Our patients with SLE had a high prevalence of symptomatic and significantly more subclinical hypothyroidism and positive thyroid autoantibodies. Thyroid autoantibodies may precede the appearance of clinical autoimmune disease. Sjögren syndrome and positive rheumatoid factors were more frequently observed in SLE patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. We believe that, since symptoms of SLE and thyroid disease can be similar, that SLE patients should routinely been investigated for autoimmune thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVE:To compare pelvic floor muscle training and a sham procedure for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis.METHODS:Thirty-five female patients with multiple sclerosis were randomized into two groups: a treatment group (n = 18) and a sham group (n = 17). The evaluation included use of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, and Qualiveen questionnaire. The intervention was performed twice per week for 12 weeks in both groups. The treatment group underwent pelvic floor muscle training with assistance from a vaginal perineometer and instructions to practice the exercises daily at home. The sham group received a treatment consisting of introducing a perineometer inside the vagina with no exercises required. Pre- and post-intervention data were recorded.RESULTS:The evaluation results of the two groups were similar at baseline. At the end of the treatment, the treatment group reported fewer storage and voiding symptoms than the sham group. Furthermore, the differences found between the groups were significant improvements in the following scores in the treatment group: Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, and the General Quality of Life, and Specific Impact of Urinary Problems domains of the Qualiveen questionnaire.CONCLUSIONS:The improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms had a positive effect on the quality of life of women with multiple sclerosis who underwent pelvic floor muscle training, as the disease-specific of quality of life questionnaires demonstrated. This study reinforces the importance of assessing quality of life to judge the effectiveness of a treatment intervention.

The International Continence Society (ICS) defines overactive bladder (OAB) as an association of symptoms including "urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with increased frequency and nocturia". This conditon has been associated with a decrease in quality of life and a higher related risk of overall health condition decrease, and is rising since its prevalence increases with age and the forecast for the world population estimates an increase of those over 65 years old. Aging alone can be considered a major risk factor for developing OAB symptoms that are considered multifactorial and due to body tissue and anatomic changes, lifestyle-associated factors, comorbidities and personal characteristics. The high prevalence of this condition and multiple etiology factors makes of its treatment a challenge-especially in the older population. A major concern over OAB treatment of elderly patients is the risk of cognitive side effects due to the pharmacologic treatment with anticholinergic drugs. First-line treatment for OAB symptoms are the use of pharmacologic therapy with antimuscarinic drugs, which has been proved to be effective in controlling urgency, urge incontinence episodes, incontinence episodes, and nocturia. The impact caused by this condition is significant regarding the economic and human costs associated bringing into attention the need of studying and reviewing this specific population. Conservative Management and Lifestyle Modifications: Behavioral therapy's aims are to reduce urinary frequency and urgency to an accepted level and to increase bladder outlet volume. It consists of actions to teach patients to improve and learn bladder control. Lifestyle modifications are a conjunct of daily activities that can be managed to have the lowest interference on the functioning of the urinary tract. Pharmacologic Therapy: There are various medications with antimuscarinic properties available for the treatment of OAB symptoms. The most commonly used are oxybutinin, tolterodine, solifenacin, darifenacin, fesosterodine and trospium. Second-line Therapy: OAB treatment accounts for some refractory to conventional treatment patients who will require alternative therapies to achieve improvement of symptoms as the use of intradetrusor injection of botulinum A toxin by binding to receptors on the membrane of cholinergic nerves causing temporary chemodenervation and consequent muscle relaxation. Neuromodulation is also an effective therapy that aims to achieve inhibition of detrusor activity by continuous neural stimulation through peripheral nerves as the use of the tibial nerve or central as it is performed by direct spine stimulation on sacral roots through the implantation of an automated generator. In conclusion, evidence from the literature has shown that antimuscarinic treatment of OAB in the elderly population is safe and effective in improving symptoms and patient's quality of life. Managing OAB symptoms in this population is a great challenge. An optimal therapeutic approach to treat should involve m...

Purpose: The treatment of urinary tract stones in obese patients may differ from the treatment of non-obese patients and their success rate varies. Our objective was to compare ureteroscopic treatment outcomes of ureteral and renal stones, stratified for stone size and location, between overweight, obese and non-obese patients. Materials and Methods: Charts were reviewed for 500 consecutive patients presenting at our institution for renal and ureteral stones. A total of 107 patients underwent flexible or semi-rigid ureteroscopy with Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy and met criteria for review and analysis. Results: Overall, initial stone-free rates were 91%, 97%, and 94% in normal, overweight and obese individuals respectively. When compared to non-obese patients, there were no significant differences (p value = 0.26; 0.50). For renal and proximal ureteral stones, the stone-free rate in overweight and obese individuals was 94% in both groups; and a stone-free rate of 100% was found for distal stones, also in both groups. Conclusions: Ureteroscopic treatment of stones in obese and overweight patients is an acceptable treatment modality, with success rates similar to non-obese patients.

This review provides clarification of the gadolinium based contrast agent characteristics, tissue interactions that lead to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, prevention possibilities and available treatment options.