The effects of the age of male early life circumcision on sexual functions later in life

Introduction

According to psychoanalytic theory performing circumcision on a boy in phallic phase may aggravate this fear and cause sexual dysfunctions later in life. However this hypothesis is an unverified common-view rather than a scientifically proven conclusion.

Objectives

We hypothesized that being circumcised during phallic phase is not a risk factor for sexual dysfunction. We also took a peak at how the experience of circumcision is being perceived and its psychological effects. Our secondary hypothesis was, sexual dysfunctions are more frequent among men who had a traumatic circumcision experience.

Methods

For this cross-sectional study, a total of 2768 sexually active, circumcised and voluntary men were recruited from 20 different urology outpatient clinics around Turkey.

Results

There was no significant difference for PEDT and IIEF scores between participants who were circumcised at different ages (Graph-1,2). When participants were divided into 3 groups according to their circumcision age in accordance with psychoanalytic theory (before, after and during phallic phase) mean IIEF and PEDT scores did not differ. PEDT scores did not differ either by which emotion the participant describe their experience of circumcision or how vividly he remembered it. However participants who remembered their circumcision experience more vividly and had who describe their circumcision experience with fear/anxiety had a higher IIEF score (Graph-3).

Conclusions

The age of circumcision does not affect the risk of PE. This is one of the very few studies that challenges psychoanalytic theory with a scientific method. Remembering the circumcision experience with fear or anxiety did not increase the risk of sexual dysfunctions.

Tannic acid exhibits anti-inflammatory effects on formalin-induced paw edema model of inflammation in rats

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between anti-inflammatory effects of the natural polyphenolic compound tannic acid (CAS number: 1401-55-4) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity in paw edema model. Thirty-five female rats were divided into five groups. The paws of rats were injected subcutaneously in the plantar surface with formalin except for the control group. Indomethacin and tannic acid were intraperitoneally administered 1 h after formalin injection. The paws volume was measured by using vernier caliper. MPO enzyme activity was determined using 4-aminoantipyrine-phenol solution as the substrate for MPO-mediated oxidation by H₂O₂. About 17% and 13% edema inhibition has detected in the indomethacin-applied group, at the measurements run every other hour right after the treatment. An inhibition of 16% was found at the group treated with 25 mg/kg tannic acid. However, in the group treated with 50 mg/kg tannic acid, 15% and 7% of the edema inhibition was observed. Serum and paw tissue MPO activities were decreased in treated groups with indomethacin and tannic acid according to formalin control group. Our study results suggest that tannic acid may contribute to the treatment of inflammation by decreasing MPO enzyme activity, but the molecular mechanism is still not clear.

Transfer printing gold nanoparticle arrays by tuning the surface hydrophilicity of thermo-responsive poly N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAAm)

For the transfer of 2-D gold nanoparticle arrays between different substrates, we have developed a new method using thermo-responsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAAm). By tuning the degree of surface hydrophilicity of pNIPAAm between 5 °C and 50 °C, we demonstrate the transfer of arrays extending over micron-scale areas with preservation of array properties.

Effects of genetic variations in the genes encoding NOD1 and NOD2 on type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) 1 and NOD 2 are members of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family and contain a caspase recruitment domain. NLRs are located in the cytosol, bind bacterial and viral ligands and play a key role in the realization of innate and adaptive immune response, inflammation, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species generation. Insulin resistance (IR) is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated with obesity, inflammation and pro-inflammatory responses. NOD1 and NOD2 gene variants may affect the risk of chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and T2DM by shifting the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of our study was to determine whether the NOD1/2 gene variants might contribute to the risk of T2DM and IR.

METHODS

The rs5743336 variant of NOD1 and rs2066847 variant of NOD2 were analysed by PCR-RFLP analysis in 200 subjects (T2DM: n = 100; healthy controls: n = 100) of Turkish origin. PCR products were digested with the AvaI and ApaI restriction enzymes. For the NOD1 site, the presence of the G allele was indicated by cleavage of the 379 bp amplified PCR product that yielded 209-bp and 170-bp fragments. For the NOD2 site, 151-bp PCR products were cleaved and yielded 130-bp and 21-bp fragments when the WT-insC mutation was present. Comparisons of the genotypes between controls and patients were performed by chi-square tests.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The genotypes of the rs5743336 variant of NOD1 and the rs2066847 variant of NOD2 are presented, and no significant differences were observed in the genotype frequencies of the NOD1 and NOD2 variants between the healthy controls and T2DM patients (P > 0·05). According to our preliminary data, NOD1/2 gene variants are not linked with T2DM and IR.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

This study is the first to look for possible association of the genotype frequencies of NOD1 and NOD2 genes with T2DM and IR. The significant finding of this report is that the rs5743336 and rs2066847 variations in the NOD1/2 gene are not associated with T2DM and IR risk in patients of Turkish origin.

A study of the possible association of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 4G/5G insertion/deletion polymorphism with susceptibility to schizophrenia and in its subtypes

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Inhibition of the fibrinolytic system may occur at the level of plasminogen activation, mainly by PAI-1. Mental and physical stress caused to alterations of platelet function, and also decreased to fibrinolytic activity. Furthermore, stress-induced thrombosis regulation was proposed to be by PAI-1 in schizophrenia patients. In this study, the distribution of genotypes and frequency of alleles of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) gene 4G/5G polymorphism in different Turkish clinical schizophrenia subtypes was investigated for its role in schizophrenia development.

METHODS

The clinical schizophrenia subtypes include paranoid, catatonic, disorganized, undifferentiated and residual, as diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition IV (DSM-IV). Samples of genomic DNA (250 total, including 150 schizophrenia patients and 100 healthy subjects) were analysed. PAI-1 4G/5G genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-allele-specific amplification. PCR products were separated by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and then visualized.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The genotype distributions (P = 0·136) and allele frequencies (P = 0·721 for 4G, P = 0. 097 for 5G) were not significantly different between patients with schizophrenia and control subjects for the 4G/5G polymorphism. Similar results were also found for the genotype distributions (P = 0·640) and allele frequencies (P = 0·763 for 4G, P = 0·448 for 5G) in the clinical schizophrenia subtypes compared to the each other.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

We conclude that PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism was not significantly associated with schizophrenia or its subtypes in the Turkish population. However, we recognize that with our sample sizes, we cannot exclude weak associations.

Large bandwidth mode order converter by differential waveguides

In this article, we propose a large bandwidth mode-order converter design by dielectric waveguides with equal lengths but different cross-sectional areas. The efficient conversion between even and odd modes is verified by inducing required phase difference between the equal length waveguides of different widths. Y-junctions are composed of both tapered mode splitter and combiner to connect mono-mode waveguide to multi-mode waveguide. The converted mode profiles at the output port show that the device operates successfully at designed wavelengths with wide bandwidth. This study provides a novel technique to implement compact mode order converters and direction selective/sensitive photonic structures.

Macrocyclic Cu(ii)-organophosphonate building block with room temperature magnetic ordering

A novel macrocyclic Cu(ii)-organophosphonate building block displaying high temperature magnetic ordering, and the structure of [{Cu(2,2′-bpy)}₂(HO₃P(CH₂)₈PO₃H₂)₄] (1).

Dual polarized broadband and all dielectric partial cloaking using stacked graded index structures

We propose broadband one-dimensional optical cloaking design based on isotropic and purely dielectric non-absorbent materials. The photonic structures are formed by utilizing graded index (GRIN) concept in stacked form. All simulations are performed by finite-difference time-domain and plane wave basis frequency domain numerical methods. Indications in ray optics are also presented for the cloaking device. The refractive index distribution of the design is also obtained via effective medium theory. The cloaking devices can reroute wavelengths of light in one dimension. The rerouted light is avoided to reach the interior region of the stacked GRIN structure. Unidirectional GRIN cloaking structure demonstrates low-loss and large bandwidth characteristics. It is shown that the structure operates in dual polarization mode. Performed numerical analyses reveal the capability of cloaking devices to hide arbitrary shaped large objects from the incident light.

Effect of high loading on substrate utilization kinetics and microbial community structure in super fast submerged membrane bioreactor

The study investigated the effect of high substrate loading on substrate utilization kinetics, and changes inflicted on the composition of the microbial community in a superfast submerged membrane bioreactor. Submerged MBR was sequentially fed with a substrate mixture and acetate; its performance was monitored at steady-state, at extremely low sludge age values of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5d, all adjusted to a single hydraulic retention time of 8.0 h. Each MBR run was repeated when substrate feeding was increased from 200 mg COD/L to 1000 mg COD/L. Substrate utilization kinetics was altered to significantly lower levels when the MBR was adjusted to higher substrate loadings. Molecular analysis of the biomass revealed that variable process kinetics could be correlated with parallel changes in the composition of the microbial community, mainly by a replacement mechanism, where newer species, better adapted to the new growth conditions, substituted others that are washed out from the system.

Cubic Mn2Ga thin films: crossing the spin gap with ruthenium

Cubic Mn2Ga films with the half-Heusler C1b structure are grown on V (001) epitaxial films. The phase is a soft ferrimagnet, with Curie temperature TC = 225 K and magnetization Ms=280  kA m(-1), equivalent to 1.65μB per formula. Adding ruthenium leads to an increase of TC up to 550 K in cubic Mn2Ru(x)Ga films with x = 0.33 and a collapse of the net magnetization. The anomalous Hall effect changes sign at x = 0.5, where the sign of the magnetization changes and the magnetic easy direction flips from in plane to perpendicular to the film. The Mn2Ru0.5Ga compound with a valence electron count of 21 is identified as a zero-moment ferrimagnet with high spin polarization, which shows evidence of half-metallicity.

High-efficiency beam bending using graded photonic crystals

We explore beam-bending properties of graded index (GRIN) waveguide with hyperbolic secant profile. The transmission efficiency and bandwidth features are extracted for GRIN photonic crystal (PC) media composed of dielectric rods. Light guiding performance of the GRIN PC medium is analyzed for 90° and 180° waveguide bends. The finite-difference time-domain method is deployed to investigate the performance of the designed GRIN waveguides. By the help of proposed photonic configuration, bending of light is achieved with a high efficiency within a broad bandwidth, which promotes the use of GRIN PC structures for efficient light-bending purposes.

Efficient mode converter design using asymmetric graded index photonic structures

Asymmetric graded-index (GRIN) inhomogeneous medium is proposed to enable even-to-odd mode conversion. An exponential refractive index profile is implemented to induce an asymmetric refractive index distribution. A two-dimensional photonic crystal structure composed of constant dielectric radii with rectangular unit cells is deployed. Efficient mode transformation in a compact structure may promote the manipulation of light for the creation of other types of higher-order modes in asymmetric GRIN structures.

[Field of tension between psychomatics and psychiatry]

As a medical topic psychosomatic medicine is able to look back on an almost 100-year-old tradition. Nevertheless, questions about its definition, area of application and by whom it should be practiced remains unsolved. This causes considerable tension with the field of psychiatry which has always seen psychosomatic medicine as a subspecialty of its own discipline. In the article, the development and current position of psychosomatic medicine in German speaking countries other than Germany (Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol) is presented. While psychosomatic care is currently planned and also partially already executed in Austria, psychosomatic medicine in Switzerland is located with general practitioners on the one hand and consultation-liaison psychiatry on the other. After the radical psychiatric reform of the late 1970s in South Tyrol psychosomatic medicine proved to be a means to remove taboos regarding psychiatric institutions and the mentally ill.

Modified Maxwell fish-eye approach for efficient coupler design by graded photonic crystals

We present a novel design of two dimensional graded index medium that provides coupling of light with high coupling efficiency between two planar dielectric waveguides of different widths (15.46 μm vs. 2.21 μm). Poor light coupling performance of butt-coupler can be mitigated by implementing tapered coupler at the expense of long coupler section. In order to reduce coupling losses, a new coupling device approach based on graded index (GRIN) concept is proposed. The refractive index distribution is in the form of modified version of the Maxwell fish-eye lens. The inhomogeneous refractive index distribution is approximated by photonic crystals (PCs) such that the positions of each PC rods are appropriately arranged. Strong electric field focusing ability of the designed GRIN PC medium provides relatively high coupling efficiency that is around 90%. Spectral region corresponding to coupling efficiency over 75% has a bandwidth of Δω = 18.56% (284 nm). Finally, we discuss the durability of the proposed coupler against the lateral displacement and angular misalignment of output waveguides.

Asymmetric light propagation in chirped photonic crystal waveguides

We report numerical and experimental investigations of asymmetric light propagation in a newly designed photonic structure that is formed by creating a chirped photonic crystal (PC) waveguide. The use of a non-symmetric distribution of unit cells of PC ensures the obtaining of asymmetric light propagation. Properly designing the spatial modulation of a PC waveguide inherently modifies the band structure. That in turn induces asymmetry for the light's followed path. The investigation of the transmission characteristics of this structure reveals optical diode like transmission behavior. The amount of power collected at the output of the waveguide centerline is different for the forward and backward propagation directions in the designed configuration. The advantageous properties of the proposed approach are the linear optic concept, compact configuration and compatibility with the integrated photonics. These features are expected to hold great potential for implementing practical optical rectifier-type devices.

Crescent shaped dielectric periodic structure for light manipulation

We present optical properties of crescent-shaped dielectric nano-rods that comprise a square lattice periodic structure named as crescent-shaped photonic crystals (CPC). The circular symmetry of individual cells of periodic dielectric structures is broken by replacing each unit cell with a reduced symmetry crescent shaped structure. The created configuration is assumed to be formed by the intersection of circular dielectric and air rods. The degree of freedom to manipulate the light propagation arises due to the rotational sensitivity of the CPC. The interesting dispersion property of designed CPC occurs due to the anisotropic nature of the iso-frequency contours that yield tilted self-collimated wave guiding. Furthermore, this feature allows focusing, routing, splitting and deflecting light beams along certain routes which are independent of the lattice symmetry directions of regular PCs. The propagation direction of light can be tuned by means of the opening angle of the crescent shape. Finally, the property of being all-dielectric structure ensures the absence of optical absorption losses that are reminiscent of employed metallic nano-particles.

Design of T-shaped nanophotonic wire waveguide for optical interconnection in H-tree network

Nanophotonic wire waveguides play an important role for the realization of highly dense integrated photonic circuits. The miniaturization of optoelectronic devices and realization of ultra-small integrated circuits strongly demand compact waveguide branches. T-shaped versions of nanophotonic wires are the first stage of both power splitting and optical-interconnection systems based on guided-wave optics; however, the acute transitions at the waveguide junctions typically induce huge bending losses in terms of radiated modes. Both 2D and 3D finite-difference time-domain methods are employed to monitor the efficient light propagation. By introducing appropriate combinations of dielectric posts around the dielectric-waveguide junctions within the 4.096μm×4.096μm region, we are able to reduce the bending losses dramatically and increase the transmission efficiency from low values of 18% in the absence of the dielectric posts to approximately 49% and 43% in 2D and 3D cases, respectively. These findings may lead to the implementation of such T-junctions in near-future high-density integrated photonics to deliver optical-clock signals via H-tree network.

Study of different spectral regions and delay bandwidth relation in slow light photonic crystal waveguides

We investigate slow light propagation in monomode photonic crystal waveguides with different spectral features such as constant group index, high bandwidth and low group velocity dispersion. The form of the waveguide mode alters dramatically and spans three different spectral intervals by tuning the size of the boundary holes. Namely, slope of the band gap guided mode changes sign from negative to positive toward the Brillouin zone edge. In between there is a transition region where modes have nearly zero slopes. Maximum group index occurs at these turning points at the expense of high dispersion and narrow bandwidth. The apparent trade-off relationship between group index and bandwidth is revealed systematically. We show that as the radius of the innermost hole is increased above a certain value, the former one decreases and the latter one increases both exponentially but with a different ratio. The product of average group index and bandwidth is defined as a figure of merit which reaches up to a value of approximately 0.30 after a detailed parametric search. The findings of the frequency domain analysis obtained by plane wave expansion method are confirmed via finite-difference time-domain study.

Design of annular photonic crystal slabs

We present the design of realistic annular photonic-crystal (APC) structures of finite thickness aiming to obtain a complete photonic bandgap (PBG). The APC is composed of dielectric rods and circular air holes in a triangular lattice such that each rod is centered within each hole. The optical and geometrical values of the structure are studied, and the interplay between various design parameters is highlighted. The coupled role of the inner-dielectric-rod radius, material types, and slab thickness is investigated. It is shown that the slab thickness is vital to obtain a complete photonic bandgap below the light line, and the specific value of the inner-dielectric-rod radius to sustain the maximum PBG if the hole radius is fixed at proper value is found.

Frequency of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in Turkish type 2 diabetic patients

We aimed to investigate the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism, ACE activity and their associations with diabetic complications in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 143 patients and 133 controls were screened for ACE gene I/D polymorphism by using polymerase chain reaction. Serum ACE activities were determined spectrophotometrically. There was no significant difference in the distribution of ACE I/D genotypes between patients and controls. The patients with DD genotype had a higher ACE activity than those with ID and II. Hypertensive diabetic patients with DD genotype had higher ACE activities than those with ID and II. There was no significant difference in the distribution of ACE I/D genotypes between patients with and without nephropathy, retinopathy and hypertension except for patients with and without neuropathy. In patients with DD genotype, creatinine clearance correlated with duration of diabetes. The grade of retinopathy was correlated with duration of diabetes in DD and ID genotypes. The highest ACE activity was measured in hypertensive diabetics with DD genotype. ID genotype was suggested to be a risk factor and II was suggested to be protective for diabetic neuropathy. The DD and ID genotypes might be a predictor for the development of retinopathy in relation to duration of diabetes.

Controlled normal and inverse current-induced magnetization switching and magnetoresistance in magnetic nanopillars

By combining pairs of ferromagnetic metals with the same or different signs of scattering anisotropies in ferromagnetic-nonmagnetic-ferromagnetic metal nanopillars, we independently invert just the magnetoresistance, just the direction of current-induced magnetization switching, or both together, at room temperature (295 K) and at 4.2 K. In all cases studied, the switching direction is correctly predicted from the net scattering anisotropy of the fixed ferromagnet, including both bulk and interfacial contributions.

The influence of endoproteolytic processing of familial Alzheimer's disease presenilin 2 on abeta42 amyloid peptide formation

Mutant presenilins (PS) contribute to the pathogenesis of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) by enhancing the production of Abeta42 from beta-amyloid precursor protein. Presenilins are endoproteolytically processed to N-terminal and C-terminal fragments, which together form a stable 1:1 complex. We have mapped the cleavage site in the PS2 protein by direct sequencing of its C-terminal fragment isolated from mouse liver. Three different N-terminal residues were identified starting at Val-299, Thr-301, and Leu-307 that correspond closely to the previously described N termini of the C-terminal fragment of human PS1. Mutational analysis of the PS2 cleavage site indicates that the principal endoproteolytic cleavage occurs at residues Met-298/Val-299 and that the N terminus is subsequently modified by secondary proteolytic cleavages. We have generated cleavage defective PS2 constructs, which accumulate exclusively as full-length polypeptides in transfected Neuro2a cells. Functional analysis of such cleavage defective PS2 carrying the FAD mutation Asn-141 --> Ile showed that its Abeta42 producing activity was strongly reduced compared with cleavage-competent FAD PS2. In contrast, cleavage defective PS2 was active in rescuing the egg-laying defect of a sel-12 mutant in Caenorhabditis elegans. We conclude that PS2 endoproteolytic cleavage is not an absolute requirement for its activities but may rather selectively enhance or stabilize its functions.

Knowledge-based scheduling of duty rosters for physicians

Applications of artificial intelligence methods to problems of common sense in medicine are rare. Our approach deals with a special class of resource allocation problems concerning fairness in the everyday life in a hospital. We treated the construction of a duty roster in a medical environment. We developed a fairness reasoning machine embedded in the expert system PEP for constructing a duty roster. Furthermore, we elicited and generalized knowledge about fairness between physicians. PEP has been used routinely. We observed a clear short cut of work time of the user in running it, and a 'fair' long-term allocation of physicians in the duty roster.