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In the present study mental representations in drawings by 158 young children, ages 2 1/2 to 6 yr. old were analysed. The aim was to investigate whether the accuracy of mental representations increased with age and how this development progressed. Also tested were whether the inferred mental representations differed for boys and girls and whether preschool experience affected the drawings. As expected, mental representation increased in complexity with age as measured by Goodenough's score, and girls' mental representations (drawings) were significantly more elaborate than boys. Moreover, attending school early seemed to affect mental representations of the 3-yr. olds but not the 4-yr.-olds. Results are discussed in terms of internal and external factors in mental representation in drawing a man.

Objective To assess tolerance and mid-term clinical outcomes of treatment, with a new four-arm mesh sling, of post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) in men. Material and Methods This was a French multicentre prospective study that included 93 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at least 1 year before Surgimesh M-SLING® implantation for the treatment of PPI. Data were collected preoperatively, and patients were followed at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Objective outcome measures included number of pads per day, 24-h pad-test, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and urinary retention. We also analysed Urinary Symptom Profile (USP®) score, degree of erectile dysfunction, patients’ satisfaction level, postoperative pain and procedure complications. Length of catheterization and hospitalization periods were also recorded. Patients were considered cured if no protection was used and/or daily pad weight was <2 g. Patients whose condition was considered to have improved reduced their daily urinary losses by >50%. Those not included in any of the aforementioned groups were assessed as unchanged or to have deteriorated, and were considered as treatment failures. Results The mean hospitalization period was 1.57 ± 0.70 days. All patients remained catheterized for 1.17 ± 0.48 days. Intention-to-treat analysis at 24 months showed that 34.4% of patients were cured, 27.1% had improved, and 19.4% were considered failures. Two patients experienced transient urinary retention. USP questionnaire scores showed a significant decrease in incontinence and prevalence of hyperactive bladder. There was a nonsignificant tendency for reduced severe erectile dysfunction (ED), and a shift towards moderate ED was observed. No severe complications occurred. Conclusion The Surgimesh M-SLING transobturator and prepubic four-arm urethral sling represents an easy-to-deploy, safe and durable therapeutic alternative for mild to moderate PPI. Its implantation did not have a negative influence on sexual performance outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: The aim of this study was to assess the 36-month safety and efficacy of a lightweight polypropylene mesh used for the transvaginal repair of stage III-IV cystocele. Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study was performed. Preoperative assessment included an interview and evaluation with the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. Inclusion criteria were stage III-IV cystocele and no contraindications for mesh use. A lightweight (28 g/m) four-arm transobturator polypropylene mesh was used for the study. Pre- and postoperative symptoms and quality of life were assessed using the Urinary Symptoms Measurement (MHU), Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). The main endpoint was mesh safety. Secondary endpoints were anatomic (Ba point ≤ −1) and functional success. Results: In all, 111 patients with a mean age of 67 ± 9 years (range 47-89) were included in the study, and 94 (84.7 %) were included in the analysis. Two intraoperative complications occurred (one bladder and one rectal injury, 2.2 %). Medium-term analysis of 79 patients (84 %) after 36 months showed a satisfaction rate of 98.7 % (78/79), a mesh contraction rate of 5.1 % (4/78), only one case of vaginal mesh exposure (1.3 %), no cases of chronic pelvic pain, and a postoperative dyspareunia rate of 2.8 % (1/36). The anatomic success rate of cystocele repair was 75/79 (94.9 %) and a highly significant improvement was noted for symptoms and on quality of life questionnaires. Overall, 7/79 patients (8.9 %) were reoperated, including 1 for hemorrhage, 1 for vaginal mesh exposure, 3 for stress urinary incontinence, and 2 for cystocele recurrence (2.5 %). Conclusion: Transvaginal cystocele repair using a lightweight transobturator polypropylene mesh was safe and efficient in the medium term. Long-term data and comparative studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]