Female Controls Research Articles

Shadowing Femi(ni)cide, Madness and the Politics of Female Control in Louisa May Alcott's "A Whisper in the Dark"

The term ‘femicide’ entered public discourse only in the late 1970s, when feminist critic Diana Russell used the term to bring attention to male violence and discrimination against women. This article intends to re-examine therepresentation of femicide through Louisa May Alcott’s short story “A Whisper in the Dark” (1865) in light of studies on femicide and female violence. Drawing from Russell’s definition of femicide, its theoretical approach and multipleredefinitions, the article proceeds by exploring Alcott’s depiction of femicide in the text. After a preliminary discussion, I critically examine Alcott’s short storyin light of studies on femicide by placing the text within American female Gothic fiction. Afterwards, I will demonstrate how femicide in the tale is based upon aninterplay of three main tropes: wrongful confinement, the threshold and madness, all of which are themes that Alcott develops with astonishing topicality and which underscores the importance of the tale as an example of female abuseand domestic violence, a phenomenon that has improved considerably all over the world in recent years. I conclude by showing how Alcott illustrates the politics of female control and offers an example of femicide long before the term was ever used.

The impact of metabolic health on fibromyalgia: insights from insulin resistance and related indexes

ABSTRACT Objectives To assess the association between fibromyalgia (FM) and insulin resistance (IR) using multiple IR indices in FM patients and to investigate how these indices vary with the severity of FM. Methods This cross-sectional study included 70 female patients diagnosed with FM and 70 age-matched female healthy controls. The data collected included demographics, clinical characteristics, and laboratory parameters. FM severity was evaluated using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised (FIQR). The metabolic indices calculated were the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI), triglyceride – glucose index (TyG), triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), and Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR). Results FM patients exhibited significantly higher HOMA-IR values (p = 0.002), and lower QUICKI values (p = 0.000) than controls. METS-IR also showed significant differences between FM patients and controls (p = 0.026). HOMA-IR and METS-IR values increased with FM severity, whereas QUICKI values decreased (p < 0.05). Duration of FM showed a moderately positive correlation with HOMA-IR (r = 0.249, p = 0.027). For TG/HDL-C and METS-IR, the correlations were weaker, but still positive (r = 0.094, p = 0.378, and r = 0.184, p = 0.056, respectively). Conclusion This study observed a significant association between FM and IR, as evidenced by metabolic indices in FM patients compared to controls. IR levels tended to increase with FM severity and duration. These findings suggest that IR could play a role in FM pathogenesis. Non-invasive and practical methods, such as METS-IR, may provide advantages for metabolic screening in FM patients; however, further studies are needed to establish their clinical utility.

The mediation role of sleep on the relationship between drinks behavior and female androgenetic alopecia.

To investigate the relationship between drinks behavior and female androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and to clarify the mediating effect of sleep behavior on such relationship. A total of 308 female AGA patients and 305 female normal controls were recruited from the hospital, and questionnaires including drinks behavior and sleep behavior were inquired among them. Blood sugar and blood lipids were detected. Then, the mediating effect of sleep behavior on the relationship between drinks behavior and AGA was analyzed. Female AGA patients presented a higher frequency of intake of sweetened tea drinks. It was found that occasional intake (1-2 times per week; ORadj = 2.130, 95% CI [1.495-3.033]) and frequent intake (3-6 time per week; ORadj = 2.054, 95% CI [1.015-4.157]) of sweetened tea drinks were associated with AGA. The daily sugar intake from soft drinks increased the risk of AGA (ORadj = 1.025, 95% CI [1.003-1.048]), and hyperglycemia was positively associated with alopecia (ORadj = 1.897, 95% CI [1.225-2.936]). In addition, bedtime after 12 pm significantly increased the risk of developing alopecia (ORadj = 2.609, 95% CI [1.020-6.676]). Interestingly, bedtime, instead of daily sugar intake from soft drinks, could mediate the relationship between sweetened tea drinks intake and alopecia. Sweetened tea drinks consumption increases the risk of female AGA, which is mediated by bedtime.

Altered brain regional homogeneity, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairments in medication-free female patients with current depressive episodes in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder

BackgroundAlthough symptoms of depressive episodes in patients with bipolar depressive episodes (BDE) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are similar, the treatment strategies for these disorders are completely different, suggesting that BDE and MDD have different neurobiological backgrounds. In this study, we examined the relationship between brain function and clinical symptoms, particularly cognitive function, in female individuals with bipolar disorder and MDD experiencing depressive episodes.MethodsRegional homogeneity (ReHo) was analyzed in 51 medication-free female patients with BDE, 63 medication-free female patients with MDD, and 45 female healthy controls (HCs). Depressive symptom severity was assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24), and multidimensional cognitive function was evaluated using the MATRICS Consensus Cognition Battery. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the links between the brain regions and clinical characteristics. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to assess the classification accuracy.ResultsCompared with HCs, patients with BDE and MDD had decreased ReHo in the left lobule VI of the cerebellum and increased ReHo in the left precuneus. Patients with BDE also had reduced ReHo in the left lobules IV–V of the cerebellum and increased ReHo in the right putamen, unlike patients with MDD who had no significant differences in these regions. Patients with BDE exhibited more severe cognitive deficits in processing speed, attention, word learning, and overall cognitive function than those with MDD. In patients with BDE, a significant negative correlation was found between the right putamen and HAMD-24 scores. However, no significant association was observed between abnormal ReHo levels and cognitive function. The SVM effectively differentiated between patients with BDE, MDD, and HCs.ConclusionCognitive impairment was more severe in female patients with BDE than in those with MDD. Changes in the ReHo values of the right putamen and left lobules IV–V may serve as unique neuroimaging markers for BDE. Alterations in the ReHo values of the left precuneus and left lobule VI could serve as common pathophysiological mechanisms for BDE and MDD in women and indicate depressive states.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori-related chronic gastritis on gastrointestinal microorganisms and brain neurotransmitters in mice

The effects of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-related chronic gastritis on gastrointestinal microorganisms or brain neurotransmitters are not fully understood. Here, this study selected SPF C57BL/6 mice to set up a Hp-related chronic gastritis experiment group and a blank control group, and used omics to explore the specific effects of Hp-related chronic gastritis on gastrointestinal microorganisms and brain neurotransmitters in mice. The Tyramine (TyrA) content in the female experiment group’s brain was considerably reduced compared to the female control group (p &amp;lt; 0.01), and TyrA was strongly correlated with 13 gastrointestinal microorganisms with significant differences, such as Acinetobacter_baumannii (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The His content in the male experiment group’s brain was significantly higher than that in the male control group (p &amp;lt; 0.05), and His was strongly correlated with four gastrointestinal microorganisms with significant differences, such as Acinetobacter_baumannii (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The Levodopa (DOPA) content in the female control group’s brain was significantly lower than that in the male control group (p &amp;lt; 0.05), and DOPA was strongly correlated with 19 gastrointestinal microorganisms with significant differences, such as Achromobacter_xylosoxidans (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The contents of L-Glutamine (Gln), L-Glutamine (GABA), Noradrenaline hydrochloride (NE), and Adrenaline hydrochloride (E) in the female experiment group’s brain were significantly lower than those in the male experiment group (p &amp;lt; 0.05), and Gln, GABA, NE, and E were strongly correlated with 41, 28, 40, and 33 gastrointestinal microorganisms with significant differences (p &amp;lt; 0.05), respectively. These results indicate that Hp-related chronic gastritis could affect gastrointestinal microorganisms and brain neurotransmitters in mice with certain gender differences, and the changes in brain neurotransmitters might be related to the changes in gastrointestinal microorganisms.

Intrauterine fetal growth restriction in sheep leads to sexually dimorphic programming of Preadipocytes' differentiation potential.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a risk factor for obesity in adult life. Importantly, growth-restricted females are more prone to obesity than males. The mechanisms involved in this sexually dimorphic programming are not known. Previously, we have demonstrated that ambient hyperthermia (40°C) led to placental insufficiency and significant FGR, and the perirenal adipose tissue undergoes sexually dimorphic gene expression. We demonstrated that males undergo significant changes in gene expression with growth restriction. This was not the case in females. We have also demonstrated that the isolated preadipocytes from male FGR (MFGR) have reduced differentiation potential compared to control males & females and female FGR (FFGR). Thus, we hypothesized that growth restriction differentially programs gene expression and genetic pathways in perirenal preadipocytes, which reduces their differentiation potential in male fetuses in a sexually dimorphic manner. We created FGR by exposing pregnant sheep to ambient hyperthermia. After isolating preadipocytes from perirenal adipose tissue, we differentiated them following published protocols. We examined the gene expression before and after differentiation from control male, control female, MFGR, and FFGR female. We also compared our data with other published studies in mouse and human preadipocytes. Our results demonstrate that a set of 21 genes altered with preadipocyte differentiation to mature adipocytes is common in adipose tissue from both sexes, humans, mice, and sheep, at different organismal ages (embryonic, fetal, and adult) and different sites (subcutaneous inguinal, pancreatic, perirenal). We also demonstrate that female FFGR fetuses demonstrate all these 21 genes altered similar to control males and females; however, MFGR fetuses have six genes (Dgat2, Fabp4, Lipe, Lrrfip1, Spred3, and Thrsp) that are not changed with preadipocyte differentiation to mature adipocyte. These genes may be responsible for reduced differentiation potential and obesity in FGR males compared to FGR females. Another important finding of the present study is that Lrrfip1, known to be associated with obesity, was upregulated with FGR and requires further investigation. Overall, our studies provide several target genes that may play a crucial role in reducing the risk of MFGR for obesity.

Prolactin locally mediates follicular atresia in hyperprolactinemic vizcachas (Rodentia, Chinchillidae)

Infertility in hyperprolactinemic females is attributed to the dysregulation of GnRH release, subsequently affecting gonadotropin levels, and ultimately leading to anovulation. However, in addition to the hypothalamus, prolactin receptor (PRLR) is expressed in ovaries as well, suggesting potential local effects of PRL in cases of hyperprolactinemia. We have developed an experimental model of sulpiride (SPD)-induced hyperprolactinemia using a wild rodent, the plains vizcacha, and studied the implications of pharmacological PRL levels on folliculogenesis and steroid production. Ovaries of SPD females showed a striking number of atretic follicles along with a reduction in the collective number of viable follicles leading to a higher atretic/viable follicle ratio compared to that of control females (CTL) (P < 0.05). In terms of sensitivity to the hormonal environment, SPD ovaries substantially changed their potential responsiveness to pituitary PRL, as evidenced by the three-fold increase in PRLR expression alongside heightened expression of both gonadotropic receptors in comparison to CTL ovaries (P < 0.05). Circulating estradiol (E2) values doubled post-treatment in the SPD females, which also showed higher expressions of aromatase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, along with both E2 receptors, ERα and ERβ than the CTL group (P < 0.05). Our findings strongly suggest that hyperprolactinemia-dependent dysregulation of ovarian function can be explained at least partially, by PRL direct actions facilitated by the heightened expression of PRLR in follicles and corpora lutea. Possibly these PRL actions synergize with those triggered by gonadotropic hormones ultimately leading to alteration of the steroidogenic pathway, folliculogenesis disruption and increased atresia.

Effects of mifepristone, a model compound with anti-progestogenic activity, on the reproduction of African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

This is the first study on how a substance with anti-progestogenic activity affects amphibian reproduction. Mifepristone, a synthetic anti-progestin used in abortion pills, was chosen as model compound. African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) females were exposed to four mifepristone concentrations (0.7, 9, 120, and 1380ng∙L−1) for 30 days. A control group was also included. Egg-laying during the experiment was significantly less at the highest concentration. At the experiment’s end, mifepristone-exposed and control females were randomly mated with sexually mature males. Breeding rate for females exposed to 1380ng∙L−1 mifepristone was only 50%. Histology revealed no significant changes in gonads, thyroid, or liver. Females exposed to 1380ng∙L−1 mifepristone had lower estradiol levels in plasma, lower mRNA expression of lh and fsh in brain–pituitary complex, and p450scc in ovaries. In liver, mRNA level of npr was significantly increased in females exposed to 120ng∙L−1 mifepristone. mRNA expression of mpr, erβ, dio2, and dio3 were upregulated in animals exposed to 9ng∙L−1 and 120ng∙L−1 mifepristone, whereas vtg expression was significantly downregulated in females exposed to 1380ng∙L−1 mifepristone. All these findings show that exposure to compounds with anti-progestogenic activity affects the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad axis and decreases reproductive success.

Impact of GRM7 Gene Variations on Glioblastoma Risk in the Iranian Population

AIMThe metabotropic glutamate receptor, GRM7 is a gene in the neurotransmitters prognostic signatures. Downregulation of this gene is associated with the progression of glioma tumors and has a negative impact on the immune response. MethodsIn the present study, we aim to assess the associations between rs6782011 and rs779867 SNPs within this gene and risk of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in Iranian population. ResultsThere was a noteworthy difference in distribution of genotypes (P value=0.001) and alleles (P value= 0.0002) of rs779867 between total GBM cases (n=299) and total normal controls (n=302). In addition, the significant difference in genotypes and alleles distribution was observed for both male and female GBM cases vs. respective normal controls. For rs6782011 variant, the significant difference in genotypes distribution was observed between male GBM cases (n=187) vs. respective normal controls (n=156) (P value=0.004) and between total GBM cases (n=299) vs. total normal controls (n=302) (P value=0.02). However, there was no significant difference in genotypes distribution between female GBM cases and respective normal controls (P value= 0.1). Distribution of rs6782011 alleles was not different between total GBM cases and normal controls; and between male GBM cases and male normal controls. However, there was a significant difference in alleles distribution between female GBM cases and female normal controls. Conclusion: Taken together, the mentioned polymorphisms might affect risk of GBM in Iranian population. Future studies are needed to elaborate the underlying mechanism.

Activation of hypoactive parvalbumin-positive fast-spiking interneurons restores dentate inhibition to reduce electrographic seizures in the mouse intrahippocampal kainate model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Parvalbumin-positive (PV+) GABAergic interneurons in the dentate gyrus provide powerful perisomatic inhibition of dentate granule cells (DGCs) to prevent overexcitation and maintain the stability of dentate gyrus circuits. Most dentate PV+ interneurons survive status epilepticus, but surviving PV+ interneuron mediated inhibition is compromised in the dentate gyrus shortly after status epilepticus, contributing to epileptogenesis in temporal lobe epilepsy. It is uncertain whether the impaired activity of dentate PV+ interneurons recovers at later times or if it continues for months following status epilepticus. The development of compensatory modifications related to PV+ interneuron circuits in the months following status epilepticus is unknown, although reduced dentate GABAergic inhibition persists long after status epilepticus. We employed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from dentate PV+ interneurons and DGCs in slices from male and female sham controls and intrahippocampal kainate (IHK) treated mice that developed spontaneous seizures months after status epilepticus to study epilepsy-associated changes in dentate PV+ interneuron circuits. Electrical recordings showed that: 1) Action potential firing rates of dentate PV+ interneurons were reduced in IHK treated mice up to four months after status epilepticus; 2) spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in DGCs exhibited reduced frequency but increased amplitude in IHK treated mice; and 3) the amplitude of IPSCs in DGCs evoked by optogenetic activation of dentate PV+ cells was upregulated without changes in short-term plasticity. Video-EEG recordings revealed that IHK treated mice showed spontaneous electrographic seizures in the dentate gyrus and that chemogenetic activation of PV+ interneurons abolished electrographic seizures. Our results suggest not only that the compensatory changes in PV+ interneuron circuits develop after IHK treatment, but also that increased PV+ interneuron mediated inhibition in the dentate gyrus may compensate for cell loss and reduced intrinsic excitability of dentate PV+ interneurons to stop seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Effects of Different Preparations Containing Selenium on Selenium Status and Reproductive Performance of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Broodstock

Abstract This study evaluated the efficiency of different Selenium supplements on blood Se status and reproductive performance of carp broodstock. Female carp (n=120) were distributed in 4 groups supplemented with Se as follows: control (non-supplemented), sodium selenite 200 µg/kg feed, sodium selenite i/m injection (160 µgSe/kg bodyweight), and selenized yeast 200 µg/kg feed. Blood was sampled on days 1, 20, and 30. On day 30, samples of roe were taken from females, and samples of blood and milt from 10 unsupplemented males. Larvae samples were taken after hatching. Plasmatic Se concentration was 51.38±3.77 µg/kg (day 1) and did not vary significantly. The erythrocyte Se concentration increased from 14.04±3.05 µg/kg (day 1), reaching 90.58±12.43 (day 20), to 212.38±57.87 µg/kg (day 30). Plasmatic glutathione peroxidase activity in supplemented groups increased from 4.41±1.15 to 7.73±2.26 μkat/L and plateaued until day 30. A similar pattern was observed for erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity, ranging from 54.51±15.45 μkat/L (day 1) to 80.72± 6.82 μkat/L (day 30). Se concentration and selenoenzyme activities in males did not differ from the female control group. Roe Se content ranged from 48.26±17.53 μg/L in control to 65.68±34.39 μg/L in fish supplemented selenized yeast, and in the pooled larvae samples, ranged from 26-43 μg/L. The Se concentration in the milt was 24.78±4.27 μg/L. Results suggest that 250 µgSe/kg feed was sufficient to meet the requirements of mature carp, sodium selenite being more efficient in elevating blood Se concentrations and selenoenzymes activities, while selenized yeast being more efficient in roe and larvae.

Bariatric surgery blunts nitrate-mediated improvements in cardiovascular function of overweight women by interfering with gastric S-nitrosothiol formation.

Inorganic nitrate (NO3-) and nitrate-rich foods have been shown to exert antioxidative effects and lower blood pressure in experimental animal models and human clinical studies. The specific handling of nitrate, including its enterosalivary recirculation, secretion into saliva, oral microbial reduction to nitrite (NO2-), and the pH-dependent nitrosative capacity in the stomach have all been recognized as being important for nitrate's beneficial effects. Obesity is of major health concern worldwide and associated with increased cardiovascular risk; whether nitrate lowers blood pressure and improves endothelial function in this setting has not been investigated. We here tested the hypotheses that i) nitrate elicits cardiovascular benefits in overweight women; and ii) these beneficial effects would be diminished in women who underwent bariatric Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Our controlled clinical trial included 15 women with prior RYGB surgery and 15 overweight female controls. All participants received a single dose of 0.1mmol/kg/day nitrate in the form of a beetroot extract for 14 days. Blood collection, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurements and endothelial function tests were performed before and after nitrate treatment. Plasma nitrite, nitrate, and S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) concentrations were determined by ozone-based reductive chemiluminescence while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured using plate-reader based assays. Nitrate reduced blood pressure and improved endothelial function in controls, but not in women with prior bariatric surgery. Nitrate also increased circulating nitrate/nitrite and RSNO levels in controls, but the latter was blunted following RYGB surgery despite even larger increases in nitrite concentrations. Similarly, nitrate increased antioxidant responses in controls but not in women with prior bariatric surgery. This is the first study to show that nitrate exerts beneficial cardiovascular effects in obesity and that the morphological/functional modifications elicited by RYGB surgery abrogates nitrate's effectiveness by preventing gastric RSNO formation.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and serum IL-8 product in leiomyomas.

The most prevalent neoplasms of the female genital tract are uterine leiomyomas, a uterine fibroid which rarely turn into cancer. We examined the levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in female patients with Leiomyomas. The presence of PCNA and IL-8 were measured in 28 females with Leiomyoma and 20 healthy controls. Tissue PCNA levels were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method and serum IL-8 levels were measured by an ELISA technique. Age and menopausal stage on Leiomyoma development were also examined. Forty-eight Iraqi women were divided into 28 uterine Leiomyoma patients of whom leiomyoma tissues, adjacent myometrium and serum samples were collected during hysterectomy. Serum samples were collected from 28 patients and 20 female controls. PCNA was positively expressed in 11 out of 28 (39.2 %) leiomyoma tissues; all 20 normal myometrium were negative. The presence of PCNA was unrelated to age and menopausal stage. The mean level of serum IL-8 was elevated significantly in patients (140 pg/ml) compared to that of control (60 pg/ml; P < 0.05). The IL -8 levels were increased in postmenopausal stage. Each PCNA; IL-8 showed significantly elevated levels in patients with Leiomyoma.

Investigation of HOTAIR rs12826786, rs920778 and rs4759314 variants with breast cancer susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics in a Mexican population

BackgroundBreast cancer (BC) is a multifactorial disease of unknown etiology whose major risk factors are genetic alterations of cell proliferation and migration pathways. HOX transcript antisense RNA gene (HOTAIR) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) related to cell proliferation, progression, invasion, metastasis, and poor survival of multiple cancers, including BC. Controversial results have emerged on the association between breast cancer risk in multiple ethnicities. This study explores the association of rs12826786, rs920778, and rs4759314 variants in the HOTAIR gene in BC patients. MethodsDNA of peripheral blood samples was obtained from 588 women (289 patients and 299 control females). Genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. The association was calculated using the odds ratio (OR) test. P-values were adjusted by the Bonferroni test (0.016). ResultsThe rs12826786 (C>T), rs920778 (T>C), and rs4759314 (A>G) variants were associated with BC and with TNM stage, histologic type, and histologic molecular subtype (P=0.001). Likewise, the haplotype C-T-G in the HOTAIR gene (rs12826786-rs920778-rs4759314) was significantly related to BC (OR= 5.44, 95%, CI= 2.22-13.32, P= 0.001). ConclusionThe results suggest that rs12826786, rs920778, and rs4759314 variants in HOTAIR significantly influence breast cancer risk. Micro-abstractHOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is a long non-coding RNA strongly correlated with the tumor grade and prognosis of various carcinomas, including breast cancer (BC). In this study, we analyzed the association of the rs12826786, rs920778, and rs4759314 variants in the HOTAIR gene and observed an increased susceptibility to BC and clinicopathological characteristics in a Mexican population.

PD-L1 expression and characterization of its carrier macrophages in placentas with acute and specifically post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

At the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, uncertainties about the virus and its dangers during pregnancy caused great uncertainty and fear, especially among pregnant women. New data suggest an increased risk of obstetric complications, including maternal complications, preterm labor, intrauterine growth restriction, hypertensive disorders, stillbirths, gestational diabetes and risk, of neonatal developmental disorders. In addition, preeclampsia (PE)-like syndromes were also induced by severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CD68 and CD163 and PD-L1 on placental tissues from acute covid patients, patients who survived a covid-19 infection and normal term controls that are known to be dysregulated in preeclampsia cases.We examined a total of 60 placentas from women that had given birth to female or male offspring in the University Hospital Augsburg. We investigated ten acute COVID-19 females, ten acute COVID-19 males, ten post-COVID-19 females, ten post-COVID-19 males, ten female term controls, and ten male term controls. Immunohistochemical staining against CD68, CD163, and PD-L1 was performed and the expression of the markers was evaluated with an immunoreactive score (percentage score). Identity of CD163- or PD-L1 expressing cells was analyzed by double immune fluorescence analyses. In opposite to PE, CD163 positive maternal macrophages are significantly upregulated in the decidua of male acute COVID-19 placentas. PD-L1 is significantly upregulated on male acute- and post-COVID-19 decidual immune cells and on male post-COVID-19 extravillous trophoblast cells. Surprisingly the observed effects are related to the fetal gender as they were not observed in female offsprings. Further investigation is necessary to analyze especially the imprinting effect of this infection.

Stress in pregnancy alters hepatic unfolded protein responses in male adult offspring

Stress is considered an independent risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic disorders, especially when it occurs during pregnancy, and it may play an important role in stress-induced fetal programming on the protein-folding homeostasis in hepatic endoplasmic reticulum. The study aimed to determine the effects of prenatal stress on the unfolded protein responses in the liver of male and female offspring of Wistar rats. Pregnant Wistar rats at 90 days old were divided into control and stress groups. The unpredictable stress protocol was performed from the 14th to the 21st day of pregnancy. The offspring of each group were divided into four groups according to sex and intervention. After the lactation period, the dams were anesthetized and euthanized for blood collection to determine plasma corticosterone levels. At 90 days old, the offspring were anesthetized and euthanized for liver tissue collection to measure protein expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress. Dams submitted to prenatal stress showed an increase in corticosterone levels when compared to the control group. In the male offspring, prenatal stress induced lower body mass at birth and at 90 days compared to control, while females presented lower body mass only at birth. Prenatal stress reduced eIF2α expression in males, while increased p-eIF2α expression similarly in both sexes. Furthermore, only males had a greater p-eIF2α/eIF2α ratio and androgen receptor expression when compared to its respective control group and females. Prenatal stress induced a hepatic programming in the reticulum endoplasmic responses only in males at 90 days old by increasing androgen receptor, eIF2α phosphorylation and activity, while in females stress during pregnancy reduced cHDL and had little impact on hepatic unfolded protein response.

Characterising diversity of rural farm households in Eastern Africa: implications for food security and intra-household decision-making

The heterogeneity in East African small-holder agricultural systems influences the farm households’ welfare outcomes. We examine the heterogeneity of rural farm households in Eastern Africa and the influence of such diversity on household food security and how these relate to intra-household decision-making dynamics. Using data from the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS) 1,199 households in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda were typologized using partition-based cluster analysis. These were grouped into relatively homogenous classes reflecting their socio-demographic characteristics, resource endowment and farm orientation based at a country level to reflect the unique institutional conditions within these countries. Additional analysis was then used to characterise the differences in food insecurity and intra-household decision-making of these clusters. Five distinct farm household clusters were identified in Ethiopia and Kenya, four in Malawi and three in Uganda. The main factors differentiating the farm clusters were educational attainment of the household head, levels of resource endowment, market orientation and off-farm income. Market orientated clusters and clusters comprising more educated household heads were generally more food secure across all countries. In Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, women had greater decision-making control in clusters comprising least educated household heads. Female decision-making control was negatively associated with the resource endowment of clusters in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda. This emphasises the importance of understanding rural farm household heterogeneity when tailoring interventions to target household food insecurity and gender inequity in decision-making in Eastern Africa.

Levels of OH-PAHs and markers of oxidative stress in urine of taxi drivers and controls

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are pervasive in the atmosphere, originating from sources like vehicle emissions and incomplete combustion. Exposure to PAHs occurs through diet, tobacco smoke, and air pollutants, and they are recognized as carcinogens. This study, conducted from July to October 2021 in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Ulsan regions, focused on taxi drivers, a group with elevated PAH exposure due to prolonged vehicle use. The study involved 19 male taxi drivers and 46 control participants (18 male, 28 female). LC-MS/MS analysis was employed to quantify urinary levels of 18 hydroxy-PAHs, oxidative damage markers (MDA, 8-OHdG), and cotinine. The detection rates of OH-PAHs were 1-naphthol (96.9 %), 2-naphthol (90.8 %), 2-hydroxyfluorene (86.2 %), and 1-hydroxypyrene (80.0 %). Compared to the male controls, taxi drivers showed higher median concentrations of 2-OH-Na (1.698 ng/mL), 1-OH-Na (0.666 ng/mL), 2-OH-Flu (0.067 ng/mL), and 1-OHP (0.045 ng/mL). Similarly, significant differences were observed between taxi drivers and female controls for 1-OH-Na, 2-OH-Na, 2-OH-Flu, 3-OH-Phe, and 1-OHP. MDA and 8-OHdG were detected in over 90% of all groups, with significant differences between taxi drivers. Strong positive correlations were revealed between urinary OH-PAHs, MDA, and 8-OHdG (r ranging from 0.589 to 0.770, p&lt;0.01). The findings suggest that taxi drivers, due to prolonged exposure to traffic-related air pollutants, have elevated levels of PAH metabolites and oxidative stress, especially among smokers. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these results and explore the long-term health implications of occupational PAH exposure in urban transportation workers..

Effects of different types of music on spatial memory in mice

Abstract. A preliminary investigation was conducted to find out whether different types of music have an effect on spatial memory in adult mice. Thirty mice were divided into six groups, each half male and half female, namely, female pop group, male pop group, female classical group, male classical group, female control group, male control group, and kept in cages and fed freely. There was a reduction in latency time in the musical group compared to the control group. There was a significant difference between the classical group and the control group (P&lt;0.05), while there was no significant difference between the pop group and the control group (P&gt;0.05). There was an enhancement of spatial memory in mice by classical music and no statistically significant enhancement of spatial memory in mice by popular music.

MGA loss-of-function variants cause premature ovarian insufficiency.

Although premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), a common cause of female infertility and subfertility, has a well-established hereditary component, the genetic factors currently implicated in POI account for only a limited proportion of cases. Here, using an exome-wide, gene-based case-control analysis in a discovery cohort comprising 1,027 POI cases and 2,733 ethnically matched women controls from China, we found that heterozygous loss-of-function (LoF) variants of MAX dimerization protein (MGA) were significantly enriched in the discovery cohort, accounting for 2.6% of POI cases, while no MGA LoF variants were found in the matched control females. Further exome screening was conducted in 4 additional POI cohorts (2 from China and 2 from the United States) for replication studies, and we identified heterozygous MGA LoF variants in 1.0%, 1.4%, 1.0%, and 1.0% of POI cases, respectively. Overall, a total of 37 distinct heterozygous MGA LoF variants were discovered in 38 POI cases, accounting for approximately 2.0% of the total 1,910 POI cases analyzed in this study. Accordingly, Mga+/- female mice were subfertile, exhibiting shorter reproductive lifespan and decreased follicle number compared with WT, mimicking the observed phenotype in humans. Our findings highlight the essential role of MGA deficiency for impaired female reproductive ability.