Metabolic syndrome and benign prostatic hyperplasia: An update.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities related to central adiposity and insulin resistance. Its importance is increasingly recognized as it associates with increased risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. These metabolic aberrations of MetS may lead to development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men.

Double-J ureteric stenting in pregnancy: A single-centre experience from Iraq.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ureteric stenting with a JJ stent in pregnant women, to relieve renal obstruction and intractable flank pain.

Patients And Methods: All pregnant patients presenting with intractable flank pain, with or without complications, to a tertiary national teaching hospital in Kurdistan/Iraq, and necessitating ureteric stenting with a JJ stent, were prospectively assessed for this study between March 2008 and March 2010.

Results: In all, 30 pregnant patients presented with intractable flank pain necessitating JJ ureteric stenting during the 25 months.

Comparative epidemiology of pandemic and seasonal influenza A in households.

Background: There are few data on the comparative epidemiology and virology of the pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus and cocirculating seasonal influenza A viruses in community settings.

Methods: We recruited 348 index patients with acute respiratory illness from 14 outpatient clinics in Hong Kong in July and August 2009. We then prospectively followed household members of 99 patients who tested positive for influenza A virus on rapid diagnostic testing.