Sexual function in patients presenting to a urogynecology practice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sexual function in women referred to a urogynecology practice. All new patients were mailed an optional female sexual function index (FSFI) in conjunction with their history forms; other sexual function information was obtained during the physician interview. Over 6 months, four hundred fifty new patients were enrolled. Of these, 243 (54%) were not sexually active. Reasons listed for sexual inactivity included partner problems/no partner (32%), low desire (14%), prolapse (10%), and pain (10%). There were several differences between sexually active and non-sexually active participants; however, after a multivariate analysis, only age, marital status, and stage/grade 1–2 of prolapse remained significant. One hundred nine sexually active patients completed the FSFI; the majority was sexually active two to four times per month. Female sexual dysfunction was noted in 70 (64%) patients. Lowest scores were noted for the domain of desire, followed by arousal, orgasm, lubrication, satisfaction, and pain. Reduced frequency of intercourse was the only factor significantly associated with dysfunction. Ninety-four percent were not embarrassed by the survey. Overall, sexual inactivity is common in patients presenting for urogynecologic care. Those that are sexually active report low rates of sexual activity and high rates of sexual dysfunction. Most sexually active patients will accept a sexual function questionnaire as part of their routine assessment.This research was presented at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual clinical meeting, May 10, 2005, San Francisco, CA, USA.     

IIEF-5与NEVA检测在阴茎勃起功能障碍诊断中的意义

目的探讨应用国际勃起功能评分5(IIEF-5)问卷表结合夜间阴茎勃起测定系统(NEVA)筛选勃起功能障碍(ED)的可行性及意义。方法148例门诊ED病人,应用IIEF-5问卷表评分,再通过NEVA测定仪监测夜间阴茎勃起情况,次日数据输入主机回放并分析。结果93例为心理性ED;在19~69岁的5个年龄组中,重度ED的比例由11.8%到55.0%,NEVA中度异常者IIEF积分(12.98±2.58)分,NEVA重度异常者IIEF积分(7.32±1.04)分。结论NEVA能有效地鉴别心理性与器质性ED,IIEF-5评分值与NEVA检测阴茎勃起时血容量变化值有相关性。IIEF-5与NEVA检测结合,能提高诊断和评估ED的可靠性。     

骨髓移植术后急性肠道移植物抗宿主病内镜及病理学诊断研究

目的评价内镜和病理学诊断在急性肠道移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)中的作用。方法回顾性总结和分析2001—2005年北京大学人民医院血液病学研究所临床已确诊的23例急性肠道GVHD患者的内镜及病理学资料。结果内镜下表现可分为:黏膜大致正常、血管纹理模糊或消失、弥漫性黏膜充血、水肿和脆性增加,重者出现糜烂、溃疡,甚至黏膜脱落或出血;病理学表现提示:隐窝上皮细胞凋亡、缺失,隐窝结构破坏,上皮和黏膜固有层不同程度的淋巴细胞浸润。结论内镜和病理学检查可以用于急性肠道GVHD的诊断,尤其是内镜在急性肠道GVHD的早期诊断方面具有重要作用,同时结合病理学检查最终确立诊断。     

衰老对大鼠阴茎组织NO-cGMP通路及端粒酶活性的影响研究

目的探讨衰老对大鼠阴茎组织结构、NO(nitric oxide)-cGMP(cvclic Guanosine Monophosphate)通路及端粒酶活性的影响作用。方法本课题以不同月龄大鼠阴茎组织及培养的平滑肌细胞为研究对象,检测不同月龄大鼠阴茎组织中NO量、NOS(Nitric Oxide Synthase)活性、cGMP量、端粒酶活性及海绵体结构的变化,并比较大鼠、人阴茎组织及大鼠原代海绵体平滑肌细胞的端粒酶活性。结果(1)大鼠阴茎组织中NO量、NOS活性均先升高后降低,各月龄组间有显著差异。阴茎组织cGMP含量逐渐降低,各月龄组间差别显著；(2)随龄增加,平滑肌纤维逐渐减少,胶原纤维增多,粗大成团,窦状隙变少、变窄：(3)大鼠阴茎组织端粒酶活性以2月龄活性最高,随龄增加逐渐下降。人阴茎组织中无端粒酶活性。结论(1)衰老对大鼠阴茎组织结构、NO．cGMP通路及端粒酶活性有显著影响,提示衰老与ED关系密切；(2)大鼠阴茎组织有端粒酶活性,可作为研究细胞衰老与ED关系有关端粒酶的模型。     

Steroid pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma high molecule adiponectin concentration in patients with IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Decreased plasma adiponectin is associated with impaired endothelial function and, thereby, increased risk for cardiovascular events. Glucocorticoid (GC) affects vascular endothelial cells either favourably or harmfully depending upon the dosages and duration. We examined the effect of GC pulse therapy on vascular endothelial function. METHODS: Fourteen young patients with IgA nephropathy were evaluated for flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), plasma levels of adiponectin both in high molecular weight (HMW adiponectin) form and in single molecular form (total adiponectin), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein, before and after a course of GC pulse therapy. RESULTS: GC pulse therapy significantly decreased FMD (from 7.2 +/- 2.6 to 5.7 +/- 2.5%, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, plasma adiponectin levels were significantly augmented (total adiponectin: from 10.2 +/- 4.0 to 12.1 +/- 6.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05; HMW: from 6.5 +/- 3.2 to 7.7 +/- 3.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05). In parallel, elevated concentrations of serum HGF (from 0.28 +/- 0.12 to 0.63 +/- 0.38 ng/ml, P < 0.01) and plasma ADMA (from 0.45 +/- 0.07 to 0.53 +/- 0.04 nmol/ml, P < 0.05) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: GC pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma adiponectin levels, which may in turn restore the endothelial function in patients with IgA nephropathy.     

Pharmacological therapy of vascular malformations of the gastrointestinal tract.

Vascular malformation (AVM) in the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon, but not rare, cause of bleeding and iron deficiency anemia, especially in an aging population. While endoscopic coagulative therapy is the method of choice for controlling bleeding, a substantial number of cases require additional therapy. Adjunctive or even primary phamacotherapy may be indicated in recurrent bleeding. However, there is little evidence-based proof of efficacy for any agent. The bulk of support is derived from anecdotal reports or case series. The present review compares the outcome of AVM after no intervention, coagulative therapy or focus on pharmacological agents. Most of the literature encompasses two common AVMs, angiodysplasia and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Similarly, the bulk of information evaluates two therapies, hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and the somatostatin analogue octreotide. Of these, the former is the only therapy evaluated in randomized trials, and the results are conflicting without clear guidelines. The latter therapy has been reported only as case reports and case series without prospective trials. In addition, other anecdotally used medications are discussed.     

Diastolic function in children and adolescents on dialysis and after kidney transplantation: an echocardiographic assessment

Thirty-seven children and adolescents on renal replacement therapy (11 on haemodialysis, 14 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 12 after renal transplantation) were studied by echocardiography, echo-Doppler and phonocardiography. Right and left ventricular (R/L V) diastolic functions were measured by transmitral and transtricuspid flow velocities and by LV isovolumic relaxation time (LVIRT). Thirty-seven age- and sex-matched healthy subjects served as controls. R/L V diastolic dysfunction was only observed in the dialysis patients. In these patients LVIRT was prolonged. LV and RV peak inflow velocities were increased both in early (E) and late (A) diastole with a reduction in the E/A ratios. This pattern of diastolic dysfunction is compatible with the combined effects of a hypercirculatory state (volume overload, anaemia, arteriovenous fistula) and an abnormality of cardiac relaxation. The transplant patients showed no major cardiac abnormalities.     

Biochemical consequences of 5-fluorouracil gastrointestinal toxicity in rats; effect of high-dose uridine

Selective protection of the normal host tissues from the toxic effects of anticancer agents would allow the use of higher, probably more effective, doses of the drugs. It has been demonstrated that delayed high-dose uridine administration after 5-fluorouracil decreases the extent of myelosuppression and causes faster regeneration of the bone marrow. We studied the biochemical consequences of the gastrointestinal toxicity caused by 5-fluorouracil and the potential of high-dose uridine treatment to influence these adverse effects. 5-Fluorouracil caused dose-related decreases in the biochemical parameters (thymidine kinase, sucrase, maltase, alkaline phosphatase) selected as early markers of the impaired metabolic activity of the intestinal mucosa. The nadir of the biochemical changes was reached between 24 h and 72 h after 5-fluorouracil treatment, and complete regeneration of the mucosa took 6–7 days. Delayed high-dose uridine administration failed to mitigate the severity of the gastrointestinal damage that ensued after 5-fluorouracil treatment, but caused significantly earlier regeneration of the mucosa.     

Preoperative staging of gastrointestinal tumors by endosonography

Summary Intracavitary application of ultrasound was first performed for diagnostic purposes in 1967; since that time, it has been more and more widely used. As far as the gastrointestinal tract is concerned, endoscopically controlled ultrasonic probes provide visualization of the various layers of the intestinal wall. It is therefore possible to describe lesions of the esophagus, stomach, and the rectum with regard to their nature and depth of infiltration. Furthermore, periesophageal and perigastric organs can be visualized. It has become evident that endosonography is particularly important for pretherapeutic staging of tumors of the esophagus, stomach, and rectum. Here prospective comparative studies confirm the superiority of this new diagnostic procedure when compared to the methods available to date.     

8—2岁市区学龄儿童感觉统合失调与不良行为及家庭因素调查分析

目的：调查本市区小学儿童感觉统合失调现状与不良行为及家庭因素的关系。方法：用感觉统合诊断量表和自制儿童生长发育调查表对1775名学龄儿童进行心理行为问题调查。结果：感觉统合轻度失调23．4％，重度失调13．5％，男童失调发和率（42．86％）明显高于女童（31．36％）P＜0．0），前庭功能失衡发生率最高（21．30％）；统合失调组儿童不良行为发生率高达64．38％明显高于统合正常组（31．11％）P＜0．01，失调组不良行为各因子的发生率亦明显高于统合正常组P＜0．01；学习能力不足儿童与父母文化程度和不同职业有关P＜0．01。结论：儿童感觉纺合失调现状易成为成人心理障碍的潜在因素，应引起重视。