The Road Not Taken and Choices in Radiation Oncology

The authors look back at the five decades of radiation oncology and consider how one's choices and decisions influence how a career is pursued and how a professional life is lived

Long-Term Effects of Activity Status in the Elderly on Cardiorespiratory Capacity, Blood Pressure, Blood Lipids, and Body Composition: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study

It is generally recognized that physical activity levels in the elderly do not remain constant over time, and typically there is a marked reduction in physical activities in the elderly. The long-term benefits of regular physical training programs in the elderly are still not fully understood. This is a study of 55 elderly healthy subjects (over 65 years old) and re-evaluated for the effects of different physical activity patterns (sedentary, moderately active, and highly active) on several physiological parameters (pre- and post-training) after a 5-year period (5.30 ± 1.14 years). Measurements included: body composition, blood lipid profiles, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, maximal oxygen uptake, and pulmonary function. Results indicated a larger decrease in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in the group of elderly sedentary individuals (1.5 ± 0.5 l/min) compared to the moderately active (1.7 ± 0.6 l/min) and the highly active groups (1.9 ± 0.4 l/min). An active lifestyle was not sufficient to increase the physiological function of an individual.This study could not clearly demonstrate favorable differences for the physically active groups over the sedentary group with regard to several important physiological factors over the 5-year follow-up and it appears that the recommendation for, and the initiation of, adopting active lifestyles may not be sufficient on their own to significantly increase an individual's physiological functioning

Evaluación de la eficiencia de las plantas flotantes Eichhornia crassipes y Pistia stratiotes, en el proceso de transferencia de oxígeno para el mejoramiento de la calidad de las aguas residuales provenientes de la granja demostrativa de peces de la UNA.

En esta investigación se evaluó la transferencia de oxígeno disuelto en aguas residuales de la granja demostrativa de peces de la UNA, empleando plantas Macrófitas Eichhornia crassipes (Jacinto de agua) y Pistia stratiotes (Lechuga de agua), esto con la finalidad de evaluar la eficiencia de las macrófitas con los parámetros evaluados, siendo estos el Oxígeno Disuelto (OD) y Demanda Bioquímica de Oxígeno (DBO), transporte de O2 y la biomasa de las plantas. Lasmuestras se colocaron en un ambiente controlado a una temperatura promedio de 25°C a 27°C., se estableció dos tratamientos distintos con cuatro repeticiones de los mismos. Se tomó lecturas durante 9 días consecutivos. Por lo tanto, el análisis de varianza al contenido de oxígeno disuelto (OD) mostró diferencia significativa (p < 0.05) entre especies y tratamiento. La especie de Jacinto presento valores promedios de oxígeno disuelto (OD) de 2.60 a 5.08 mg/L, asimismo el tratamiento con plantas sin barrera (CPSB) mostro mayor valor de 2.7 a 4.85 mg/L. Por otro lado, la Lechuga de agua con valores en el tratamiento CPSB de 2.27 a 4.81 mg/L y CPCB de 1.24 a 1.53 mg/L. La planta de Jacinto en el tratamiento con planta con barrera (CPCB) y con plantas sin barrera CPSB presento valores de OD transferido que van de 0.46 y 0.45 mg/L O2 por día respectivamente. La planta de Jacinto CPSB removió en aguas residuales el 20.23%de la Demanda Bioquímica deOxigeno (DBO5) y CPCB el 19 % al final del noveno día de observación. De esta manera se aportó que el tratamiento SPSB (condiciones aeróbicas) removió un promedio de 63%, de la DBO5,mientras el tratamiento SPCB (condiciones anaeróbicas) fue de 42 %., destacando que la especie de Jacinto CPSB mostró mayor promedio de peso en cuanto la biomasa seca total (6.06 gr) y las concentraciones de OD (3.63 – 5.34 mg/L) a contraste que la planta de Lechuga de agua CPSB (3.20 gr) y OD (1.7-4.81mg/L)

Sexual Responsivity and the Effects of Negative Mood on Sexual Arousal in Hypersexual Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

This article has been accepted for publication in The Journal of Sexual Medicine Published by Oxford University Press.Background A number of studies have found that hypersexuality is associated with a high propensity for sexual excitation. In comparison, less is known about the relationship between hypersexuality and sexual arousal at the state level. Also, previous research has revealed a relationship between hypersexuality and negative mood. However, the possibility that sexual response might not be as negatively impacted by negative mood in hypersexual individuals has, as yet, not been tested. Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate sexual responsivity and the effects of negative mood on sexual arousal in hypersexual men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods A total of 211 MSM were assigned to a hypersexuality (N = 81) or a control (N = 130) group using an interview patterned with a semi-structured Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders format. Participants filled out questionnaires and were shown neutral, sexual, and anxiety- and sadness-inducing films. Outcomes Changes in penile circumference and self-reported sexual arousal were the primary outcomes analyzed in this study. Results Controlling for age and HIV status, no differences were found in genital response between hypersexual and non-hypersexual men. Also, the 2 groups did not differ in subjective sexual arousal. Moreover, no effects of negative mood were found. Time series clustering analyses revealed 3 groups—low responders and slow and fast high responders. Sexual excitation, but not sexual compulsivity or pornography use, predicted cluster membership. Clinical Translation Hypersexual MSM may benefit more from an exploration of motivational and behavioral, as compared to psychophysiological, mechanisms underlying possible links between (negative) mood and sexual behavior. Strengths & Limitations Strengths of the study include its sample size, making it one of the larger psychophysiological sex studies; the use of clinical interviews for group assignment; the inclusion of genital response measures; and the application of time series clustering to examine differences among participants. Limitations include possible sample heterogeneity and the reliance on researcher-selected stimuli. Conclusion Given the lack of any effects of negative mood on sexual response in hypersexual MSM, future studies could explore in more depth possible motivational and behavioral effects, including, for example, the impact of negative mood on the tendency to seek out sex as a form of distraction or for validation or emotional support

Epidemiological considerations in transgender health : a systematic review with focus on higher quality data

Background: High quality data pertaining to the size of the transgender and gender diverse (TGD) population are scant, however, several recently published studies may provide more reliable contemporary estimates.Aims: To summarize the estimated number and proportion of TGD individuals overall and across age groups, based on most accurate data.Methods: This systematic review focused on recent studies (published from 2009 through 2019) that utilized sound methodology in assessing the proportion of TGD people in the general population. Publications were included if they used clear definitions of TGD status, and calculated proportions based on a well-defined sampling frame. Nineteen eligible publications represented two broad categories of studies: those that used data from large health care systems; and those that identified TGD individuals from population surveys.Results: Among health system-based studies, TGD persons were identified using relevant diagnostic codes or clinical notes. The proportions of individuals with a TGD-relevant diagnosis or other recorded evidence ranged between 17 and 33 per 100,000 enrollees. In population surveys TGD status was ascertained based on self-report with either narrow or broad definitions. The survey-based estimates were orders of magnitude higher and consistent across studies using similar definitions. When the surveys specifically inquired about 'transgender' identity, the estimates ranged from 0.3% to 0.5% among adults, and from 1.2% to 2.7% among children and adolescents. When the definition was expanded to include broader manifestations of 'gender diversity', the corresponding proportions increased to 0.5-4.5% among adults and 2.5-8.4% among children and adolescents. Upward temporal trends in the proportion of TGD people were consistently observed.Conclusions: Current data indicate that people who self-identify as TGD represent a sizable and increasing proportion of the general population. This proportion may differ, depending on inclusion criteria, age, and geographic location, but well-conducted studies of similar type and design tend to produce comparable results

Genome-wide association study identifies 30 Loci Associated with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a highly heritable psychiatric disorder. We performed a genome-wide association study including 20,352 cases and 31,358 controls of European descent, with follow-up analysis of 822 variants with P\u3c1×10−4 in an additional 9,412 cases and 137,760 controls. Eight of the 19 variants that were genome-wide significant (GWS, p \u3c 5×10−8) in the discovery GWAS were not GWS in the combined analysis, consistent with small effect sizes and limited power but also with genetic heterogeneity. In the combined analysis 30 loci were GWS including 20 novel loci. The significant loci contain genes encoding ion channels, neurotransmitter transporters and synaptic components. Pathway analysis revealed nine significantly enriched gene-sets including regulation of insulin secretion and endocannabinoid signaling. BDI is strongly genetically correlated with schizophrenia, driven by psychosis, whereas BDII is more strongly correlated with major depressive disorder. These findings address key clinical questions and provide potential new biological mechanisms for BD

User experiences with editorial control in online newspaper comment fields

This article investigates user experiences with editorial control in online newspaper comment fields following the public backlash against online comments after the 2011 terror attacks in Norway. We analyze data from a survey of online news consumers focusing on experiences and attitudes towards editorial control set against a spectrum between “interventionist” and “noninterventionist” positions. Results indicate that interventionist respondents rate the quality of online comments as poor, whereas noninterventionist respondents have most often experienced being the target of editorial control measures and feel that editorial control has intensified after the terror attacks. We conclude that newspapers should pay attention to the different needs of participants when devising strategies for editorial control. Media professionals should also consider changes to increase the transparency of moderation practices

Hydrocarbon-related microbial processes in the deep sediments of the Eastern Mediterranean Levantine Basin

During the 2011 exploration season of the EV Nautilus in the Mediterranean Sea, we conducted a multidisciplinary study, aimed at exploring the microbial populations below the sediment–water interface (SWI) in the hydrocarbon-rich environments of the Levantine basin. Two c. 1000-m-deep locations were sampled: sediments fueled by methane seepage at the toe of the Palmachim disturbance and a patch of euxinic sediment with high sulfide and methane content offshore Acre, enriched by hydrocarbon from an unknown source. We describe the composition of the microbial population in the top 5 cm of the sediment with 1 cm resolution, accompanied by measurements of methane and sulfate concentrations, and the isotopic composition of this methane and sulfate (δ13CCH4, δ18OSO4, and δ34SSO4). Our geochemical and microbiological results indicate the presence of the anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) coupled to bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR). We show that complex methane and sulfur metabolizing microbial populations are present in both locations, although their community structure and metabolic preferences differ due to potential variation in the hydrocarbon source

Lack of Awareness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection: Problems and Solutions With Self-reported HIV Serostatus of Men Who Have Sex With Men

Background. Lack of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection awareness may be a driver of racial disparities in HIV infection amongmen who have sex withmen (MSM). Lack of awareness is typicallymeasured by comparing HIV test result to self-reported HIV status. This measure may be subject to reporting bias and alternatives are needed. Methods. The InvolveMENt study examined HIV disparities between black and whiteMSM from Atlanta. Among HIV-positive participants who did not report knowing they were positive, we examined other measures of awareness: HIV viral load (VL)/mL (low VL), antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in blood, and previous HIV case surveillance report. Results. Using self-report only, 32% (62 of 192) of black and 16% (7 of 45) of white MSM were not aware of their HIV infection (P = .03). Using self-report and low VL, 25% (48 of 192) black and 16% (7 of 45) white MSM lacked awareness (P = .18). Using self-report and ARVs, 26% (50 of 192) black and 16% (7 of 45) white MSM lacked awareness (P = .14). Using self-report and surveillance report, 15% (28 of 192) black and 13% (6 of 45) white MSM lacked awareness (P = .83). Conclusions. Self-report only may overestimate true lack of awareness of HIV status for black MSM. If, as our data suggest, black MSM are not less likely to be aware of their HIV infection than are white MSM, then this factor is not a substantial driver of HIV disparity. Future HIV research that depends on accuratemeasurement of HIV status awareness should consider including additional laboratory and case surveillance data