a complete response (i.e., full retraction of the foreskin) to the therapy. The phimotic ring disappeared in 25 of the 88 patients (28.4%) after treatment. Patients who had a history of balanoposthitis, smegma, ballooning of the prepuce, or UTI showed significantly poorer improvement in preputial retraction (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.02, respectively) and phimotic ring disappearance (p<0.001, p=0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.001, respectively) after treatment. No significant local or systemic side effects were associated with the administration of topical steroids. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of 0.05% clobetasol propionate cream and skin stretching is a safe, simple, and effective procedure with no significant side effects for severe phimosis in prepubertal boys.

Human papillomaviruses infections among village women in Henan province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) among village women in Henan and to determine its relevant risk factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population based cross-sectional study on cervical cancer was conducted among village women in Xinmi, Henan. Women aged 20 - 54 who had sexual intercourse experiences were enrolled in this study. Self-sampling and direct-sampling were used in collecting women's vaginal discharge. 13 high-risk HPVs were tested with HC2 for all of the specimens. Then women with abnormal results did colposcopy and biopsy. The biopsy results were regarded as the golden standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 881 women enrolled in this paper and 881 self-sampling and 880 direct-sampling specimens were collected. The HPVs prevalence rates for the self-sampling and direct-sampling were 13.05% and 12.27%, respectively. Age-specific prevalence rates were 10.57% (20-), 9.60% (25-), 12.00% (30-), 9.52% (35-), 17.60% (40-), 13.74% (45-) and 12.80% (50 - 54). HPV prevalence rates were increased with progression of cervical disease (chi(2) = 200.69, P = 0.00). And HPV prevalence rates were higher in women with more advanced education background (chi(2) = 11.05, P = 0.01). HPV infection rate in women whose husbands have more than one sexual partner was 18.02% and whose husbands have only one sexual partner was 10.88% (chi(2) = 6.37, P = 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The infection rate of high-risk HPVs in this area is high. The relationship of HPV infection with age has not been observed in this study, but the the sexual activity is the major risk factor for cervical cancer.</p>

Fimosis Fisiológica: circuncisión si o no / Physiological Phymosis: circumcision yes or no

La fimosis fisiológica es un problema temporal que se presenta en todos los recién nacidos, es la “sinequia congénita balanoprepuncial. Esta anormalidad transitoria desaparece en un 90% a los 3 años de edad, esta unión balanoprepuncial es laxa, por lo que su liberación es fácil, si no se ha realizado en forma espontánea, sólo es necesario realizar balanosis o sinequiotomía, nunca circuncisión. La intervención quirúrgica con resección del prepucio sólo esta indicado cuando existe fimosis complicada o balanopostitis recurrente. En el presente trabajo exponemos la experiencia de los autores y la revisión bibliográfica sobre el tema.

The physiological fimosis is a temporal problem that appears in all new born, is the “congenital balanopreputial synequia”. This transitory disability disappear in a 90% at the age of 3years, the balanopreputial union is lax, reason why his release is easy, if not been realized in a spontaneous form, only is necessary to do a balanosis or synequioctomy, never a circumcision. The surgical intervention with resection of foreskin is indicated only when there is a complicated phymosis or recurrent balanoposthitis. The present work explains the author’s experiences and bibliographical revision about the topic.

Knowledge and Attitude Toward Circumcision in Korean: a Questionnaire Study for Adult Males Stratified by Age / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Circumcision in childhood is widely practiced in Korea, but the Korean attitude to circumcision has not been well studied. Our aim was to evaluatethe knowledge and general opinion of Korean adult males toward circumcision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One thousand five hundred self-completed questionnaires were distributed to adult males of five major age groups from 10s' to 50s' divided into decades. Questions asked about the responders' opinions regarding the necessity, reasons, potential benefits, and disadvantages for circumcision, and also asked if there was any peer pressure when deciding upon circumcision. The responses were collected and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The response rate was 62.7% (936). Of 836 responders, 611 (73.1%) believed that circumcision is necessary, while 59 (7.1%) believed it to be unnecessary. The principal reason for circumcision was improvement of penile hygiene (77.9%). Of 921 responders, 768 (83.4%) believed that the smegma is a dirty material infected by microorganisms. Of 901 responders, 619 (68.7%) didn't prefer the neonatal period regardless of age. The major reason was pain (36.9%). Peer pressure was one of the most influencing factors when deciding upon circumcision: 540 (60.8%) of 888 responders believed that they might be ridiculed by their peer group unless they were circumcised and the younger, the more frequent (p<0.05). Of 917 responders, 616 (62.7%) thought that circumcision would prevent genital tract infection of the sexual partner. Responders with lower education or older responders were prone to emphasize the improvement in sexual potency (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that common beliefs held by adult males about the prepuce or circumcision are homogeneous according to age. It is critical to tailor education about the potential benefits and disadvantages of circumcision.