Mi Chia Ma

N-Acetyl-cysteine against noise-induced temporary threshold shift in male workers

Previous animal studies showed protective effects of antioxidant medicines against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). It is unclear whether antioxidants would protect humans from NIHL. We conducted a study to determine whether N-Acetyl-cysteine (NAC) protected men against noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS), and whether subgroups with genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) T1 and M1 responded to NAC differently. In this prospective, double-blind, crossover study, 53 male workers were randomly assigned to receive either NAC (1200 mg/day, 14 days) during the first period and placebo during the second period, or placebo during the first period and NAC during the second period. Dosing periods were separated by a washout period of 2 weeks. The hearing threshold changes were determined before and after each dosing period. Pre-shift hearing threshold for high frequencies was 19.1 dB. Daily exposure to noise ranged from 88.4 to 89.4 dB. The noise levels of different frequencies ranged from 80.0 to 89.4 dB with a peak-value at 4 kHz. NAC significantly reduced TTS (p = 0.03). When the participants were grouped by GST M1/T1 genotypes, the NAC effect was only significant among workers with null genotypes in both GSTM1 and GSTT1 (p = 0.004). NAC may prevent noise-induced TTS among occupationally noise-exposed men. The protective effect of NAC was more prominent in subjects with both GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null genotypes. (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00552786).

Relationship Among Sexual Desire, Sexual Satisfaction, and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

The authors examined the association among sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life in a sample of community participants. They predicted that quality of life would be positivity correlated with sexual satisfaction and that sexual desire would indirectly influence quality of life. This research showed that elderly adults’ sexual desire and sexual satisfaction decrease with age and that nearly 40% of the interviewees still had sexual activity one or more times every month. The results revealed that sexual desire does not directly influence quality of life, but it does have a direct effect on sexual satisfaction; hence, sexual satisfaction will indirectly affect quality of life.

Immunohistochemical analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor family members in stage I non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND To elucidate the relationship between the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor family members (ErbB-1, neu/ErbB-2, ErbB-3, and ErbB-4) and tumor recurrence. METHODS We used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of four epidermal growth factor receptor family members in 73 patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. RESULTS Using Cox univariate analysis, we determined that angiolymphatic tumor emboli and non-well-differentiated tumor cells were two significant conventional pathologic predictors of tumor recurrence, and that ErbB-1 and ErbB-3 were also significant predictors. Co-expression of ErbB-1+, -3+, or expression of three or more epidermal growth factor receptor family members had a significant effect on lung cancer recurrence. A stepwise multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis provided a predictive model for tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that in patients with a non-well-differentiated tumor, overexpression of ErbB-3 is a useful marker for predicting tumor recurrence. The present study also confirmed that ErbB-1 expression increased in proportion to the loss of tumor differentiation. The correlation between ErbB-3 and distant metastasis was good.

Statistical evaluation of similarity factor f2 as a criterion for assessment of similarity between dissolution profiles

This paper addresses statistical issues of similarity factor f2 as a criterion for assessment of similarity between two in vitro dissolution profiles as proposed in “Guidance on Immediate Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms; Scale-up and Postapproval Changes: Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls; In Vitro Dissolution Testing; In Vivo Bioequivalence Documentation” (SUPAC), issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration on November 30, 1995. These issues include the invariant property of f2 with respect to the location change and the consequence of failure to take into account shape of the curve and unequal spacing between sampling time points. The similarity factor f2 is a sample statistic which cannot be used to formulate a statistical hypothesis for assessment of dissolution similarity. It is, therefore, impossible to evaluate false positive and false negative rates of decisions for approval of drug products based on f2. Implementation of f2 to assess dissolution similarity is, in fact, a one-sided problem rather than an interval criterion suggested by the SUPAC. Complexity of the form in the distribution off even under a very strict assumption prevents one from finding its expected variance and hence, confidence interval for the mean. The large-sample distribution of f2 by the usual delta method fails to provide an adequate approximation to the empirical distribution obtained by simulation. In addition, simulation results also indicate that the similarity factor is too liberal in concluding similarity between dissolution profiles.

Training and detraining effects of the resistance vs. endurance program on body composition, body size, and physical performance in young men

Lo, MS, Lin, LLC, Yao, W-J, and Ma, M-C. Training and detraining effects of the resistance vs. endurance program on body composition, body size, and physical performance in young men. J Strength Cond Res 25(8): 2246-2254, 2011—The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the body composition, body size, muscle strength, and &OV0312;O2max after 24 weeks of resistance or endurance training and detraining in young men. Thirty healthy college-aged men (20.4 ± 1.36 years) participated in the study. Subjects were assigned to resistance training group (RTG, n = 10), endurance training group (ETG, n = 10), and control group (CG, n = 10). The training program consisted of running or weight-resistance exercise for 3 sessions per week under supervision. &OV0312;O2max, upper and lower body strength (UBS, LBS), body fat, lean body mass, and body circumference were measured at baseline and after training and detraining. After the training period, the exercise groups demonstrated significant increases in &OV0312;O2max and LBS (p < 0.05). The UBS, lean mass (LM), and body size of arm and calf were significantly greater in the RTG than in the other 2 groups (p<0.05). In addition, the strength and LM of the RTG were still greater than the baseline values after 24 weeks of detraining (p < 0.05). The conclusions of this study are (a) that endurance or resistance training alone led to training-specific improvements in physical performance, body composition, and body size of the arms for the young men examined and (b) that the RTG maintained the gains in strength and LM for more prolonged periods after training ceased than the endurance training group.

ASSESSMENT OF SIMILARITY BETWEEN DISSOLUTION PROFILES

In vitro dissolution equivalence has been assessed through profile comparison between the test and reference formulations for postapproval changes. Functions of the absolute mean difference and average squared mean differences were two of the often-used criteria to evaluate distance or similarity between general profiles. The two functions and their method of moment estimators are studied in this paper as an application to similarity assessment of two dissolution profile. Due to the complexity of the distributions of these estimators, the confidence intervals obtained from the bootstrap method were used for testing the hypothesis of dissolution similarity. The size and power of two procedures are examined with a simulation study. A numerical example is used to illustrate the application of the procedures.

Determinants of subjective health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with schizophrenia

PURPOSE To identify the determinants of schizophrenia-specific HRQoL levels, five types of factors (i.e., sociodemographic, clinical, psychopathological, neurocognitive, and psychosocial factors) were simultaneously investigated in the same cross-sectional sample. METHODS A total of 120 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia but not spectrum conditions were recruited by convenience sampling. Subjective HRQoL levels were measured using the disease-specific S-QoL-C. After sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, psychopathological data were self-rated with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) by professionally trained raters. Two neurocognitive assessments were conducted by licensed occupational therapists (OTs). Psychosocial factors were assessed using self-reports measures, including the, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Social Impact Scale (SIS). All measures were administered in random order. OTs, PANSS raters, and participants were blinded to score computation, and multiple hierarchical regression with the stepwise method was conducted. RESULTS The S-QoL-C scores were most strongly affected by psychosocial factors and the psychopathological factors, followed by clinical and sociodemographic factors. Total scores on the BDI-II had the largest contributions to S-QoL-C index scores and seven of eight S-QoL-C subscales. In addition, the GSES, RSES, and SIS showed effects across the S-QoL-C subscales. The BDI-II, GSES, and RSES all influenced the S-QoL-C index scores, in addition to the number of hospitalizations. CONCLUSION Psychosocial factors and psychopathological factors measured by the BDI-II had the greatest impact on schizophrenia-specific HRQoL levels. Psychiatric treatment programs focusing on psychosocial status and depressive symptoms can improve schizophrenia-specific HRQoL levels.

A Survey of Obesity and Erectile Dysfunction of Men Conscripted into the Military in Taiwan

INTRODUCTION Obesity is receiving growing research attention. However, investigations concerning the potential impact of obesity and testosterone on erectile dysfunction (ED) in young men have not been completely clarified. AIM To identify the relationship between ED, serum testosterone level, and obesity in draftees in Taiwan. METHODS Data were obtained from a baseline survey of 364 young adult military conscripts (19-24 years old). Their demographic data, body mass index (BMI), serum testosterone, and ED status were assessed. Sixty-four subjects had ED, and 300 comprised the normal control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), Sexual Desire Inventory, and Sexual Behavior Scale were used to assess ED, sexual desire, and sexual function. RESULTS Three hundred sixty-four men were available for analysis. The mean age of the sample was 21.66 ± 0.92 years (19-24 years). The IIEF total score had a mean of 21.99 ± 2.34 and median of 23; 64 (17.6%) subjects had ED, although mild. The results showed an increased risk of ED among obese men and subjects with lower serum testosterone. Among the predictors of ED, obesity (odds ratio =83.97, 95% CI = 16.17-436.03, degrees of freedom [d.f.] = 1, P < 0.001) and lower serum testosterone (odds ratio = 679.84, 95% CI = 108.48-4,260.58, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001) were significantly independent factors. Testosterone levels were lower in subjects with obesity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study supports the idea that BMI and serum testosterone may provide warning signs of ED and, at the same time, an opportunity for early intervention in young men.

Associations among perinatal factors and age of achievement of full oral feeding in very preterm infants.

BACKGROUND Progress to full oral feeding from a tube or parenteral feeding is a complex process for very preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation. The influence of infant characteristics and medical complications on feeding progression has not been studied thoroughly. The aim of this study was to constitute a regression model to estimate the postmenstrual age (PMA) of full oral feeding and the length of transition time from the initiation to completion of oral feeding. METHODS A chart review was conducted on very preterm infants born between 2005 and 2010 in one medical center in Taiwan. All enrolled infants were able to take all nutrition by mouth before discharge. RESULTS A total of 117 infants fulfilling the criteria were included. The mean PMAs for the initiation and completion of oral feeding were 33.9 ± 1.7 and 35.1 ± 2.0 weeks, respectively. Infants required 7.5 ± 6.6 days from initiation to full oral feeding. The results of a stepwise regression revealed that the reciprocal of birth weight (beta coefficient = 3.81, p < 0.001), moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (beta coefficient = 1.21, p < 0.001), necrotizing enterocolitis (beta coefficient = 0.84, p < 0.005), and patent ductus arteriosus (beta coefficient = 0.69, p < 0.01) were predictors for the PMA of full oral feeding. The regression model incorporating those factors explained 62.5% of the variation in the feeding outcome (p < 0.001). Gender, multiple gestations, mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, and sepsis had no effect on the feeding outcome. None of the explored factors were significantly correlated with transition time. CONCLUSION A regression model incorporating significant predictors to estimate the PMA of full oral feeding in very preterm infants was suggested. It could enhance communication between health professionals and parents about the feeding progress of infants born very prematurely.

Corneal epithelial damage during LASIK: a review of 1873 eyes.

PURPOSE To assess the incidence, risk factors, management, and sequelae of intraoperative epithelial damage during LASIK using a linearly advancing microkeratome. METHODS Chart review of 1873 eyes (956 patients) that underwent primary LASIK using the Automated Corneal Shaper microkeratome and the VISX Star S2 excimer laser. The main outcome measure was the incidence of intraoperative epithelial damage (patch of loosened epithelium with or without any frank epithelial defect). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify risk factors for intraoperative epithelial damage. RESULTS Intraoperative epithelial damage occurred in 31 (1.66%) of 1873 eyes. The incidence of intraoperative epithelial damage increased with increasing patient age (odds ratio [OR] 1.095/decade; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002 to 1.197, P=.045) and increasing years of contact lens wear (OR 1.136, 95% CI 1.024 to 1.261, P=.016). No correlation was found for gender, corneal curvature, central corneal thickness, microkeratome plate depth, or preoperative or postoperative refraction. The risk of intraoperative epithelial damage was significantly higher in the second eye if damage occurred in the first eye (66.7% versus 0.67%, OR 298.7, CI 78.2 to 1141.2, P<.001). Epithelial damage was managed successfully intraoperatively in all 31 eyes; recurrent corneal erosion was noted 4 months postoperatively in 1 eye but resolved after anterior stromal puncture. CONCLUSIONS The risk for intraoperative epithelial damage during LASIK increases with patient age, years of contact lens wear, and intraoperative epithelial damage in the first eye during simultaneous bilateral LASIK, but with proper intraoperative management, postoperative sequelae are rare.