Immediate coiling of a gastroduodenal arterial bleeding in a case of haemorrhagic shock without haematemesis, a case report.

Introduction: and importance: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is common in the clinic. In combination with haemorrhagic shock, morbidity is high. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can save lives. With the introduction of precision imaging several treatment options are feasible. Up-to-date diagnosis and treatment requires expertise from interventional radiology, gastroenterology and surgery to form a dedicated intervention team. This is illustrated by a typical case. Case presentation: We report a 78-year-old otherwise healthy male with a severe diverticulum bleeding. He was initially diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Approximately 60 minutes after CT scanning, he became haemodynamically instable. He also vomited coffee-like fluid but no clear blood or clots. A repeated CT scan showed active bleeding in the retroperitoneal space highly suspicious for a diverticular bleeding just outside the lumen of the duodenum. An acute multidisciplinary intervention team immediately decided not to perform endoscopy (according to the upper GI bleeding guidelines) but to extend the imaging procedure with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). By this time, active bleeding from a side branch of the gastroduodenal artery was noted and successfully coiled. Clinical discussion: Guidelines determine day-to-day management in clinical medicine. Still, there is an exception to every rule. The case presented here was typical of upper GI bleeding with haemodynamic instability and signs of shock, but without haematemesis. This combination indicated a bleeding from somewhere outside the lumen of the GI tract. Instead of endoscopy, the acute intervention team decided to perform CT angiography (CTa) with subsequent DSA. On imaging, the bleeding focus was immediately identified and treated by coiling. Conclusion: Performance of CTa immediately followed by DSA and no endoscopy was decided by an acute intervention team in a patient with upper GI bleeding and haemorrhagic shock. Swift coiling of the bleeding artery outside the GI tract lumen was successful. The team in charge relied on a hybrid multifunctional unit fully equipped to perform interventional radiologic as well as GI procedures.

Covid-19 given opportunity to use ultrasound in the plaster room to continue secondary fracture prevention care: A retrospective Fracture Liaison Service study.

INTRODUCTION: Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) managed secondary fracture prevention services have been hampered during the COVID-19 pandemic. A challenging opportunity is to use pulse-echo ultrasound (P-EU) in the plaster room. The study had two objectives: can P-EU help our decision to justly avoid DXA/VFA scans in plaster treated women (50-70 years) after fracture and whether its use can encourage or nudge all plaster treated patients (>50 years) who need DXA/VFA scans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1307 patients (cohort: pre-COVID-19) and 1056 patients (cohort: peri-COVID-19), each of them ≥ 50 years after recent fracture, were studied. Only in women aged 50-70 years, we used a P-EU decision threshold (DI) >= 0.896 g/cm2 to rule out further analysis by means of DXA/VFA. All other plaster patients received P-EU as part of patient information. Peri-Covid-19, all performed DXA/VFA scans were counted until three months post-study closure. By then each patient still waiting for a DXA/VFA had received a scan. RESULTS: Peri-COVID-19, 69 out of 191 plaster-treated women aged 50-70 years were ruled out (36%), for plaster and not in-plaster treated women aged 50-70 years, it was 27%. Comparing all peri-to pre-COVID-19 plaster-treated women and men, a significant P-EU nudging effect was found (difference in proportions: 8.8%) P = .001. CONCLUSION: The combination of patient information and P-EU in the plaster room is effective to reduce DXA/VFA scans and allow extra patients to undergo DXA/VFA. After all, more than a quarter of 50-70 years old women in plaster did not need to be scanned.

The use of pulse-echo ultrasound in women with a recent non-vertebral fracture to identify those without osteoporosis and/or a subclinical vertebral fracture: a pilot study.

A pilot study on the use of P-EU to identify patients without osteoporosis and/or a subclinical vertebral fracture after a recently sustained non-vertebral fracture (NVF). INTRODUCTION: Screening with portable devices at emergency departments or plaster rooms could be of interest to limit referrals for dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA). We calculated the number of negative tests for osteoporosis and/or subclinical vertebral fractures (VFs) using pulse-echo ultrasonometry (P-UE) at different thresholds. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 209 consecutive women of 50-70 years with a recent non-vertebral fracture (NVF) were studied at the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) of one hospital. All women received DXA/VFA and P-EU (Bindex®) assessments. Various P-EU thresholds (based on the density index (DI, g/cm2)) were analyzed to calculate the best balance between true negative (indeed no osteoporosis and/or subclinical VF) and false negative tests (osteoporosis and/or subclinical VF according to DXA/VFA). RESULTS: Eighty-three women had osteoporosis (40%) and 17 women at least one VF (8%). Applying the manufacturer's recommended P-EU threshold (DI 0.844 g/cm2) being their proposed cut-off for not having hip osteoporosis resulted in 77 negative tests (37%, 31% true negative and 6% false negative tests). A DI of 0.896 g/cm2 resulted in 40 negative tests (19.3%) (38 true negative (18.3%) and 2 false negative tests (1.0%)). CONCLUSION: The application of P-EU enables the identification of a substantial proportion of women with recent non-vertebral fractures at the FLS who would not need a DXA/VFA referral because they had no osteoporosis and/or subclinical vertebral fractures. The most conservative P-EU threshold resulted in 18.3% true negative tests verified by DXA/VFA against 1% false negative test results.

Diabetes Mellitus-Related Fractional Glucose Uptake in Men and Women Imaged With 18F-FDG PET-CT.

CONTEXT: Cohort studies show that cognitive dysfunction and both vascular and Alzheimer's dementia are more common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). OBJECTIVE: To review and compare brain volume and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in brain of individuals age 60 to 70 years with or without type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: We searched 620 medical records for negative 18FDG PET-CT scans obtained during 33 months. Records showing history of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, neurologic disorders, any history of brain atrophy, or documented cerebral infarction on neuroimaging were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 119 medical records met the inclusion criteria. Data from 63 women and 56 men (without T2DM, 86; with T2DM, 33) were analyzed. Brain volume was larger in men than women (mean ± SD, 1411 ± 225 cm3 vs 1325 ± 147 cm3, respectively; P = 0.02), but men had a significantly lower fractional glucose uptake (SUVgluc), calculated as fasting blood glucose × SUVmax. [median (minimum, maximum), 63.6 (34.6, 126.6) vs 70.0 (36.4, 134.3); P = 0.02]. Brain volume was also larger in persons without T2DM than in those with T2DM (1392 ± 172 cm3 vs 1269 ± 183 cm3; P < 0.001), but SUVgluc was similar between these groups. Brain volume correlated with SUVgluc in both men and women overall (P < 0.001) but not in men and women with T2DM (P = 0.20 and 0.36, respectively). CONCLUSION: In men without T2DM, median brain volume was larger and fractional glucose uptake was less than in women without T2DM. In men and women with T2DM, brain volume and fractional glucose uptake were similar. The findings support the hypothesis that fractional glucose uptake becomes impaired in men with T2DM.

Method and design of drug treatment research of subjective premature ejaculation in men differs from that of lifelong premature ejaculation in males: proposal for a new objective measure (part 1).

As lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) and subjective PE are two different PE subtypes, the measurement of their characteristic features requires different objective measures. In this article, we address the differences between lifelong PE and subjective PE, in terms of the extent of variation of sexual performance and propose a new objective measure for research of subjective PE. By considering lifelong PE as a mainly "male" sex disorder and subjective PE as a mainly "man" sex disorder, we show that stopwatch-mediated intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) measurement is most adequate for research of lifelong PE, but inadequate for research of subjective PE. Subjective PE needs another objective measure to capture its key characteristics. Arguments are provided to show that the characteristics of subjective PE are different from the key features of lifelong PE. The core issue in lifelong PE is the very short IELT with a very small variation in sexual performance. Subjective PE is characterized by a higher variation of sexual performance. Stopwatch-mediated IELT measurement is essential in case of small variation of sexual performance. In contrast, measurement of various parameters of penile intravaginal thrusting is suggested to be more appropriate in case of high variation of sexual performance observed in subjective PE. In conclusion, research of lifelong PE should be performed by stopwatch measurement of the IELT whereas research of subjective PE should be performed by movement tracker devices, designed to be bound to the males body and/or inserted into the women's vagina with robust software to measure intravaginal thrusting variation performance. Future studies are warranted to provide scientific data to support this hypothesis.

Differences between ICD-11 MMS and DSM-5 definition of premature ejaculation: a continuation of historical inadequacies and a source of serious misinterpretation by some European Regulatory Agencies (PART 2).

Recently, the ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11-MMS, 2018 Version) has been published with a new definition of premature ejaculation (PE), including a third PE subtype. This definition differs from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) definition of PE. We hereby address the similarities and differences between ICD-11-MMS and DSM-5 definition of PE and call attention to the illogical policy of some European (EU) National Regulatory Agencies to remain with a 1-min cut-off point of ejaculation time for Lifelong, Acquired and Subjective PE. The advantage of ICD-11-MMS is the inclusion of a third PE subtype, which is congruent with Subjective PE. A serious disadvantage of DSM-5 is that a 1-min criterion is used for both Lifelong and Acquired PE, and that a third PE subtype is not mentioned. Despite the incomplete DSM-5 definition of PE, some EU regulatory agencies adhere to a definition of PE which relies only on the 1-min ejaculation time cut-off point of DSM-5, and do not recognize the more recent PE definitions of ICD-11-MMS and International Society for Sexual Medicine. There is no scientific evidence for this illogical position. The continued use of a 1-min cut-off point for all subgroups of PE ignores the existence of Acquired PE (Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time (IELT) <3 min) and Subjective PE (IELT

[A man with a black oesophagus]. / Een man met een zwarte slokdarm.

An 85-year-old man came to the emergency room because of vomiting a black fluid and melaena. He was hypotensive and had severe anaemia. We suspected an upper digestive tract bleeding and an gastroscopy was performed, which showed necrosis of the entire oesophagus. Within 24 hours of admission the patient died of hypovolemic shock.

[A man who was unable to open his eyes]. / De man die zijn ogen niet goed kon openen.

A 47-years-old man presented with the complaint that he could not open his eyes in the morning. Facial myxedema caused by hypothyroidism was evident. Pictures taken after treatment for six months with levothyroxine showed complete recovery. Myxedema is caused by accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the dermis.

Restless Genital Syndrome (ReGS) Should Be Distinguished From Spontaneous Orgasms: A Case Report of Cannabis-Induced Spontaneous Orgasm.

A case is described of a 40-year-old woman with persistent spontaneous orgasms after use of cannabis and five hours of intense pounding sexual activity. She presented with severe anxiety, in particular suffering from restless genital syndrome (ReGS). However, she did not fulfill any of the five criteria of ReGS. It was concluded that her spontaneous orgasms were the result of the use of cannabis combined with the long duration of previous sexual activity. This finding is not only important for physicians, but also for highly exposed subjects such as those active in the sex industry.

Loose and frequent stools and PTH levels are positively correlated post-gastric bypass surgery due to less efficient intestinal calcium absorption.

BACKGROUND: After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are frequently reported. In the presence of adequate vitamin D levels, calcium deficiency is caused by a lower efficacy of the intestinal calcium transport. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the use of a simple clinical score quantifying bowel habits (fecal score [FS]) correlates with the degree of secondary hyperparathyroidism that arises to compensate for calcium deficiency postsurgery. SETTING: Large peripheral hospital. METHODS: Seventy-five patients supplemented with calcium and vitamin D were prospectively studied before and 6 and 12 months after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. FS, calcium (mmol/L), phosphate (mmol/L), magnesium (mmol/L), vitamin D (nmol/L), and parathyroid hormone (PTH; pmol/L) were measured in each patient. RESULTS: Mean body mass index was 44.7±5.4 kg/m2 preoperatively and decreased to 34.3±5.0 kg/m2 at 6 months and 30.8±4.8 kg/m2 at 12 months, corresponding to a total weight loss of 23.2±5.9% and 30.9±8.3% respectively. There were no significant changes in serum calcium levels. Mean PTH levels rose from 3.5 pmol/L at baseline to 4.1 pmol/L at 6 months (P = .01) and to 4.9 pmol/L at 12 months (P<.001). Nine patients (12%) had increased PTH levels at 6 months, and 14 patients (19%) had increased PTH levels at 12 months. A significant positive correlation between FS and PTH at 12 months was found, which persisted after adjusting for vitamin D levels. CONCLUSION: FS is positively correlated with secondary hyperparathyroidism using vitamin D-adjusted PTH levels as a biochemical marker. The present study in humans confirms the relation reported in animal studies. These results emphasize that managing stool habits are important after bariatric surgery.

Penile anesthesia in Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) responds to low-power laser irradiation: a case study and hypothesis about the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels.

Treatment of paroxetine-induced penile anesthesia in Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) by Low-power Laser Irradiation (LPLI) is unknown in medical literature. The aim of the current article is to report partial efficacy of LPLI for paroxetine-induced persistent penile anesthesia. We report on a male patient who presented with a history of reversible loss of smell, taste and skin sensitivity occurring within a week after start of 20mg/day paroxetine-hemihydrate for a depressive period. Concurrently, patient suffered from penile anesthesia, scrotum hypesthesia, anejaculation and erectile difficulties with normal sexual desire. During 2.5 years of paroxetine treatment and throughout 2 years after paroxetine discontinuation, genital and sexual complaints persisted. Penile anesthesia was treated by LPLI with single and multi diode pulsed laser probes. After 20 LPLI-treatment sessions of 15min each, patient reported partial return of penile touch and temperature sensation. Clinical improvement of glans penis sensitivity was reported to 20% and 40%, compared to pre-paroxetine treatment penile sensitivity during erect and flaccid states, respectively. However, anejaculation and erectile difficulties remained unchanged. Briefly, in the current patient with early onset of PSSD, LPLI treatment reduced paroxetine-induced penile anesthesia. It is hypothesized that SSRI treatment induces disturbances of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels of mechano-, thermo- and chemosensitive nerve endings and receptors resulting in the penile anesthesia in PSSD. It is further hypothesized that there are two types of PSSD, one of which occurs soon after the start of SSRI treatment.

Nonresponders to daily paroxetine and another SSRI in men with lifelong premature ejaculation: a pharmacokinetic dose-escalation study for a rare phenomenon.

PURPOSE: Nonresponse to any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment is rare. In this study, we aimed to investigate ejaculation delay nonresponse to paroxetine treatment in men with lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) who were also known to be nonresponders to other SSRIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five males with lifelong PE who were known nonresponders to paroxetine and other serotonergic antidepressants and eight males with lifelong PE who were specifically recruited were included. Blood sampling occurred 1 month and 1 day before the start of treatment and at the end of three consecutive series of 4 weeks of daily treatment with 10-, 20-, and 30-mg paroxetine, respectively. Blood samples for measurement of leptin and paroxetine were taken at 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11:30 AM, respectively. At 9:00 AM, one tablet of 10-, 20-, or 30-mg paroxetine was taken during the first, second, and third month, respectively. Intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) was measured with a stopwatch. The main outcome measures were the fold increase in the geometric mean IELT, serum leptin and paroxetine concentrations, body mass index (BMI), 5-HT1A receptor C-1019G polymorphism, and CYP2D6 mutations. RESULTS: Between the 7 paroxetine responders and 6 nonresponders, the fold increase in the geometric mean IELT was significantly different after daily 10-mg (p=0.003), 20-mg (p=0.002), and 30-mg paroxetine (p=0.026) and ranged from 2.0 to 8.8 and from 1.1 to 1.7, respectively. BMI at baseline and at the end of the study was not significantly different between responders and nonresponders. Serum leptin levels at baseline were similar in responders and nonresponders and did not change during treatment. The serum paroxetine concentration increased with increasing dosage and was not significantly different between responders and nonresponders. There was no association between the fold increase in the geometric mean IELT and serum paroxetine levels during the three treatment periods nor between leptin levels during the treatment periods and serum paroxetine levels. For the 5-HT1A receptor C-1019G variation, all responders had the CC genotype and all nonresponders had the GC genotype, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Complete absence of paroxetine-induced ejaculation delay is presumably related to pharmacodynamic factors and perhaps to 5-HT1A receptor gene polymorphism.

First quantification of calcium intake from calcium-dense dairy products in Dutch fracture patients (the Delft cohort study).

Recommendations for daily calcium intake from dairy products are variable and based on local consensus. To investigate whether patients with a recent fracture complied with these recommendations, we quantified the daily dairy calcium intake including milk, milk drinks, pudding, yoghurt, and cheese in a Dutch cohort of fracture patients and compared outcomes with recent data of a healthy U.S. cohort (80% Caucasians). An observational study analyzed dairy calcium intakes of 1526 female and 372 male Dutch fracture patients older than 50. On average, participants reported three dairy servings per day, independently of age, gender or population density. Median calcium intake from dairy was 790 mg/day in females and males. Based on dairy products alone, 11.3% of women and 14.2% of men complied with Dutch recommendations for calcium intake (adults ≤ 70 years: 1100 mg/day and >70 years: 1200 mg/day). After including 450 mg calcium from basic nutrition, compliance raised to 60.5% and 59.1%, respectively, compared to 53.2% in the U.S. cohort. Daily dairy calcium intake is not associated with femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) T-scores or WHO Fracture Assessment Tool (FRAX) risk scores for major fracture or hip fracture. However, when sub analyzing the male cohort, these associations were weakly negative. The prevalence of maternal hip fracture was a factor for current fracture risks, both in women and men. While daily dairy calcium intake of Dutch fracture patients was well below the recommended dietary intake, it was comparable to intakes in a healthy U.S. cohort. This questions recommendations for adding more additional dairy products to preserve adult skeletal health, particularly when sufficient additional calcium is derived from adequate non-dairy nutrition.

Dopamine D2/3 receptor availability and amphetamine-induced dopamine release in obesity.

INTRODUCTION: The neurotransmitter dopamine is important in the regulation of food intake. It is hypothesised that obese people experience less reward from food due to lower striatal dopamine release, which consequently leads to overeating. This study is the first to assess whether obese subjects have blunted striatal dopamine release. METHOD: We measured striatal dopamine D2/3 receptor (DRD2/3) availability and amphetamine-induced striatal dopamine release in 15 obese and 15 age-matched, normal-weight women using [(123)I]iodobenzamide single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. In addition, correlations with food craving were examined. RESULTS: Baseline striatal DRD2/3 availability was lower in obese subjects (0.91 ± 0.16) compared to controls (1.09 ± 0.16; p = 0.006). Amphetamine-induced dopamine release was significant in controls (7.5% ± 9.2; p = 0.007) and not in obese subjects (1.2% ± 17.7; p = 0.802), although the difference in release between groups (d=0.45) was not significant. Dopamine release positively correlated with the trait food craving in obese subjects. CONCLUSION: This study replicates previous findings of lower striatal DRD2/3 availability in obesity and provides preliminary data that obesity is associated with blunted dopamine release. The positive correlation between dopamine release and food craving in obesity may seem contradictory with the latter finding but is presumably related to heterogeneity within the obese subjects.

Foot orgasm syndrome: a case report in a woman.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous orgasm triggered from inside the foot has so far not been reported in medical literature. AIMS: The study aims to report orgasmic feelings in the left foot of a woman. METHODS: A woman presented with complaints of undesired orgasmic sensations originating in her left foot. In-depth interview, physical examination, sensory testing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-scan), electromyography (EMG), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and blockade of the left S1 dorsal root ganglion were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcomes are description of this clinical syndrome, results of TENS application, and S1 dorsal root ganglion blockade. RESULTS: Subtle attenuation of sensory amplitudes of the left suralis, and the left medial and lateral plantar nerve tracts was found at EMG. MRI-scan disclosed no foot abnormalities. TENS at the left metatarso-phalangeal joint-III of the left foot elicited an instant orgasmic sensation that radiated from plantar toward the vagina. TENS applied to the left side of the vagina elicited an orgasm that radiated to the left foot. Diagnostic blockade of the left S1 dorsal root ganglion with 0.8 mL bupivacaine 0.25 mg attenuated the frequency and intensity of orgasmic sensation in the left foot with 50% and 80%, respectively. Additional therapeutic blockade of the same ganglion with 0.8 mL bupivacaine 0.50 mg combined with pulsed radiofrequency treatment resulted in a complete disappearance of the foot-induced orgasmic sensations. CONCLUSION: Foot orgasm syndrome (FOS) is descibed in a woman. Blockade of the left S1 dorsal root ganglion alleviated FOS. It is hypothesized that FOS, occurring 1.5 years after an intensive care emergency, was caused by partial nerve regeneration (axonotmesis), after which afferent (C-fiber) information from a small reinnervated skin area of the left foot and afferent somatic and autonomous (visceral) information from the vagina on at least S1 spinal level is misinterpreted by the brain as being solely information originating from the vagina.

Morbidly obese human subjects have increased peripheral blood CD4+ T cells with skewing toward a Treg- and Th2-dominated phenotype.

Obesity is associated with local T-cell abnormalities in adipose tissue. Systemic obesity-related abnormalities in the peripheral blood T-cell compartment are not well defined. In this study, we investigated the peripheral blood T-cell compartment of morbidly obese and lean subjects. We determined all major T-cell subpopulations via six-color flow cytometry, including CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, CD4+ T-helper (Th) subpopulations, and natural CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T-regulatory (Treg) cells. Moreover, molecular analyses to assess thymic output, T-cell proliferation (T-cell receptor excision circle analysis), and T-cell receptor-ß (TCRB) repertoire (GeneScan analysis) were performed. In addition, we determined plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines and cytokines associated with Th subpopulations and T-cell proliferation. Morbidly obese subjects had a selective increase in peripheral blood CD4+ naive, memory, natural CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg, and Th2 T cells, whereas CD8+ T cells were normal. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell proliferation was increased, whereas the TCRB repertoire was not significantly altered. Plasma levels of cytokines CCL5 and IL-7 were elevated. CD4+ T-cell numbers correlated positively with fasting insulin levels. The peripheral blood T-cell compartment of morbidly obese subjects is characterized by increased homeostatic T-cell proliferation to which cytokines IL-7 and CCL5, among others, might contribute. This is associated with increased CD4+ T cells, with skewing toward a Treg- and Th2-dominated phenotype, suggesting a more anti-inflammatory set point.

Comparison of MRI-assessed body fat content between lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and matched controls: less visceral fat with PCOS.

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder. However, PCOS has a strong resemblance to the metabolic syndrome, including preponderance of visceral fat deposition. The aim of this study is to compare fat distribution between lean women with PCOS and controls matched for body composition but with regular menstrual cycles and proven fertility. METHODS In this prospective cross-sectional study in a fertility outpatient clinic, 10 Caucasian women with PCOS and 10 controls, all with a BMI between 19 and 25 kg/m(2), were included. Fasting glucose, insulin and C-peptide concentrations, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), hormonal levels and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) variables were assessed and fat content and ovarian volume determinations were obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multiple axial cross-sections were calculated. RESULTS The age of the PCOS and control groups were [mean (SD)] 28.2 years (2.6) versus 33.7 years (2.3) P < 0.0001, respectively, and both groups were matched for BMI: 21.6 kg/m(2) (1.1) versus 21.8 kg/m(2) (2.1) (ns), fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide, HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) levels and BIA parameters. PCOS cases had higher ovarian volumes and less visceral fat compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS Lean women with PCOS have higher MRI-determined ovarian volumes and less visceral fat content when compared with control women.

Postorgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS) in 45 Dutch caucasian males: clinical characteristics and evidence for an immunogenic pathogenesis (Part 1).

INTRODUCTION: Postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) is a combination of local allergic symptoms and transient flu-like illness. In this study, the investigators propose five preliminary criteria to establish the diagnosis. AIM: To describe the clinical details in 45 males being suspected of having POIS and to test an immunogenic hypothesis as the underlying mechanism of their presentations. METHODS: Forty-five males were studied according to standardized protocol, including neuropsychiatric and medical sexological evaluations; their complaints were categorized using their own words, and their self-perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT). Skin-prick testing with autologous diluted semen in 33 men were also performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical features of POIS including self-perceived IELTs and the results of skin-prick testing with autologous diluted seminal fluid. RESULTS: Of the 45 included men, 33 subjects consented with skin-prick testing. Of them, 29 (88%) men had a positive skin-prick test with their own (autologous) semen, and four had a negative test. In 87% of men, POIS symptoms started within 30 minutes after ejaculation. Complaints of POIS were categorized in seven clusters of symptoms, e.g., general, flu-like, head, eyes, nose, throat, and muscles. Local allergic reactions of eyes and nose were reported in 44% and 33% of subjects, a flu-like syndrome in 78% of subjects, exhaustion and concentration difficulties in 80% and 87% of subjects. Of all subjects, 58% had an atopic constitution. Lifelong premature ejaculation, defined as self-perceived IELT < 1 minute, was reported in 25 (56%) of subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of allergic and systemic flu-like reactions post-ejaculation together with a positive skin-prick test in the majority of males underscores the hypothesis of an "immunogenic" etiology of POIS, e.g., that POIS is caused by Type-1 and Type-IV allergy to the males' own semen, as soon it is triggered by ejaculation.

Hyposensitization therapy with autologous semen in two Dutch caucasian males: beneficial effects in Postorgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS; Part 2).

INTRODUCTION: Postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) is a post-ejaculatory complex of local and/or systemic symptoms that nearly always occurs within seconds, minutes, or hours post-masturbation, coitus, or spontaneous ejaculation. Recent data suggest an autoimmunogenic/allergic underlying mechanism. AIM: To treat males with POIS by hyposensitization with their own semen (autologous semen). METHODS: Two males suffering from POIS, of which one male with coincidental lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) were investigated. Based on their local and systemic symptoms including a positive dermatologic reaction after skin-prick testing with autologous semen, auto-allergy to semen was likely an underlying mechanism. A hyposensitization program was initiated, including multiple subcutaneous (SC) injections with autologous semen, initially at 2 weeks intervals in the first year and gradually at 4 weeks intervals in the second and third year. From initial semen dilutions of 1 on 40,000 and 1 on 20,000, the titers were gradually increased to 1 on 20 and 1 to 280, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation with a dedicated questionnaire about severity of POIS symptoms and specialized interviews on self-perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency times (IELT) before and during the desensitization program. RESULTS: POIS was confirmed in both subjects, PE was confirmed in one male, and skin-prick tests with autologous semen in both subjects were positive. During the program, gradual reduction of complaints resulted in 60% and 90% amelioration of POIS complaints at 31 and 15 months, respectively, which coincided in one male with a delay of the IELT from 20 seconds at baseline to 10 minutes after 3 years of treatment. The cause of this association with IELT is unknown and remains to be elucidated. CONCLUSIONS: Two males with POIS were successfully treated by hyposensitization with autologous semen, which supports an immunogenic/allergic etiology and underscores the clinical implication for immunological sexual medicine.

Stronger evidence for small fiber sensory neuropathy in restless genital syndrome: two case reports in males.

INTRODUCTION: Restless genital syndrome (ReGS) is characterized by unwanted, unpleasant genital sensations, restless legs, and/or overactive bladder, as well as neuropathy of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris. So far, ReGS has only been reported in females. AIM: To report the occurrence of ReGS in two males. METHODS: Two males with unwanted genital sensations presented in our clinic. In-depth interview, routine and hormonal investigations, electro-encephalography, magnetic resonance imaging of brain and pelvis, manual examination of the pubic bone, and sensory testing of genital dermatomes were performed. In both males, conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was applied bilaterally at the pudendal dermatome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oral report, questionnaire on frequency and intensity of restless genital feelings, restless legs, overactive bladder, and satisfaction with the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment. RESULTS: ReGS in a 74-year-old male manifested as unpleasant genital sensations of being on the edge of an orgasm with overactive bladder, in the absence of erection and ejaculation. Genital sensory testing elicited bilateral points of static mechanical hyperesthesia in the pudendal dermatome. Manual examination of the dorsal nerve of the penis (DNP) elicited the genital sensations. TENS application resulted in a 90% reduction of genital sensations and complaints of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). ReGS in a 38-year-old male manifested as unwanted and unpleasant spontaneous ejaculations and complaints of OAB. Genital sensory testing elicited bilateral points of static mechanical hyperesthesia in the pudendal dermatome. Manual examination of the DNP elicited the genital sensations. TENS application had no effect on genital complaints and complaints of OAB. CONCLUSIONS: ReGS is not a typical female disorder as it also affects males. This notion and the finding of typical sensory abnormalities of the genital end branches of the pudendal nerve in males and females--as previously reported--provides strong evidence for Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy as a common cause of ReGS.