Incidence and Risk Factors for Sexual Dysfunction in Male Patients with Psychotic Disorders

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed sexual dysfunction in men with psychosis, by determining the prevalence, nature & risk factors in drug naïve male patients and the incidence in these patients while on antipsychotic medication. METHODS: A cohort of 100 men with ICD-10 diagnosis of acute psychosis or schizophrenia who were either drug naïve or drug free for six months were assessed at baseline (n = 100) and followed up at six weeks (n = 41) and six months (n = 21). Relevant sociodemographic and clinical data were collected; PANSS scores and IIEF scores were used to assess psychopathology and sexual functioning respectively. DSM-IV TR algorithm was used to diagnose sexual dysfunction. Testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin levels were measured at baseline and at six months. RESULTS: At baseline the prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 17% [hypoactive sexual desire disorder (14%), premature ejaculation (5%), erectile dysfunction (4%) and orgasmic dysfunction (1%)]. The incidence rates of sexual dysfunction were 15.6% and 47.1% at six weeks and six months respectively. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder was the commonest disorder during all the assessments. Age of the patient and marital status were consistently associated with sexual dysfunction across baseline, six weeks and six months. PANSS scores; antipsychotic medication type, dosage and duration; and testosterone levels were not significantly associated with sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the high prevalence and incidence of sexual dysfunction in patients with psychotic disorders. The low follow up rate limits the generalization of these findings. Clinicians need to routinely assess for this distressing condition to provide comprehensive care for these patients

WW domain-mediated interaction with Wbp2 is important for the oncogenic property of TAZ

The transcriptional co-activators YAP and TAZ are downstream targets inhibited by the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. YAP and TAZ both possess WW domains, which are important protein–protein interaction modules that mediate interaction with proline-rich motifs, most commonly PPXY. The WW domains of YAP have complex regulatory roles as exemplified by recent reports showing that they can positively or negatively influence YAP activity in a cell and context-specific manner. In this study, we show that the WW domain of TAZ is important for it to transform both MCF10A and NIH3T3 cells and to activate transcription of ITGB2 but not CTGF, as introducing point mutations into the WW domain of TAZ (WWm) abolished its transforming and transcription-promoting ability. Using a proteomic approach, we discovered potential regulatory proteins that interact with TAZ WW domain and identified Wbp2. The interaction of Wbp2 with TAZ is dependent on the WW domain of TAZ and the PPXY-containing C-terminal region of Wbp2. Knockdown of endogenous Wbp2 suppresses, whereas overexpression of Wbp2 enhances, TAZ-driven transformation. Forced interaction of WWm with Wbp2 by direct C-terminal fusion of full-length Wbp2 or its TAZ-interacting C-terminal domain restored the transforming and transcription-promoting ability of TAZ. These results suggest that the WW domain-mediated interaction with Wbp2 promotes the transforming ability of TAZ

Interventions to reduce pesticide exposure from the agricultural sector in Africa: a workshop report

Despite the fact that several cases of unsafe pesticide use among farmers in different parts of Africa have been documented, there is limited evidence regarding which specific interventions are effective in reducing pesticide exposure and associated risks to human health and ecology. The overall goal of the African Pesticide Intervention Project (APsent) study is to better understand ongoing research and public health activities related to interventions in Africa through the implementation of suitable target-specific situations or use contexts. A systematic review of the scientific literature on pesticide intervention studies with a focus on Africa was conducted. This was followed by a qualitative survey among stakeholders involved in pesticide research or management in the African region to learn about barriers to and promoters of successful interventions. The project was concluded with an international workshop in November 2021, where a broad range of topics relevant to occupational and environmental health risks were discussed such as acute poisoning, street pesticides, switching to alternatives, or disposal of empty pesticide containers. Key areas of improvement identified were training on pesticide usage techniques, research on the effectiveness of interventions targeted at exposure reduction and/or behavioral changes, awareness raising, implementation of adequate policies, and enforcement of regulations and processes

The ubiquitin conjugation system is involved in the disassembly of cilia and flagella

The disassembly of cilia and flagella is linked to the cell cycle and environmental cues. We have found that ubiquitination of flagellar proteins is an integral part of flagellar disassembly. Free ubiquitin and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme CrUbc13 are detected in flagella, and several proteins are ubiquitinated in isolated flagella when exogenous ubiquitin and adenosine triphosphatase are added, suggesting that the ubiquitin conjugation system operates in flagella. Levels of ubiquitinated flagellar proteins increase during flagellar resorption, especially in intraflagellar transport (IFT) mutants, suggesting that disassembly products are labeled with ubiquitin and transported to the cell body by IFT. Substrates of the ubiquitin conjugation system include α-tubulin (but not β-tubulin), a dynein subunit (IC2), two signaling proteins involved in the mating process, cyclic guanosine monophosphate–dependent kinase, and the cation channel polycystic kidney disease 2. Ubiquitination of flagellar proteins is enhanced early in mating, suggesting that ubiquitination also plays an active role in regulating signaling pathways in flagella

Decreased expression of Yes-associated protein is associated with outcome in the luminal A breast cancer subgroup and with an impaired tamoxifen response

Background: Yes-associated protein (YAP1) is frequently reported to function as an oncogene in many types of cancer, but in breast cancer results remain controversial. We set out to clarify the role of YAP1 in breast cancer by examining gene and protein expression in subgroups of patient material and by downregulating YAP1 in vitro and studying its role in response to the widely used anti-estrogen tamoxifen. Methods: YAP1 protein intensity was scored as absent, weak, intermediate or strong in two primary breast cancer cohorts (n = 144 and n = 564) and mRNA expression of YAP1 was evaluated in a gene expression dataset (n = 1107). Recurrence-free survival was analysed using the log-rank test and Cox multivariate analysis was used to test for independence. WST-1 assay was employed to measure cell viability and a luciferase ERE (estrogen responsive element) construct was used to study the effect of tamoxifen, following downregulation of YAP1 using siRNAs. Results: In the ER+ (Estrogen Receptor a positive) subgroup of the randomised cohort, YAP1 expression was inversely correlated to histological grade and proliferation (p = 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively) whereas in the ER-(Estrogen Receptor a negative) subgroup YAP1 expression correlated positively to proliferation (p = 0.005). Notably, low YAP1 mRNA was independently associated with decreased recurrence-free survival in the gene expression dataset, specifically for the luminal A subgroup (p less than 0.001) which includes low proliferating tumours of lower grade, usually associated with a good prognosis. This subgroup specificity led us to hypothesize that YAP1 may be important for response to endocrine therapies, such as tamoxifen, extensively used for luminal A breast cancers. In a tamoxifen randomised patient material, absent YAP1 protein expression was associated with impaired tamoxifen response which was significant upon interaction analysis (p = 0.042). YAP1 downregulation resulted in increased progesterone receptor (PgR) expression and a delayed and weaker tamoxifen in support of the clinical data. Conclusions: Decreased YAP1 expression is an independent prognostic factor for recurrence in the less aggressive luminal A breast cancer subgroup, likely due to the decreased tamoxifen sensitivity conferred by YAP1 downregulation

Research Paper - Cardiac stimulant activity of Ocimum basilicum Linn. extracts

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiac effects of extracts derived from the aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum Linn. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum Linn. were extracted with 95% ethanol and double distilled water. The extracts were screened for their effects on frog-heart in situ preparation. Enzyme studies such as Na+/K+ ATPase, Ca2+ATPase and Mg2+ATPase were done on the heart tissue aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were estimated in the heart tissue and serum of albino rats after administering the extracts for 7days. RESULTS: The alcoholic extract produced significant positive ionotropic and negative chronotropic actions on frog heart. The positive ionotropic effect was selectively inhibited by nifedipine. A significant decrease in membrane Na+/K+ ATPase, Mg2+ATPase and an increase in Ca2+ATPase pointed the basis for the cardiotonic effect. The aqueous extract produced positive chronotropic and positive ionotropic effects which were antagonized by propranolol indicating that these might have been mediated through ß-adrenergic receptors. Nifedipine also blocks the action of the aqueous extract. CONCLUSION: The alcoholic extract exhibited a cardiotonic effect and the aqueous extract produced a ß-adrenergic effect

Proceedings of International Conference On Global Innovations In Computing Technology (ICGICT'14) Smart Energy Meter with Instant Billing and Payment

ABSTRACT -This paper mainly focuses on the measurement of energy consumption and providing data for billing and a system for payment at your place. In this paper, we present a simple design for Automatic Energy Meter reading with payment facility with the help of ZigBee communication technology. By this technology we can communicate at faster rate without any data loss and it provides high security in serial communication. In this system the energy is measured in units and the data is fed to a remote computer server where a software solution is provided to generate bill for energy consumption and the data is send back by using same communication method, the consumer can pay the bill at home by using a keypad system