An 18-month follow-up study after randomized treatment of phimosis in boys with topical steroid versus placebo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment of phimosis using topical steroid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a follow-up study after a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. A total of 137 boys with phimosis were randomly assigned to either betamethasone treatment or placebo for 4 weeks, with application of the cream twice daily. Non-responders to treatment were offered steroid treatment for a further 4 weeks. All patients were invited to a follow-up examination after 18 months. RESULTS: The mean pre-treatment phimosis grades in the steroid and control groups were 5.08+/-0.66 and 4.97+/-0.70, respectively. At the 4-week follow-up, 49 boys (74%) in the steroid group were cured, compared to only 31 (44%) in the control group. Fourteen boys were circumcised after another 4 weeks of treatment; 43 of the remaining 57 boys (17 in the steroid group; 40 in the control group) had been cured. After a total of 92 boys took part in the 18-month follow-up study: 79 had been cured and 13 had suffered a relapse. Twenty-six patients did not took part in the follow-up investigation. No side-effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: When treatment is necessary for phimosis, we recommend application of topical steroid as first-line treatment because surgery can then be avoided in 85% of cases. This first randomized, double-blind, follow-up study shows that the treatment effect persists for at least 18 months.

Effect of topical steroid on non-retractile prepubertal foreskin by a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study, conducted in Hong Kong, aimed to evaluate the effect of topical steroid in non-retractile prepubertal foreskin by a prospective, randomized, double-blind design. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 137 boys with non-retractile foreskin were randomized to betamethasone (n = 66) or placebo (n = 71 ) for 4 weeks with application of the cream twice daily. Non-responders to treatment were offered steroid treatment for a further 4 weeks. RESULTS: The mean pretreatment grade of the foreskin in the steroid and control groups was 5.08 +/- 0.66 and 4.97 +/- 0.70, respectively. At the 4-week follow-up, 49 of the former (74%) had a retractile foreskin (grade less than or equal to 3, mean 2.38 +/- 1.41). In contrast, only 31 of the control group (44%) had a retractile foreskin (less than or equal to 3, mean 3.55 +/- 1.55) (p < 0.001). Only 14 boys were circumcised because 43 of the remaining 57 boys had a retractile foreskin after 4 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSION: when treatment is necessary, application of topical steroid as a first line of treatment may avoid surgery in almost 90% of cases.

Reverse "repetition blindness" and release from "repetition blindness": constructive variations on the "repetition blindness" effect.

N. Kanwisher observed that subjects shown rapid lists of words recall two occurrences of a repeated word less often than two unrelated words. Kanwisher explained this "repetition blindness" through a type/token account, which assumes that encoding the second occurrence of a repeated word is inhibited if it occurs too soon after the first. More fundamentally, it assumes that failure to recall a word from a rapid list results from failure to encode its occurrence. Contrary to that interpretation, we observed that subjects can often recognize words that they cannot recall from a rapid list. We also observed "reverse repetition blindness," when the second presentation was given greater contextual support, and a "release from repetition blindness" effect, when distinctive contextual support was given to ech occurrence. We concluded that a constructive account of remembering provides a better explanation of all of the effects.

The changing prevalence and pattern of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Hong Kong--(1968-1978).

The occurrence and pattern of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Hong Kong in the years 1968 to 1978 were surveyed. The incidence of rheumatic fever in hospitals had decreased by four-fifths in the past 10 years. Rheumatic fever nowadays still predominantly affects children and younger adults, but middle-aged patients may also be affected. There are a slight female dominance (1.3 to 1) and a relative predominance of patients from urban areas. A less severe form of manifestation in adult patients is encountered nowadays. Carditis was the dominant feature in 1968, but joint involvement was more common in recent years. Rheumatic nodules, chorea or erythema marginatum remained uncommon throughout the years. Only 49% of cases satisfied the revised Jones criteria (1965). In comparison, chronic rheumatic heart disease still remained prevalent, with a slower trend of decreasing prevalence. It accounted for (36 to 50%) of total cardiac admissions. The mitral valve was involved in (82.7 to 91.7%), aortic valve in (15.5 to 36.3%), while involvement of tricuspid or pulmonary valve was relatively uncommon. The socio-economic implication of this changing trend was analysed, and the problem encountered in diagnosing rheumatic fever discussed.

Malaria complicating open-heart surgery.

Two cases of malaria developing immediately after open-heart surgery are reported to illustrate that malaria is one of the rarer causes of postoperative pyrexia. The diagnosis can easily be missed, resulting in unnecessary morbidity and even mortality. It is important for cardiac surgeons to be aware of this possibility in malaria-free as well as malaria-endemic areas as patients or blood donors who come from or have recently visited an endemic area are potential victims or sources of the infection.

Coronary arterial fistula.

We report two cases of coronary arterial fistula communicating with the right ventricle. It was noted that the coronary arteries did not spring from the aorta in the normal way. Proximal connections between the coronary arteries and the aorta absent. The lesions were associated with pulmonary valvular atresia, tricuspid valvular stenosis, and intact ventricular septum. We describe the clinical and autopsy findings and discuss the possible pathogenesis.