Experimental Induction of Emotional and Sexual Intimacy: Exploring the Validity of the German Fast Friends Procedure in Individuals with and without Childhood Maltreatment

The Fast Friends Procedure (FFP) is a widely used experimental paradigm to induce emotional intimacy. Besides exploring the validity of a German translation of the paradigm (n?=?46), we developed an extension of the FFP that induces sexual intimacy and assessed heart rate, high-frequency heart rate variability, and electrodermal activity responses to the FFP and its extension. Furthermore, we examined its applicability to individuals with childhood maltreatment (n?=?56), who frequently suffer from intimacy-related difficulties. Intimacy, positive affect, liking, and attraction increased during the FFP and partly during the sexual intimacy extension in both study groups. Moreover, both groups showed physiological responses consistent with positive social interactions. The use of the German FFP and its sexual intimacy extension can thus be recommended for research in the general population and in individuals with childhood maltreatment, although more studies are needed to further validate the paradigms.

     

The Validity of Women's Reports of Family Planning Service Quality in Cambodia and Kenya

Population‐based indicators of the coverage of key elements of high‐quality family planning services are tracked via household surveys with female respondents, yet little work has been done to establish their validity. We take advantage of existing data sets from Cambodia and Kenya to compare women's responses at exit interviews following a health facility visit against the observations of a trained third‐party observer during the visit. The results, which treat the observations as the reference standard, show that indicators that measure contraceptive methods received are accurately reported while indicators of whether the woman received her preferred method and whether information was “discussed” or “explained” during counseling are less reliably reported. Studies designed explicitly to assess the validity of family planning questions in household surveys, especially questions in large survey programs critical for monitoring demographic trends and programmatic coverage, are needed.     

The treatment of obesity by carbohydrate deprivation suppresses plasma tryptophan and its ratio to other large neutral amino acids

We measured plasma concentrations of tryptophan (Trp) and the other large neutral amino acids (LNAA) in 6 control and 7 obese subjects before and after they consumed a low-carbohydrate "protein-sparing modified fast" (PSMF) diet; LNAA levels in control subjects were also assessed after supplemental oral Trp. Consumption of the PSMF diet by non-obese subjects, or obesity per se, caused major reductions in the ratio of the plasma Trp concentration to the summed plasma concentrations of the other LNAA (i.e., the "plasma Trp ratio"), and may thus have diminished brain serotonin synthesis. Administration of even 2 g of supplemental Trp did not elevate the plasma Trp ratio beyond the normal range observed previously in subjects consuming carbohydrate-containing meals.     

A phase I trial of ZD9331, a water-soluble, nonpolyglutamatable, thymidylate synthase inhibitor.

PURPOSE: ZD9331 is a novel, direct-acting antifolate cytotoxic that does not require polyglutamation for activity, and is a specific thymidylate synthase inhibitor. This Phase I trial aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of ZD9331, given as a 30-min i.v. infusion on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Pharmacokinetic parameters and tumor response were also assessed. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A total of 71 patients, with a range of solid malignancies and refractory to standard therapies (44% had received > or =3 prior chemotherapy regimens), were treated. The most common malignancies were colorectal cancer (35% of patients) and ovarian cancer (31%). ZD9331 was escalated from 4.8 mg/m(2)/day. RESULTS: Dose-limiting toxicity occurred at 162.5 mg/m(2) ZD9331, with grade 4 thrombocytopenia, grade 4 neutropenia lasting > or =7 days, and grade 3 nonhematologic toxicity. Plasma clearance of ZD9331 was slow and dose-dependent; however, ZD9331 pharmacokinetics were nonlinear. Pharmacodynamics of ZD9331 were determined by measurement of plasma deoxyuridine, which increased at all of the dose levels; dose-related increases in plasma deoxyuridine were significant (P = 0.003) on day 5. Stable disease was observed in 37% of patients; 23% of ovarian cancer patients had a > or =50% reduction in CA125 levels. CONCLUSIONS: The maximum tolerated dose of this schedule was 130 mg/m(2). The toxicity profile at this dose was acceptable, with 7 of 28 patients treated developing grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, 2 grade 4 diarrhea, and 2 grade 3/4 rash. This schedule was convenient and demonstrated activity in extensively pretreated patients; therefore, this is the recommended dose for study in Phase II trials.     

Tendo Achillis rupture; surgical repair is a safe option

We reviewed the results of 67 tendo Achillis repairs performed at one District General Hospital over a 5-year period, using details from a comprehensive database. At a mean follow-up of 2.5 years, the re-rupture rate was 3% (2 out of 67). The infection rate was 1.5% (1 out of 67). A review of the relevant literature has revealed that quoted infection rates following tendo Achillis repair vary considerably, and are as high as 21%. Several authors have advised against repair based on those data. In the light of our results, we can recommend surgical repair of tendo Achillis rupture as a safe option.     

Membrane depolarization is the initial action of crotoxin on isolated murine skeletal muscle.

Although much is known about the pathogenesis of crotoxin-induced muscle damage, the initial site and action of the toxin is still not clear. In this study we used an electrochromic fluorescent dye, Di-4-ANEPPS, to measure the changes in membrane potential of isolated murine omohyoid muscle to determine if depolarization could be one of the initial effects of crotoxin. Omohyoid isolates were pre-loaded with 1 microM Di-4-ANEPPS, exposed to various crotoxin treatments, and the change in fluorescence was recorded using either a dual-wavelength spectrofluorometer or digital imaging. Spectrofluorometry indicated that crotoxin depolarized isolated omohyoid muscles within 4 min as indicated by an increase in fluorescence to 122% of control values. Crotoxin also induced depolarization of extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles as indicated by an increase in fluorescence of 140 and 110% of the control, respectively. Fluorescent images obtained from omohyoid muscle preparations exposed to crotoxin and Di-4-ANEPPS revealed localized areas of increased fluorescence, muscle contractions, derangement of myofibrils, and differing sensitivity to crotoxin of different muscle cells. Light microscopy results confirmed this variable disruption of muscle cell integrity and differing sensitivity to crotoxin. An increase in creatine kinase release rates confirmed damage to the plasma membrane. We conclude that plasma membrane depolarization is most likely the earliest indicator of cell damage from crotoxin and is quickly followed by hypercontraction of myofilaments, disruption of the plasma membrane, release of creatine kinase and necrosis.     

Early lens aging is accelerated in subjects with a high risk of ischemic heart disease: an epidemiologic study

Background  

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in the Western world. There is a relationship between aging of the lens of the human eye and cardiovascular disease. The present study was conducted to examine if the risk of ischemic heart disease could be estimated by fluorophotometric assessment of lens aging.     

Female adolescents' perceptions of male partners' pregnancy desire

Our objective was to examine the relationship between pregnancy desire among female adolescents and their perception of desire for pregnancy in their male partners. This is an observational cross-sectional study which examined 92 surveys administered to adolescent women between the ages of 14 to 19 years at two obstetrical care services serving a population from limited socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants were all pregnant or awaiting pregnancy test results. Participants were asked about their levels of pregnancy happiness and desire and their partners' levels of pregnancy happiness and desire. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated and discordant pairs were examined with McNemar's test. Logistic regression was utilized to examine the relationship between male and female pregnancy happiness and desire. We found that there was a significant correlation between the adolescents' feelings about pregnancy and their perceptions of their male partners' feelings about pregnancy (0.326; P = .004). McNemar's test indicated that male partners were significantly more likely to be reported to feel positively about the pregnancy than female partners (P = .017). Female adolescents who reported male partners who felt positively about the pregnancy were four times as likely to report having desired their pregnancy now or sooner (odds ratio [OR] = 4.35). We conclude that male partners may impact adolescent pregnancy desire. Further prospective studies are needed and male-focused adolescent pregnancy interventions should be developed.