The objective of this study was to report bladder dysfunction and cystometric findings in a systematically studied cohort of Huntington's disease (HD) patients. In HD patients and asymptomatic HD gene carriers a urinary function questionnaire, neurologic assessment using the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale, and postvoid residual volume measurement were applied. All patients were also invited to cystometric studies. Urinary function data were compared to control men and women. The most common symptoms in 54 HD patients (24 men) were those of bladder overactivity (men/women 54%/40%), followed by urinary incontinence (29%/43%) and symptoms of disturbed bladder emptying (25%/40%). Using urinary function questionnaires severe bladder dysfunction was found in 4%/0%, moderate in 21%/23%, and mild in 25%/30% of HD men/women. Urinary symptoms interfered with daily life in 21%/37% and sexual life in 21%/33% of sexually active HD men/women. In 5 HD men and 1 woman, increased postvoid residual volume (>100 ml) was found. Compared to 49/55 control men/women urinary incontinence, and urgency were more common in HD men, but not in HD women (urinary incontinence reported 10%/38% of control men/women). Cystometry, performed in 12 HD patients and 1 of 10 asymptomatic HD gene carriers, demonstrated detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in 5 (42%), detrusor overactivity in 2 (17%), and reduced detrusor capacity in 2 (17%) HD patients. Our study demonstrated significant urinary symptoms in HD patients, which reduced their quality of life. Physicians helping HD patients should also consider this largely neglected aspect of the disease.

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Introduction The Harris Hip Score is the most widely used outcome measure for the assessment of hip pathologies. An official Slovenian version has not been culturally adapted and validated. The aim of this study was to create a Slovenian valid and reliable version of the HHS. Materials and method The HHS was translated and modified in Slovenian. The measurement properties of the Slovenian HHS were tested in 42 patients suffering from different hip pathologies. Reliability, responsiveness, construct validity, convergent/divergent validity and content validity of the Slovenian version of the HHS were tested. Results Only minor adaptation was required in the translation process. The internal consistency of the HHS expressed by Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94. The test–retest reliability expressed by the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.983. The correlations of the HHS scale with the WOMAC scale (r = − 0.877) and the VAS scale (r = − 0.717) were statistically significant. The highest correlation between the HHS and SF-36 was with the General Health dimension (r = 0.61). while the lowest correlation was with the SF-36 Mental Health dimension (r = 0.43). MDC95% was 10.1. No floor or ceiling effects were found. Conclusion Slovenian version of HHS seems to has an acceptable level of reliability and validity. Slovenian HHS is short, comprehensible and easy to administer and interpret. Trial registration Approved by the Slovenian National Medical Ethics Committee (0120-46/2019/19).

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is one of the therapies for painful neuropathy. Its analgesic mechanisms probably involve the gate control theory, the physiological block and the endogenous pain inhibitory system. The aim of the study was to determine whether TENS improves small fibre function diminished because of painful diabetic neuropathy. Forty-six patients with painful diabetic neuropathy were treated with TENS three consecutive hours a day for 3 weeks. Treatment effect was evaluated with cold, warm, cold pain and heat pain thresholds, vibration perception thresholds and touch perception thresholds. In all patients, thermal-specific and thermal pain sensitivity determination showed quantitative and qualitative abnormalities in all the measured spots. After the TENS therapy, no statistically significant changes in cold, warm, cold pain, heat pain, vibratory perception and touch perception thresholds were observed in the stimulated area. TENS did not alter C, Aδ nor Aβ fibre-mediated perception thresholds. The observed changes at thenar are probably because of central mechanisms. In general, analgesic mechanisms of TENS are likely to be complex.