bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vascular and Chronological Age in Men with Erectile Dysfunction: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Rastrelli Giulia , Corona Giovanni , Mannucci Edoardo , Maggi Mario 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Impaired penile color Doppler ultrasound predicts major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE), particularly in men at low-risk. However, penile color Doppler ultrasound is not recommended in routine clinical checkups.

Aim
To evaluate whether the difference between vascular and chronological age (Δage), as derived from the SCORE algorithm, is a predictor of MACE in subjects consulting for erectile dysfunction (ED) independently from other CV risk factors, including penile color Doppler ultrasound parameters.

Methods
A consecutive series of 1687 male patients attending the Outpatient Clinic for ED for the first time was retrospectively studied. Among them, the SCORE was applicable in 49.9% (n = 841) men, of whom 87.9% (n = 739) were free from previous MACE and were analyzed.

Main Outcome Measures
Vascular age was derived from the SCORE algorithm and the Δage was considered. Information on MACE was obtained through the City of Florence Registry Office.
MACE were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, and fatal and nonfatal MACE were coded as 410–414 (ischemic heart disease), 420–429 (other heart diseases), or 798–799 (sudden death from cardiac diseases), 430–434 or 436–438 (cerebrovascular disease), and 440 (peripheral arterial disease).

Results
Δage was associated with incident MACE. When dividing the population according to the median age (56 years), family history of CV diseases, and the presence of metabolic syndrome, the association between Δage and MACE was maintained only in low-risk subjects, even after adjusting for confounders [HR = 1.09(1.03–1.16), 1.05(1.01–1.10) and 1.08(1.01–1.16) for younger men, without CV family history or metabolic syndrome, respectively, all P &lt; .05], including penile color Doppler ultrasound parameters.

Conclusion
In subjects consulting for ED, Δage is associated with incident MACE, in particular in low-risk men. The prediction of MACE by Δage is independent from other risk factors including penile color Doppler ultrasound parameters, so it can be used as a costless and safe surrogate marker of penile vascular damage.
Androgens and Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction—Findings From the Fourth International Consultation of Sexual Medicine
Authors: Davis Susan R. , Worsley Roisin , Miller Karen K. , Parish Sharon J. , Santoro Nanette 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Androgens have been implicated as important for female sexual function and dysfunction.

Aim
To review the role of androgens in the physiology and pathophysiology of female sexual functioning and the evidence for efficacy of androgen therapy for female sexual dysfunction (FSD).

Methods
We searched the literature using online databases for studies pertaining to androgens and female sexual function. Major reviews were included and their findings were summarized to avoid replicating their content.

Main Outcome Measures
Quality of data published in the literature and recommendations were based on the GRADES system.

Results
The literature supports an important role for androgens in female sexual function. There is no blood androgen level below which women can be classified as having androgen deficiency. Clinical trials have consistently demonstrated that transdermal testosterone (T) therapy improves sexual function and sexual satisfaction in women who have been assessed as having hypoactive sexual desire disorder. The use of T therapy is limited by the lack of approved formulations for women and long-term safety data. Most studies do not support the use of systemic dehydroepiandrosterone therapy for the treatment of FSD in women with normally functioning adrenals or adrenal insufficiency. Studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of vaginal testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy are ongoing.

Conclusion
Available data support an important role of androgens in female sexual function and dysfunction and efficacy of transdermal T therapy for the treatment of some women with FSD. Approved T formulations for women are generally unavailable. In consequence, the prescribing of T mostly involves off-label use of T products formulated for men and individually compounded T formulations. Long-term studies to determine the safety of T therapy for women and possible benefits beyond that of sexual function are greatly needed.
Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Women and Men: A Consensus Statement from the Fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine 2015
Authors: McCabe Marita P. , Sharlip Ira D. , Lewis Ron , Atalla Elham , Balon Richard , Fisher Alessandra D. , Laumann Edward , Lee Sun Won , Segraves Robert T. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT

Introduction
The incidence and prevalence of various sexual dysfunctions in women and men are important to understand to designate priorities for epidemiologic and clinical research.

Aim
This manuscript was designed to conduct a review of the literature to determine the incidence and prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women and men.

Methods
Members of Committee 1 of the Fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (2015) searched and reviewed epidemiologic literature on the incidence and prevalence of sexual dysfunctions. Key older studies and most studies published after 2009 were included in the text of this article.

Main Outcome Measures
The outcome measures were the reports in the various studies of the incidence and prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women and men.

Results
There are more studies on incidence and prevalence for men than for women and many more studies on prevalence than incidence for women and men. The data indicate that the most frequent sexual dysfunctions for women are desire and arousal dysfunctions. In addition, there is a large proportion of women who experience multiple sexual dysfunctions. For men, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction are the most common sexual dysfunctions, with less comorbidity across sexual dysfunctions for men compared with women.

Conclusion
These data need to be treated with caution, because there is a high level of variability across studies caused by methodologic differences in the instruments used to assess presence of sexual dysfunction, ages of samples, nature of samples, methodology used to gather the data, and cultural differences. Future research needs to use well-validated tools to gather data and ensure that the data collection strategy is clearly described.
DEFINING THE INTERNATIONAL RULE OF LAW: DEFYING GRAVITY?
Authors: McCorquodale Robert 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThis article aims to offer a definition of the international rule of law. It does this through clarifying the core objectives of a rule of law and examining whether the international system could include them. It demonstrates that there can be a definition of the international rule of law that can be applied to the international system. This definition of the international rule of law is not dependent on a simplistic application of a national rule of law, as it takes into account the significant differences between national and international legal systems. It seeks to show that the international rule of law is relative, rather than absolute, in its application, is not tied to the operation of the substance of international law itself, and it can apply to states, international organizations and non-state actors. It goes further to show that the international rule of law does exist and can be applied internationally, even if it is not yet fully actualized.
Nasal function and dysfunction in exercise
Authors: Walker A , Surda P , Rossiter M , Little S 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackground:There have been recent advances in our appreciation of the functional complementarity of the upper and lower airways. The unified airway begins at the nose: rather than acting merely as a conduit for air to the lungs, the nose and nasal cavity perform an important role in filtering, humidification and immune surveillance.Methods:The physiological and pathological responses of the nasal cavity to exercise and regular training are examined in this narrative review, with specific reference to the relation of nasal health to quality of life, lower airway health and upper respiratory tract infections. Relevant literature is examined and placed in clinical context.Results:There is considerable published evidence to support nasal dysfunction associated with exercise, and a link to lower airway dysfunction. Evidence also supports the role of upper and lower airway dysfunction in the development of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.Conclusion:Nasal dysfunction in exercise may be a source of considerable morbidity to the regular exerciser, and further research into exercise-induced rhinitis is recommended.
Digenean parasites of deep-sea teleosts: a review and case studies of intrageneric phylogenies
Authors: Bray R. A. , Littlewood D. T. J. , Herniou E. A. , Williams B. , Henderson R. E. 
Published: February 2016

SUMMARYStudies on the digenean parasites of deep-sea (> 200 m depth) teleosts are reviewed and two case study generic phylogenies are presented based on LSU rDNA and ND1 mtDNA sequences. The phylogeny of the lepocreadiid genusLepidapedon, the most common deep-sea digenean genus, is not clearly resolved as the two gene trees are not compatible. It can be inferred, however, that the genus has radiated in the deeper waters off the continental shelf, mainly in fishes of the gadiform family Macrouridae.Steringophorus, a fellodistomid genus, is better resolved. In this case a deep-sea radiation is also indicated, but the pattern of host-specificity is not clear, with evidence of much host-switching. Results of studies of the parasites of the macrourid fishCoryphaenoides (Nematomirus) armatusfrom various depths have reinforced recent views on the lack of zoned depth-related communities in the deep-sea. The diversity of deep-sea digeneans is relatively low with only 18 families (of about 60) reported. Little, or nothing, is known from most deep-sea areas and nothing from trenches and mid-ocean ridge systems.
Effects of salinity and temperature on in vitro cell cycle and proliferation of Perkinsus marinus from Brazil
Authors: QUEIROGA FERNANDO RAMOS , MARQUES-SANTOS LUIS FERNANDO , DE MEDEIROS ISAC ALMEIDA , DA SILVA PATRÍCIA MIRELLA 
Published: February 2016

SUMMARYField and in vitro studies have shown that high salinities and temperatures promote the proliferation and dissemination of Perkinsus marinus in several environments. In Brazil, the parasite infects native oysters Crassostrea gasar and Crassostrea rhizophorae in the Northeast (NE), where the temperature is high throughout the year. Despite the high prevalence of Perkinsus spp. infection in oysters from the NE of Brazil, no mortality events were reported by oyster farmers to date. The present study evaluated the effects of salinity (5, 20 and 35 psu) and temperature (15, 25 and 35 °C) on in vitro proliferation of P. marinus isolated from a host (C. rhizophorae) in Brazil, for a period of up to 15 days and after the return to the control conditions (22 days; recovery). Different cellular parameters (changes of cell phase's composition, cell density, viability and production of reactive oxygen species) were analysed using flow cytometry. The results indicate that the P. marinus isolate was sensitive to the extreme salinities and temperatures analysed. Only the highest temperature caused lasting cell damage under prolonged exposure, impairing P. marinus recovery, which is likely to be associated with oxidative stress. These findings will contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of perkinsiosis in tropical regions.
Toxocara canis: anthelmintic activity of quinone derivatives in murine toxocarosis
Authors: MATA-SANTOS T. , MATA-SANTOS H. A. , CARNEIRO P. F. , DE MOURA K. C. G. , FENALTI J. M. , KLAFKE G. B. , CRUZ L. A. X. , MARTINS L. H. R. , PINTO N. F. , PINTO M. C. F. R. , BERNE M. E. A. , DA SILVA P. E. A. , SCAINI C. J. 
Published: February 2016

SUMMARYHuman toxocarosis is a chronic tissue parasitosis most often caused byToxocara canis.The seroprevalence can reach up to 50%, especially among children and adolescents. The anthelmintics used in the treatment have moderate efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate thein vitroandin vivoanthelmintic activity of quinones and their derivatives againstT. canislarvae and the cytotoxicity of the larvicidal compounds. The compounds were evaluated at 1 mg mL−1concentration in microculture plates containing third stage larvae in an Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 environment, incubated at 37 °C in 5% CO2tension for 48 h. Five naphthoxiranes were selected for the cytotoxicity analysis. The cell viability evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays using murine peritoneal macrophages isolated from C57BL/6 mice revealed that the naphthoxiranes (1and3) were less cytotoxic at a concentration of 0·05 mg mL−1. The efficacy of naphthoxiranes (1and3) was examined in murine toxocarosis also. The anthelmintic activity was examined by evaluating the number of larvae in the brain, carcass, liver, lungs, heart, kidneys and eyes. Compound (3) demonstrated anthelmintic activity similar to that of albendazole by decreasing the number of larvae in the organs of mice and thus could form the basis of the development of a new anthelmintic drug.
Cancer and life-history traits: lessons from host–parasite interactions
Authors: UJVARI BEATA , BECKMANN CHRISTA , BIRO PETER A. , ARNAL AUDREY , TASIEMSKI AURELIE , MASSOL FRANCOIS , SALZET MICHEL , MERY FREDERIC , BOIDIN-WICHLACZ CELINE , MISSE DOROTHEE , RENAUD FRANCOIS , VITTECOQ MARION , TISSOT TAZZIO , ROCHE BENJAMIN , POULIN ROBERT , THOMAS FREDERIC 
Published: February 2016

SUMMARYDespite important differences between infectious diseases and cancers, tumour development (neoplasia) can nonetheless be closely compared to infectious disease because of the similarity of their effects on the body. On this basis, we predict that many of the life-history (LH) responses observed in the context of host–parasite interactions should also be relevant in the context of cancer. Parasites are thought to affect LH traits of their hosts because of strong selective pressures like direct and indirect mortality effects favouring, for example, early maturation and reproduction. Cancer can similarly also affect LH traits by imposing direct costs and/or indirectly by triggering plastic adjustments and evolutionary responses. Here, we discuss how and why a LH focus is a potentially productive but under-exploited research direction for cancer research, by focusing our attention on similarities between infectious disease and cancer with respect to their effects on LH traits and their evolution. We raise the possibility that LH adjustments can occur in response to cancer via maternal/paternal effects and that these changes can be heritable to (adaptively) modify the LH traits of their offspring. We conclude that LH adjustments can potentially influence the transgenerational persistence of inherited oncogenic mutations in populations.
A numerical study of ponderomotive ion acceleration in a dense plasma driven by a circularly polarized high-intensity laser beam normally incident on thin foils
Authors: Shoucri Magdi , Vidal François , Matte Jean-Pierre 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe use an Eulerian Vlasov code to study the efficient ion acceleration in dense targets by the ponderomotive force of a high-intensity circularly polarized laser beam, normally incident on a dense plasma. The code solves the one-dimensional relativistic Vlasov–Maxwell equations for both electrons and ions. We follow in details the mechanism of formation and evolution of a double-layer structure, where electrons are pushed steadily in the forward direction by the ponderomotive force of the laser beam, trapping an ion population, while an induced space charge electric field pulls ions behind them, forming a double-layer structure supported by the strong ponderomotive pressure of the intense laser beam. We consider the case of a high-density deuterium plasma with n/ncr = 100, where ncr is the critical density. Three cases are studied, by varying the width of the dense target and the intensity of the laser beam (with the normalized vector potential or quiver momentum a0 = 50 and a0 = 100), to follow the physical processes involved in the ion acceleration and the final formation of a neutral plasma jet ejected from the back of the target. We follow the transition from a situation where the laser pulse radiation pressure is acting on the double layer in the target, to a situation where below a given thickness a fraction of the laser energy is transmitted through the target. The absence of noise in the Eulerian Vlasov code allows us to follow accurately the evolution of the phase-space structures of the distribution functions.
Study of crossed-beam energy transfer process with large crossing angle in three-dimension
Authors: Hao L. , Hu X. Y. , Zheng C. Y. , Li B. , Xiang J. , Liu Z. J. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) model as a new module of LAP3D code is presented to study the crossed-beam energy transfer (CBET) process. This model is not limited by the paraxial approximation and can be used to deal with a large crossing angle case. Besides, this model is also appropriate for the multi-ion species conditions and even multi-beams problems, which will be very helpful in relevant experiment analysis and the target design. In our 3D simulations, we take the overlapped beams with a 60° crossing angle as an example, and observe obvious energy transfer process, which indicates CBET process might occur between the incident laser beams with a large crossing angle when the matching condition is satisfied. This large crossing angle CBET process also can change the spatial shape of the beam spot, and may have some potential important influence on other laser–plasma interaction instabilities and the energy symmetry in hohlraum.
Consciousness and Cell Memory: A Dynamic Epigenetic Interrelationship
Authors: Hudson Arthur J. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT:There have been great advances in the neurological sciences in recent years including some in the higher functions of the brain such as memory but one of the more critical of these with close ties to memory is consciousness which remains an enigma. Revolutionary developments in genetics during the last two decades, referred to as epigenetics, have provided opportunity for discovery. The chromatin in the cell nucleus consists mainly of DNA nucleotides and histone proteins and the DNA is dynamically and epigenetically altered by the local actions of enzymes and trans-acting factors on the adjacent histone amino acids. DNA is also directly activated or inhibited by methyl groups and by non-coding RNAs. Epigenetics is a determinant in long-term cell memory consolidation and, as recently demonstrated in animal and human studies and described here, these effects enable a rapid and extraordinarily complex cognitive matching of cell memory to experience during consciousness.
Rabies in the Critical Care Unit: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Jackson Alan C. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT:Worldwide, human rabies is prevalent where there is endemic dog rabies, but the disease may present unexpectedly in critical care units when suggestive clinical features have passed. In North America transmission from bats is most common and there is often no history of a bat bite or even contact with bats. Laboratory diagnostic evaluation for rabies includes serology plus skin biopsy, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva specimens for rabies virus antigen and/or RNA detection. Rare patients have survived rabies, and most received rabies vaccine prior to the onset of illness. Therapeutic coma (midazolam and phenobarbital), ketamine, and antiviral therapies (dubbed the "Milwaukee Protocol") were given to a rabies survivor, but this therapy was likely not directly responsible for the favorable outcome. There have been many subsequent failures of similar therapeutic approaches. There is no scientific rationale for the use of therapeutic coma in human rabies. New approaches to treating human rabies need to be developed.
Impact of the Cognitive Status on the Memory Complaints in MS Patients
Authors: Demers M. , Rouleau I. , Scherze P. , Ouellet J. , Jobin C. , Duquette P. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT:Objective:Despite the evidence of cognitive deficits in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, evaluation of their cognitive integrity is often limited to the use of clinical interviews and questionnaires. However, the consensus in the literature is that these patients under- or overestimate their deficits and repercussions. The objective of this study was to clarify why some patients overestimate while others underestimate their memory deficits.Method:Fifty-four participants (30 MS, 24 controls) completed the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and were tested on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Based on the test results, MS patients were categorized as having either mild or moderate/severe cognitive deficits.Results:The moderate/severe MS group differed from the two other groups on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) but did not differ from the control group on the PRMQ. Conversely, the mild MS group did not differ from the control group on the RAVLT but did report significantly more problems than this group on the PRMQ. There was no difference between the two clinical groups on the Depression Index (Beck) but there was a significant correlation (r=.409) between the depression scores and the overestimation of prospective memory problems (PRMQ).Conclusion:The results explain the contradiction in the literature. It is the mild group who overestimates, maybe because they are overly concerned by their deficits, whereas the cognitive impairments of the moderate/severe group lead them to underestimate and may make their self-assessment unreliable. Formal testing or information from a significant other would be advisable.