Hypogonadism in hemodialysis patients: a first snapshot of prevalence and predictive factors in Tunisian patients.

Introduction: patients with chronic kidney disease commonly exhibit testosterone deficiency. We aimed through the current study to assess the prevalence and the risk factors of hypogonadism in male patients on hemodialysis and to establish their relationship with erectile dysfunction. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study based on data collected from hemodialysis male patients. Sociodemographic and clinical data as well as hormone levels were collected from January 2017 to December 2017. Sex hormones were measured in all subjects. The International Index of Erectile Function was used to evaluate erectile dysfunction. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and frequencies (number), and proportions (%). Results: one hundred and ten: 55 male hemodialysis patients were recruited. The level of follicule-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin were high and the level of testosterone was low in the hemodialysis group. Hypogonadism was significantly linked to advanced age, anemia, and absence of treatment by erythropoietin. The incidence of erectile dysfunction was high and the erectile function score was low. Testosterone significantly dropped in patients with erectile dysfunction. Conclusion: hypogonadism was so prevalent in the hemodialysis men and it was associated with erectile dysfunction. Future studies are needed to determine the effect of testosterone therapy on erectile dysfunction.

Nebulized budesonide combined with systemic corticosteroid vs systemic corticosteroid alone in acute severe asthma managed in the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The additive benefit of inhaled corticosteroid when used with systemic corticosteroid in acute asthma is still unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of high and repeated doses of inhaled budesonide when combined with the standard treatment of adult acute asthma. METHODS: It was a prospective double-blind randomized controlled study performed in the emergency department (ED) from May 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04016220). Fifty patients were included and were randomized to receive intravenous hydrocortisone hemisuccinate in association with nebulized budesonide (n = 23, budesonide group) or normal saline (n = 27, control group). Nebulization of budesonide or saline was done in combination with 5 mg of terbutaline every 20 min the first hour, then at 2 h (H2), and 3 h (H3). All patients received standard treatment. Efficacy and safety of inhaled budesonide were evaluated every 30 min for 180 min. RESULTS: A significant increase in peak expiratory flow (PEF) was observed in both treatment groups at evaluation times. The increase in PEF persisted significantly compared to the previous measurement in both groups. There was no significant difference in the PEF between the two groups at evaluation times. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the evolution in the respiratory rate and heart rate. There was also no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the rate of hospitalization, the discharge criteria before the end of the protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Considering its limited power, our study suggests that the association of nebulized budesonide with hydrocortisone hemisuccinate has no additional effect over the use of hydrocortisone alone in adults' acute asthma managed in the ED.