Biological Sex Differences Research Articles

Gender differences in adaptive reactions of students in the development of educational innovations as a factor of sustainable development

The sustainability of the development of society depends and is secure by the safety of health of human capital. The article presents the results of a study of gender differences in adaptive reactions of students in the development of educational innovations using the non-invasive method of heart rate variability. Comparative analysis of heart rate measurements among the surveyed students showed that both boys and girls had tachycardia during the lessons. In boys, an increase in the stress index revealed that was reliably associated with the tension of the parasympathetic system, and in girls - the sympathetic system of autonomic regulation of heart rhythm control. A wide individual range of adaptive reactions of the cardiovascular system of young men and women to the impact of ICT revealed. The data obtained more indicative of biological (sex) differences in adaptive responses in the implementation of information technology in education. Our research has shown gender differences in adaptive responses. We observed a significant correlation between stress and the reaction of the autonomic nervous system. It is necessary to prevent the disturbance of the adaptive of the body. Therefore, we must create a safe environment for the health of students. It is desirable to reduce the time spent in the information space (up to 80 minutes, followed by a break). Since the research conducted on a small sample and one educational institution, it is necessary to research this issue on a larger representative sample.

Differences in sport-related concussion for female and male athletes in comparable collegiate sports: a study from the NCAA-DoD Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium

ObjectivesTo examine sex differences in sport-related concussion (SRC) across comparable sports.MethodsProspective cohort of collegiate athletes enrolled between 2014 and 2017 in the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium study.ResultsAmong 1071...

Beyond essentialist fallacies: Fine‐tuning ideology critique of appeals to biological sex differences

Journal of Social PhilosophyEarly View Special IssueToken Access Beyond essentialist fallacies: Fine-tuning ideology critique of appeals to biological sex differences Rebekka Hufendiek, Corresponding Author rebekka.hufendiek@philo.unibe.ch University of Bern, Institute of Philosophy Correspondence Rebekka Hufendiek, University of Bern, Institute of Philosophy Email: rebekka.hufendiek@philo.unibe.chSearch for more papers by this author Rebekka Hufendiek, Corresponding Author rebekka.hufendiek@philo.unibe.ch University of Bern, Institute of Philosophy Correspondence Rebekka Hufendiek, University of Bern, Institute of Philosophy Email: rebekka.hufendiek@philo.unibe.chSearch for more papers by this author First published: 09 December 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/josp.12389Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation

Biological sex difference in aortic valve calcification of Japanese super-elderly (≥90 years)

Biological sex difference in aortic valve calcification of Japanese super-elderly (≥90 years)

Sex differences in neuro(auto)immunity and chronic sciatic nerve pain

Chronic pain occurs with greater frequency in women, with a parallel sexually dimorphic trend reported in sufferers of many autoimmune diseases. There is a need to continue examining neuro-immune-endocrine crosstalk in the context of sexual dimorphisms in chronic pain. Several phenomena in particular need to be further explored. In patients, autoantibodies to neural antigens have been associated with sensory pathway hyper-excitability, and the role of self-antigens released by damaged nerves remains to be defined. In addition, specific immune cells release pro-nociceptive cytokines that directly influence neural firing, while T lymphocytes activated by specific antigens secrete factors that either support nerve repair or exacerbate the damage. Modulating specific immune cell populations could therefore be a means to promote nerve recovery, with sex-specific outcomes. Understanding biological sex differences that maintain, or fail to maintain, neuroimmune homeostasis may inform the selection of sex-specific treatment regimens, improving chronic pain management by rebalancing neuroimmune feedback. Given the significance of interactions between nerves and immune cells in the generation and maintenance of neuropathic pain, this review focuses on sex differences and possible links with persistent autoimmune activity using sciatica as an example.

TMOD-25. IN VIVO MODEL OF TREATMENT-RESISTANT GLIOBLASTOMA HIGHLIGHTS SEX DIFFERENCES IN SURVIVAL

Abstract BACKGROUND Sex differences independent from acute hormone action are evident in the incidence and tumorigenesis of several cancers, including glioblastoma (GBM). Malignant brain tumors with mesenchymal, proneural, and neural GBM subtypes occur twice as frequently in males than in females, implying a molecular basis for the sex disparities observed. Accordingly, response to therapy and overall survival, may also differ between male and female GBM patients. Further elucidation of these differences would benefit from a robust preclinical testing system, such as the one described here. METHODS Adult (U87-MG) GBM cells were exposed to a total radiation dose of 10 Gy, effecting an epithelial to mesenchymal transition. The resultant irradiated U87-10Gy cells were tested for cell viability and allowed to reach confluence prior to stereotactic implantation into the right striatum of male and female athymic rats. In vivo advanced MR imaging at 9.4T was carried out weekly starting two weeks after implantation. Advanced MRI parameters were processed for enhancing tumor ROIs in OsiriX 8.5.1 (lite) with Imaging Biometrics™ Software (IQ-AI, Ltd.). RESULTS Tumor take was 90% in males and 60% in females, indicating an ‘incidence’ ratio of 1.5. Overall survival was significantly higher in females (median = 48, range = 40-72 days) than in males (median = 28, range = 27-30 days) (p = 0.024). Immunohistochemical and imaging analyses are pending and will be discussed. CONCLUSION The outcomes noted in this pilot study mirror incidence and survival outcomes noted in GBM patients undergoing standard care. Our model of treatment-resistant glioma provides a robust testing system to study underlying sex differences in GBM biology and treatment response in parallel analyses of male and female data.

Sex differences in health and disease: A review of biological sex differences relevant to cancer with a spotlight on glioma.

The influence of biological sex differences on human health and disease, while being increasingly recognized, has long been underappreciated and underexplored. While humans of all sexes are more alike than different, there is evidence for sex differences in the most basic aspects of human biology and these differences have consequences for the etiology and pathophysiology of many diseases. In a disease like cancer, these consequences manifest in the sex biases in incidence and outcome of many cancer types. The ability to deliver precise, targeted therapies to complex cancer cases is limited by our current understanding of the underlying sex differences. Gaining a better understanding of the implications and interplay of sex differences in diseases like cancer will thus be informative for clinical practice and biological research. Here we review the evidence for a broad array of biological sex differences in humans and discuss how these differences may relate to observed sex differences in various diseases, including many cancers and specifically glioblastoma. We focus on areas of human biology that play vital roles in healthy and disease states, including metabolism, development, hormones, and the immune system, and emphasize that the intersection of sex differences in these areas should not go overlooked. We further propose that mathematical approaches can be useful for exploring the extent to which sex differences affect disease outcomes and accounting for those in the development of therapeutic strategies.

Sleep Quality, Empathy, and Mood During the Isolation Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Canadian Population: Females and Women Suffered the Most.

Objective: To investigate the sex and gender differences in the impact of the isolation period implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' sleep quality, empathy, and mood.Design: Data were collected between March 23 and June 7, 2020 on a sample of volunteers in the Canadian population. Six hundred and thirty-eight volunteers completed an online survey (~30 min).Main Outcome and Measures: We first examined biological sex, gender, and sexual identity differences (both components of the ampler concept of gender) in sleep, empathy, and mood disturbances. Then, we assessed changes in sleep and mood over the course of the isolation period and tested for significant relationships between sleep variables, mood, and empathy.Results: We analyzed complete data for 573 participants (112 males and 459 females, 2 undisclosed, mean ± SD age = 25.9 ± 10.5 years, mean ± SD education = 16.2 ± 2.9 years). As compared to males, female participants reported lower quality of sleep, lower sleep efficiency, and greater symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, depression, and trauma. In addition, females reported higher scores than males on the IRI empathy scale and all its subcomponents. Similar results were found when stratifying by gender. Sleep and mood disturbances increased over the course of the isolation period in the whole sample. The most significant predictors of poor quality of sleep and insomnia were depression, anxiety, and trauma scores, especially in females; higher empathy trait was associated with higher depression, anxiety, and trauma scores, perhaps indicating a more positive role of fear and anxiety responses to the pandemic crisis.Significance and Conclusions: Sex and gender differences seem to play a role in the individuals' psychological and behavioral reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. These differences need to be considered in planning targeted psychological interventions.

Sex, Drugs, and TBI: The Role of Sex in Substance Abuse Related to Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a significant public health problem costing billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost productivity while simultaneously reducing the quality of life for both patients and caregivers. Substance abuse is closely interconnected with TBI, as intoxicated individuals are at a greater risk of suffering brain injuries, and TBI may serve as a risk factor for the subsequent development of substance use disorders. There are also prominent sex differences in the etiology, epidemiology, and consequences of TBI. For instance, men are more likely to be injured on sporting fields or in auto accidents, while women are disproportionately likely to suffer TBI associated with intimate partner violence. Moreover, while men are much more likely to suffer TBI during late adolescence–young adulthood, sex differences in the incidence of TBI are much less prominent during other developmental epochs. Further, there are prominent sex differences in substance abuse biology; for example, while more men meet diagnostic criteria for substance abuse disorders, women tend to advance from casual use to addiction more quickly. In this paper, we will discuss the emerging clinical and preclinical evidence that these sex differences in TBI and substance abuse interact and may be prominent determinates of long-term outcomes.

Effects of Ketamine on Rodent Fear Memory.

Ketamine, a multimodal anesthetic drug, has become increasingly popular in the treatment of pain following traumatic injury as well as treatment-resistant major depressive disorders. However, the psychological impact of this dissociative medication on the development of stress-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains controversial. To address these concerns, preclinical studies have investigated the effects of ketamine administration on fear memory and stress-related behaviors in laboratory animals. Despite a well-documented line of research examining the effects of ketamine on fear memory, there is a lack of literature reviews on this important topic. Therefore, this review article summarizes the current preclinical literature on ketamine and fear memory with a particular emphasis on the route, dose, and timing of ketamine administration in rodent fear conditioning studies. Additionally, this review describes the molecular mechanisms by which ketamine may impact fear memory and stress-related behaviors. Overall, findings from previous studies are inconsistent in that fear memory may be increased, decreased, or unaltered following ketamine administration in rodents. These conflicting results can be explained by factors such as the route, dose, and timing of ketamine administration; the interaction between ketamine and stress; and individual variability in the rodent response to ketamine. This review also recommends that future preclinical studies utilize a clinically relevant route of administration and account for biological sex differences to improve translation between preclinical and clinical investigations.

Effects of thermal and oxygen conditions during development on cell size in the common rough woodlice Porcellio scaber.

During development, cells may adjust their size to balance between the tissue metabolic demand and the oxygen and resource supply: Small cells may effectively absorb oxygen and nutrients, but the relatively large area of the plasma membrane requires costly maintenance. Consequently, warm and hypoxic environments should favor ectotherms with small cells to meet increased metabolic demand by oxygen supply. To test these predictions, we compared cell size (hindgut epithelium, hepatopancreas B cells, ommatidia) in common rough woodlice (Porcellio scaber) that were developed under four developmental conditions designated by two temperatures (15 or 22°C) and two air O2 concentrations (10% or 22%). To test whether small‐cell woodlice cope better under increased metabolic demand, the CO2 production of each woodlouse was measured under cold, normoxic conditions and under warm, hypoxic conditions, and the magnitude of metabolic increase (MMI) was calculated. Cell sizes were highly intercorrelated, indicative of organism‐wide mechanisms of cell cycle control. Cell size differences among woodlice were largely linked with body size changes (larger cells in larger woodlice) and to a lesser degree with oxygen conditions (development of smaller cells under hypoxia), but not with temperature. Developmental conditions did not affect MMI, and contrary to predictions, large woodlice with large cells showed higher MMI than small woodlice with small cells. We also observed complex patterns of sexual difference in the size of hepatopancreatic cells and the size and number of ommatidia, which are indicative of sex differences in reproductive biology. We conclude that existing theories about the adaptiveness of cell size do not satisfactorily explain the patterns in cell size and metabolic performance observed here in P. scaber. Thus, future studies addressing physiological effects of cell size variance should simultaneously consider different organismal elements that can be involved in sustaining the metabolic demands of tissue, such as the characteristics of gas‐exchange organs and O2‐binding proteins.

Abstract 6569: Regulatory networks of liver carcinoma reveal sex specific patterns of gene regulation

Abstract Despite pronounced sex differences in cancer incidence, severity, and response to treatment, most current approaches to clinical management, as well as therapeutics development and selection, are sex-independent. For most cancer types, including liver cancer, males have a higher risk of developing the disease and a lower survival rate than women. However, the molecular features that drive these sex differences are poorly understood. We inferred patient-specific regulatory networks of liver hepatocellular carcinoma using data from TCGA. By comparing the female and male networks, we found marked sex differences in transcriptional regulatory processes relevant to disease development, progression, and response to therapy. We found that oncogenes have significantly higher regulatory targeting in males, while tumor suppressor genes have significantly higher targeting in females. Many “hallmark” cancer pathways, including the HEDGEHOG, WNT, and TGF-β signaling pathways, were significantly more highly targeted in males, while drug metabolism and immune related pathways were enriched for genes highly targeted in females. We also evaluated sex-biased somatic mutation patterns using mutation and copy number alteration data in TCGA. By summarizing mutations found in genes into pathway mutation scores, we found sex-biased mutation profiles for many pathways, providing additional support for biological sex differences associated with WNT, NOTCH, TGF-β, and HEDGEHOG signaling pathways. Our analysis uncovered patterns of gene regulation that differentiate male and female liver cancer and may be associated with sex differences in prognosis and treatment response. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms that drive clinically observed sex differences and underscore the importance of considering sex as a factor influencing disease etiology and in developing and prescribing therapies. Our network approach can provide insights into why some therapies have differential effect in males and females, and suggest new ways to optimize drug response in each sex. Citation Format: Camila M. Lopes-Ramos, Marieke Kuijjer, Kimberly Glass, Dawn DeMeo, John Quackenbush. Regulatory networks of liver carcinoma reveal sex specific patterns of gene regulation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 6569.

Editorial Note for Journal of Women's Health, Issues and Care: Open Access

Journal of Women’s Health, Issues and Care (ISSN: 2325-9795)- Open Journal (JWHIC) is an online open access journal which deals with the health issues, specific to woman. The journal aims at disseminating health issues such as contraception, menstruation, maternal health, child birth, menopause and breast cancer as well as creating awareness regarding the social stigma such as sexual education, abortion, contraception, and discrimination faced by woman in the society. Family planning and sexual education plays a huge role in maintaining good health in woman. But the irony is that the value of family planning, contraception and sexual education is often underestimated by majority of the population. Having always been a though provoking subject, women’s health and related issues will help spread social awareness pertaining to the qualms of gender as a social determinant of health and issues specific to human female anatomy. This will further help in understanding the areas where biological sex differences between women and men exist.

Gender as a principle of the organization of clinical sleep research

In 2014 the National Institutes of Health required researchers to examine sex as a biological variable. While this approach is necessary to ensure adequate and appropriate female inclusion in research studies, it puts researchers at high risk for attributing their findings to biological sex differences when instead they may be more appropriately attributed to the influence and expectations of gender. In this paper, we specify how gender works as a principle of the social organization of symptoms, experiences, research, and clinical practice using obstructive sleep apnea symptomology to illustrate these patterns. We draw from psychologist Sandra Bem's account differentiating three specific mechanisms of gender: gender polarization, androcentrism, and biological essentialism.

Sex differences in flow cytometry–based platelet reactivity in stable outpatients suspected of myocardial ischemia

BackgroundAntiplatelet therapy is the mainstay of secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Studies suggest that women do not obtain equal therapeutic benefit from antiplatelet therapy compared with men. The link between sex differences in platelet biology and response to antiplatelet therapies is unclear. We therefore investigated the role of sex differences in platelet reactivity in a cohort of outpatients with chest pain, in response to treatment with antiplatelet agents. MethodsPlatelet reactivity was measured in 382 randomly selected patients participating in the Myocardial Ischemia Detection by Circulating Biomarkers (MYOMARKER) study, an observational cohort study of outpatients suspected of myocardial ischemia. In all patients, blood was collected during diagnostic workup, and platelet reactivity was assessed with a flow cytometry–based platelet activation test that quantifies both platelet degranulation (P‐selectin expression) and platelet aggregation (fibrinogen binding to integrin αIIbβ3) in whole blood. ResultsPlatelet reactivity was higher in women compared with men when activated with protease activating receptor 1–activating peptide SFLLRN (PAR1‐AP) and adenosine 5′‐phosphate (ADP), independent of age, basal activation status, estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60, platelet count, statin use, the use of P2Y12 inhibitors, or the use of aspirin. P2Y12 inhibitor use strongly reduced fibrinogen binding after stimulation with PAR1‐AP, but only slightly reduced platelet P‐selectin expression. Calculation of the relative inhibition in P2Y12 users indicated 62% inhibition of the response toward ADP. Stratified analysis showed that women (n = 14) using P2Y12 inhibitors showed less inhibition of fibrinogen binding after PAR1‐AP stimulation than men (n = 38) using P2Y12 inhibitors. ConclusionsThese findings call for further study of differential effects of P2Y12 inhibitors in women with suspected myocardial ischemia.

Sex differences in neutrophil biology modulate response to type I interferons and immunometabolism

Differences between female and male immunity may contribute to variations in response to infections and predisposition to autoimmunity. We previously reported that neutrophils from reproductive-age males are more immature and less activated than their female counterparts. To further characterize the mechanisms that drive differential neutrophil phenotypes, we performed RNA sequencing on circulating neutrophils from healthy adult females and males. Female neutrophils displayed significant up-regulation of type I IFN (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs). Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that these differences are neutrophil specific, driven by a distinct neutrophil subset and related to maturation status. Neutrophil hyperresponsiveness to type I IFNs promoted enhanced responses to Toll-like receptor agonists. Neutrophils from young adult males had significantly increased mitochondrial metabolism compared to those from females and this was modulated by estradiol. Assessment of ISGs and neutrophil maturation genes in Klinefelter syndrome (47, XXY) males and in prepubescent children supported that differences in neutrophil phenotype between adult male and female neutrophils are hormonally driven and not explained by X chromosome gene dosage. Our results indicate that there are distinct sex differences in neutrophil biology related to responses to type I IFNs, immunometabolism, and maturation status that may have prominent functional and pathogenic implications.

Teen Dating Violence and Suicide Risk Among Bisexual Adolescents

PurposeSuicide is a public health problem that disproportionately affects bisexual youth more than heterosexual, lesbian/gay, and other sexual minority youth. Teen dating violence (TDV) consists of physically, emotionally, and/or psychologically aggressive behavior in adolescent relationships and has been linked to increased suicidality among sexual minority youth. Although biological sex differences in suicide and TDV have been noted, limited research currently exists regarding the importance of these differences in bisexual youth. MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design to investigate the relationship between biological sex, TDV, and suicide risk among bisexual youth in grades 9–12. This study used structural equation modeling to conduct a secondary analysis of pooled 2015 and 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey data that examined whether TDV mediated the relationship between biological sex and suicide risk among bisexual youth. ResultsResults indicated that TDV did not mediate the relationship between biological sex and suicide risk among bisexual youth. Biological sex was a significant predictor of suicide risk with male youth reporting lower suicide risk than female youth, when controlling for dating history, TDV, age, and race. TDV predicted suicide risk, with youth reporting TDV having higher suicide risk, when controlling for dating history, biological sex, age, and race. In addition, black and Hispanic youth reported lower suicide risk compared to white youth. ConclusionThere is a dire need for research that addresses issues of TDV and suicide among bisexual youth. Understanding factors influencing suicide risk following TDV experiences among bisexual youth will inform interventions to mitigate negative mental health outcomes.

Considering how biological sex impacts immune responses and COVID-19 outcomes.

A male bias in mortality has emerged in the COVID-19 pandemic, which is consistent with the pathogenesis of other viral infections. Biological sex differences may manifest themselves in susceptibility to infection, early pathogenesis, innate viral control, adaptive immune responses or the balance of inflammation and tissue repair in the resolution of infection. We discuss available sex-disaggregated epidemiological data from the COVID-19 pandemic, introduce sex-differential features of immunity and highlight potential sex differences underlying COVID-19 severity. We propose that sex differences in immunopathogenesis will inform mechanisms of COVID-19, identify points for therapeutic intervention and improve vaccine design and increase vaccine efficacy.

Cause of death in adults with Down syndrome in the United States

BackgroundPrior studies report anomalous cause of death patterns for adults with Down syndrome, but do not provide comparison of age trends for specific causes of death between adults with and without Down syndrome, or explore biological sex and racial-ethnic differences in causes of death among adults with Down syndrome. ObjectiveTo better understand cause of death trends for adults, age 18 and over, with Down syndrome. MethodsCross-sectional data were from the 2013–2017 US Multiple Cause of Death Mortality files. Adjusted odds ratios were utilized to compare cause of death trends overall, and by age, between adults with (N = 9870) and without (N = 13,323,001) Down syndrome. We also analyzed biological sex and race-ethnic differences in cause of death solely among adults with Down syndrome. ResultsAlthough heart disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer were common among adults all adults, death from these diseases was more prominent at younger ages for adults with Down syndrome. Adults with Down syndrome were also more likely to die from influenza and pneumonia, pneumonitis, respiratory failure, and choking at all ages. Distinct biological sex and racial-ethnic differences were present in causes of death among adults with Down syndrome. ConclusionsWhile efforts to reduce premature mortality for adults with Down syndrome should attend to common risk factors such as heart disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer, it is imperative to afford increased attention to earlier onset of these diseases, as well as increased risk of death from respiratory and swallowing/choking related disorders at all ages.

Platelet Responses in Cardiovascular Disease: Sex-Related Differences in Nutritional and Pharmacological Interventions.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent one of the biggest causes of death globally, and their prevalence, aetiology, and outcome are related to genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors, among which sex- and age-dependent differences may play a key role. Among CVD risk factors, platelet hyperactivity deserves particular mention, as it is involved in the pathophysiology of main cardiovascular events (including stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral vascular injury) and is closely related to sex/age differences. Several determinants (e.g., hormonal status and traditional cardiovascular risk factors), together with platelet-related factors (e.g., plasma membrane composition, receptor signaling, and platelet-derived microparticles) can elucidate sex-related disparity in platelet functionality and CVD onset and outcome, especially in relation to efficacy of current primary and secondary interventional strategies. Here, we examined the state of the art concerning sex differences in platelet biology and their relationship with specific cardiovascular events and responses to common antiplatelet therapies. Moreover, as healthy nutrition is widely recognized to play a key role in CVD, we also focused our attention on specific dietary components (especially polyunsaturated fatty acids and flavonoids) and patterns (such as Mediterranean diet), which also emerged to impact platelet functions in a sex-dependent manner. These results highlight that full understanding of gender-related differences will be useful for designing personalized strategies, in order to prevent and/or treat platelet-mediated vascular damage.