Brief report: recent findings on the Sexual Aversion Scale.

This study provides additional information on the psychometric properties of the Sexual Aversion Scale (SAS). Results suggest a positive relationship between sexual aversion, generalized anxiety, and history of sexual victimization. Variables such as age and religiosity were unrelated to scores on the SAS, although females reported significantly more sexual anxiety than males. The factor structure of the SAS is described and suggests that sexual aversion is a multifaceted problem with at least three and possibly four different dimensions.     

The role of recombination signal sequences in the preferential joining by deletion in DH-JH recombination and in the ordered rearrangement of the IgH locus

The bias favoring deletion over inversion in DH-JH rearrangement has been known for years, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be fully defined. It has been suggested that the ratio of deletion/inversion is determined by the combined effect of two factors: (i) the relative strengths of 5' and 3' recombination signal sequences (RSS) of a DH segment, and (ii) the efficiency with which the deletional product (one joint) forms relative to the inversional product (two joints). In this study, we analyzed for the first time the effect of factor 1 alone on the biased 3' RSS utilization in DH-JH joining by using deletional plasmids in an extrachromosomal substrate V(D)J recombination assay. It was found that the 3' RSS and associated coding end (12 bp) mediate recombination more efficiently than the 5' RSS/coding end DH-JH plasmids. These results demonstrate that the effect of the RSS/coding end alone can account, at least partially, for the predominant deletion in DH-JH recombination. The potential effect of the relative strength of RSS and associated coding end on the ordered rearrangement of DH-JH followed by VH to DH-JH was also assessed. When recombination frequencies of D-->J (3' DH to J3) were compared with frequencies of V-- >D (VHPJ14 to 3' DH or VHOX2 to 3' DH), it was found that V-->D joining was, if anything, more efficient than D-->J joining. Therefore, if all three segments were accessible, RSS/coding end effects would not contribute to the ordered rearrangement of the IgH locus.      

Development and Validation of the Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults

PurposeWe developed and validated a measure that assesses the latent construct of sexual and reproductive empowerment among adolescents and young adults. A specific measure for this group is critical because of their unique life stage and circumstances, which often includes frequent changes in sexual partners and involvement from parents in decision-making.MethodsAfter formative qualitative research, a review of the literature, and cognitive interviews, we developed 95 items representing nine dimensions of sexual and reproductive empowerment. Items were then fielded among a national sample of young people aged 15–24 years, and those who identified as sexually active completed a 3-month follow-up survey. We conducted psychometric analysis and scale validation.ResultsExploratory factor analysis on responses from 1,117 participants resulted in the Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults, containing 23 items captured by seven subscales: comfort talking with partner; choice of partners, marriage, and children; parental support; sexual safety; self-love; sense of future; and sexual pleasure. Validation using logistic regression demonstrated that the subscales were consistently associated with sexual and reproductive health information and access to sexual and reproductive health services measured at baseline and moderately associated with the use of desired contraceptive methods at 3-month follow-up.ConclusionsThe Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults is a new measure that assesses young people’s empowerment regarding sexual and reproductive health. It can be used by researchers, public health practitioners, and clinicians to measure sexual and reproductive empowerment among young people.     

Matrix metalloproteinases in epithelia from human recurrent corneal erosion

PURPOSE: To assay for the presence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human corneal epithelium affected by recurrent erosion compared with that in normal corneal epithelium. METHODS: Corneal epithelial debridement samples were obtained from 13 patients with recurrent epithelial erosion. For control specimens, epithelia were obtained from healthy patients undergoing photorefractive keratectomy. Zymography was performed on all samples to identify MMPs. Immunolocalization of MMP-2, laminin, and collagen type VII was determined in two samples with human recurrent epithelial erosion and compared with that in control epithelium. RESULTS: Twelve of 13 erosion samples showed MMP-2 enzymatic activity; one of the 12 also showed MMP-9 activity. Only one erosion sample showed no MMP enzymatic activity. All normal control specimens were negative for MMP. Immunohistochemical analysis of two recurrent erosion samples showed MMP-2 presence in basal cells, whereas, in normal epithelium it was not detected. One sample with epithelial erosion showed laminin localization in basal epithelial cells and basal lamina. Type VII collagen localized in basal epithelial cells only in this sample. A second erosion sample showed localization of laminin and type VII collagen in basal epithelial cells only. Normal corneal epithelium showed presence of laminin and type VII collagen in basal epithelium and basal lamina. CONCLUSIONS: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression is upregulated in human epithelia affected by recurrent erosion compared with that in normal control samples. Immunolocalization studies suggest that this enzyme is concentrated in basal epithelial cells where it may play an important role in degradation of the epithelial anchoring system and the recurrent epithelial slippage and erosion observed in these patients.     

Reduction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits and decrease of expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in foam cells by a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum

Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside （PMS） is a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. , one of the most famous tonic traditional Chinese medicines, that has protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the effects of PMS on macrophage-derived foam cell functions and the reduction of severity of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic New Zealand White （NZW） rabbits. NZW rabbits were fed for 12 weeks with a normal diet, a high cholesterol diet, or a high cholesterol diet associated with irrigation with different doses of PMS （25, 50, or 100 mg/kg）. Treatment of NZW rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet with 100 mg/kg PMS attenuated the increase in plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and plasma triglyceride. Treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg PMS caused 43% and 60% decrease in atherosclerotic lesioned area ratio to total surface area, respectively. In U937 foam cells, PMS could decrease the high expression of intercellular adhesion molecule （ICAM）-1 protein and the vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） protein levels in the medium induced by oxidized lipoprotein when analyzed by flow cytometry. The results proved that PMS is a powerful agent against atherosclerosis and that PMS action could possibly be through the inhibition of the expression of ICAM-1 and VEGF in foam cells.