Skin treatments and dermatological procedures to promote youthful skin.

The skin, the largest organ of the body, is the organ in which changes associated with aging are most visible. With increasing frequency, patients are requesting information and treatments that improve the appearance of their skin. Corresponding to this trend, there is an increasing number of products and methods available that claim to aid this pursuit.

Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica (Bazex's syndrome): association with liposarcoma.

Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica (Bazex's syndrome) is a rare obligate paraneoplastic dermatosis characterized by erythematosquamous lesions localized symmetrically at the acral sites. The condition almost exclusively affects Caucasian men older than 40 years. It is usually associated with primary malignant neoplasms of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Do cystometric findings predict the results of intravesical hyaluronic acid in women with interstitial cystitis?

Introduction And Objectives: According to National Institute of Health (NIH) criteria, a bladder capacity of less than 350 cc is an automatic exclusion for a diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis (IC). In the present study, patients, showing symptoms of IC and with bladder capacities of <350 and >/=350 cc were tested as to their response to a intravesical hyaluronic acid therapy.

Methods: The study included 48 patients with clinical symptoms of IC and a positive 0.

Skin aging and sex hormones in women -- clinical perspectives for intervention by hormone replacement therapy.

The skin, the largest organ of the body, is the organ in which changes associated with aging are most visible. The skin is a target organ for various hormones, and sex steroids have a profound influence on the aging process. A decrease in sex steroids thus induces a reduction of those skin functions that are under hormonal control.

Comparative assessment of maximal bladder capacity, 0.9% NaCl versus 0.2 M Kcl, for the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis: a prospective controlled study.

Purpose: Increased urothelial permeability has been proposed as a cause of interstitial cystitis (IC). The potassium sensitivity test assesses bladder discomfort after instillation of 0.4 M KCl for identification of increased urothelial permeability.

Subacute brainstem angioencephalopathy: a case report and review of the literature.

A previously healthy 69-year-old man developed a progressive neurological illness with bulbar signs and ataxic paraparesis. Repeated MRI examinations revealed a large space occupying lesion in the lower brain stem with patchy contrast enhancement. MRI angiography was unremarkable and CSF had normal cell count but raised protein content.

Heparin coating reduces encrustation of ureteral stents: a preliminary report.

The present study evaluated the inhibition of ureteral stent encrustation by heparin coating. In contrast to uncoated polyurethane stents, heparin coated ureteral stents did not show any organic (biofilms) or anorganic (crystals) deposits after being in situ for up to 6 weeks and effectively inhibited the encrustation process.

Pilot study on liposomal recombinant human superoxide dismutase for the treatment of Peyronie's disease.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of liposomally encapsulated recombinant human superoxide dismutase (lrhSOD) for the treatment of Peyronie's disease.

Methods: In an uncontrolled phase-2 study, 20 patients with Peyronie's disease were treated with a gel containing lrhSOD (1.5 mg/g).

Fluorescence endoscopy with 5-aminolevulinic acid reduces early recurrence rate in superficial bladder cancer.

Purpose: Several investigators have demonstrated an approximately 20% higher tumor detection rate by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) fluorescence endoscopy compared to standard white light cystoscopy, and suggested a reduction in tumor recurrences when fluorescence endoscopy was performed as standard procedure during transurethral resection. We test this hypothesis.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective randomized multicenter study 102 patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor(s) either with white light or ALA fluorescence assisted endoscopy.

HCV genotypes and age distribution in patients of Vienna and surrounding areas.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) can result in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Determination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype/subtype may be of prognostic value to estimate the risk of development of liver cirrhosis.

Objective: The HCV genotype/subtype was determined in patients with CHC and possible associations with age, source of HCV transmission, duration of HCV infection, and development of liver cirrhosis were investigated.

Electromotive administration of intravesical bethanechol and the clinical impact on acontractile detrusor management: introduction of a new test.

Purpose: It is often difficult to determine the functional status of the detrusor muscle in patients with detrusor areflexia. We performed a clinical study to establish a test defining residual detrusor capacity in such patients.

Materials And Methods: In phase 1, 5 controls with detrusor areflexia were tested with an intravesical instillation of 20 mg.

Fluorescence detection of bladder tumors with 5-amino-levulinic acid.

Background: Preliminary data suggest that photodiagnosis by fluorescence detection of protoporphyrin IX, a biosynthetic product of the photosensitizer 5-amino-levulinic acid (ALA), is superior to conventional cystoscopy in bladder tumor detection.

Patients And Methods: We instilled 1.5 g of ALA into the bladders of 52 patients with suspect bladder lesions 1 to 4 hours prior to transurethral resection or biopsy.

Iontophoresis for treatment of Peyronie's disease.

Purpose: We evaluate the efficacy of iontophoresis of dexamethasone, lidocaine and verapamil to treat Peyronie's disease.

Materials And Methods: In an uncontrolled prospective study 100 unselected patients with Peyronie's disease were treated with 3 weekly courses of iontophoresis. The drug mixture was administered by an electrical current of 5 mA.

Venous thromboembolism at a young age in a brother and sister with coinheritance of homozygous 20210A/A prothrombin mutation and heterozygous 1691G/A factor V Leiden mutation.

We report on members of a Turkish thrombophilic family with coinheritance of the prothrombin mutation PT20210A and the factor V Leiden mutation. The 23-year-old propositus and his elder sister both had episodes of venous theomboembolism at a young age (23 years and 26 years, respectively) and are homozygous for the PT20210A mutation and heterozygous for the factor V Leiden mutation. The 51-year-old father is suffering from coronary heart disease and is heterozygous for both thrombophilic mutations.

Bacterial colonization of ureteral stents.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of bacterial stent colonization and stent-associated bacteriuria, and to evaluate the significance of urinary cultures for identification of colonizing microorganisms.

Methods: A total of 93 ureteral stents from 71 patients were examined: 9 patients with permanent ureteral stenting due to malignant ureteral obstruction (27 stents), and 62 patients with temporary ureteral stents (66 stents).

Results: Bacteriuria and bacterial stent colonization were found in all patients with permanent stents.

Severe short-term hypothyroidism is not associated with an increased incidence of myocardial ischemia as assessed by thallium-201 stress/rest myocardial scintigraphy.

Reversible silent myocardial ischemia associated with treatment of long-standing hypothyroidism has recently been reported using thallium-201 (201Tl) myocardial single photon emission tomography (SPET). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether patients with short-term hypothyroidism (serum thyrotropin [TSH] levels above 30 mU/L) have an increased risk of silent myocardial ischemia. We studied 20 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma that had undergone thyroidectomy and ablative (131)I therapy.

Electromotive drug administration and hydrodistention for the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

Thirteen patients with interstitial cystitis diagnosed by the NIH criteria were treated with intravesical electromotive administration of lidocaine and dexamethasone followed by cystodistention. After a mean follow-up of 10 (range 3-22) months, 8/13 (62%) of the patients reported complete resolution of bladder symptoms lasting an average 4.5 (range 0.

Intravesical electromotive drug administration technique: preliminary results and side effects.

Purpose: We performed intravesical electromotive drug administration (EMDA) for various bladder disorders during a 3-year period and assessed the technique, possible applications, complications and outcomes of this procedure.

Materials And Methods: Intravesical EMDA was performed with local anesthetics for transurethral surgery and in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of noninfectious chronic cystitis (interstitial/radiation cystitis), with mitomycin C for recurrence prophylaxis of high risk superficial bladder cancer and with oxybutynin/bethanechol for the hyperreflexive/acontractile detrusor. A standardized power source and electrode catheter were used for 215 treatments in 84 patients.

Intravesical electromotive drug administration for the treatment of non-infectious chronic cystitis.

Seventeen patients with non-infectious chronic cystitis (NICC) (9 with interstitial cystitis, 6 patients with radiation cystitis, 1 with chemocystitis and 1 with lupoid cystitis) were treated with electromotive administration of intravesical lidocaine and dexamethasone followed by hydrodistension of the bladder. Complete resolution of symptoms for an average of 7.5 months was observed in 11 patients (65%), partial improvement in 4 (23.

A case of the unstable Hb Genova (beta 28 Leu----Pro) in an Arab child associated with severe haemolytic anaemia and growth retardation.

The first case of unstable Hb Genova from North Africa is described. It was found in a 13-year-old girl from Libya suffering from chronic Heinz body haemolytic anaemia and growth retardation. The available data strongly suggest that this case represents a new example for a spontaneous mutation.

A patient of German descent with (delta beta)0-thalassemia carrying the Sicilian type deletion of the delta and beta globin genes.

A deletion-type (delta beta)0-thalassemia with elevated production of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) is described. The patient, homozygous for the disease, presented a clinical picture of beta-thalassemia intermedia. DNA analysis demonstrated that the deletion removed about 13 kb from the beta-globin cluster, including part of delta and the complete beta gene.