Male Group Research Articles

Dietary Lysine Requirements of Older Adults Stratified by Age and Sex

BackgroundCurrent recommendation for lysine in older adults, 30 mg/kg/d, is based on young adult data. Evidence suggests that amino acid requirements may differ between young and old adults with both sex and age having an effect in the elderly. ObjectivesThis study aimed to define the lysine requirements in healthy older adults using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method with L-[1-13C] phenylalanine as the indicator and to compare the derived estimates based on age: 60–69 y and >70 y. MethodsFourteen healthy males and 16 healthy females [>60 y, body mass index (BMI) = 26.3 kg/m2] were randomly assigned to receive 3–7 lysine intakes from 10 to 80 mg/kg/d. Subjects were adapted to a standard liquid diet providing 1.0 g/kg/d protein and adequate energy, for 2 d, with indicator oxidation measurements performed on day 3. The rate of release of 13CO2 from the oxidation of L-[1-13C] phenylalanine was measured in breath. A 2-phase linear mixed-effect model, and parametric bootstrap were used to determine mean lysine requirements and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The overlap of the 95% CI between the 2 age groups were used to compare the requirement estimates. The null hypothesis was accepted if the interval contained zero. ResultsThe mean and upper 95% CI of the lysine requirement for females were 32.9 and 40.9 and 46.2 and 53.7 mg/kg/d for those aged 60–69 y and >70 y, respectively. The mean and upper 95% CI of the lysine requirement for the 2 groups of males were not different so was combined to yield a mean and 95% CI of 32.2 and 38.2 mg/kg/d. ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the lysine requirement in adults aged >60 y. These results provide a basis from which the adequacy of diets to meet lysine needs of older adults can be assessed.The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02008955 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02008955).

Perceived Occupational Stress among Male and Female Teachers Working in +2 Private Schools in Darbhanga District, India

The present study was aimed at studying the perceived occupational stress among male and female teachers working in +2 private schools with special reference to Darbhanga district, India. It is undoubtedly fact that in recent years our private educator’s organizations and other groups have sought to improve the public image of the teaching occupation so as to attract more people in to the occupation. Hence, the present piece of research work is of immense value on the problem mentioned above. For the present investigation, total sample consisted of one hundred sixty (N=160) comprising male (n=80) and female (n=80) teachers working in +2 Private Schools were randomly selected from different private schools of Darbhanga district. Data were collected through questionnaire schedules on the sample. Having obtained the data on the items of the schedules, individual scores were summed up and tabulated according to procedure of the scales for giving statistical treatment. Results indicated the fact that there is a significant difference between male and female teachers working in +2 private Schools of Darbhanga district in their degree of perceived reactions on occupational stress as t-value has been found statistically significant at .05 but all the teachers reported more or less moderate level of occupational stress. On the other hand, no significant difference has been found between the groups of males and females in terms of their degree of the dimensions of occupational stress, viz. unreasonable groups and political pressures, under participation, intrinsic impoverishment, low status, and unprofitability. although few dimensions of occupational stress out of twelve dimensions viz., role overload, role ambiguity, responsibility for persons, poor peer relations and strenuous working conditions have been found as the predictors between male and female teachers as these dimensions has been found statistically significant at .01 and ,05 level of confidence although both .

Tribal differences in hypertension and cholesterol profiles in Aceh, Indonesia.

One of the factors that contributes to coronary heart disease and stroke is high blood pressure, or hypertension. Hypertension is influenced by race and sex. The objective of this study was to assess the hypertensive population in Aceh by tribal community and to examine the relationship between cholesterol history and hypertension. This study used incidental sampling as a non-probability sampling method, in which 152 participants were evaluated for the profile of hypertension with a history of cholesterol. Blood pressure was measured using a blood pressure measuring device. HDL, LDL, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels were measured using LIPID Pro. Data analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests with p<0.05. The study population (N=152) consisted of 81 males (53%) and 71 females (47%) across the ethnicities of Aceh (64:42%), Gayo (19:13%), Alas (33:22%), and Aneuk Jamee (36:24%). In the male group, hypertension was associated with total cholesterol (r=0.03; p=0.78), HDL (r=0.20; p=0.07), and LDL (r=0.21; p=0.07) levels, whereas in the female group, hypertension was primarily correlated with LDL levels (r=0.20; p=0.09). In general, hypertension in males and females in the four tribes in Aceh is associated with HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol levels.

ANGIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY ECTASIA COMPARED WITH STENOTIC CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and coronary artery stenotic disease (CASD) represent distinct pathologies of the coronary arteries with remarkable clinical and angiographic features. Objectives: The study aims to find the angiographic features of patients with coronary artery ectasia compared with stenotic coronary artery disease. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Prime Teaching Hospital Peshawar from April 2023 to March 2024. Data were collected from 185 patients. Patients with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary intervention were excluded from the study. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking history and presenting symptoms, were collected from electronic medical records. Results: Data were collected from 185 patients. The mean age of patients in the CAE group was 58.5 ± 8.3 years, and the CAD group was 63.2 ± 7.9 years. 55.6% of the male group was in CAE and 87% in the CAD group. Out of 185, 33% suffered from hypertension in CAE and 81.4% in the CAD group. The most common comorbidity was hyperlipidemia in the CAD group (72.9%). Stable angina was present in 44.4% of CAE and 60.7% of the CAD group. Unstable angina is most common in the CAD group (21.4%), and AMI was 10.7% and 11.1% in the CAD and CAE groups, respectively. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) was most common in the CAD group, which was 75%. Conclusion: It is concluded that coronary artery ectasia (CAE) presents distinct angiographic and clinical features compared to stenotic coronary artery disease (CAD), including localised or diffuse dilatation of coronary arteries, a higher prevalence of silent ischemia, and lower utilisation of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Age, sex and breed effect on laboratory parameters in natural Babesia canis infection

We tested the hypothesis that age, breed, and sex are related to hematology, biochemistry, acute phase proteins (APPs), seroreactivity and level of parasitemia in dogs with an acute phase response (APR) due to Babesia canis infection. The study enrolled 61 privately owned dogs that naturally acquired B. canis infection. Groups were formed according to the age: young dogs less than one year, and adult dogs more than one year old. Moreover, the group of males was compared to females and purebred to mixed breed dogs. Seroreactivity was tested with immunofluorescence antibody test, level of parasitemia with real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), hematology, and biochemistry with automatic analyzers, serum amyloid A with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, fibrinogen with heat precipitation and ceruloplasmin and paraoxonase-1 with manual spectrophotometric methods. For protein separation agarose gel electrophoresis was used. The main changes in the whole population of B. canis-infected dogs were fever, pancytopenia, and change in APPs level. One-third of young, and 96% of adult dogs were seropositive (P < 0.001). The level of parasitemia was higher in the young dogs (P < 0.001). Erythroid lineage parameters (P < 0.01), and leukocytes (P < 0.05) were lower in the young, when compared to the adult dogs. Young dogs had lower total globulins (P < 0.001), β- and γ-globulins (P < 0.001), and higher α-globulins (P = 0.022) than adult dogs. Young dogs had higher concentrations of phosphate (P = 0.003) and cholesterol (P < 0.001) and lower amylase (P = 0.014) and lipase activity (P = 0.020) than adult ones. Male dogs had lower neutrophil count than females (P = 0.035), and purebred dogs had more band neutrophils than mixed breed dogs (P = 0.004). In conclusion, dogs with natural Babesia canis infection at a young age have more severe anemia and APR including leukopenia than adults. Male and purebred dogs might also have more severe APR than females and mix-breeds, as they have more pronounced changes related to the myeloid lineage.

Prevalence of sacral spina bifida occulta with lumbosacral transitional vertebra in a skeletal collection of a South African population

In this study, complete Sacral Spina Bifida Occulta (SSBO) and Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae (LSTV) with their various subtypes based on the Castellvi classification were appraised in a South African population sample. Adult human skeletons representing the three largest South African population groups, namely South African African, South African of Mixed Ancestry; South African of European descent; both biological sexes; and age range between 21 and 90 years at death were evaluated for both spinal anomalies.The number of preselected skeletons (n = 1798) from the largest collection in Africa of modern human skeletons (N = 2630) provided a strong representative South African sample. The observational study looked at lumbar and sacral vertebrae in each skeleton and any anomalous features were captured in an Excel spreadsheet.Complete SSBO with no LSTV was observed in eight subjects (8/1798; 0.44 %), while incomplete SSBO was observed in one subject (1/1798; 0.06 %), and one individual (1/1798; 0.06 %) exhibiting complete SSBO with LSTV (Type IIIB, Castellvi classification). No significant differences were observed when comparing the prevalence of the LSTV with SSBO in the male and female groups of the different population affinity groups. The number of individuals with SSBO was found in more South African Africans than in the other population groups with no significant difference between groups.This research revealed the simultaneous presence of two morphological anomalies (SSBO and LSTV) at the same vertebral segment that could result in low back pain. Variant morphology awareness is crucial for clinicians across all modalities to prevent misdiagnosis, leading to better treatment plans, and avoiding injury.

The Genetic Variants of Long Noncoding RNA MEG3 and Its Association to the Clinical Features of Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) and the clinical manifestations of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods Five loci of MEG3 SNPs including rs4081134 (G/A), rs10144253 (T/C), rs7158663 (G/A), rs3087918 (T/G) and rs11160608 (A/C) were genotyped by TaqMan allelic discrimination in 457 non-DR patients and 280 DR individuals. Results The distribution frequency of MEG3 SNP rs7158663 GA (AOR: 0.683, 95% CI: 0.478-0.975, p = 0.036) and MEG3 SNP rs7158663 GA + AA (AOR: 0.686, 95% CI: 0.487-0.968, p = 0.032) were significantly lower in the DR group. And the MEG3 SNP rs7158663 GA + AA (AOR: 0.610, 95% CI: 0.377-0.985, p = 0.043) demonstrated a significantly lower distribution frequency in the male DR group. Besides, the DR patients with MEG3 SNP rs7158663 GA + AA genotype showed a significantly lower HbA1c level than the DR patients with MEG3 SNP rs7158663 GG genotype (7.29 ± 1.23 versus 7.74 ± 1.49, p = 0.013). Moreover, in the analysis using data from gene expression data series database, a higher MEG3 level was significantly correlated to a lower miR-182 level in the database (p = 0.0114). Conclusions In this study, the distribution frequency of MEG3 SNP rs7158663 GA + AA genotype was lower in DR, while the DR would develop under lower HbA1c level in DM patients with this MEG3 SNP variant.

Assessment of Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation During Long-Term Exposure to High Altitude in Normal Subjects by Ultrasonography.

To evaluate changes in dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) during short-term and long-term exposure to high altitude with ultrasonography, and also study the sex differences in the response of CA to altitude. We assessed the differences in dynamic CA and measured with Doppler ultrasound of the bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA), vertebral artery (VA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the values of basic information within 48 hours and at 2 years after arrival at Tibet in 65 healthy Han young Chinese volunteers, meanwhile, we compared the resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of the right MCA at inhale oxygen 8 minutes when a newcomer with 2 years after arrival at Tibet. With 2 years of altitude exposure, the SaO2 of all subjects was above 90%, the mean PEF, DAP, and HR values decreased, HGB increased compared within 48 hours in same-gender groups. Comparisons of cerebral hemodynamics between before 2 years and after 2 years within male and female groups, the mean RI and PI values of bilateral MCA after 2 years were significantly higher than before 2 years, at the same time, the mean RI and PI values of bilateral ICA were significant differences (P < .05) between male groups, with regard to female groups, showed that the mean RI and PI values of bilateral VA were significant differences (P < .05). Comparisons of Right MCA hemodynamics between after oxygen uptake 8 minutes and 2 years, the mean RI and PI values were no significant difference within male and female groups (P > .05). Acute mountain sickness could result from an alteration of dynamic autoregulation of cerebral blood flow, but the impaired autoregulation may be corrected with the extension of time, furthermore, the response of CA to altitude in males and females are different.

Age-related enhancement of the association between episodic memory and gray matter volume in medial temporal and frontal lobes

BackgroundEpisodic memory (EM) deteriorates as a result of normal aging as well as Alzheimer’s disease. The neural underpinnings of such age-related memory impairments in older individuals are not well-understood. Although previous research has unveiled the association between gray matter volume (GMV) and EM in the elderly population, such findings exhibit variances across distinct age cohorts. Consequently, an investigation into the dynamic evolution of this relationship with advancing age is imperative.ResultThe present study utilized a sliding window approach to examine how the correlation between EM and GMV varied with age in a cross-sectional sample of 926 Chinese older adults. We found that both verbal EM (VEM) and spatial EM (SEM) exhibited positive correlations with GMV in extensive areas primarily in the temporal and frontal lobes and that these correlations typically became stronger with older age. Moreover, there were variations in the strength of the correlation between EM and GMV with age, which differed based on sex and the specific type of EM. Specifically, the association between VEM and GMVs in the insula and parietal regions became stronger with age for females but not for males, whereas the association between SEM and GMVs in the parietal and occipital regions became stronger for males but not for females. At the brain system level, there is a significant age-related increase in the correlations between both types of EM and the GMV of both the anterior temporal (AT) system and the posterior medial (PM) system in male group. In females, both types of EM show stronger age-related correlations with the GMV of the AT system compared to males.ConclusionsOur study revealed a significant positive correlation between GMV in most regions associated with EM and age, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes. This discovery offers new insights into the connection between brain structure and the diminishing episodic memory function among older individuals.

Investigating the Relationship between Telomere-Related Gene Variants and Leukocyte Telomere Length in Optic Neuritis Patients.

Optic neuritis (ON) is a condition marked by optic nerve inflammation due to various potential triggers. Research indicates a link between telomeres and inflammation, as studies demonstrate that inflammation can lead to increased telomere shortening. Aim: We aimed to determine the associations of telomere-related telomeric repeat binding factor 1 (TERF1) rs1545827, rs10107605, and telomeric repeat binding factor 2 (TERF2) rs251796 polymorphisms and relative leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with the occurrence of ON. Methods: In this research, a total of 73 individuals diagnosed with optic neuritis (ON) were studied and the control group included 170 individuals without any health issues. The DNA samples were obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes, which were purified using the DNA salting-out technique. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assessed single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and relative leukocyte telomere lengths (LTL). The data obtained were processed and analyzed using the "IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0" program. Results: Our study revealed the following results: in the male group, TERF2 rs251796 (AA, AG, and TT) statistically significantly differed between the long and short telomere group, with frequencies of 65.7%, 22.9%, and 2.0% in long telomeres, compared to 35.1%, 56.8%, and 8.1% in the short telomere group (p = 0.013). The TERF2 rs251796 CT genotype, compared to CC, under the codominant genetic model, was associated with 4.7-fold decreased odds of telomere shortening (p = 0.005). Meanwhile, CT+TT genotypes, compared to CC under the dominant genetic model, were associated with 3.5-fold decreased odds of telomere shortening (p = 0.011). Also, the CT genotype, compared to CC+TT, under the overdominant genetic model, was associated with 4.4-fold decreased odds of telomere shortening (p = 0.004). Conclusions: The current evidence may suggest a protective role of TERF2 rs251796 in the occurrence of ON in men.

Killing off the good little boy: transition as a solution to the problems of separation from the primary object

ABSTRACT This paper explores clinical work concerning a group of gender-questioning natal males who experienced physical difficulties in childhood. The author argues that these individuals develop a transgender (trans) identity as a defence mechanism against the psychological challenges associated with development, particularly the struggles of forming a distinct mind and identity. Anxieties related to physical health may have contributed to the formation of an anxious attachment to their primary caregiver, perceived as intrusive and demanding. Moreover, these individuals struggle to identify with their fathers, often experiencing them as distant, absent, or unsupportive of their relationship with the mother or other primary caregiver, thereby hindering separation from the primary attachment figure. These early experiences may lead to difficulties in acknowledging and owning their evolving sexuality and aggression, as well as in bearing the necessary guilt associated with separating from the primary caregiver. Consequently, the individual may fantasise about relinquishing identification with an idealised version of themselves and replacing it with a liberated version capable of living autonomously. Through a composite case, the paper illustrates how these conflicts manifest in the therapeutic setting through transference dynamics. Themes explored include gender dysphoria, confusion, adolescence, and transition.

Narcissism and Its Association with Neurotic Tendencies Among Students at University Technical Education Colleges in Jordan

The goals of this research are to determine the degree of narcissism among students at Jordanian university technical education colleges, investigate the connection between narcissism and neurotic tendencies among the study participants, and determine whether there are differences in the subjects' levels of narcissism based on the gender variable (male versus female student group). Additionally, the study's psychometric and demographic variables will be used to predict the levels of narcissism and neurotic tendencies. A total of (362) students participated in this study during the second semester of the academic year (2023/2024) and were selected randomly. Two scales were applied, namely, the narcissism scale and the neurotic tendencies scale. The findings revealed a medium level (68%) of narcissism among the subjects. A statistically significant and positive correlation between narcissism and neurotic tendencies was observed. Furthermore, in narcissism, statistically significant gender differences were evident. Given the literature and the study results, the researcher ultimately suggested a set of practical practices.

Protein Intake and Physical Activity Levels as Determinants of Sarcopenia Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Community screening for sarcopenia is complex, with barriers including access to specialized equipment and trained staff to conduct body composition, strength and function assessment. In the current study, self-reported dietary protein intake and physical activity (PA) in adults ≥65 years was assessed relative to sarcopenia risk, as determined by body composition, strength and physical function assessments, consistent with the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) definition. Of those screened (n = 632), 92 participants (77% female) were assessed as being at high risk of developing sarcopenia on the basis of dietary protein intake ≤1 g∙kg-1∙day-1 [0.9 (0.7-0.9) g∙kg-1∙day-1] and moderate intensity physical activity <150 min.week-1. A further 31 participants (65% female) were defined as being at low risk, with both protein intake [1.2 (1.1-1.5) g∙kg-1∙day-1] and PA greater than the cut-off values. High-risk participants had reduced % lean mass [53.5 (7.8)% versus 54.8 (6.1)%, p < 0.001] and impaired strength and physical function. Notably, high-risk females exhibited greater deficits in lean mass and strength, with minimal differences between groups for males. In community-dwelling older adults, self-reported low protein intake and low weekly PA is associated with heightened risk for sarcopenia, particularly in older women. Future research should determine whether early intervention in older adults with low protein intake and PA attenuates functional decline.

Radix's Importance for Plastic Surgeons: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Considering the importance of the nose in the beauty of the face, accurate and systematic three-dimensional nasal analysis of the nose before the procedure is essential. The radix, and so the nasofrontal and nasofacial angles, play an essential role in forming an aesthetically pleasing nose because they influence the length and projection of the nose. We aimed to measure information about the pre-operative radix position in our region. Pre-operative images were taken from our cases in the profile view. A checklist including radix location and projection, nasofrontal angle, and nasofacial angle were extracted from these images. Overall, 200 (100 males and 100 females) cases were enrolled. Thirty-two male cases and 48 females had abnormal radix position. Radix projection were normal in only 36 male cases and 18 females. The mean nasofrontal angle in the male and female groups was 119.2 and 128.2 respectively. The mean nasofacial angle was 29.8 in the female groups and 32.6 in the male group. The reality of the current society of Iranian patients can be very different from the predictions of surgeons and can be far away from the statistics mentioned in western books. We tried to notify surgeons to thoroughly examine the patients prior to surgical operation by measuring parameters such as projection and position of the radix and nasofrontal and nasofacial angles.

WEBSITES IN VASCULAR HEALTH: A TOOL FOR WHOM? USER CHARACTERISTICS AND MOTIVATIONS

Objective: Limited data is available to describe the characteristics and motivations of users of health websites. Self-determination theory (Deci &amp; Ryan, 2000) proposed three categories of motivation: 1) autonomous motivation: engaging in a behavior because it is perceived to be consistent with intrinsic and meaningful goals, 2) controlled motivation: engaging in a behavior for reward, or trying to avoid feelings of guilt, and 3) amotivation: lack of autonomous and controlled motivation. The aim of this study is to profile users and described the motivations behind using a health website. Design and method: In this multicenter study, participants had to be 18 years and older, concerned by a vascular health condition, and skilled to use digital tools. They were approached by collaborating physicians (n=30) during routine consultations or through social networks. An anonymous, validated electronic questionnaire assessed socio-demographic variables, digital competence, and motivations for using a health website. Results: 137 participants, mean age of 65.25 (± 11.78 years, 52.5% female) were recruited. The most prevalent diagnoses among participants were hypertension (48.70%) and diabetes (31.40%). The group aged 64 and below self-evaluated with better digital competence (8.97 ± 2.76) compared to the 65-74 age group (7.5 ± 2.70) and the 75 years and older group (6.41 ± 3.25) (p &lt; 0.01). The difference between the women's and men's group did not reach statistical significance. Regarding motivation to consult a health website, the group aged 64 and below shows higher autonomous motivation (5.53± 0.16) than the 65-74 age group (5.33 ± 0.11) and the 75 years and older group (5.40 ± 0.38) (p &lt; 0.01). Autonomous motivation was higher in the women's group (5.48 ± 0.13) than in the men's group (5.39 ± 0.32) (p &lt; 0.05). Inversely, controlled motivation (2.94 ± 0.58) and amotivation (3.61 ± 0.33), was higher in men's group than in women's group (2.54 ± 0.55 and 3.30 ± 0.40) (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Motivations to use a health website vary according to gender and age. This study may contribute to a more tailored to users and guide the development and dissemination of health websites.

Human Soluble Prorenin Receptor Expressed in Adipose Tissue Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Endothelial Function in Obese Female Mice

Increased circulating levels of the soluble prorenin receptor (sPRR), a component of the renin angiotensin system (RAS), plays a role in obesity, glucose, and insulin balance. Additionally, studies show that elevated plasma sPRR in diabetic patients is correlated with hyperglycemia in women but not men. Hence, the current study sought to understand the functional role of circulating human sPRR (HsPRR) produced by the adipose tissue (Adi) on adipogenesis and obesity, glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Adi-HsPRR mice were generated by breeding human sPRR-Myc-tag transgenic mice with mice expressing Adiponectin/Cre. The mouse model was validated by detecting myc-tagged HsPRR in western blot at 28kD. Adi-HsPRR male and female mice were kept on a low-fat (10% kcal from fat; n=4-9/group) or high-fat diet (60% kcal from fat; n=8-13/group) for 20 weeks. Body weight was recorded weekly and body composition (EchoMRI) was assessed monthly. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (ipGTT) was performed at 12 weeks and insulin tolerance test (ITT) at 14 weeks. At 16 weeks, mice were implanted with radio telemeter to measure blood for 5 consecutive days. At the end of the study, tissues and plasma were collected for biochemical analysis and vascular studies. Adipose HsPRR expression did not change circulating sPRR between groups in mice fed a low-fat diet mouse (M: 3.5±0.5 vs 3.9±0.2 ng/ml, F: 2.3±0.2 vs 3.0±0.2 ng/ml) and high fat-fed females (4.3±0.3 vs 5.4±0.5 ng/ml) but increased plasma sPRR in HFD Adi-HsPRR male mice compared to HFD CTL (5.3±0.4 vs 8.7±0.7 ng/ml p&lt;0.05). Yet, Adi-HsPRR expression did not change body weight and composition, glucose, and insulin balance, nor blood pressure and vascular function in male mice regardless the diet. However, Adi-HsPRR improved insulin sensitivity (438±22 vs 360±14 AUC p&lt;0.05) and endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation (11.7±2.6 vs 19.4±2.5 % p&lt;0.05) in Adi-HsPRR female mice fed an HFD. Blood pressure was similar between groups in males and females on both LFD and HFD. Further analysis showed that Adi-HsPRR increased vasodilator agent, Ang 1-7 (5.1±1.6 vs 16.2±3.0 pmol/L p&lt;0.05) in HFD females which was unchanged in HFD males (10.2±2.4 vs 5.2±1.7 pmol/L). Moreover, Adi-HsPRR reduced gene expression of SREBP1C (1.3±0.2 vs 0.7±0.1 2−ΔΔCT p&lt;0.05) and CD36 (1.5±0.3 vs 0.6±0.1 2−ΔΔCT p&lt;0.05), in gonadal white adipose of HFD females but not in males. Additionally, PPAR gamma mRNA was reduced in HFD Adi-HsPRR females (1.1±0.1 vs 0.6±0.1 2−ΔΔCT p&lt;0.05). Our findings suggest that HsPRR in adipose tissue exerts sex-specific protective effects on insulin sensitivity and endothelial function during obesity, despite similar plasma sPRR levels between control and Adi-HsPRR mice. Thus, our model could be a useful tool to investigate potential antidiabetic effect of adipose sPRR in obese women. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants (R01-HL-142969 and R01-HL-1647 to ASL); the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P30 GM127211); and the University of Kentucky, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (UL1TR001998). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Sex and Age Differentially Regulate Epigenetic Modifications and Renal Injury Markers in Mice

Elucidation of epigenetic mechanism associated with aging renal physiology may reveal potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for reversing aging renal pathologies. There is a sex difference in the age of onset of renal and cardiac disease, where females are protected against age related changes, including hypertension and fibrosis, until menopause. We hypothesized that sex and age would differentially regulate epigenetic modifications and renal physiology. To test this hypothesis, we examined kidney tissue and serum from 4-month (4M), 12-month (12M), and 24-month (24M)-old male and female C57BL/6JN mice (National Institute of Aging). Renal histone deacetylase (HDAC) and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activities (ELISA) were significantly higher in all male mice groups compared with age-matched females. However, HAT activity decreased significantly in 24M males compared with 4M males and exhibited sex differences with 24M males having higher (p &lt; 0.05) activity that 24M females. Levels of histone 3 (H3) acetylation at lysine (K) 9 and 27 and methylation at K9 were comparable in all male and female groups. Nonetheless, age and sex differences were observed in H3K27 methylation levels with 24M males having significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) levels as compared with 24M female mice. Serum creatinine (sCr) levels exhibited significant interaction between age and sex (p &lt; 0.0001). Aging significantly increased sCr levels in 24M mice compared with 4M mice in both sexes. However, sex-differences were evident in sCr levels with 24M female mice having higher levels compared with their age matched male counterparts. Of note, serum levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), a tubule injury biomarker were significantly higher in 24M mice compared with 4M and 12M sex-matched mice (male 24M, 410.1 ± 94.6 vs. 12M, 53.6 ± 17.2 and 4M, 27.9 ± 2.0; pg/ml, p &lt; 0.001; female 24M, 358.3 ± 56.1 vs. 12M, 63.8 ± 13.3 and 4M, 28.2 ± 5.0; pg/ml, p &lt; 0.001). Histones are released in the extracellular space during disease state, act as damage-associated molecular pattern molecules and activate inflammatory pathways. In the serum, circulating histone H3 levels showed significant interaction with age and sex (p &lt; 0.05) and increased significantly with age in both sexes. The data demonstrate that aged female mice exhibited higher levels of serum Cr and KIM-1 whereas aged males have higher KIM-1 levels as compared to sex matched young mice. Sex differences were observed in HDAC and HAT activity with males having higher enzymatic activity as compared to females. These findings will have important implications in age-related renal injury as aging is a primary risk factor for hypertension and related renal disease in men and women. Supported by the NIH grant R03AG075396. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Heme oxidation of NO-receptor soluble guanylyl cyclase is an important contributor to cerebrovascular and cognitive dysfunctions

Introduction: Decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) is one of the major hemodynamic alterations leading to neurodegeneration and age-related cognitive decline. Nitric Oxide (NO)-dependent vasomotor reactivity is central in regulating cerebrovascular hemodynamics and adequate brain blood perfusion. NO receptor Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase (sGC) is the primary mediator of NO-dependent vasodilation. Oxidative stress, often persisting in diseased vasculature, renders sGC insensitive to NO and impairs the NO signaling. The objective of our study was to investigate the role of sGC oxidation in regulation CBF and brain function. Hypothesis: Oxidative stress disrupts NO/cGMP signaling in brain by decreasing sGC activity via oxidation of sGC heme. Approach: To assess causal effect of sGC oxidation on NO signaling function we administered ODQ, a sGC-specific heme oxidizing agent, to simulate long-term effect of sGC oxidation in cerebral vasculature. Two groups of young wild-type male and female mice (4 months old C57BL/6) were treated intraperitoneally (IP) twice a week for one month with ODQ (20 mg/kg) or a solvent as control. Changes in cerebrovascular reactivity and memory function were assessed and compared in treated and control groups. Using a non-invasive pulsed Doppler ultrasound-based system we assessed the changes in blood flow velocity (PVF, % of baseline) in the mouse middle cerebral artery (MCA) of male and female groups. MCA vasodilation was induced by bolus IP injection of NO-donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or BAY 58-2667, an allosteric NO-independent sGC activator. Memory function was assessed by the Novel Object Recognition Task (NORT, RI, recognition index) in all experimental groups. Western blotting and densitometry assessed the expression of major sGC subunits (α1, α2 and β1) in cleared brain lysates from ODQ-treated and control groups. Results: We observed a significantly blunted vasodilative response to SNP (1 mg/kg) in ODQ-treated mice vs controls of both genders (PVF, max response at 2 min post-injection, males 73.9 ± 10.4% (n=7/7) vs 58.5 ± 8.6 %, p=0.01; females (n=6/6) 77.4 ± 10.6 % vs 61.9 ± 5.4 %, p=0.01). Changes in response to NO-donor were more pronounced in males than females. The difference in BAY 58-2667 response between ODQ-treated and control groups was not statistically significant. ODQ significantly reduced the long-term memory in males but not female, according to NORT (RI, males (n=7/7) 0.58 ± 0.13 vs 0.69 ± 0.05; p=0.01; females (n=6/6) ODQ 0.59 ± 0.17 vs 0.73 ± 0.1, p=0.13). No statistically significant difference in expression of sGC subunits between control and ODQ-treated (n= 4/4) of male and female groups was determined. Conclusions: ODQ treatment significantly impairs vasodilation response to NO-donor but not to NO-independent sGC activator in mice MCA. ODQ treatment negatively affects long-term memory function in male, but not female mice. ODQ treatment does not significantly affect the expression of sGC subunits. Together our data suggest that the oxidation of sGC heme moiety impairs the regulation of cerebral blood flow of both genders and impairs long-term memory function gender-specifically in young mice. This research was supported by National Institute of Health grants RAG071999A (Iraida Sharina), HL139838, and American Heart Association 23TPA1070711 (Emil Martin). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Creating machine learning models that interpretably link systemic inflammatory index, sex steroid hormones, and dietary antioxidants to identify gout using the SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) method.

The relationship between systemic inflammatory index (SII), sex steroid hormones, dietary antioxidants (DA), and gout has not been determined. We aim to develop a reliable and interpretable machine learning (ML) model that links SII, sex steroid hormones, and DA to gout identification. The dataset we used to study the relationship between SII, sex steroid hormones, DA, and gout was from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Six ML models were developed to identify gout by SII, sex steroid hormones, and DA. The seven performance discriminative features of each model were summarized, and the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model with the best overall performance was selected to identify gout. We used the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) method to explain the XGBoost model and its decision-making process. An initial survey of 20,146 participants resulted in 8,550 being included in the study. Selecting the best performing XGBoost model associated with SII, sex steroid hormones, and DA to identify gout (male: AUC: 0.795, 95% CI: 0.746- 0.843, accuracy: 98.7%; female: AUC: 0.822, 95% CI: 0.754- 0.883, accuracy: 99.2%). In the male group, The SHAP values showed that the lower feature values of lutein + zeaxanthin (LZ), vitamin C (VitC), lycopene, zinc, total testosterone (TT), vitamin E (VitE), and vitamin A (VitA), the greater the positive effect on the model output. In the female group, SHAP values showed that lower feature values of E2, zinc, lycopene, LZ, TT, and selenium had a greater positive effect on model output. The interpretable XGBoost model demonstrated accuracy, efficiency, and robustness in identifying associations between SII, sex steroid hormones, DA, and gout in participants. Decreased TT in males and decreased E2 in females may be associated with gout, and increased DA intake and decreased SII may reduce the potential risk of gout.

Does diphenhydramine exert a sex-dependent effect on sudomotor responses during exertional heat stress?

Introduction: The first-generation H1 antihistamine diphenhydramine hydrochloride (DPH) is a potent antimuscarinic agent which may compromise sweat output during heat stress. DPH consumption prior to exertional heat stress could further suppress the sweating response in females due to their lower postjunctional cholinergic sensitivity of the sweat glands relative to males. Objective and Hypothesis: The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that DPH would reduce sweating to a greater extent in females relative to males due to differences in cholinergic sensitivity at the sweat gland. Methods: Equal groups (10 per group) of males (24±3 y; 82.6±10.1 kg; 182±5 cm) and females (22±3 y, 67.7±7.8 kg, 171±6 cm) completed two experimental trials presented in a randomized double-blind fashion. Upon arrival to lab, participants consumed either i) a placebo (PLA) pill or ii) 50 mg DPH and then rested in a room maintained at ~29.5°C &amp; 35% RH for 2 hours before conducting a 60-minute treadmill march at a fixed rate of heat production relative to body surface area (~245 W/m2). Rectal temperature (Trec), local sweat rate of the forearm (LSR), and whole body sweat loss (WBSL) were measured. Sex-segregated analysis was conducted for each outcome variable as the difference between PLA and DPH. Results: Baseline Trec did not differ within sex between PLA and DPH (males: -0.10±0.26°C; females: -0.05±0.33°C, P=0.70), however a higher absolute baseline Trec was observed in females compared to males (P=0.006). In comparison to PLA, DPH did not exert a sex-dependent effect on ΔTrec following 60-min of exercise (males: 0.04±0.11°C; females: 0.02±0.37°C, P=0.90). No sex-dependent effect on the onset of sweating was observed between DPH and PLA (males: -0.4±2.6 min; females: 0.6±2.4 min, P=0.34). DPH did not exert a sex-dependent effect on LSR at steady-state (males: 0.03±0.25 mg/cm2/min; females: -0.01±0.21 mg/cm2/min, P=0.71). Lastly, no sex-dependent effect on WBSL was observed between PLA and DPH (males: 14±34 g; females: 6±43 g, P=0.98). Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that sex does not independently modulate the sweating response during exertional heat stress following the consumption of 50 mg of DPH. This research is supported by Dr. Ravanelli’s Research Seed Grant from the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety &amp; Health, and Dr. Ravanelli’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant (PIN#2022-05096). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.