Impact on quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: Which urinary symptoms are to blame?

AIM: To evaluate the correlation between the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects, and the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), the bother caused by these symptoms and subjects' quality of life (QoL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 50 subjects with persistent LUTS secondary to MS who were recruited from the registry of a national NGO, between October 2017 and November 2019. Subjects with a history of any disease besides MS that could otherwise explain the presence of LUTS, as well as those with other neurological conditions were excluded. Information including MS duration, subjects' EDSS, voiding and storage LUTS, voiding symptoms' subscore of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS-V), Overactive Bladder Symptom Scores (OABSS), Urinary Bothersome Questionnaire in Multiple Sclerosis (UBQMS), and urologic QoL (SF-Qualiveen) was gathered. Correlations between these scores were assessed using Spearman's bivariate correlations. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used to evaluate the difference of impact between voiding and storage LUTS on bother of subjects. RESULTS: The median disease duration was 7±5.8years and the predominant lower urinary symptom was urgency (82%). Median OABSS and IPSS-V were respectively 8±3.8 and 8±3. Subjects were significantly more bothered from storage than voiding symptoms (2 vs. 1.6; P=0.03), and their QoL was directly affected by storage LUTS. Urgency urinary incontinence had the highest positive correlation with SFQ (r=0.542; P<0.01). MS duration and urologic QoL measured by SF-Q were negatively correlated (r=-0.345; P=0.01). CONCLUSION: In MS patients with LUTS, urologic QoL is mainly affected by storage urinary symptoms. Physicians should use a holistic approach to reduce the risk of complications in these patients, by controlling both voiding and storage symptoms, in particular urgency urinary incontinence that mostly affects patient's QoL.

Integrating obstetrical simulation into the medical curriculum: one more gap in women's health for low-income countries.

Low-income countries do not have well-established simulation centers; introduction of simulation-based learning in obstetrics faces many cost-associated difficulties. Simulation-based learning yield many benefits that are reported in many studies such as improved maternal and neonatal outcomes, social stature of medical teachers, and better management of difficult situations. Though low-income countries do not have established surgical simulations, centralization, and cooperation amongst the educational institutions and local and regional hospitals for maintenance of medical educational practices and financial supplementation through both established and newly created entities will provide the potential for improved patient outcomes and maintenance of quality of education, that is, comparable to the medical education found in higher income countries.

[Fournier's gangrene: a review of the recent literature]. / Gangrène de Fournier : revue de la littérature récente.

Fournier's gangrene is a rapidly progressive necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum and external-genital organs. It is secondary to polymicrobial infection by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria with a synergistic action. The aetiology is identified in 95% of cases. The source of infection is either cutaneous, urogenital or colorectal. Predisposing factors, such as age, diabetes and immunodepression, are often present in affected patients. Urgent and aggressive treatment is essential to ensure the patient's survival. Treatment consists of restoration of the fluid and electrolyte balance and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy rapidly followed by surgical debridement. However, the mortality remains high, about 20 to 80%, frequently, due to delayed diagnosis and management. Patients who survive the infection require reconstructive surgery with sometimes marked sequelae related to the extent of fasciitis and debridement.

Piezolith extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: the Hotel-Dieu de France experience.

A total of 1500 patients underwent treatment with the Wolf Piezolith 2300 extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter for renal, ureteral, and bladder stones. Follow-up data were available at 3 months for 1435 patients. At that time, the overall stone-free rate was 82.7%: 82.4% for patients with renal stones, 81.0% for those with ureteral stones, and 100% for those with bladder stones. The overall success rate was 92.3%: 93.8% for patients with renal stones, 87.1% for those with ureteral stones, and 100% for those with bladder stones. The auxiliary treatment rate was 14.9%, and the retreatment rate was 53%. The effectiveness quotient was 49.2%. The Wolf Piezolith 2300 is an effective treatment for most stones smaller than 30 mm.

[Primary hyperparathyroidism. Experiences at the Hôtel Dieu. A study of 28 cases]. / Hyperparathyroïdie primaire. Expérience de l'Hôtel-Dieu. Etude de 28 cas.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a more frequently recognized entity. The clinical picture historically severe, has changed overtime. We present herein our experience relating 28 cases with emphasis of our results compared to the medical literature.

Microsurgical high inguinal varicocelectomy with delivery of the testis.

This study describes the results of 50 consecutive cases of varicocelectomy by the inguinal approach. The testicle is delivered through a small inguinal incision, and all external spermatic and gubernacular veins are ligated. The testis is returned to the scrotum and the spermatic cord is dissected under optical magnification. The testicular artery, the lymphatics and the vas deferens are identified and preserved. All internal spermatic veins are ligated. 94 varicocelectomies were performed in 50 men. Follow-up period extended from 12 months to 24 months. No hydroceles, no clinical recurrences and no wound infection were found. One scrotal hematoma occurred and resolved progressively. Preoperative and postoperative semen analysis were obtained. The changes in sperm count mean value (million/cc) (20 to 28.6) (p < 0.005), per cent normal forms (42.9 to 52.1%) (p < 0.005) and per cent motility (31.5 to 39.2%) (p < 0.005) were significant. The pregnancy rate was 10 of 21 couples available for follow-up (47.6%). This technique results in a significant decrease in the incidence of hydrocele formation, testicular artery injury and varicocele clinical recurrence.

[Treatment of hypospadias with a transverse preputial pediculated flap]. / Traitement de l'hypospadias par le lambeau pédiculé préputial transverse.

With a better understanding of the penile vasculature, many one-stage techniques were proposed for mid-shaft and posterior hypospadias repair including the Duckett's technique with the transverse preputial island flap (TPIF). We performed the Duckett's technique on 25 patients with penile hypospadias with the following results: no cases of meatal stenosis and three cases of urethro-cutaneous fistula (12%). The three cases of urethro-cutaneous fistula were reported in the first 15 patients where the neo-urethra was closed in one layer but no case of fistula was reported in the last 10 patients where the noe-urethra was closed in two layers: the difference is significative (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the Duckett's technique with the two-layer closure technique of the neo-urethra is a good alternative for penile hypospadias repair.