Marital sex frequency and midcycle female testosterone

The purpose of the study was to attempt to replicate a finding of Persky et al. (1978) that midcycle peak values of testosterone (T) in women predicted differences in frequency of intercourse among married couples. Luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (TT), and free testosterone (FT) values from 10 to 14 daily midcycle blood samples donated by 43 volunteering wives were analyzed against sexual activity patterns reported by the couples over a longer period of time. All couples were contracepting by means other than exogenous hormones or the rhythm method. Each morning through three menstrual cycles husbands and wives recorded independently and on separate forms answers to a series of questions concerning sexual activity in the previous 24 hr. Wives also recorded basal body temperatures (BBT). We designated midcycle values of TT and FT according to several definitions of midcycle. Total testosterone levels at the day of the BBT nadir and the day before the nadir correlated significantly with average intercourse frequency. Correlations with FT were statistically significant regardless of which midcycle measure was used; the day before the BBT nadir gave the highest correlation, 0.618, p = 0.01. Mean testosterone (TT or FT) values were not significantly related. We conclude that female midcycle total testosterone or free testosterone is indexing some unobserved event that affects the frequency of intercourse of couples. We speculate that this event affects the motivation of females, which influences the set point of the compromise frequency characteristic of couples.Research supported in part by NICHD Grant No. 1-R01-HDO7454-01.     

Effect of adding aminophylline infusion to nebulised salbutamol in severe acute asthma.

BACKGROUND--The benefit of adding theophylline to beta 2 agonists in acute asthmatic attacks has been debated frequently. METHODS--In an open randomised study 25 patients with severe acute asthma who presented to the emergency department were treated with either a combined nebulised salbutamol (5 mg/dose) and aminophylline infusion (0.6-0.9 mg/kg/hour), or nebulised salbutamol alone. RESULTS--The responses to treatment as measured by peak expiratory flow (PEF) and the time taken to achieve maximum PEF were similar in both groups. Side effects were observed more commonly in patients receiving the combined treatment. CONCLUSIONS--Nebulised salbutamol is equally efficacious in acute asthma when given alone or in combination with aminophylline.     

A phage-displayed single chain variable fragment that interacts with hepatitis B core antigen: library construction, selection and diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Phage display is an alternative method for constructing and selecting antibodies with desired specificity towards an antigen. OBJECTIVES: To construct a library of single chain variable fragment (ScFv) towards hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). To isolate a ScFv phage clone that interacts with HBcAg and to develop a phage-ELISA for detecting the antigen. STUDY DESIGN: Mice were inoculated with HBcAg and RNA was extracted from their spleen cells. The genes encoding heavy (V(H)) and light (V(L)) chains were amplified, linked via PCR and cloned into a phagemid vector. Phage particles displaying ScFv were panned against HBcAg and a selected clone was characterized and employed as a diagnostic reagent for detecting HBcAg in serum samples. RESULTS: A phage clone that interacts with HBcAg was selected from the antibody library. The binding of the phage to HBcAg was inhibited by a cyclic peptide bearing the WSFFSNI sequence. A phage-ELISA was established using the recombinant phage and as low as 10ng of HBcAg can be detected by the assay. CONCLUSION: The ScFv displayed on the surface of filamentous phage is an alternative choice for diagnosis of HBcAg in serum samples.     

Nipah virus glycoprotein: production in baculovirus and application in diagnosis

A method for serological diagnosis of Nipah virus (NiV) is described. DNA encoding truncated G protein of NiV was cloned into the pFastBac HT vector, and the fusion protein to His-tag was expressed in insect cells by recombinant baculovirus. The resulting His-G recombinant fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatography and used as the coating antigen for serological testing by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). When tested against a panel of swine serum samples, the recombinant G protein-based ELISA successfully discriminated all 40 samples previously determined to be serum neutralizing test (SNT) positive from 11 SNT negatives samples. The data show that the recombinant G protein exhibits the antigenic epitopes and conformation necessary for specific antigen-antibody recognition. The main advantage of the recombinant G protein-based NiV ELISA compared to an ELISA using whole virus antigen is the use of a single antigenic protein instead of inactivated whole virus which is required to be prepared under high risk and cost. This test is suitable for routine diagnosis of NiV and also for epidemiological surveys as it allows highly reliable testing of a large number of sera rapidly.     

Relationship of Daily Coffee Intake with Vascular Function in Patients with Hypertension

We evaluated the relationship of daily coffee intake with endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation and vascular smooth muscle function assessed by nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in patients with hypertension. A total of 462 patients with hypertension were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. First, we divided the subjects into two groups based on information on daily coffee intake: no coffee group and coffee group. The median coffee intake was two cups per day in the coffee group. There were significant differences in both flow-mediated vasodilation (2.6 ± 2.8% in the no coffee group vs. 3.3 ± 2.9% in the coffee group, p = 0.04) and nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (9.6 ± 5.5% in the no coffee group vs. 11.3 ± 5.4% in the coffee group, p = 0.02) between the two groups. After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratio for endothelial dysfunction (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32–0.95) and the odds ratio for vascular smooth muscle dysfunction (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28–0.89) were significantly lower in the coffee group than in the no coffee group. Next, we assessed the relationship of the amount of daily coffee intake with vascular function. Cubic spline curves revealed that patients with hypertension who drank half a cup to 2.5 cups of coffee per day had lower odds ratios for endothelial dysfunction assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation and vascular smooth muscle dysfunction assessed by nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation. Appropriate daily coffee intake might have beneficial effects on endothelial function and vascular smooth muscle function in patients with hypertension.     

A prospective comparison of the yield of EUS in primary vs. recurrent idiopathic acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether EUS should be performed after a single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis vs. recurrent episodes or if clinical factors can predict positive EUS findings. METHODS: Consecutive patients with a single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis or with recurrent episodes underwent EUS (with analysis of bile for bilirubinate and cholesterol crystals, when possible). The diagnostic yield was compared for patients with a single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis and recurrent episodes (stratified by cholecystectomy status). Predictors of positive EUS findings were sought. EUS was considered "positive" if it identified any possible cause of pancreatitis other than chronic pancreatitis. RESULTS: A total of 370 patients were studied (246 no-cholecystectomy group [134 single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis, 112 recurrent episodes] and 124 post-cholecystectomy group [67 single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis, 57 recurrent episodes]). Overall, EUS yielded a positive finding in 29.2%. For patients in the no-cholecystectomy group, positive EUS findings were not significantly more frequent in those with a single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis vs. those with recurrent episodes (31.3% vs. 32.1%; p = 0.89). In the post-cholecystectomy group, the yield was not significantly different for single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis (29.9%) vs. recurrent episodes (17.5%) ( p = 0.15). Chronic pancreatitis was the only abnormality identified in 30.9% of patients in the no-cholecystectomy group vs. 26.6% of those in the post-cholecystectomy group ( p = 0.24). It was the most common abnormality found in all 4 subgroups (range 16.4%-42.0%) and was approximately twice as frequent in patients with recurrent episodes vs. a single episode of idiopathic pancreatitis (no-cholecystectomy: 42.0% vs. 21.6%, p = 0.0008; post-cholecystectomy: 38.6% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.008). Analysis of bile revealed crystals in 38/80 (47.5%) patients in whom it could be performed. Patients with positive EUS findings tended to be older. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with idiopathic pancreatitis, the yield of EUS is not significantly different after an initial attack or after recurrent attacks. Therefore, it is reasonable to perform EUS after an initial attack of idiopathic acute pancreatitis, especially in older patients.     

Cardiovascular Effects of Medical Marijuana: A Systematic Review

Utilization of marijuana as a medicinal agent is becoming increasingly popular, and so far, 25 states have legalized it for medical purposes. However, there is emerging evidence that marijuana use can result in cardiovascular side effects, such as rhythm abnormalities, syncope/dizziness, and myocardial infarction, among others. Further, there are currently no stringent national standards or approval processes, like Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation, in place to assess medical marijuana products. This review includes the largest up-to-date pooled population of patients with exposure to marijuana and reported cardiovascular effects. Although purported as benign by many seeking to advance the use of marijuana as an adjunctive medical therapy across the country, marijuana is associated with its own set of cardiovascular risks and deserves further definitive study and the same level of scrutiny we apply in research of all other types of medications. When used as a medicinal agent, marijuana should be regarded accordingly, and both clinical providers and patients must be aware of potential adverse effects associated with its use for early recognition and management.