Progression of the erectile dysfunction in the population and the possibilities of its regression with bioregeneration.

Article presents the latest knowledge on the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction (ED), the influence of xenoestrogens on ED and fertility in men and the possibilities of the blocking xenoestrogen actions with natural ingredients as well as treatment options for ED with medicinal plants. With the rising phenomenon of ED in the world there is rising a market with ED treatment products. Especially in menu of internet online shops come increasingly to light new natural over the counter products for ED treatment.

Expected frequency of biomechanically adverse values of proximal femur geometric variables for fracture risk in the East Slovak female population (epidemiological study).

Background: The geometric configuration of the proximal femur predicts the risk for fracture by fall independently of bone mineral density (BMD). The objective of the study was to determine the expected frequency of biomechanically adverse and extremely adverse values of proximal femur geometric variables alpha angle, theta angle, and HAL, increasing the risk of a femoral neck fracture by fall, in the East Slovak female population.

Methods: DXA (dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry) measurements of the left proximal femur were obtained and analysed from sample 3151 East Slovak women aged 20-89 years, [Formula: see text] = 58.

Expected frequency of femoral neck fractures by fall in the osteoporotic and osteopenic East Slovak female population: Epidemiological study.

Objective Of The Study: To compare an expected frequency of pathological FSI values with an expected frequency of pathological BMD (T-score < or = -2.5 SD) in the total hip area in the East Slovak female population.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed the data in the sample of 3,215 East Slovak women with a primary or secondary osteopenia and osteoporosis and with risk factors for osteoporosis, aged 20-89 years, x = 58.

Chondrosis of the disc - risk factor for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (biomechanical analysis).

Based on biomechanical analysis, we present an until now unrecognised new view on pathological interactive relations in basic functional motor segments of the spine (vertebra - disc - vertebra), elevating the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. They are classified as follows: 1. Degenerative alterations of intervertebral disc (chondrosis); 1a) decrease of intervertebral disc viscoelasticity; 1b) increase of compressive and tensile stress in the intervertebral disc.

Logistic regression in estimates of femoral neck fracture by fall.

Unlabelled: The latest methods in estimating the probability (absolute risk) of osteoporotic fractures include several logistic regression models, based on qualitative risk factors plus bone mineral density (BMD), and the probability estimate of fracture in the future. The Slovak logistic regression model, in contrast to other models, is created from quantitative variables of the proximal femur (in International System of Units) and estimates the probability of fracture by fall.

Objectives: The first objective of this study was to order selected independent variables according to the intensity of their influence (statistical significance) upon the occurrence of values of the dependent variable: femur strength index (FSI).

T-plus Z-score in the assessment of relative fracture risk.

Unlabelled: THE OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: We aimed to prove that the relative risk of fractures (RR) is higher in women whose T- and Z-score values come under the category of increased risk than in the women whose T-score only falls within the category of increased risk.

Patients And Methods: We analysed 498 (n=498) densitometric findings from the area of proximal femur: neck (ROI1), Ward's area (ROI2), great trochanter (ROI3) (DXA-dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, Osteocore II, France) from a population of Bratislava women of an average age of 59.71 years <58.

Osteoporosis in a female population from Bratislava--age-related BMD changes.

Patients And Methods: We analysed 498 women (n=498) in a Bratislava (BA) population aged 21 to 90. We measured bone mineral density (BMD) in the proximal femur with one densitometric instrument (DXA Osteocore II, France; dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), applying BMD and T-score values in three standard regions of interest: Neck (ROI1), Ward's area (ROI2), Trochanter (ROI3).

Results: Measured values of T-score in ROI1, ROI2 had normal distribution and a lognormal distribution of frequency in ROI3.

Statistical methods of estimating fracture risk.

The aim of the article is to present an analysis of statistical methods used for estimating fracture risk in patients with osteoporosis. Mathematical relations of different methods are explained (risk--R, risk ratio--RR, RD--risk difference, odds--O, odds ratio--OR, Yule's Q, Yule's Y, logistic model). What is important to keep in mind is that: 1) relative risk and odds ratio are statistics that only describe an association, not causation; 2) relative risk and odds ratio refer to a population, not to an individual patient; 3) the studies of small groups are more likely to find an association that might actually just be due to chance, the larger the groups, the less likely the association between a risk factor and an outcome (fracture); 4) when the incidence of an outcome of interest in the study population is low (<10 %), the OR is close to the RR, the more frequent the outcome becomes, the more the OR will overestimate the RR when it is more than 1 or underestimate the RR when it is less than 1.

Differences in distribution of T-scores and Z-scores among bone densitometry tests in postmenopausal women (a comparative study).

Background: To determine the character of T-score and Z-score value distribution in individually selected methods of bone densitometry and to compare them using statistical analysis.

Methods: We examined 56 postmenopausal women with an age between 43 and 68 years with osteopenia or osteoporosis according to the WHO classification. The following measurements were made in each patient: T-score and Z-score for: 1) Stiffness index (S) of the left heel bone, USM (index).