RATIONALE: There is a diversity of methods in performing pediatric inguinal herniotomy, but no consensus on which is the gold standard. The two most common are the Ferguson technique and the MitchellBanks technique. The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the two techniques in terms of hernia recurrence and post-operative complications: namely hematoma, hydrocele, testicular ascent, and testicular atrophy. METHODS: Three randomized controlled trials and one multi-center retrospective study were included in this meta-analysis. Using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale, all studies included were deemed to be of good quality and have low risk of bias. Revman 5.3 was used for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in terms of hernia recurrence between the two techniques (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.31- 2.36). For post-operative complications, hematoma (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.37-1.13), testicular ascent (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.05- 1.50), and testicular atrophy (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 0.54-7.52) did not differ between the two techniques. Only the incidence of postoperative hydrocele significantly differed between the two techniques, being higher when the external oblique aponeurosis was opened (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.27-0.70). CONCLUSION Performing pediatric inguinal herniotomy without opening the external oblique aponeurosis is a safe procedure and may be recommended as an optimal choice of method for uncomplicated cases.

PURPOSE: Up to 71% of South Korean postmenopausal women have vitamin D deficiency {serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] level <50 nmol/L}. Data on vitamin D supplementation was collected during the screening phase of an efficacy/safety study of denosumab in Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. This report describes the effect of vitamin D supplementation on repletion to 25(OH)D levels ≥50 nmol/L in Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vitamin D levels of Korean postmenopausal women (60-90 years old) were measured by extracting 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 from serum samples via protein precipitation and using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection. Calibration curves were constructed from the mass chromatograms to obtain total vitamin D levels. Subjects with serum 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L were supplemented with 1000 IU of vitamin D tablets during the 2.5-month-long screening period. Dose, frequency, and duration were determined by the investigator. If repletion was achieved (≥50 nmol/L) on retest, subjects were eligible to be rescreened for study entry. RESULTS: Of 371 subjects screened, 191 (52%) required vitamin D supplementation, and 88% (168 of 191) were successfully repleted. More than half of the subjects (58%) who were successfully repleted received doses of 2000 IU daily. The mean time to successful repletion was 31 days (standard deviation 8.4 days; range 11-48 days). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with daily median doses of 2000 IU vitamin D successfully repleted 88% of Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis within 48 days to a serum vitamin D level of 50 nmol/L.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/*therapeutic use ; *Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*complications/drug therapy/ethnology ; Postmenopause/blood ; Republic of Korea ; Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives/blood/*therapeutic use ; Vitamin D Deficiency/diagnosis/*drug therapy/ethnology

PURPOSE: The efficacy and safety of denosumab was compared with placebo in Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in this phase III study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 60 to 90 years with a T-score of <-2.5 and ≥-4.0 at the lumbar spine or total hip were randomized to a single 60 mg subcutaneous dose of denosumab or placebo for the 6-month double-blind phase. Eligible subjects entered the 6-month open-label extension phase and received a single dose of denosumab 60 mg. RESULTS: Baseline demographics were similar in the 62 denosumab- and 64 placebo-treated subjects who completed the double-blind phase. Treatment favored denosumab over placebo for the primary endpoint {mean percent change from baseline in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) at Month 6 [3.2% (95% confidence interval 2.1%, 4.4%; p<0.0001)]}; and secondary endpoints (mean percent change from baseline in lumbar spine BMD at Month 1, total hip, femoral neck, and trochanter BMD at Months 1 and 6, and median percent change from baseline in bone turnover markers at Months 1, 3, and 6). Endpoint improvements were sustained over 12 months in the open-label extension (n=119). There were no new or unexpected safety signals. CONCLUSION: Denosumab was well tolerated and effective in increasing BMD and decreasing bone turnover markers over a 12-month period in Korean postmenopausal women. The findings of this study demonstrate that denosumab has beneficial effects on the measures of osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/*therapeutic use ; Denosumab/*therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*drug therapy/*ethnology ; Postmenopause ; Republic of Korea