Association of handgrip strength with chronic diseases and multimorbidity: a cross-sectional study.

The prevalence of chronic diseases has risen along with increased longevity. Co-occurrence of two or more chronic diseases in an individual (multimorbidity) is prevalent and poses a huge burden to individuals and the society. However, determinants of multimorbidity are largely unknown. Handgrip strength is a general indicator of muscle strength and linked with premature mortality. However, its role in multimorbidity has never been evaluated. To investigate the relationships between handgrip strength and multiple chronic diseases and multimorbidity, and to assess the usefulness of age and handgrip as a marker of chronic diseases and multimorbidity in a community dwelling sample of men and women, we analyzed a cross-sectional cohort with 1,145 subjects (748 men and 397 women) aged 50 years and older living in Hong Kong. Low handgrip strength was significantly associated with increased odds of having five and three chronic diseases in men and women, respectively, after controlling for age, body mass index, history of smoking, educational level, marital level and comorbidity. Multivariable-adjusted handgrip strength was significantly decreased with the number of chronic diseases in men (trend, P = 0.001), but the trend in women was marginal (trend, P = 0.06). Conversely, multivariable-adjusted age was significantly increased with the number of chronic diseases in women (trend, P = 0.033), but not in men (trend, P = 0.118). In conclusion, handgrip strength is associated with multiple chronic diseases and multimorbidity in men and women after adjustment of confounding factors. It shows a linear trend of association with the number of chronic diseases in men, but not in women. Since handgrip strength is a biomarker of multiple physiological systems, its augmentation may be a feasible strategy to improve general health and decrease likelihood of having multiple chronic diseases and hence, premature mortality.

Retrograde ejaculation following open ureteric reimplantation: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Retrograde ejaculation is not a recognized complication of ureteric reimplantation surgery. We describe this unusual complication in a 25-year-old man, with no other cause for his ejaculatory dysfunction. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old Caucasian man presented with left hydronephrosis ascribed to a megaureter. Following open reimplantation of the ureter, the patient developed retrograde ejaculation that did not respond to medical therapy. CONCLUSION: The key result reported here is that retrograde ejaculation is a possible complication of open pelvic surgery, for which patients should receive counselling. This is relevant for both urologists and general physicians who consult relatively young men with ejaculatory difficulties.

Postpartum spontaneous colonic perforation due to antiphospholipid syndrome.

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multi-systemic disease being characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies that involves both arterial and venous systems resulting in arterial or venous thrombosis, fetal loss, thrombocytopenia, leg ulcers, livedo reticularis, chorea, and migraine. We document a previously unreported case of a 37-year-old female in whom APS was first manifested by infarction and cecal perforation following cesarean section. At laparotomy the underlying cause of colonic perforation was not clear and after resection of the affected bowel an ileo-colostomy was performed. The diagnosis of APS was established during post-operative hospital stay and the patient was commenced on warfarin. Eventually, she made a full recovery and had her stoma reversed after 4 mo. Pregnancy poses an increased risk of complications in women with APS and requires a more aggressive approach to the obstetric care. This should include full anticoagulation in the puerperium and frequent doppler ultrasound monitoring of uterine and umbilical arteries to detect complications such as pre-eclampsia and placental insufficiency.

Tailgut cysts: report of two cases.

AIM: An illustration of the diagnosis and management of tailgut cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cases of tailgut cyst and a review of the literature. RESULTS: A female patient presented with acute urinary retention with a retrorectal mass felt during rectal examination and confirmed on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging underwent surgical resection and histology confirmed a chronically inflamed mucoid fluid-filled cyst partly lined by non-keratinised squamous epithelium. A male patient with ureteric obstruction and a prerectal cyst found on ultrasound scan underwent computed tomography with biopsies, but without reaching a conclusive diagnosis. Surgical resection was carried out and histology showed a chronically inflamed mucoid fluid-filled cyst partly lined with columnar epithelium. DISCUSSION: Tailgut cysts are a rare developmental abnormality arising from remnants of the embryological postanal gut. Usually presenting incidentally or with pressure symptoms in middle-aged females, tailgut cysts are often initially mistaken for other clinical entities. Magnetic resonance imaging helps to differentiate tailgut cysts from other retrorectal lesions and developmental cysts. Histologically, the cyst wall demonstrates a wide variety of epithelial types and has a malignant potential. Malignancy is difficult to rule out with imaging or biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging is the favoured imaging modality and surgical resection is recommended to relieve pressure symptoms, provide a definitive diagnosis and rule out malignancy.