Cátia Oliveira

Cognitive factors and male genital pain: a preliminary study

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how pain catastrophizing and sexually related thoughts help explain pain intensity in men with genital pain. Methods: Fifty men with genital pain completed an online survey. Results: Sexually related thoughts explained an additional 11.5% of variance of pain intensity, above and beyond the influence of pain catastrophizing and medical conditions. Conclusions: Overall, findings showed that cognitions during sexual activity also contribute to explain pain intensity in men with genital pain. Besides the severity of organic factors and pain catastrophizing, sexually-related thoughts should also be included in clinical evaluation and treatment of male genital pain.

Tetracycline and rifampicin induced a viable but nonculturable state in Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms

AIM The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of antibiotics on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms with different proportions of dormant bacteria, using clinical and commensal isolates. MATERIALS & METHODS The ability of S. epidermidis isolates to develop a dormant state was determined. The susceptibility of biofilms with prevented or induced dormancy to antibiotics was evaluated by enumeration of viable and cultivable cells, and confocal microscopy. RESULTS Dormancy was observed in the majority of tested strains. Tetracycline and rifampicin enhanced the development of a viable but noncultivable biofilm state. CONCLUSION Biofilms with induced dormancy were more likely to survive rifampicin. Furthermore, we found that the reduction of cultivable cells was not sufficient to reach definite conclusions on antimicrobial effectiveness.

Pain Intensity and Sexual Functioning in Men with Genital Pain: The Mediation Role of Sexually Related Thoughts

ABSTRACT The comorbidity between male genital pain and sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent. Previous studies have indicated that men with genital pain share some cognitive characteristics with men experiencing other sexual dysfunctions. However, there is little information on the role of these cognitive factors in understanding the relationship between pain intensity and sexual functioning. This study aims to test if negative sexually related thoughts mediate the relationship between pain intensity and sexual functioning in men with genital pain. A total of 50 men with self-reported genital pain completed an online survey assessing pain intensity, thoughts during sexual activity, and sexual functioning. Results showed a significant effect of negative sexually related thoughts on sexual functioning, β = –.71, t(50) = –4.2, p <.001. Additionally, the Sobel test found a partial mediation effect (z = 2.23, p =.025) and a medium to large indirect effect size was observed (abcs =.474). Findings suggest that negative sexually related thoughts play an important role in explaining the impact of pain intensity on sexual functioning. Overall, the study emphasizes the relevance of cognitions in predicting sexual function/dysfunction in men with genital pain and suggests the use of cognitive techniques in the treatment of this clinical condition.