Materials and Methods: The Boston Area Community Health Survey used a multistage stratified design to recruit a random sample of 5,503 adults who were 30 to 79 years old. Urological symptoms in the American Urological Association symptom index were included in analysis.
Results: Statistically significant associations that were consistent by gender were observed between depression and all urological symptoms. Nocturia of any degree of severity or duration was associated with heart disease in men and with diabetes in women. In men a dose-response relationship was observed for the association of symptom severity and/or the duration of urinary intermittency and frequency
with heart disease, and for the association of urinary 3-Methyladenine chemical structure urgency with diabetes. VE-822 research buy In women a history of heart disease was associated with a weak stream and straining, while a history of hypertension was associated with urgency and a weak stream.
Conclusions: Results indicate a dose-response relationship in the association of the severity and duration of urological symptoms with major chronic illnesses. An association between urinary symptoms and depression was observed in men and women. In contrast, the association between lower urinary tract symptoms and heart disease, diabetes or hypertension varied
by gender, suggesting different mechanisms of association in men and women.”
“OBJECTIVE: Restoration of lumbar lordosis is a critical factor in long-term success after lumbar fusions. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a popular surgical technique in the lumbar spine, but few data exist on change in spinal alignment after the procedure.
METHODS: Eighty
patients who underwent TLIF surgery were retrospectively reviewed (minimum follow-up period, 2 years). Standing x-rays were assessed for changes in focal and segmental kyphosis, and tuclazepam restoration of lumbar lordosis. Improvement in spondylolisthesis, sagittal balance, and scoliosis were also assessed. Fusion was assessed as well.
RESULTS: Eighty operations were performed at 107 levels. Mean presenting lumbar Cobb angle measurement (L1-S1) was 36.3 +/- 4.5 degrees (range, 12-77 degrees). Forty patients (50%) had sagittal imbalance. Mean postoperative Cobb angle (L1-S1) was 55.1 +/- 6.6. Thirty-three of 36 patients with segmental kyphosis (92%) had restoration of lordosis. Improvement in alignment was most prominent at the surgical level (mean increase in lordosis, 20.2 +/- 4.2 degrees). The improvement in lumbar lordosis among patients undergoing multilevel TLIFs (27.3 +/- 3.4 degrees) was significantly higher compared with patients undergoing single-level operations (17.4 +/- 4.4) (Student’s t test, P = 0.0004). Thirty of the 40 patients with sagittal imbalance (75%) achieved immediate restoration of normal sagittal balance.