Incidence and prevalence of the sexual dysfunctions: A critical review of the empirical literature

The research which has assessed the incidence and prevalence of sexual dysfunctions is reviewed. Twenty-three studies are evaluated. Studies completed with community samples indicate a current prevalence of 5–10% for inhibited female orgasm, 4–9% for male erectile disorder, 4–10% for inhibited male orgasm, and 36–38% for premature ejaculation. Stable community estimates with regard to the current prevalence of female sexual arousal disorder, vaginismus, and dyspareunia are not available. Recent studies completed with clinical samples suggest an increase in the frequency of orgasmic and erectile dysfunction and a decrease in premature ejaculation as presenting problems. Desire disorders have increased as presenting problems in sex clinics, with recent data indicating that males outnumber females. Methodological limitations of these studies are identified and suggestions for future research are offered.     

Auditory and vestibular system findings in patients with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

Impairment of the auditory-vestibular system has been reported in patients with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD), but little is known about the underlying cause of the symptoms. Auditory testing (pure tone audiometry, auditory brain stem response and stapedius reflex) and vestibular tests (assessment of nystagmus, eye tracking tests, caloric test and rotational test) were performed in 23 patients with auditory-vestibular symptoms and/or cranial nerve impairment associated with VBD. Specific evidence of auditory and/or vestibular system impairment was observed in 19 cases (83%). Among patients with abnormal test findings, 47% had evidence suggesting peripheral impairment, 16% evidence suggesting central dysfunction, and 37% evidence suggesting both peripheral and central dysfunction. Although compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve plays an important role in the genesis of the auditory-vestibular dysfunction in patients with VBD, mechanism such as brain stem-cerebellar ischemia and impaired blood supply to the vestibular labyrinth may be just as important.     

Primary orthostatic tremor is an exaggeration of a physiological response to instability.

Primary orthostatic tremor (POT) is a rare disorder characterised by an intense sense of unsteadiness upon standing and a 16-Hz tremor in which the timing between tremor bursts in different muscles (unilateral and bilateral) remains constant. Hitherto, similar EMG activity has not been described in healthy subjects and it has been postulated that the oscillations seen in POT are primarily pathological. In this study, EMG was recorded from tibialis anterior in healthy subjects who were made unsteady through vestibular galvanic stimulation or leaning backwards. Under these conditions, a peak at approximately 16 Hz was seen in the coherence between the left and right tibialis anterior. This bilateral coherence was absent when the subjects activated the same muscles when not unsteady. These data indicate the existence of a physiological system involved in organising postural responses under circumstances of imbalance and characterised by a highly synchronised output at approximately 16 Hz. In addition, the results suggest that the core abnormality in POT may be an exaggerated sense of unsteadiness when standing still, which then elicits activity from a 16-Hz oscillator normally engaged in postural responses.     

豚鼠内耳前庭感觉毛细胞的分离

用机械分离法从豚鼠前庭感觉上皮中分离出不同种类的前庭感觉毛细胞（ＶＨＣ）。ＶＨＣ主要可分为Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型细胞。两种细胞形态虽有所差异，但一般均有四形或瓶形胞体，胞核位于细胞基部，胞颈和纤毛变化较大。细胞的活性可通过１％中性红染色鉴定，发现在室温下，１ｈ内大约９０％以上的分离ＶＨＣ可维持其正常形态和活性。并参照对外毛细胞形态的研究提出活性ＶＨＣ的鉴别标准。此项工作为进一步研究ＶＨＣ的感觉机制和某些疾病的发生机理打下了基础。     

短效催眠药唑吡坦和三唑仑对人体前庭功能的影响

目的 :探讨两种短效催眠药唑吡坦和三唑仑对人体前庭功能的影响 ,为在应急条件下对飞行员服用该药提供试验依据。方法 :8名受试者 ,采用三阶段交叉双盲给药设计方法 ,分别交叉服用三唑仑 (0 .2 5mg)、唑吡坦 (10mg)、安慰剂 ,每次间隔 1周 ,在服药前 1h及服药后1、2、3、4、6、8、10h分别进行一组前庭功能测试 ,包括视动性眼震 (OKN)、前庭眼动反射 (VOR)、前庭眼动反射固视抑制 (VOR -Fix)、视前庭眼动反射 (VVOR)。结果 :与安慰剂组比较 ,服用唑吡坦和三唑仑后均能显著降低VOR、OKN、SPT增益 ,在服药 2h后降到最低〔VOR :(0 .5 1± 0 .0 4 ) ,(0 .5 2± 0 .0 5 )vs (0 .6 7± 0 .13) ;OKN :(0 .32± 0 .0 2 ) ,(0 .6 2± 0 .0 6 )vs (0 .82± 0 .0 7) ;SPT :(0 .71± 0 .14 ) ,(0 .6 6± 0 .0 6 )vs (0 .93± 0 .0 3)〕。其中唑吡坦对OKN增益的降低要强于三唑仑 ,但这种影响持续时间不长 ,在服药 6h后即消失。两种短效催眠药对VVOR增益、SPT相位及VOR -Fix均无明显影响。结论 :唑吡坦及三唑仑对人体前庭功能具有一定的影响 ,但这种影响持续时间较短 ,对人体的空间定向及平衡能力无残留后遗效应     

凝血机制紊乱在SIRS发展中的作用

凝血机制紊乱在全身炎症反应综合症(SIRS)发展、恶化过程中起重要作用．对SIRS时凝血系统紊乱的形成机制、在SIRS发生发展过程中的作用及其对病情危重程度的预测价值作一综述．     

小檗碱对大鼠阴茎海绵体磷酸二酯酶5mRNA水平的影响

目的 :检测大鼠阴茎海绵体中磷酸二酯酶 5 (PDE5 )mRNA的表达 ,进而探讨小檗碱 (berberine ,Ber)的分子作用机制。　方法 :通过逆转录酶链反应 (RT PCR)技术检测大鼠阴茎海绵体中PDE5mRNA的表达。　结果 :大鼠阴茎海绵体中有PDE5A1和PDE5A2mRNA的表达 ,以PDE5A2为主要的异构酶。与内参照 β 肌动蛋白相比 ,对照组、Ber孵育 1和 3h组的PDE5A1及PDE5A2基因mRNA的相对表达量分别为 :0 .2 2± 0 .0 2 ,0 .4 1± 0 .0 1 ;0 .1 5± 0 .0 1 ,0 .34± 0 .0 2 ;0 .1 0± 0 .0 1 ,0 .1 2± 0 .0 1。与对照组相比 ,PDE5A1、PDE5A2的mRNA表达 ,在Ber孵育 1h组降低了 32 %和 1 7%,3h组降低了 5 5 %和 71 %,其中尤以应用Ber 3h后PDE5A2的mRNA减少最为明显 (n =5 ,P <0 .0 1 )。　结论 :Ber对NO cGMP信号通路的下游关键酶 (PDE5 )具有一定的调控作用 ,尤其是抑制PDE5A2的mRNA表达 ,为Ber治疗勃起功能障碍的分子机制之一。     

阻塞性黄疸患者并发肾功能损害时血清一氧化氮的变化及其临床意义

目的　探讨阻塞性黄疸患者并发肾功能损害时血清一氧化氮 (NO)的变化及其临床意义。方法　对 2 5例阻塞性黄疸并发肾功能损害患者的血清NO、一氧化氮合成酶 (NOS)活性、BUN和Cr值进行检测 ,并以 2 6例健康者作为正常对照。结果　阻塞性黄疸组BUN和Cr高于正常对照组 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,而NO和NOS则低于正常对照组 (P<0 .0 1 )。相关分析显示 ,NO与BUN和Cr呈负相关关系 ,其相关系数分别为 - 0 .41 9和 - 0 .553(P<0 .0 1 )。结论　阻塞性黄疸并发肾功能损害时其血清NO和NOS下降 ,提示NO在阻塞性黄疸时对肾功能有一定保护作用