Found Sex Differences Research Articles

Monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages as mediators of sex differences in allergic asthma

Abstract Allergic asthma is a chronic, immune-mediated lung disease mediated that affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Alveolar macrophages (AM) and monocytes are important cellular contributors to asthma. During allergic lung inflammation, AM polarize to a predominantly M2 phenotype. Recruited monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM), rather than resident AM, have been linked to worse allergic lung inflammation by inducing inflammatory cell recruitment, tissue remodeling and lung fibrosis. There are sex differences in the prevalence and severity of asthma. Women have worse symptoms, longer hospital stays, more asthma-related deaths, and they are more refractory to therapy. Here, we wanted to determine if differences in M2 polarization and chemokine receptors by monocytes and MDM from women compared to men could account for sex differences in asthma pathogenesis. We obtained blood monocytes from healthy and asthmatic female and male donors in parallel. We analyzed the expression of chemokine and IL-4/IL-13 receptors, and in M2 macrophage genes in monocytes and MDM stimulated with IL-4 and IL-13. We found robust differences in CCR2, CCR5, and γC between healthy and asthmatic donors. Moreover, we found sex differences in M2 gene expression between asthmatic women and men. Female cells, in general, induced higher M2 gene expression in response to IL-4. Female monocytes expressed more chemokine receptors that would facilitate recruitment to the asthmatic lung. Our findings provide novel insights into how sex affects monocyte and macrophage polarization in asthmatic patients. These sex differences may represent a new therapeutic avenue for managing pathogenic M2 polarization and preventing monocyte recruitment to the allergic lung.

Maternal Obesity Modulates Expression of Satb2 in Hypothalamic VMN of Female Offspring.

Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with a greater risk of poor health outcomes in offspring, including obesity, metabolic disorders, and anxiety, however the incidence of these diseases differs for males and females. Similarly, animal models of maternal obesity have reported sex differences in offspring, for both metabolic outcomes and anxiety-like behaviors. The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) is a brain region known to be involved in the regulation of both metabolism and anxiety, and is well documented to be sexually dimorphic. As the VMN is largely composed of glutamatergic neurons, which are important for its functions in modulating metabolism and anxiety, we hypothesized that maternal obesity may alter the number of glutamatergic neurons in the offspring VMN. We used a mouse model of a maternal high-fat diet (mHFD), to examine mRNA expression of the glutamatergic neuronal marker Satb2 in the mediobasal hypothalamus of control and mHFD offspring at GD17.5. We found sex differences in Satb2 expression, with mHFD-induced upregulation of Satb2 mRNA in the mediobasal hypothalamus of female offspring, compared to controls, but not males. Using immunohistochemistry, we found an increase in the number of SATB2-positive cells in female mHFD offspring VMN, compared to controls, which was localized to the rostral region of the nucleus. These data provide evidence that maternal nutrition during gestation alters the developing VMN, possibly increasing its glutamatergic drive of offspring in a sex-specific manner, which may contribute to sexual dimorphism in offspring health outcomes later in life.

Sex-specific associations with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in dementia with Lewy bodies

BackgroundDementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is more prevalent in men than in women. In addition, post-mortem studies found sex differences in underlying pathology. It remains unclear whether these differences are also present antemortem in in vivo biomarkers, and whether sex differences translate to variability in clinical manifestation. The objective of this study was to evaluate sex differences in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker concentrations (i.e., alpha-synuclein (α-syn), amyloid β1-42 (Aβ42), total tau (Tau), phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 (pTau)) and clinical characteristics in DLB.MethodsWe included 223 DLB patients from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort, of which 39 were women (17%, age 70 ± 6, MMSE 21 ± 6) and 184 men (83%, age 68 ± 7, MMSE 23 ± 4). Sex differences in CSF biomarker concentrations (i.e., α-syn, Aβ42, Tau, and pTau) were evaluated using age-corrected general linear models (GLM). In addition, we analyzed sex differences in core clinical features (i.e., visual hallucinations, parkinsonism, cognitive fluctuations, and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and cognitive test scores using age- and education-adjusted GLM.ResultsWomen had lower CSF α-syn levels (F 1429 ± 164 vs M 1831 ± 60, p = 0.02) and CSF Aβ42 levels (F 712 ± 39 vs M 821 ± 18, p = 0.01) compared to men. There were no sex differences for (p) Tau concentrations (p > 0.05). Clinically, women were older, had a shorter duration of complaints (F 2 ± 1 vs M 4 ± 3, p < 0.001), more frequent hallucinations (58% vs 38%, p = 0.02), and scored lower on MMSE and a fluency task (MMSE, p = 0.02; animal fluency, p = 0.006). Men and women did not differ on fluctuations, RBD, parkinsonism, or other cognitive tests.ConclusionsWomen had lower Aβ42 and α-syn levels than men, alongside a shorter duration of complaints. Moreover, at the time of diagnosis, women had lower cognitive test scores and more frequent hallucinations. Based on our findings, one could hypothesize that women have a more aggressive disease course in DLB compared to men. Future research should investigate whether women and men with DLB might benefit from sex-specific treatment strategies.

Perfluoroalkyl substances and anthropomorphic measures in children (ages 3–11 years), NHANES 2013–2014.

BackgroundPerfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are man-made compounds that are persistent in the environment and highly bioaccumulative in the body. Humans are exposed to a mixture of these substances, and the effects of these mixtures may be different than the effects noted for individual compounds. Prenatal exposure to PFAAs has been associated with decreased birth weight. The objective of the present study is to evaluate concurrent serum PFAA levels, as single compounds and as mixtures, in relation to anthropomorphic measures in children. MethodsUsing multivariate linear regression, we evaluated the association between single or PFAA mixtures and with height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and BMI (BMIZ) z-scores in children (ages 3–11 years) participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2014. Analyses were also stratified by sex. The PFAA mixture was based on relative potency factors express in terms of PFOA equivalency (CmixRPFi) or as molar sum of the PFAA congeners (∑molPFAA). ResultsThere was a statistically significant association of PFHxS and PFOS with decreased HAZ in boys. The significantly decreased HAZ in boys was also found when the PFAAs were analyzed as mixtures: CmixRPFi (β = −0.33; 95%CI: 0.63, −0.04) or ΣmolPFAAs (β = −0.30; 95%CI: 0.56, −0.04). In boys, PFHxS was also associated with decreased WAZ and BMIZ. The only statistically significant association found in girls was between decreased HAZ and PFHxS. ConclusionsWe found sex differences in the association between concurrent serum PFAA levels and anthropomorphic measures in children 3–11 years old. PFAA levels, as single congeners or as mixture concentrations were associated with decreased height-for-age z-score in boys.

Supplemental taurine during adolescence and early adulthood has sex-specific effects on cognition, behavior and neurotransmitter levels in C57BL/6J mice dependent on exposure window

The mammalian brain goes through final maturation during late adolescence and early adulthood with sex differences in timing. The key cellular processes, including changes in neurotransmitter receptor density and synaptic pruning, make this age uniquely vulnerable to neurotoxic insults. Teenagers and young adults are the major consumers of energy drinks, which contain high levels of taurine and caffeine. Taurine is one of the most abundant amino acids in the central nervous system, but the effects of supplemental taurine consumption during adolescence has not been well studied. We conducted an initial short-term exposure study with 0.12% taurine in drinking water and a long-term exposure dose-response study using 0.06 and 0.12% taurine in male and female C57BL/6J mice. We examined a broad range of cognitive functions and behaviors and measured neurotransmitter levels. We found no significant differences in anxiety, open field locomotor activity, or sensorimotor gating. However, we found impairments in novel object recognition and sex differences in Morris water maze. When taurine treatment stopped before behavioral experiments began, male mice had significant impairments in spatial learning and memory. In the dose-response study when taurine treatment continued throughout behavioral experiments, females had significant impairments. We also found sex differences in neurotransmitter levels with females having higher levels of glutamate, DOPAC and 5-HIAA. We conclude that both females and males are at risk from excess taurine consumption during final brain maturation.

Sex differences in cholinergic regulation of behavioral responses to rewarding and aversive stimuli

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health concern, characterized by dysregulation in drug taking, drug seeking, and compulsive behavior, as well as deficits in the valuation of drugs and alternative reinforcers. Determining neurobiological factors that contribute to individual variability of SUD is critical for identification of at‐risk populations as well as the use of preventative measures and personalized medicine in treatment. Women represent a particularly vulnerable population when it comes to the development and trajectory of SUD, therefore understanding the sex‐specific mechanisms underlying the differential control of reward and motivation will be critical for improving treatment outcomes in women. At the core of this SUD vulnerability is an enhancement in reward processing and motivation for both natural and drug rewards. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) have been directly linked to the control of reward‐related behavior for both natural and drug reinforcers, thus, here we aimed to understand how these receptor populations differentially control motivated behavior for positive and negative stimuli in a sex‐specific fashion. Mice were trained to acquire positive (response = reward delivery) and negative (response = shock removal) reinforcement in the presence of discrete antecedent auditory cues. We found sex differences in performance at baseline, with females showing reduced rates of acquisition for negative reinforcement and increase motivation for positive reinforcers. Next, the non‐selective nAChR antagonist, mecamylamine, was administered systemically to assess the effect of nAChRs on task performance. Blocking nAChRs reduced discrimination for auditory cues in both sexes regardless of what task type they were predicting, demonstrating that its effects on reinforcement are not stimulus specific. Further, while we saw sex‐differences in reinforcement at baseline, we observed no sex differences following mecamylamine treatment. Together this data shows that nAChR modulation of reward‐related behavior eliminates basal sex differences in reinforcement behavior and suggests that the cholinergic system may be a crucial factor in sex differences in motivation.Support or Funding Information Funding was provided by startup funds from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Department of Pharmacology and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (to E.S.C.) and the Vanderbilt University Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (to L.J.B.). Funds from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) DA042111 and DA048931(E.S.C), the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (to E.S.C), Whitehall Foundation (to E.S.C), and the Edward J Mallinckrodt Jr. Foundation (to E.S.C) also supported this work.

Association of Sex With Severity of Coronary Artery Disease, Ischemia, and Symptom Burden in Patients With Moderate or Severe Ischemia

While many features of stable ischemic heart disease vary by sex, differences in ischemia, coronary anatomy, and symptoms by sex have not been investigated among patients with moderate or severe ischemia. The enrolled ISCHEMIA trial cohort that underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) was required to have obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) for randomization. To describe sex differences in stress testing, CCTA findings, and symptoms in ISCHEMIA trial participants. This secondary analysis of the multicenter ISCHEMIA randomized clinical trial analyzed baseline characteristics of patients with stable ischemic heart disease. Individuals were enrolled from July 2012 to January 2018 based on local reading of moderate or severe ischemia on a stress test, after which blinded CCTA was performed in most. Core laboratories reviewed stress tests and CCTAs. Participants with no obstructive CAD or with left main CAD of 50% or greater were excluded. Those who met eligibility criteria including CCTA (if performed) were randomized to a routine invasive or a conservative management strategy (N = 5179). Angina was assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. Analysis began October 1, 2018. CCTA and angina assessment. Sex differences in stress test, CCTA findings, and symptom severity. Of 8518 patients enrolled, 6256 (77%) were men. Women were more likely to have no obstructive CAD (<50% stenosis in all vessels on CCTA) (353 of 1022 [34.4%] vs 378 of 3353 [11.3%]). Of individuals who were randomized, women had more angina at baseline than men (median [interquartile range] Seattle Angina Questionnaire Angina Frequency score: 80 [70-100] vs 90 [70-100]). Women had less severe ischemia on stress imaging (383 of 919 [41.7%] vs 1361 of 2972 [45.9%] with severe ischemia; 386 of 919 [42.0%] vs 1215 of 2972 [40.9%] with moderate ischemia; and 150 of 919 [16.4%] vs 394 of 2972 [13.3%] with mild or no ischemia). Ischemia was similar by sex on exercise tolerance testing. Women had less extensive CAD on CCTA (205 of 568 women [36%] vs 1142 of 2418 men [47%] with 3-vessel disease; 184 of 568 women [32%] vs 754 of 2418 men [31%] with 2-vessel disease; and 178 of 568 women [31%] vs 519 of 2418 men [22%] with 1-vessel disease). Female sex was independently associated with greater angina frequency (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.13-1.76). Women in the ISCHEMIA trial had more frequent angina, independent of less extensive CAD, and less severe ischemia than men. These findings reflect inherent sex differences in the complex relationships between angina, atherosclerosis, and ischemia that may have implications for testing and treatment of patients with suspected stable ischemic heart disease. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01471522.

The effects of combined intravenous cocaine and ethanol self-administration on the behavioral and amino acid profile of young adult rats.

Under paradigms of combined intravenous cocaine and ethanol self-administration, the effects on behavior have been poorly explored. Numerous studies have found sex differences in amino acids profile and behavioral responses to each drug, yet few have focused on the interactions between cocaine and ethanol. The main objective of this work was to explore the acquisition and maintenance of intravenous self-administration behavior with a combination of cocaine and ethanol in male and female young adult rats. Likewise, the amino acids profile in blood plasma was quantified 48 hours after the last self-administration session. Male and female 52 days old Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: i) saline control, ii) cocaine (1 mg/kg bodyweight/injection) and iii) cocaine and ethanol (1 mg + 133 mg/kg bodyweight/ injection). After 24 self-administration sessions carried out on a fixed-ratio-1 schedule, with a limit of 15 doses per session, 14 plasma amino acids were quantified by mean Capillary Electrophoresis technique. The curve of cocaine and ethanol combined self-administration was similar to that associated with cocaine administration alone, with females acquiring self-administration criterion before males. The self-administration of cocaine and ethanol altered the plasma concentration and relative ratios of the amino acid L-Tyrosine. In our intravenous self-administration model, females appeared more vulnerable to acquire abusive consumption of the cocaine and ethanol combination, which altered plasma L-Tyrosine levels.

Childhood wayfinding experience explains sex and individual differences in adult wayfinding strategy and anxiety

BackgroundAnyone who has ever found themselves lost while driving in an unfamiliar neighborhood or forgotten where they parked their car can appreciate the importance of being able to navigate their environment. Navigation, or wayfinding, is a large-scale spatial ability that involves keeping track of the relative positions of objects and features in space, which allows for determining the path to a goal location. Early experiences shape spatial skill development, and research finds sex differences in spatial behaviors from preschool through adulthood, with males consistently outperforming females. The basis for sex differences in spatial aptitude is still debated, but explanations include differences in childhood spatial experience, the use of strategies for solving large-scale spatial problems, and spatial anxiety. The current study seeks to understand childhood wayfinding factors that may influence sex and individual differences in wayfinding strategies and wayfinding anxiety in adulthood.MethodOne hundred fifty-nine undergraduate psychology students reported their childhood wayfinding experience (i.e., time spent outside, distance traveled), current use of wayfinding strategies (i.e., route strategy, orientation strategy), and current wayfinding anxiety and general anxiety levels.ResultsIndependent samples t tests revealed that, compared with females, males reported spending more time outside and traveling farther distances as children, having less current wayfinding anxiety and route strategy use, and having more current orientation strategy use. Mediation analyses found that distance traveled, but not time spent outdoors, during childhood mediated sex differences in route strategy use and wayfinding anxiety in adults, even when controlling for general anxiety. Furthermore, when controlling for participant sex and general anxiety, current wayfinding anxiety mediated the relationship between distance traveled during childhood and route strategy use in adults.ConclusionThe current findings provide potential environmental explanations for sex and individual differences in large-scale spatial behaviors, including wayfinding. Specifically, sex differences in early wayfinding experience may explain why males and females develop different strategies for navigating and different levels of wayfinding anxiety. Furthermore, regardless of sex, allowing children to explore and navigate their outdoor environments away from home may help lessen their fears about navigating and, in turn, improve the strategies they choose to traverse unfamiliar territories.

Sex differences in cognitive performance and style across domains in mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis).

Given that the sexes often differ in their ecological and sexual selection pressures, sex differences in cognitive properties are likely. While research on sexually dimorphic cognition often focuses on performance, it commonly overlooks how sexes diverge across cognitive domains and in behaviors exhibited during a cognitive task (cognitive style). We tested male and female western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in three cognitive tasks: associative learning (numerical discrimination), cognitive flexibility (detour task), and spatio-temporal learning (shuttlebox). We characterized statistical relationships between cognitive performances and cognitive style during the associative learning task with measures of anxiety, boldness, exploration, reaction time, and activity. We found sex differences in performance, cognitive style, and the relationships between cognitive domains. Females outperformed males in the spatio-temporal learning task, while the sexes performed equally in associate learning and cognitive flexibility assays. Females (but not males) exhibited a 'fast-exploratory' cognitive style during associative learning trials. Meanwhile, only males showed a significant positive relationship between domains (associative learning and cognitive flexibility). We propose that these sexually dimorphic cognitive traits result from strong sexual conflict in this taxon; and emphasize the need to explore suites of sex-specific cognitive traits and broader comparative work examining sexual selection and cognition.

Spanish affective normative data for 1,406 words rated by children and adolescents (SANDchild).

Most research on the relationship between emotion and language in children relies on the use of words whose affective properties have been assessed by adults. To overcome this limitation, in the current study we introduce SANDchild, the Spanish affective database for children. This dataset reports ratings in the valence and the arousal dimensions for a large corpus of 1406 Spanish words rated by a large sample of 1276 children and adolescents from four different age groups (7, 9, 11 and 13 years old). We observed high inter-rater reliabilities for both valence and arousal in the four age groups. However, some age differences were found. In this sense, ratings for both valence and arousal decreased with age. Furthermore, the youngest children consider more words to be positive than adolescents. We also found sex differences in valence scores since boys gave higher valence ratings than girls, while girls considered more words to be negative than boys. The norms provided in this database will allow us to further extend our knowledge on the acquisition, development and processing of emotional language from childhood to adolescence. The complete database can be downloaded from https://psico.fcep.urv.cat/exp/files/SANDchild.xlsx .

Effect of Sex Differences on Computed Tomography Findings in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: A Multicenter Study

BackgroundThe survival of women with cystic fibrosis (CF) is lower than that of men by approximately 5 years. While various factors have been put forward to account for this discrepancy, no specific reasons have been established. Our hypothesis was that anatomical-structural involvement is more pronounced in women with CF than in men and that this is reflected in thoracic HRCT findings. Material and methodsWe performed a prospective multicentre study, in which adult patients were consecutively included over 18 months. Chest HRCT was performed, and findings were scored by 2 thoracic radiologists using the modified Bhalla system. We also studied respiratory function, applied the CFQR 14+ questionnaire, and collected clinical variables. ResultsOf the 360 patients followed up in the participating units, 160 were eventually included. Mean age was 28 years, and 47.5% were women. The mean±SD global score on the modified Bhalla score was 13.7±3.8 in women and 15.2±3.8 in men (p=0.024). The highest scores were observed for sacculations, bronchial generations, and air trapping in women. Women had lower BMI, %FEV1, %FVC, and %DLCO. Similarly, the results for the respiratory domain in CFQR 14+ were worse in women, who also had more annual exacerbations. ConclusionsThis is the first study to provide evidence of the implication of sex differences in HRCT findings in patients with CF. Women with CF present a more severe form of the disease that results in more frequent exacerbations, poorer functional and nutritional outcomes, deterioration of quality of life, and greater structural damage.

Sex Differences in the Association between Local Government Spending and Mortality: Evidence from Tennessee.

A growing body of research has demonstrated the effect of local government spending on health outcomes; however, the effect of spending on different demographic groups is unclear. We combined national and local data to examine the impact of public spending on mortality rates in Tennessee. Within-between random effects models to examine the relation between county-level spending and mortality rates. We found a significant association between per capita library and kindergarten through grade 12 education spending and mortality outcomes. We also found sex differences in the effects of per capita public health spending and highway spending. This study provides further evidence that local government spending plays a role in addressing and improving population health and suggests that public spending can have differential effects within a population.

Multidimensional latent structure of risk-related phenotypes in healthy young adults.

Risk-taking behavior can result in a range of maladaptive behaviors such as illicit substance use, unsafe driving, and high-risk sexual behavior. Perception of risk and preference for engaging in risky behaviors have been measured using both self-report measures and a range of behavioral tasks designed for the purpose, and these may predict future risk-taking behavior. However, the interrelationships between these measures and the latent constructs underlying them are poorly understood. In the present study, we examined data from over 1,000 men and women who completed measures of risk-related behaviors, including self-reports of perception of risk, propensity to engage in risky behaviors, and incentivized performance on tasks that involve risk. We conducted principal component analyses (PCAs) to understand the underlying latent structure of these measures. A PCA with the full sample revealed 5 distinct components, corresponding to measures of (a) health/ethical risks, (b) discounting of uncertain rewards, (c) risk of personal finances, (d) preferences in recreational hobbies and social interactions that involve risk, and (e) behavior involving risks in interpersonal interactions. Although we found sex differences on several of the measures, the sex-adjusted PCA components were similar to those of the unadjusted full sample PCA. These findings add to a growing literature revealing different components of the broad category of risk perception and risk-taking behaviors. A better understanding of the multidimensionality of risk preference will help lay the foundation for more refined measures, develop better predictors of future risk-taking behavior, and ultimately to study the genetic or other biological basis of risk-taking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The effect of sex on immune responses to a homocitrullinated peptide in the DR4-transgenic mouse model of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is more common and severe in women compared to men. Both women and men with RA express autoantibodies to post-translationally modified antigens, including citrullinated and homocitrullinated proteins or peptides. These autoantibodies are strongly linked with the HLA-DR4 gene. The objective of this study was to determine sex differences in immune responses to homocitrullinated antigens. We used a humanized animal model of RA, DR4-transgenic mice and immunized them with a homocitrullinated peptide called HomoCitJED. Immune responses in these mice were measured for splenocyte proliferation by tritiated thymidine incorporation, serum autoantibody production by ELISA and cytokine levels by multiplex. We found that T cell and antibody responses to homocitrullinated antigens were similar in male and female mice. However, we found sex differences in serum cytokine profiles with female mice having higher ratio of IL-1α to IL-5, suggesting imbalances in immune regulation. This is the first study to report that immune responses to homocitrullinated antigens can be differentiated by sex.

Higher-order coping strategies: Who uses them and what outcomes are linked to them

Many roads to psychological health exist, yet most are likely to conform to systematic, higher-order patterns. In a representative (on age and sex) sample of Australians (N = 1,232) and a Mechanical Turk sample from the USA (N = 602), secondary principle components analyses were conducted on two related measures of lower-order coping strategies (e.g., denial, active planning) revealing three similar (but not identical), higher-order coping strategies, which we called constructive, destructive, and social. Individual differences in these higher-order coping strategies were assessed in relation to personality (e.g., the Big Five, the Dark Triad) and outcomes (i.e., resilience, hopelessness, interpersonal trust, alcohol intake, general health, life satisfaction, and future discounting) in the full sample and in men and women. We found that constructive and destructive coping were rather opposite forms of coping as seen in the nomological network associated with them and modest, negative correlations between them. In contrast, social coping stood slightly on its own vis-à-vis correlations with extraversion, narcissism, and interpersonal trust. We also found sex differences in the higher-order coping strategies which were often mediated by individual differences in personality. Results are discussed in terms of learning, biological, clinical, and evolutionary models of personality and sex differences.

Age-stratified sex differences in polysomnographic findings and pharyngeal morphology among children with obstructive sleep apnea

Background: Childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has important implications for growth, learning, behavior, cognition and cardiovascular health as well as snoring and OSA in adulthood. In this study, we elucidated the sex differences in polysomnographic (PSG) findings and pharyngeal radiographic data in pediatric OSA patients. Methods: Sixty three children (age between 3 and 15 years old) with OSA [defined as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥1/h by polysomnography] were enrolled. Lateral neck radiographs were obtained from the patients. All subjects were separated by age: pre-adolescent group (3–8 years old) and adolescent group (9–15 years old). Results: Overall, 45 patients in the pre-adolescent group (33 boys and 12 girls) and 18 patients in the adolescent group (10 boys and 8 girls) were enrolled, and sex differences were compared in each group. We found sex differences in craniofacial features and severity of OSA in the adolescent group, in which girls with OSA had more upper airway space, in addition to lower AHI, lower 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI), higher minimum SO 2 and better sleep efficiency than the boys. Conclusions: The present study found revealed sex differences in pediatric OSA patients in the adolescent group. Girls in the adolescent group had more upper airway space in addition to lower AHI, lower 3% ODI, higher minimum SO 2 and better sleep efficiency than boys.

Active Commute in Relation to Cognition and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Future Recommendations.

Active commuting to school (ACS) is an important source of physical activity among children. Recent research has focused on ACS and its benefits on cognition and academic achievement (AA), factors important for success in school. This review aims to synthesize literature on the relationship between ACS and cognition or AA among children and adolescents. Peer-reviewed articles in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library assessing ACS with cognition and/or AA among children, until February 2019, were selected. Twelve studies across nine countries (age range 4–18.5 years) were included. One study used accelerometers, whereas all others used self-report measures of ACS. A wide range of objective assessments of cognitive functioning and AA domains were used. Five among eight studies, and four among six found a positive relationship between ACS and cognitive or AA measure, respectively. Four studies found dose–response relationships, and some studies found sex differences. The quantitative analysis found that ACS was not significantly associated with mathematics score (odds ratio = 1.18; CI = 0.40, 3.48). Findings are discussed in terms of methodological issues, potential confounders, and the strength of the evidence. Future studies should conduct longitudinal studies and use objective measures of ACS to understand this relationship further.

How does cognitive performance change in relation to seasonal and experimental changes in blood glucose levels?

In some species, cognition can change flexibly in response to environmental changes. These changes can be adaptive or can result from physiological constraints, such as when energy availability decreases seasonally. Here, we investigated: (1) how cognitive performance changes between seasons that differ significantly in food availability; (2) how these changes are related to environmentally induced physiological changes (blood glucose); and (3) whether experimental increase in blood glucose levels during the dry season impacts cognitive performance. We studied 93 free-ranging African striped mice, Rhabdomys pumilio, in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa during the hot summer dry season with low food availability, and the cold wet winter with high food availability. Striped mice had reduced blood glucose levels during the food-restricted dry season. We measured their attention using the standardized orientation response test and their spatial memory using the Barnes maze test. Neither attention nor spatial memory changed seasonally. However, high basal and experimentally increased blood glucose levels impaired cognition in most cases. We also found sex differences in cognitive performance. Even though food was restricted in the dry season and blood glucose levels were reduced, cognition was not affected by these changes, indicating cognitive resilience, which represents an evolved adaptation to cope with seasonally changing energy supply in striped mice.

Sex differences in brain correlates of STEM anxiety

Anxiety is known to dysregulate the salience, default mode, and central executive networks of the human brain, yet this phenomenon has not been fully explored across the STEM learning experience, where anxiety can impact negatively academic performance. Here, we evaluated anxiety and large-scale brain connectivity in 101 undergraduate physics students. We found sex differences in STEM-related and clinical anxiety, with longitudinal increases in science anxiety observed for both female and male students. Sex-specific relationships between STEM anxiety and brain connectivity emerged, with male students exhibiting distinct inter-network connectivity for STEM and clinical anxiety, and female students demonstrating no significant within-sex correlations. Anxiety was negatively correlated with academic performance in sex-specific ways at both pre- and post-instruction. Moreover, math anxiety in male students mediated the relation between default mode-salience connectivity and course grade. Together, these results reveal complex sex differences in the neural mechanisms driving how anxiety is related to STEM learning.