Effects of testosterone replacement therapy withdrawal and re-treatment in hypogonadal elderly men upon obesity,voiding function and prostate safety parameters

Whether testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a lifelong treatment for men with hypogonadism remains unknown. We investigated long-term TRT and TRT withdrawal on obesity and prostate-related parameters. Two hundred and sixty-two hypogonadal patients (mean age 59.5) received testosterone undecanoate in 12-week intervals for a maximum of 11 years. One hundred and forty-seven men had TRT interrupted for a mean of 16.9 months and resumed thereafter (Group A). The remaining 115 patients were treated continuously (Group B). Prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), residual voiding volume, bladder wall thickness, C-reactive protein (CRP), aging male symptoms (AMS), International Index of erectile function – erectile function (IIEF-EF) and International Prostate Symptoms Scores (IPSS) were measured over the study period with anthropometric parameters of obesity, including weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Prior to interruption, TRT resulted in improvements in residual voiding volume, bladder wall thickness, CRP, AMS, IIEF-EF, IPSS and obesity parameters while PSA and prostate volume increased. TRT interruption reduced total testosterone to hypogonadal levels in Group A and resulted in worsening of obesity parameters, AMS, IPSS, residual voiding volume and bladder wall thickness, IIEF-EF and PSA while CRP and prostate volume were unchanged until treatment resumed whereby these effects were reversed. TRT interruption results in worsening of symptoms. Hypogonadism may require lifelong TRT.     

Use of thermobalancing therapy in ageing male with benign prostatic hyperplasia with a focus on etiology and pathophysiology

Introduction: We investigated if “thermobalancing” therapy (TT), using Dr Allen’s therapeutic device (DATD) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can aid in understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of BPH.

Methods: We compared urinary and other parameters of BPH patients who received TT over 6 months (treatment group) with those of healthy volunteers who had not received the treatment (control group). Dynamics of symptoms and indicators in each group were evaluated in comparison with their data at the beginning and end of the study. Parameters were the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for urinary symptoms and quality of life (QoL), ultrasound measurement of prostate volume (PV) and uroflowmetry (maximum flow rate, Q_max). TT effectiveness was examined in 124 men with BPH and PV?<60?mL. We also investigated the data of five patients with BPH and PV?>60?mL.

Results: TT decreased urinary symptoms and PV, increased Q_max and improved QoL in men with BPH, PV?<60?mL, and in men with BPH, PV?>60?mL.

Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that TT is effective for BPH, suggesting that blood circulation plays a crucial role in its cause. The continuous heat exposure that does not exceed the normal body temperature terminates the trigger of BPH development, “micro-focus” of hypothermia, and the following spontaneous expansion of capillaries. TT could be considered to be a useful tool in BPH treatment.     

借助新媒体提升“90后”大学生思想政治教育的实效性

在经济全球化、思想文化多元化、信息化和科学技术飞速发展、我国综合国力和国际竞争力不断增强的背景下,新媒体已渗透到人们日常生活的方方面面。＂90后＂大学生呈现出独特的思想、行为模式,给大学生思想政治教育工作带来挑战。因此,认清和把握＂90后＂大学生的思想、行为特点,充分借助新媒体的优势,有针对性地开展大学生思想政治教育工作,提升思想政治教育工作的实效性显得尤为重要。     

Classroom sex composition and first-grade school outcomes: The role of classroom behavior

Using nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (N = 21,409; 10,452 girls and 10,957 boys; mean age = 7.24 years), the association between first-grade classroom sex composition (CSC), measured as the percentage of female students, and end of the year academic (reading, mathematics) and socio-emotional (externalizing problems, internalizing problems, self-control, interpersonal skills) outcomes was examined. Using multilevel modeling techniques and controlling for prior achievement levels, CSC was positively associated with children’s reading achievement at the end of first grade; students performed better in reading in classes with a higher percentage of female students. CSC was also associated with three of the socio-emotional outcomes; controlling for prior levels, students in classrooms with a higher percentage of girls had better self-control and interpersonal skills and fewer internalizing problems. Classroom behavior mediated the effects of CSC on reading achievement and the socio-emotional outcomes. Implications for the composition of first-grade classrooms are discussed.     

Statistical inference based on generalized Lindley record values

This paper addresses the problems of frequentist and Bayesian estimation for the unknown parameters of generalized Lindley distribution based on lower record values. We first derive the exact explicit expressions for the single and product moments of lower record values, and then use these results to compute the means, variances and covariance between two lower record values. We next obtain the maximum likelihood estimators and associated asymptotic confidence intervals. Furthermore, we obtain Bayes estimators under the assumption of gamma priors on both the shape and the scale parameters of the generalized Lindley distribution, and associated the highest posterior density interval estimates. The Bayesian estimation is studied with respect to both symmetric (squared error) and asymmetric (linear-exponential (LINEX)) loss functions. Finally, we compute Bayesian predictive estimates and predictive interval estimates for the future record values. To illustrate the findings, one real data set is analyzed, and Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the performances of the proposed methods of estimation and prediction.     

大学生思想道德状况对策审视

通过对四川17所高校体育专业学生思想道德状况调查,本文认为当前体大生思想道德总体积极向上,明礼诚信,恪守道德规范.在深刻分析、探明原因的基础上,提出改进体大生思想道德教育必须富有创造性.     

驳精神损害赔偿限额论

精神损害赔偿的主要功能在于填补受害人因此而受到的损害,使其得到抚慰,以便能开始新生活。因此,精神损害赔偿应本着“全面赔偿损害”的原则,不能脱离实际人为地限定数额。     

实现学生工作手段的现代化 提高德育工作的实效性

在贯彻落实党中央16号文件精神的过程中,首都师范大学运用各种管理系统,自主开发学生管理系统,加强网络建设,逐步实现工作的网络化.通过手段创新,提高了学生工作的效率,提高了德育工作的实效性和时效性.     

高校理想信念教育状况及实效性路径思考——以西南科技大学学生为调查样本

增强高校大学生理想信念教育的实效性是学校思想政治教育的一项重要工作.通过对西南科技大学学生的调查发现,当前我国高校大学生的理想信念主流是好的,但部分学生也不同程度存在政治信仰迷茫、价值取向扭曲、社会责任感缺乏、团结协作观念较差等问题,这与高校理想信念教育的效果不理想关系极大.