Introduction Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a common primary care problem associated with significant morbidity and health care costs, with presentation ranging from mild telangiectasias to skin ulceration and tissue loss.1Alguire PC, Mathes BM. J Gen Intern Med. 1997;12(6):374-83. The disorder may have poor prognosis, with serious impact on quality of life, seeing that in addition to poor cosmesis it can lead to chronic lifethreatening manifestations (infections/ulcers) of the lower extremities. Even so, it is often underdiagnosed in general practice owing to a wide range of initial symptoms.2Thorisson HM, Pollak JS, Scoutt L. Ultrasound Q. 2007 Jun;23(2):137-50. Essentially, CVI defines functional abnormalities of the venous system, and is caused by inadequate blood flow through the veins, usually in the lower limbs; and this can result in considerable discomfort with symptoms such as pain (pain, particularly after ambulating, is a hallmark of the disease), itchiness and tiredness in the legs, and…
Introduction Urolithiasis, a worldwide disease, has affected humans from ancient eras to modern times.1Yung-Tai Chen. Urological Science 2012;23(1):5-8. Indeed, the disease is quite common with a high recurrence rate2Knoll T. European urology supplements. 2010; 9:802-806. ; and over a lifetime can affect up to 10-15% of the population.3Itoh Y, Kojima Y, Yasui T, et al. Int J Urol. 2007;14(8):749-53. ,4Spernat D, Kourambas J. BJU Int. 2011;108 Suppl 2:9-13. Essentially, the process of lithogenesis, i.e., the formation of stones in the urinary tract, is multifactorial, and influenced by environmental nutritional factors (low urinary volume, diet rich in animal protein, etc.) and metabolic alterations; i.e., hypercalciuria, hyperuricosuria, and deficiency of stone-inhibiting factors [citrate, magnesium, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)]. 5Moe OW. Lancet. 2006 Jan 28;367(9507):333-44. ,6Micali S, Grande M, Sighinolfi MC, et al. J Endourol. 2006 Nov;20(11):841-7 Obese people are known to have a higher risk of stone formation.1 Symptoms These urinary stones often present with pain, hematuria…
