Female urinary incontinence and the construction of nineteenth-century stigmatized womanhood

Before the 20th century, female urinary incontinence was a problematic disease because it presented a medical challenge (it was difficult to treat before the advent of surgical techniques) and prevented women from fulfilling their roles as spouses and caretakers. The latter was particularly troublesome during the 19th century when Western women (ie, white, middle/upper class, Protestant women) were expected to follow rigid, socially constructed gender roles, especially within the private microcosm of the family unit. Incontinent women of childbearing age had no place in the hierarchy of Euro-American society and were thus constructed as impure, polluted, and sexually undesirable. This stigmatization of the incontinent body not only marginalized the medical needs of the suffering woman but also characterized her as an unfeminine, contaminated, and repulsive object to be ostracized and excluded from the social rituals that defined selfhood.     

Levels of oxidative stress parameters and the protective effects of melatonin in psychosis model rat testis

Aim： To evaluate the effects of melatonin on antioxidant enzyme levels and histopathologic changes in dizocilpine （MK-801）-induced psychosis model rat testis. Methods： A total of 24 adult male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into three groups with 8 in each. Group I was used as control. Rats in Group II were injected with MK-801 （0.5 mg/kg body weight i.p. for 5 days）. In addition to MK-801, melatonin （50 mg/kg body weight i.p. once a day for 5 days） was injected into the rats in Group Ⅲ. The testes were harvested bilaterally for biochemical and histopathological examinations. Antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and nitric oxide （NO） levels in testicular tissues were analyzed using spectrophotometric analysis methods. Histopathological examinations of the testes were also performed. Results： MK-801 induced testicular damage, which resulted in significant oxidative stress （OS） by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and NO levels were increased in testicular tissues of rats. Treatment with melatonin led to significant decrease in oxidative injury. Administration of melatonin also reduced the detrimental histopathologic effects caused by MK-801. Conclusion： The results of the present study showed that MK-801 cause OS in testicular tissues of rats and treatment with melatonin can reduce the harmful effects＇of MK-801. （Asian JAndro12008 Mar; 10： 259-265）     

Intraobserver and interobserver agreements of leg circumference measurements by tape measure based on 3 reference points

The objective of this study was to evaluate the intraobserver and interobserver agreements in tape measurements of the ankle and calf circumference with due emphasis on the 3 main reference points, the patella, the tibial tuberosity, and the medial malleolus. The leg circumference at 2 locations was measured in 66 patients in the mornings of 2 consecutive days by 6 observers. Finally, a blinded couple measured leg circumferences at a line created on calves with a ballpoint pen of 68 outpatients to calculate interobserver agreement for lined regions. Leg circumference measurement was accepted as correct when the difference was less than 0.6 cm in 2 occasions. Intraobserver and interobserver agreements were calculated as the percentage of correct measurements. Chi-square test was used to compare intraobserver and interobserver agreements for each reference point. At the calf region, intraobserver and interobserver agreements based on the tibial tuberosity (88% and 81%) were better than those of the patella (65% and 57%) and the medial malleolus (73% and 65%). On the other hand, at above the ankle region, the agreements (79% and 62%) were also better than those of the patella (60% and 43%) and nearly the same as those of the medial malleolus (86% and 65%). Finally, interobserver agreement of the measurements at the created line with ballpoint pen (96%) was better when compared to those of the tibial tuberosity (81%), the patella (57%), and medial malleolus (65%) (p = 0.005, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The results of this study suggest that the tibial tuberosity as a reference point for leg circumference measurement has better intraobserver and interobserver agreements than those of the patella and the medial malleoli.     

B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with COPD and normal right ventricular function

INTRODUCTION: Evidence suggests that elevated plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and right ventricular dysfunction. We examined the effects of exercise on plasma BNP levels in patients with COPD who have normal right ventricular function METHODS: Seventeen patients with a diagnosis of COPD and normal right ventricular function demonstrated by radionuclide ventriculography, and 17 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects underwent a treadmill exercise test. Plasma BNP levels were measured sequentially before, immediately after, and 1 hour after the exercise test RESULTS: The mean plasma BNP+/-standard deviation levels of the COPD and control groups before exercise were 21.3+/-16 pg/ml and 13.4+/-11 pg/ml, respectively (P>0.05). Mean plasma BNP level measured immediately after exercise was 37.9+/-31 pg/ml in the COPD group, reflecting a statistically significant increase when compared with the initial value (P<0.05). The control group did not show any significant change in plasma BNP levels after the exercise test CONCLUSIONS: Exercise induces an increase in plasma BNP levels in patients with COPD who do not have right ventricular dysfunction at rest. Measurement of exercise-induced BNP levels may be a useful alternative to pulmonary artery catheterisation in identifying the patients who are likely to benefit from long-term oxygen therapy.     

alpha-MSH acetylation in the pituitary gland of the sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) in response to different backgrounds, confinement and air exposure

MSH is a pituitary hormone derived by post-translational processing from POMC and involved in stress and background adaptation. N-terminal acetylation of MSH to monoacetyl alpha-MSH or diacetyl alpha-MSH increases the bioactivity of the peptide. The aim of this study was to characterize alpha-MSH acetylation in the sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) pituitary gland in response to the stressors air exposure and confinement, as well as in fish adapted for 15 days to a white, gray or black background. Pituitary homogenates were purified by reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). The alpha-MSH content of fractions was measured by RIA. Immunoreactive RP-HPLC fractions were further analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry and the peptide sequence determined as SYSMEHFRWGKPV-NH2. In the pituitary gland of sea bream, des-, mono- and diacetyl alpha-MSH were identified. Then plasma alpha-MSH levels were measured in sea bream adapted to different backgrounds. Surprisingly, we found the highest plasma alpha-MSH levels in white-adapted as compared with black-adapted sea bream with intermediate values for gray-adapted fish. This observation is in contrast with results that have been obtained in eel, trout or terrestrial vertebrates. Next, des-, mono- and diacetyl alpha-MSH forms were measured in homogenates of the pituitary gland and in plasma of sea bream exposed to air, to confinement, or to different backgrounds. Monoacetyl alpha-MSH was the predominant form in all control and experimental groups. The lowest content of monoacetyl alpha-MSH relative to des- and diacetyl alpha-MSH was found in white-adapted fish. Levels of des- and diacetyl alpha-MSH forms were similar under all conditions. We observed that monoacetyl alpha-MSH is the most abundant isoform in the pituitary gland after background adaptation, confinement and air exposure, in sea bream. These data indicate that the physiologically most potent isoform of alpha-MSH may vary from species to species.