European Males Research Articles

Genomic analyses of hair from Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) remains among the most influential and popular classical music composers. Health problems significantly impacted his career as a composer and pianist, including progressive hearing loss, recurring gastrointestinal complaints, and liver disease. In 1802, Beethoven requested that following his death, his disease be described and made public. Medical biographers have since proposed numerous hypotheses, including many substantially heritable conditions. Here we attempt a genomic analysis of Beethoven in order to elucidate potential underlying genetic and infectious causes of his illnesses. We incorporated improvements in ancient DNA methods into existing protocols for ancient hair samples, enabling the sequencing of high-coverage genomes from small quantities of historical hair. We analyzed eight independently sourced locks of hair attributed to Beethoven, five of which originated from a single European male. We deemed these matching samples to be almost certainly authentic and sequenced Beethoven's genome to 24-fold genomic coverage. Although we could not identify a genetic explanation for Beethoven's hearing disorder or gastrointestinal problems, we found that Beethoven had a genetic predisposition for liver disease. Metagenomic analyses revealed furthermore that Beethoven had a hepatitis B infection during at least the months prior to his death. Together with the genetic predisposition and his broadly accepted alcohol consumption, these present plausible explanations for Beethoven's severe liver disease, which culminated in his death. Unexpectedly, an analysis of Y chromosomes sequenced from five living members of the Van Beethoven patrilineage revealed the occurrence of an extra-pair paternity event in Ludwig van Beethoven's patrilineal ancestry.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblast: Role in Prostate Cancer Progression to Metastatic Disease and Therapeutic Resistance

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in European males. Although therapeutic approaches have changed in recent years, and several new drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains the standard of care. Currently, PCa represents a clinical and economic burden due to the development of resistance to ADT, paving the way to cancer progression, metastasis, and to long-term side effects induced by ADT and radio-chemotherapeutic regimens. In light of this, a growing number of studies are focusing on the tumor microenvironment (TME) because of its role in supporting tumor growth. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have a central function in the TME because they communicate with prostate cancer cells, altering their metabolism and sensitivity to drugs; hence, targeted therapy against the TME, and, in particular, CAFs, could represent an alternative therapeutic approach to defeat therapy resistance in PCa. In this review, we focus on different CAF origins, subsets, and functions to highlight their potential in future therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.

Multiple paternity in reproduction of European eel Anguilla anguilla (L. 1758) by artificial mixing of different sperm in equal volumes

Because of its complex life cycle and due to multiple stress factors, the European eel is suffering a dramatic decline and has been declared Critically Endangered by the IUCN. A possible way to address this problem could be relieve the pressure on natural stocks by implementing its mass production by artificial breeding protocols. A previous study based on direct observation and parentage assignment underlined the presence of an allegedly hierarchic structure among European eel males in semi-natural mating conditions, with a consequent bias in F1 proportion assigned to each one. The aim of the present study is to attest if a different fertilization protocol based on the artificial mixing of female eggs with different males’ milt in equal volume (1 F:4 M) could represent a solution to the disproportion observed in semi-natural conditions. For this purpose, six families of European eels were generated, and 10 species-specific microsatellite loci were used to infer offspring composition by paternity assignment on 280 samples. Due to the asynchronous ovarian development of female European eels, the percentage of fertilized eggs for each female showed a great variability, ranging from 4.70% to 94.50%. A proportion of 94.02% of genotyped offspring were assigned with high confidence to their true parents. As regard males’ fertilization pattern, no substantial differences from natural mating were observed: a single male accounted for most offspring, which was just mostly composed of full sibs. Concluding, the obtained results suggest that the admixture of an equal volume of different males’ milt seems to contribute to the single-locus genetic variability (observed heterozygosity higher than expected in 7 out 9 loci), but it is not sufficient to ensure all the males the same chance to transmit their gene pool, and new fertilization strategies must be developed.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers Among Hispanic Males in the United States: Late-Stage Diagnosis by Country of Origin.

The epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers has changed since the development of the multivalent vaccine. This is evidenced by the decline in incidence of cervical cancers in the post-vaccine era. By contrast, studies have reported the rise in incidence of these cancers in males. Though little is known regarding HPV-associated cancers in males, Hispanic males have been largely excluded from research on these cancers. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in late-stage diagnosis of HPV-associated cancers (oropharyngeal, anorectal, or penile) among subgroups of Hispanic males in the U.S. We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study using the 2005-2016 North American Association of Central Cancer Registries Cancer in North America Deluxe data file (n = 9242). Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used in studying late-stage diagnosis. There were no differences in late-stage diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer between Hispanic subgroups. Higher odds of late-stage penile cancers were observed among Mexican and Puerto Rican males relative to European Spanish males. Lower odds of late-stage anorectal cancers were observed among Central or South American and Puerto Rican males. Having Medicaid or no insurance were associated with late-stage diagnosis for all cancers. Certain subgroups of Hispanic males have higher odds of late-stage HPV-associated cancer diagnosis based on country of origin and insurance status. These findings call for improved efforts to increase HPV vaccination, particularly among these subgroups of Hispanic males. Efforts to improve health care access and early detection from health care providers are also needed.

Taste but not smell sensitivities are linked to dietary macronutrient composition

Macronutrient intake and composition of diets (i.e., carbohydrate, protein, and fat) can vary substantially across individuals. Chemosensory functions are hypothesised to play a key role in modulating nutrient choices and intake. The present study tests links between individual gustatory or olfactory supra-threshold sensitivities and dietary macronutrient intake. A total of 98 European males (N = 81 for final analyses; age: 20–40 yo; BMI: 18.9–48.1 kg∙m−2) were tested for supra-threshold sensitivities (d') to 3-gustatory (i.e., Sucrose, MSG, Dairy fat) and 3-olfactory stimuli (i.e., Vanillin, Methional, Maltol/Furaneol), followed by a 4-day weighed Food Record to give measures of macronutrient intake (kJ) and composition (%). With multivariate analyses (i.e., K-mean clustering, PCA, and Hierarchical Regression), gustatory and olfactory d' were compared across groups of individuals with distinct macronutrient composition or intake. Significant differences in gustatory d' were found across the clusters based on macronutrient composition (p < 0.05), but not for clusters based on intake. Hierarchical regressions suggested that gustatory d' played a significant role in predicting dietary carbohydrate composition and intake, with one-unit d' increase predicting reduction of 3%–4.66% (R2 = 0.21, F(5,75) = 5.38, p = 0.001). Moreover, every one-unit increase in d' to MSG increased protein composition by 3.45% (R2 = 0.10, F(5,75) = 2.83, p = 0.022) and intake by 392 kJ (R2 = 0.08, F(5,75) = 2.41, p = 0.044). By contrast, olfactory d' showed little association to macronutrient composition or intake (p > 0.05). Overall, we present intriguing new evidence that gustatory, but not olfactory, sensitivities are linked to dietary macronutrient composition, with relatively little effect on actual intake. These findings highlight possible action of a sensory-mediated mechanism guiding food choices.

Evaluate the prevalence of risk factors among patients of myocardial infarction in our population: review of one hundred forty-seven cases

Background: CAD is disease of persons older than 45 years of age. In India, CAD in males, it manifests earlier than west European and North American males. This study is designed to study prevalence of risk factors (and angiographic profiles) amongst patients of Myocardial infarction in our population. Methods: Total of 147 consecutive patients of AMI were studied for risk factors.Results: Out of 147 patients, 116 (79%) were males and 31 (21%) were females. 11 (9.5%) of males and 01 (3.2%) of females were below 40 years of age. Whereas 34 (29.3%) of males and 06 (19.4%) females were of below 50 years of age. Median age for males was 54 years while that for females was 63 years. Smoking remains most prevalent amongst males while high LDL and HT remain most prevalent amongst young and overall females respectively. 108 patients had STEMI while 39 had NSTEMI.Conclusions: AMI occurs much frequently in males. Median age for males is almost one decade earlier than West European males and nearly 5 years earlier than North American males. Smoking is most common and hypertension second most common risk factors amongst males. In females median age for AMI is almost one decade later than Indian males. It is similar to North American females while nearly 5 years earlier than Western Europe females. HT and DM remain first and second common risk factors amongst females.

Contact allergy to metals in metalworkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Occupational hand eczema is frequent in metalworkers. The contribution of metal allergies is poorly elucidated even though such exposures are common at the workplace. To estimate the prevalence of metal allergy to cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in metalworkers and compare these to estimates from the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA). Two authors independently searched PubMed for studies reporting on the prevalence of metal allergy in metalworkers. Proportion meta-analyses were performed to calculate the pooled proportions of metal allergy in metalworkers. In total, 29 studies (22 from Europe) were included yielding 5691 subjects for quantitative analysis. The pooled proportion (95% confidence interval) of Co, Cr and Ni in European metalworkers with dermatitis referred to patch test clinics was 8.2% (5.3%-11.7%), 8.0% (5.1%-11.4%), and 11.0% (7.3%-15.4%), respectively. The corresponding estimates for unselected metalworkers from workplace studies were 4.9% (2.4%-8.1%), 5.2% (1.0%-12.6%), and 7.6% (3.8%-12.6%), respectively. In comparison, the prevalence of metal allergy in 13 382 consecutive European males with dermatitis was 3.9% (3.6%-4.2%), 4.4% (4.1%-4.8%) and 6.7% (6.3%-7.0%) for Co, Cr and Ni, respectively. Data on sex, age, body piercings and atopic dermatitis in metalworkers with metal allergy was mostly lacking. Metal allergy to all three metals was significantly more common in European metalworkers with dermatitis attending patch test clinics as compared to ESSCA data, indicating a relationship to occupational exposures, however, confounders could not be accounted for.

Are you as old as your arteries? Comparing arterial aging in Japanese and European patient groups using cardio-ankle vascular index.

Most comparisons of arterial stiffness between ethnic groups focus on pulse wave velocity. This study used the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in European compared to Japanese individuals to investigate how cardiovascular risk factors affect arterial aging across geographic regions. Four hundred and ninety-four European and 1044 Japanese individuals underwent measurements of CAVI, blood pressure and information on cardiovascular risk factors. Both datasets included individuals with 0-5 cardiovascular risk factors. Average CAVI was higher in the Japanese than the European group in every age category, with significant differences up to 75 years for males and 85 for females. The correlation of CAVI with age, controlled for cardiovascular risk factors, was slightly higher in Japanese females (r = 0.594 vs. Europeans r = 0.542) but much higher in European males (r = 0.710 vs. Japanese r = 0.511). There was a significant correlation between CAVI and total cardiovascular risk factors in the Japanese (r = 0.141, P < 0.001) but not the European group. On linear regression, average CAVI was significantly dependent on age, sex, diabetes, BMI, SBP and geographic region. When divided into 'healthy' vs. 'high risk', the healthy group had a steeper correlation with age for Europeans (r = 0.644 vs. Japanese r = 0.472, Fisher's Z P < 0.001), whereas in the high-risk group, both geographic regions had similar correlations. Japanese patient groups had higher arterial stiffness than Europeans, as measured by CAVI, controlling for cardiovascular risk factors. Europeans had greater increases in arterial stiffness with age in healthy individuals, particularly for males. However, cardiovascular risk factors had a greater impact on the Japanese group.

Clinical Case of Feline Leishmaniosis: Therapeutic Approach and Long-Term Follow-Up.

Simple SummaryIn the present report, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutical findings observed in a case of feline leishmaniosis (FeL) along with its long-term follow-up data are reported with the aim to provide more evidence-based data on the treatment of this important zoonotic vector-borne disease of cats. The present study represents one of the few reports of FeL with a 28-month follow-up period. This case underlines the effectiveness of allopurinol and highlights how the interruption of treatment frequently leads to relapse, impairing the animal’s health condition and prognosis.The response to allopurinol treatment and survival time of a case of feline leishmaniosis in a FIV co-infected cat is herein reported. In May 2019, a 13-year-old neutered European Shorthair male was referred due to weight loss and exfoliative dermatitis. Lymphadenomegaly and splenomegaly were detected upon clinical inspection, while the presence of several Leishmania infantum amastigotes were detected on splenic and lymphonodal fine needle aspiration (FNA). Allopurinol (10 mg/kg PO q 12 h) was administered. After two months, the cat’s clinical symptoms disappeared, and the owners decided to interrupt the therapy. In February, two reddish nodular fleshy neoformations appeared in both eyes, and amastigotes of Leishmania were detected by cytology on conjunctival swabs. Allopurinol treatment was re-started at the same rate; the ocular lesions regressed in two weeks, and the owner again decided to interrupt the therapy. In July, the patient had a new relapse, but the owner, tired of continuous relapses, refused further treatment of the disease. The cat’s health condition continued to worsen: in October 2021, the ocular lesions appeared again, and in November the patient died. This case underlines the effectiveness of allopurinol and highlights how interruption of treatment frequently leads to relapse, impairing the animal’s health condition and prognosis.

Sex-biased admixture and assortative mating shape genetic variation and influence demographic inference in admixed Cabo Verdeans.

Genetic data can provide insights into population history, but first, we must understand the patterns that complex histories leave in genomes. Here, we consider the admixed human population of Cabo Verde to understand the patterns of genetic variation left by social and demographic processes. First settled in the late 1400s, Cabo Verdeans are admixed descendants of Portuguese colonizers and enslaved West African people. We consider Cabo Verde’s well-studied historical record alongside genome-wide SNP data from 563 individuals from 4 regions within the archipelago. We use genetic ancestry to test for patterns of nonrandom mating and sex-specific gene flow, and we examine the consequences of these processes for common demographic inference methods and genetic patterns. Notably, multiple population genetic tools that assume random mating underestimate the timing of admixture, but incorporating nonrandom mating produces estimates more consistent with historical records. We consider how admixture interrupts common summaries of genomic variation such as runs of homozygosity. While summaries of runs of homozygosity may be difficult to interpret in admixed populations, differentiating runs of homozygosity by length class shows that runs of homozygosity reflect historical differences between the islands in their contributions from the source populations and postadmixture population dynamics. Finally, we find higher African ancestry on the X chromosome than on the autosomes, consistent with an excess of European males and African females contributing to the gene pool. Considering these genomic insights into population history in the context of Cabo Verde’s historical record, we can identify how assumptions in genetic models impact inference of population history more broadly.

Post-mortem evidence of a diverse distribution pattern of atherosclerosis in the South African population

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of mortality worldwide. The disease profile of CVD varies considerably between different demographic groups and socioeconomic status. Atherosclerosis remains a major risk factor for CVD, and thus, believed to be a good indicator of the CVD profile in a population, yet little is known on its prevalence in sub-Saharan African populations. We aimed to determine the prevalence of atherosclerosis in a diverse South African population as found with post-mortem investigations. A retrospective file-audit was done on 10,240 forensic post-mortem reports done at a forensic pathology mortuary in South Africa, over 10-years. European descent males had the highest prevalence, with roughly one-quarter having coronary artery (CA) or large vessel (LV) atherosclerosis. European descent females followed closely, with one-fifth of the population having CA atherosclerosis and approximately a quarter having LV atherosclerosis. African descent males and females had a substantially lower prevalence in atherosclerosis for both CAs and LVs than European descendants. The mixed-ancestry population had a slightly higher prevalence of atherosclerosis in CAs and LVs than in the African population; however, it was still far lower than the European group. Some deviations in prevalence were noted within certain groups over the course of 10-years. The substantial difference in prevalence of atherosclerosis shows that in our region a diverse distribution pattern between ethnic groups and genders is present. However, follow-up studies are required to elucidate aetiological factors in cardiovascular health in our region.

Is Internal Rotation Measurement of the Hip Useful for Ruling in Cam or Pincer Morphology in Asymptomatic Males? A Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Cam and pincer morphologies are associated with limited internal rotation. However, the routine clinical examination for hip rotation has limited reliability. A more standardized method of measuring hip rotation might increase test-retest and interobserver reliability and might be useful as a screening test to detect different hip morphologies without the need for imaging. We developed an examination chair to standardize the measurement of internal hip rotation, which improved interobserver reliability. However, the diagnostic test accuracy for this test is unknown. Is a standardized method of determining internal hip rotation using an examination chair useful in detecting cam and pincer morphology with MRI as a reference standard? A diagnostic test accuracy study was conducted in a sample of asymptomatic males. Using an examination chair with a standardized seated position, internal rotation was measured in 1080 men aged 18 to 21 years who had been conscripted for the Swiss army. The chair prevents compensatory movement by stabilizing the pelvis and the thighs with belts. The force to produce the internal rotation was standardized with a pulley system. Previous results showed that the measurements with the examination chair are similar to clinical assessment but with higher interobserver agreement. A random sample of 430 asymptomatic males was invited to undergo hip MRI. Of those, 244 White European males responded to the invitation and had a mean age of 20 ± 0.7 years and a mean internal rotation of the hip of 33° ± 8.5°. Using MRI as the reference standard, 69% (169 of 244) had a normal hip, 24% (59 of 244) a definite cam morphology (Grades 2 and 3), 3% (8 of 244) an increased acetabular depth, and 3% (8 of 244) a combination of both. One experienced radiologist graded cam morphology as follows: 0 = normal, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe. Pincer morphology was defined by increased acetabular depth (≤ 3 mm distance between the center of the femoral neck and the line connecting the anterior and posterior acetabular rims). The intraobserver agreement was substantial (weighted κ of 0.65). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was fitted, and sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were estimated for different internal rotation cutoffs. For cam morphology, the area under the ROC curve was 0.75 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.82). Internal hip rotation of less than 20° yielded a positive likelihood ratio of 9.57 (sensitivity 0.13, specificity 0.99), and a value of 40° or more resulted in a negative likelihood ratio of 0.36 (sensitivity 0.93, specificity 0.20). The area under the curve for detecting the combination of cam and pincer morphologies was 0.87 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.0). A cutoff of 20° yielded a positive likelihood ratio of 9.03 (sensitivity 0.33, specificity 0.96). This examination chair showed moderate-to-good diagnostic value to rule in hip cam morphology in White European males. However, at the extremes of the 95% confidence intervals, diagnostic performance would be poor. Nonetheless, we believe this test can contribute to identifying cam morphologies, and we hope that future, larger studies-ideally in more diverse patient populations-will seek to validate this to arrive at more precise estimates of the diagnostic performance of this test. Level III, diagnostic study.

Associations of genetically proxied inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, NPC1L1, and PCSK9 with breast cancer and prostate cancer

BackgroundPreclinical and epidemiological studies indicate a potential chemopreventive role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) -lowering drugs in the risks of breast cancer and prostate cancer, but the causality remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association of genetically proxied inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) with risks of breast cancer and prostate cancer using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method.MethodsSingle-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HMGCR, NPC1L1, and PCSK9 associated with LDL-C in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis from the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (GLGC; up to 188,577 European individuals) were used to proxy inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, NPC1L1, and PCSK9. Summary statistics with outcomes were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis of the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC; 228,951 European females) and a Prostate Cancer Association Group to Investigate Cancer Associated Alterations in the Genome (PRACTICAL; 140,254 European males) consortium. SNPs were combined into multiallelic models and MR estimates representing lifelong inhibition of targets were generated using the inverse-variance weighted method.ResultsGenetically proxied inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (OR: 0.84; 95% CI 0.74–0.95; P = 0.005) and NPC1L1 (OR: 0.72; 95% CI 0.58–0.90; P = 0.005) equivalent to a 1-mmol/L (38.7 mg/dL) reduction in LDL-C was associated with reduced breast cancer risk. There were no significant associations of genetically proxied inhibition of PCSK9 with breast cancer. In contrast, genetically proxied inhibition of PCSK9 (OR: 0.81; 95% CI 0.73–0.90; P < 0.001) but not HMG-CoA reductase and NPC1L1 was negatively associated with prostate cancer. In the secondary analysis, genetically proxied inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (OR: 0.82; 95% CI 0.71–0.95; P = 0.008) and NPC1L1 (OR: 0.66; 95% CI 0.50–0.86; P = 0.002) was associated with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, whereas there was no association of HMG-CoA reductase and NPC1L1 with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.ConclusionsGenetically proxied inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and NPC1L1 was significantly associated with lower odds of breast cancer, while genetically proxied inhibition of PCSK9 was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the respective roles of these LDL-C-lowering drugs in breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Growth and mortality of the European hake Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) from the North of Moroccan Atlantic coasts

Growth and mortality studies on fish are considered crucial to the comprehension of species biology and population dynamics. This work aims to study the growth and mortality of Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) from the North Atlantic coasts of Morocco. A total of 1001 European hakes was sampled from trawler’s fishery during the period from August 2017 to August 2018. Growth parameters were computed for the European hake males and females by applying the von Bertalanffy growth formula. The asymptotic lengths (L∞), growth coefficients (k) and the theoretical age at zero-length (t0) for females and males were; L∞ = 80.19 cm, k = 0.27 year−1, t0 = –0.472 year−1, and L∞ = 69.15 cm, k = 0.31 year−1, t0 = –0.426 year−1, respectively. The total mortality rate (Z), natural (M) and fishing mortality (F) were estimated as Z = 1.49, M = 0.51 and F = 0.98 for combined sexes. The estimated exploitation ratio (E = 0.66), indicated overexploitation of the M. merluccius in the North Atlantic coasts of Morocco.

Preliminary investigation of the drumming signals of Taeniopteryx nebulosa ssp britannica Hynes, 1957 (Plecoptera: Taeniopterygidae)

The male drumming signal of the stonefly Taeniopteryx nebulosa from Great Britain is described for the first time. It differs significantly from calls of European males in terms of number of beats and total call duration. As such, it justifies continued consideration of British specimens as a subspecies. Despite there being only one specimen examined we thought it was important to note the differences observed and to consider the significance for the status of the British subspecies.

Using Maximum Simulated Likelihood Methods to Overcome Left Censoring: Dynamic Event History Models of Heart Attack Risk in New Zealand

Abstract This paper describes how the risk of experiencing heart attacks varies across gender and ethnicity in New Zealand. We estimate dynamic hazard models using administrative data. We deal with left-censored data using recently developed maximum simulated likelihood methods. The models allow risk to vary with age, previous heart attack history and unobserved individual heterogeneity. We find that the risk of subsequent events is far higher than the risk of the first event, particularly high within 1 year after an event, and that unobserved heterogeneity is important. Generally, male Maoris have the highest risk, followed by female Maoris, then ethnically European males, while ethnically European females have the lowest risk.

A matter of consciousness – Introducing Zora Neale Hurston and Katie G. Cannon

This article involves a close reading of two African American authors, Zora Neale Hurston, an acclaimed novelist and Katie Cannon, an influential theological ethicist. Texts from Steve Biko on black consciousness and from James Cone on liberation theology are used as methodological tools in trying to ascertain the degree to which Hurston and Cannon espouse a black (womanist) consciousness. A strong resonance of black consciousness will indeed be found in Hurston’s and Cannon’s texts. The conclusion drawn is that not only is there a resonance of black consciousness, but both writers also give proof of a black womanist consciousness that reveals new knowledge. Cannon’s oeuvre also begs the question of epistemological privilege. In addition, an animated critique is registered between these women scholars and male colleagues, in the world of fiction (Richard Wright) and academia (white European males).Contribution: This article demonstrates a link from South African black consciousness (Biko) to black womanist thinkers in the United States (Hurston and Cannon). A connection is also made between male, black liberation theology (Cone) and black womanist thinking, while expounding the womanist approach, liberated from (white) male dominance, on par with all others.

S2230 Atypical Endoscopic Appearance of Duodenal Mucosa in Whipple’s Disease: An Incidental Finding in an African American Patient

Introduction: Whipple’s disease (WD) is an extremely rare disorder of European white males with an annual incidence reported as less than one case per million. It is a chronic infectious multisystem disorder caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is the gold standard for diagnosis which typically reveals alternating yellow shaggy and eroded erythematous small bowel mucosa. We report a biopsy-proven case of WD in an African American male with atypical endoscopic appearance of the duodenum revealing diffusely dispersed prominent white spots, swollen folds and mucosal nodularity. Case Description/Methods: A 45-year-old male presented with a 6-month history of watery diarrhea, anorexia, unintentional weight loss and exertional dyspnea. He had a history of seizures, recurrent pleural effusion of unknown etiology, vitamin D deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Physical exam was remarkable for an underweight patient with pale conjunctivae, mild diffuse abdominal tenderness and decreased right sided breath sounds. Vital signs were stable. Patient was in no acute distress. Labs include Hb 10 mg/dL, albumin 2.1 g/dL, vitamin D 13.6 ng/mL, zinc 44 mcg/dL, ESR 45 mm and CRP 107 mg/dL. Stool was negative for ova/parasite, bacterial culture, C.difficile and AFB. Workup for celiac disease and neuroendocrine tumors also reported negative. CT imaging revealed gastric antral wall thickening, abdominal/pelvic ascites and right pleural effusion. Given these non-specific findings, malignancy workup was warranted. EGD revealed an unusual gross appearance of the second portion of duodenum with diffusely dispersed prominent white spots, swollen folds and mucosal nodularity (Fig. 1-a). Biopsy was consistent with WD (Fig. 1-b,c). Colonic and pleural biopsies were negative for malignancy. The patient showed significant clinical response to induction therapy with ceftriaxone followed by maintenance phase with TMP-SMX. Follow up is scheduled to assess endoscopic response to antibiotic therapy. Discussion: WD is a challenging diagnosis due to a constellation of symptoms that mimic other disorders. Whitish discoloration with mucosal nodularity is a rare but more specific endoscopic finding for WD, as reported in our case. Biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis. This case is reported to draw gastroenterologists’ attention towards atypical endoscopic findings of WD. Early recognition of this debilitating and potentially fatal illness is the key before commencement of prolonged antibiotic therapy.Figure 1.: A. CT Chest with Pneumomediastinum B. Upper Endoscopy With Erythematous Posterior Oropharynx and an Extrinsic, Longitudinal Bulge in the Proximal Esophagus C. Intraoperative Photograph During Thoracotomy.

Goodbye to “Rough Fish”: Paradigm Shift in the Conservation of Native Fishes

While sometimes difficult to admit, perspectives of European and white males have overwhelmingly dominated fisheries science and management in the USA. This dynamic is exemplified by bias against “rough fish”—a pejorative ascribing low‐to‐zero value for countless native fishes. One product of this bias is that biologists have ironically worked against conservation of diverse fishes for over a century, and these problems persist today. Nearly all U.S. states retain bag limits and other policies that are regressive and encourage overfishing and decline of native species. Multiple lines of evidence point towards the need for a paradigm shift. These include: (1) native species deliver critical ecosystem services; (2) little demonstration that native fish removals deliver intended benefits; (3) many native fishes are long‐lived and vulnerable to overfishing and decline; and (4) fisher values and demographics shifting towards native fish conservation. Overall, existing native fish policies are unacceptable and run counter to the public trust doctrine where government agencies manage natural resources for public use. We encourage agencies to revisit their policies regarding native fishes and provide suggestions for developing more holistic, protective, and inclusive conservation policy.

Letter to the Editor re: Baldassarri etal., 2021 "Shorter androgen receptor polyQ alleles protect against life-threatening COVID-19 disease in European males".

We would like to thank Baldassarri et al. for presenting their findings that short androgen receptor (AR) polyQ alleles confer protection against life-threatening COVID-19 infection among European males [[1]Baldassarri M et al.Shorter androgen receptor polyQ alleles protect against life-threatening COVID-19 disease in European males.EBioMedicine. 2021; 103246Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (33) Google Scholar]. Data previously presented by McCoy et al. suggests that longer AR CAG repeats are associated with more severe COVID-19 disease. In skeletal muscle, for example, long AR CAG repeats confer increased transcriptional activity in response to testosterone. In prostate cancer, short CAG repeats have been associated with a poor prognosis. This difference in skeletal muscle and prostate tissue could be explained by the tissue-dependent expression of co-factors that aid in activation of the androgen response element (ARE) [[2]McCoy J et al.Androgen receptor genetic variant predicts COVID-19 disease severity: a prospective longitudinal study of hospitalized COVID-19 male patients.J Eur Acad Dermatol. Venereol. 2021; 35: e15-e17Crossref PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar]. Baldassarri et al. suggested to initiate clinical trials of testosterone therapy in men expressing defective androgen signaling and having serologic evidence of hypoandrogenism [[1]Baldassarri M et al.Shorter androgen receptor polyQ alleles protect against life-threatening COVID-19 disease in European males.EBioMedicine. 2021; 103246Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (33) Google Scholar]. There is evidence that th lower AR activity caused by the longer CAG repeats is biologically compensated by increased testosterone levels. The response to testosterone therapy may be increased in patients with shorter CAG repeats, who have enhanced AR activity [[3]Tirabassi G Cignarelli A Perrini S et al.Influence of CAG repeat polymorphism on the targets of testosterone action.Int J Endocrinol. 2015; : 1-12Crossref Scopus (45) Google Scholar]. We suggest a more robust discussion in light of already published randomized clinical trials addressing the role of antiandrogen therapy in reducing disease severity by reducing expression of TMPRSS2. Randomized control trials with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and antiandrogens have shown accelerated viral clearance at 7 days and improvement in inflammatory markers in males infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared to males treated with a placebo as well as a reduction in COVID-19 symptoms and hospitalization rates among males [[4]Cadegiani FA McCoy J Gustavo Wambier C Goren A Early Antiandrogen Therapy With Dutasteride Reduces Viral Shedding, Inflammatory Responses, and Time-to-Remission in Males With COVID-19: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Interventional Trial (EAT-DUTA AndroCoV Trial –Biochemical).Cureus. 2021; https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13047Crossref Google Scholar]. A single case report gives much information about how external androgens seem to exacerbate COVID-19 symptoms, and how blocking the androgen receptor with a strong antiandrogen such as proxalutamide, seems to resolve COVID-19 symptoms within the first 24 hours of therapy [[5]Cadegiani F Lin EM Goren A Wambier CG. Potential risk for developing severe COVID-19 disease among anabolic steroid users.BMJ Case Report. 2021; 14e241572Crossref PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar]. We expect the publication of the results of the NCT04728802 (Proxalutamide Treatment for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients) soon, which may strongly discourage clinical trials with androgens in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We are thankful to the authors for their contribution to current literature, and we look forward to more studies investigating genetic and hormonal predictors of COVID-19 disease severity, as well as results of ongoing studies of antiandrogen therapy for COVID-19 by other groups. None Declared