The effect of joint control training on the acquisition and durability of a sequencing task

Gutierrez (2006) experimentally demonstrated the effects of joint control and particularly the role of response mediation in the sequencing behavior of adults using an unfamiliar language. The purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend the procedures used by Gutierrez by comparing the effects of joint control training with the effects of a prompt-and-fade procedure on the acquisition of a sequencing task. The effects of each procedure on delayed sequencing behavior were also tested. Ten undergraduate students participated in 2 experiments. The results indicated that all participants acquired the sequencing response in fewer trials and maintained accurate delayed responding when the component responses necessary for joint control were directly taught. Finally, when the self-echoic mediation component was blocked, accurate responding deteriorated in 8 of 10 participants.     

The effect of testosterone treatment on prostate histology and apoptosis in men with late-onset hypogonadism

Objectives: To investigate the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on prostate histology and apoptosis in men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).

Methods: The study included 25 men, having LOH with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 4?ng/ml or less. All patients underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy at baseline, and received testosterone undecanoate treatment for 1 year. Prostate biopsy was repeated at the end of 1 year of testosterone therapy. In addition to clinical and biochemical parameters, prostate histology and apoptotic index (AI) were compared before and after the TRT.

Results: The mean serum total testosterone significantly increased from 178.04?±?51.92 to 496.28?±?103.73?ng/dl (p?=?0.001). No significant differences were observed in serum total and free PSA level, prostate volume and maximal urinary flow rate. There were also no significant differences in AI, stroma/epithelial cells ratio, Ki-67 positive cells and atrophy score of prostate tissue before and after the TRT.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that TRT did not affect serum PSA level, prostate volume and maximal urinary flow rate. This study also suggests that TRT does not cause the risk for prostate cancer development, because of no significant differences in prostate histology after TRT.     

Effect of testosterone therapy on lumbar spine and hip mineral density in elderly men

Objective.?The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of testosterone therapy on bone mineral density in healthy elderly men who had low levels of total testosterone.

Design.?Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Participants.?Forty-eight men over 60 years old with decreased testosterone levels (≤320 ng/dL) comprised the study. Twenty-five out of 48 received intramuscular injections of testosterone enanthate every three weeks during 12 months; the remaining 23 participants formed the control group. All participants had measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) in both lumbar spine and hip before and at the end of the study as well as testosterone and 17-β estradiol levels.

Results:?Testosterone treated group exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) increment (from 1.198 ± 0.153 to 1.240 ± 0.141 g/cm²) in lumbar BMD in parallel with a significant (p < 0.001) increment (from 301 ± 32 to 471 ± 107 ng/dL) in testosterone concentrations, whereas no significant change occurred in femoral neck BMD.

Conclusions.?Testosterone therapy elicited a positive effect only in lumbar BMD in elderly men with diminished testosterone serum levels.     

Effect of resistance training on single muscle fiber contractile function in older men

Reproduced with permission     

The effect of 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy on muscle and fat mass in older men with localized prostate cancer

Objective.?To evaluate body composition changes, specifically skeletal muscle mass, in men receiving androgen deprivation with luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone-agonist (LHRH-A) for prostate cancer (PCa) in comparison with healthy controls.

Design.?Retrospective analysis of body composition changes in men with prostate cancer receiving LHRH-A therapy from 2 clinical trials compared to men without prostate cancer serving as a placebo-control in another clinical trial.

Setting.?Clinical Research Center in Connecticut.

Participants.?Thirty men (> 60 years) receiving 6 months of LHRH-A therapy for PCa were compared to a healthy group of 25 men without PCa.

Measurements.?Appendicular skeletal muscle/height² (ASM/ht²), lean and fat mass were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Total testosterone levels were assessed by enzyme immunoassay.

Results.?At baseline, 12/30 (40%) of the treatment group and 7/25 (28%) of the control group (p = 0.11) met criteria for sarcopenia. There were no differences between control groups in ASM/ht² or lean mass. The LHRH-A group had a higher percent body fat than the control group, 29.8 ± 6.3 versus 26.3 ± 4.6 (p = 0.02). ASM/ht² and lean mass decreased in the LHRH-A group from 7.5 ± 0.9 kg to 7.3 ± 0.9 kg (?2.3% ± 0.03; p ? 0.001) and 53.5 ± 5.4 kg to 52.3 ± 5.3 kg (?2.1% ± 0.03; p ? 0.001), respectively. There was no muscle loss in the control group. At 6 months, the LHRH-A group had increased percent body fat from 29.8 ± 6.4 to 32.2 ± 5.8 (9.5% ± 0.13; p ? 0.001), whereas the control group had decreased in percent body fat from 26.6 ± 4.6 to 25.3 ± 5.0 (?3.8% ± 0.08; p = 0.02).

Conclusions.?Men undergoing LHRH-A treatment for PCa decreased appendicular skeletal muscle and lean tissue and increased body fat within 6 months of initiation of therapy. Lifestyle changes or medical interventions to minimize the effects of androgen deprivation therapy for PCa deserve investigation.     

The effect of testosterone therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms/bladder and sexual functions in men with symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism

Objective.?To prospectively investigate the effect of testosterone therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/bladder and sexual functions in men with symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism (SLOH).

Methods.?The study included 25 men (age range 38 to 73 years) presented with sexual dysfunction, having SLOH, at a single university hospital. All men received testosterone replacement therapy with transdermal testosterone 50–100 mg gel per day for one year. Urodynamic studies with pressure-flow analysis, measurement of prostate volume, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and free PSA level, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Aging Male Symptom (AMS) scale and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score were recorded in all men before and after one year of the treatment.

Results.?The mean AMS score significantly decreased from 40.4 ± 7.3 to 28.8 ± 5.31 (p = 0.001), and mean IIEF-5 score significantly increased from 8.84 ± 3.76 to 14.36 ± 3.62 (p = 0.001). The mean maximal bladder capacity and compliance significantly increased (p = 0.007 and p = 0.032, respectively), and mean detrusor pressure at Qmax significantly decreased from pre-treatment to post-treatment (p = 0.017).

Conclusion.?This study suggests that in addition to improvement in sexual functions, testosterone therapy may also improve LUTS/bladder functions by increasing bladder capacity and compliance and decreasing detrusor pressure at maximal flow in men with SLOH.     

The effects of tact training on stereotypic vocalizations in children with autism

This study was a systematic extension of Karmali, Greer, Nuzzulo-Gomez, Ross, and Rivera-Valdes (2005) and Ahearn, Clark, MacDonald, and Chung (2007). We investigated the effects of a tact correction procedure on stereotypic vocalizations in 4 children diagnosed with autism who ranged in age from 6 to 16 years. Participants had limited vocal verbal repertoires and were primarily dependent on prompts for the emission of appropriate vocalizations. A multiple-baseline design across participants was used. Data were collected on instances of stereotypic vocalizations and independent tacts during baseline conditions and on instances of stereotypic vocalizations, independent tacts, and echoic-tacts during intervention. Procedural integrity and social validity data were also obtained. The results indicated a decrease in stereotypic vocalizations for 3 of the 4 participants and a slight increase in appropriate vocal verbal behavior (i.e., tacting) for all participants. The study provides support for the use of tact correction procedures to decrease stereotypic vocalizations and increase appropriate vocalizations in children with autism.     

The effect of Phase One training on young recruits' personal and professional development in the British army

This paper focuses on young men in the British army and their attitudes towards, and experiences of, Phase One basic training. The research, which took place in 2008–2011, used a longitudinal design. Using mixed methods, the findings draw on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 26 young trainees, and interviews and quantitative survey data with 1518 recruits, with an average age of 19.6 years. It reports on recruits’ motivations for enlisting and then tells a story of socialisation, transition and change from both civilian to soldier and from adolescent to man. Drawing on Goffman's theory of the ‘total institution’ the research is centred around two contexts – the outside training ranges and the indoor barracks. It argues that the army has a set of highly effective structures and processes that socialise individuals into the culture of the military organisation. By the time they pass out of Phase One training, recruits are in the possession of a set of norms, values, knowledge and skills, and have not only been transformed into competent members of the military organisation, but have also begun to take on and construct new forms of self-image and identity.     

The stability of personality traits in adolescence and young adulthood

Models of economic decision-making usually assume that personality is stable over time. We assess the validity of this assumption over an eight-year time frame in adolescence and young adulthood using nationally representative panel data from Australia. Our study shows that unconditional mean-level changes in personality traits are small—with the exception of conscientiousness which increases by 0.38 SD—because most individuals do not change their scores in a statistically reliable way during adolescence and young adulthood, or changes occur in equal proportions in opposite directions. Controlling for systematic panel attrition and multiple hypothesis testing, we demonstrate that personality traits do not systematically respond to the majority of common one-off family-, income-, and health-related shocks. However, a small number of life events—marriage, family members detained in jail, leaving the workforce and long-term health problems—are associated with subsequent changes in personality. In particular, youth who experience long-term health problems including bodily pain increase their external locus of control by 0.5–0.9 SD, an economically meaningful change when expressed in terms of hourly wage penalty.     

The effect of functional circuit training on physical frailty in frail older adults: a randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a 12-wk functional circuit-training program (FCT) could alter markers of physical frailty in a group of frail community-dwelling adults. Fifty-one individuals (31 women, 20 men), mean age (± SD) 84 (± 2.9) yr, met frailty criteria and were randomly assigned into groups (FCT = 26, control group [CG] = 25). FCT underwent a 12-wk exercise program. CG met once a week for health education meetings. Measures of physical frailty, function, strength, balance, and gait speed were assessed at Weeks 0, 12, and 36. Physical-frailty measures in FCT showed significant (p < .05) improvements relative to those in CG (Barthel Index at Weeks 0 and 36: 73.41 (± 2.35) and 77.0 (± 2.38) for the FCT and 70.79 (± 2.53) and 66.73 (± 2.73) for the CG. These data indicate that an FCT program is effective in improving measures of function and reducing physical frailty among frail older adults.     

The effect of three different exercise training modalities on cognitive and physical function in a healthy older population

Background

Older adults are encouraged to participate in regular physical activity to counter the age-related declines in physical and cognitive health. Literature on the effect of different exercise training modalities (aerobic vs resistance) on these health-related outcomes is not only sparse, but results are inconsistent. In general, it is believed that exercise has a positive effect on executive cognitive function, possibly because of the physiological adaptations through increases in fitness. Indications are that high-intensity interval training is a potent stimulus to improve cardiovascular fitness, even in older adults; however, its effect on cognitive function has not been studied before.Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of resistance training, high-intensity aerobic interval training and moderate continuous aerobic training on the cognitive and physical functioning of healthy older adults.

Methods

Sixty-seven inactive individuals (55 to 75 years) were randomly assigned to a resistance training (RT) group (n = 22), high-intensity aerobic interval training (HIIT) group (n = 13), moderate continuous aerobic training (MCT) group (n = 13) and a control (CON) group (n = 19) for a period of 16 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed with a Stroop task and physical function with the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) and submaximal Bruce treadmill tests.

Results

No significant GROUP x TIME interaction was found for Stroop reaction time (P > .05). The HIIT group showed the greatest practical significant improvement in reaction time on the information processing task, i.e. Stroop Neutral (ES = 1.11). MCT group participants had very large practical significant improvements in reaction time on the executive cognitive tasks, i.e. Stroop Incongruent and Interference (ES = 1.28 and 1.31, respectively). The HIIT group showed the largest practically significant increase in measures of physical function, i.e. walking endurance (ES = 0.91) and functional mobility (ES = 0.36).

Conclusions

MCT and RT proved to be superior to HIIT for the enhancement of older individuals’ executive cognitive function; whereas HIIT were most beneficial for improvement in information processing speed. HIIT also induced the largest gains in physical function.

     

The effects of listener and speaker training on emergent relations in children with autism

The current study assessed the use of standard conditional discrimination (i.e., listener) and textual/tact (i.e., speaker) training in the establishment of equivalence classes containing dictated names, tacts/textual responses, pictures and printed words. Four children (ages 5 to 7 years) diagnosed with autism were taught to select pictures and printed words in the presence of their dictated names, and to emit the tact or textual response corresponding to a presented picture or printed word. Both speaker and listener training resulted in the formation of stimulus classes for 3 of 4 participants.     

Unintended Consequences of “Soft” Regulations: The Social Control of Human Biomedical Research in Japan

Professional socialization and training, informal peer influence, and professional norms and sanctions were once regarded as effective tools in the social control of medicine. However, these intraprofessional controls over medicine have come to be seen as ineffective and new extraprofessional controls have been considered requisite for several decades. In this paper, I focus on the historical development of governmental controls over biomedical research in Japan. A general characteristic of Japanese regulations is the existence of numerous subdivided guidelines and laws. This situation was prompted by the governmental response to bioethical issues on a case‐by‐case basis. While this response has advantages in speed and flexibility, it also has disadvantages in that it lacks consistency, and frequent revisions lead to complicated provisions that cannot be understood by researchers. Another feature of the Japanese situation is excessive reliance on non‐binding guidelines published by various administrative agencies. One reason for the government to rely on these guidelines is that they are formally non‐binding but regarded as “effective” measures because regulated parties perceive them as having binding power. Indeed, some guidelines have their own sanctions against researchers or institutions, which include public announcement of the names of violators. However, if this measure is actually taken without basis in the law, it can be illegal. In this case, Japanese experiences show that excessive reliance on “soft” regulations can lead to paradoxical situations concerning social control of biomedical research.     

Prevalence,incidence and risk factors of testosterone deficiency in a population-based cohort of men: results from the study of health in Pomerania

Objective.?Low total testosterone levels (TT) have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, the prevalence and incidence of testosterone deficiency (TD) in association with its risk has not been assessed systematically to date.

Methods.?Data from the prospective population-based Study of Health in Pomerania were used. From the 2117 men aged 20–79 years at baseline, 1490 men with complete TT data were analysed. Crude and age-specific prevalence and incidence rates of TD were estimated by TT levels below the age-specific 10th percentile. Analysis of covariance and Poisson regression models were used to assess the association of socio-demographic characteristics, health-related lifestyle, as well as somatometric, medical and laboratory measures with risk of incident TD.

Results.?TD baseline prevalence was 10.4% (N?=?155) and incidence 11.7 per 1000 person-years. TT levels showed a significant age-related decline with an unadjusted rate of 0.05 nmol/l per year. Obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and dyslipidaemia were identified as risk factors of incident TD. Subpopulations of men without the revealed risk factors at both examinations maintained constant TT levels over time.

Conclusions.?Besides aging alone, lifestyle and different comorbidities were associated with TT level decline, suggesting that the age-related TT decline may be at least partly prevented through the management of potentially modifiable risk factors and health related behaviour.     

The work of art in the age of hip hop reproduction: Ice-T and the cultural capital of keeping it real again in Kings of Vice (2011) and Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012)

In turning his talents to fiction in his 2011 debut novel, Kings of Vice, gangsta rapper Ice-T has faced a particularly intricate challenge in “keeping it real”. At this point in the twenty-first century, the credibility of hip hop’s harder core seems to have been undermined by the distance gangsta rap has travelled from the street realities that gave it birth in the 1980s to the millionaire enterprises that have emerged since. A “rapocracy” of incredibly successful rappers and producers, most of them associated with gangsta rap (such as Diddy, Dr Dre, Jay-Z and Russell Simmons), has taken the gangsta ill-logic of exploiting the street for maximum profit to the extreme. Ice-T’s intervention in this dynamic has been to try to remind us of hip hop’s more “auratic” origins while acknowledging that the past is indeed a different country. The turn to authorship of books and making of documentary films in the context of a post-2008 economic meltdown environment constitutes an imaginative way to revivify the creative possibilities of the gangsta. The very title of Ice-T’s 2012 documentary film, Something Out of Nothing: The Art of Rap, betrays an almost nostalgic yearning for a purer age and the form that erupted out of it. This same retrospective paradigm for thinking a better way forward for gangsta aesthetics is also at the heart of Kings of Vice. Ice-T’s inventive return to origins shows us how even at a moment of its maximum commodification, gangsta culture (precisely because of its contradictory relationship to capitalism) can provide a uniquely critical perspective on a deregulated world.     

The effect of lifestyle modification and glycemic control on the efficiency of sildenafil citrate in patients with erectile dysfunction due to type-2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of lifestyle modifications and glycemic control on the efficiency of sildenafil citrate in patients with type-2 diabetes (T2DM) and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: Eighty-three men with ED due to T2DM were included in the study. The Group 1 (n?=?41) patients received lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise), and medical treatment for intensive glycemic control. In Group 2 (n?=?42), in addition to the intensive glycemic control, the patients were given sildenafil citrate® 100?mg for 2–3 per weeks. The changes in ED were compared between the two groups after three months of treatment.

Results: The mean age was 54.9?±?9.1 (26–75) years. An increase in the IIEF-5 scores was observed in 23 of 41 patients in Group 1 (44.2%) and 29 of 42 in Group 2 (55.8%). When the changes of the IIEF-5 scores were evaluated, the mean increase was 2.5 in Group 1, and 5.0 in Group 2 (p?=?0.012). The mean IIEF changes according to the duration of diabetes were 4.8 in <5 years, 3.6 in 5–10 years and 1.6 in >10 years (p?=?0.021).

Conclusions: Glycemic control and lifestyle changes are not solely adequate for a better sexual function in ED due to diabetes, and sildenafil citrate should be used additionally.     

The use of selective estrogen receptor modulators on bone health in men

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) represent a class of drugs that act as agonist or antagonist for estrogen receptor in a tissue-specific manner. The SERMs drugs are initially used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Bone health in prostate cancer patients has become a significant concern, whereby patients undergo androgen deprivation therapy is often associated with deleterious effects on bone. Previous preclinical and epidemiological findings showed that estrogens play a dominant role in improving bone health as compared to testosterone in men. Therefore, this evidence-based review aims to assess the available evidence derived from animal and human studies on the effects of SERMs on the male skeletal system. The effects of SERMs on bone mineral density (BMD)/content (BMC), bone histomorphometry, bone turnover, bone strength and fracture risk have been summarized in this review.     

韩国培养青少年马术的初步研究

马术,是世界比较前卫的竞技活动,它可以锻炼人的身体,也可以帮助人陶冶情操。在青少年活动中,马术会对青少年的人格形成、身体锻炼和性格培养发挥重要的作用。本文主要介绍了马术先进国家——韩国,将马术应用到青少年活动中的具体操作方法,为我国青少年马术培养提供一些参考。