Web-Based Relationship Education and Pornography-Related Behaviors: A Single-Group Design During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Research surrounding pornography and its impact on individual and relationship functioning is a frequent and ongoing debate in the current literature. However, recent meta-analyses and aggregated studies suggest that relationship distress is associated with higher levels of general pornography use. This may be a reason why a significant number of men and women view pornography and seek help for their use. In the present study, we explored whether participation in the OurRelationship program, a web-based relationship education program that has been empirically shown to reduce relationship distress but is not tailored to reduce general pornography use, was associated with reliable changes in pornography-related behaviors. In a sample of low-income and diverse couples (N = 314 couples; 628 individuals), we observed high completion rates (64.3%) as well as reliable, small-sized decreases in the frequency and duration of pornography use for the average couple (d = 0.12-0.13). Furthermore, post hoc analyses found that individuals who began the program viewing pornography daily reported reliability-larger decreases in pornography-related behaviors (d = 0.32-0.90) than those who viewed pornography less frequently. However, we did not see reliable changes in couples' arguments about pornography use or perceptions of problematic use. The findings were generally not moderated by gender or lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians struggling to reduce their client's general pornography use may consider including a focus on improving general romantic relationship functioning.

Examining the Problematic Pornography Use Model: A Quantitative Exploration of Dysregulated Pornography Use.

BACKGROUND: Questions concerning problematic pornography consumption have been widely discussed, but longitudinal data examining the relationships implicated by problematic pornography use models are rare. To date, two models have been proposed that have sought to elucidate the causal mechanisms involved in a problematic pornography use model, the I-PACE model and the Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence Model. AIM: We sought to clarify this issue by investigating the prospective association between variables integral to previously proposed addiction models. METHODS: Using a longitudinal TurkPrime.com sample (N = 317), and a newly developed measure of pornography consumption, we asked participants to answer questions related to their pornography usage, their distress levels, and individual differences over a six-month time frame during 2017. MAIN OUTCOME: Pornography consumption only led to distress when an individual possessed certain individual differences. Moreover, there was no evidence that pornography use mediated or suppressed the relationship between pornography consumption and distress. RESULTS: Using a series of mediation/suppression models, we found evidence to support the structure of existing theoretical models; specifically, pornography consumption amplifies the relationship between individual differences (ie, sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking) and distress (ie, depression and sexual esteem) over a six-month time period. However, we failed to observe an association between pornography consumption and distress when sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking were left unaccounted for within the model, suggesting pornography use likely only results in distress in those with certain individual differences. Moreover, there was no evidence that perceptions of problematic pornography use suppressed or mediated the relationship between pornography consumption and distress. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that targeting specific individual differences -a la Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-rather than pornography consumption attitudes may be a more effective strategy to reduce problematic pornography use. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: One strength of the current study was that we were able to corroborate previously hypothesized models of problematic pornography consumption. Furthermore, this was done using a newly designed measurement of pornography consumption. However, the study was not without some shortcoming. We were unable to test the pornography problems due to moral incongruence arm of the study, something that previous research has indicated may lead to distress. CONCLUSION: This paper sought to empirically examine models investigating problematic pornography use. Our findings indicate that pornography consumption will only lead to certain sorts of distress in the presence of specific individual differences ie, sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking. Hatch HD, Hatch SG, Henderson E, et al. Examining the Problematic Pornography Use Model: A Quantitative Exploration of Dysregulated Pornography Use. J Sex Med 2022;19:132-143.

Lithium carbonate: Updated reproductive and developmental toxicity assessment using scientific literature and guideline compliant studies.

The current publication describes most recent so far unpublished (key) guideline and GLP compliant reproductive and developmental toxicity studies of lithium carbonate in rats, including their interpretation and conclusions in terms of human hazard assessment when compared to existing literature. Particular attention was paid to the target organs and dose response of lithium ion related effects to differentiate between a primary (pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic) action and secondary effects as a result of systemic and target organ toxicity. In the key two-generation reproduction toxicity (OECD TG 416) study in rats, doses of 5, 15 and 45 mg/kg bw/d (0.95, 2.9 and 8.6 mg Li+/kg bw/d) were given by oral gavage, resulting in clear NOAELs of 15 mg/kg bw/d (2.9 mg Li+/kg bw/d) for systemic parental toxicity and 45 mg/kg bw/d (8.6 mg Li+/kg bw/d) for reproductive toxicity and fetal toxicity. Target organ changes were consistently observed in liver (cytoplasmic rarefaction) and kidney (dilated tubuli). In the key developmental toxicity (OECD TG 414) study in rats, doses given by oral gavage were 10, 30 and 90 mg/kg bw/d (1.9, 5.7 and 17.1 mg Li+/kg bw/d) was investigated resulting in NO(A)ELs of 30 mg/kg bw/d (5.7 mg Li+/kg bw/d) (maternal toxicity) and 90 mg/kg bw/d (17 mg Li+/kg bw/d) (fetal toxicity and teratogenicity). The highest dose of 90 mg/kg bw/day resulted in clear signs of toxicity and peak plasma concentrations at the toxic range (>1.0 mEq lithium/L). Toxic effects of lithium carbonate were not seen in the reproductive and developmental organs. No adverse effects on sperm (total motility, progressive motility and morphology of testicular and cauda epididymal sperm) were observed in the two-generation rat reproduction toxicity study. There was also no impact on fertility indices or on litter sizes in this study, nor were there any fetal effects in the two-generation reproduction toxicity and developmental toxicity study at doses causing already systemic toxicity in the dams. Secondary effects such as decreased weight (gain) and food consumption were reported in the developmental toxicity study. The absence of any reproductive/developmental findings at dose levels causing clear systemic toxicity in the test animals in these key mammalian studies, does not suggest an immediate concern for possible human reproductive or developmental toxicity effects from exposure to lithium during drug use.

A comparison of older adolescent and adult females' responses to anger-provoking situations.

There has been an increase in research on anger in girls and women. However, few researchers have examined anger across different groups of females. The goal of this study was to examine the experience and expression of anger in individuals who differ by age and employee/student status. Two female populations, university students and employees, described their reactions to a hypothetical work/school-related situation. Similar factors elicited an angry emotion, but there were group differences in the responses to the anger experience. The results are interpreted from a gender schema perspective, taking the contextual influence of developmental period and employee/student role into account.

Coordinating center follow-up in the Veterans Administration Cooperative Study of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

In the VA Cooperative Study of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, follow-up by the participating investigators was completed in 1984 and annual centralized follow-up by the coordinating center for an additional 5 years was initiated in 1985. Follow-up was restricted to key outcomes that could be reliably obtained in most patients-survival, severity of angina, myocardial infarction and bypass surgery. Ninety-five percent of patients consented to annual follow-up by telephone or mail. At the first annual follow-up, 95% of all survivors were contacted; 95% were also contacted at the second follow-up. In the initial follow-up, survival status was known in all patients and severity of angina was recorded in 93% of survivors; all bypass operations and all but one infarct identified were documented by a discharge summary. Our results indicate that coordinating center follow-up was effective in a long-term study of a chronic disease and depended on the willingness of patients to participate, the experience of the interviewers, and the ability of the coordinating center to contact patients and retrieve outcome data. This report describes the methods used for the centralized follow-up of the surviving patients and summarizes the initial follow-up results. The limitations and advantages of this approach are also discussed.

Metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas simulating primary bronchogenic carcinoma.

A retrospective study of 294 patients with biopsy- or autopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was done. The initial diagnosis of ten patients (3.4%) was primary lung cancer. All ten patients were cigarette smokers. Hilar adenopathy with mediastinal widening was the most common roentgenographic appearance. Tumors of the body and tail of the pancreas more often appeared to be primary lung tumors than did tumors of the head of the pancreas (about 10% vs. about 1%). Adverse consequences of this unrecognized phenomenon may include unnecessary lung surgery for some cancer patients and overreporting of deaths from lung cancer.