A Scoping Review of Empirical Asexuality Research in Social Science Literature

Archives of Sexual Behavior - Research on asexuality as a part of the experience of human sexuality has increased over the last two decades. However, there has not yet been a systematic review of...     

CT colonography: value of scanning in both the supine and prone positions

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CT colonography when patients were imaged in both the supine and prone positions. We evaluated whether imaging in two positions decreased the number of collapsed colonic segments and increased sensitivity for polyp detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients underwent CT colonography in both the supine and prone positions. Colonic distention for each of the 46 scans was graded. Adequacy of distention for either position alone was compared with that of the combination of the two positions. Polyp data revealed by colonoscopy were reviewed, and the CT data were then retrospectively reviewed for polyp detection. RESULTS: When each scan was considered alone without benefit of the scan obtained in the opposite position, 27 (58.7%) of 46 scans showed inadequate distention. When scans obtained in both positions were considered together, 20 (87.0%) of 23 patients had adequate distention with the grading system used. However, this value increased to 23 (100%) of 23 patients when the reasons for inadequate distention in the three patients were considered. Of the 27 polyps detected with colonoscopy, 21 (77.8%) were also detected retrospectively with CT colonography. Colonoscopy showed 20 polyps that were 5 mm or larger; nineteen (95.0%) of these 20 polyps were also detected retrospectively with CT colonography, nine (47.4%) of which were seen in only one position. CONCLUSION: Use of both the supine and prone positions for patients undergoing CT colonography improves evaluation of the colon and increases sensitivity for polyp detection.     

A new focus on primary HIV infection

There are two potential goals of very early treatment of HIV infection. One is to see whether aggressive treatment during the primary phases of infection can improve the long-term course. The other is to test the feasibility of eradicating HIV infection. Eradication may be simpler in newly-infected patients who are likely to have less damage to the immune system and whose virus may be more homogeneous and less drug resistant.     

A correlation between the structure of myocardial cells and prolonged Q-T interval in young rats.

In the present study, we examined the electrocardiogram and the structure of myocardial cells in young rats at different postnatal ages. The offspring of rats were sacrificed on different postnatal days following electrocardiographical recordings, and sections of their hearts were examined microscopically. In a number of newborns, we observed definite prolongation of the Q-T interval in the electrocardiogram on the first day of life. Normal shortening of the Q-T interval with age was demonstrated in the majority of the offspring while, in some of them, the Q-T interval remained prolonged. In the "affected" offspring, which exhibit a typical pattern of Q-T prolongation with clear ST segment, definite retardation of histological differentiation of the myocardium was found at various ages. In these cases, there were large numbers of "myoblasts" scattered between normal myocytes in different parts of the ventricular walls and septum. These myoblasts were rarely identified in newborns and offspring with a normal Q-T interval. Our results clearly show a correlation between the ratio of persistence of undifferentiated myoblasts at any age and the typical prolonged Q-T pattern in the electrocardiogram (r = 0.9). Due to the possible clinical significance, the hearts of patients with prolonged Q-T syndrome should be examined so as to reach for abnormal differentiation of the myocytes.     

Comprehensive analysis of urinary metabolites of N' -nitroso-nornicotine

A detailed study of the urinary metabolites of N'-nitrosonornicotinehas been perfomed, employing a simple high pressure liquid chromatographicmethod. The percentage excretion of the principal urinary metaboliteswas determined over a dose range of 3–300 mg/kg in theF-344 rat, as follows: 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid (37.1–53.3%,respectively, of the dose), N'-nitrosonornicotine-l-N-oxide(6.7–10.7%), norcotinine (3.2–5.1%), 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyricacid (31.1–12.8%), N' -nitrosonornicotine (3.3–5.2%).In the strain A mouse and Syrian golden hamster, the urinarymetabolites were qualitatively similar to those observed inthe F-344 rat. The interrelationships of the various metabolitesof N'-nitrosonornicotine which have been observed in vitro andin vivo were established. The in vitro metabolites resultingfrom 2'-hydroxylation by liver microsomes, myosmine and 4-hydroxy-l-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanonewere converted, by the F-344 rat, primarily to 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyricacid as a urinary metabolite. The in vitro metabolite resultingfrom 5'-hydroxylation by liver microsomes, 2-hydroxy-5-(3-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran,gave 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid as its major urinarymetabolite, apparently via 5-(3-pyridyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-one.N'-nitrosonornicotine-l-N-oxide, the remaining major in vitrometabolite, was excreted to a large extent unchanged in F-344rat urine. The urinary metabolites from 2'-hydroxylation and5'-hydroxylation of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyricacid and 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid, respectively,were not formed from the in vivo metabolite norcotinine andwere not interconverted significantly by the F-344 rat. Thus,these metabolites appear to be reliable indicators for the twopossible in vivo -hydroxylations of N'-nitrosonornicotine.     

Behavioral effects of low,acute doses of d-amphetamine on the dyadic interaction between mother and infant vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) during the first six postnatal months

Doses of d-amphetamine sulfate (0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 mg/kg body weight) were given to adult monkeys in mother—infant pairs. The fundamental parental care behavior pattern was disrupted and the mother became isolated in a socially withdrawn phase. She did not respond to the calling signals of the infant and showed behavior in which stereotyped self-grooming and/or staring into space were predominant. The reactions of the infant to this amphetamine-induced behavior were different in the two experimental pairs. In group 1 the infant increased its approach—avoidance movements. In group 2 the infant sat very quietly and close in front of the mother. The mother from group 1 reacted to the increased approaches from its ininfant with active rejection. In both groups the mothers did not react with the typical ventral—ventral grasping to either the infants sitting close or to the social anxiety signals of the infants. In spite of differences in behavior changes induced by amphetamine, the main conclusion is that the mothers totally lost their normal and highly biologic significant interest in their infants.     

A phase I/II trial of intratumoral endoscopic ultrasound injection of ONYX-015 with intravenous gemcitabine in unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Localized pancreatic carcinoma is rarely resectable and is resistant to conventional therapies. ONYX-015 (dl1520) is an E1B-55kD gene-deleted replication-selective adenovirus that preferentially replicates in and kills malignant cells. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has the potential to conveniently and accurately deliver local therapy to the pancreas. Therefore, we undertook a trial of the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of EUS injection of ONYX-015 into unresectable pancreatic carcinomas. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Twenty-one patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or with metastatic disease, but minimal or absent liver metastases, underwent eight sessions of ONYX-015 delivered by EUS injection into the primary pancreatic tumor over 8 weeks. The final four treatments were given in combination with gemcitabine (i.v., 1,000 mg/m(2)). Patients received 2 x 10(10) (n = 3) or 2 x 10(11) (n = 18) virus particles/treatment. RESULTS: After combination therapy, 2 patients had partial regressions of the injected tumor, 2 had minor responses, 6 had stable disease, and 11 had progressive disease or had to go off study because of treatment toxicity. No clinical pancreatitis occurred despite mild, transient elevations in lipase in a minority of patients. Two patients had sepsis before the institution of prophylactic oral antibiotics. Two patients had duodenal perforations from the rigid endoscope tip. No perforations occurred after the protocol was changed to transgastic injections only. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that ONYX-015 injection via EUS into pancreatic carcinomas by the transgastic route with prophylactic antibiotics is feasible and generally well tolerated either alone or in combination with gemcitabine. Transgastric EUS-guided injection is a new and practical method of delivering biological agents to pancreatic tumors.     

Growth monitoring with the British 1990 growth reference

AIM: To provide a simple method for assessing centile change based on the British 1990 growth reference. STATISTICAL METHOD: The change in SD score over a period of time has SD square root of 2(1-r), where r is the correlation between the first and second SD score. This leads to an SD score for centile change. DATA: Annual height measurements from 2 to 9 years for 318 children from the French longitudinal growth study. RESULTS: The correlations between heights at different ages are higher for shorter measurement intervals and at older ages. The chance of a child's height centile falling one centile band width is correspondingly smaller for shorter measurement intervals and at older ages. An increase in height measurement error reduces the correlations and dramatically increases the chances of centile crossing. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative height monitoring based on centile change is provided for whole year periods between 2 and 9 years of age. Effective monitoring requires the measurement error to be as small as possible.     

Adult height in patients with childhood onset atopic dermatitis

Cross sectional studies have reported impaired growth in children with atopic dermatitis. If this growth impairment is irreversible, it would be expected to adversely influence final height attainment. The standing heights and other anthropometric parameters were assessed in 35 adults with onset of atopic dermatitis before 5 years of age and a control group of 35 adults with adult onset contact dermatitis or psoriasis. There was no significant difference in the standing height SD score, mid-parental height SD score, sitting height SD score, subischial leg length SD score, nor body mass index between the atopic dermatitis and control groups. The standing height SD score was not significantly different among: (a) patients with atopic dermatitis affecting less than 50% of their body surface area and those with greater than 50% affected; (b) patients using the four different potency topical corticosteroids; and (c) patients with atopic dermatitis without asthma and those with coexisting asthma. It is concluded that short stature is not a feature of our group of adult patients with onset of atopic dermatitis before 5 years of age, continuing into adulthood, and severe enough to require specialist care. This suggests that if growth impairment occurs in childhood, it is likely to be temporary and reversible.     

13Carbon mixed triglyceride breath test and pancreatic enzyme supplementation in cystic fibrosis

Children with cystic fibrosis have variable degrees of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency which, if untreated, is the main cause of fat malabsorption. The impact of pancreatic enzyme supplementation on fat digestion was measured in 41 children with cystic fibrosis, 11 healthy controls, and five children with mucosal diseases by a non-invasive test of intraluminal lipolysis using 13carbon (13C) labelled mixed triglyceride (1,3-distearyl, 2[13C] octanoyl glycerol). The children with cystic fibrosis without pancreatic supplements had a median (range) 13C cumulative percentage dose recovered over six hours (cPDR) of 3.1% (0-31.7), the controls 31.0% (21.8-41.1), and the subjects with mucosal disease 27.8% (19.7-32.5). In 23 subjects with cystic fibrosis the usual dose of pancreatic enzyme supplements increased the cPDR to a median of 23.9% (0-45.6), and twice the usual dose of enteric coated microspheres increased the cPDR to 31.1% (11.1-47.8). There was no significant difference between the median cPDR of normal controls and children with mucosal disease, but there was a highly significant difference between these groups and children with untreated cystic fibrosis. Thirteen children with cystic fibrosis had no 13C recovery in their breath without enzymes and 10 showed marked increases with regular enzymes. In eight children doubling the dose of enzymes caused no or minimal improvement. The mixed triglyceride breath test offers a simple, non-invasive way of assessing the need for pancreatic enzyme supplementation in children with cystic fibrosis and could be used to optimise treatment.