A Retrospective View of a Sexual Dysfunction Clinic, 1980–83

Case notes of 337 couples attending a well-established sexual dysfunction clinic between 1980 and 1983 were surveyed. The distribution of various types of sexual dysfunction was compared with similar studies reported from the U.K. Among males secondary erectile dysfunction was the commonest presenting cause and general unresponsiveness among the females. The majority of the referrals were from general practitioners. The drop-out rates in each category were high. The reasons for this are discussed and suggestions for further research made.     

CCK as a modulator of cardiovascular function

The gut-brain peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) has been implicated in a wide range of physiological processes including digestion, satiety, anxiety, nociception and lordosis. In addition, it is becoming clear that CCK is involved in regulating certain aspects of cardiovascular function. This article reviews the cardiovascular effects elicited by CCK via its actions at both central and peripheral sites and considers the physiological role of the peptide with respect to the cardiovascular function in different physiological and pathophysiological states. In the periphery CCK released from entoeroendocrine cells in the gut wall in response to a meal triggers a local postprandial hyperaemia in the gut that could promote digestion by facilitating intestinal motility and secretory processes. In addition, activation of CCK receptors on abdominal vagal afferents elicits a reflexly evoked hyperaemia that potentiates these effects and is also gasroprotective. In the brain CCK appears to act as a neuromodulator rather than a direct mediator within cardiovascular control circuits. In particular, it facilitates activity in amygdalar, hypothalamic and midbrain circuits that are involved in mediating acute cardiovascular and behavioural responses to an extreme physical or psychologically stressful challenge. Whilst in the short term activation of the CCK system appears to be beneficial to the organism, chronic stimulation of the system may be maladaptive, laying the foundation for the development of pathophysiological conditions such as panic disorder and chronic pain, both of which are states characterised by significant autonomic activation.     

不同拒绝敏感性大学生对社交情绪词记忆的偏好

目的:探究不同拒绝敏感性大学生对社交情境中情绪性词语的记忆偏好。方法:本实验采用2(拒绝敏感性:高分组,低分组)×2(情绪词效价:积极,消极)×2(回忆倾向:自我,他人)混合实验设计。结果:1与低拒绝敏感性大学生相比,高拒绝敏感性大学生更倾向于记忆描述不同情绪效价的句子[F(1,52)=9.59,P0.01];2所有大学生在记忆描述自我情绪的句子时比记忆描述他人情绪的句子时的成绩更好[F(1,52)=4.45,P0.05];3与拒绝敏感性低分组大学生相比,拒绝敏感性高分组大学生在记忆描述他人消极情绪的句子时的成绩更好[F(1,52)=4.21,P0.05],而且也更倾向于记忆描述自我的积极情绪的句子[F(1,52)=12.65,P0.001]。结论:高拒绝敏感性大学生更倾向于记忆他人的消极情绪,并且会过度的关注此社交情境中自我产生的积极情绪。     

小脑皮层神经回路及其功能作用(英文)

目的利用小脑的生理结构构造模拟小脑网络回路,研究小脑皮层不同神经细胞的电位发放、外界刺激对小脑皮层细胞的影响以及各类细胞电位发放模式等。方法与结果利用神经元的多房室模型和NEURON软件,研究不同输入刺激对蒲肯野细胞电位发放的影响。对颗粒细胞–高尔基细胞的反馈抑制回路对蒲肯野细胞的时间聚焦以及平行纤维–篮状/星状细胞局部抑制回路对蒲肯野细胞的空间聚焦现象进行了验证。运用施加运动学习的小脑网络模型研究兔子眨眼的条件反射现象,用模型的电位发放指标反映学习后兔子眨眼的实验现象。当刺激信号从攀状纤维输入时,通过精确放电时间依赖的突触可塑性学习,兔子眨眼的适应作用逐渐达到稳定状态。结论本文构造的小脑皮层网络真实可靠。模型的数值结果证实,小脑皮层经过精确放电时间依赖的突触可塑性学习后,输出信号稳定,可以执行时间聚焦和空间聚焦的功能。     

A unique association between cognitive inhibition and pain sensitivity in healthy participants

The experience of pain constitutes a complex phenomenon that is determined by and reflects the interplay of many factors, including cognitive functions. Little is known, however, about the precise role of executive functions in pain sensitivity. Importantly, these functions may be directly related to the ability to control pain. The present study evaluated the relationship between pain sensitivity and executive functions in a sample of healthy volunteers. Pain sensitivity was assessed with the cold pressor test. The immersion time, here defined as the time until substantial pain was reported, was measured. Additional pain intensity and pain unpleasantness ratings were obtained as an indication of pain experience. The results revealed a unique association between cognitive inhibition (i.e. the Stroop interference score), but not other executive functions, and immersion time, pain intensity, and pain unpleasantness. Specifically, better cognitive inhibition was related to a reduction in pain sensitivity as evident by an increased immersion time and decreased pain intensity and pain unpleasantness ratings. As such, cognitive inhibition may be an important determinant of pain sensitivity.     

In vitro sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to conventional and novel antimalarial drugs in Papua New Guinea

Objective Recent clinical studies have shown high rates of malaria treatment failure in endemic areas of Papua New Guinea (PNG), necessitating a change of treatment from chloroquine (CQ) or amodiaquine (AQ) plus sulphadoxine‐pyrimethamine to the artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) artemether plus lumefantrine (LM). To facilitate the monitoring of antimalarial drug resistance in this setting, we assessed the in vitro sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Madang Province. Methods A validated colorimetric lactate dehydrogenase assay was used to assess growth inhibition of 64 P. falciparum isolates in the presence of nine conventional or novel antimalarial drugs [CQ, AQ, monodesethyl‐amodiaquine (DAQ), piperaquine (PQ), naphthoquine (NQ), mefloquine (MQ), LM, dihydroartemisinin and azithromycin (AZ)]. Results The geometric mean (95% confidence interval) concentration required to inhibit parasite growth by 50% (IC₅₀) was 167 (141–197) nm for CQ, and 82% of strains were resistant (threshold 100 nm ), consistent with near‐fixation of the CQ resistance‐associated pfcrt allele in PNG. Except for AZ [8.351 (5.418–12.871) nm ], the geometric mean IC₅₀ for the other drugs was <20 nm . There were strong associations between the IC₅₀s of 4‐aminoquinoline (CQ, AQ, DAQ and NQ), bisquinoline (PQ) and aryl aminoalcohol (MQ) compounds suggesting cross‐resistance, but LM IC₅₀ only correlated with that of MQ. Conclusions Most PNG isolates are resistant to CQ in vitro but not to other ACT partner drugs. The non‐isotopic semi‐automated high‐throughput nature of the Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase assay facilitates the convenient serial assessment of local parasite sensitivity, so that emerging resistance can be identified with relative confidence at an early stage.     

The grasp reflex: A symptom in need of treatment

The grasp reflex is one of the primitive reflexes frequently observed in neurodegenerative diseases. However, quality of life and treatment of the grasp reflex are neglected in the literature. Following two brief case vignettes of patients seen recently who experienced disability from a grasp reflex, we briefly review its phenomenology, anatomy–physiology and epidemiology in neurodegenerative movement disorders, and assess the limited current literature regarding the quality of life and treatment. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society.     

Contrast sensitivity,ocular blood flow and their potential role in assessing ischaemic retinal disease

Purpose: To examine the definition, evaluation methodology, association to ocular blood flow and potential clinical value of contrast sensitivity (CS) testing in clinical and research settings, focusing in patients with ischemic retinal disease. Methods: A review of the medical literature focusing on CS and ocular blood flow in ischemic retinal disease. Results: CS may be more sensitive than other methods at detecting subtle defects or improvements in primarily central retinal ganglion cell function early on in a disease process. CS testing attempts to provide spatial detection differences which are not directly assessed with standard visual acuity chart testing. Analyzing all studies that have assessed both CS change and ocular blood flow, it is apparent that both choroidal circulation and retinal circulation may have an important role in influencing CS. Conclusion: The concept that CS is directly influenced by ocular blood flow is supported by reviewing the studies involving both. Although the studies in the literature have not established a direct cause and effect relationship per se, the literature review makes it logical to assume that changes in retinal and choroidal blood flow influence CS. This raises the possibility that a subjective visual characteristic, specifically CS, may be able to be evaluated more objectively by studying blood flow. It appears appropriate to study the relationship between blood flow and CS more extensively to develop improved ways of measuring various aspects of blood flow to the eye and to best quantify early changes in visual function.