Condom use with various types of sex partners by money boys in China

Money boys (MBs) who typically sell sex to males have not yet been extensively studied in China. In this 2009 study, 28 venue-based MBs were interviewed. We analyzed their condom use behaviors with various partners, including male and female clients, male and female casual partners, other MBs and female sex workers, and boyfriends and girlfriends. All participants were aware of the need for using condoms; however, usage with different partner types varied. The longer a relationship with a partner, the less frequent was condom use. A major reason for not using condoms was that they or their partners did not like the loss of sensation due to condom use. Other factors included sexual orientation, age, duration in commercial sex, concerns about HIV/AIDS, attractiveness of partners, and support of "mommies" (brothel supervisors). Both individual- and venue-level interventions are needed to promote condom use, and mommies need to be included in intervention strategies.     

Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for abdominal wall metastatic tumors: a preliminary study

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided microwave (MW) ablation for abdominal wall metastatic tumors.METHODS: From August 2007 to December 2010, a total of 11 patients with 23 abdominal wall nodules (diameter 2.59 cm ± 1.11 cm, range 1.3 cm to 5.0 cm) were treated with MW ablation. One antenna was inserted into the center of tumors less than 1.7 cm, and multiple antennae were inserted simultaneously into tumors 1.7 cm or larger. A 21 gauge thermocouple was inserted near important organs which required protection (such as bowel or gallbladder) for real-time temperature monitoring during MW ablation. Treatment outcome was observed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [or computed tomography (CT)] during follow-up.RESULTS: MW ablation was well tolerated by all patients. Six patients with 11 nodules had 1 thermocouple inserted near important organs for real-time temperature monitoring and the maximum temperature was 56 °C. Major complications included mild pain (54.5%), post-ablation fever (100%) and abdominal wall edema (25%). All 23 tumors (100%) in this group were completely ablated, and no residual tumor or local recurrence was observed at a median follow-up of 13 mo (range 1 to 32 mo). The ablation zone was well defined on contrast-enhanced imaging (contrast-enhanced CT, MRI and/or contrast-enhanced ultrasound) and gradually shrank with time.CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided MW ablation may be a feasible, safe and effective treatment for abdominal wall metastatic tumors in selected patients.     

抗焦虑对胃癌根治术患者七氟烷用量及术后恢复的影响

目的:研究劳拉西泮联合咪达唑仑对择期胃癌根治术患者抗焦虑作用的有效性,及该方法对术中七氟烷用量和术后疼痛的影响.方法:观察组手术前1d服劳拉西泮,术前40min静注咪达唑仑,术中BIS监测控制麻醉深度,观察两组患者术前Spielberge状态—特质焦虑问卷(STAI)评分,术中七氟烷用量,麻醉恢复时间及术后2、6、24h疼痛VAS评分.结果:观察组状态-特质焦虑问卷评分低于对照组(S-AI:53.60±4.45vs62.70±3.98,P<0.05;T-AI:54.78±3.97vs65.65±4.21,P<0.05),七氟烷的使用量少于对照组(34.70±0.46vs36.20±0.44,P<0.05).两组术后苏醒及拔管时间无统计学差异.两组患者术后6、24hVAS评分,观察组低于对照组(6hVAS评分:3.45±1.60vs4.89±1.91,P<0.05;24hVAS评分:3.51±1.76vs5.17±1.71,P<0.05).结论:劳拉西泮联合咪达唑可以减轻术前患者的焦虑状态,减少术中七氟烷的使用,有利于减轻患者术后疼痛.     

实时定量PCR法分析2型糖尿病患者肠道乳酸杆菌菌种数量的改变

目的:明确2型糖尿病患者与正常对照人群比较是否存在总乳酸杆菌及其具体菌种嗜酸乳杆菌、保加利亚乳杆菌、干酪乳杆菌、植物乳杆菌、鼠李糖乳杆菌数目的差异,以及探索乳酸杆菌与血糖、血脂等代谢指标是否相关.方法:选取2型糖尿病患者50人、正常对照者30人作为研究对象,两组性别、年龄、BMI相匹配.检测糖尿病患者空腹血糖、餐后2h血糖、血脂、C反应蛋白等指标,并收集糖尿病患者及对照者粪便提取细菌总DNA,通过实时荧光定量PCR方法测定目标细菌的拷贝数.结果:2型糖尿病组肠道乳酸杆菌(P<0.001)及嗜酸乳杆菌(P<0.001)、保加利亚乳杆菌(P<0.001)、干酪乳杆菌(P=0.008)、鼠李糖乳杆菌(P<0.001)显著高于对照组,且乳酸杆菌与低密度脂蛋白胆固醇显著负相关(P=0.04).结论:2型糖尿病患者肠道总乳酸杆菌及其某些具体菌种数量增多,乳酸杆菌数量的改变对血脂也存在影响.通过饮食调节肠道乳酸杆菌含量可能有助于改善糖尿病、高脂血症等代谢性疾病.     

Respecting Symptoms in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Management: A Case of Symptomatic Necrotizing Granulomatous Aortitis

A 41-year-old woman presented with chest pain of unclear etiology in the setting of a mildly dilated ascending aorta. Computed tomography angiography showed an aorta with an irregular contour and an aneurysm of 4.5 cm. There was no radiographic evidence of rupture or dissection. The patient was taken to the operating room and was found to have severe aortitis with marked localized wall thinning at imminent risk of aortic rupture. Aortic pathology demonstrated necrotizing granulomas of noninfectious etiology. This case illustrates the importance of respecting symptoms in surgical decision making for thoracic aortic aneurysms that may not meet standard interventional criteria.     

Age-related changes in mouse taste bud morphology, hormone expression, and taste responsivity

Normal aging is a complex process that affects every organ system in the body, including the taste system. Thus, we investigated the effects of the normal aging process on taste bud morphology, function, and taste responsivity in male mice at 2, 10, and 18 months of age. The 18-month-old animals demonstrated a significant reduction in taste bud size and number of taste cells per bud compared with the 2- and 10-month-old animals. The 18-month-old animals exhibited a significant reduction of protein gene product 9.5 and sonic hedgehog immunoreactivity (taste cell markers). The number of taste cells expressing the sweet taste receptor subunit, T1R3, and the sweet taste modulating hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1, were reduced in the 18-month-old mice. Concordant with taste cell alterations, the 18-month-old animals demonstrated reduced sweet taste responsivity compared with the younger animals and the other major taste modalities (salty, sour, and bitter) remained intact.