ABSTRACT
Thromboangiitis obliterans, or Buerger's disease, is a non-atherosclerotic, segmental, inflammatory disease affecting the small- and medium-sized vessels of the distal extremities. Other than discontinuation of tobacco, there is no standard-of-care treatment. Although two randomized trials have demonstrated a role for intravenous iloprost, no oral drug has yet been demonstrated to be effective in treating thromboangiitis obliterans. We present the first three reported cases of thromboangiitis obliterans successfully treated with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, followed by a discussion of the rationale for the use of these agents in thromboangiitis obliterans.
Subject(s)
Hand/blood supply , Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Thromboangiitis Obliterans/drug therapy , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Thromboangiitis Obliterans/diagnosis , Thromboangiitis Obliterans/enzymology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Ovum donation affords countless couples that under natural circumstances would not be able to produce offspring the ability to carry out natural pregnancies. With advancements in biotechnology including egg collection and in vitro fertilization (IVF), physicians can now successfully implant fertilized embryos. Due to Israel's tremendous involvement in IVF for its own citizens, the national laws that govern egg donation are of great importance. On September 5th 2010, the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) passed a law that allows young women between the ages of 21 and 35 to donate their eggs for paid financial compensation. The new law allows infertile women between the ages of 18 and 54 to request egg donation and IVF, which will partially be covered under state insurance plans. This article provides a description of the new Israeli law regulating ovum donation and the practical, moral and ethical debate surrounding the new system.
Subject(s)
Legislation, Medical , Oocyte Donation/legislation & jurisprudence , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Fraud/prevention & control , Humans , Infertility, Female/economics , Infertility, Female/therapy , Israel , Legislation, Medical/economics , Legislation, Medical/ethics , Middle Aged , National Health Programs/economics , National Health Programs/ethics , National Health Programs/legislation & jurisprudence , Oocyte Donation/economics , Oocyte Donation/ethics , Religion and Medicine , Tissue Donors/ethics , Tissue Donors/legislation & jurisprudence , Young AdultABSTRACT
Vulvar pain can be a difficult and frustrating problem for patients and practitioners. Often, no specific etiology can be determined for these symptoms. Treatment can be long and difficult as well.Spondylosyndesis is a common surgical procedure where the vertebrae are fused to decrease motion. There are several indications for this procedure. We report 2 patients who developed vulvar pain postoperatively after a spondylosyndesis procedure. Neither patient had a history of vulvar pain before their procedure. Of note, both patients had had a previous spondylosyndesis procedure in the past.Damage to lumbar nerves during spondylosyndesis procedures may precipitate vulvar pain in some patients.
