bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Overactive Bladder Is Associated with Erectile Dysfunction and Reduced Sexual Quality of Life in Men
Authors: Irwin Debra E. , Milsom Ian , Reilly Kate , Hunskaar Steinar , Kopp Zoe , Herschorn Sender , Coyne Karin S. , Kelleher Con J. , Artibani Walter , Abrams Paul 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

Introduction
The prevalence of sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction (ED), is greater in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including overactive bladder (OAB), than in men without LUTS.

Aim
To evaluate the prevalence of ED, the impact of urinary symptoms on sexual activity and sexual enjoyment, and sexual satisfaction in men with OAB.

Methods
A nested case-control analysis was performed on data from a subset of men with (cases) and without (controls) OAB frequency-matched for age (5-year age strata) and country from the EPIC study. Respondents were asked about OAB symptoms (using the 2002 International Continence Society [ICS] definitions) and sexual activity. Sexually active respondents were asked about ED, sexual enjoyment, and overall satisfaction with their sex lives. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with ED.

Main Outcome Measures
The percentage of cases and controls reporting ED, a reduction in the frequency of sexual activity or enjoyment of sexual activity because of urinary symptoms, and overall satisfaction with their sex lives was determined for cases and controls.

Results
A total of 502 cases and 502 controls were matched for age strata and country. Significantly more cases (14%) reported reduced sexual activity because of urinary symptoms compared with controls (4%; P ≤ 0.05). Among sexually active respondents, cases were significantly more likely to have ED than were controls (prevalence odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.2); the prevalence of ED was similar to that for men with hypertension or diabetes. Significantly more cases (15%) reported decreased enjoyment of sexual activity because of urinary symptoms relative to controls (2%; P ≤ 0.05), and significantly fewer cases were satisfied with their sex lives (81% vs. 90%; P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion
OAB, as defined by the ICS, was significantly associated with increased prevalence of ED, reduced sexual activity and sexual enjoyment because of urinary symptoms, and reduced sexual satisfaction.
PCOS, Sexuality, and Clitoral Vascularisation: A Pilot Study
Authors: Battaglia Cesare , Nappi Rossella E. , Mancini Fulvia , Cianciosi Arianna , Persico Nicola , Busacchi Paolo , Facchinetti Fabio , Sisti Giovanni 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

Introduction
In polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women, the changes in body appearance (mainly obesity and hirsutism) may influence the feminine identity of the patients with consequent depression and sexual disturbances.

Aim
To evaluate if lean PCOS patients present an increased incidence of depression and sexual dysfunction in comparison with controls and if clitoral volume and vascularization are influenced by circulating androgens levels.

Methods
25 lean PCOS women (Group I) and 18 healthy nonhirsute volunteers (Group II) were submitted, on day 3–5 of the cycle, to ultrasonographic and Doppler analyses, and to hormonal and biochemical evaluations.

Main Outcome Measures
Utero-ovarian and clitoral ultrasonographic analysis, and color Doppler evaluation of the uterine, stromal ovarian, and dorsal clitoral arteries. Hormonal and nitrites/nitrates plasma concentrations were analyzed. Each woman filled in the 2-factor Italian McCoy female questionnaire (MFSQ) and the Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire (BDI).

Results
Androgens resulted, as expected, more elevated in PCOS patients than in controls. However, the ultrasonographic (US) assessment of the clitoral body volume evidenced no significant differences between PCOS (0.72 ± 0.41 mL) and control (0.62 ± 0.20 mL) patients. The resistances registered at the level of the dorsal clitoral artery did not show any difference between Group I (PI = 1.55 ± 0.40) and Group II (PI = 1.79 ± 0.38). The 2-factor Italian MFSQ and the BDI did not show any difference between PCOS women and controls.

Conclusions
In PCOS women, probably, the moderate hirsutism and hyperandrogenism do not induce the sense of loss of feminine identity and have no impact on sexual self-worth and sexual satisfaction.
Severe Vascular Complication after Implantation of a Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis
Authors: Deho' Federico , Henry Gerard D. , Marone Enrico M. , Sacca' Antonino , Chiesa Roberto , Rigatti Patrizio , Montorsi Francesco 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

Deho' F, Henry GD, Marone EM, Sacca' A, Chiesa R, Rigatti P, and Montorsi F. Severe vascular complication after implantation of a three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis. J Sex Med **;**:**–**
We report a case of acute arterial ischemia and deep venous thrombosis due to compression of the external iliac vein and artery by the reservoir of a three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis.
Identification of new variants within the two functional genes CCL3 and CCL3L encoding the CCL3 (MIP‐1α) chemokine: implications for HIV‐1 infection
Authors: Paximadis M. , Mohanlal N. , Gray G. E. , Kuhn L. , Tiemessen C. T. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryThe CC chemokine CCL3 is encoded by two functional genes, namely CCL3 and CCL3L, and has been identified as a key chemokine in HIV‐1 susceptibility and disease progression. The complete CCL3 and CCL3L genes and core promoters of 43 African mother–infant pairs (86 samples) and 28 Caucasian adults in South Africa were sequenced and extensively analysed for genetic variations. Africans were found to be more polymorphic in both genes with 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CCL3 gene and 14 gene copy number single nucleotide polymorphisms (gcnSNPs) in the CCL3L gene, compared to nine CCL3 SNPs and eight CCL3L gcnSNPs in Caucasians. A total of 14 polymorphisms across the two genes were newly identified in this study, most (12/14) of which were exclusive to the African population. In addition, two indels were identified and characterized in the CCL3 and CCL3L genes of a small number of individuals. Of the numerous unique intragenic haplotypes found in the two genes, none were shared by the two population groups. A newly identified five‐SNP CCL3 haplotype (Hap‐C1) found in a high frequency in Caucasians, however, seems to be evolutionarily related to the most prevalent newly identified African seven‐SNP CCL3 haplotype (Hap‐A1). Hap‐A1 also includes an SNP in the core promoter region and previous CCL3 haplotypes that have been reported to be associated with HIV‐1 infection appear to be smaller haplotypes within Hap‐A1. We thus propose Hap‐A1 as a likely candidate for influencing levels of CCL3 production and in turn outcomes of HIV‐1 infection.
RAPID MULTIPLEX PCR ASSAY FOR SIMULTANEOUS DETECTION OF MAJOR ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE DETERMINANTS IN CLINICAL ISOLATES OF BACTEROIDES FRAGILIS
Authors: PUMBWE LILIAN , CURZON MATTHEW , WEXLER HANNAH M. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT This study developed a rapid and cost‐effective multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay (M‐PCR) for simultaneous detection of major clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes in Bacteroides fragilis. The M‐PCR optimized amplification conditions with primers designed for detection of five resistance genes: carbapenems (cfiA) and cephalosporins (cepA), clindamycin (ermF), metronidazole (nimA‐F) and tetracycline (tetQ), plus a set of primers for the B. fragilis 16S rRNA gene (positive control). An initial single PCR was performed for each gene, followed by a gradient PCR to determine the optimal PCR conditions for each primer set. This was followed by several test M‐PCRs using the Qiagen multiplex PCR kit (Valencia, CA) with 60 ng of a template DNA mastermix containing all genes of interest and 0.2 µM of each primer set. Multiplex PCR products were detectable at annealing temperatures ranging from 53–57C for 30–35 cycles. The final optimized M‐PCR was then used to evaluate 21 different B. fragilis isolates from various patients. Eleven different M‐PCR genotypes were obtained, which correlated with phenotypic antibiograms and nitrocefin β‐lactamase production assays. This M‐PCR provides an accurate, rapid, sensitive and cost‐effective tool for detecting clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes in B. fragilis, and owing to its high sensitivity, it could also be used to investigate the prevalence of such genetic determinants in mixed bacterial specimens.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe current study provides an easy and rapid method for detecting antibiotic resistance determinants in bacteria. This will in turn enhance treatment methods and development of novel therapeutic strategies.
DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPLEX PCR METHOD FOR DETECTION OF THE GENES ENCODING 16S rRNA, COAGULASE, METHICILLIN RESISTANCE AND ENTEROTOXINS INSTAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
Authors: FAN YILING , PAN FENG , PAOLI GEORGE C. , XIAO YONGHONG , SHENG HAIHUI , SHI XIANMING 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTA multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for simultaneous detection of the genes encoding methicillin resistance (mecA), SEs A, B and C (sea, sebandsec), coagulase (coa), and 16S rRNA. The primers for amplification of the 16S rRNA gene were specific forStaphylococcusspp., and the primers forcoawere specific forStaphylococcus aureus.Based on the results, the multiplex PCR was accomplished at an optimal Mg2+concentration of 1.0 mM and at an annealing temperature of 56C. This multiplex PCR method was performed with 71 strains ofS. aureusand 51 strains of six other bacterial species. Among theS. aureusstrains tested, 40.0% (28/71) were found to contain themecAgene. One of the 28mecA+strains was not resistant to methicillin. Thesea, sebandsecgenes were present in 47.9% (34/71), 5.6% (4/71) and 8.5% (6/71) ofS. aureusstrains, respectively. The sensitivity of this multiplex PCR method was approximately 104.5 pg of genomic DNA per reaction, which was equivalent to an estimated 2.4 × 103cfu ofS. aureus or3.64 × 104copies of genome equivalent.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe developed multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method will be a useful tool for the detection and identification ofStaphylococcus aureusfrom foods, clinical samples and environmental surveys. In particular, the routine use of this multiplex PCR method for the detection of foodborneS. aureuscould be used to monitor the presence of enterotoxins and the emergence of methicillin resistance in a population that, to date, has had a relatively low incidence of methicillin resistance.
An Examination of Vertical Accretion of Floodplain Sediments in the Labasa River Sugarcane Belt of Northern Fiji: Rates, Influences and Contributing Processes
Authors: TERRY J.P. , LAL R. , GARIMELLA S. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe 137Cs (caesium‐137) method was used to investigate medium‐term rates of sediment deposition on the floodplain of the Labasa River, on Vanua Levu island in northern Fiji. The Labasa basin is commercially important for sugarcane farming, which provides much revenue and sustains the economy in the greater Labasa area. Alluvium was sampled at three riverbank sites in vertical increments of 30 mm. Measured net vertical accretion rates, based on analysis of depth‐profiles of 137Cs activity, ranged from 10 mm yr−1 at a low‐lying site near a tributary confluence with the main river, to 60 mm yr−1 on a levée that was elevated slightly above the adjacent floodplain. These rates of accretion are high, but in general agreement with rates recorded using similar methods in other tropical Pacific island river systems. Soil erosion under sugarcane on hilly parts of the lower Labasa basin is an important factor in rapid floodplain development. Observations made during Cyclone Ami, which traversed Vanua Levu island in early 2003, illustrate the major contribution of severe storm events to floodplain sediment supply, by triggering numerous landslides on catchment slopes and in‐channel debris floods, and by generating large‐magnitude overbank floods.
Bio‐Traps Coupled with Molecular Biological Methods and Stable Isotope Probing Demonstrate the In Situ Biodegradation Potential of MTBE and TBA in Gasoline‐Contaminated Aquifers
Authors: Busch‐Harris Jennifer , Sublette Kerry , Roberts Kenneth P. , Landrum Carla , Peacock Aaron D. , Davis Greg , Ogles Dora , Holmes William E. , Harris David , Ota Christopher , Yang Xiaomin , Kolhatkar Arati 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBiofilms characteristic of aquifer conditions can be rapidly and efficiently collected using in situ microcosms or “bio‐traps” containing Bio‐Sep® beads (25% Nomex and 75% powdered activated carbon [PAC]) (University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma). Bio‐Sep beads can be “baited” with a variety of organic compounds by vapor‐phase adsorption onto the PAC component of the beads under reduced pressure. In the aquifer, the bait or the amendment does not substantially leach into the aquifer but is available to the bacteria as a carbon source within the bead. When the organic compound is labeled with 13C, phospholipids may be extracted from bead biofilms postincubation and derived fatty acid methyl esters analyzed for 13C. Incorporation of 13C into biomass provides proof of current in situ degradation potential. We have now Bio‐Sep beads with 13C‐labeled methyl‐tert‐butyl ether (MTBE) and tert‐butyl alcohol (TBA). Deployment of these 13C‐amended bio‐traps has been coupled with molecular biological methods and stable isotope probing to demonstrate the biodegradation of MTBE and TBA in an anaerobic gasoline plume in southern California. Nonamended bio‐traps were deployed at the same site as a preexperiment to determine if spatial variations in microbial community structure could be linked to concentrations of oxygenates or other electron donors. Analysis of biofilm phospholipids and DNA from nonamended bio‐traps demonstrated a clear relationship between various aspects of the subsurface microbial community structure and the concentration of TBA. There was no correlation of any phospholipid fatty acid or DNA attributes with the concentrations of MTBE; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX); or gasoline range total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHg). Deployment of 13C‐MTBE‐ or 13C‐TBA‐amended bio‐traps in the plume clearly demonstrated the degradation of both MTBE and TBA under aquifer conditions through incorporation of 13C into membrane phospholipids.
Binge drinking in college‐aged women: Framing a gender‐specific prevention strategy
Authors: Kelly‐Weeder Susan 
Published: December 2008

AbstractPurpose: To provide an overview of binge drinking in college‐aged women and to suggest strategies for nurse practitioners (NPs) to assist women in preventing the negative consequences associated with this behavior.Data sources:Original research articles and comprehensive review articles identified through Medline, CINAHL, and OVID databases.Conclusions:Researchers have shown that the rates of binge drinking in college‐aged women are increasing, which places these women at increased risk for the long‐term complications associated with alcohol use.Implications for practice:NPs must be aware of this phenomenon and carefully screen women for high‐risk alcohol use. Prevention strategies are reviewed and include the use of brief motivational interviews delivered during individual client encounters as well as through Web‐based programs.
WHEN MISSING DATA ARE NOT MISSING: A NEW APPROACH TO EVALUATING SUPPLEMENTAL HOMICIDE REPORT IMPUTATION STRATEGIES*
Authors: WADSWORTH TIM , ROBERTS JOHN M. 
Published: December 2008

The Supplemental Homicide Reports (SHR) are widely used in criminological research and inform a broad range of research topics and subsequent policy applications. A serious issue with the SHR is missing information about the offender and incident in many recorded homicides. Although it is convenient to discard cases with missing data before analysis, such discarding is not theoretically justified and can lead to incorrect substantive conclusions. Recently, several techniques for imputing missing SHR data have been proposed, but it is difficult to evaluate their effectiveness. This research presents a new approach to testing and evaluating SHR imputation techniques.Offender data that are missing in the SHR are often found in police records available for individual cities. We examine similarities and differences among cases with known offender characteristics in the SHR, cases with such information missing in the SHR but available in police records, and cases with such information missing in both sources. We then use these data sets to evaluate four different imputation techniques suggested in the literature (Fox, 2004; Messner, Deane, and Beaulieu, 2002; Pampel and Williams, 2000; Regoeczi and Riedel, 2003). We apply each imputation technique to the SHR, and for cases with information missing in the SHR but known in the police records, we see how well the imputed values correspond both with the individual known values and with the overall distributions in the police records. We discuss the outcome of our assessment of these strategies, and we outline important implications this assessment has for research using SHR data.
The effect of number of lengthening contractions on rat isometric force production at different frequencies of nerve stimulation
Authors: Willems M. E. T. , Stauber W. T. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAim:  To test the effect of 3, 10, 60 and 240 lengthening contractions (LC) on maximal isometric force of rat plantar flexor muscles at different stimulation frequencies.Methods:  Using a dynamometer and electrical nerve stimulation, maximally active skeletal muscles were stretched by ankle rotation to produce LC of the plantar flexor muscles in intact female rats. After the lengthening contraction protocols, maximal isometric force was measured at different frequencies of nerve activation to obtain frequency‐dependent force deficits (weakness).Results:  The magnitude of the force deficit, measured 1 h after the protocols at 80 Hz, increased as a function of repetition number (three LC, 33.3 ± 1.7%; 10 LC, 37.2 ± 2.3%; 60 LC, 67.6 ± 1.5%; 240 LC, 77.7 ± 1.2%). Force deficits were also measured at each stimulation frequency tested (5:120 Hz). Using a ratio of isometric force at 20:100 Hz stimulation, the relative depression of force at low frequency was determined. The relative depression of isometric force at low frequency was most prominent during the early repetitions.Conclusion:  As low‐frequency force depression appears to result primarily from excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling failure, the early LC in a series of repeated contractions probably contribute most to damage of the cellular components involved in E–C coupling.
America's Uninsured: The Statistics and Back Story
Authors: Rowland Diane , Shartzer Adele 
Published: December 2008

This article defines the problem of the uninsured. It begins with an overview of why health insurance matters and presents a profile of the uninsured. It then discusses the roles and limits of private and public health insurance as sources of coverage for the nonelderly population. The article concludes with reflections on the current health insurance environment and prospects for reform.The large and growing number of uninsured people is of concern because health coverage makes a difference in whether and when people get necessary medical care, where they get their care, and ultimately how healthy people are. About a quarter of uninsured adults (26 percent) say that they have postponed seeking care in the past year because of its cost, compared to about 6 percent of privately insured adults (Figure 1). In addition, more than half of uninsured adults (54 percent) have no usual source of care, compared to 1 in 10 adults (10 percent) with other types of coverage. Similarly, uninsured children are more likely to lack a usual source of care, delay care, or to have unmet medical needs than children with insurance. The uninsured are less likely to receive timely preventive and outpatient care and are more likely to be hospitalized for avoidable health problems. Improved access to care through health insurance ultimately has an impact on people’s health and lives: an estimated 22,000 excess deaths occurred among adults aged 25-64 in 2006 as a result of lack of health coverage.
Neonatal Pain Relief and the Helsinki Declaration
Authors: Van Howe Robert S. , Svoboda J. Steven 
Published: December 2008

The Helsinki Declaration, first published in 1964, is the universally accepted standard for ethical behavior in research involving human subjects. The Declaration was formulated in response to the abuses of human subjects by the scientists in Nazi Germany and to update the Nuremberg Code. Amended in 1975, 1983, 1989, 1996, and 2000, the Declaration provides the foundation for the United States federal regulations for research involving human subjects.To conform to standards developed in the Declaration, a researcher must fulfill the following: (1) respect the autonomy of the individual; (2) promote and safeguard the individual’s health; (3) provide informed consent without coercion; (4) take special measures with vulnerable populations; (5) compare new therapies to the best current therapies; (6) have a thorough scientific knowledge of the subject; (7) assess risk versus benefit of the intervention; (8) perform studies that will ultimately benefit the population involved in the research; (9) accurately report their findings; and (10) fully disclose ethical concerns in their research protocols.
Preliminary Study of the Optimum Dietary Ascorbic Acid Level in Sea Cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)
Authors: Okorie Okorie Eme , Ko Su Hong , Go Sugeun , Lee Seunghyung , Bae Jun Young , Han Kyungmin , Bai Sungchul C. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract A 14‐wk feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the optimum dietary ascorbic acid (AA) level in juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Sea cucumbers averaging 1.49 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 18 rectangular plastic tanks of 20 L capacity in a recirculating system (20 animals per tank). Six semipurified experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 (l‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate [AMP]; AMP0), 30 (AMP24), 60 (AMP48), 120 (AMP100), 240 (AMP206), and 1200 (AMP1045) mg AA/kg diet in the form of AMP using casein as the main protein source. Sea cucumbers were fed each of the six experimental diets in triplicate groups. At the end of 14 wk of feeding trial, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency (FE) of sea cucumbers fed AMP100, AMP206, and AMP1045 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of animals fed AMP0, AMP24, and AMP48. However, there were no significant differences in WG, SGR, and FE among sea cucumbers fed AMP100, AMP206, and AMP1045 and among animals fed AMP0, AMP24, and AMP48. Whole‐body vitamin C concentration increased with AA content of the diets. Broken‐line analysis of WG showed an optimum dietary AA level of 105.3 mg AA/kg diet in sea cucumber. These results indicated that the optimum dietary vitamin C level in sea cucumber in the form of AMP could be greater than 100 mg AA/kg diet but less than 105.3 mg AA/kg diet.