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Radiography (London, England : 1995) Jun 2024Radiotherapy treatment for gynaecological cancer has significant negative effects on sexual wellness and pleasure (1-3). Patients undergoing radiotherapy for...
INTRODUCTION
Radiotherapy treatment for gynaecological cancer has significant negative effects on sexual wellness and pleasure (1-3). Patients undergoing radiotherapy for gynaecological cancers have more sexual dysfunction and experience more sexual and depressive symptoms than those who undergo surgery alone (4). The World Health Organization defines sexual health as a crucial part of health and wellbeing and recognizes the importance of positive and respectful approaches to sexuality, alongside safe and pleasurable sexual experiences free from violence and coercion (5).
METHODS
Taking a sex critical approach to sexual wellness and pleasure, this project aimed to support practitioners to have improved and impactful conversations with people receiving radiotherapy treatment for gynaecological cancers. A series of three professional development workshops were held to explore language, unpack assumptions and develop key competencies for practitioners. A fourth workshop involved co-development of resources for use by other practitioners.
RESULTS
The group united, sharing insights, learning, and developing practices through reflection developing critical awareness about damaging silences around sexual wellness and pleasure. Co-created resources included conversation cards and a poster.
CONCLUSION
The project aimed to build and extend research findings to develop practitioner skills in supporting sexual wellness and pleasure for people receiving gynae-radiotherapy. The study shows the benefits of discussing norms and harms associated with biomedically focused conversations in gynae-radiotherapy to acknowledge diversity and validate concerns about sexual wellbeing and pleasure.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
A sex critical approach to sexual wellness and pleasure should be considered a core principle of care for patients during their treatment for gynaecological cancers. Conversations are a key (free) resource within the practitioner-patient relationship that can address and improve patients' psychosocial wellbeing.
PubMed: 38944580
DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2024.06.012 -
The International Journal on Drug Policy Jun 2024A market for cannabis with low levels (LT) of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has recently emerged in Europe alongside an ongoing trend of domestic cannabis cultivation with...
BACKGROUND
A market for cannabis with low levels (LT) of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has recently emerged in Europe alongside an ongoing trend of domestic cannabis cultivation with high-THC content (HT). This phenomenon may have diversified the growers' profile. This study investigates LT growers' (LTG) characteristics (demographics, consumption patterns, growing experience) and growing motivations with a subsequent comparison with HT growers (HTG).
METHODS
Data from 11,479 small-scale growers was collected through an online survey (ICCQ 2) conducted by the Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium (GCCRC) from 2020 to 2021. This exploratory study analyses a subsample of the 1618 respondents residing in Italy and Switzerland. A quantitative approach was used, performing comparative bivariate and multivariate analyses between participants who have only grown HT plants in the previous year (HTG; n = 1303) and those who have either grown LT only or alongside HT (LTG; n = 315).
RESULTS
LTGs differ significantly from HTGs. LTGs are older than HTGs. Growing medical cannabis for oneself and others is more likely among them than HTGs. Compared to HTGs, LTGs have lesser odds to grow for recreational use and to have problematic cannabis use. Growing for legality, pleasure and accessing milder cannabis is more likely for LTGs than HTGs. HTGs have greater experience than HTGs, growing for longer, more extensively and better meeting their consumption needs. There is a wider production of by-products, such as oils and extracts, among LTGs than HTGs. Having been in contact with the police for growing is also more likely among them than HTGs.
CONCLUSION
LTGs reported significantly more growing experience when compared to HTGs and should be considered a distinct group of growers. The results suggest that the emergence of the legal LT market has more likely drawn previous HTGs into growing LT, mainly medically, rather than attracting new individuals toward cannabis cultivation.
PubMed: 38944558
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104505 -
Appetite Jun 2024Due to relationships between diet and health including obesity, there is a need to examine the explanatory power of factors that motivate people to (over or under) eat....
Due to relationships between diet and health including obesity, there is a need to examine the explanatory power of factors that motivate people to (over or under) eat. In a previous investigation, a four-factor subscale-based model of eating behaviour traits (EBTs) was developed which identified individual differences in psychological factors influencing motivations to eat and some residual uncertainties. The current study used a data-driven and theory-driven approach, including individual items to refine and extend previous EBT models. The aim was to examine and validate the domain structure of a framework for EBTs. The analysis used two samples including a representative sample of the UK population (n = 2010, 51% female, 49% male, 18 - 88 years), and members of a weight management program (n = 2317, 96.6% female, 2.8% male, 21 - 84 years), who completed 5 questionnaires including 10 EBTs. The results found some support for a 6-factor model, encompassing reactive eating, negative emotional eating, positive emotional eating, restricted eating, homeostatic eating, and body-food choice congruence (data-driven model) or eating for health (theory-driven model). There were differences between the data-driven model and the theory-driven model regarding the 6 factor. Additionally, the data-driven model did not distinguish between eating for pleasure and reactive eating. The models demonstrated that the eating behaviour factors were significantly associated with BMI category. Overall, this research contributes to a more structured understanding of the dimensions of motivation underlying EBTs, emphasising the utility of this framework for identifying at-risk individuals and tailoring interventions to meet specific individual needs.
PubMed: 38942149
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107543 -
Geriatric Nursing (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2024The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Two-dimensional Mood Scale (TDMS) for mood assessment among older adults with dementia. The study...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Two-dimensional Mood Scale (TDMS) for mood assessment among older adults with dementia. The study included 100 elderly patients with dementia admitted to two hospitals. For each mood state measured by the TDMS, the intraclass correlation coefficient of agreement (ICC) was calculated to evaluate test-retest reliability. Scores corresponding to the minimal detectable change (MDC) in each mood state at the individual level (MDC) was also calculated to evaluate measurement error, while McDonald's omega was calculated to evaluate internal consistency. The TDMS ICC was 0.54 for vitality, 0.74 for stability, 0.70 for pleasure, and 0.55 for arousal. The MDC was 6.89 for vitality, 5.88 for stability, 9.96 for pleasure, and 4.11 for arousal. McDonald's omega ranged from 0.60 to 0.84. The TDMS has generally acceptable reliability for the self-assessment of mood states by older adults with dementia.
PubMed: 38941790
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.06.016 -
Cureus May 2024Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection powerful enough to permit pleasurable sexual activity. There are four...
BACKGROUND
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection powerful enough to permit pleasurable sexual activity. There are four categories for ED grades. The illness may be influenced by vascular, neurological, psychological, and hormonal factors. Anxiety about performance and relationship issues are common psychological triggers.
AIM
This study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and awareness of ED and its management in the population of Saudi Arabia.
METHOD
This community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Saudi males in all five regions of Saudi Arabia (Central, Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern). A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among participants using an online survey. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic data (i.e., age, region, marital status, education), medical history, and erectile function (International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5)) as a diagnostic tool for ED.
RESULTS
In total, 924 men took part. About 512 (55.4%) were aged between 18 and 25 years old, and nearly two-thirds (595, 64.4%) were single. The Internet was the most common source of ED information 495 (53.6%). Based on respondents' knowledge, the most common risk factor of ED was depression (561, 60.8%), while the most common treatment option was lifestyle modification (654, 70.8%). The prevalence of ED among adult Saudi men was 198 (21.4%). Independent risk factors for ED include having been married, being an employee, and previous operation of the perineum.
CONCLUSION
ED was common among the Saudi male population. ED was more prevalent among older men with associated chronic diseases and had elevated body mass index (BMI). Having been married, being an employee, and having a previous perineum operation were identified as the significant independent risk factors for ED. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the cause and effect of the recognized risk factors for ED among men.
PubMed: 38939275
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61233 -
Behavior Therapy Jul 2024Many people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) experience profound amotivation, which is strongly related to anticipatory anhedonia. Yet, the...
Many people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) experience profound amotivation, which is strongly related to anticipatory anhedonia. Yet, the neuropsychological fundamentals of anticipatory anhedonia and amotivation are barely understood, resulting in a lack of effective treatments for these patients. Aberrancies in positive mental imagery may interfere with the anticipation of pleasure and could thus explain anticipatory anhedonia and amotivation. However, the nature of mental imagery and its relationship with amotivational psychopathology in SSD is largely unknown. In this preregistered study, we therefore examined mental imagery characteristics and their relation to anticipatory anhedonia, amotivation, and daily life activity in SSD. TheN = 86 participants included individuals with SSD (n = 43) and demographically matched healthy controls (n = 43). Mental imagery, anticipatory pleasure, amotivation, and activity engagement were assessed with structured interviews and self-report questionnaires. Ecological momentary assessment was used to measure state anticipatory pleasure and activity engagement in daily life (n = 81). Compared to the control group, the SSD group showed comparable quantity, but less vividness of mental imagery. Reduced vividness of mental imagery in SSD was significantly associated with higher anticipatory anhedonia, amotivation, and low activity engagement in cross-sectional and prospective analyses. Reduced mental imagery vividness may cause a lack of internal incentive to seek pleasurable experiences and could explain amotivation. Interventions aiming to improve mental imagery vividness and related anticipatory pleasure responses in SSD may be effective in targeting amotivation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Anhedonia; Imagination; Motivation; Schizophrenia; Middle Aged; Schizophrenic Psychology; Pleasure; Ecological Momentary Assessment; Case-Control Studies; Young Adult; Anticipation, Psychological
PubMed: 38937057
DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2024.01.009 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to daily life in Poland, with restrictions affecting various sectors, including entertainment, education, and travel....
: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to daily life in Poland, with restrictions affecting various sectors, including entertainment, education, and travel. The pandemic's impact extended to intimate aspects of life. This study aimed to compare the sexual functioning of young adults in Poland before and during the pandemic, using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14). : The research involved an online survey with demographic questions, the CSFQ-14 for pre-pandemic sexual functioning, and modified CSFQ-14 questions for the pandemic period. Sexual dysfunction was determined using predefined cutoff scores. : Overall, the study found no significant difference in the sexual functioning of young Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. However, there were gender-specific trends. Women reported enhanced pleasure, satisfaction, and orgasm during lockdown, while men faced challenges with erection and ejaculation. A higher proportion of women experienced overall sexual dysfunction compared to men, both before and during the pandemic. This research provides insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual lives of young Poles. While overall sexual functioning remained relatively stable, specific aspects varied by gender. : The study emphasizes the need to consider demographic factors, such as age and gender, when assessing the effects of external stressors like a pandemic on sexual health. Further research is essential to fully grasp these complexities and their potential long-term consequences.
PubMed: 38929899
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123370 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2024Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) are two terms used to indicate the presence of lesions of the squamous and glandular...
Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) are two terms used to indicate the presence of lesions of the squamous and glandular mucosa of the stomach. Prevalences, pathophysiology, and risk factors are different, and the latter have been investigated in different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ESGD and EGGD in a cohort of pleasure, breeding, and retired horses in Italy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to investigate such a diverse population of animals and the first one that includes a large number of animals in Italy. Gastroscopies were performed in 316 animals, with and without clinical signs of gastric ulcers, and a questionnaire about signalment, management, activity, and health was given to the owners or caretakers. Prevalence of ESGD was similar to the current literature reports in comparable populations, and the disease was associated with signalment, time with the current owner or caretaker, management (time and type of paddock, hay, and supplementary feed administered), and activity performed. In this population, EGGD was present in a lower percentage of animals and, of the parameters evaluated, was associated only with the signalment, while management does not seem to influence the development of lesions in the glandular mucosa in this population.
PubMed: 38929425
DOI: 10.3390/ani14121806 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Smell loss affects around 15-20% of the population, with a major effect on the quality of life. The most common complaint is the impairment of the eating experience,...
Smell loss affects around 15-20% of the population, with a major effect on the quality of life. The most common complaint is the impairment of the eating experience, with around 90% of patients reporting this issue. A study conducted at a specialised Taste and Smell Clinic investigated if food and cooking can positively affect the enjoyment of food, subjective cooking skills, and quality of life in patients with smell loss. The 49 participants in the study received a 5-week cooking school course that focused on emphasizing the other senses to regain the enjoyment of food. Participants gained more confidence in cooking, and their quality of life improved significantly. Positively evaluated recipes were adjusted based on feedback and published as free e-books in Danish, German, and English. Eating and cooking are multisensory experiences, and the perception of food depends on the complex interaction of senses and surroundings. If the olfactory input is reduced or absent, both the enjoyment and cooking experience can be negatively affected. Therefore, focusing on food and cooking can have a positive impact on patients with smell loss.
PubMed: 38928763
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121821 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Krause's corpuscles are typical of cutaneous mucous epithelia, like the lip vermillion or the glans clitoridis, and are associated with rapidly adapting low-threshold...
Krause's corpuscles are typical of cutaneous mucous epithelia, like the lip vermillion or the glans clitoridis, and are associated with rapidly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors involved in gentle touch or vibration. PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are transmembrane mechano-gated proteins that form a part of the cationic ion channels required for mechanosensitivity in mammalian cells. They are involved in somatosensitivity, especially in the different qualities of touch, but also in pain and proprioception. In the present study, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the occurrence and cellular location of PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 in human clitoral Krause's corpuscles. Both PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 were detected in Krause's corpuscles in both the axon and the terminal glial cells. The presence of PIEZOs in the terminal glial cells of Kraus's corpuscles is reported here for the first time. Based on the distribution of PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, it may be assumed they could be involved in mechanical stimuli, sexual behavior, and sexual pleasure.
Topics: Humans; Ion Channels; Axons; Neuroglia; Female; Clitoris; Adult; Mechanoreceptors; Immunohistochemistry; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38928429
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126722