A Review of the Extent of Pain Catastrophizing in Patients Who Have Undergone Total Knee Replacement.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the current status and influencing factors of pain catastrophizing in patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) and to provide a basis and reference for the clinical improvement of pain catastrophizing in these patients. DESIGN: This study was designed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, the Web of Science, the Elton B. Stephens Company, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the WanFang, Weipu and Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases. REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS: A scoping review was performed using PubMed, the Web of Science, the Elton B. Stephens Company, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the WanFang, Weipu, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases, and after literature screening and data extraction, the results were summarized. RESULTS: A total of 23 articles were included in the study. Pain catastrophizing is mostly assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. The level of pain catastrophizing is an independent predictor of pain in patients undergoing TKR and is influenced by demographic, psychological, co-morbid, and prognostic factors. Pain catastrophizing interventions mainly consist of surgery, physiotherapy, medication, and psychological therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Pain catastrophizing involves multiple factors, and it is necessary to explore the predictors affecting pain catastrophizing, improve the systematic evaluation of pain catastrophizing and adopt the appropriate intervention methods.

[Promoting male circumcision in China for preventing HIV infection and improving reproductive health].

The incidence of heterosexually transmitted HIV infection is rapidly increasing in China, which reached 44.7% among the HIV-positive patients in 2007. With a view to the reduction of HIV transmission and improvement of reproductive health in the Chinese population, this paper introduces the latest evidence obtained from the international epidemiological studies and randomized controlled clinical trials on the preventive effect of male circumcision (MC) on HIV transmission, and elucidates the cellular and molecular mechanisms of HIV transmission through the foreskin. Four studies published during 1997-2007 demonstrated that the mean prevalences of redundant prepuce and phimosis in 15,109 Chinese males aged 3-23 years in 4 areas of China were 43.90 and 11.55% , respectively, while the rate of MC was only 2.66%. As MC is a simple, inexpensive and highly effective technique in HIV prevention, we appeal to the policy-makers in China to conduct a practical program for promoting MC and enhancing male productive health in combination with other approaches to the prevention of HIV infection. MC for neonates, children, adolescents and adults should be included in the health insurance program, and free and timely MC should be performed for the male adults with the high risk of HIV infection and the normal ones whose wives are HIV-positive. Further investigations should be carried out on the epidemiology of redundant prepuce and phimosis, the acceptance and socio-cultural context of MC and the development of simpler and safer methods for MC.

[Successful treatment of high-flow priapism by selective arteriographic embolization of the pudendal artery].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of high-flow priapism (HFP). METHODS: Four cases of HFP following blunt trauma to the penis or perinea underwent diagnostic examination by colour-flow Doppler ultrasound and/or superselective pudendal arteriography, which revealed bilateral arteriocorporal fistula in 1 case and monolateral in the other 3. Penile detumescence was obtained in 2 cases by superselective bilateral/monolateral arteriographic embolization of the pudendal artery with absorbable gelatin RESULTS: The former 2 cases effected an immediate recovery of the sponge, while the other 2 cases received conservative treatment. Erectile function, able to perform normal sexual intercourse in approximately 2 months. But in the latter 2, follow-up revealed unsatisfactory potency. CONCLUSION: Superselective arteriographic embolization with absorbable gelatin sponge can provide a safe, selective and effective treatment for HFP patients.