bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapy‐related acute promyelocytic leukemia: observations relating to APL pathogenesis and therapy*
Authors: Elliott Michelle A. , Letendre Louis , Tefferi Ayalew , Hogan William J. , Hook Christopher , Kaufmann Scott H. , Pruthi Rajiv K. , Pardanani Animesh , Begna Kebede H. , Ashrani Aneel A. , Wolanskyj Alexandra P. , Al‐Kali Aref , Litzow Mark R.
Published: October 2011

Therapy‐related acute promyelocytic leukemia (t‐APL) is a well‐recognized form of APL for which the underlying etiology has been well characterized. The pathogenesis of de novo (dn‐APL) remains unknown; but epidemiologic studies have consistently identified increased body mass index (BMI), younger age, and ethnicity as possible risk factors. We analyzed demographics, clinical features, and treatment responses in a contemporary series of 64 patients treated with all‐trans‐retinoic acid and anthracycline‐based therapy to assess for differences in these two etiologically distinct patient groups. Compared with patients with t‐APL (n = 11), those with dn‐APL (n = 53) had a greater median BMI (31.33 vs. 28.48), incidence of obesity (60.4% vs. 27.3%) (P = 0.04), and history of hyperlipidemia (45.3% vs. 18.2%) (P = 0.01). Fewer t‐APL than dn‐APL patients achieved complete remission at 63.6% vs. 92.5% respectively (P = 0.008). This was the result of a higher induction mortality rate of 36.4% vs. 7.5% respectively (P = 0.008). No cases of leukemic resistance were seen in either group. Overall survival (OS) was inferior in t‐APL compared with dn‐APL at 51% vs. 84%, respectively (P < 0.005), primarily as a result of higher induction mortality. Relapse occurred in nine patients (16.1%) overall, but no relapses occurred in the t‐APL cohort. Our observations provide further support for the hypothesis that abnormalities in lipid homeostasis may in some way be of pathogenic importance in dn‐APL. Therapy‐related APL is sensitive to standard therapy with no cases of resistance or relapse seen. The inferior OS of the t‐APL was due to induction mortality, possibly reflecting prior therapy.
Leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and retinol‐binding protein‐4 – mediators of comorbidities in patients with psoriasis?
Authors: Gerdes Sascha , Osadtschy Svetlana , Rostami‐Yazdi Martin , Buhles Norbert , Weichenthal Michael , Mrowietz Ulrich
Published: October 2011

Abstract:  White adipose tissue is known to be involved in numerous physiological processes such as insulin‐mediated functions, lipid and glucose metabolism, vascular changes and coagulation. These processes are mainly mediated by adipokines that are secreted either from adipocytes or cells of the stromal‐vascular fraction of adipose tissue. In obesity, a shift in the production of adipokines can mediate the development of associated diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, and vascular complications, such as artherosclerosis, myocardial infarction or stroke, which are known comorbidities of psoriasis too. As obesity is a frequently seen comorbidity in psoriasis patients, adipokines could be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and/or its comorbidities either dependently or independently from obesity. Therefore, this study investigates the levels of four major adipokines in psoriasis patients compared with a control group of healthy volunteers without chronic inflammatory diseases in relation to body composition. Leptin, adiponectin (high molecular weight (HMW) and total adiponectin), visfatin and retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) have been analysed in 79 psoriasis patients and in 80 healthy volunteers. It was shown that HMW adiponectin (OR 1.3755; P = 0.0094) and visfatin (OR 1.1267; P = 0.0472) are independently increased, and RBP4 (OR 0.9884; P < 0.0001) is independently decreased in psoriasis. In conclusion, increased levels of HMW adiponectin and decreased levels of RBP4 could be a mechanism in a chronic inflammatory state that helps to protect against vascular and metabolic disorders, whereas the increase of the pro‐inflammatory adipokine visfatin could lead to atherosclerosis and vascular disorders found in psoriasis.
Population‐level influence of a recurring disease on a long‐lived wildlife host
Authors: Perez‐Heydrich Carolina , Oli Madan K. , Brown Mary B.
Published: October 2011

Despite a heightened interest regarding the role of infectious diseases in wildlife conservation, few studies have explicitly addressed the impacts of chronic, persistent diseases on long‐term host population dynamics. Using mycoplasmal upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) within natural gopher tortoiseGopherus polyphemuspopulations as a model system, we investigated the influence of chronic recurring disease epizootics on host population dynamics and persistence using matrix population models and Markov chain models for temporally autocorrelated environments. By treating epizootics as a form of environmental stochasticity, we evaluated host population dynamics across varying levels of outbreak duration (ρ), outbreak recurrence (f), and disease‐induced mortality (μ). Baseline results indicated a declining growth rate (λ) for populations under unexposed or enzootic conditions (λEnzootic= 0.903, 95% CI: 0.765–1.04), and a median time to quasi‐extinction of 29 years (range: 28–30 years). Under recurring epizootics, stochastic growth rates overlapped with baseline growth rates, and ranged between 0.838–0.902. Median quasi‐extinction times under recurring epizootics also overlapped for most scenarios with those of baseline conditions, and ranged between 18–29 years, with both metrics decreasing as a function offand μ. Overall, baseline (enzootic) conditions had a greater impact on λ than epizootic conditions, and demographic vital rates were proportionately more influential on λ than disease‐ or outbreak‐associated parameters. Lower‐level elasticities revealed that, among disease‐ and outbreak‐associated parameters, increases in μ, force of infection (φ), andfnegatively influenced λ. The impact of disease on host population dynamics depended primarily on how often a population underwent an epizootic state, rather than how long the epizootic persisted within the exposed population. The modeling framework presented in this paper could be widely applied to a range of wildlife disease systems in which hosts suffer from persistent recurring diseases.
The spatial distribution of flocking foragers: disentangling the effects of food availability, interference and conspecific attraction by means of spatial autoregressive modeling
Authors: Folmer Eelke O. , Olff Han , Piersma Theunis
Published: October 2011

Patch choice of foraging animals is typically assumed to depend positively on food availability and negatively on interference while benefits of the co‐occurrence of conspecifics tend to be ignored. In this paper we integrate a classical functional response model based on resource availability and interference with a conspecific attraction model and use it to simulate spatial distributions of animals in their continuous resource landscapes. We consider both equilibrium and non‐equilibrium distributions. We show that the integrated model produces distributions of foraging animals that closely match the distributions observed in nature. The simulations also show that under information uncertainty the locations of flocks are highly variable when conspecific attraction is strong. We furthermore explain how we can estimate the impacts of conspecific attraction and interference on the distribution of foraging animals by spatial autoregression. On the basis of simulated data we show that the separate impacts of interference and conspecific attraction can be disentangled when prior information on either is available, in addition to information on resource density and predator density, and that the total food effect is given by the spatial multiplier.
Early Apoptotic Reorganization of Spliceosomal Proteins Involves Caspases, CAD and Rearrangement of NuMA
Authors: Dieker Jürgen , Iglesias‐Guimarais Victoria , Décossas Marion , Stevenin James , van der Vlag Johan , Yuste Victor J. , Muller Sylviane
Published: October 2011

The reorganization of nuclear structures is an important early feature of apoptosis and involves the activity of specific proteases and nucleases. Well‐known is the condensation and fragmentation of chromatin; however, much less is understood about the mechanisms involved in the reorganization of structures from the interchromatin space, such as interchromatin granule clusters (IGCs). In this study, we show that the initial enlargement and rounding‐up of IGCs correlate with a decrease in mRNA transcription and are caspase‐independent, but involve protein phosphatases PP1/PP2A. Subsequently, multiple enlarged IGCs dissociate from chromatin and fuse into a single structure. The dissociation requires caspase activity and involves caspase‐activated DNase (CAD). Apoptotic IMR‐5 cells, lacking a proper processing of CAD, show multiple enlarged IGCs that remain linked with chromatin. Overexpression of CAD in IMR‐5 cells results in the dissociation of IGCs from chromatin, but the fusion into a single structure remains disturbed. Nuclear matrix protein NuMA is reorganized in a caspase‐dependent way around fused IGCs. In conclusion, we show here that the apoptotic rearrangement of IGCs, the nuclear matrix and chromatin are closely associated, occur in defined stages and depend on the activity of protein phosphatases, caspases and CAD.
Risk factors for early death in children with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Trottestam Helena , Berglöf Elisabet , Horne AnnaCarin , Onelöv Erik , Beutel Karin , Lehmberg Kai , Sieni Elena , Silfverberg Thomas , Aricò Maurizio , Janka Gritta , Henter Jan‐Inge
Published: October 2011

Aim:  Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life‐threatening disturbance of immunoregulation. HLH comprises primary and acquired forms with different disease severity. A large proportion of deaths occur early into treatment. We investigated association with early death for laboratory and clinical parameters before the start of and 2 weeks into therapy.

Methods:  A total of 232 children from Scandinavia, Germany or Italy, fulfilling diagnostic criteria and/or with familial disease and/or HLH‐causing mutations, receiving HLH treatment 1994–2008 were included. The relation between clinical findings and early pre‐transplant death was examined using the Cox proportional hazards model, with a 4‐month right‐truncation of the outcome. Patients were censored at last follow‐up or transplant. Statistically significant predictors were adjusted for sex, age and each other.

Results:  The following features were significantly associated with adverse outcome: hyperbilirubinaemia (>50 μmol/L; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.2; 95% confidence interval 1.3–8.1, p = 0.011), hyperferritinaemia (>2000 μg/L; aHR 3.2; 1.2–8.6, p = 0.019), cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis (>100 × 106/L; aHR 5.1; 1.4–18.5, p = 0.012) at diagnosis, and thrombocytopenia (<40 × 109/L; aHR 3.4; 1.1–10.7, p = 0.033), and hyperferritinaemia (>2000 μg/L; aHR 10.6; 1.2–96.4, p = 0.037) 2 weeks into therapy. Non‐improvement of fever, anaemia and/or thrombocytopenia also had adverse impact.

Conclusion:  There seem to be easily available clinical predictors of early mortality in HLH patients, which may help guide treatment decisions.
DECREASED GALLBLADDER EMPTYING IN DOGS WITH BILIARY SLUDGE OR GALLBLADDER MUCOCELE
Authors: Tsukagoshi Taro , Ohno Koichi , Tsukamoto Atsushi , Fukushima Kenjiro , Takahashi Masashi , Nakashima Ko , Fujino Yasuhito , Tsujimoto Hajime
Published: October 2011

Biliary sludge in dogs is dismissed commonly as an incidental finding. On the other hand, gallbladder mucocele is reported increasingly in dogs and can lead to biliary obstruction or gallbladder rupture. Cholestasis is suspected to play a role in development of sludge and mucoceles, though there are no data in dogs to support this. We investigated gallbladder emptying, a key factor in biliary flow, in dogs with mobile sludge, immobile sludge, or gallbladder mucocele and in healthy controls. Gallbladder ejection fraction estimated by ultrasonography was used as the index of gallbladder emptying. The ejection fraction at 60 min after eating was significantly decreased in all three abnormal groups. Moreover, all dogs with sludge or a mucocele had gallbladder distension. These changes were the greatest in the mucocele group. Thus, biliary stasis occurs not only in dogs with gallbladder mucocele but also in dogs with biliary sludge. Cholestasis may play a role in the pathogenesis or progression of these diseases in dogs.
What difference can fathers make? Early paternal absence compromises Peruvian children's growth
Authors: Dearden Kirk , Crookston Benjamin , Madanat Hala , West Joshua , Penny Mary , Cueto Santiago
Published: October 2011

Considerable evidence suggests that fathers' absence from home has a negative short‐ and long‐term impact on children's health, psychosocial development, cognition and educational experience. We assessed the impact of father presence during infancy and childhood on children's height‐for‐age z‐score (HAZ) at 5 years old. We conducted secondary data analysis from a 15‐year cohort study (Young Lives) focusing on one of four Young Lives countries (Peru, n = 1821). When compared with children who saw their fathers on a daily or weekly basis during infancy and childhood, children who did not see their fathers regularly at either period had significantly lower HAZ scores (−0.23, P = 0.0094) after adjusting for maternal age, wealth and other contextual factors. Results also suggest that children who saw their fathers during childhood (but not infancy) had better HAZ scores than children who saw their fathers in infancy and childhood (0.23 z‐score, P = 0.0388). Findings from analyses of resilient children (those who did not see their fathers at either round but whose HAZ > −2) show that a child's chances of not being stunted in spite of paternal absence at 1 and 5 years old were considerably greater if he or she lived in an urban area [odds ratio (OR) = 9.3], was from the wealthiest quintile (OR = 8.7) and lived in a food secure environment (OR = 3.8). Interventions designed to reduce malnutrition must be based on a fuller understanding of how paternal absence puts children at risk of growth failure.
Evaluation of newly developed devices for denture placement and removal in the dependent elderly
Authors: Kawasaki Maiko , Nomura Shuichi , Okada Naoto , Nomura Akiko , Uoshima Katsumi
Published: October 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00547.x

Evaluation of newly developed devices for denture placement and removal in the dependent elderly

Objective:  The purpose of this study was to subjectively evaluate the utility of newly developed denture placement and removal devices. Objective observations were also made to support the evidence.

Materials and method:  Twenty‐one subjects were instructed to place and remove their dentures with and without the devices. We evaluated the device based on a questionnaire. Objective observations were based on a 2‐D image analysis. We analysed three factors: the time, the area and the circumference required to insert and remove the dentures.

Results:  Image analysis showed that the effectiveness and ease with which the subject used the device significantly improved with practice. The questionnaire data showed that a majority of the subjects appreciated the device after the first and second time. While there was no significant decrease in time required to place and remove dentures even with the device, the area and circumference of the movement on 2‐D images were significantly reduced.

Conclusion:  In this study, the utility of denture placement and removal devices was evaluated both subjectively and objectively. Our data reveal that the device is effective in the elderly. Further minor improvement in the device might be required to increase its effectiveness.
Influence of dental treatment on physical performance in community‐dwelling elderly persons
Authors: Moriya Shingo , Tei Kanchu , Murata Ayumi , Sumi Yasunori , Inoue Nobuo , Miura Hiroko
Published: October 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00563.x
 
Influence of dental treatment on physical performance in community‐dwelling elderly persons

Objective:  The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of dental treatment on physical performance (muscle strength and balance function) among the elderly.

Background:  Oral conditions have been associated with physical performance. We hypothesised that improved oral conditions by dental treatment would lead to improved physical performance.

Methods:  A total of 154 persons aged 65 years or over were judged to be in need of dental treatment as a result of dental examination; of these, 121 persons underwent dental treatment. After 1 year, differences in each parameter of physical performance before and after the intervention were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was calculated to examine correlations between changes in self‐assessed masticatory ability (masticatory ability) and each parameter of physical performance, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using changes in each parameter of physical performance as the dependent variable and changes in masticatory ability as the principal independent variable.

Results:  Improved physical performance was not observed for the total study population with dental treatment; however, in subjects with improved masticatory ability, one‐leg standing times with eyes open increased significantly. A significant correlation was established between changes in masticatory ability and each parameter of physical performance. These relationships were not found in those without dental treatment. A significant relationship was also established for one‐leg standing time after adjusting for age, gender, dentition status and needs of dental treatments.

Conclusion:  Chewing ability may be a positive contributing factor to balance function among the elderly.
Attitudes and usage of denture adhesives by complete denture wearers: a survey in Greece and the Netherlands
Authors: Polyzois Gregory L. , de Baat Cees
Published: October 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00566.x
 
Attitudes and usage of denture adhesives by complete denture wearers: a survey in Greece and the Netherlands

Objective:  To explore whether there are differences in usage of and attitudes towards denture adhesives among patients in two countries.

Background:  There are no multi‐country surveys concerning usage of and attitudes towards denture adhesives from complete denture wearers.

Materials and methods:  The survey took place in Greece and the Netherlands with a sample of 284 and 165 consecutive complete denture wearers, respectively, by using a 9‐item prepared questionnaire. Statistical analysis relied on chi‐square test at α = 0.05.

Results:  In this survey, 26 and 20% of Greek and Dutch patients, respectively, had tried denture adhesive, but only 27% of them in Greece as well as in the Netherlands currently used it; 49% of the Greek and 45% of the Dutch participants rated the overall performance of adhesives as good. Between the two populations, no differences were identified in a majority of the research variables, except where 27% of Greeks answered that they did not know the existence of denture adhesives compared to none of the Dutch patients and when 90% of the Dutch contrary to 70% of Greeks reported that they did not need denture adhesives as they could manage their dentures well.

Conclusion:  The usage of and attitudes towards denture adhesives between the Greek and Dutch sample were similar with only two exceptions concerning the knowledge of existence and the need of using denture adhesives.
Simultaneous Penile Lengthening and Penile Prosthesis Implantation in Patients with Peyronie’s Disease, Refractory Erectile Dysfunction, and Severe Penile Shortening
Authors: Sansalone Salvatore , Garaffa Giulio , Djinovic Rados , Egydio Paulo , Vespasiani Giuseppe , Miano Roberto , Loreto Carla , Ralph David J.
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Due to loss of length, patients who had penile prosthesis implantation for Peyronie’s disease (PD) show a statistically significant reduction in their levels of satisfaction when compared with the general implant population.

Aim

The aim of this study is to report our experience of penile lengthening with circumferential graft during penile prosthesis implantation in patients with PD and severe penile shortening.

Methods

Between March 2006 and February 2008, 23 patients with PD, refractory erectile dysfunction, and severe penile shortening underwent penile lengthening with circumferential graft and concomitant implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis.

Main Outcome Measures

Surgical outcome and complications have been recorded during postoperative follow-up. Patients’ satisfaction has been assessed 6 months postoperatively with the administration of the modified Erectile Dysfunction Index of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire.

Results

After an average follow-up of 22 months (range 6–36), 20 patients attended all the postoperative follow-up visits and returned the EDITS questionnaire. An average length gain of 2.8 cm (range 2.2–4.5) was recorded, and all patients were able to cycle the device and engage in penetrative sexual intercourse. Patient recorded complications included diminished glans sensitivity in four (20%) and persistent dorsal curvature of less than 15° in three (15%). Overall, 18 patients (90%) were satisfied with the cosmetic and functional result of surgery.

Conclusion

Penile lengthening with circumferential graft during penile prosthesis implantation in patients with PD represents a safe and reproducible technique that yields higher satisfaction rates than penile prosthesis implantation alone in patients with severe penile shortening.
Psoriasis and the Risk of Erectile Dysfunction: A Population-Based Case-Control Study
Authors: Chung Shiu-Dong , Keller Joseph J. , Chu Thomas Waitao , Lin Herng-Ching
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Psoriasis is associated with systemic metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, both of which share risk factors with erectile dysfunction (ED). However, few studies have investigated the association between ED and psoriasis.

Aim

This study set out to estimate the association between ED and having previously been diagnosed with psoriasis by using a population-based dataset with a case-control design.

Methods

This study used administrative claim data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance program. We identified 4,606 patients with ED as the study group and randomly selected 13,818 patients as the comparison group. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the association between ED and having previously received a diagnosis of psoriasis.

Main Outcome Measure

The prevalence and risk of psoriasis between cases and controls were calculated.

Results

Of the sampled patients, 136 (0.7%) had been diagnosed with psoriasis before the index date: 77 (1.7% of the cases) were from the study group and 59 (0.4% of controls) were from the control group. Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for the patient’s monthly income, geographic location, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, obesity, and alcohol abuse/alcohol dependence syndrome status, patients with ED were more likely to have been diagnosed with psoriasis before the index date than controls (odds ratio = 3.85; 95% confidence interval = 2.72–5.44).

Conclusions

There was an association between ED and prior psoriasis. The results of this study highlight a need for clinicians dealing with psoriasis patients to be alert to the development of ED.
Sexual Functioning in Women and Men with Fibromyalgia
Authors: Rico-Villademoros Fernando , Calandre Elena P. , Rodríguez-López Carmen M. , García-Carrillo Jocelyne , Ballesteros Javier , Hidalgo-Tallón Javier , García-Leiva Juan M.
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Sexual dysfunction has been associated with several chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. However, the literature on sexual functioning in patients with fibromyalgia is limited and restricted to female patients.

Aim

The aim of our study was to evaluate sexual functioning in female and male patients with fibromyalgia compared with healthy controls.

Main Outcome Measure

Sexual functioning was evaluated using the Spanish validated version of the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ).

Methods

We used baseline data from several studies performed in adult patients with fibromyalgia (American College of Rheumatology criteria) of both sexes in which sexual functioning was included in the clinical evaluation. As a control group, we selected an age-matched group of healthy subjects. We calculated the proportion of patients exhibiting sexual dysfunction (i.e., a CSFQ total score equal to or lower than 41 in females and 47 in males). CSFQ scores for patients and controls were compared, and the effect sizes for the difference of means were calculated.

Results

Our sample comprised 293 patients with fibromyalgia (276 females and 17 males) and 86 healthy controls (72 females and 14 males). The frequency of sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in patients with fibromyalgia than in controls for both females (86.9% vs. 23.6%; relative risk [RR] 3.7, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4–5.6) and males (76.5% vs. 6.7%; RR 11.5, 95% CI, 1.7–77.6). We found significantly worse sexual functioning for all dimensions in both female and male patients with fibromyalgia. Effect sizes for the difference in mean scores of the CSFQ were large overall and for all dimensions in both females and males.

Conclusion

Our results show that sexual dysfunction is common in patients with fibromyalgia. The disease seems to deeply affect all dimensions of sexual functioning in both females and males.
Normal Inhibin B Levels Suggest Partial Preservation of Gonadal Function in Adult Male Patients with Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Galusca Bogdan , Leca Viviane , Germain Natacha , Frere Delphine , Khalfallah Yadh , Lang Francois , Estour Bruno
Published: October 2011

Introduction

The impact of undernutrition on endocrine and exocrine gonadatrope function is poorly known in male anorexia nervosa (AN) patients.

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the pituitary–gonadal function of male AN subjects with that of healthy controls, Kallmann syndrome (KS) patients, and female AN subjects.

Methods

Observational monocentric cross-sectional study performed in 31 male and 25 female subjects with restrictive-type AN, 22 male and 20 female controls, and nine male KS patients.

Main Outcome Measures

Hormonal parameters are as follows: follicule stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, testosterone, inhibin B, thyroid hormones, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and leptin.

Results

Similar abnormalities of free T3, GH, IGF-I, cortisol, and leptin were found in men as in AN women with equivalent undernutrition status when compared with corresponding controls. Low levels of LH, FSH were found in both male and female AN patients. In male AN, total testosterone was found lower than in controls but higher than in KS, while a lack of estradiol was noticed in AN women. Sex hormones variations were directly related to weight gain only in AN men. No relationship was found between sex hormones and leptin variation for both sexes. In AN men, inhibin B levels were similar to that of controls and did not correlate with testosterone levels.

Conclusions

Significant differences of undernutrition impact on gonadal status were noticed between male and female AN subjects, including partial preservation of testosterone release and probable preservation of exocrine function, according to the normal inhibin B levels.
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder: Successful Treatment with Duloxetine and Pregabalin in Two Cases
Authors: Philippsohn Susanne , Kruger Tillmann H.C.
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a rare condition in women that causes a lot of suffering. The pathophysiology is not well understood and an approach promising effective treatment has not been established so far.

Aim

This study aims to make colleagues aware of two treatment options, which proved to be successful in one case each and which might be worth further investigation.

Main Outcome Measures

Subjective distress from unwanted sexual arousal, unwanted orgasms, and pain in the genital area.

Methods

Treatment of two women—36 and 41 years old—suffering from PGAD with duloxetine and pregabalin, respectively.

Results

In both women, the treatment proved to be very successful over a long period of time. One of them experienced full remission (duloxetine) and the other one experienced substantial improvement (pregabalin), over a period now lasting for more than a year.

Conclusion

Pregabalin and duloxetine, in particular, should be further investigated as possible medication for the treatment of PGAD.
Laparascopic Capsulotomy to Treat Autoinflation of Inflatable Penile Prostheses
Authors: Abbosh Phillip H. , Thom Matthew R. , Bullock Arnold
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Inflatable penile prosthetic implants are a reliable treatment for erectile dysfunction. Mechanical failures now are the most common reason for revision of this type of device, and autoinflation is a common cause for device revision. There are currently no published surgical treatments for this malfunction.

Aim

To describe a simple outpatient surgical revision for an automatically inflating device using laparascopic dissection.

Main Outcome Measures

Complete deflation of penile prosthesis on follow-up visit, intraoperative and postsurgical complications, and length of procedure.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of patients treated for inflatable penile prosthesis autoinflation with laparascopic capsulotomy to release constricting connective tissue rind surrounding the device reservoir at a single institution. We collected information about etiology of impotence, surgical procedures relating to implant and revision of prosthetic devices, and follow-up evaluations.

Results

Four patients underwent laparascopic capsulotomy to treat autoinflation. Mean operative time was 45 minutes, and no adverse surgical or perioperative outcomes occurred. All four patients had deflated corporal cylinders at the time of follow-up evaluation.

Conclusions

Laparascopic capsulotomy is an easy and reliable method of treating inflatable penile prosthesis autoinflation that can be performed in the outpatient setting.
Consultation and Treatment History and Causal Attributions in an Online Sample of Women with Lifelong and Acquired Vaginismus
Authors: Reissing Elke D.
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Very little information is available on the consultation and treatment histories of women with lifelong and acquired vaginismus.

Aim

This study was conducted to address three areas of interest: first, to collect information on which health care professionals women with acquired and lifelong vaginismus consult and how helpful such consultation were; second, to examine which treatments were typically received and how helpful patients rate such interventions; and third, to explore participants’ causal attributions of the vaginal penetration problems as those are what appear to guide patients towards consulting specific health care professionals as well as affecting the openness towards different interventions.

Methods

An online survey was conducted with 212 participants. Data were analyzed using the responses of 93 women with acquired vaginismus and 75 women with lifelong vaginismus.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcomes were the results of the online survey.

Results

Gynecologists and family doctors were most frequently consulted, but only gynecologists were rated as helpful. Psychologists and sex therapists were also frequently consulted and rated as helpful. Physiotherapists were consulted by fewer women but considered most helpful. Women with lifelong vaginismus were significantly more likely to have received vaginal dilatation, sex education, and Kegel exercises as treatment. Women with acquired vaginismus were more likely to have received pharmacological interventions and to have tried a greater range of interventions. Educational gynecological examinations, talking about the meaning of the penetration problem, vaginal dilatation, and sex education were rated as most helpful interventions. Causal attributions were pain and fear- and disgust-based attributions for women with lifelong vaginismus.

Conclusions

Results highlight the importance of a biopsychosocial conceptualization of and multidisciplinary treatment approach to lifelong and acquired vaginismus.
Vaginismus: Heightened Harm Avoidance and Pain Catastrophizing Cognitions
Authors: Borg Charmaine , Peters Madelon L. , Schultz Willibrord Weijmar , de Jong Peter J.
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Catastrophic appraisal of experienced pain may promote hypervigilance and intense pain, while the personality trait of harm avoidance (HA) might prevent the occurrence of correcting such experiences. Women inflicted with vaginismus may enter a self-perpetuating downward spiral of increasing avoidance of (anticipated) pain. In vaginismus the anticipation of pain may give rise to catastrophic pain ideation. This may establish hypervigilance toward painful sexual stimuli, which consequently results in negative appraisal of sexual cues. This process could impair genital and sexual responding, intensify pain and trigger avoidance, which in turn may contribute to the onset and persistence of symptoms in vaginismus and to certain extent also in dyspareunia.

Aims

To investigate whether women suffering from vaginismus are characterized by heightened levels of habitual pain catastrophic cognitions, together with higher levels of HA.

Methods

This study consisted of three groups: a lifelong vaginismus group (N = 35, mean age = 28.4; standard deviation [SD] = 5.8), a dyspareunia group (N = 33, mean age = 26.7; SD = 6.8), and women without sexual complaints (N = 54, mean age = 26.5; SD = 6.7).

Main Outcome Measures

HA scale of Cloninger’s tridimensional personality questionnaire, and the pain catastrophizing scale.

Results

Specifically women inflicted with vaginismus showed significantly heightened levels of catastrophic pain cognitions compared with the other two groups, as well as significant enhanced HA vs. the control group, and a trend vs. the dyspareunia group. Both traits were shown to have cumulative predictive validity for the presence of vaginismus.

Conclusion

This study focused on the personality traits of catastrophizing pain cognitions and HA in women with lifelong vaginismus. Our findings showed that indeed, women suffering from vaginismus are characterized by trait of HA interwoven with habitual pain catastrophizing cognitions. This study could help in the refinement of the current conceptualization and might shed light on the already available treatment options for women with vaginismus.
10-Year Analysis of Adverse Event Reports to the Food and Drug Administration for Phosphodiesterase Type-5 Inhibitors
Authors: Lowe Gregory , Costabile Raymond A.
Published: October 2011

Introduction

To ensure public safety all Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications undergo postapproval safety analysis. Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors (PDE5-i) are generally regarded as safe and effective.

Aim

We performed a nonindustry-sponsored analysis of FDA reports for sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil to evaluate the reported cardiovascular and mortality events over the past 10 years.

Methods

Summarized reports of adverse events (AEs) for each PDE5-i were requested from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research within the FDA. These data are available under the Freedom of Information Act and document industry and nonindustry reports of AEs entered into the computerized system maintained by the Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology.

Main Outcome Measure

The data were analyzed for the number of AE reports, number of objective cardiovascular events, and reported deaths.

Results

Overall, 14,818 AEs were reported for sildenafil. There were 1,824 (12.3%) reported deaths, and reports of cardiovascular AEs numbered 2,406 (16.2%). Tadalafil was associated with 5,548 AEs and 236 deaths were reported. Vardenafil was associated with 6,085 AEs and 121 reports of deaths. The percentage of reported severe cardiovascular disorders has stabilized at 10% to 15% of all AE reports for sildenafil and tadalafil and 5% to 10% for vardenafil. Only 10% of AE reports sent to the FDA for PDE5-i were from pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Conclusion

Reports of deaths associated with PDE5-i remain around 5% of total reported events. Despite inherent limitations from evaluating FDA reports of AEs, it is important that these reports be reviewed outside pharmaceutical industry support in order to provide due diligence and transparency.
LiSb3O8 as a Prospective Anode Material for Lithium‐ion Battery
Authors: Kundu Manab , Mahanty Sourindra , Basu Rajendra N.
Published: October 2011

Electrochemical properties of LiSb3O8 were investigated as an anode in lithium‐ion coin cells. Li insertion in this material occurs in a single step at ~0.75 V vs Li/Li+, but the corresponding Li extraction takes place in two successive stages at ~1.12 and ~1.4 V. Reversible capacities of 305 and 297 mAh/g could be obtained at 0.1 and 0.2 mA/cm2, respectively, up to 50 cycles.
Primordial magnetic field constraints from the end of reionization
Authors: Schleicher Dominik R. G. , Miniati Francesco
Published: October 2011

Primordial magnetic fields generated in the early Universe are subject of considerable investigation, and observational limits on their strength are required to constrain the theory. Due to their impact on the reionization process, the strength of primordial fields can be limited using the latest data on reionization and the observed UV luminosity function of high-redshift galaxies. Given the steep faint-end slope of the luminosity function, faint galaxies contribute substantial ionizing photons, and the low-luminosity cut-off has an impact on the total budget thereof. Magnetic pressure from primordial fields affects such cut-off by preventing collapse in haloes with mass below 1010 M, with B0 the comoving field strength. In this Letter, the implications of these effects are consistently incorporated in a simplified model for reionization, and the uncertainties due to the cosmological parameters, the reionization parameters and the observed UV luminosity function are addressed. We show that the observed ionization degree at z∼ 7 leads to the strongest upper limit of B0≲ 2–3 nG. Stronger limits could follow from measurements of high ionization degree at z > 7.
Synthesis and Bioactivities of Novel Pyrazole and Triazole Derivatives Containing 5‐Phenyl‐2‐Furan
Authors: Cui Zi‐Ning , Shi Yan‐Xia , Cui Jing‐Rong , Ling Yun , Li Bao‐Ju , Yang Xin‐Ling
Published: October 2011

A series of novel pyrazole and triazole derivatives containing 5‐phenyl‐2‐furan functionality were designed and synthesized. Their toxicities were predicted using in silico assays and proven to be less toxic. The antitumor results showed that the activity of compounds containing 1,3,4‐triazole (series II) was higher than that of pyrazole‐attached derivatives (series I). Among them, IIa and IIg showed much higher activity against Bel‐7402 than doxorubicin. The fungicidal tests showed that most title compounds II exhibited great selectivity against Phytophthora capsici in vivo.
Age differences in risky choice: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Mata Rui , Josef Anika K. , Samanez‐Larkin Gregory R. , Hertwig Ralph
Published: October 2011

Does risk taking change as a function of age? We conducted a systematic literature search and found 29 comparisons between younger and older adults on behavioral tasks thought to measure risk taking (N= 4,093). The reports relied on various tasks differing in several respects, such as the amount of learning required or the choice framing (gains vs. losses). The results suggest that age‐related differences vary considerably as a function of task characteristics, in particular the learning requirements of the task. In decisions from experience, age‐related differences in risk taking were a function of decreased learning performance: older adults were more risk seeking compared to younger adults when learning led to risk‐avoidant behavior, but were more risk averse when learning led to risk‐seeking behavior. In decisions from description, younger adults and older adults showed similar risk‐taking behavior for the majority of the tasks, and there were no clear age‐related differences as a function of gain/loss framing. We discuss limitations and strengths of past research and provide suggestions for future work on age‐related differences in risk taking.
GeoSymbio: a hybrid, cloud‐based web application of global geospatial bioinformatics and ecoinformatics for Symbiodinium–host symbioses
Authors: FRANKLIN ERIK C. , STAT MICHAEL , POCHON XAVIER , PUTNAM HOLLIE M. , GATES RUTH D.
Published: October 2011

The genus Symbiodinium encompasses a group of unicellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellates that are found free living or in hospite with a wide range of marine invertebrate hosts including scleractinian corals. We present GeoSymbio, a hybrid web application that provides an online, easy to use and freely accessible interface for users to discover, explore and utilize global geospatial bioinformatic and ecoinformatic data on Symbiodinium–host symbioses. The novelty of this application lies in the combination of a variety of query and visualization tools, including dynamic searchable maps, data tables with filter and grouping functions, and interactive charts that summarize the data. Importantly, this application is hosted remotely or ‘in the cloud’ using Google Apps, and therefore does not require any specialty GIS, web programming or data programming expertise from the user. The current version of the application utilizes Symbiodinium data based on the ITS2 genetic marker from PCR‐based techniques, including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, sequencing and cloning of specimens collected during 1982–2010. All data elements of the application are also downloadable as spatial files, tables and nucleic acid sequence files in common formats for desktop analysis. The application provides a unique tool set to facilitate research on the basic biology of Symbiodinium and expedite new insights into their ecology, biogeography and evolution in the face of a changing global climate. GeoSymbio can be accessed at https://sites.google.com/site/geosymbio/.
Evaluation of two approaches to genotyping major histocompatibility complex class I in a passerine—CE‐SSCP and 454 pyrosequencing
Authors: PROMEROVÁ MARTA , BABIK WIESŁAW , BRYJA JOSEF , ALBRECHT TOMÁŠ , STUGLIK MICHAŁ , RADWAN JACEK
Published: October 2011

Genes of the highly dynamic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are directly linked to individual fitness and are of high interest in evolutionary ecology and conservation genetics. Gene duplication and positive selection usually lead to high levels of polymorphism in the MHC region, making genotyping of MHC a challenging task. Here, we compare the performance of two methods for MHC class I genotyping in a passerine with highly duplicated MHC class I genes: capillary electrophoresis‐single‐strand conformation polymorphism (CE‐SSCP) analysis and 454 GS FLX Titanium pyrosequencing. According to our findings, the number of MHC variants (called alleles for simplicity) detected by CE‐SSCP is significantly lower than detected by 454. To resolve discrepancies between the two methods, we cloned and Sanger sequenced a MHC class I amplicon for an individual with high number of alleles. We found a perfect congruence between cloning/Sanger sequencing results and 454. Thus, in case of multi‐locus amplification, CE‐SSCP considerably underestimates individual MHC diversity. However, numbers of alleles detected by both methods are significantly correlated, although the correlation is weak (r = 0.32). Thus, in systems with highly duplicated MHC, 454 provides more reliable information on individual diversity than CE‐SSCP.
Learning From the Body About the Mind
Authors: Riley Michael A. , Shockley Kevin , Van Orden Guy
Published: October 2011

In some areas of cognitive science we are confronted with ultrafast cognition, exquisite context sensitivity, and scale‐free variation in measured cognitive activities. To move forward, we suggest a need to embrace this complexity, equipping cognitive science with tools and concepts used in the study of complex dynamical systems. The science of movement coordination has benefited already from this change, successfully circumventing analogous paradoxes by treating human activities as phenomena of self‐organization. Therein, action and cognition are seen to be emergent in ultrafast symmetry breaking across the brain and body; exquisitely constituted of the otherwise trivial details of history, context, and environment; and exhibiting the characteristic scale‐free signature of self‐organization.
Abstract Concepts Require Concrete Models: Why Cognitive Scientists Have Not Yet Embraced Nonlinearly Coupled, Dynamical, Self‐Organized Critical, Synergistic, Scale‐Free, Exquisitely Context‐Sensitive, Interaction‐Dominant, Multifractal, Interdependent Brain‐Body‐Niche Systems
Authors: Wagenmakers Eric‐Jan , van der Maas Han L. J. , Farrell Simon
Published: October 2011

After more than 15 years of study, the 1/f noise or complex‐systems approach to cognitive science has delivered promises of progress, colorful verbiage, and statistical analyses of phenomena whose relevance for cognition remains unclear. What the complex‐systems approach has arguably failed to deliver are concrete insights about how people perceive, think, decide, and act. Without formal models that implement the proposed abstract concepts, the complex‐systems approach to cognitive science runs the danger of becoming a philosophical exercise in futility. The complex‐systems approach can be informative and innovative, but only if it is implemented as a formal model that allows concrete prediction, falsification, and comparison against more traditional approaches.