PURPOSE: We report our experience with the use of a topical steroid, 0.05% clobetasol propionate, for the treatment of phimosis with clinical complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes of all patients presenting with phimosis to a single institution during the time period from October 2008 to May 2012. A total of 88 patients who had a Kikiros retractability grade of 4 or 5 and phimosis-associated clinical complications, such as ballooning of the prepuce, balanoposthitis, or a history of urinary tract infection (UTI), were instructed to apply 0.05% clobetasol propionate cream to the slightly retracted foreskin and to massage gently while retracting the foreskin. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated at 4 weeks from the initiation of therapy. RESULTS: A total of 60 of the 88 patients (68.2%) showed a complete response (i.e., full retraction of the foreskin) to the therapy. The phimotic ring disappeared in 25 of the 88 patients (28.4%) after treatment. Patients who had a history of balanoposthitis, smegma, ballooning of the prepuce, or UTI showed significantly poorer improvement in preputial retraction (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.02, respectively) and phimotic ring disappearance (p<0.001, p=0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.001, respectively) after treatment. No significant local or systemic side effects were associated with the administration of topical steroids. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of 0.05% clobetasol propionate cream and skin stretching is a safe, simple, and effective procedure with no significant side effects for severe phimosis in prepubertal boys.
Child ; Circumcision, Male ; Clobetasol ; Foreskin ; Humans ; Male ; Massage ; Phimosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Smegma ; Steroids ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Circumcision in childhood is widely practiced in Korea, but the Korean attitude to circumcision has not been well studied. Our aim was to evaluatethe knowledge and general opinion of Korean adult males toward circumcision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One thousand five hundred self-completed questionnaires were distributed to adult males of five major age groups from 10s' to 50s' divided into decades. Questions asked about the responders' opinions regarding the necessity, reasons, potential benefits, and disadvantages for circumcision, and also asked if there was any peer pressure when deciding upon circumcision. The responses were collected and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The response rate was 62.7% (936). Of 836 responders, 611 (73.1%) believed that circumcision is necessary, while 59 (7.1%) believed it to be unnecessary. The principal reason for circumcision was improvement of penile hygiene (77.9%). Of 921 responders, 768 (83.4%) believed that the smegma is a dirty material infected by microorganisms. Of 901 responders, 619 (68.7%) didn't prefer the neonatal period regardless of age. The major reason was pain (36.9%). Peer pressure was one of the most influencing factors when deciding upon circumcision: 540 (60.8%) of 888 responders believed that they might be ridiculed by their peer group unless they were circumcised and the younger, the more frequent (p<0.05). Of 917 responders, 616 (62.7%) thought that circumcision would prevent genital tract infection of the sexual partner. Responders with lower education or older responders were prone to emphasize the improvement in sexual potency (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that common beliefs held by adult males about the prepuce or circumcision are homogeneous according to age. It is critical to tailor education about the potential benefits and disadvantages of circumcision.
Adult* ; Circumcision, Male* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Korea ; Male ; Male* ; Peer Group ; Phimosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Sexual Partners ; Smegma

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) among village women in Henan and to determine its relevant risk factors.

METHODSA population based cross-sectional study on cervical cancer was conducted among village women in Xinmi, Henan. Women aged 20 - 54 who had sexual intercourse experiences were enrolled in this study. Self-sampling and direct-sampling were used in collecting women's vaginal discharge. 13 high-risk HPVs were tested with HC2 for all of the specimens. Then women with abnormal results did colposcopy and biopsy. The biopsy results were regarded as the golden standard.

RESULTSThere were 881 women enrolled in this paper and 881 self-sampling and 880 direct-sampling specimens were collected. The HPVs prevalence rates for the self-sampling and direct-sampling were 13.05% and 12.27%, respectively. Age-specific prevalence rates were 10.57% (20-), 9.60% (25-), 12.00% (30-), 9.52% (35-), 17.60% (40-), 13.74% (45-) and 12.80% (50 - 54). HPV prevalence rates were increased with progression of cervical disease (chi(2) = 200.69, P = 0.00). And HPV prevalence rates were higher in women with more advanced education background (chi(2) = 11.05, P = 0.01). HPV infection rate in women whose husbands have more than one sexual partner was 18.02% and whose husbands have only one sexual partner was 10.88% (chi(2) = 6.37, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe infection rate of high-risk HPVs in this area is high. The relationship of HPV infection with age has not been observed in this study, but the the sexual activity is the major risk factor for cervical cancer.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Smegma ; virology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; virology