Evaluation of sexual function in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal NOTES: a prospective cohort study of 106 patients

Purpose

The primary objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate sexual function, quality of life and patient satisfaction in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES).

Patients and methods

This prospective single-centre cohort study included sexually active female patients after transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy or anterior resection. Sexual life impairment and quality of life were assessed by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) prior and 1 year after surgery. Patient satisfaction was assessed as well as the sexual function 1 year postoperatively using the validated German version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-D).

Results

Between September 2008 and December 2009, 106 sexually active women after transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy or anterior resection were identified. Sexual life significantly improved (GIQLI scores 3.2?±?1.0 preoperatively vs. 3.7?±?0.7 1 year postoperatively, P?<?0.001), and painful sexual intercourse (3.3?±?1.0 vs. 3.6?±?0.7, P?=?0.008) decreased post-surgery. The mean FSFI-D total score after transvaginal NOTES was 28.1?±?4.6, exceeding the cutoff for sexual dysfunction defined as 26. Four (4.5 %) out of 88 patients who answered this question were not satisfied with the transvaginal hybrid NOTES procedure.

Conclusions

This prospective cohort study of female sexual function after transvaginal NOTES provides compelling evidence that the transvaginal access is safe and associated with high satisfaction rate.     

Correction to: Effect of a Focused Social and Communication Intervention on Preterm Children with ASD: A Pilot Study

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05109-2     

Functional status and use of health care services: longitudinal study on the older adult population in Spain

BACKGROUND: Follow-up studies on the association between functional status and use of health care services among the older people are scarce and have studied only a few types of service. OBJECTIVE: To examine prospectively the relationship between limitation in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and utilization of a wide variety of health care services among older adults in Spain. METHODS: Prospective study from 2001 to 2003 of a cohort of 2806 persons, representative of the non-institutionalized Spanish population aged 60 years and over. Limitation in IADL was measured in 2001 using the Lawton and Brody's test. Data on the use of health care services were collected in 2003 and classified into home services (home visits by physicians and nurses) and non-home services (visits to primary care physicians, visits to hospital specialists, hospital admissions, emergency care, and influenza vaccination). Analyses were performed with logistic regression and adjusted for the main confounders. RESULTS: Compared to men with no limitation in IADL, a higher percentage of those with limitation in one IADL in 2001 made use of both home (odds ratio [OR] 2.64; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.73-4.03) and non-home services (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.04-3.93) in the period 2001-2003. Limitation in one IADL among women was associated with a greater utilization of home services (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.05-2.14) and visits to hospital specialists (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.21-2.15). In women, however, a greater number of limited IADL at baseline was inversely associated with visits to primary care physicians in the 2-year follow-up (p for linear trend <0.001). CONCLUSION: Population aging will increase the demand for health services in general, and for home services in particular.     

Transmission of Enterocytozoon bieneusi between a child and guinea pigs

An unusual Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype was found in seven guinea pigs and a 2-year-old child in the same household. The genetic uniqueness of the parasite, its wide occurrence in other guinea pigs in the community, and its absence in other children in the community suggest the possibility of zoonotic transmission of the infection to the study child.     

Human CD4(+) memory T-lymphocyte responses to SARS coronavirus infection

Little is known about CD4(+) T-cell immunity to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. In two SARS patients, we examined the memory CD4(+) T-cell responses to peptides derived from SARS coronavirus structural proteins. We generated CD4(+) T-cell lines to 3 peptides from the spike (S) protein and defined their HLA restriction. In one patient, the predominant memory CD4(+) T-cell response was directed against an epitope outside the S protein receptor-binding domain. In both patients, the frequency of CD4(+) memory T-cells to virus structural proteins and anti-SARS coronavirus IgG levels were low by 12 months after infection. This report expands our understanding of the specificity and duration of anti-SARS coronavirus CD4(+) T-cell immune responses.     

Health-related quality of life among Mexican-origin Latinos: the role of immigration legal status

Objective: To assess the relationship between immigration legal status and related vulnerabilities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Mexican-origin Latinos living in a U.S.-Mexico border region.

Methods: Data were obtained using multistage sampling from 393 Latino adults who took part in the 2009 San Diego Prevention Research Center community survey.

Results: Significant differences in HRQoL were found across immigration legal status subgroups. Vulnerabilities associated with HRQoL varied across immigration legal status subgroups, and only depression was associated with HRQoL regardless of immigration legal status.

Conclusion: Results from this study emphasize the need for policies and programs to facilitate access to preventive services, including mental health services, in order to maintain the health of at-risk Latino immigrants.