“I guess somebody already told you”: LGBTQ+ Students’ Experiences in Secondary School Contexts

This qualitative study is focused on the secondary educational experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth. Based on the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s 2017 survey results, researchers asserted that the school climate remains hostile for LGBTQ+ youth (Kosciw et al., 2018). Three specific factors contributing to this adverse climate are: (a) students’ safety, (b) school policies, and (c) teacher inaction. Therefore, this qualitative study put forth the following research question: What can be learned from the secondary school experiences of genderqueer/gender nonbinary youth? This main question was followed with the following sub-questions: a) What did their experiences reveal about school connectedness?; b) How did they view their identity in relationship to their secondary school experiences?; and c) How did their school experiences inform how they view allies? The three participants included in this study self-identified as genderqueer or gender nonbinary and were 19 years old. These participants attended public middle and high school for some or all of their secondary schooling. The themes that emerged through both narrative analysis and multiple coding cycles include: 1) connections and disconnections to school; 2) positive teacher relationships; and 3) identity as a reflection of self. Based on my analysis of these themes using a queer theoretical framework, I propose to provide educators with professional development that will develop an awareness of heteronormative and gender normative cultures within schools. This professional development seeks to address how teachers have the opportunity to disrupt the heteronormative and gender normative culture

Randomised Clinical Trial of Prostatic Artery Embolisation Versus a Sham Procedure for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background: Prostatic artery embolisation (PAE) has been associated with an improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH), but conclusive evidence of efficacy from randomised controlled clinical trials has been lacking. Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of PAE compared with a sham procedure in the treatment of LUTS/BPH. Design, setting, and participants: A randomised, single-blind, sham-controlled superiority clinical trial was conducted in 80 males ≥45yr with severe LUTS/BPH refractory to medical treatment from 2014 to 2019 in a private clinic, with efficacy assessments at 6 and 12 mo after randomisation. One patient in the PAE group and three in the sham group did not complete the study. Intervention: Patients were randomised 1:1 upon successful catheterisation of a prostatic artery to either PAE or a sham PAE procedure without embolisation. After 6 mo, all 38 patients randomised to the sham group who completed the single-blind period underwent PAE, and both groups completed a 6-mo open period. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: An intention-to-treat analysis of all randomised patients was performed. The coprimary outcomes were the change from baseline to 6 mo in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the quality of life (QoL) score at 6 mo, analysed with analysis of covariance and t test, respectively. Results and limitations: Mean age was 63.8±6.0yr, baseline IPSS 26.4±3.87, and QoL score 4.43±0.52. At 6 mo, patients in the PAE arm had a greater improvement in IPSS, with a difference in the change from baseline of 13.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.2-16.2, p<0.0001), and a better QoL score at 6 mo (difference: 2.13; 95% CI 1.57-2.68, p<0.0001) than the patients in the sham arm. The improvements in IPSS and QoL in the sham group 6 mo after they performed PAE were, respectively, 13.6±9.19 (p<0.0001) and 2.05 ± 1.71 (p<0.0001). Adverse events occurred in 14 (35.0%) patients after PAE and in 13 (32.5%) after sham, with one serious adverse event in the sham group during the open period. No treatment failures occurred. Limitations include a single-centre trial, only severe LUTS/BPH, and follow-up limited to 12 mo. Conclusions: The improvements in subjective and objective variables after PAE are far superior from those due to the placebo effect. Patient summary: Clearly superior efficacy of prostatic artery embolisation (PAE) compared with a sham procedure was found in this study, which supports the use of PAE in patients with typical symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prostatic Arterial Embolization to Treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) might be a feasible procedure to treat lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients (age range, 62-82 years; mean age, 74.1 y) with symptomatic BPH after failure of medical treatment were selected for PAE with nonspherical 200-μm polyvinyl alcohol particles. The procedure was performed by a single femoral approach. Technical success was considered when selective prostatic arterial catheterization and embolization was achieved on at least one pelvic side. RESULTS: PAE was technically successful in 14 of the 15 patients (93.3%). There was a mean follow-up of 7.9 months (range, 3-12 months). International Prostate Symptom Score decreased a mean of 6.5 points (P = .005), quality of life improved 1.14 points (P = .065), International Index of Erectile Function increased 1.7 points (P = .063), and peak urinary flow increased 3.85 mL/sec (P = .015). There was a mean prostate-specific antigen reduction of 2.27 ng/mL (P = .072) and a mean prostate volume decrease of 26.5 mL (P = .0001) by ultrasound and 28.9 mL (P = .008) by magnetic resonance imaging. There was one major complication (a 1.5-cm(2) ischemic area of the bladder wall) and four clinical failures (28.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In this small group of patients, PAE was a feasible procedure, with preliminary results and short-term follow-up suggesting good symptom control without sexual dysfunction in suitable candidates, associated with a reduction in prostate volume

Creative dance can enhance proprioception in older adults

Aim. It has been shown by many authors that proprioception declines with age. However, few studies have examined the effects of exercise interventions on proprioception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a creative dance program on proprioception of older adults. Methods. Thirty-seven men and women between 55 and 80 years of age, who were not engaged in any exercise program for at least one year, were randomly assigned to an experimental (63.6±5.7 years) or a control group (65.3±7.6 years). The experimental group participated in a creative dance program for 12 weeks with a periodicity of 3 sessions of 90 minutes per week. Measures of knee kinesthesia, knee joint position sense and arm positioning were taken before and after the program. Results. After 12 weeks, knee joint position sense (P=0.005) knee kinesthesia (in flexion) (P=0.04), and arm positioning (P=0.008) significantly improved within the creative dance training group. At 12 weeks follow-up, arm positioning performance was significantly better for the creative dance group when compared with the control group (P=0.043). The control group did not show any significant improvement in proprioception. Conclusion. This study showed that a creative dance program emphasising body awareness can improve proprioception in older adults

Embolisation of Prostatic Arteries as Treatment of Moderate to Severe Lower Urinary Symptoms (LUTS) Secondary to Benign Hyperplasia: Results of Short- and Mid-Term Follow-Up

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the short- and medium-term results of prostatic arterial embolisation (PAE) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: This was a prospective non-randomised study including 255 patients diagnosed with BPH and moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms after failure of medical treatment for at least 6 months. The patients underwent PAE between March 2009 and April 2012. Technical success is when selective prostatic arterial embolisation is completed in at least one pelvic side. Clinical success was defined as improving symptoms and quality of life. Evaluation was performed before PAE and at 1, 3, 6 and every 6 months thereafter with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), uroflowmetry, prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and volume. Non-spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles were used. RESULTS: PAE was technically successful in 250 patients (97.9 %). Mean follow-up, in 238 patients, was 10 months (range 1-36). Cumulative rates of clinical success were 81.9 %, 80.7 %, 77.9 %, 75.2 %, 72.0 %, 72.0 %, 72.0 % and 72.0 % at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months, respectively. There was one major complication. CONCLUSIONS: PAE is a procedure with good results for BPH patients with moderate to severe LUTS after failure of medical therapy. KEY POINTS: • Prostatic artery embolisation offers minimally invasive therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. • Prostatic artery embolisation is a challenging procedure because of vascular anatomical variations. • PAE is a promising new technique that has shown good results

Understanding Citizens’ Environmental Concern and Their Pro-environmental Behaviours and Attitudes and Their Influence on Energy Use

[Abstract] The analysis of the prime political ideologies that affect human behaviours and how these make people interact with their habitat is most necessary for policy making. The objective of the present research is to analyse the relationship between an individual’s political ideology and his/her environmental concern and pro-environmental behaviours and attitudes, and how these last two influences on pro-electrical consumption attitudes. To achieve the objective, we based the research on information from two surveys effectuated two years apart. A total of 3,395 household heads were interviewed (84.5% from 2019 and 15.5% from 2021). Four hypotheses were launched and only one validated through our study which proved the relationship between environmental concern and pro-electrical consumption attitudes. However, the study additionally shows a gradual decrease in environmental concern and pro-environmental behaviours and attitudes from centre ideology to the extreme left and right, being the values of the left-wing (extreme left and left-centre) higher than those of the right-wing (extreme right and right-centre). Additionally, a strong influence of environmental concern in pro-environmental behaviours and attitudes was found, meaning that environmental knowledge is necessary to develop greener attitudes and behaviours. These results shed light on citizens environmental policy preferences, making clear the discussion about the effects of political ideology on pro-environmental behaviours and attitudes