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Effect of vaginal spheres and pelvic floor exercises on female sexual function in women with urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial (secondary analysis)
Get PDFBackground
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is common in women with urinary incontinence (UI), and pelvic floor exercises (PFEs) are a well-established treatment. Vaginal spheres, designed to stimulate pelvic floor muscle engagement, may offer additional benefits in improving sexual function.
Objective
To assess the efficacy of a regimen of PFEs combined with vaginal spheres with the same exercises performed without any device to improve sexual function.
Methodology
This randomized, single-blind trial conducted at the RAPbarcelona Center enrolled 71 adult women with sexual dysfunction symptoms. Participants were assigned to either PFEs alone or combined with vaginal Enna Balls. The intervention lasted 4 months, with initial assessments at baseline and follow-ups at 8 and 16 weeks. The Female Sexual Function Index assessed sexual function. Adverse events and treatment adherence were monitored at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16, and follow-ups.
Results
The mean age of participants was 46.85±1.58. After treatment, no significant changes were observed in the overall Female Sexual Function Index score (≥0.05), except for an increase in desire, showing statistical differences between groups at the end of treatment (p = 0.041). Tolerance and safety did not significantly differ between groups.
Conclusions
Adding vaginal spheres to PFEs may offer specific benefits in enhancing aspects of sexual function, particularly desire and lubrication, though overall outcomes were similar to PFEs alone. These findings support the potential role of vaginal spheres as an adjunctive therapy in personalized pelvic floor rehabilitation strategies for women with FSD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Measurement of branching fractions and CP asymmetries in Λb0Ξb0→pKS0h− decays
Get PDFA study of Λb0 and Ξb0 baryon decays to the final states pKS0π− and pKS0K− is performed using pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. The decays Λb0→pKS0K− and Ξb0→pKS0K− are observed for the first time, with significances reaching eight standard deviations. The branching fractions and integrated CP asymmetries are measured for the Λb0→pKS0π−, Λb0→pKS0K−, and Ξb0→pKS0K− decays. For the decay Λb0→pKS0π−, the CP asymmetries are measured in different regions of the Dalitz plot. No evidence of CP violation is observed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Behavioral Alterations in Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Hospitalization Unit: An Analysis of Self-Injury
Get PDFLas personas con diagnóstico de Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA), pueden presentar alteraciones en la conducta,
dificultades para el cambio, intereses restringidos y/o alteraciones sensoriales. Entre sus comportamientos característicos se encuentran
conductas autolesivas que tienden a ser compulsivas, no planificadas, rítmicas y repetitivas. Ante ello, se planteó como objetivo establecer
la correlación existente entre las conductas autolesivas en adolescentes hospitalizados con TEA, la depresión y la ansiedad. Método:
La muestra incluyó 50 pacientes con TEA, entre los 14 y los 27 años. A estos pacientes se les aplicó la Escala de Observación para el
Diagnóstico de Autismo (ADOS-2), la Entrevista para el diagnóstico de Autismo – Revisada (ADI-R), Cuestionario de ansiedad estadorasgo, Inventario de Depresión de Beck (BDI), cuestionario Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) e “Inventory of Statements About
Self-injury (ISAS)”. Resultados: Los resultados revelaron correlaciones significativas y positivas entre el nivel de autolesión y sus
dimensiones: autorregulación (ρ = 0,861), búsqueda de sensaciones y fortaleza (ρ = 0,767), evitación del suicidio (ρ = 0,732), venganza
(ρ = 0,643), autodominio (ρ = 0,700), manifestación de angustia (ρ = 0,898) y embotamiento (ρ = 0,702). Conclusiones: Se evidencia
una relación positiva entre los niveles de autolesión y la defensividad sensorial, específicamente en el perfil evitador de emociones.Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), may present with behavioral disturbances, difficulties
dealing with change, restricted interests and/or sensory disturbances. Among their characteristic behaviors are self-injurious
behaviors that tend to be compulsive, unplanned, rhythmic and repetitive. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-injurious behaviors in hospitalized adolescents with ASD, depression and anxiety. Methods: The
sample included 50 patients with ASD, aged between 14 and 27 years. These patients were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS-2), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Trait-State Anxiety Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and the Inventory of Statements
About Self-injury (ISAS). Results: The results revealed significant and positive correlations between the level of self-injury
and its dimensions: self-regulation (ρ = 0.861), sensation seeking and strength (ρ = 0.767), suicide avoidance (ρ = 0.732),
revenge (ρ = 0.643), self-control (ρ = 0.700), manifestation of distress (ρ = 0.828) and blunting (ρ = 0.702). Conclusions: There is evidence of a positive relationship between levels of self-harm and sensory defensiveness, specifically in
the emotion avoidance profile.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Integrating stent design and microstructural characterization to improve clinical outcomes of bioresorbable stents
Get PDFBioresorbable stents were conceived to revolutionize the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, their significant benefits were overshadowed by a higher clotting rate compared to permanent implants. This clinical failure is linked to strain-induced microstructural disruptions during fabrication and implantation, resulting in heterogeneous loss of structural integrity. The non-gradual loss of support, combined with faster, localized polymer deterioration, directly contributes to the clinical failure observed in bioresorbable stents. Leveraging this understanding marks a significant advancement toward their safe reintroduction. However, the extent to which a stent’s stress distribution interacts with the polymer’s microstructure remains understudied.
This study advances the existing knowledge on bioresorbable stents by establishing a framework for comprehending the microstructural properties that emerge from stent fabrication and implantation, ultimately aiming to improve clinical outcomes. The analysis addresses structural degradation and thrombogenicity of the devices, linking these aspects to the microstructural characteristics of various poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) stent configurations. The configuration with the polymer microstructure tailored to the stress profile of the stent design presented the best performance. These findings emphasize the critical need to align the as-manufactured material properties with the stress distribution during implantation and provide powerful tools and strategies to cast bioresorbable stents that outperform current cardiovascular stents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Coherent photoproduction of ρ0, ω and excited vector mesons in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions
Get PDFThe invariant-mass distribution for the coherent photoproduction of dipions in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions is measured using data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 224.6 ± 9.6μb−1, collected by the LHCb experiment in 2018 at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy sNN=5.02 TeV. In the mass range from 400 to 1200 MeV, the results are consistent with previous experiments, with the spectrum dominated by the ρ0 meson, which interferes with a nonresonant component, together with a smaller ω meson contribution. In an extended mass range up to 2300 MeV, models previously used do not fit the data and a consistent description requires the introduction of two resonances at masses of 1350 ± 20 MeV and 1790 ± 20 MeV with widths of about 300 MeV. The cross-section for each meson is measured differentially in twelve bins of rapidity from 2.05 to 4.90. The ρ0 cross-section increases with rapidity from about 400 to 600 mb and is measured with a typical precision of 8%, while the cross-section times branching fraction for the ω, ρ′ and ρ′′, with the statistical precision of the data, do not have a pronounced rapidity dependence and are between 0.5 and 1.5mb, with uncertainties up to 30%. A large nuclear suppression is observed for the ρ0 meson compared to expectations based on photoproduction on the proton that use the impulse approximation. Significant suppression is also observed compared to that predicted by elastic scattering described in the Glauber approach, or with the addition of inelastic scattering in a Gribov-Glauber model.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Structure of a barrel-stave pore formed by magainin-2 reveals anion selectivity and zipper-mediated assembly
Get PDFAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ubiquitous weapons of all higher organisms to suppress antimicrobial growth. Despite intensive research, the killing mechanism of these peptides after interaction with the bacterial cell wall and cytoplasm is not well understood. To investigate this mechanism at a molecular level, we chose a well-studied AMP, Magainin-2 (Mag-2), for biophysical and structural studies. Circular dichroism experiments showed that the folding propensity of Mag-2 is strongly altered towards fully folded molecules in the presence of detergent. To study the pore-forming properties of Mag-2 in membranes, we crystallized the wild-type peptide in the presence of the membrane-mimicking dodecylphosphocholine detergent and obtained crystals diffracting to atomic resolution. Mag-2 structure shows an antiparallel arrangement of monomers, which is stabilised by a phenylalanine zipper motif spanning the hydrophobic interaction surface of this dimer. Trimerization of dimers leads to the formation of a hexameric peptide channel complex with a positively charged pore and a hydrophobic membrane-exposed belt. Using molecular dynamics simulations, a spontaneous flow of ions through this channel was observed, demonstrating anion-selectivity induced by the electrostatic potential characteristics of Mag-2. This first atomic-resolution structure of wild-type Mag-2 showing oligomerization will allow the rational design of improved Mag-2 peptide channels.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Angular analysis of B0→ K*0e+e− decays
Get PDFAn angular analysis of B0→ K*0e+e− decays is presented using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. The analysis is performed in the region of the dilepton invariant mass squared of 1.1–6.0 GeV2/c4. In addition, a test of lepton flavour universality is performed by comparing the obtained angular observables with those measured in B0→ K*0μ+μ− decays. In general, the angular observables are found to be consistent with the Standard Model expectations as well as with global analyses of other b → sℓ+ℓ− processes, where ℓ is either a muon or an electron. No sign of lepton-flavour-violating effects is observed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Measurement of room acoustic parameters with an omnidirectional parametric loudspeaker in an converted chapel for choral music performance
Get PDFAn omnidirectional parametric loudspeaker (OPL) is a sound source made of hundreds of ultrasonic transduc ers arranged in a spherical configuration. Each transducer emits ultrasonic waves and, due to the nonlinear effects of air, these waves generate audible sound within the ul trasonic beam. Compared to a dodecahedron loudspeaker, the OPL offers improved omnidirectionality, although it operates at lower sound pressure levels (SPLs). Exponen tial sine sweeps have shown to be very effective with this new type of loudspeaker, which opens the door to using it in some acoustic tests. This paper explores the perfor mance of the OPL in measuring room acoustic parame ters, such as reverberation time, early decay time, defini tion and clarity. The case study selected is the Pere Pruna Civic Center in Barcelona. Originally built as a single nave chapel in the early 20th century, the building was re stored and converted for civic use in the late 20th century. It is currently used mainly for choral music, with a ca pacity for about 80 people. Acoustic measurements were conducted according to ISO 3382-1 using the OPL and a commercial dodecahedron loudspeaker. The results show that the OPL performs well in mid and high frequencies, although it requires higher SPLs at low frequencies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Observation of the doubly-charmed-baryon decay Ξcc++→Ξc0π+π+
Get PDFA search for the doubly-charmed-baryon decay Ξcc++→Ξc0π+π+ is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb−1. A significant structure consistent with the Ξcc++ baryon is observed in the Ξc0π+π+ invariant-mass spectrum. Using the Ξcc++→Λc+K−π+π+ decay as the normalisation channel, the branching fraction ratio, BΞcc++→Ξc0π+π+BΞcc++→Λc+K−π+π+, is measured to be 1.37 ± 0.18 (stat) ± 0.09 (syst) ± 0.35 (ext). This measurement provides critical input for testing QCD factorisation methods in the weak decays of doubly-heavy baryons, particularly in quantifying nonperturbative effects such as final-state interactions and resonance contributions to the hadronisation process.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Diet-related health inequalities in high-income countries: A scoping review of observational studies
Get PDFDiet-related health inequalities are a persistent public health challenge in high-income countries, disproportionately affecting socially and economically disadvantaged populations. This study aims to map the existing evidence on diet-related health inequalities in high-income countries through a scoping review of observational studies, identifying populations most affected and key dietary outcomes across social determinants of health. We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase for observational studies published between January 2011 and March 2021. Eligible studies assessed diet-related health outcomes stratified by ≥1 Place of Residence, Race/Ethnicity, Occupation, Gender/Sex, Religion, Education, Socioeconomic Status, and Social Capital (PROGRESS)-Plus determinant. We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines and registered the review with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021234567). Data were charted and analyzed thematically according to PROGRESS categories. A total of 163 studies were included. Most studies focused on education, socioeconomic status, and place of residence, whereas fewer addressed gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Common dietary indicators included fruit and vegetable intake, dietary patterns, and food group consumption. Evidence consistently showed that lower education and income levels were associated with poorer dietary outcomes. Notably, certain population groups (for example, ethnic minorities, rural residents, and individuals with low education or income) experienced cumulative disadvantages. The scoping review highlights persistent and intersecting diet-related health inequalities in high-income countries. It underscores the need for standardized indicators and intersectional approaches in monitoring, research, and policy making.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio