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Background: Lipemia, a significant source of analytical errors in clinical laboratory settings, should be removed prior to measuring biochemical parameters. We investigated whether lipemia in serum/plasma samples can be removed using a method that is easier and more practicable than ultracentrifugation, the current reference method., Methods: Seven hospital laboratories in Spain participated in this study. We first compared the effectiveness of ultracentrifugation (108,200×g) and high-speed centrifugation (10,000×g for 15 minutes) in removing lipemia. Second, we compared high-speed centrifugation with two liquid-liquid extraction methods-LipoClear (StatSpin, Norwood, USA), and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). We assessed 14 biochemical parameters: serum/plasma concentrations of sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, glucose, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase, calcium, and bilirubin. We analyzed whether the differences between lipemia removal methods exceeded the limit for clinically significant interference (LCSI)., Results: When ultracentrifugation and high-speed centrifugation were compared, no parameter had a difference that exceeded the LCSI. When high-speed centrifugation was compared with the two liquid-liquid extraction methods, we found differences exceeding the LCSI in protein, calcium, and aspartate aminotransferase in the comparison with 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and in protein, albumin, and calcium in the comparison with LipoClear. Differences in other parameters did not exceed the LCSI., Conclusions: High-speed centrifugation (10,000×g for 15 minutes) can be used instead of ultracentrifugation to remove lipemia in serum/plasma samples. LipoClear and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane are unsuitable as they interfere with the measurement of certain parameters., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© The Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine.)

This article provides an overview of neuropsychological research into sexual desire. A state that, in men and women, is aroused by stimuli from outside, and by erotic fantasy. Not an inner need that seeks an outlet. The sensitivity of the sexual response system and interoceptive consciousness together determine the threshold for sexual desire. The first varies constantly, under the influence of dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and kisspeptin, among others. The interoceptive consciousness is vulnerable to personal and cultural beliefs about body and sexuality such as shame and guilt. Medicalisation of sexual desire turns these processes upside down. Intimacy, sensuality and erotic fantasy are not the result, but the cause of sexual desire. To promote sexual appetite, improving interoceptive consciousness is more effective than medication.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between cancer survivors' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and aerobic fitness changes following a physical training program., Methods: We assessed the association between participant's characteristics and aerobic fitness in the six-min walk test (6MWT) after a 12-week LIVESTRONG® at Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) exercise program for adults with an oncologic diagnosis using linear mixed effects models., Results: Fifty-one percent of participants had a breast cancer diagnosis and 22 % had received treatment within 1 year of enrollment. At baseline, participants who reported good/excellent health status performed better in the 6MWT than those who reported poor/fair health status (384.2 vs. 345.0 m, p = 0.035). After 12 weeks, all participants increased their average 6MWT performance by 54.2 m. After adjustment for age, gender, physical activity level, and smoking status, participants who were 60 years old or younger had a greater increase in the 6MWT score than participants older than 60 years (63.2 vs. 43.9 m, p = 0.041) while those who had never been YMCA members had a greater increase in the 6MWT compared to those who had ever been a YMCA member (62.2 vs. 40.3 m, p = 0.041)., Conclusion: Overall, aerobic fitness among adults with an oncologic diagnosis increased after a 12-week exercise program, particularly among participants who were 60 years old or younger or were not YMCA members at enrollment. Participants with poorer health had lower aerobic fitness at baseline, though they had a similar positive response to the program as healthier participants. Future study designs may include randomization and an additional untreated arm.