Predictive factors for vaginal douching and tampon use among US women: Are these behaviors risk factors for bacterial vaginosis and trichomonas?

The use of feminine products such as vaginal douches, tampons, and sanitary napkins are common among women. Despite the results of some studies that suggest an association between douching and bacterial vaginosis, douching remains a topic that is understudied. The possibility of an association between tampon use and infection has not been significantly investigated since the toxic shock outbreak in the 1980s. The first objective of our study was to evaluate demographic, reproductive health, and sexual behavior variables to establish an epidemiologic profile of menstruating women who reported douching and women who reported using sanitary napkins only. The second objective of our study was to evaluate whether the behaviors of douching and using tampons were associated with an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas. We analyzed these factors, using logistic regression, among the 3,174 women from the NHANES cross sectional data from 2001-2004, who met the inclusion criteria determined for our study. We established an epidemiologic profile for women who had the highest frequency of douching reported as women who were age 36-49, had a high school education or GED, black race, not taking oral contraceptives, reported vaginal symptoms in the last month, two or more sexual partners in the last year, or tested positive for bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas. The profile for those who had the highest frequency of exclusive sanitary napkin use included women with less than a high school education, married women, women classified as black or "other" in race, and women who were not on oral contraceptives. While we were able to establish a significant increase in the odds of douching among women who tested positive for bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas, we did not find any significant difference in the odds of exclusive napkin use and testing negative for bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas.^

Investigating the structure and form of condom decisional balance in an alternative school sample using confirmatory factor analysis

Teen pregnancy is a continuing problem, bringing with it a host of associated health and social risks. Alternative school students are especially at risk, but are historically under-represented in research. This is especially problematic in that instruments are needed to guide effective intervention development, but psychometrics for these instruments cannot be assumed when used in new populations. Decisional balance from the transtheoretical model offers a framework for understanding condom decision making, but has not been tested with alternative school students. Using responses from 640 subjects from Safer Choices 2 (a school-based HIV/STD/pregnancy prevention program implemented in 10 urban, southwestern alternative schools), a decisional balance scale for condom use was examined. A two-factor, mildly correlated model fit the data well. Tests of invariance examined scale functioning within gender and racial/ethnic groups. The underlying structure varied slightly based on subgroup, but on a practical level the impact on the use of scales was minimal. The structure and loadings were invariant across experimental condition. The pro scale was associated with a lower probability of having engaged in unprotected sexual behavior for sexually active subjects, and this association remained significant while controlling for demographic variables. The con scale did not show a significant association with engagement in unprotected sexual behaviors. Limitations and directions for future research were also discussed.^

Evaluation of web-based resources for HIV+ youth

Given current rates of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in youth ages 15–24, comprehensive care is imperative in order to manage the virus and to prevent further transmission. In the past decade, the Internet has become an immensely popular source for information, including health information. Due to the increase in Internet use for this purpose, the assessment of the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of health information on the Internet is necessary since the information delivered may not be current or accurate. The purpose of this study was to determine the quantity and quality of websites containing health information and resources directed specifically towards HIV positive youth. Three general search terms, “HIV + teens”, “HIV teens info”, and “HIV infected teens,” were searched using the current top three search engines: Google, Yahoo!, and MSN/Bing. The first hundred hits of each search were then categorized by type of website. The examination of the search results yielded 7 sites that met the inclusion criteria. These sites were consequently evaluated on functionality and content using an adapted version of a pre-existing instrument. The functionality analysis revealed that no websites that contained self management information were dedicated specifically to HIV positive youth. The content analysis showed that the sites chosen for evaluation were mostly consistent with the guidelines provided by the Department of Health and Human Services. The most discussed topics in the sites included the importance of safer sexual behavior, HIV counseling, partner notification, safer behavior choices, such as condom use, and mental health. These results highlight the need for the development of accessible websites that contain accurate information targeting youth infected with HIV. This study provides a snapshot of the available web-based resources and health information for HIV positive youth, and is relevant for health educators, care providers, researchers, and others intervening with HIV+ youth. ^

Internet sex among non-gay identifying men who have sex with men

The aim of this study was to examine the role of the Internet in Internal Homonegativity (IH) among Non gay identifying men who have sex with men (NGI-MSM). This study at University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH) had a mixed method research design and consisted of men 18 years of age and older who were residents of the US and Canada. The data were collected using an online survey called 'Men's Sexual Health Survey' which was developed in collaboration with Boston University School of Public Health and Denver Public Health. These surveys were administered in English, which took 30-minutes to complete, and were placed on gay oriented websites and chat rooms. 141 participants were presented with the module relating to IH. A Principal Component Analysis with varimax rotation on the nine questions that asked the participants about their feelings about gay men produced three factors of IH identified as (1) public identification as gay; (2) perception of stigma associated with being gay; and (3) social comfort with gay men. The factors significantly correlated with age, grade completed in school, income, openness about being gay and socializing with gay people, meeting partners online, dating on the Internet, attitude toward condom usage, alcohol and drug use before sex and having unprotected sex with Internet partners. These findings point toward the role of the Internet in determining IH and sexual behavior. Despite the risks, the Internet's popularity and outreach in NGI-MSM makes it an effective medium to spread public health programs.^

Risk and resiliency: The untold story of youth in military families

Background: Risky sexual behaviors have been shown to increase the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth. Youth in military families may be especially at risk for engaging in risky sexual behaviors because they are exposed to factors that are unique to the military culture, such as multiple relocations and parental deployment. However, data on sexual behaviors among military-dependent youth are limited and few studies have examined how these factors influence the sexual behaviors among youth. Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation was to estimate the prevalence of risky sexual behaviors among military-dependent youth and to describe how military factors may influence their sexual behaviors. Methods: Youth, aged 15–19 years, who attended a military health facility in the southern United States between June 2011 and September 2011 were recruited to complete a short, paper-based survey (N= 208, males and females) and to participate in an in-depth interview (N = 25, females). For quantitative data, prevalence estimates were computed and chi-square analyses were conducted. Logistic regression analyses were also conducted, adjusting for age, gender, and parents' duty status. For qualitative data, thematic coding of transcribed interviews was performed. Common and unique themes were examined across participants' experiences. Results: Over half of the youth was sexually experienced (53.7%). Parental deployment and number of relocations were significantly associated with having had sex in the past 3 months; however no significant associations were found between these military factors and other sexual behaviors. Although some youth felt that being a military-dependent had negatively impacted their sexual decisions, most believed the military experience had little influence on their sexual decisions. Most youth in military families also perceived having higher parental expectations to avoid risky behaviors, in general, than youth in civilian families. Conclusions: The majority of military-dependent youth are sexually experienced; however, individual and parental factors may have a greater role in sexual initiation among youth than military stressors do. The findings highlight the need for implementation of evidence-based strategies to prevent teen pregnancy and STIs at military installations. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further explore how youth may cope with these military factors and the impact of parental factors on the sexual behaviors of youth.^

The association between academic achievement and health status among eighth -grade Hispanic students in Houston

This cross-sectional study examines the association between health and academic achievement among Hispanic eighth-grade students in the Houston Independent School District. As part of the district's 3 year Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative to enhance comprehensive educational programs, a brief anonymous questionnaire was administered in the classroom to 359 students in two schools during a one-month period in the early part of the 2001 school year. ^ The primary study questions are: Among this sample of Hispanic adolescents, is there a significant association between academic achievement and health status? and in this same population, is there a significant association between health risk behavior and health status? The specific aims of this research are: (1) to describe the association between academic achievement and health status; (2) to describe the association between health risk behaviors and health status; and (3) to describe the relative contribution of health risk behaviors and academic achievement to adolescent health status among this sample of Hispanic adolescents. ^ The survey instrument was a 32-item questionnaire that incorporated: several academic achievement questions measuring usual grades, school-related performance, attendance, student and perceived parental satisfaction with academic achievement, and educational aspirations; two health and quality of life scales measuring adolescent self-reported health; and specific measures of health risk behavior, e.g., frequency of tobacco cigarette smoking, alcohol and other drug use, aggression, and suicidal ideation and behavior that were incorporated from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Questions pertaining to sexual behavior and pregnancy were omitted to comply with school district guidelines. ^ Analysis revealed that strong associations between academic achievement and health status and between health risk behaviors and health status were observed after controlling for the covariates. Eight factors were found to be significantly associated with poor health status: usual grades (low), academic performance (low), academic achievement beliefs (low), classroom and homework performance satisfaction (low), ever drinking alcohol (6 or more times), suicidality (ever thought about, planned for, or sought medical help after attempting suicide), gender (female), and age (15 years and older). (Abstract shortened by UMI.) ^

Superficies de placer : Sexo, religión y música electrónica en los pliegues de la transición 1990-2010

El desarrollo de la música electrónica en los últimos 20 años revela ambigüedades y tensiones del proceso cultural vivido por la sociedad argentina. El caso de la música electrónica, en tanto construcción de un espacio eminentemente multisensorial que modula una experiencia en la que dialogan articulaciones técnicas, sonoras y quími¬cas, junto ala centralidad del movimiento corporal, permite el encuentro, desarrollo y mutua redefinición de sexualidad y religión. Caracterizaremos ese encuentro posibilitado por la música electrónica como parte de la constitución renovada de las culturas juveniles. Por un lado describimos cómo el dispositivo de la música electrónica, dada la relevancia y trascendencia del baile, y dada la postulación de la unidad indisoluble entre cuerpo y mente, se articula con el sedimento cultural en el que opera la religiosidad de la Nueva Era. Por otro lado, pero en paralelo con lo anterior, mostra¬mos que el de la música electrónica es un espacio de interrogación y construcción de comportamientos sexuales en que el repertorio sexual se vuelve más plural que el definido por otras escenas musicales

Superficies de placer : Sexo, religión y música electrónica en los pliegues de la transición 1990-2010

El desarrollo de la música electrónica en los últimos 20 años revela ambigüedades y tensiones del proceso cultural vivido por la sociedad argentina. El caso de la música electrónica, en tanto construcción de un espacio eminentemente multisensorial que modula una experiencia en la que dialogan articulaciones técnicas, sonoras y quími¬cas, junto ala centralidad del movimiento corporal, permite el encuentro, desarrollo y mutua redefinición de sexualidad y religión. Caracterizaremos ese encuentro posibilitado por la música electrónica como parte de la constitución renovada de las culturas juveniles. Por un lado describimos cómo el dispositivo de la música electrónica, dada la relevancia y trascendencia del baile, y dada la postulación de la unidad indisoluble entre cuerpo y mente, se articula con el sedimento cultural en el que opera la religiosidad de la Nueva Era. Por otro lado, pero en paralelo con lo anterior, mostra¬mos que el de la música electrónica es un espacio de interrogación y construcción de comportamientos sexuales en que el repertorio sexual se vuelve más plural que el definido por otras escenas musicales

Superficies de placer : Sexo, religión y música electrónica en los pliegues de la transición 1990-2010

El desarrollo de la música electrónica en los últimos 20 años revela ambigüedades y tensiones del proceso cultural vivido por la sociedad argentina. El caso de la música electrónica, en tanto construcción de un espacio eminentemente multisensorial que modula una experiencia en la que dialogan articulaciones técnicas, sonoras y quími¬cas, junto ala centralidad del movimiento corporal, permite el encuentro, desarrollo y mutua redefinición de sexualidad y religión. Caracterizaremos ese encuentro posibilitado por la música electrónica como parte de la constitución renovada de las culturas juveniles. Por un lado describimos cómo el dispositivo de la música electrónica, dada la relevancia y trascendencia del baile, y dada la postulación de la unidad indisoluble entre cuerpo y mente, se articula con el sedimento cultural en el que opera la religiosidad de la Nueva Era. Por otro lado, pero en paralelo con lo anterior, mostra¬mos que el de la música electrónica es un espacio de interrogación y construcción de comportamientos sexuales en que el repertorio sexual se vuelve más plural que el definido por otras escenas musicales

AIDS NA REDE: UMA ABORDAGEM COMUNICACIONAL

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo geral investigar se um grupo de universitários da cidade de São Paulo tem comportamento sexual de risco em relação ao HIV, qual é o conhecimento que o grupo tem sobre HIV/AIDS e quais são as suas dúvidas mais freqüentes sobre o assunto. Além disso, tem como objetivo específico averiguar se o grupo usa a Internet para esclarecer suas dúvidas, quais as estratégias de busca utiliza e se considera que a informação obtida é confiável. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva, de caráter qualitativo. Como instrumento de campo, construímos um questionário digital de coleta de dados, aplicado pela pesquisadora, usando um computador portátil tipo notebook a 400 estudantes na entrada de quatro unidades de ensino superior da cidade de São Paulo, sendo 100 informantes em cada uma e sendo cada unidade em uma região: Norte, Sul, Leste e Oeste. Além disso, temos ainda o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido TCLEconforme determina a Resolução do Conselho Nacional de Saúde CNS 196/96. Para processar e analisar os dados e proceder ao cruzamento das variáveis foram usados procedimentos quantitativos. Para contextualizar nosso objeto, lançou-se um olhar sobre o panorama histórico da Comunicação e Saúde que se articula com a orientação metodológica da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental.

AIDS NA REDE: UMA ABORDAGEM COMUNICACIONAL

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo geral investigar se um grupo de universitários da cidade de São Paulo tem comportamento sexual de risco em relação ao HIV, qual é o conhecimento que o grupo tem sobre HIV/AIDS e quais são as suas dúvidas mais freqüentes sobre o assunto. Além disso, tem como objetivo específico averiguar se o grupo usa a Internet para esclarecer suas dúvidas, quais as estratégias de busca utiliza e se considera que a informação obtida é confiável. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva, de caráter qualitativo. Como instrumento de campo, construímos um questionário digital de coleta de dados, aplicado pela pesquisadora, usando um computador portátil tipo notebook a 400 estudantes na entrada de quatro unidades de ensino superior da cidade de São Paulo, sendo 100 informantes em cada uma e sendo cada unidade em uma região: Norte, Sul, Leste e Oeste. Além disso, temos ainda o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido TCLEconforme determina a Resolução do Conselho Nacional de Saúde CNS 196/96. Para processar e analisar os dados e proceder ao cruzamento das variáveis foram usados procedimentos quantitativos. Para contextualizar nosso objeto, lançou-se um olhar sobre o panorama histórico da Comunicação e Saúde que se articula com a orientação metodológica da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental.

Survival of reproductive behaviors in estrogen receptor β gene-deficient (βERKO) male and female mice

Previously, it was shown that the lack of a functional estrogen receptor (ER) α gene (ERα) greatly affects reproduction-related behaviors in both female and male mice. However, widespread expression of a novel second ER gene, ERβ, demanded that we examine the possible participation of ERβ in regulation of these behaviors. In dramatic contrast to our results with ERα knockout (αERKO) males, βERKO males performed at least as well as wild-type controls in sexual behavior tests. Moreover, not only did βERKO males exhibit normal male-typical aggressive behavior, including offensive attacks, but they also showed higher levels of aggression than wild-type mice under certain conditions of social experience. These data revealed a significant interaction between genotype and social experience with respect to aggressive behavior. Finally, females lacking a functional β isoform of the ER gene showed normal lordosis and courtship behaviors, extending in some cases beyond the day of behavioral estrus. These results highlight the importance of ERα for the normal expression of natural reproductive behaviors in both sexes and also provide a background for future studies evaluating ERβ gene contributions to other, nonreproductive behaviors.

Response-reinforcement learning is dependent on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activation in the nucleus accumbens core

The nucleus accumbens, a site within the ventral striatum, is best known for its prominent role in mediating the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse such as cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine. Indeed, it is generally believed that this structure subserves motivated behaviors, such as feeding, drinking, sexual behavior, and exploratory locomotion, which are elicited by natural rewards or incentive stimuli. A basic rule of positive reinforcement is that motor responses will increase in magnitude and vigor if followed by a rewarding event. It is likely, therefore, that the nucleus accumbens may serve as a substrate for reinforcement learning. However, there is surprisingly little information concerning the neural mechanisms by which appetitive responses are learned. In the present study, we report that treatment of the nucleus accumbens core with the selective competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5; 5 nmol/0.5 μl bilaterally) impairs response-reinforcement learning in the acquisition of a simple lever-press task to obtain food. Once the rats learned the task, AP-5 had no effect, demonstrating the requirement of NMDA receptor-dependent plasticity in the early stages of learning. Infusion of AP-5 into the accumbens shell produced a much smaller impairment of learning. Additional experiments showed that AP-5 core-treated rats had normal feeding and locomotor responses and were capable of acquiring stimulus-reward associations. We hypothesize that stimulation of NMDA receptors within the accumbens core is a key process through which motor responses become established in response to reinforcing stimuli. Further, this mechanism, may also play a critical role in the motivational and addictive properties of drugs of abuse.

Generation and reproductive phenotypes of mice lacking estrogen receptor β

Estrogens influence the differentiation and maintenance of reproductive tissues and affect lipid metabolism and bone remodeling. Two estrogen receptors (ERs) have been identified to date, ERα and ERβ. We previously generated and studied knockout mice lacking estrogen receptor α and reported severe reproductive and behavioral phenotypes including complete infertility of both male and female mice and absence of breast tissue development. Here we describe the generation of mice lacking estrogen receptor β (ERβ −/−) by insertion of a neomycin resistance gene into exon 3 of the coding gene by using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Mice lacking this receptor develop normally and are indistinguishable grossly and histologically as young adults from their littermates. RNA analysis and immunocytochemistry show that tissues from ERβ −/− mice lack normal ERβ RNA and protein. Breeding experiments with young, sexually mature females show that they are fertile and exhibit normal sexual behavior, but have fewer and smaller litters than wild-type mice. Superovulation experiments indicate that this reduction in fertility is the result of reduced ovarian efficiency. The mutant females have normal breast development and lactate normally. Young, sexually mature male mice show no overt abnormalities and reproduce normally. Older mutant males display signs of prostate and bladder hyperplasia. Our results indicate that ERβ is essential for normal ovulation efficiency but is not essential for female or male sexual differentiation, fertility, or lactation. Future experiments are required to determine the role of ERβ in bone and cardiovascular homeostasis.

Female preproenkephalin-knockout mice display altered emotional responses

The endogenous opioid system has been implicated in sexual behavior, palatable intake, fear, and anxiety. The present study examined whether ovariectomized female transgenic preproenkephalin-knockout (PPEKO) mice and their wild-type and heterozygous controls displayed alterations in fear and anxiety paradigms, sucrose intake, and lordotic behavior. To examine stability of responding, three squads of the genotypes were tested across seasons over a 20-month period. In a fear-conditioning paradigm, PPEKO mice significantly increased freezing to both fear and fear + shock stimuli relative to controls. In the open field, PPEKO mice spent significantly less time and traversed significantly less distance in the center of an open field than wild-type controls. Further, PPEKO mice spent significantly less time and tended to be less active on the light side of a dark–light chamber than controls, indicating that deletion of the enkephalin gene resulted in exaggerated responses to fear or anxiety-provoking environments. These selective deficits were observed consistently across testing squads spanning 20 months and different seasons. In contrast, PPEKO mice failed to differ from corresponding controls in sucrose, chow, or water intake across a range (0.0001–20%) of sucrose concentrations and failed to differ in either lordotic or female approach to male behaviors when primed with estradiol and progesterone, thereby arguing strongly for the selectivity of a fear and anxiety deficit which was not caused by generalized and nonspecific debilitation. These transgenic data strongly suggest that opioids, and particularly enkephalin gene products, are acting naturally to inhibit fear and anxiety.