A comparative study of hearing loss in two microdeletion syndromes: velocardiofacial (22q11.2 deletion) and Williams (7q11.23 deletion) syndromes.

Objective: To comprehensively assess auditory impairments in velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) and Williams syndrome (WS).

Study Design: Audiologic measurements were conducted with 62 subjects with VCFS and 44 subjects with WS, as well as two control groups consisting of 22 subjects with idiopathic developmental disability and 23 typically developing controls. An association between severity of hearing loss in VCFS and the (158)Val/Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) was explored.

Rectodynamic and radiological assessment in modified mainz pouch II cases.

Objective: To evaluate the radiologic findings and to measure the pressure changes in a modified sigmoidorectal pouch (Mainz pouch II procedure).

Methods: A total of 26 patients who had a radical cystectomy because of muscle-invasive bladder tumor underwent a Mainz pouch II procedure between 1993 and 1998. The differences from the original definition was a reverse ureteral anastomosis and a detubularized segment at least 30 cm in length.

Effect of long-term sitting on serum prostate-specific antigen levels.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term sitting on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

Method: The serum PSA levels of 50 bus drivers under the age of 45 (mean 37.7) years who worked at least 8 h a day for more than 3 weeks were compared with those of 50 healthy surgeons in similar age groups (mean 37.

Reiter syndrome following intracavitary BCG administration.

BCG vaccine was given intravesically to a patient with bladder tumour. After the fifth dose she developed bilateral conjunctivitis, painful swelling in her wrist, dysuria and arthritis in her left knee and right metacarpophalangial joints. The diagnosis was Reiter syndrome and is the second case in the literature.