Hysterectomy at the time of colpocleisis: a decision analysis.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Colpocleisis is an obliterative procedure for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) with success rates nearing 100 %. Concomitant hysterectomy is commonly performed to avoid potential difficulty or delay in diagnosis and management of endometrial cancer (EMC). The objective was to assess the utility of vaginal hysterectomy at the time of a colpocleisis using decision analysis.

How cardiologists present the benefits of percutaneous coronary interventions to patients with stable angina: a qualitative analysis.

Importance: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) attribute greater benefit to percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) than indicated in clinical trials. Little is known about how cardiologists' presentation of the benefits and risks may influence patients' perceptions.

Objectives: To broadly describe the content of discussions between patients and cardiologists regarding angiogram and PCI for stable CAD, and to describe elements that may affect patients' understanding.

POP-Q 2.0: its time has come!

The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system has been critical in the growth of the urogynecology field. It is time to revise the POPQ to make it simpler, more intuitive, more precise, less arbitrary, and more practical.

Is head trauma a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? An evidence based review.

Our objective was to evaluate the epidemiological literature regarding the association between trauma to the head and ALS, in order to determine if trauma to the head is a risk factor for ALS. A Medline literature search was conducted for the period between 1980 and October 2010 using the search terms: ('head trauma' OR 'head injury') AND (ALS OR 'amyotrophic lateral sclerosis' OR MND OR 'motor neuron disease'). The references of primary articles and reviews were checked to assure completeness of the search.

Is antibiotic prophylaxis necessary for midurethral sling procedures? A series of 174 cases without preoperative antibiotics.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Despite the lack of evidence, antibiotic prophylaxis has been recommended for midurethral sling procedures. The goal of this study was to evaluate the rate of infectious complications in women undergoing midurethral sling procedures without antibiotic prophylaxis.

Methods: We reviewed the baseline characteristics and postoperative infectious complications of 174 consecutive women who underwent midurethral sling procedures without prophylactic antibiotics from April 2005 to January 2010.

The effect of pack supply on oral contraceptive pill continuation: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The often small number of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) cycles provided may contribute to high rates of discontinuation. We examined the effect of an increased OCP supply on 6-month continuation rates.

Methods: This was a randomized trial of women initiating OCP use at an urban family-planning clinic (n=700).

Can an elderly woman's heart be too strong? Increased mortality with high versus normal ejection fraction after an acute coronary syndrome. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events.

Background: Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in women. We sought to validate previous clinical experience in which we have observed that elderly women with a very high left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are at increased risk of death compared with elderly women with acute coronary syndromes with a normal LVEF.

Methods: Data from 5,127 elderly female patients (age >65 years) enrolled in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events were collected.

Smoking may be considered an established risk factor for sporadic ALS.

Objectives: A 2003 evidence-based review of exogenous risk factors for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) identified smoking as the only risk factor that attained "probable" (more likely than not) status, based on 2 class II studies. The purpose of the current, evidence-based, update was to see if the conclusion of the previous review needed to be modified, based on studies published since.

Methods: A Medline literature search was conducted for the period between 2003 and April 2009 using the search terms smoking and (ALS or "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" or MND or "motor neuron disease").