bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Female Sexual Function Index: Translation and Validation of an Iranian Version
Authors: Fakhri Ahmad , Pakpour Amir H. , Burri Andrea , Morshedi Hadi , Zeidi Isa Mohammadi 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent problem in the female population in Iran. A subjective assessment instrument that allows cross-cultural comparison of FSD is urgently needed.

Aim
The aims of the study were to translate, validate, and enhance cross-cultural comparability of an Iranian version (IV) of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)—the IV-FSFI.

Methods
A total of 448 women (19–54 years, mean 29.7, standard deviation 7.3) from five different Iranian outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinics were eligible for this study. The IV-FSFI was developed through forward and backward translation, revision by a research team, and a subsequent pilot study. After an interview for clinical diagnosis of FSD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, all participants completed the IV-FSFI for the validation study. Three hundred sixty-two women completed the IV-FSFI again, 4 weeks after the first visit.

Main Outcome Measures
Test–retest reliability was determined by Pearson’s product-moment correlations. Reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Construct validity was evaluated by principal component analysis using varimax rotation and by subsequent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Discriminant validity was assessed with between-groups analysis of variance.

Results
The overall test–retest reliability coefficients were high for each domain of the IV-FSFI (r ranging from 0.73 to 0.86) and the internal consistencies within the acceptable range (α from 0.72 to 0.90). Principal component analysis with varimax rotation revealed a best fitting five-factor structure similar to the original FSFI (χ2 = 2.1, degree of freedom = 17, P &lt; 0.001). CFA confirmed the underlying domain structure, supporting the factorial validity of the IV-FSFI.

Conclusions
In conclusion, the newly developed IV-FSFI has demonstrated to be a reliable and valid instrument with good psychometric properties that allows a quick and accurate preliminary screening of women with unknown sexual health status in clinics and other medical settings.
Exercise is Associated with Better Erectile Function in Men Under 40 as Evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Function
Authors: Hsiao Wayland , Shrewsberry Adam B. , Moses Kelvin A. , Johnson Timothy V. , Cai Amanda W. , Stuhldreher Peter , Dusseault Beau , Ritenour Chad W.M. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Studies have shown an association between erectile dysfunction and sedentary lifestyle in middle-aged men, with a direct correlation between increased physical activity and improved erectile function. Whether or not this relationship is present in young, healthy men has yet to be demonstrated.

Aim
The aim of this study was to assess the association between physical activity and erectile function in young, healthy men.

Main Outcome Measures
The primary end points for our study were: (i) differences in baseline scores of greater than one point per question for the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF); (ii) differences in baseline scores of greater than one point per question for each domain of the IIEF; (iii) exercise energy expenditure; and (iv) predictors of dysfunction as seen on the IIEF.

Methods
The participants were men between the ages of 18 and 40 years old at an academic urology practice. Patients self-administered the Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire and the IIEF. Patients were stratified by physical activity into two groups: a sedentary group (≤1,400 calories/week) and an active group (&gt;1,400 calories/week). Men presenting for the primary reason of erectile dysfunction or Peyronie’s disease were excluded.

Results
Seventy-eight patients had complete information in this study: 27 patients (34.6%) in the sedentary group (≤1,400 kcal/week) and 51 patients (65.4%) in the active group (&gt;1,400 kcal/week). Sedentary lifestyle was associated with increased dysfunction in the following domains of the IIEF: erectile function (44.4% vs. 21.6%, P = 0.04), orgasm function (44.4% vs. 17.7%, P = 0.01), intercourse satisfaction (59.3% vs. 35.3%, P = 0.04), and overall satisfaction (63.0% vs. 35.3%, P = 0.02). There was a trend toward more dysfunction in the sedentary group for total score on the IIEF (44.4% vs. 23.5%, P = 0.057), while sexual desire domain scores were similar in both groups (51.9% vs. 41.2%, P = 0.37).

Conclusions
We have demonstrated that increased physical activity is associated with better sexual function measured by a validated questionnaire in a young, healthy population. Further studies are needed on the long-term effects of exercise, or lack thereof, on erectile function as these men age.
School‐Related Assets and Youth Risk Behaviors: Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Activity
Authors: Aspy Cheryl B. , Vesely Sara K. , Oman Roy F. , Tolma Eleni , Rodine Sharon , Marshall LaDonna , Fluhr Janene 
Published: December 2011

BACKGROUND: Two risk behaviors, alcohol consumption and early initiation of sexual intercourse (ISI), can have devastating consequences for youth. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of school connectedness and school‐related behaviors (eg, academic performance, skipping school, getting into trouble at school) with these 2 risk behaviors.METHODS: The Youth Asset Survey (YAS) was administered to 1117 youth/parent pairs in their homes using Computer‐Assisted Personal/Self‐Interviewing (CAPI/CASI). The YAS measures 17 youth assets and risk behaviors including alcohol consumption and sexual activity.RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 14.3 years; 53% were female; and 70% were from 2‐parent homes. Five school‐related behaviors were positively associated with no ISI. Four school‐related behaviors were positively associated with reporting no alcohol consumption in the past 30 days, including the School Connectedness asset (only among 12‐ to 13‐year‐olds), not skipping school (only among non‐Hispanic Caucasians), staying out of trouble, and paying attention.CONCLUSIONS: School is very much a part of the lives of youth and therefore the relationship they have with their school experience is important and may influence their involvement in risk behaviors. Feeling connected to school is a positive asset that can protect youth from such risky behaviors as sexual initiation and alcohol consumption.
Evaluating the effects of climate change on the water resources for the city of Birmingham, UK
Authors: Warren Andrew J. , Holman Ian P. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractClimate change is expected to affect precipitation patterns and may therefore impact upon water resource availability. The city of Birmingham in central England receives its public water supply from a catchment in the Elan Valley, mid‐Wales. Baseline and future climate projections generated from a stochastic weather generator within the United Kingdom Climate Projections 2009 and a daily soil water balance model (WaSim) were used to determine the potential impacts of climate change on hydrologically effective rainfall (HER). Annual HER is likely to decrease from baseline conditions (> 90% likelihood that HER will be reduced), with more frequent and persistent very dry spells and increasing seasonality. It is concluded that climate change will put additional stress on water resources for the city of Birmingham so that, coupled with expected increases in demand, adaptation measures to increase supply and/or reduce demand are likely to be needed.
Cytokines and growth factors modify the upregulation of contractile endothelinETAandETBreceptors in rat cerebral arteries after organ culture
Authors: Ahnstedt H. , Stenman E. , Cao L. , Henriksson M. , Edvinsson L. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAim:Experimental cerebral ischaemia and organ culture of cerebral arteries induce an increased endothelinETBreceptor–mediated contraction. The aim of this study was to examine whether cytokines and growth factors, known to be activated in ischaemia, can influence the expression and function of endothelin receptors after organ culture.Methods:Rat middle cerebral arteries were cultured for 24 h at 37 °C in humidified 5% CO2and air in culture medium alone, or with tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Concentration–response curves were obtained for sarafotoxin 6c (ETBreceptor agonist) and endothelin‐1 (hereETAreceptor agonist, because ofETBreceptor desensitization). The receptormRNAexpression was examined by real‐timePCRand the protein expression by immunohistochemistry andWestern blot.Results:Tumour necrosis factor‐α (100 ng mL−1) andEGF(20 ng mL−1) potentiated theETBreceptor–mediated contraction (increase inpEC50without change inEmax).bFGF(10 ng mL−1) and IL‐1β (10 ng mL−1) induced an enhancedETAreceptor–mediated contraction.bFGF(10 ng mL−1) significantly increased theETBmRNAlevel, andEGF(20 ng mL−1) increased theETAreceptor protein. IncreasedETBreceptormRNAand protein level also were observed after treatment withIL‐1β (10 ng mL−1).Conclusion:This study shows thatTNF‐α,IL‐1β,EGFandbFGFcan modify the expression and function of endothelin receptors during organ culture. Because there is similar receptor upregulation in experimental stroke, the effect of cytokines and growth factors on endothelin receptor upregulation is an interesting aspect to studyin vivo.
Elevated expression of Rad18 regulates melanoma cell proliferation
Authors: Wong Ronald P.C. , Aguissa‐Touré Almass‐houd , Wani Aijaz A. , Khosravi Shahram , Martinka Michal , Martinka Magdalena , Li Gang 
Published: December 2011

SummaryThe E3 ligase Rad18 is a key regulator for the lesion bypass pathway, which plays an important role in genomic stability. However, the status of Rad18 expression in melanoma is not known. Using melanoma tissue microarray (TMA), we showed that nuclear Rad18 expression was upregulated in primary and metastatic melanoma compared to dysplastic nevi. Rad18 expression was significantly reduced in sun‐exposed sites compared to the sun‐protected sites. Strong Rad18 expression correlated with worse 5‐year patient survival and was an independent prognostic factor for melanoma found in the sun‐protected sites. Furthermore, we showed that melanoma cell proliferation and the expression of pAkt and cyclin D1 were reduced upon Rad18 knockdown. We, for the first time, showed that Rad18 is significantly increased in melanoma and predicts the poor outcome for melanoma in the sun‐protected sites. Rad18 is involved in the regulation of melanoma cell proliferation, which can be exploited in designing new strategy for melanoma treatment.
Effects of temperature, illumination and node position on stem propagation of Miscanthus × giganteus
Authors: Boersma Nicholas N. , Heaton Emily A. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe sterile triploid Miscanthus × giganteus is capable of yielding more biomass per unit land area than most other temperate crops. Although the yield potential of M. × giganteus is high, sterility requires all propagation of the plant to be done vegetatively. The traditional rhizome propagation system achieves relatively low multiplication rates, i.e. the number of new plants generated from a single‐parent plant, and requires tillage that leaves soil vulnerable to CO2 and erosion losses. A stem‐based propagation system is used in related crops like sugarcane, and may prove a viable alternative, but the environmental conditions required for shoot initiation from stems of M. × giganteus are unknown. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of temperature, illumination and node position on emergence of M. × giganteus shoots. Stems of M. × giganteus were cut into segments with a single node each, placed in controlled environments under varied soil temperature or light regimes and the number of emerged shoots were evaluated daily for 21 days. At temperatures of 20 and 25 °C, rhizomes produced significantly more shoots than did stem segments (P = 0.0105 and 0.0594, respectively), but the difference was not significant at 30 °C, where 63% of stems produced shoots compared to 80% of rhizomes (P = 0.2037). There was a strong positive effect (P = 0.0086) of soil temperature on emergence in the range of temperatures studied here (15–30 °C). Node positions higher on the stem were less likely to emerge (P < 0.0001) with a significant interaction between illumination and node position. Planting the lowest five nodes from stems of M. × giganteus in 30 °C soil in the light resulted in 75% emergence, which represents a potential multiplication rate 10–12 times greater than that of the current rhizome‐based system.
E1210, a New Broad-Spectrum Antifungal, Suppresses Candida albicans Hyphal Growth through Inhibition of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Biosynthesis
Authors: Watanabe Nao-aki , Miyazaki Mamiko , Horii Takaaki , Sagane Koji , Tsukahara Kappei , Hata Katsura 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Continued research toward the development of new antifungals that act via inhibition of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis led to the design of E1210. In this study, we assessed the selectivity of the inhibitory activity of E1210 against
Candida albicans
GWT1
(Orf19.6884) protein,
Aspergillus fumigatus
GWT1
(AFUA_1G14870) protein, and human
PIG-W
protein, which can catalyze the inositol acylation of GPI early in the GPI biosynthesis pathway, and then we assessed the effects of E1210 on key
C. albicans
virulence factors. E1210 inhibited the inositol acylation activity of
C. albicans
Gwt1p and
A. fumigatus
Gwt1p with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
s) of 0.3 to 0.6 μM but had no inhibitory activity against human Pig-Wp even at concentrations as high as 100 μM. To confirm the inhibition of fungal GPI biosynthesis, expression of
ALS1
protein, a GPI-anchored protein, on the surfaces of
C. albicans
cells treated with E1210 was studied and shown to be significantly lower than that on untreated cells. However, the
ALS1
protein levels in the crude extract and the
RHO1
protein levels on the cell surface were found to be almost the same. Furthermore, E1210 inhibited germ tube formation, adherence to polystyrene surfaces, and biofilm formation of
C. albicans
at concentrations above its MIC. These results suggested that E1210 selectively inhibited inositol acylation of fungus-specific GPI which would be catalyzed by Gwt1p, leading to the inhibition of GPI-anchored protein maturation, and also that E1210 suppressed the expression of some important virulence factors of
C. albicans
, through its GPI biosynthesis inhibition.
Pharmacological and Patient-Specific Response Determinants in Patients with Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Treated with Tigecycline
Authors: Bhavnani Sujata M. , Rubino Christopher M. , Hammel Jeffrey P. , Forrest Alan , Dartois Nathalie , Cooper C. Angel , Korth-Bradley Joan , Ambrose Paul G. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Pharmacokinetic and clinical data from tigecycline-treated patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) who were enrolled in a phase 3 clinical trial were integrated in order to evaluate pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) relationships for efficacy. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with clinical and microbiological responses, based on data from 61 evaluable HAP patients who received tigecycline intravenously as a 100-mg loading dose followed by 50 mg every 12 h for a minimum of 7 days and for whom there were adequate clinical, pharmacokinetic, and response data. The final multivariable logistic regression model for clinical response contained albumin and the ratio of the free-drug area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (
f
AUC
0–24
) to the MIC (
f
AUC
0–24
:MIC ratio). The odds of clinical success were 13.0 times higher for every 1-g/dl increase in albumin (
P
< 0.001) and 8.42 times higher for patients with
f
AUC
0–24
:MIC ratios of ≥0.9 compared to patients with
f
AUC
0–24
:MIC ratios of <0.9 (
P
= 0.008). Average model-estimated probabilities of clinical success for the albumin/
f
AUC
0–24
:MIC ratio combinations of <2.6/<0.9, <2.6/≥0.9, ≥2.6/<0.9, and ≥2.6/≥0.9 were 0.21, 0.57, 0.64, and 0.93, respectively. For microbiological response, the final model contained albumin and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) status. The odds of microbiological success were 21.0 times higher for every 1-g/dl increase in albumin (
P
< 0.001) and 8.59 times higher for patients without VAP compared to those with VAP (
P
= 0.003). Among the remaining variables evaluated, the MIC had the greatest statistical significance, an observation which was not surprising given the differences in MIC distributions between VAP and non-VAP patients (MIC
50
and MIC
90
values of 0.5 and 0.25 mg/liter versus 16 and 1 mg/liter for VAP versus non-VAP patients, respectively;
P
= 0.006). These findings demonstrated the impact of pharmacological and patient-specific factors on the clinical and microbiological responses.
Correlation of the Virological Response to Short-Term Maraviroc Monotherapy with Standard and Deep-Sequencing-Based Genotypic Tropism Prediction Methods
Authors: Gonzalez-Serna A. , McGovern R. A. , Harrigan P. R. , Vidal F. , Poon A. F. Y. , Ferrando-Martinez S. , Abad M. A. , Genebat M. , Leal M. , Ruiz-Mateos E. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Genotypic tropism testing methods are emerging as the first step before prescription of the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc (MVC) to HIV-infected patients in Europe. Studies validating genotypic tests have included other active drugs that could have potentially convoluted the effects of MVC. The maraviroc clinical test (MCT) is an
in vivo
drug sensitivity test based on the virological response to a short-term exposure to MVC monotherapy. Thus, our aim was to compare the results of genotypic tropism testing methods with the short-term virological response to MVC monotherapy. A virological response in the MCT was defined as a ≥1-log
10
decrease in HIV RNA or undetectability after 8 days of drug exposure. Seventy-three patients undergoing the MCT were included in this study. We used both standard genotypic methods (
n
= 73) and deep sequencing (
n
= 27) on MCT samples at baseline. For the standard methods, the most widely used genotypic algorithms for analyzing the V3 loop sequence, geno2pheno and PSSM, were used. For deep sequencing, the geno2pheno algorithm was used with a false-positive rate cutoff of 3.5. The discordance rates between the standard genotypic methods and the virological response were approximately 20% (including mostly patients without a virological response). Interestingly, these discordance rates were similar to that obtained from deep sequencing (18.5%). The discordance rates between the genotypic methods (tropism assays predictive of the use of the CCR5 coreceptor) and the MCT (
in vivo
MVC sensitivity assay) indicate that the algorithms used by genotypic methods are still not sufficiently optimized.
Lsr2 Peptides of Mycobacterium leprae Show Hierarchical Responses in Lymphoproliferative Assays, with Selective Recognition by Patients with Anergic Lepromatous Leprosy
Authors: Chaduvula Mehervani , Murtaza A. , Misra Namita , Narayan N. P. Shankar , Ramesh V. , Prasad H. K. , Rani Rajni , Chinnadurai R. K. , Nath Indira 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTLsr2 protein ofMycobacterium lepraewas shown earlier to elicit B and T cell responses in leprosy patients (20, 28). Lymphoproliferation toM. lepraeand Lsr2 antigens was observed in >70% of tuberculoid (T) patients and in 16 and 34% of lepromatous (L) patients, respectively. We focused on theM. lepraenonresponders in the lepromatous group using 22 synthetic Lsr2 peptides (end-to-end peptides A to F and overlapping peptides p1 to p16) inin vitroT cell responses. A total of 125 leprosy and 13 tuberculosis patients and 19 healthy controls from the area of endemicity (here, healthy controls, or HC) were investigated. The highest responses were observed (67 to 100%) in HC for all peptides except p1 to p3, and the lowest was observed in tuberculosis patients. Significant differences in lymphoproliferation were observed in T, L, and HC groups (analysis of variance [ANOVA],P= 0.000 to 0.015) for all end-to-end peptides except B and for p5 and p7 to p10. Hierarchical recognition between lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy was noted for p8 (P< 0.05) and between the HC and L groups for p7 to p10, p15, and p16 (P< 0.005 toP< 0.02). Significant lymphoproliferation was observed to peptides A to F and p1 to p9, p11, p12, p15, p16 (P= 0.000 to 0.001) with 40% responding to peptides C and p16 in L patients. Lepromatous patients also showed significantly higher levels of a gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response to peptide C than to other peptides (P< 0.05). Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II bias for peptide recognition was not observed. These studies indicate that Lsr2 has multiple T cell epitopes that inducein vitroT cell responses in the highly infective lepromatous leprosy patients.
Critical Role of LuxS in the Virulence of Campylobacter jejuni in a Guinea Pig Model of Abortion
Authors: Plummer Paul , Sahin Orhan , Burrough Eric , Sippy Rachel , Mou Kathy , Rabenold Jessica , Yaeger Mike , Zhang Qijing 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Previous studies on
Campylobacter jejuni
have demonstrated the role of LuxS in motility, cytolethal distending toxin production, agglutination, and intestinal colonization; however, its direct involvement in virulence has not been reported. In this study, we demonstrate a direct role of
luxS
in the virulence of
C. jejuni
in two different animal hosts. The IA3902 strain, a highly virulent sheep abortion strain recently described by our laboratory, along with its isogenic
luxS
mutant and
luxS
complement strains, was inoculated by the oral route into both a pregnant guinea pig virulence model and a chicken colonization model. In both cases, the IA3902
luxS
mutant demonstrated a complete loss of ability to colonize the intestinal tract. In the pregnant model, the mutant also failed to induce abortion, while the wild-type strain was highly abortifacient. Genetic complementation of the
luxS
gene fully restored the virulent phenotype in both models. Interestingly, when the organism was inoculated into guinea pigs by the intraperitoneal route, no difference in virulence (abortion induction) was observed between the
luxS
mutant and the wild-type strain, suggesting that the defect in virulence following oral inoculation is likely associated with a defect in colonization and/or translocation of the organism out of the intestine. These studies provide the first direct evidence that LuxS plays an important role in the virulence of
C. jejuni
using an
in vivo
model of natural disease.