A systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of lumbar sympathectomy for plantar hyperhidrosis.

On July 25, 2017, we conducted an extensive database tracking to identify all studies published from January 1990 to July 2017. Screening updates were performed until December 2017. RESULTS: There were no deaths, and the resolution of symptoms of primary plantar hyperhidrosis (PPH) occurred in 92% of patients after mechanical sympathectomy. A total of 177 patients (44%) were reported to have mild to severe compensatory sweating after a mean 6 months follow-up. The preservation of L2 did not interfere with the primary outcome, and it is possible to perform lumbar sympathectomy in men with L2 preservation, achieving satisfactory cure results of PPH, minimizing the risk of sexual dysfunction. There were no deaths, and the resolution of symptoms of PPH occurred in 10% of patients after chemical sympathicolysis after a mean 6 months follow-up. A total of 13 patients (12.5%) were reported to have mild to severe compensatory sweating using the same technique. CONCLUSION: The mechanical lumbar sympathectomy is effective and safe and improves quality of life, evaluated by the high symptom resolution of PPH and low rate of complications. The chemical sympathicolysis in the immediate postoperative period presented satisfactory results; however, it was shown to be significantly less effective than the mechanical approach in a follow-up of at least 6 months.

Importancia de una intervención psicoeducativa sobre sexualidad en mujeres sometidas a una histerectomía: una revisión de la literature / Importance of a psychoeducational intervention on sexuality in women undergoing a hysterectomy: a review of the literature

RESUMEN: La Histerectomía es uno de los procedimientos quirúrgicos ginecológicos más frecuentes en el tratamiento de patologías uterinas. La literatura destaca al útero como un símbolo de identidad femenina y aunque existen diferencias individuales de afrontamiento, su extirpación puede causar alteraciones en la dimensión psicológica, física, social y sexual. El objetivo del estudio es determinar la importancia de una intervención psicoeducativa en mujeres ginecológicas histerectomizadas, para prevenir el riesgo potencial de presentar alteraciones emocionales y disfunciones sexuales post cirugía. METODOLOGÍA: Se revisaron 106 artículos originales de fuente primaria, en inglés, español, francés y portugués, publicados entre los años 2004 y 2016, en PubMed, Scielo, CINAHL, Ciber Index Cuiden, Lilacs, Elsevier y Scopus. RESULTADOS: El 100% de artículos reconocen en mujeres histerectomizadas, el riesgo de sufrir alteraciones emocionales y trastornos sexuales y el 61% reconoce, además la importancia de entregar educación sexual formal a la mujer y pareja, para prevenir trastornos sexuales, especialmente en histerectomizadas oncológicas, considerando intervinientes individuales y multidimensionales, temáticas de interés y capacitación de profesionales sanitarios en educación sexual. CONCLUSIONES: Una intervención psicoeducativa en la mujer y pareja, puede prevenir especialmente en histerectomizadas oncológicas la aparición de alteraciones emocionales y disfunciones sexuales, propiciar la recuperación física y emocional, un retorno a una vida sexual activa satisfactoria. Se sugieren estudios que comprueben la magnitud de esta intervención, para ser incorporada en un futuro al protocolo de atención de Garantías Explicitas en Salud en mujeres con cáncer cérvico uterino.

ABSTRACT: Hysterectomy is one of the most frequent gynecological surgical procedures in the treatment of uterine pathologies. Literature stands out uterus as a symbol of female identity and although there are individual differences in confronting, their extirpation can cause alterations in the psychological, physical, social and sexual dimensions. The objective of the study is to determine the importance of a psychoeducational intervention in hysterectomized gynecological women in order to prevent the potential risk of presenting emotional alterations and sexual dysfunctions after surgery. METHODOLOGY: 106 original articles of primary source in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, published between 2004 and 2016, in PubMed, Scielo, CINAHL, Ciber Index Cuiden, Lilacs, Elsevier and Scopus were reviewed. RESULTS: 100% of articles recognize in hysterectomized women, the risk of suffering emotional alterations and sexual disorders, and 61% also recognize the importance of providing formal sexual education to women and partners in order to prevent sexual disorders, especially in oncological hysterectomized, considering individual and multidimensional interveners, topics of interest and training of health professionals in sexual education. CONCLUSIONS: A psychoeducational intervention in the woman and couple can prevent, especially in oncological hysterectomized, the appearance of emotional alterations and sexual dysfunctions, to propitiate the physical and emotional recovery, a return to an active satisfactory sexual life. Studies to prove the magnitude of this intervention are suggested in order to be incorporated in future to the care protocol for Explicit Health Guarantees in women with cervical cancer.

Global strategies for the treatment of early-stage and advanced cervical cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent peer-reviewed publications on the treatment of early, locally advanced and advanced cervical cancer patients are reviewed to gain insight into the main research done in the field. RECENT FINDINGS: In early-stage patients where cure is offered to most patients, research focuses on more conservative or less morbid approaches to increase quality of life and reduce the treatment-related sexual dysfunction. No major advances have occurred for treating locally advanced disease since the introduction of concurrent chemoradiation, but efforts are directed to increase efficacy while reducing toxicity with the use of combination chemoradiation and modern radiation technologies. Molecular-targeted therapy and identification of targetable gene alterations as well as immunotherapy are actively pursued in patients with advanced disease. SUMMARY: Although global statistics indicate a trend for decreased age-standardized incidence rates, social and economical factors impede the uptake of therapeutic advances achieved as many patients have no access even to basic resources for treating cancer. The adherence to quality indicators in delivery of optimized standard concurrent chemoradiation and adherence to guidelines in cervical cancer surgery must not be underestimated. Major efforts are needed in both the scientific and social aspects of cervical cancer treatment to reduce mortality.

Bupropion for control of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, crossover, pilot phase II trial.

CONTEXT: Hot flashes (HFs) and sexual dysfunction often affect breast cancer (BC) survivors and compromise their quality of life. Bupropion is an antidepressive medication used for smoking cessation and also has been previously studied for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate bupropion's efficacy in controlling HFs in BC survivors. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled pilot study that enrolled 55 BC survivors who reported more than seven HFs per week. Subjects were randomized to receive either bupropion 150mg twice daily for four weeks followed by one week of washout and four more weeks of placebo twice daily or vice versa. The primary end point was average daily HF activity (number of HFs and a score combining number and severity) reported while on bupropion or on placebo. Secondary end points were sexual dysfunction, depression, and quality of life evaluated with the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, respectively. RESULTS: Bupropion reduced HFs by 1.26 per day and the HF score by 6.31%, whereas placebo reduced HFs by 2.11 per day (P>0.05) and the HF score by 30.47% (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between bupropion and placebo in the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30. At the end of the study, 47% of the patients preferred bupropion, whereas 53% preferred placebo. There were no statistically significant differences in side effects between the study groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with placebo, bupropion did not control HFs in this group of BC survivors.

Quality of life in women with vulvar cancer submitted to surgical treatment: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence and severity of lymphoedema of the lower extremities (LLE), quality of life (QoL), and urinary and sexual dysfunction in women with vulvar cancer submitted to surgical treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-eight patients with vulvar cancer submitted to vulvectomy and inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy and 28 healthy, age-matched women (control group) were evaluated. The occurrence and severity of LLE were determined by Miller's Clinical Evaluation. QoL, urinary function and sexual function were assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30, SF-ICIQ and FSFI questionnaires, respectively. The differences between groups and correlations were assessed using Student's t-test, Chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman's rho test. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of marital status, educational status, menopausal status, hormone therapy and height. The occurrence and severity of LLE were higher in women with vulvar cancer compared with the control group (p<0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). A significant association was found between the severity of LLE and advanced age (p = 0.04), and the severity of LLE and higher body mass index (BMI; p = 0.04) in patients with vulvar cancer. In the patients with vulvar cancer, there was a significant correlation between the severity of LLE and worse QoL in the following domains: physical, cognitive, emotional, social, fatigue, pain, sleep and financial questions (p < 0.05). There was no difference in urinary function between the two groups (p = 0.113). Age and number of deliveries were the only variables associated with the occurrence of urinary incontinence (p = 0.01). Urinary incontinence was present in women with a mean age of 74.9 ± 4.6 years and a mean of 7.3 ± 1.3 normal deliveries. There was no difference between the groups in terms of the sexual function. Multivariate analysis showed an association between sexual function and age (p = 0.01), and sexual function and being in a stable relationship (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients submitted to vulvectomy or inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for vulvar cancer are at higher risk of developing LLE compared with healthy, age-matched women. This has a negative effect on QoL, but does not interfere with urinary or sexual function.

Strategies for the treatment of antipsychotic-induced sexual dysfunction and/or hyperprolactinemia among patients of the schizophrenia spectrum: a review.

There is limited evidence for the management of sexual dysfunction and/or hyperprolactinemia resulting from use of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia and spectrum. The aim of this study was to review and describe the strategies for the treatment of antipsychotic-induced sexual dysfunctions and/or hyperprolactinemia. The research was carried out through Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, Lilacs, Embase, and PsycINFO, and it included open labels or randomized clinical trials. The authors found 31 studies: 25 open-label noncontrolled studies and 6 randomized controlled clinical trials. The randomized, double-blind controlled studies that were conducted with adjunctive treatment that showed improvement of sexual dysfunction and/or decrease of prolactin levels were sildenafil and aripiprazole. The medication selegiline and cyproheptadine did not improve sexual function. The switch to quetiapine was demonstrated in 2 randomized controlled studies: 1 showed improvement in the primary outcome and the other did not. This reviewed data have suggested that further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to provide evidence for the effects of different strategies to manage sexual dysfunction and/or hyperprolactinaemia resulting from antipsychotics. These trials are necessary in order to have a better compliance and reduce the distress among patients with schizophrenia.

Sexual function in women from infertile couples and in women seeking surgical sterilization.

The purpose of this study was to compare sexual function between women of infertile couples (AR) and women seeking tubal ligation (TL). Women who attended Setor de Infertilidade do Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) or the Serviço de Orientação e Planejamento Familiar (SERPLAN) completed the Female Sexual Function Index, a questionnaire about sexual activity in the last 4 weeks. Scored data were collected on six different domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and discomfort/pain. The greatest positive correlation in the TL group was between orgasm and sexual satisfaction (0.798), and in group AR between desire and arousal (0.627). Infertile women and fertile women who want to undergo surgical sterilization have similar sexual satisfaction scores.

Permanência das representações do gênero em sexologia: as inovações científica e médica comprometidas pelos estereótipos de gênero / Permanence of gender stereotypes in sexology: when scientific innovations are challenged by traditional gender stereotypes

Numerosas mudanças surgiram no domínio da pesquisa em sexologia, notadamente no que concerne à função e disfunções sexuais e seus tratamentos. A disfunção erétil foi reconceitualizada como uma disfunção com origem orgânica, uma transformação em relação às abordagens anteriores acerca da impotência psicogênica, desenvolvidas nos anos 1960 e 1970. Essa mudança se baseia em muitas descobertas científicas e no avanço farmacológico realizado sob influência de urologistas norte-americanos. A disponibilização no mercado do sildenafil, em 1998, acionou novos tipos de tratamentos, centrados na atividade peniana. Os mesmos grupos de urologistas passaram recentemente a repensar as "disfunções sexuais femininas" segundo o mesmo modelo orgânico da função sexual. Novos produtos farmacêuticos estão em testagem clínica, tendo em vista a proposta de tratamentos da nova categoria de transtornos sexuais. A colocação no mercado do sildenafil não provocou reações contrárias às novas abordagens dos transtornos sexuais masculinos. Inversamente, o surgimento de novos conceitos da função sexual feminina suscita importantes debates. O British Medical Journal veiculou uma discussão, estabelecendo que a função sexual feminina não possuía origem orgânica, mas fundava-se em fatores psicológicos e relacionais da atividade sexual das mulheres. O debate centrou-se na "simplicidade" da sexualidade masculina, em oposição à "complexidade" da sexualidade feminina. Este artigo apresenta a analisa as novas concepções da função sexual masculina e feminina, e evidencia a permanência de estereótipos tradicionais da sexualidade masculina e feminina, e sua influência sobre as pesquisas científicas mais avançadas nessa esfera1.

Major changes have occurred in male and female sexual function/dysfunction research and treatments. Male erectile dysfunction has been re-conceptualized as an organic dysfunction, which marks a dramatic shift from previous conceptions of psychogenic impotence developed during the 60' and the 70's. This shift is based on major scientific discoveries, and pharmacological advances that took place since the early 80's under the influence of North American urologists. The release of sildenafil in 1998 was the corner stone of a new paradigm of treatments focusing on male penile activity, far remote from any psychological approaches. More recently, the same group of urologists started to reconsider Female Sexual Dysfunction using the same organic/biological model of sexual function. New pharmaceutical products are currently under trial for the treatment of this new category of female sexual disorder. But as opposed to the absence of public adverse reaction to the development of this approach of male function, many voices raised to oppose this new conception of female function. A major discussion took place in the British Medical Journal stating that female sexual function was not organically driven, but rather determined by the social, psychological and interpersonal context of female sexual activity and relations. One of the major dimensions of this discussion opposed the so-called "simplicity" of male sexual function to the "complexity" of female sexual function. This paper demonstrates the permanence of traditional social scripts of male and female sexuality and their influence in the most advanced scientific research in this field.

[Sexual problems experienced by women in HIV-1 crisis]. / Dificuldade sexual vivenciada por mulheres em crise de HIV-1.

This descriptive study was based on the assumptions of qualitative investigation methods and on the Crisis Theory formulated by CAPLAN (1966). The objective of the study was to identify the sexual problems experienced by women undergoing an HIV-1 crisis. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview recorded by the method of FREITAS et al. (1992) and analyzed by the method of MEIHY (1996). Authors concluded that these women maintained themselves unbalanced using negative coping mechanisms. Thus, authors believe that it would be possible to help them using adequate nursing actions such as educational and guidance actions, but mainly by actions directed to the needs of patients undergoing an HIV-1 crisis.