- Email: [email protected]
Urology Web Site
MAY 1999, VOL 69, NO 5
LETTERS
HYPOSPADIAS WEB SITE
I
n your “Online Connections” column “Urology sites on the Internet and search tips for Internet browsers,” you list only Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) web site as a reference for parents seeking information on hypospadias repair. The ISNA is well known for its opposition to genital reconstructive surgery in children, and I do not believe that information it provides is accurate. For example, hypospadias is not essentially a “cosmetic difference” as stated by the ISNA. There are definite physical difficulties that can be quite significant, such as infertility because of the physical inability of the male to deposit sperm in the vagina. Contrary to the ISNA’s assertion, hypospadias surgery can restore fertility. For parents who are making critical decisions about their
child’s future, I would suggest they look at the web site “Hypospadias: What every parent should know” at http://207.10
.206.114.pediatric/hypospadias .html.
will correct this oversight. GERRY SUE YOUNG RN, CNOR SENIORNURSE SPECIALIST INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM,FAIRFAXHOSPITAL FALLSCHURCH,VA
LYNN TEAGUE, MD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Editors response. The “Online DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC UROLOGY Connections” column is not UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA intended to, nor can it, include all
UROLOGY WEB SITE
A
s an AORN member, a CNOR, and president-elect of the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates, I read with interest your January 1999 issue. As I read the “Online Connections” column titled “Urology sites on the Internet and search tips for Internet browsers,” I was disheartened to find our web site was not included. Our site (http://suna.inurse.com) has been on the Internet for more than one year and is the official web site for the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates. I hope you
related web sites for our readers. Rather, the content supplements readers’ resources for references related to AORN Journal content. AORN does not endorse web sites. Thank you for the additional web sites that will complement information in the article.
CORRECTION FEBRUARY 1999, VOL 69, NO 2, page 396. Kathleen Schultz, RN, CNOR, Tampa, Fla, was coauthor with Lisha McDonough, RN, CNOR, Brandon, Fla, of the Surgical Draping module for the Perioperative Nursing Course 101 .
Hormone Replacement Therapy Lowers Blood Viscosity Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help women lower their risk of heart disease by helping keep their blood less viscous or sticky, according to a Dec 10, 1998, press release from the American Heart Association. A study measured the viscosity of plasma in 23 women and found that women receiving HRT had lower blood viscosity. This effect may be a new form of cardiovascular protection for women taking HRT. Viscosity describes the friction that makes a fluid resist flowing. For example, water has a low viscosity, and molasses is highly viscous. Researchers have found that plasma viscosity is as important a predictor of initial and recurrent heart attack and stroke as smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, or blood pressure, according to the release. In the study, 23 women were divided into three
groups. Seven women received estrogen plus progesterone therapy, eight women received estrogen alone, and the remaining eight received placebos. After 12 weeks, viscosity in both groups receiving estrogen therapy decreased by approximately 20%. Similarly, blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (ie, the “bad” cholesterol) in both estrogen groups fell by 29%, and fibrinogen levels decreased by 14%. According to the release, these factors may contribute to plasma viscosity because higher levels of fibrinogen and LDL make blood stickier. Blood is Less sticky with Estrogen Replacement Therapy (press release, Dallas: American Heart Association, Dec 1 0, 1998).Available from www.americanheart org. Accessed 12 Jan 1999.
928 AORN JOURNAL
LETTERS
HYPOSPADIAS WEB SITE
I
n your “Online Connections” column “Urology sites on the Internet and search tips for Internet browsers,” you list only Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) web site as a reference for parents seeking information on hypospadias repair. The ISNA is well known for its opposition to genital reconstructive surgery in children, and I do not believe that information it provides is accurate. For example, hypospadias is not essentially a “cosmetic difference” as stated by the ISNA. There are definite physical difficulties that can be quite significant, such as infertility because of the physical inability of the male to deposit sperm in the vagina. Contrary to the ISNA’s assertion, hypospadias surgery can restore fertility. For parents who are making critical decisions about their
child’s future, I would suggest they look at the web site “Hypospadias: What every parent should know” at http://207.10
.206.114.pediatric/hypospadias .html.
will correct this oversight. GERRY SUE YOUNG RN, CNOR SENIORNURSE SPECIALIST INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM,FAIRFAXHOSPITAL FALLSCHURCH,VA
LYNN TEAGUE, MD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Editors response. The “Online DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC UROLOGY Connections” column is not UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA intended to, nor can it, include all
UROLOGY WEB SITE
A
s an AORN member, a CNOR, and president-elect of the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates, I read with interest your January 1999 issue. As I read the “Online Connections” column titled “Urology sites on the Internet and search tips for Internet browsers,” I was disheartened to find our web site was not included. Our site (http://suna.inurse.com) has been on the Internet for more than one year and is the official web site for the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates. I hope you
related web sites for our readers. Rather, the content supplements readers’ resources for references related to AORN Journal content. AORN does not endorse web sites. Thank you for the additional web sites that will complement information in the article.
CORRECTION FEBRUARY 1999, VOL 69, NO 2, page 396. Kathleen Schultz, RN, CNOR, Tampa, Fla, was coauthor with Lisha McDonough, RN, CNOR, Brandon, Fla, of the Surgical Draping module for the Perioperative Nursing Course 101 .
Hormone Replacement Therapy Lowers Blood Viscosity Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help women lower their risk of heart disease by helping keep their blood less viscous or sticky, according to a Dec 10, 1998, press release from the American Heart Association. A study measured the viscosity of plasma in 23 women and found that women receiving HRT had lower blood viscosity. This effect may be a new form of cardiovascular protection for women taking HRT. Viscosity describes the friction that makes a fluid resist flowing. For example, water has a low viscosity, and molasses is highly viscous. Researchers have found that plasma viscosity is as important a predictor of initial and recurrent heart attack and stroke as smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, or blood pressure, according to the release. In the study, 23 women were divided into three
groups. Seven women received estrogen plus progesterone therapy, eight women received estrogen alone, and the remaining eight received placebos. After 12 weeks, viscosity in both groups receiving estrogen therapy decreased by approximately 20%. Similarly, blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (ie, the “bad” cholesterol) in both estrogen groups fell by 29%, and fibrinogen levels decreased by 14%. According to the release, these factors may contribute to plasma viscosity because higher levels of fibrinogen and LDL make blood stickier. Blood is Less sticky with Estrogen Replacement Therapy (press release, Dallas: American Heart Association, Dec 1 0, 1998).Available from www.americanheart org. Accessed 12 Jan 1999.
928 AORN JOURNAL