Nonspecific bronchial responsiveness was assessed by an abbreviated methacholine challenge test in 458 male participants of the Normative Aging Study, who also completed a respiratory questionnaire and spirometry. A positive response to the methacholine challenge test was defined as a greater than or equal to 20% decline in FEV1 during the test. Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with a positive methacholine response (p less than 0.001). Logistic regression analyses indicated that there was a significant association between a positive response to methacholine and both any wheeze (p = 0.002) and persistent wheeze (p less than 0.001) after taking into account smoking status and age; an association between responsiveness and chronic cough was of borderline significance (p = 0.06). Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that positive methacholine responsiveness was independently associated with lower levels of FEV1 (p less than 0.001) and FEF25-75 (p less than 0.001). Using the log of the dose-response slope rather than a dichotomous variable to characterize responder status yielded very similar results in the linear and logistic models. The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that increased level of nonspecific responsiveness is significantly associated with wheeze and cough symptoms and decreased levels of pulmonary function in adult men. Longitudinal follow-up of these men should shed light on the importance of nonspecific responsiveness as a risk factor for the subsequent development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

To compare the safety and efficacy of the transobturator tape (Monarc) with the retropubic tape (tension-free vaginal tape, TVTR) for the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) a prospective, single-blinded, multi-centre randomised clinical controlled trial was undertaken in four urogynaecology units in Australia. One hundred and eighty-seven women with USI were randomly allocated to undergo surgery with either the Monarc sling (n = 80) or TVT (n = 107). Outcome measures were intra-operative complications (especially bladder injury), as well as peri-operative complications, symptomatology, quality of life and urodynamic outcomes. At 3 months, data were available on 140 women, 82 (59%) TVT and 58 (42%) Monarc. The TVT group was significantly more likely to be complicated by bladder injury (7 TVT, 0 Monarc, p < 0.05). Blood loss and operative time were significantly less in the Monarc group, which was 49 mls (31) vs that of the TVT group, which was 64 mls (41) p < 0.05; 18.5 min (6.5) TVT vs 14.6 min (6) Monarc (p < 0.001). The subjective and objective stress incontinence cure rates were 86.6% (71) vs 72.4% (42) p = 0.77 and 79.3 vs 84.5%, p = 0.51 for the TVT and Monarc groups, respectively. Both groups reported similar improvement in incontinence impact and satisfaction with their operation, although return to activity was significantly quicker with the transobturator route (p = 0.029). The transobturator tape appears to be as effective as the retro-pubic tape in the short term, with a reduction in the risk of intra-operative bladder injury, shorter operating time, decreased blood loss, and quicker return to usual activities.

Despite reviewing 39 eligible trials, few firm conclusions could be reached because of the multiple comparisons considered, the small size of individual trials, and their low quality. Whether or not to use a particular policy is usually a trade-off between the risks of morbidity (especially infection) and risks of recatheterisation.

The objective is to study the long-term outcomes of posterior colporrhaphy with composite polyglactin 910-polypropylene mesh (Vypro 2, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) utilizing an overlay technique. Seventy-eight patients involved in our previous study were contacted 3 years after their initial operation for follow-up (Lim YN, Rane A, Muller R, Int Urogynecol J 16:126-131, 2005). Thirty-seven (47%) returned for follow-up and completed a standardized questionnaire survey, whereas a further 16 (20%) returned their postal questionnaires. Mean age was 61.3 (SD 10.8) years, and follow-up was 35.7 (SD 4.5) months. There were statistically significant improvements in vaginal lump sensation and constipation (p < 0.001) but no differences with defecatory difficulties or dyspareunia. De novo dyspareunia was reported in 27%. On examination, the incidences of mesh vaginal erosion and rectocele recurrence were 30% and 22%, respectively. It appears that posterior colporrhaphy incorporating Vypro 2 mesh with an overlay method is associated with unacceptably high incidence of complications.

All three slings appear quite successful for the treatment of stress incontinence. The SPARC tapes showed more sling protrusion complications and a trend towards lower objective cure rates; probably as a result of the insertion method used in this study which favoured a loose SPARC sling placement. The authors recommend that the SPARC slings be left tighter than TVT, or for the cough test to be carried out.

Object Three types of posterior thoracolumbar implants are in use today: pedicle screws, sublaminar titanium cables, and sublaminar hooks. The authors conducted a biomechanical comparison of these three implants in human cadaveric spines. Methods Spine specimens (T5–12) were harvested, radiographically assessed for fractures or metastases, and their bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. Individual vertebrae were disarticulated and fitted with either pedicle screws, sublaminar cables, or bilateral claw hooks. The longitudinal component of each construct consisted of bilateral 10-cm rods connected with two cross-connectors. The vertebral body was embedded in cement, and the rods were affixed to a ball-and-socket apparatus for the application of a distraction force. The authors analyzed 1) 20 vertebrae implanted with screws; 2) 20 with hooks, and 3) 20 with cables. The maximum pullout (MPO) forces prior to failure (mean ± standard deviation) for the screw, hook, and cable implants were 972 ± 330, 802 ± 356, and 654 ± 248 N, respectively (p = 0.0375). Cables allowed significantly greater displacement (6.80 ± 3.95 mm) prior to reaching the MPO force than hooks (3.73 ± 1.42 mm) and screws (4.42 ± 2.15 mm [p = 0.0108]). Eleven screw-implanted vertebrae failed because of screw pullout. All hook-and-cable—implanted vertebrae failed because of pedicle, middle column, or laminar fracture. Conclusions These findings suggest that screws possess the greatest pullout strength of the three fixation systems. Sublaminar cables are the least rigid of the three. When screw failure occurred, the mechanism was generally screw backout, without vertebral fractures.

Object. The authors compared the biomechanical performance of the human cadaveric spine implanted with a metallic ball-and-cup artificial disc at L4–5 with the spine's intact state and after anterior discectomy. Methods. Seven human L2—S1 cadaveric spines were mounted on a biomechanical testing frame. Pure moments of 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 Nm were applied to the spine at L-2 in six degrees of motion (flexion, extension, right and left lateral bending, and right and left axial rotation). The spines were tested in the intact state as well as after anterior L4–5 discectomy. The Maverick disc was implanted in the discectomy defect, and load testing was repeated. The artificial disc created greater rigidity for the spine than was present after discectomy, and the spine performed biomechanically in a manner comparable with the intact state. Conclusions. The results indicate that in an in vitro setting, this model of artificial disc stabilizes the spine after discectomy, restoring motion comparable with that of the intact state.

Following the success of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), there has been considerable interest in technique modifications such as the transobturator approach for implant placement. We attempted to elucidate possible anatomical and clinical differences between the two methods in a retrospective cohort study. One hundred and fourteen women who had undergone TVT or Monarc implantation were assessed by or under the supervision of the senior author, with identical tensioning technique. They were followed up by an interview, uroflowmetry, and translabial 3D ultrasound. There were significant differences for patient satisfaction (P=0.013), subjective overall cure/improvement (P=0.0018), and the symptom of poor stream (P=0.03), all favoring the Monarc group. On imaging Monarc tapes appeared more proximal at rest (P=0.006) and Valsalva (P=0.002) and remained further from the symphysis pubis on Valsalva (P=0.01). At 9 months follow-up, there was no significant difference as regards to cure rates for stress incontinence between the two suburethral slings. Monarc tapes are located more proximally and may be less obstructive, judging from a lower incidence of symptoms of voiding dysfunction. Patient satisfaction and overall subjective cure/improvement were higher after Monarc. In summary, the Monarc is an effective TVT alternative, achieving cure of stress incontinence by similar means. It may be less obstructive, resulting in improved patient satisfaction.