Gender Differences In Susceptibility Research Articles

Prevalence of Dequervains Tenosynovitis in 20-40 Years Old Mobile Users

Background: The advent of mobile technology has revolutionized communication but has also introduced new health concerns, including DeQuervain's tenosynovitis (DQT), a condition affecting the thumb and wrist. Previous studies have reported varying prevalences of DQT among mobile users, with potential gender differences in susceptibility. This study seeks to add to the existing body of knowledge by exploring the prevalence of DQT among young adult mobile users and examining gender differences in the condition's occurrence. Objective: To determine the prevalence of DeQuervain's tenosynovitis among mobile users aged 20–40 years and to investigate whether there are significant gender differences in the susceptibility to the condition. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 100 participants, stratified by gender, who regularly use mobile devices. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires to assess mobile device usage patterns and symptoms of DQT. The Finkelstein test was used to diagnose DQT among participants. Statistical analysis included the calculation of prevalence rates, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to explore the relationship between mobile device usage and symptoms of DQT. Gender differences were assessed using chi-square tests. Results: Of the 100 participants, 52% tested positive for DeQuervain's tenosynovitis. Female mobile users demonstrated a higher prevalence (58%) compared to male mobile users (42%). The study also found a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.37, p = 0.001) between the extent of mobile device use and symptoms of DQT. The Quick DASH scores ranged from 12.0 to 45.00, with an average score of 17.75 ± 6.91, indicating variability in the impact of DQT on functional abilities. Conclusion: The study confirms a high prevalence of DeQuervain's tenosynovitis among young adult mobile users, with a significant gender difference indicating higher susceptibility among females. These findings underscore the need for ergonomic considerations and preventive measures in the use of mobile devices to mitigate the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Peculiarities of Fear Memory Disturbance in Male and Female <i>Disc1-</i>Q31L Mice

Depressive disorder is the most common psychopathology that can coexist with other mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder. It has been shown that there are gender differences in susceptibility to these psychopathologies. Mice of the mutant strain Disc1-Q31L are characterized by depressive-like behavior and disruption of the molecular pathways involved in the processes associated with fear memory. Gender and interstrain differences in the processes of learning and extinction of the conditioned response of passive avoidance were studied in male and female Disc1-Q31L mice and control C57BL/6 mice. It was shown that male and female mice of both strains learned equally well the conditioned response of passive avoidance, but differed in fear memory extinction, the ability to form a new safety memory trace in the previously dangerous dark compartment of the setup. However, there was a deficit in the extinction of the conditioned response of passive avoidance in C57BL/6 females compared to males, as well as interstrain differences in the dynamics of extinction in both females and males. Disc1-Q31L males reached full extinction later than C57BL/6 males, while Disc1-Q31L females did not exhibit extinction during the 24 days of the test. Thus, this work shows the interaction of the effect of gender and the Disc1-Q31L mutation on the processes of fear memory extinction.

MAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CHARACTEROLOGICAL FEATURES OF FORCED MIGRANTS: THE THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

The article examines the psychological characteristics of young people who drink alcohol, investigates the reasons for it and intensity of alcohol consumption. The propensity of young people to various addictions (addictive behaviour) and its connection with people's impulsivity are analysed. Ukrainian youth who have experience in alcohol drinking usually tried it firstly in adolescence. At the same time, the respondents most often did not mention problems with alcohol in their families, but a third of them recorded such problems, and almost half of the respondents noted that they had experienced physical or psychological violence from a drunken relative. Among the reasons for alcohol drinking, the following were predominant: as a way to distract from problems, improve mood, achieve courage or solve internal problems. Among young people, the strongest addictions were addictions to a healthy lifestyle, television, food or work. Alcohol, romantic relations, medicals, smoking, interpersonal relations and computer usage (internet, social networks) as types of addictions were at an average level. The least pronounced were religious, gambling and drug addictions. There were gender differences in susceptibility to addictions (addictive behaviour). Boys, compared to girls, had higher propensity to romantic relations, drugs and interpersonal relationships as addictions and lower propensity to addiction to medical substances. Peculiarities of personal impulsivity, its links with alcohol consumption were studied. Impulse control disorder influenced on youth's propensity to drinking, increasing alcohol drinking frequency. People with higher impulsivity, who were more prone to imbalance manifestations and more strongly influenced by external factors, were more vulnerable to the risk of developing alcohol and food addictions, addictions to a healthy lifestyle, smoking or interpersonal relationships.

Gender differences in susceptibility to smoking among high school students.

To analyse the degree of susceptibility to smoking according to gender in students between 12 and 16 years of age and study the role of factors associated with gender and the extended index of susceptibility to smoking. Cross-sectional study. Between November 2019 and March 2020, 12- to 16-year-old students were recruited from three educational centres in western Spain. Sociodemographic, environmental, social and personal variables were analysed. The value of the extended index of susceptibility to smoking was calculated, and the associations between the students' genders and smoking susceptibility were studied. Multinomial logistic regression was used to study associations between the independent variables and Expanded Susceptibility Index (ESSI) results. The roles of factors in this association were explored through mediation analysis. A total of 364 students participated in the study (53% females). A total of 79.3% of females and 61.4% of males presented a medium-high level of the extended index of susceptibility. Females reported greater cigarette use (28% vs. 12.3%), hookah (19.9% vs 9.9%) and alcohol consumption (20.7% risk alcohol consumption). They obtained higher scores on the impulsivity scale in the urgency domain and the negative affect scale. Regardless of other factors, females showed more than double the smoking susceptibility (aOR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.03-4.07, p=.041). Mediation analysis showed that gender had a total effect on the extended susceptibility index β=.023 (95% CI: 0.07-0.38, p=.01). The effect appeared to be mediated only by having smoking friends (0.08; 95% CI: 0.03-0.15, p=.001). The greater susceptibility to smoking found in females may be related to a greater influence of smoking among friends. These results show that smoking friends have a strong influence among adolescent females; therefore, developing preventive programmes with gender approaches aimed at reducing the influence of these environmental factors would be of interest.

Associations between indoor environment and lifestyles and sick building syndrome symptoms among adults in Taiyuan and Urumqi of China.

The complex and uncertain causes of sick building syndrome (SBS) have become one of the most challenging and hot issues worldwide. Studies on the correlation between indoor environment and SBS based on local characteristics are relatively limited in China. We studied typical SBS risk factors related to the indoor environment and lifestyle in two northern Chinese cities. The study population was drawn from parents of pre-school children in randomized daycare centers in Taiyuan, Shanxi, and Urumqi, Xinjiang, China (N=6838). Data on SBS and indoor environment were obtained from cross-sectional questionnaires. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated by multilevel logistic regression and adjusted using gender, atopy, own smoking, home size, and dampness index. Results showed that location, homeownership, year of construction completion, changes in the indoor environment (new furniture and decorations), and changes in indoor air (smoking, burning mosquito repellent and incense, cooking fuels including electricity, natural gas, coal, and wood) might contribute to different levels of SBS in Chinese adults, including eye, nasal, throat, dermal symptoms, and headache and tiredness. The results of the subgroup analysis suggest city and gender differences in susceptibility. Daily cleaning, window opening, and improved ventilation effectively improved SBS. People should improve their indoor environment and lifestyles based on sensitivity factors, gender, and geographic characteristics to reduce SBS risks.

Association of β-cell function and insulin resistance with pediatric type 2 diabetes among Chinese children

BACKGROUNDIn addition to insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion has recently been identified as a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Scarce clinical data exist for pediatric T2DM.AIMTo investigate the association of β-cell function and insulin resistance with pediatric T2DM in the first Chinese multicenter study.METHODSThis multicenter cross-sectional study included 161 newly diagnosed T2DM children and adolescents between January 2017 and October 2019. Children with normal glycemic levels (n = 1935) were included as healthy control subjects. The homeostasis models (HOMAs) were used to assess the β-cell function (HOMA2-%B) and insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) levels. The HOMA index was standardized by sex and age. We performed logistic regression analysis to obtain odds ratios (ORs) for T2DM risk using the standardized HOMA index, adjusted for confounding factors including sex, Tanner stage, T2DM family history, body mass index z-score, and lipid profile.RESULTSThe male-female ratio of newly diagnosed T2DM patients was 1.37:1 (OR = 2.20, P = 0.011), and the mean ages of onset for boys and girls were 12.5 ± 1.9 years and 12.3 ± 1.7 years, respectively. The prevalence of related comorbidities including obesity, elevated blood pressure, and dyslipidemia was 58.2%, 53.2%, and 80.0%, respectively. The T2DM group had lower HOMA2-%B levels (P < 0.001) and higher HOMA2-IR levels (P < 0.001) than the control group. Both the decrease in HOMA2-%B z-score (OR = 8.40, 95%CI: 6.40–11.02, P < 0.001) and the increase in HOMA2-IR z-score (OR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.60–2.02, P < 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of T2DM, and the decrease in HOMA2-%B z-score always had higher ORs than the increase in HOMA2-IR z-score after adjusting for confounding factors.CONCLUSIONBesides insulin resistance, β-cell function impairment is also strongly associated with Chinese pediatric T2DM. Gender difference in susceptibility and high comorbidities warrant specific T2DM screening and prevention strategies in Chinese children.

Do inflammaging and coagul-aging play a role as conditions contributing to the co-occurrence of the severe hyper-inflammatory state and deadly coagulopathy during COVID-19 in older people?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious respiratory disease, which has caused a pandemic that has become the world's leading public health emergency, threatening people of all ages worldwide, especially the elderly. Complications of COVID-19 are closely related to an upregulation of the inflammatory response revealed by the pro-inflammatory profile of plasma cytokines (to the point of causing a cytokine storm), which is also a contributing cause of the associated coagulation disorders with venous and arterial thromboembolisms, causing multiple organ dysfunction and failure. In severe fulminant cases of COVID-19, there is an activation of coagulation and consumption of clotting factors leading to a deadly disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). It is well established that human immune response changes with age, and also that the pro-inflammatory profile of plasma cytokines is upregulated in both healthy and diseased elderly people. In fact, normal aging is known to be associated with a subclinical, sterile, low-grade, systemic pro-inflammatory state linked to the chronic activation of the innate immune system, a phenomenon known as “inflammaging”. Inflammaging may play a role as a condition contributing to the co-occurrence of the severe hyper-inflammatory state (cytokine storm) during COVID-19, and also in other severe infections (sepsis) in older people. Moreover, we must consider the impact of inflammation on coagulation due to the crosstalk between inflammation and coagulation. The systemic inflammatory state and coagulation disorders are closely related, a phenomenon that here we call “coagul-aging” (Giunta S.). In this review, we discuss the various degrees of inflammation in older adults after being infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the adverse effects of aging on the inflammatory response and coagulation system.It is important to note that although there is no gender difference in susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, however, due to differences in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression, innate immunity, and comorbidities, older men exhibit more severe disease and higher mortality than older women.There are currently no FDA-approved specific antiviral drugs that can be used against the virus. Therapies used in patients with COVID-19 consist of remdesivir, dexamethasone, low-molecular-weight heparin, in addition to monoclonal antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in the early phase of the disease. Future pharmacological research should also consider targeting the possible role of the underlying scenario of inflammaging in healthy older people to prevent or mitigate disease complications. It is worth mentioning that some specific cytokine antagonists and traditional Chinese medicine preparations can reduce the elderly's inflammatory state.

Effects of Estrogens on the Actions of hERG

Regulation of cardiac ion channels by sex hormones accounts for gender-differences in susceptibility of Torsades de Pointes (TdP) arrhythmias associated with QT prolongation, that is: women are more prone to develop drug-induced arrhythmias which can lead cardiac sudden death. We previously found that β-estradiol (E2) directly interacts with a drug-binding site, F656 of the hERG channel, and alters the effect of a selective hERG blocker. Although these actions were observed for other estrogens, the effect of estrogen on other drugs has been unknown. In this study, to reveal impacts of the actions of estrogens on hERG currents, we compared the hERG screen data in the absence and the presence of estrogens using manual and automated patch-clamp experiments. HEK293 cells stably-expressing the hERG channels were seeded into 384-well plates, and were cultured in a steroid-free condition. Whole-cell hERG currents were recorded by the patch-clamp technique with SyncroPatch 384i (Nanion). Effects of 22 compounds were assessed by percentage changes of hERG peak tail currents with or without estrogens (E2, estrone sulfate; E1S, and ethynylestradiol; EE2) and by molecular docking simulations. Our hERG screening depicted that some estrogens showed distinct effects on respective blockers. Estrogens did not change the degree of hERG block by most of compounds. However, we have newly found that inhibitory action of one drug was increased by E2, and that of another drug was decreased by EE2. This means that specific combinations of an estrogen and a hERG blocker can alter the hERG blockade significantly. Indeed, some combinations resulted in larger hERG currents. This study suggests potential risks using estrogen therapy/medication and the necessity of taking sex hormonal differences into consideration for more accurate prediction of QT prolongation proclivity of drug candidates.

Patients with skin smear positive leprosy in Bangladesh are the main risk factor for leprosy development: 21-year follow-up in the household contact study (COCOA).

BackgroundLeprosy transmission is ongoing; globally and within Bangladesh. Household contacts of leprosy cases are at increased risk of leprosy development. Identification of household contacts at highest risk would optimize this process.MethodsThe temporal pattern of new case presentation amongst household contacts was documented in the COCOA (Contact Cohort Analysis) study. The COCOA study actively examined household contacts of confirmed leprosy index cases identified in 1995, and 2000–2014, to provide evidence for timings of contact examination policies. Data was available on 9527 index cases and 38303 household contacts. 666 household contacts were diagnosed with leprosy throughout the follow-up (maximum follow-up of 21 years). Risk factors for leprosy development within the data analysed, were identified using Cox proportional hazard regression.FindingsThe dominant risk factor for household contacts developing leprosy was having a highly skin smear positive index case in the household. As the grading of initial slit skin smear of the index case increased from negative to high positive (4–6), the hazard of their associated household contacts developing leprosy increases by 3.14 times (p<0.001). Being a blood relative was not a risk factor, no gender differences in susceptibility were found.InterpretationWe found a dominance of a single variable predicting risk for leprosy transmission–skin smear positive index cases. A small number of cases are maintaining transmission in the household setting. Focus should be performing contact examinations on these households and detecting new skin smear positive index cases. Conducting slit-skin smears on new cases is needed for predicting risk; such services need supporting. If skin smear positive cases are sustaining leprosy infection within the household setting, the administration of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) to household contacts as the sole intervention in Bangladesh will not be effective.

COVID-19: a gendered disease? Possible interpretations and knowledge limitations

Several important gender differences in susceptibility, clinical manifestation and response to treatments for a number of diseases are known since a long time, although they continue to be underestimated by a multiplicity of operators, especially men. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has provided a further evidence of the importance of gender medicine. The epidemiological analysis of COVID-19 data has highlighted the presence of multiple and important gender differences, with more unfavourable scenarios for the male gender. The mechanisms underlying these gender differences are varied (including socio-behavioral, immune and viral factors) and not yet fully clarified. A gender-based approach to clinical practice also in the context of this pandemic seems to be mandatory, as it could significantly contribute to health promotion by improving the effectiveness of diagnostic and/or therapeutic approaches and, therefore, leading to important benefits primarily for the patients but also for the sustainability of the National Health System.

The Effect of Cigarette Smoking during Pregnancy on Endocrine Pancreatic Function and Fetal Growth: A Pilot Study.

Cigarette smoking in pregnancy is a common cause of fetal growth restriction. We aimed to investigate endocrine pancreatic function of mother-infant dyads in relation to cigarette smoking, as a possible mechanism for the poor fetal growth. Prospective study of smoking mothers (10 cigarettes or more per day, self-reported to the midwife) and non-smoker control mothers during their first pregnancy. Insulin, glucose, C-peptide, HbA1C, fructosamine, prolactin, serotonin, and cortisol were measured in maternal blood at 24-26 weeks and in umbilical cord blood at birth. Cotinine was also measured in cord blood. Of 37 smokers and 36 non-smokers recruited, cord blood was obtainable from 38 babies (19 in each group). In utero cigarette exposure was associated with lower birthweight (3,035 ± 490 versus 3,405 ± 598 g, p = 0.005), with linear modeling of the smoking cohort showing a 41 g reduction for every increase of one cigarette smoked per day (95% CI -71 to -11 g, p = 0.010). There were no differences between groups in indices of maternal or perinatal endocrine pancreatic dysfunction. Heavier smoking independently correlated with higher maternal fasting levels of glucose (p = 0.044) and C-peptide (p = 0.011). We did not observe any significant associations between the daily number of cigarettes and any of the cord blood parameters. We also looked for differences between cohorts based on infant gender. Serotonin levels were higher in smoking mothers with male fetuses (p = 0.01 to p = 0.004). Endocrine pancreatic dysfunction does not appear to be a major contributing factor to nicotine-associated fetal growth restriction. The higher serotonin levels in smoking mothers carrying male infants is of uncertain significance but could be a manifestation of gender differences in susceptibility to the long-term effects of cigarette smoking.

Gender differences in susceptibility to schizophrenia: Potential implication of neurosteroids

Past research has indicated gender differences in the clinical characteristics and course of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated whether gender differences in the manifestation of schizophrenia are correlated with neurosteroids, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and pregnenolone. We further explored the potential relationship between the aforementioned neurosteroids and psychopathology. We recruited 65 schizophrenic patients (36 males and 29 females) and 103 healthy control subjects (47 males and 56 females) and obtained blood samples from the subjects in the morning while in a fasting state to determine the serum levels of DHEA, DHEA-S, and pregnenolone. The psychopathology and mood symptoms of patients with schizophrenia were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, respectively. Compared to the male control subjects, male patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower serum levels of DHEA and pregnenolone. In males with schizophrenia, the serum levels of DHEA and DHEA-S were associated with the age of onset and the duration of illness, while pregnenolone levels were associated with general symptoms of the PANSS. However, none of the neurosteroid levels were different between the female patients with schizophrenia and the female controls, and no significant correlation between neurosteroid levels and psychopathology evaluations was found among the schizophrenic females. Neurosteroids, including DHEA, DHEA-S, and pregnenolone, are involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in male patients, but not in female ones. Therefore, our findings suggest that neurosteroids may be associated with gender differences in susceptibility to schizophrenia.

The use of transdermal scopolamine to solve methodological issues raised by gender differences in susceptibility to simulator sickness

While car driving simulators are an essential research tool for assessing drivers’ behavior under safe and controlled conditions, gender differences in susceptibility to simulator sickness is a major drawback for the interpretation of the outcomes. The present study assessed the efficacy of a technological (Experiment 1; the use of motion-based driving simulator) and a pharmacological (Experiment 2; the use of transdermal scopolamine) solution to solve the methodological issues raised by gender differences in susceptibility to simulator sickness. In experiment 1, twenty-four women and twenty-four men performed two driving sessions lasting 16min within a high-fidelity motion-based driving simulator. In experiment 2, eight women and eight men were tested in the same simulator but received, in a counterbalanced between subjects design, either a placebo or a scopolamine patch 12h before the experimentation. In both experiments, simulator sickness questionnaire scores were computed before the first driving session and after the first and the second driving sessions. The results showed that only the pharmacological solution was efficient for solving these methodological issues. Indeed, whereas women experienced greater simulator sickness than men under placebo influence (p<0.01) there was no gender difference in susceptibility to simulator sickness following the transdermal scopolamine administration (p>0.05). As a whole, this demonstration paves the way toward better-controlled experiments. Moreover, beyond their implications in many research fields, the results from car driving simulator studies are of use to road safety policy makers. Thus, this approach allowing cancellation of gender differences in susceptibility to simulator sickness is of critical importance at a society level.

Sexual dimorphism of frailty and cognitive impairment: Potential underlying mechanisms (Review).

The aim of the present study was to assess systematically gender differences in susceptibility to frailty and cognitive performance decline, and the underlying mechanisms. A systematic assessment was performed of the identified reviews of cohort, mechanistic and epidemiological studies. The selection criteria of the present study included: i)Sexual dimorphism of frailty, ii)sexual dimorphism of subjective memory decline (impairment) and atrophy of hippocampus during early life, iii)sexual dimorphism of late‑onset Alzheimer's disease and iv)sexual dimorphism mechanisms underlying frailty and cognitive impairment. Males exhibit a susceptibility to poor memory performance and a severe atrophy of the hippocampus during early life and females demonstrate a higher prevalence for frailty and late‑life dementia. The different alterations within the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑gonadal/adrenal axis, particularly with regard to gonadal hormones, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone/sulfate‑bound dehydroepiandrosterone prior to and following andropause in males and menopause in females, serve important roles in sexual dimorphism of frailty and cognitive impairment. These endocrine changes may accelerate immunosenescence, weaken neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects, and promote muscle catabolism. The present study suggested that these age‑associated endocrine alterations interact with gender‑specific genetic and epigenetic factors, together with immunosenescence and iron accumulation. Environment factors, including psychological factors, are additional potential causes of the sexual dimorphism of frailty and cognitive impairment.

The Relationship of Gender in the Pattern and Risk of Acute Respiratory Infection among Infants in Rivers State, Nigeria

Statement of the problem: Gender had a much wider influence on disease than is usually acknowledged. More so, relative contributions of social and biological factors had not been clearly delineated for many diseases. Higher mortality rates are usually observed in male infants with lower acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and pneumonia particularly during the first month of life than the female infants due to immature lungs in males. The rate declines between 6 and 12 months after birth. The study aims to determine the existence and pattern of relationship between risk of ARI and gender. Methodology and theoretical orientation: The study was designed as a community based retrospective casecontrol study of 1,100 infants randomly selected from 12 communities out of 6 Local Government Areas of the 3 senatorial districts of Rivers State. A multistage random sampling technique was used in selecting the subjects up to the community level. Descriptive method was used to represent the characteristics of the subjects and the differences in ARI between male and female infants were tested in a bivariate logistics regression at 5% level of significance. Odds ratio (OR) were used to interpret the size effect measures of ARI on gender differences. Findings: A total of 275 Cases of ARI and 825 controls were included in the study. The ARI cases were found to be slightly higher in Female infants (27.8%) than in the Male infants (22.4%). For the Female infants, the odds for ARI were 1.3 times significantly higher compared to those of their Male counterparts (OR=1.32, p=0.048, 95% CI=1.003-1.735). Conclusion and significance: Understanding such differences between Male and Female infants will enhance the knowledge about the epidemiology, outcome and effectiveness in prevention and control of ARIs. Recommendation: Awareness creation on gender differences in susceptibility to acute-respiratory infection among infants requires sustainable attention.

Progesterone Treatment Shows Benefit in Female Rats in a Pediatric Model of Controlled Cortical Impact Injury.

PurposeWe recently showed that progesterone treatment can reduce lesion size and behavioral deficits after moderate-to-severe bilateral injury to the medial prefrontal cortex in immature male rats. Whether there are important sex differences in response to injury and progesterone treatment in very young subjects has not been given sufficient attention. Here we investigated progesterone’s effects in the same model of brain injury but with pre-pubescent females.MethodsTwenty-eight-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats received sham (n = 14) or controlled cortical impact (CCI) (n = 21) injury, were given progesterone (8 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle injections on post-injury days (PID) 1–7, and underwent behavioral testing from PID 9–27. Brains were evaluated for lesion size at PID 28.ResultsLesion size in vehicle-treated female rats with CCI injury was smaller than that previously reported for similarly treated age-matched male rats. Treatment with progesterone reduced the effect of CCI on extent of damage and behavioral deficits.ConclusionPre-pubescent female rats with midline CCI injury to the frontal cortex have reduced morphological and functional deficits following progesterone treatment. While gender differences in susceptibility to this injury were observed, progesterone treatment produced beneficial effects in young rats of both sexes following CCI.

Normative Importance of Money, Family Income, and Self-Esteem: A Multilevel Latent Modeling Analysis of Data from Chinese Early Adolescents

Money has become increasingly important in China since the transfer from a planned to a market economy. This study investigated whether the increased normative importance of money impairs Chinese adolescents’ self-esteem. National survey data from 11,819 adolescents (mean age, 14.29 years; 48 % girls) in 200 junior high schools in China were used to examine whether school-level importance of money was associated with self-esteem, and how adolescents’ family income and gender modified this association. Multilevel structure equation modeling analysis indicated that school-level importance of money was significantly and negatively related to individual students’ self-esteem after controlling for school- and individual-level family incomes. The negative effect of school-level average importance of money on self-esteem varied with Chinese adolescents’ subjective, but not objective, family income. Adolescents whose parents subjectively perceived that their families were poorer than others were more vulnerable to the negative effect of school-level average importance of money. No gender difference in susceptibility to the school-level average importance of money was observed. These findings suggest that Chinese adolescents’ self-esteem is contingent on social standards about money.

Dysfunction of intraflagellar transport-A causes hyperphagia-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome.

ABSTRACTPrimary cilia extend from the plasma membrane of most vertebrate cells and mediate signaling pathways. Ciliary dysfunction underlies ciliopathies, which are genetic syndromes that manifest multiple clinical features, including renal cystic disease and obesity. THM1 (also termed TTC21B or IFT139) encodes a component of the intraflagellar transport-A complex and mutations in THM1 have been identified in 5% of individuals with ciliopathies. Consistent with this, deletion of murine Thm1 during late embryonic development results in cystic kidney disease. Here, we report that deletion of murine Thm1 during adulthood results in obesity, diabetes, hypertension and fatty liver disease, with gender differences in susceptibility to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. Pair-feeding of Thm1 conditional knock-out mice relative to control littermates prevented the obesity and related disorders, indicating that hyperphagia caused the obese phenotype. Thm1 ablation resulted in increased localization of adenylyl cyclase III in primary cilia that were shortened, with bulbous distal tips on neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, an integrative center for signals that regulate feeding and activity. In pre-obese Thm1 conditional knock-out mice, expression of anorexogenic pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) was decreased by 50% in the arcuate nucleus, which likely caused the hyperphagia. Fasting of Thm1 conditional knock-out mice did not alter Pomc nor orexogenic agouti-related neuropeptide (Agrp) expression, suggesting impaired sensing of changes in peripheral signals. Together, these data indicate that the Thm1-mutant ciliary defect diminishes sensitivity to feeding signals, which alters appetite regulation and leads to hyperphagia, obesity and metabolic disease.

Secondary Traumatization in Mental Health Professionals

The issue of gender is largely ignored in studies of secondary traumatization (STS). This article addresses the question of gender differences in susceptibility to STS among clinicians who treat traumatized clients. It does so by systematically reviewing the very limited body of published findings on this subject to date. These are 10 published studies that measure STS by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and 4 studies that measure it using Stamm’s Professionals Quality of Life Survey (ProQOL), which queries PTSD symptomatology along with other difficulties that may arise in helping traumatized clients. Almost all the studies based on PTSD symptomatology show greater female susceptibility. Although the pattern is less clear in the ProQOL studies, the article argues that the research to date does not really show mixed findings, as is repeatedly claimed, but greater susceptibility among female clinicians. It also points out that the findings do not mean that male clinicians are unaffected by their traumatized clients and notes the various manifestations of their distress reported in the reviewed studies. The article offers a variety of explanations for the heightened female susceptibility.

It’s Not Just About the Money: Gender and Youth Migration from Rural China

Statistics suggest that young men and women in China migrate at almost equal numbers, but we know less about gender differences in the decision to migrate. We examine the factors associated with migration decisions and the rationales given by young migrants. Our results are consistent with previous figures and show no overall gender differences in susceptibility to migration. However, we find that a sibship structure operates differently on the decisions of boys and girls. We also found that young men were more likely to report that they had moved for purposes of starting a business or personal development than young women, while young women were more likely to report that they had moved to support the tuition of a family member. We argue that, despite the gender parity of the migrant youth population, gender shapes migration decisions by affecting the family circumstances and migration motivations of men and women.