Sexual problems and help-seeking behaviour in adults in the United Kingdom and continental Europe

Associate Editor Michael G. Wyllie Editorial Board Ian Eardley, UK Jean Fourcroy, USA Sidney Glina, Brazil Julia Heiman, USA Chris McMahon, Australia Bob Millar, UK Alvaro Morales, Canada Michael Perelman, USA Marcel Waldinger, Netherlands

OBJECTIVES

To study sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, and related help‐seeking behaviour patterns among middle‐aged and older people in the UK and Europe.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A telephone survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, health, relationships, and sexual behaviour, attitudes and beliefs. In the UK, 1500 individuals completed the survey.

RESULTS

Overall, 69% of men and 56% of women reported having sexual intercourse during the past year. The most common male sexual problems, i.e. early ejaculation (20%) and erectile dysfunction (18%), were more common in the UK than in other European regions. The most common female sexual problems, i.e. a lack of sexual interest (34%) and a lack of pleasure in sex (25%), were also more common in the UK than in other European regions. Only 26% of men and 17% of women had discussed their sexual problem(s) with a doctor.

CONCLUSION

Many people in the UK maintain sexual interest and activity into middle age and beyond. Although they experience sexual problems, few seek medical help. This might be because they do not perceive such problems as serious or sufficiently upsetting, and/or are not aware of available treatments.     

泌尿外科高难度腹腔镜手术关键操作步骤强化训练模型的制备及应用

目的针对泌尿外科高难度腹腔镜手术关键操作步骤设计制备强化训练模型,并应用于初学者进行手术操作训练,提高初学者的手术熟练程度。方法根据前列腺癌根治术、肾部分切除术、肾盂输尿管(UPJ)离断成形术等高难度腹腔镜手术关键操作步骤的特点,利用易获取的鸡肠或猪肠、猪肾、鱼鳔、猪输尿管及其他简单材料制作耻骨后膀胱尿道吻合、肾部分切除、UPJ成形术训练模型。让初学者应用上述模型进行手术操作训练,观察其模型训练结果。结果耻骨后膀胱尿道吻合、肾部分切除、UPJ成形术训练模型制备成功,能够较好模拟各重建手术的要求,价格低廉,材料来源丰富,制作简单。上述模型适合初学者训练,经过强化训练后,初学者可熟练掌握相关操作,提高手术自信心。结论成功制备的针对泌尿外科高难度腹腔镜手术关键操作步骤的强化训练模型能满足初学者的手术训练需要。     

Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance of Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels in Patients Admitted to the Department of Medicine

BackgroundDespite its apparent role as a marker of different disease processes, to date, no study has presented comprehensive comparative data regarding the distribution of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in all admitted patients. We aimed to examine the distribution of serum CRP levels in internal medicine patients and to find whether initial serum CRP value had a diagnostic and prognostic significance.MethodsSerum CRP levels together with epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed for 370 consecutive adult patients admitted to the department of internal medicine during a 2-month period.ResultsThe median CRP level on admission was 24 mg/L, with a range between 0 and 346 mg/L. Infections had significantly higher median CRP than noninfections (99 versus 11 mg/L), and bacterial infections had distinctively higher CRP (120 mg/L) compared with nonbacterial infections (32 mg/L). The highest noninfectious median CRP was recorded in inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation (107 mg/L). Moreover, serum CRP was divided into 5 ranges. Very high CRP >200 mg/L was a marker of sepsis. In contrast, low CRP range (<10 mg/L) was characteristic to cardiovascular diseases and viral infections, but included none of the patients with severe infections or sepsis. Furthermore, higher CRP was significantly associated with mortality, the need for intubation, and longer hospitalization, and had better distinguishing ability compared with erythrocyte sedimentation rate or platelets count for the comparison of major disease categories, such as bacterial infections, inflammatory and rheumatic disease, viral infections, and cardiovascular disorders.ConclusionsInitial serum CRP has an important role as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients admitted to internal medicine.     

Correct equation for calculating the sagittal depth of a hyperboloidal lens surface

There is an error in the current literature concerning the equation to calculate the sagittal depth of a hyperboloidal lens surface. Determining the sagittal depth of a lens surface can be beneficial, if not critical, when developing a new lens or designing an existing lens type for fabrication. Thus, an incorrect sagittal depth formula has the potential to hinder the development and designs of lenses incorporating hyperboloidal surfaces. The purpose of this paper is to deliver the proper sagittal depth formula for a hyperboloidal lens surface.     

高三酰甘油血症-腰围表型临床特征及其与糖尿病前期和糖尿病的关系研究

背景　近年,我国糖尿病前期和糖尿病的患病率逐年上升,若能早期发现其危险因素,予以干预可减少相关疾病的发生。高三酰甘油血症-腰围表型（HTGW）与血糖之间的关系尚未形成定论。目的　探讨HTGW的临床特征及其与糖尿病前期及糖尿病的关系。方法　于2012年6—10月在珠海市香洲区湾仔镇采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样法选取2 142例年龄18~75岁的社区居民为研究对象。根据腰围和三酰甘油水平将参与者分为3组：组1、组2及组3。组1：男性腰围≤90 cm或女性腰围≤85 cm且血清三酰甘油<2.0 mmol/L;组2：男性腰围≤90 cm或女性腰围≤85 cm且血清三酰甘油≥2.0 mmol/L或男性腰围>90 cm或女性腰围>85 cm且血清三酰甘油<2.0 mmol/L;组3：男性腰围>90 cm或女性腰围>85 cm且血清三酰甘油≥2.0 mmol/L。比较不同组别居民的临床特征,采用Logistic回归分析HTGW与糖尿病前期和糖尿病的关系。结果　2 142例参与者中169例因为缺失三酰甘油或腰围数据被剔除。最后纳入1 973例参与者,其中糖尿病172例、糖尿病前期143例,组1参与者1 141例,组2参与者624例,组3参与者208例。组2年龄、男性占比、高血压者占比、糖尿病前期者占比、糖尿病者占比、饮酒者占比、收缩压、舒张压、体质指数（BMI）、腰围、空腹血糖、C反应蛋白、总胆固醇、三酰甘油、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、血肌酐、血尿酸高于组1,教育状况为高中以上者占比、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇低于组1,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。组3年龄、高血压者占比、糖尿病前期者占比、糖尿病者占比、吸烟者占比、饮酒者占比、收缩压、BMI、腰围、空腹血糖、总胆固醇、三酰甘油、血肌酐、血尿酸高于组1和组2,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇低于组1和组2,男性占比、受教育程度为高中以上者占比、舒张压、C反应蛋白高于组1,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Logistic回归分析结果显示,在未调整的模型中,调整年龄、性别、高血压病史、吸烟、饮酒、体育锻炼模型,调整年龄、性别、高血压病史、吸烟、饮酒、体育锻炼、BMI模型中,HTGW分组均为糖尿病前期及糖尿病发生的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论　HTGW与糖尿病前期和糖尿病密切相关,应注意加强对该类人群的血脂控制及腹围控制,以降低糖尿病前期和糖尿病的患病率,减少心血管事件的发生。     

胶原/丝素电纺纳米纤维膜体外培养肝细胞的研究

本实验采用静电纺丝技术制备胶原/丝素纳米纤维支架,对支架上培养的人肿瘤肝细胞HepG2进行形态学观察、细胞功能和代谢功能检测。胶原/丝素纳米纤维支架以六氟异丙醇(HFIP)为溶剂通过静电纺丝技术制备,5种支架材料胶原和丝素配比分别为10∶0、7∶3、5∶5、3∶7、0∶10。扫描电镜结果显示制备的纤维平均直径在550～1100 nm之间,随着丝素含量的增加纤维平均直径增加。细胞培养结果显示HepG2细胞在材料表面生长状态良好并与支架材料紧密结合。随培养时间延长,常规培养组细胞在第5 d后逐渐死亡,失去细胞功能,胶原/丝素纳米纤维支架组细胞在4～9 d内能够维持稳定状态,其尿素合成、蛋白分泌与常规培养组有明显差别,其中丝素含量为50%组的细胞状态和细胞功能高于其它组。实验表明胶原/丝素纳米纤维支架材料细胞相容性良好,较之常规培养细胞增殖效果明显,维持功能表达时间延长,有望用于改善人工肝生物反应器中的细胞活性,维持细胞功能表达。