Quality of life in the group of patients with chronic eye disease

To assess vision related quality of life and determinants in patients afflicted with chronic eye disease. In this analytical cross-sectional study, consecutive sampling was performed at Noor Eye Hospital between 2008 and 2009. A valid and standard 39-item visual functioning questionnaire [National Eye Institute visual functioning questionnaire, NEI-VFQ 39] was completed. The questionnaire consists of 11 domains related to vision and one domain about general health. The total score range from zero [0] to 100, where a higher score reflects better vision related quality of life. The independent t-test, pearson correlation coefficient as well as simple and multiple linear regression models were employed for statistical analysis. The mean overall score in patient and control groups were 54.5 [95% confidence interval [Cl] 57.3 -71.8] and 96.0 [95% CI: 88.2-103.9], respectively. Patients with cataracts had the highest score [64.6; 95%CI: 57.3 - 71.8] and those with visual acuity of 20/70 or worse showed lowest scores [41.9; 95%CI: 30.7 - 53.1]. Age [P=0.006] and education level [0.001] were associated with quality of life score. Based on our study findings, it could be concluded that low vision patients with a visual acuity of 20/70 or worse hardly received half of the total scores. Diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract stand in ascending rank order. The relatively lower scores as compared to results from other countries warrant further research into the causes of such differences

Effects of testosterone and gonadotropin therapy in men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Limited data is available on the treatment of male infertility in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism [HH]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of therapy with testosterone and gonadotropins on the development of sexual characteristics and fertility in men with HH. In this study, conducted between 1992 and 2009, 102 male patients with HH were investigated. Patients who did not have secondary sexual characteristics were treated by testosterone until normalization of public hair and full appearance of sexual characteristics and 41 patients, who wanted fertility received treatment with human chronic gonadotropin [hCG], followed by human menopausal gonadotropin [hMG]. Testicular volume, sperm production and fertility were assessed, before and after treatment. Mean age at presentation was 22.7 +/- 6.3 years. Means for pubic hair and genital stages were 1.8 +/- 0.9 and 2.0 +/- 1.3, respectively. Testicular volume was 3.4 +/- 1.9 mL and 96% had azospermia. Levels of serum testosterone of 40 +/- 60 ng/dL, LH 0.5 +/- 1.0 IU/l and FSH 1.0 +/- 1.2 IU/I, were all in prepubertal ranges. Treatment with hMG/hCG in 32 men who completed >1 year of therapy, resulted in 24 conceptions [75%], 5 abortions and 19 pregnancies, with 18 singletons and one twin. Since treatment with gonadotropins resulted in conception in 75% and live births in 59% of the cases, it seems that in male patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, this regimen is the treatment of choice