Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction: the impact on sexual function in men.

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in men's sexual function after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) treatment for acute myocardial infarction (MI). Sixty men aged 18-70 years old were included in the study. All patients had acute MI and underwent PTCA. They underwent two post PCTA visits: 3 days and between 4 and 6 months after PTCA. During the first and second visit a standard medical interview was carried out and sexual function data collected using Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15). The results showed no statistical differences in IIEF and CSQF scores before and after PTCA. However, when cutoff points were used, a significant decrease in severe erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence according to IIEF (25.0% vs 16.7%; P=0.02) was observed. Based on the results, we concluded that sexual function significantly improved in the subset of men with severe ED who underwent PTCA as a treatment for acute MI, 4-6 months after the procedure.

Survival potential of Escherichia coli and Enterococci in subtropical beach sand: implications for water quality managers.

Fecal bacteria have traditionally been used as indicator organisms to monitor the quality of recreational waters. Recent work has questioned the robustness of traditional indicators, particularly at seawater bathing beaches. For example, a study of Florida beaches found unexpectedly high abundances of Escherichia coli, fecal coliforms, and enterococci in beach sand. The aim of the present study was to explain these abundances by assessing the survival of E. coli and enterococci in beach sand relative to seawater. We used a combination of quantitative laboratory mesocosm experiments and field observations. Results suggested that E. coli and enterococci exhibited increased survivability and growth in sand relative to seawater. Because fecal bacteria are capable of replicating in sand, at least under controlled laboratory conditions, the results suggest that sand may be an important reservoir of metabolically active fecal organisms. Experiments with "natural" mesocosms (i.e., unsterilized sand or water rich in micropredators and native bacteria) failed to show the same increases in fecal indicators as was found in sterile sand. It is postulated that this was due to predation and competition with indigenous bacteria in these "natural" systems. Nonetheless, high populations of indicators were maintained and recovered from sand over the duration of the experiment as opposed to the die-off noted in water. Indicator bacteria may wash out of sand into shoreline waters during weather and tidal events, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of these indicators as predictors of health risk and complicating the interpretations for water quality managers.

Goal orientations and attitudes toward doping.

The aim of the study was to determine if there is a relationship between attitudes toward doping and achievement goal orientations of athletes. Questionnaires from 830 athletes (including 263 females) were obtained. Athletes declared moderately positive attitudes, with attitude toward anti-doping controls as the strongest and attitude toward sanctions as the weakest. Females declared significantly more favourable attitudes than males. With respect to the relationship between goal orientations and attitudes toward doping, it was found that athletes who were high task/low ego oriented declared the most favourable attitudes, while athletes who were low task/high ego oriented declared the least favourable attitudes. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that ego orientation was significantly negatively related to, and task orientation was significantly positively related to attitudes toward doping. It means that with the increase in task orientation, attitudes toward doping became more favourable. The opposite can be said about the increase in ego orientation. It could be argued then, that creating a motivational climate which promotes task orientation (mastery climate) may aid anti-doping efforts.

The influence of bronchial asthma on the quality of life and sexual functioning of women.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma on quality of life and sexual functioning of women. The study was conducted in a population of 72 women aged 18-45 (31 women treated for bronchial asthma and 41 healthy women). A specific questionnaire with a Polish version of Short Form-36 and Female Sexual Function Index was used as a research tool in this study. We found that the quality of life parameters for women with asthma were lower than for the controls in the following aspects: limitations due to physical health, limitations due to emotional problems, social functioning, energy/fatigue and emotional well-being. Asthmatic women showed worse sexual functioning in sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain domain. Sexual dysfunctions were diagnosed in 25.8% of asthmatic women and 17.1% of controls (P>0.05). In conclusion, bronchial asthma decreases quality of life and sexual functioning among women.

The influence of bronchial asthma on premenstrual syndrome prevalence among girls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma and its severity on the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among girls. Eighty girls aged 12-19 years were qualified to the study as a research population (50 girls with bronchial asthma and 30 healthy girls). In research part, age at menarche, menstrual cycle parameters, and premenstrual symptoms were analyzed. The mean age in the asthma group was 15.24+/-1.62 years and that in the control group was 15.30+/-1.64 years. The mean duration of bronchial asthma was 6.66+/-4.73 years. The prevalence of PMS among girls with asthma (20%) was significantly lower compared with healthy girls (46.67%) (P=0.012). The intensity of PMS correlated with later age at menarche (P=0.01), lack of use oral contraceptives (P=0.03), and use of b-mimetics (P=0.017). In conclusion, bronchial asthma decreases the risk of PMS prevalence among girls.

The influence of bronchial asthma on sexual maturation of girls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma on sexual maturation of girls. The study encompassed 111 girls aged 8-17 years (58 girls treated for bronchial asthma and 53 healthy girls). The assessment of girls' sexual maturation has been performed using the Tanner-Marshall scale, determining stages of the development of secondary gender characters - mammary gland (Thelarche: Th1 - Th5), public hair (Pubarche: P1-P5), axillary hair (Adrenarche: A1-A4) and menarche age. The first symptoms of puberty among asthmatic girls started at 11.83+/-2.37 (Th2) and 12.85+/-1.87 (P2) years; they achieved the last stadium, on average, at 15 (Th5) and 17 (P5) years. The ages of Th2 and P2 were comparable, but the ages of Th4 and P5 were statistically younger in healthy girls. Asthmatic girls started to menstruate earlier (10.84+/-1.93 years) than controls (12.24+/-1.16 years). We conclude that bronchial asthma does not affect the beginning of sexual maturation, but it delays the final stage of secondary sexual characters' development. The age at menarche is accelerated in bronchial asthma and it depends on asthma severity and its clinical control.