RESUMEN
Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic flower (AMf) exhibits both nutritional value and bioactivities such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. The aim of this investigation was to examine the potential impact of three different solvent extracts of AMf: supercritical CO2 extraction extract, water extract, and ethanol extract (AME), on management of diabetes. All three extracts demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 157-261 µg/mL) and lipase (IC50 = 401-577 µg/mL) activities while enhancing the α-amylase activity (32.4-41.8 folds at 200 µg/mL). Moreover, all three extracts exhibited notable inhibition of the formation of advanced glycation end-products, including the Amadori products (inhibition rates = 15.7-36.6%) and the dicarbonyl compounds (inhibition rates = 18.6-28.3%). Among the three extracts, AME exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effect. AME displayed substantial in vitro and intracellular antioxidative activity, and effectively reduced ROS production (135% at 500 µg/mL) in ß-cells under hyperglycemic (HG) conditions. AME also enhanced the activity and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, which were markedly decreased in the HG-induced ß-cells. Furthermore, AME protected ß-cell viability and maintained normal insulin secretion under HG conditions, likely due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress within ß-cells. This study demonstrated the potential of AME in preventing and managing diabetes and its associated complications. Further in vivo research is necessary to thoroughly elucidate the preventive effects and their underlying mechanisms.
Asunto(s)
Abelmoschus , Flores , Hipoglucemiantes , Extractos Vegetales , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/uso terapéutico , Flores/química , Abelmoschus/química , Hipoglucemiantes/farmacología , Hipoglucemiantes/uso terapéutico , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Antioxidantes/uso terapéutico , Animales , RatasRESUMEN
How North American Chinese conceptualize and experience sexual desire is not well understood, and may have implications for understanding cross-cultural differences in sexual functioning. This study examined narratives of sexual desire among Chinese men and women in Canada. Ten each of Chinese men (age: M = 24.0, range = 18-42) and women (age: M = 23.5, range = 19-38) took part in semi-structured interviews in which they were invited to share personal accounts of sexual desire. A phenomenological analysis of participants' responses showed men and women described desire as having genital, nongenital-physical, and cognitive-emotional components. Chinese cultural prohibitions against sexuality, particularly pronounced in women, were a common inhibitor of desire. Relationship factors appeared as a frequently endorsed context and target of desire. These findings suggest that relationship context is of paramount importance in Chinese individuals and that previous findings of low sexual functioning in this group may be due to inhibition from cultural factors. However, the experience of desire in Chinese individuals is also in many ways similar to that of existing conceptualizations from Western samples.
Asunto(s)
Nivel de Alerta , Pueblo Asiatico/etnología , Pueblo Asiatico/psicología , Sexualidad/etnología , Sexualidad/psicología , Adulto , Colombia Británica , China , Características Culturales , Femenino , Humanos , Entrevista Psicológica , Masculino , Salud de las Minorías , Investigación Cualitativa , Factores Sexuales , Salud Sexual/etnología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Prior research has documented various ways in which adult attachment styles are characteristic of differential behavioral and cognitive patterns within romantic relationships and sexuality. However, few studies have examined the direct influence of anxious or avoidant attachment orientation on sexual function. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of insecure attachment on sexual function. Undergraduate students completed questionnaires measuring attachment style and sexual functioning. Among women, attachment avoidance tended to be associated with impairments in all aspects of sexual function, whereas anxious attachment tended to be associated with declines in arousal, satisfaction, and ability to achieve orgasm. A different trend was seen in men: Anxious attachment tended to be associated with multiple facets of sexual dysfunction, while avoidant attachment did not correlate with any sexual function deficits and was associated with superior physiological competence. These results suggest that both anxious and avoidant attachment styles are important yet differential predictors of sexual function in men and women.
Asunto(s)
Ansiedad/psicología , Apego a Objetos , Satisfacción Personal , Autoeficacia , Conducta Sexual/psicología , Asertividad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Factores Sexuales , Deseabilidad Social , Estudiantes/estadística & datos numéricos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Evidence for the influence of sexual beliefs on sexual functioning and satisfaction has mainly emanated from clinical lore. Empirical investigations on this topic remain sparse. This study investigated whether beliefs regarding prevalence and definitions of male and female sexual dysfunctions predicted sexual function and satisfaction in a sample of 131 undergraduate students. Results indicated that higher perceived prevalence of male and female sexual dysfunctions was predictive of lower sexual functioning and poorer sexual satisfaction in women. For the male participants, none of the examined sexual beliefs emerged as significant predictors of their sexual functioning or satisfaction. Surprisingly, it was also found that participants estimated the prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions to be higher than male sexual dysfunctions, while defining male sexual dysfunctions more broadly than female sexual dysfunctions. Possible mechanisms for the findings are provided.
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Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Conducta Sexual/psicología , Disfunciones Sexuales Psicológicas/psicología , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Satisfacción Personal , Prevalencia , Factores Sexuales , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Several lines of evidence point to the potential role of the endocannabinoid system in female sexual functioning. These include results from studies describing the subjective effects of exogenous cannabinoids on sexual functioning in humans and the observable effects of exogenous cannabinoids on sexual functioning in other species, as well as results from studies investigating the location of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and periphery, and the effects of cannabinoid receptor activation on neurotransmitters implicated in sexual functioning. While these lines of research suggest a role for the endocannabinoid system in female sexual functioning, no studies investigating the relationship between concentrations of endogenous cannabinoids (i.e., arachidonoylethanolamide [AEA] and 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG]) and sexual functioning have been conducted in any species. AIM: To measure circulating endocannabinoid concentrations in relation to subjective and physiological indices of sexual arousal in women (N = 21). METHODS: Serum endocannabinoid (AEA and 2-AG) concentrations were measured immediately prior to, and immediately following, viewing of neutral (control) and erotic (experimental) film stimuli in a repeated measures design. Physiological sexual arousal was measured via vaginal photoplethysmography. Subjective sexual arousal was measured both continuously and noncontinuously. Pearson's correlations were used to investigate the relationships between endocannabinoid concentrations and sexual arousal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in AEA and 2-AG concentrations from pre- to post-film and in relation to physiological and subjective indices of sexual arousal. RESULTS: Results revealed a significant relationship between endocannabinoid concentrations and female sexual arousal, whereby increases in both physiological and subjective indices of sexual arousal were significantly associated with decreases in AEA, and increases in subjective indices of sexual arousal were significantly associated with decreases in 2-AG. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that the endocannabinoid system is involved in female sexual functioning, with implications for furthering understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying female sexual functioning.
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Nivel de Alerta/fisiología , Moduladores de Receptores de Cannabinoides/sangre , Endocannabinoides , Sexualidad/fisiología , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Humanos , Análisis Multivariante , Fotopletismografía , Vagina/fisiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Papanicolaou (Pap) testing rates among Chinese women remain low compared with their Caucasian counterparts despite extensive efforts to raise awareness of the importance of regular screening. We examined three potential predictors of Pap testing behaviour in Chinese women: acculturation, cervical cancer screening belief accuracy, and intergenerational transmission. METHODS: Caucasian (n = 78) and Chinese (n = 93) female university students and their mothers completed questionnaires concerning acculturation, Pap testing beliefs, and behaviours. RESULTS: Ethnic group comparisons revealed that Chinese daughters and mothers had lower Pap testing rates and less accurate beliefs regarding cervical cancer screening. Among women who had had at least one Pap test, there was no ethnic difference in the proportion of women who adhered to the recommended screening frequency. Among the Chinese women, lower heritage acculturation was correlated with higher cancer screening belief accuracy in both the daughters and their mothers. Maternal Pap testing behaviour was predicted by level of cancer screening belief accuracy, whereas daughters' Pap testing behaviour was predicted by previous experience of sexual intercourse and heritage acculturation. No intergenerational transmission of Pap testing beliefs or behaviours was found. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of cancer screening beliefs, level of acculturation and experience of sexual intercourse may be predictors of Pap testing behaviour in Chinese women. Contrary to our prediction, we found no support for intergenerational transmission, suggesting that Pap testing beliefs and behaviours of Chinese women are independent of the beliefs and behaviours of their mothers.
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Pueblo Asiatico , Actitud Frente a la Salud/etnología , Núcleo Familiar , Prueba de Papanicolaou , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/prevención & control , Frotis Vaginal , Población Blanca , Aculturación , Adulto , Canadá , China/etnología , Femenino , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud/etnología , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Conducta Sexual , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
The putative role of the endocannabinoid system and the effects of cannabis use in male and female sexual functioning are summarized. The influence of cannabis intake on sexual behavior and arousability appear to be dose-dependent in both men and women, although women are far more consistent in reporting facilitatory effects. Furthermore, evidence from nonhuman species indicate somewhat more beneficial than debilitating effects of cannabinoids on female sexual proceptivity and receptivity while suggesting predominantly detrimental effects on male sexual motivation and erectile functioning. Data from human and nonhuman species converge on the ephemeral nature of THC-induced testosterone decline. However, it is clear that cannabinoid-induced inhibition of male sexual behavior is independent of concurrent declines in testosterone levels. Investigations also reveal a suppression of gonadotropin release by cannabinoids across various species. Historical milestones and promising future directions in the area of cannabinoid and sexuality research are also outlined in this review.