Evaluation of sexual dysfunction in gynecologic cancer survivors using DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.

BACKGROUND: In gynecologic cancer survivors, female sexual dysfunction (FSD) remains under-investigated. We attempted to estimate the prevalence of FSD associated with distress in gynecologic cancer survivors using diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fifth edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria and to identify women at risk for FSD. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of premenopausal women aged 20-50 with various gynecologic cancers at least one year after treatment between January 2017 and December 2019. Data of sociodemographics and physical conditions were collected via face-to-face interview during outpatient clinic visits. The domains we used to define FSD were based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's t test, Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 126 gynecologic cancer survivors with a mean age of 42.4 years were included for analysis and 55 of them (43.7%) were diagnosed as having FSD associated with distress based on DSM-5 criteria. More than half of women (65.1%) reported decreased sexual satisfaction after cancer treatment. According to DSM-5 definition, the most common female sexual disorders were sexual interest/arousal disorder (70.9%), followed by genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder (60.0%), and orgasmic disorder (20.0%). In multiple logistic regression model, endometrial cancer diagnosis was the only independent factor predicting less influence of cancer treatment on FSD (OR 0.370; 95% CI 0.160, 0.856). CONCLUSION: The first study to use DSM-5 criteria for estimation of FSD prevalence. This enables clinicians to identify which women are actually needed to seek medical help. A prevalence of 43.7% of FSD associated with distress was found in a group of gynecologic cancer survivors with the most common being sexual interest/arousal disorder. Endometrial cancer survivors were at low risk for developing FSD after treatment.

Atomic-layer-deposited silver and dielectric nanostructures for plasmonic enhancement of Raman scattering from nanoscale ultrathin films.

Plasmonic silver nanostructures and a precise ZnO cover layer prepared by capacitively coupled plasma atomic layer deposition (ALD) were exploited to enhance the Raman scattering from nanoscale ultrathin films on a Si substrate. The plasmonic activity was supported by a nanostructured Ag (nano-Ag) layer, and a ZnO cover layer was introduced upon the nano-Ag layer to spectrally tailor the localized surface plasmon resonance to coincide with the laser excitation wavelength. Because of the optimized dielectric environment provided by the precise growth of ZnO cover layer using ALD, the intensity of Raman scattering from nanoscale ultrathin films was significantly enhanced by an additional order of magnitude, leading to the observation of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases in the nanoscale ZrO2 high-K gate dielectric as thin as ∼6 nm on Si substrate. The excellent agreement between the finite-difference time-domain simulation and experimental measurement further confirms the so-called [absolute value]E(->)[absolute value](4) dependence of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering. This technique of plasmonic enhancement of Raman spectroscopy, assisted by the nano-Ag layer and optimized dielectric environment prepared by ALD, can be applied to characterize the structures of ultrathin films in a variety of nanoscale materials and devices, even on a Si substrate with overwhelming Raman background.

Effect of methoxychlor on Ca²âº homeostasis and apoptosis in HA59T human hepatoma cells.

Methoxychlor, an organochlorine pesticide, is thought to be an endocrine disrupter that affects Ca²âº homeostasis and cell viability in different cell models. This study explored the action of methoxychlor on cytosolic free Ca²âº concentrations ([Ca²âº]i) and apoptosis in HA59T human hepatoma cells. Fura-2, a Ca²âº-sensitive fluorescent dye, was applied to measure [Ca²âº]i. Methoxychlor at concentrations of 0.1-1 µM caused a [Ca²âº]i rise in a concentration-dependent manner. Removal of external Ca²âº abolished methoxychlor's effect. Methoxychlor-induced Ca²âº influx was confirmed by Mn²âº-induced quench of fura-2 fluorescence. Methoxychlor-induced Ca²âº entry was inhibited by nifedipine, econazole, SK&F96365, and protein kinase C modulators. Methoxychlor killed cells at concentrations of 10-130 µM in a concentration-dependent fashion. Chelation of cytosolic Ca²âº with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid/AM (BAPTA/AM) did not prevent methoxychlor's cytotoxicity. Methoxychlor (10 and 50 µM) induced apoptosis concentration-dependently as determined by using Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Together, in HA59T cells, methoxychlor induced a [Ca²âº]i rise by inducing Ca²âº entry via protein kinase C-sensitive Ca²âº-permeable channels, without causing Ca²âº release from stores. Methoxychlor also induced apoptosis that was independent of [Ca²âº]i rises.

Synthesis and Hydrogelation of Star-Shaped Graft Copolypetides with Asymmetric Topology.

To study the self-assembly and hydrogel formation of the star-shaped graft copolypeptides with asymmetric topology, star-shaped poly(L-lysine) with various arm numbers were synthesized by using asymmetric polyglycerol dendrimers (PGDs) as the initiators and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) as an activator for OH groups, followed by deprotection and grafting with indole or phenyl group on the side chain. The packing of the grafting moiety via non-covalent interactions not only facilitated the polypeptide segments to adopt more ordered conformations but also triggered the spontaneous hydrogelation. The hydrogelation ability was found to be correlated with polypeptide composition and topology. The star-shaped polypeptides with asymmetric topology exhibited poorer hydrogelation ability than those with symmetric topology due to the less efficient packing of the grafted moiety. The star-shaped polypeptides grafted with indole group on the side chain exhibited better hydrogelation ability than those grafted with phenyl group with the same arm number. This report demonstrated that the grafted moiety and polypeptide topology possessed the potential ability to modulate the polypeptide hydrogelation and hydrogel characteristics.

Polypeptide Composition and Topology Affect Hydrogelation of Star-Shaped Poly(L-lysine)-Based Amphiphilic Copolypeptides.

In this research, we studied the effect of polypeptide composition and topology on the hydrogelation of star-shaped block copolypeptides based on hydrophilic, coil poly(L-lysine)20 (s-PLL20) tethered with a hydrophobic, sheet-like polypeptide segment, which is poly(L-phenylalanine) (PPhe), poly(L-leucine) (PLeu), poly(L-valine) (PVal) or poly(L-alanine) (PAla) with a degree of polymerization (DP) about 5. We found that the PPhe, PLeu, and PVal segments are good hydrogelators to promote hydrogelation. The hydrogelation and hydrogel mechanical properties depend on the arm number and hydrophobic polypeptide segment, which are dictated by the amphiphilic balance between polypeptide blocks and the hydrophobic interactions/hydrogen bonding exerted by the hydrophobic polypeptide segment. The star-shaped topology could facilitate their hydrogelation due to the branching chains serving as multiple interacting depots between hydrophobic polypeptide segments. The 6-armed diblock copolypeptides have better hydrogelation ability than 3-armed ones and s-PLL-b-PPhe exhibits better hydrogelation ability than s-PLL-b-PVal and s-PLL-b-PLeu due to the additional cation-π and π-π interactions. This study highlights that polypeptide composition and topology could be additional parameters to manipulate polypeptide hydrogelation.

Relaxant and vasoprotective effects of ginger extracts on porcine coronary arteries.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a popular Chinese herbal medicine, which is considered to warm the stomach and dispel cold in traditional Chinese medicine. Ginger is widely used to treat stomach disorders, and it has been reported to exhibit antithrombotic activity via the inhibition of platelet aggregation and thromboxane B2 production in vitro. Cardiovascular disease is associated with the aberrant functioning of the heart and circulatory system; the relatively narrow vessels of the circulation are commonly affected and blocked by atherosclerosis, which may result in angina or heart attack. Numerous drugs and medicines are used to treat myocardial infarction; however, they are often associated with numerous side effects. Therefore, it is important to identify substitutive drugs with no unbearable side effects. In the present study, the relaxant effects of ginger crude extract (GCE) were determined on porcine coronary arteries. The DPPH radical scavenging assay, lucigenin­enhanced chemiluminescence assay and western blot analysis were used to individually detect antioxidant assay of ginger extraction or superoxide anion produced by endothelial cells and molecular signaling. The results indicated that GCE induced relaxation of porcine coronary arteries in an endothelium­dependent manner. GCE increased vasoprotection via the suppression of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase. In addition, GCE possessed antioxidant ability, as determined using 1,1­diphenyl­2­picrylhydrazyl and lucigenin­enhanced chemiluminescence assays. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that GCE exerts marked vasoprotective effects and free radical­scavenging activities in porcine coronary arteries.