Adult Men Research Articles

Drinking patterns among US men and women: Racial and ethnic differences from adolescence to early midlife.

Drinking patterns among young adult men and women in the United States have been understudied, especially among racial and ethnic groups such as Asian Americans and Hispanics. Because alcohol-related racial and ethnic health disparities persist or increase in midlife, identifying peak ages of hazardous drinking could help to reduce disparities. We used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine: (1) past 12-month heavy episodic drinking (HED) and total alcohol volume consumption among non-Hispanic White (NHW), Black, Hispanic, and Asian men and women from ages 12 through 41, and (2) age-varying associations of race and ethnicity with drinking. Hispanic and Asian ethnic groups were disaggregated by historical drinking patterns. Time-varying effect models accounted for major demographic confounders. NHW men and women experienced elevated drinking rates in their early 20s, with a second elevation in their 30s. Black men and women did not have elevated drinking until their 30s. Among Hispanic men and women, peak drinking periods varied by gender and subgroup drinking pattern. Peak HED and total consumption emerged in the early 30s for Asian men, while peak HED occurred in the early 20s for Asian women. Drinking at certain ages for some racial and ethnic minoritized men and women did not differ from that in their NHW counterparts. Age periods during which subgroups in the U.S. population experience elevated alcohol consumption vary by ethnicity and gender. Recognition of these group differences could enhance our understanding of intervention timing.

Beyond the prescription: trends and challenges in erectile dysfunction medications among young adult men.

We sought to assess erectile dysfunction (ED) medication use among males aged 18-40. Between June and July 2023, a cross-sectional survey on Qualtrics (Provo, UT) was disseminated via Research Match. Among 210 respondents, ED prevalence was 57.1% with 39.0% reporting prior ED medication use. Black or African American race (OR = 3.54, p < 0.001), Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (OR = 3.32, p = 0.01), and Medicare or Medicaid insurance status (OR = 6.07, p < 0.001) were associated with increased medication utilization. Income >$200,000 was associated with decreased medication usage (OR 0.23, p = 0.04). ED severity significantly correlated with higher medication usage. Primary care providers were the most common source of acquisition (47.6%), followed by online direct to consumer (DTC) platforms (31.7%) and personal connections (19.5%). Privacy (n = 51, 62.2%) and cost (n = 45, 54.9%) were key considerations in obtaining medications. Despite 73.2% of individuals receiving counseling regarding risks/benefits and 84.1% receiving instructions for proper use, only 28.0% correctly identified essential aspects of proper/appropriate use. Overall, we found a high ED prevalence and medication utilization rate. The preference for privacy in procuring medications suggests ongoing stigma around men's sexual health. Despite extensive counseling, a significant knowledge gap remains indicating a pressing need for enhanced patient education.

Measuring Sexual Motivation and Marital Satisfaction in Young Adult Men

Satisfaction is a crucial aspect of a marital relationship. The subjective nature of an individual's views and reactions to their marriage is a well-documented phenomenon. The potential for various risks to arise if individuals are dissatisfied with their marriage is considerable. One such risk is the potential for separation. One aspect of sexuality that can influence marital satisfaction is sexual motivation. One of the principal determinants of marital satisfaction is the individual's motive for engaging in sexual relations. The objective of this research is to ascertain the relationship between sexual motivation and marital satisfaction in young married adult men. This research employs quantitative methods. The subjects of this research were 604 participants. The sampling technique employed a purposive sampling approach, with the subjects comprising married young adult males, aged between 20 and 40 years. Marital satisfaction was gauged utilizing the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) instrument, while sexual motivation was quantified using the Multidimensional Sexual-Self Concept Questionnaire (MSCCQ) instrument. The results of Spearman's rho analysis indicate that the p value is .508, which is greater than .05. This indicates that there is no correlation between sexual motivation and marital satisfaction in young adult men. Further research is required to ascertain whether there are intervening variables that can explain the correlation between the two research variables

Impact of varicocelectomy on sperm parameters and hormone levels in infertile patients with sickle cell disease

Purpose: This study analyzes the semen parameters and gonadal hormone levels in infertile patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and palpable varicoceles who underwent varicocelectomy for impaired semen parameters. Patients and methods: Improvements in the semen parameters—serum levels of total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and inhibin B—and testicular volume (TV) in 18 infertile patients with SCD were evaluated before and at 6 months after varicocelectomy. Results: Before varicocelectomy, all sperm parameters were affected, with high rates of low sperm concentration (83.3%), poor motility (88.9%), and abnormal morphology (77.8%). All sperm parameters were altered in 61.1%. On follow-up at 55.5 months after varicocelectomy, improvement in all the semen parameters was successful and complete in 22.2% but was not significant in 77.8%. The median follow-up period for sperm recovery was relatively long at 60.3 months. Total testosterone, FSH, and inhibin B were not significantly different before and after treatment (P &gt; 0.05). However, testosterone, FSH, and TV significantly correlated with the semen parameters (P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between TV and inhibin B (P &lt; 0.05), and the improvement in the semen parameters was significantly correlated with primary hypogonadism (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: In adult men with SCD, varicocelectomy had a positive impact on the impaired seminal parameters and may be an option before sperm cryopreservation to improve future male fertility. Furthermore, primary testicular failure may be a feature of reversible spermatogenesis recovery in these patients.

Gender Stratification, Racial Disparities, and Student Debt Trajectories in the United States

In the United States, post-secondary educational outcomes are stratified by gender, with women attending college and completing their degrees at higher rates. At the same time, student loan debt has become an ubiquitous part of the college process for many pursuing higher education, increasing the financial risks associated with the pursuit of higher education while lessening the financial rewards. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) of young adults who ever attended a post-secondary institution and growth curve models, we estimate gender disparities in student debt trajectories throughout young adulthood. Building on work on the racialization of the student debt landscape (Houle & Addo 2022), we also investigate the intersection of race and gender, and include both within race gender analyses and within gender racial analyses. Gender differences in student debt at baseline, or at the age of first college enrollment, are large and the gender debt gap grows at 1.2% per year. We document evidence of a curvilinear relationship in student debt in young adulthood, with student debt accumulating at the beginning of the college enrollment period and the rate of increase declining over time as adults age. Women, who start the period with larger amounts of student debt, experience faster growth in their debt accumulation followed by lower declines relative to young adult men. These patterns are magnified among Black young adults, with the gender debt disparity between Black women and Black men growing 3.4% annually. We find no association between gender and student debt trajectories among Latinx and White young adults. Within-gender models highlight the prevalence of the student debt crisis among Black women and Black men. Additional analyses suggest gender differences in debt trajectories are a function of postsecondary and young adult socioeconomic characteristics, reflecting broader societal inequalities that stem from structural elements related to post-secondary schooling and economic status. These patterns may inhibit wealth-building among women and Black adults in the United States.

Real-world clinical outcomes and economic burden of early discontinuation of taxane therapy among patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

e17043 Background: Despite comprising an important part of the treatment paradigm for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) for over a decade, real-world use of taxanes is hindered by adverse events (AEs). AEs may lead to early treatment discontinuation, which may adversely affect outcomes. The two goals of this study were to determine the proportion of mCRPC patients who discontinue taxanes early (defining the early discontinuation threshold relative to efficacy results associated with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors [ARPIs]) and to evaluate the impact of early discontinuation on clinical outcomes, AEs, and healthcare costs. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study of adult men with mCRPC treated with an ARPI as their first-line (1L) therapy and who initiated second-line (2L) therapy with another ARPI or a taxane. The Flatiron Health electronic health record database (07/01/2012–06/30/2020) was used to estimate Kaplan-Meier overall survival (OS) curves for the taxane cohort by the number of cycles received; these were compared with patients who received ARPI at 2L. Cox regression modeling and median PFS and OS values were used to identify the number of taxane cycles needed to achieve comparable OS to ARPI. The number of taxane cycles with similar OS outcomes to ARPI was then considered the threshold for early discontinuation. In addition, the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims database (01/01/2013–08/31/2021) was used to estimate taxane-related AEs (based on product information) and associated healthcare costs among patients who did and did not discontinue taxanes early. Results: From Flatiron, 473 2L ARPI patients and 214 2L taxane patients were included. Similar clinical characteristics – e.g., prostate-specific antigen level, ECOG performance status, and Gleason score – were observed between the two cohorts. Overall, 2L ARPI was associated with longer median OS (15.4 vs. 13.6 months) than 2L taxane. The number of taxane cycles needed to reach comparable OS to ARPI was determined to be 8. Patients receiving &gt;8 cycles (n=48; 22%) compared to those receiving ≤8 cycles (n=166; 78%) had longer median OS (18.4 vs. 11.9 months, respectively) and PFS (9.0 vs. 4.3 months, respectively). From PharMetrics, 158 2L taxane patients were included. Patients receiving &gt;8 cycles (n=20; 13%) were more likely to experience an AE (95% vs. 88%) than those receiving ≤8 cycles (n=138; 87%) but had lower mean AE-related total healthcare costs per patient per month ($3,429 vs. $6,334). Conclusions: These results suggest that mCRPC patients need to receive &gt;8 cycles of taxane at 2L to receive more clinical benefit than 2L ARPI. However, the vast majority of patients in the study discontinued taxane early, resulting in shorter survival outcomes compared to ARPI.

The Effect of Single-Session Stimulating Massage on the Knee Joint Position Sense in Healthy Older Adult Men: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Proprioception is critical for older adults to maintain their balance and prevent falling. However, massage is a convenient intervention that its beneficial effect on the proprioception is suggested. This study aimed to determine whether one session of stimulating massage of the muscles around the knee joint improves position sense in older adult men. Twenty healthy older adults participated in this blind, randomized, crossover trial. The two treatment phases were massage and rest. The washout period between interventions was a 1-week interval. The massage protocol was as follows: deep effleurage, petrissage, and tapotement for 5 minutes for the anterior (tensor fascia lata, quadriceps, sartorius, and gracilis) and posterior (hamstrings) muscles of the knee (10 minutes in total). Outcome measures were absolute, constant, and variable errors (AE, CE, and VE). Participants were assessed immediately before and after the intervention by a blinded investigator. Independent t-tests were used for statistical analyses. Massage reduced absolute error (2.77°, p = 0.01). The finding of this study confirms the beneficial impact of the massage on the joint position sense in healthy older adult men.

Efgartigimod and Ravulizumab for Treating Acetylcholine Receptor Auto-antibody-Positive (AChR-Ab+) Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Indirect Treatment Comparison.

Efgartigimod and ravulizumab, both approved for treating acetylcholine receptor auto-antibody-positive (AChR-Ab+) generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), have not been directly compared. This paper assessed comparative effects of efgartigimod vs. ravulizumab for treating adults with AChR-Ab+gMG using indirect treatment comparison methods. The matching-adjusted indirect comparison used data from two randomized trials of adult men and women. The ADAPT (efgartigimod vs. placebo; individual patient data available) population was reweighted to match the CHAMPION (ravulizumab vs. placebo; index study; aggregate data available) population. The relative effect of efgartigimod versus placebo was estimated in this reweighted population and compared with the observed ravulizumab versus placebo effect to estimate the efgartigimod versus ravulizumab effect. The outcomes were Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL), QuantitativeMyasthenia Gravis (QMG), and Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life 15-item-revised scale (MG-QoL15r) assessed as cumulative effect (area under the curve; AUC) over 26 weeks (primary) and change from baseline at 4 weeks and time of best response (week 4 for efgartigimod; week 26 for ravulizumab). For MG-QoL15r, efgartigimod had a statistically significant improvement compared with ravulizumab over 26 weeks [mean difference (95% confidence interval): -52.6 (-103.0, -2.3)], at week 4 [-4.0 (-6.6, -1.4)], and at time of best response [-3.9 (-6.5, -1.3)]. Efgartigimod had a statistically significant improvement over ravulizumab in MG-ADL at week 4 [-1.9 (-3.3, -0.5)] and at time of best response [-1.4 (-2.8, 0.0)] and in QMG at week 4 [-3.2 (-5.2, -1.2)] and at time of best response [-3.0 (-5.0, -1.0)]. For AUC over 26 weeks, improvements were not significantly different between efgartigimod and ravulizumab for MG-ADL [-8.7 (-36.1, 18.8)] and QMG [-13.7 (-50.3, 22.9)]. Efgartigimod may provide a faster and greater improvement over 26 weeks in quality of life than ravulizumab in adults with AChR-Ab+gMG. Efgartigimod showed faster improvements in MG-ADL and QMG than ravulizumab.

Urogenital schistosomiasis among adult male population in an endemic area of southern Tanzania: a descriptive cross-sectional study

BackgroundUrogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) caused by Schistosoma haematobium is endemic in Southern Tanzania. The disease has significant implications for both socioeconomic and public health. Because infections with S. haematobium usually peak...

Gender disparities in lost productivity resulting from non-communicable diseases in Mexico, 2005-2021.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) cause long-term impacts on health and can substantially affect people's ability to work. Little is known about how such impacts vary by gender, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where productivity losses may affect economic development. This study assessed the long-term productivity loss caused by major NCDs among adult women and men (20-76 years) in Mexico because of premature death and hospitalisations, between 2005 and 2021. We conducted an economic valuation based on the Human Capital Approach. We obtained population-based data from the National Employment Survey from 2005 to 2021 to estimate the expected productivity according to age and gender using a two-part model. We utilised expected productivity based on wage rates to calculate the productivity loss, employing Mexican official mortality registries and hospital discharge microdata for the same period. To assess the variability in our estimations, we performed sensitivity analyses under two different scenarios. Premature mortality by cancers, diabetes, chronic cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) caused a productivity loss of 102.6 billion international US dollars (Intl. USD) from 2.8 million premature deaths. Seventy-three percent of this productivity loss was observed among men. Cancers caused 38.3% of the productivity loss (mainly among women), diabetes 38.1, CVD 15.1, CRD 3.2, and CKD 5.3%. Regarding hospitalisations, the estimated productivity loss was 729.7 million Intl. USD from 54.2 million days of hospitalisation. Men faced 65.4 and women 34.6% of these costs. Cancers caused 41.3% of the productivity loss mainly by women, followed by diabetes (22.1%), CKD (20.4%), CVD (13.6%) and CRD (2.6%). Major NCDs impose substantial costs from lost productivity in Mexico and these tend to be higher amongst men, while for some diseases the economic burden is higher for women. This should be considered to inform policymakers to design effective gender-sensitive health and social protection interventions to tackle the burden of NCDs.

Childhood adversity trajectories and weight status in young adult men: a register-based study including 359,783 Danish men

BackgroundChildhood adversity has previously been associated with overweight and obesity in adult life, but there is a need for larger population-based studies using prospectively obtained adversity trajectories across childhood to confirm these associations. Moreover, childhood adversity may also be associated with underweight, which is less often studied. The aim of the current study is to investigate the association between childhood adversity trajectories from 0–15 years with weight categories in young adult men.MethodsThe Danish Life Course Cohort (DANLIFE) was linked with the Danish Conscription Registry resulting in a study sample of 359,783 men, who have been assigned to one of five previously identified adversity trajectories from 0–15 years: “low adversity”, “early material deprivation”, “persistent material deprivation”, “loss or threat of loss”, and “high adversity”. Height and weight in young adulthood was assessed at a draft board examination at age 18–26 years. Associations of adversity trajectories and weight categories were investigated in multinomial regression models.ResultsCompared with the “low adversity” group, the four other adversity groups had higher risks of underweight, overweight, and obesity. The “high adversity” group showed the strongest associations with both underweight (1.44 (1.32, 1.58)) and obesity (1.50 (1.39, 1.61)) when adjusted for parental origin, birth year, age at draft board examination, and maternal age.ConclusionChildhood adversity, experienced between 0 and 15 years of life, was associated with a higher risk of underweight, overweight, and obesity in young adulthood among men.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on bioimpedance health indicators in young adults.

Herein, we investigate the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic and overcoming the virus, and its effects on body composition parameters in young adults from Slovakia. We assessed 773 adults aged 18 to 30 years in pandemic-status sub-groups. Individual lifestyles and overcoming the COVID-19 effects were evaluated by a detailed questionnaire, and body composition parameters were analyzed using the InBody 770 bioimpedance analyzer. Statistically significant lower values were observed in the male group during the pandemic for the following parameters; proteins and minerals, fat free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), lean body mass (LBM) and its values in the right and left arm and trunk, total body water (TBW) and its values in the right and left arm and trunk, body cell mass (BCM), basal metabolic rate (BMR) and phase angle (PA). The regression analysis confirmed the negative pandemic effect and the negative impact of COVID-19 on men in the following parameters: proteins (p = .027 for pandemic and p = .005 for COVID-19), FFM (p = .023 for pandemic and p = .005 for COVID-19), LBM (p = .022 for pandemic and p = .004 for COVID-19), SMM (p = .028 for pandemic and p = .005 for COVID-19), TBW (p = .020 for pandemic and p = .004 for COVID-19), BMR (p = .024 for pandemic and p = .005 for COVID-19) and PA (p = .009 for pandemic). Physical activity was a further significant predictor in men for all the above parameters. We observed significantly lower body composition parameters associated with fat free mass in young adult men during the pandemic than before it. However, future research is warranted to determine if these effects have long-term significance.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of sex on outcomes after aortic valve replacement.

In recent years, extensive literature has been produced demonstrating inferior outcomes for women when compared with men undergoing heart valve interventions. Herein, we seek to analyze the literature comparing outcomes between men and women undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). A systematic literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase was conducted for articles comparing differences in outcomes between adult men and women undergoing SAVR. One thousand nine hundred and ninety titles were screened, of which 75 full texts were reviewed, and a total of 19 manuscripts met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Pooled estimates of mortality demonstrated that women tended to have lower rates of survival within the first 30 days post-SAVR, although mid-term and long-term mortality did not differ significantly up to 10 years postoperatively. Pooled estimates of postoperative data indicated no difference in the rates of stroke and postoperative bleeding. Rates of aortic valve reoperation and acute kidney injury favored women. Despite the inferior outcomes for women post-SAVR that have been reported in recent years, the results of this meta-analysis demonstrate comparable results between the sexes with comparable mid- to long-term mortality in data pooled from the literature. Although mortality favored men in the short term, rates of aortic valve reoperation and acute kidney injury favored women. Future investigation into this field should focus on identifying discrepancies in diagnosis and initial surgical management in order to address any potential factors contributing to discrepant short-term outcomes. http://links.lww.com/JCM/A651.

Diurnal patterns of salivary cytokines differentially correlate with greater fluctuations in cortisol and diet composition: A pilot study

Chronic stress and elevated cortisol are associated with adverse metabolic profiles and lifestyle patterns, systemic low-grade inflammation, and increased chronic disease risk; however, it is less clear how the degree of cortisol fluctuations impacts these parameters. Adult men and women (18-70y) were recruited to participate in a 5-day observational study, in which they underwent a baseline health and body composition assessment, completed 5-day diet, exercise, and stress records, and provided saliva samples in the morning, afternoon, and evening to measure fluctuations in cortisol, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6. Degree of cortisol variability over the 5-day period (highest cortisol measure - lowest cortisol measure) was used to classify subjects into high (n = 9) and low (n = 9) cortisol fluctuation groups. Participants with greater fluctuations in salivary cortisol had higher salivary cortisol concentrations on average, which was attributed to higher maximal and morning cortisol. A greater proportion of individuals with higher cortisol flux worked in first responder/emergency professions, and exhibited minimal dietary pattern differences compared to those with low cortisol flux. While body fat percentage and mass positively correlated with minimum salivary cortisol measures, body composition and blood pressure did not differ between low vs. high salivary cortisol flux groups. Interestingly, we observed diurnal patterns of salivary IL-1β concentrations, with higher IL-1β in the morning, and greater afternoon IL-1β in the high cortisol flux group compared to the low cortisol flux group. Independent of cortisol flux, waking satiety and intake patterns of dietary nutrients and food groups/type differentially correlated with salivary cytokine concentrations in a time of day-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that greater fluctuations in cortisol are associated with distinct diurnal salivary cortisol and IL-1β concentrations but minimal lifestyle and dietary factors, whereas dietary patterns are strongly and differentially associated with salivary cytokine profiles.

A ‘weight’ on the shoulders of our youth: The pains of probation on young adult men with a sexual conviction. An exploratory study

This article is about the ‘pains of probation’ experienced by young adult men with a sexual conviction. It draws on the findings from a research study completed between July and August 2022. Seventeen participants who were subject to a probation Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order in England and Wales were interviewed about their experiences, and the impact, of community punishment on their lives. Three groups of pains were identified, which are pervasive, reaching beyond the boundaries of the Order. The strategies utilised by the young adults to manage these pains are explored, with the supervisory relationship a key factor in alleviating pains. This article argues that being subject to a probation order is experienced as painful, with the nature and type of deprivation affected by offence type and demographic variations. Despite the limitations of the exploratory study from which this article is drawn, there are implications for penal policy and future research.

Prenatal exposure to alcohol and its impact on reward processing and substance use in adulthood

Heavy maternal alcohol drinking during pregnancy has been associated with altered neurodevelopment in the child but the effects of low-dose alcohol drinking are less clear and any potential safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy is not known. We evaluated the effects of prenatal alcohol on reward-related behavior and substance use in young adulthood and the potential sex differences therein. Participants were members of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC) prenatal birth cohort who participated in its neuroimaging follow-up in young adulthood. A total of 191 participants (28–30 years; 51% men) had complete data on prenatal exposure to alcohol, current substance use, and fMRI data from young adulthood. Maternal alcohol drinking was assessed during mid-pregnancy and pre-conception. Brain response to reward anticipation and reward feedback was measured using the Monetary Incentive Delay task and substance use in young adulthood was assessed using a self-report questionnaire. We showed that even a moderate exposure to alcohol in mid-pregnancy but not pre-conception was associated with robust effects on brain response to reward feedback (six frontal, one parietal, one temporal, and one occipital cluster) and with greater cannabis use in both men and women 30 years later. Moreover, mid-pregnancy but not pre-conception exposure to alcohol was associated with greater cannabis use in young adulthood and these effects were independent of maternal education and maternal depression during pregnancy. Further, the extent of cannabis use in the late 20 s was predicted by the brain response to reward feedback in three out of the nine prenatal alcohol-related clusters and these effects were independent of current alcohol use. Sex differences in the brain response to reward outcome emerged only during the no loss vs. loss contrast. Young adult men exposed to alcohol prenatally had significantly larger brain response to no loss vs. loss in the putamen and occipital region than women exposed to prenatal alcohol. Therefore, we conclude that even moderate exposure to alcohol prenatally has long-lasting effects on brain function during reward processing and risk of cannabis use in young adulthood.

Considering context: Current relationship satisfaction in a second-generation model of men's physical intimate partner violence.

Despite a half-century of scholarship devoted to explicating and disrupting the intergenerational transmission of family violence, it remains a prominent and destructive social force in the United States. Theoretical models have posited a variety of historical and concurrent risk and protective factors implicated in the trajectory from childhood violence exposure to adult perpetration. Using a second-generation model of intimate partner violence (IPV), we integrated social learning and attachment conceptualizations to examine pathways from family-of-origin violence to IPV perpetration among adult men. A sample of mixed-sex couples (N = 233) completed self-report measures related to social learning and attachment-based factors (e.g., violence in past relationships, child exposure, IPV attitudes, adult attachment) and participated in a 10-min conversation about a desired area for change in their relationship. Following, each partner participated in a video-mediated-recall procedure assessing their anger volatility and eliciting attributions of their partners' behavior. We tested mediation pathways (consistent with social learning and attachment theories) between violence in men's families of origin and their adult IPV perpetration as a function of relationship satisfaction. The proposed model fit the data well (CFI = 0.95) but had notable modifications from the hypothesized model. Generally, social-learning pathways were more consistent with the data. Relationship satisfaction interacted with some parameters. Results support theoretical advances in understanding IPV. Although exposure to violence in men's family of origin confers risk for later IPV, and a social learning developmental pathway is consistent with results, some of these effects are altered by relationship context.

Influence of Childhood Maltreatment on Machiavellianism

ABSTRACT Machiavellianism is characterized by manipulative behavior, lack of empathy, and a willingness to deceive and exploit others for personal gain. Research indicates that one factor that may increase the likelihood and severity of Machiavellianism in adulthood is maltreatment in childhood. However, few studies have attempted to untangle which specific instantiations of childhood maltreatment (e.g. abuse vs. neglect) are most associated with Machiavellianism. In our study, we investigate the association between childhood abuse and neglect on Machiavellianism in a sample of adult women and men recruited online (N = 278) using a Bayesian approach to multiple regression. Results suggest that higher levels of Machiavellianism are associated with physical neglect, with some influence of other forms of maltreatment depending on gender. These findings shed light on potential etiological influences on Machiavellianism and have implications for research on and clinical intervention with people with high levels of this trait.

Methamphetamine Use Disorder and Inflammation: A Case-Control Study

Objective Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is a global health condition that impairs a person’s health which may result in morbidity and mortality. Inflammation is a crucial process playing a vital role in MUD. For this reason, it is necessary to examine biochemical parameters for follow-up and treatment alternatives.Methods We aimed to reveal the relationship between inflammatory response and MUD by evaluating peripheral hemogram parameters, leukocyte count, subtypes, and their ratios to each other, systemic immune inflammation index (SII), monocyte/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, and human C-reactive protein (CRP) in adult men with MUD. We included 76 adult male participants in the patient group and 70 adult male participants in the control group. We calculated the neutrophil/lymphocyte rate (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte rate (MLR), platelet/lymphocyte rate (PLR), and basophil/lymphocyte rate (BLR). In addition, we obtained the SII and the monocyte/HDL rate.Results The patients’ leukocyte (p&lt;0.001), platelet (p&lt;0.001), plateletcrit (PCT) (p=0.002), neutrophil (p&lt;0.001), monocyte (p=0.002), CRP (p&lt;0.001), NLR (p=0.001), PLR (p=0.004), MLR (p=0.009), SII (p&lt;0.001) and monocyte/HDL ratio (p&lt;0.001) were higher than the control group. We observed a significant and positive relationship between the daily methamphetamine intake, and methamphetamine use duration (p=0.002), PCT (p=0.044), neutrophil (p=0.021), NLR (p=0.001), PLR (p=0.004), MLR (p=0.029), and SII (p&lt;0.001). Daily methamphetamine intake had a significant and positive effect on SII. A one-unit increase in daily methamphetamine intake elevated SII by 165.53 units.Conclusion The results confirm the presence of peripheral subclinical inflammation and systemic immune inflammation in adult men with MUD.

Skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain protein fragmentation as a potential marker of protein degradation in response to resistance training and disuse atrophy.

We sought to examine how resistance exercise (RE), cycling exercise, and disuse atrophy affect myosin heavy chain (MyHC) protein fragmentation in humans. In the first study (1boutRE), younger adult men (n=8; 5±2 years of RE experience) performed a lower body RE bout with vastus lateralis (VL) biopsies obtained immediately before, 3-, and 6-hours post-exercise. In the second study (10weekRT), VL biopsies were obtained in untrained younger adults (n=36, 18 men and 18 women) before and 24 hours (24h) after their first/naïve RE bout. These participants also engaged in 10 weeks (24 sessions) of resistance training and donated VL biopsies before and 24h after their last RE bout. VL biopsies were also examined from a third acute cycling study (n=7) and a fourth study involving two weeks of leg immobilization (n=20, 15 men and 5 women) to determine how MyHC fragmentation was affected. In the 1boutRE study, the fragmentation of all MyHC isoforms (MyHCTotal) increased 3 hours post-RE (~ +200%, p=0.018) and returned to pre-exercise levels by 6 hours post-RE. Immunoprecipitation of MyHCTotal revealed ubiquitination levels remained unaffected at the 3- and 6-hour post-RE time points. Interestingly, a greater increase in magnitude for MyHC type IIa versus I isoform fragmentation occurred 3-hours post-RE (8.6±6.3-fold versus 2.1±0.7-fold, p=0.018). In all 10weekRT participants, the first/naïve and last RE bouts increased MyHCTotal fragmentation 24h post-RE (+65% and +36%, respectively; p<0.001); however, the last RE bout response was attenuated compared to the first bout (p=0.045). The first/naïve bout response was significantly elevated in females only (p<0.001), albeit females also demonstrated a last bout attenuation response (p=0.002). Although an acute cycling bout did not alter MyHCTotal fragmentation, ~8% VL atrophy with two weeks of leg immobilization led to robust MyHCTotal fragmentation (+108%, p<0.001), and no sex-based differences were observed. In summary, RE and disuse atrophy increase MyHC protein fragmentation. A dampened response with 10 weeks of resistance training, and more refined responses in well-trained men, suggest this is an adaptive process. Given the null polyubiquitination IP findings, more research is needed to determine how MyHC fragments are processed. Moreover, further research is needed to determine how aging and disease-associated muscle atrophy affect these outcomes, and whether MyHC fragmentation is a viable surrogate for muscle protein turnover rates.