The Spanish Version of the International Index of Erectile Function: Adaptation and Validation

Background: The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) is a widely employed questionnaire in urology to assess erectile dysfunction (ED) in both clinical research and practice. Objective: To translate and culturally adapt the Spanish version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and to analyze its psychometric properties in Spanish men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: Firstly, direct and reverse translations were performed. Secondly, a pilot study was carried out on 23 patients with the lowest possible education level without being illiterate. Finally, 170 participants completed the IIEF. Test–retest reliability, internal consistency and construct validity (exploratory factor analysis) were assessed. Concurrent and divergent validity were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), respectively. Discriminant validity (with and without anxiety or depression) was calculated using a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: High internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.968, total score) and moderate-to-excellent test–retest reliability were found. The factor analysis showed a two-factor structure (explained variance of 77.34%). Significant correlations of the IIEF total score (p < 0.01) and domains (p < 0.05) with HADS anxiety and depression scores were observed (concurrent validity), while non-significant correlations with SF-12 physical and mental summary scores were found (divergent validity). The IIEF total score could discriminate between participants with and without anxiety (p < 0.05) and depression (p < 0.01), with an optimal cut-off point of <39.50 for both anxiety (48.30% sensitivity and 78.75% specificity) and depression (50.00% sensitivity and 81.01% specificity). C. (...)Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Sleep Quality, Anxiety, and Depression Are Associated with Fall Risk Factors in Older Women

Gait, dynamic balance, and functional mobility problems are well-known fall risk factors. Furthermore, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression are prevalent among older women. This study aimed to analyze the associations of sleep quality, anxiety, and depression with functional mobility, gait speed, and dynamic balance in community-dwelling postmenopausal women aged >= 60 years. A total of 271 women (69.18 +/- 5.69 years) participated in this study. Functional mobility (Timed Up-and-Go Test), dynamic balance (3-meter tandem walk test), gait speed (OptoGait (R) optical detection system), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were assessed. Our results showed that poor sleep efficiency and the use of sleeping medication were related to decreased gait speed (R-2 = 0.072). Poor functional mobility was linked to depression and the use of sleeping medication (R-2 = 0.159). Additionally, increased symptoms of anxiety and depression were associated with worsened dynamic balance (R-2 = 0.127). In conclusion, poorer sleep quality is associated with slower gait speed and reduced functional mobility, which is also related, along with impaired dynamic balance, to higher levels of anxiety and depression

Effectiveness of A Pilates Training Program on Cognitive and Functional Abilities in Postmenopausal Women

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a Pilates exercises program on the cognitive and physical functioning of older Spanish women. This study is a randomized clinical trial; a total of 110 women aged >= 60 years were initially allocated to either a Pilates group (PG, n = 55), who underwent a 12-week Pilates exercise program, or to a control group (CG, n = 55), who did not receive any intervention. Global cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination), verbal fluency (Isaacs test), executive function (Trail Making Test), functional flexibility (Back Scratch Test and Chair Sit-and-Reach Test), and lower-body strength (30 s Chair-Stand Test) were assessed before and immediately after the intervention period. The main findings of this study suggest that women in the PG (within-group differences) experienced improvements across all the variables examined except for global cognitive function. When compared with the CG (between-group differences), our analysis revealed significant benefits in the PG for all measures except for global cognitive function and functional flexibility (Back Scratch Test). In conclusion, our results suggest that Pilates has the potential to improve both cognitive and functional abilities among Spanish women aged 60 years and over

Qigong for Muscle Strength and Static Postural Control in Middle-Aged and Older Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of a Qigong exercise program on the muscle strength and postural control in middle-aged and older postmenopausal women. This is a randomized clinical trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ NCT03989453)& nbsp;conducted on 125 women who were initially assigned to either an experimental group (n = 63) that performed a Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks or to a control group (n = 62) that did not receive any intervention. Muscle strength (dynamometer) and postural control (stabilometric platform) were evaluated before and immediately after an intervention period. The main findings of this study suggest that the women in the experimental group had improvements in muscle strength, mean velocity of the displacement of the center of pressure (CoP) with both eyes open and closed, and the surface sway area covered by the CoP, as well as the mediolateral and anteroposterior oscillations of the CoP, only with eyes open. The results of the present study determined that a 12 week Qigong exercise program has beneficial effects on muscle strength and postural control of middle-aged and older postmenopausal Spanish wo

Cognitive stimulation as alternative treatment to improve psychological disorders in patients with mild cognitive impairment

(1) Background: Mild cognitive impairment is becoming one of the most common clinical manifestations affecting older people. For this reason, developing non-pharmacological strategies to help improve or maintain the physical condition of patients with mild dementia has become a priority. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide evidence about the effects of a cognitive stimulation program on cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and aged > 70. (2) Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial. A total of 72 elderly people with MCI participated: 35 in the control group who did not receive any intervention and 36 in the experimental group who received a cognitive stimulation program for 12 weeks. Cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale, and the SF-12, respectively. (3) Results: In the experimental group, significant results were obtained on cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and general health, emotional role, social functioning, vitality, mental health and mental component summary domains of the SF-12. (4) Conclusions: a cognitive stimulation program of 12 weeks improves cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL in people with MCI aged > 70

Application of Tensor Neural Networks to Pricing Bermudan Swaptions

The Cheyette model is a quasi-Gaussian volatility interest rate model widely used to price interest rate derivatives such as European and Bermudan Swaptions for which Monte Carlo simulation has become the industry standard. In low dimensions, these approaches provide accurate and robust prices for European Swaptions but, even in this computationally simple setting, they are known to underestimate the value of Bermudan Swaptions when using the state variables as regressors. This is mainly due to the use of a finite number of predetermined basis functions in the regression. Moreover, in high-dimensional settings, these approaches succumb to the Curse of Dimensionality. To address these issues, Deep-learning techniques have been used to solve the backward Stochastic Differential Equation associated with the value process for European and Bermudan Swaptions; however, these methods are constrained by training time and memory. To overcome these limitations, we propose leveraging Tensor Neural Networks as they can provide significant parameter savings while attaining the same accuracy as classical Dense Neural Networks. In this paper we rigorously benchmark the performance of Tensor Neural Networks and Dense Neural Networks for pricing European and Bermudan Swaptions, and we show that Tensor Neural Networks can be trained faster than Dense Neural Networks and provide more accurate and robust prices than their Dense counterparts.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, 2 table

Implicaciones de los abejorros (Bombus spp.) en la dispersión del virus del mosaico del pepino dulce (Pepino Mosaic Virus) en cultivos de tomate

[SPA] Desde 1999 el virus del mosaico del pepino dulce (Pepino Mosaic Virus, PepMV) afecta el cultivo del tomate en varios países europeos. Produce abullonado, mosaicos y filiformismo en las hojas jóvenes y jaspeado y pardeamiento en los frutos. Se transmite fácilmente por contacto entre plantas y mecánicamente por las manipulaciones de las labores culturales (desbrotado, entutorado, etc.). Se han realizado ensayos para conocer las posibles implicaciones de los abejorros polinizadores en la dispersión del virus en los cultivos de invernadero, donde mayoritariamente se utilizan Bombus terrestris y B. canariensis. En primavera, a las 4 semanas de haber puesto plantas de tomate sanas en un invernadero comercial contaminado de PepMV y con abejorros, se contaminaron las primeras plantas y a las 7-8 semanas se habían contaminado todas, para niveles medios de l'l a 3'0 flores visitadas/plantas y semana. Mediante test ELISA con suero de PepMV se ha detectado el virus en las patas (con o sin polen), en la cabeza y en el abdomen de los abejorros, siendo en las patas y en el polen de las escopas donde más frecuentemente se ha detectado. Al inocular, en condiciones controladas, plantas de tomate con extractos del cuerpo (incluido el polen adherido) de los abejorros recolectados en invernaderos de tomate contaminados de PepMV, se obtuvieron infecciones y síntomas en más del 85% de los casos. No se conocen con exactitud los mecanismos de la transmisión que intervienen en la dispersión del virus por Bombus spp., ya que tampoco se conoce con precisión el comportamiento etológico de los abejorros en el cultivo del tomate, habiéndose puesto de manifiesto que pueden transportar partículas infectivas del PepMV.[ENG] Since 1999, Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) is a new virus disease for tomato crops of several european countries. It produces mosaics and deformations on the leaves and mottled and brown fruits on infected tomato plants. It is easily transmitted by plant contact and mechanically by plant manipulation from cultural practices (staking and prunning plants, etc.). Assays have been carried out to determine the potential implications of bombus bees on the spread of the disease on greenhouse tomato crop where Bombus terrestris and B. canariensis were used. In spring, healthy plants were transplanted in a commercial greenhouse with PepMV infested plants and bombus bees used as pollinators. The first plants with PepMV symptoms were observed four weeks after transplant and after seven to eight weeks all plants were infested. Bombus bees were recorded to visit flowers on each plant 1.3-3.0 times a week on average. PeMV was detected by ELISA using PepMV antisera on legs (with and without pollen), head and abdomen of bombus bees. PeMV was detected more frequently on legs. When healthy tomato plants were inoculated with body extract of PepMV contaminated bombus bees more infections and symptoms were observed in more than 85% of the cases. The transmission processes implicated on virus spread by bombus bees are not well known, nor is it precisely bombus bees behaviour on tomato crops. In this work transmission of PepMV particles by bombus bees have been demonstrated.El trabajo se encuadra en el ámbito de actuación del proyecto de investigación AGL 2000-1651-C03-02 financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. Expresamos el agradecimiento a los productores de tomate, en particular a la empresa DURAN H08 y a los asociados a las cooperativas COARA y COEXMA, por su colaboración

Predicting successful prosthetic rehabilitation in major lower-limb amputation patients: a 15-year retrospective cohort study

Objective: To determine and compare specific factors that could be associated and predictive with successful prosthetic rehabilitation in major lower-limb amputations. Methods: A 15-year long (2000-2014) retrospective observational cohort study was conducted. Two different criteria were used to define successful prosthetic rehabilitation: (1) the ability to walk at least 45 m, regardless of assistive devices; and (2) walking >45 m without other ambulatory aids than one cane (if required). Age, gender, comorbidities, cause and level of amputation, stump characteristics, ulcers in the preserved limb, and time between surgery and physical therapy were examined as predictors of successful prosthetic rehabilitation. Results: A total of 169 patients (61.60±15.9 years) were included. Regarding walking ability with or without walking aids, the presence of ulcers in the preserved limb was individually associated with failed prosthetic rehabilitation (p < 0.001), while being male (OR = 0.21; 95%CI = 0.06-0.80) and transtibial level of amputation (OR = 6.73; 95%CI = 1.92-23.64) were identified as independent predictors of failure and success, respectively. Regarding the criterion of successful rehabilitation, a shorter time until rehabilitation was individually associated with improved walking ability (p < 0.013), while failure could be predicted by comorbidities (OR = 0.48; 95%CI = 0.29---0.78) and age groups of 65---75 years old (OR = 0.19; 95%CI = 0.05-0.78) and over 75 years old (OR = 0.19; 95%CI = 0.04-0.91). Conclusions: Regarding walking ability with or without walking aids, male gender and transtibiallevel of amputation are independently associated with failure and success respectively, whereasolder age and comorbidities can predict failed prosthetic rehabilitation when assistive walking devices are considered. Future prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings