Male Group Research Articles

P-534 Toward enhanced genetic counseling with PGT-SR: exploring the impact of chromosomal rearrangement type and carrier gender on the acquisition of transferable embryos

Abstract Study question Do chromosomal rearrangement type and gender of carriers influence the ability to obtain transferable embryos? Summary answer Carriers of a reciprocal translocation, particularly female carriers, could have a higher risk of having non-transferable embryos. What is known already Chromosomal translocations are common structural rearrangements in the general population, occurring even 10 times more frequently in the infertile population, as carriers may produce unbalanced chromosomal gametes. Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Structural Rearrangements (PGT-SR) is a crucial tool for selecting embryos to transfer. There are numerous factors that can affect the availability of transferable embryos, and some of the less studied ones are the gender of the carrier and the type of chromosomal rearrangement. Study design, size, duration This is a single-center retrospective study performed between 2016 and 2023, that included 265 biopsies. Embryos were classified as transferable (n = 80, 30%) if they were euploid/balanced or exhibited low-grade mosaicism (< 50%) without the involvement of chromosomes 13, 14, 16, 18, 21, and X. Non-transferable embryos (n = 185, 70%) included those that were unbalanced, aneuploid, or displayed high-grade mosaicism. Differences between groups were assessed using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Values with p < 0.05* were deemed significant. Participants/materials, setting, methods NGS-based PGT-SR was performed on 265 embryos from 71 cycles of 47 couples. Couples were divided into Robertsonian translocation carrier group (ROB-T, 105 embryos) and Reciprocal translocation carrier group (REC-T, 160 embryos). Subsequently, data was categorized by maternal age: ≤37 (ROB-T=91, REC-T=122) and >37 years (ROB-T=14, REC-T=38), as well as by the gender of the carrier: male carrier group (MC) (ROB-T=77, REC-T=97) and female carrier group (FC) (ROB-T=29, REC-T=74). Main results and the role of chance Of the embryos belonging to ROB-T group, 45/105 (43%) were transferable, while in the REC-T group only 35/160 (22%) were transferable. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0004612). It was assessed whether these differences were attributable to maternal age or gender of carriers. In the ≤37, 43% (39/91) of the ROB-T embryos were transferable, but only 25% (30/122) were transferable in the REC-T group (p = 0.007583). In the >37, 43% (6/14) of the ROB-T embryos were transferable versus 13% (5/38) in the REC-T group (p = 0.04951). In both age groups, the obtaining transferable embryos were influenced by the type of translocation. In the MC group, 47% (36/76) of the ROB-T embryos were transferable and only 24% (22/90) were transferable in the REC-T group (p = 0.003467). In the FC group, 31% (9/29) of the ROB-T embryos and 19% (13/70) of the REC-T embryos were transferable (p = 0.2749). In the MC group, the obtaining transferable embryos were influenced by the type of translocation. However, within the FC group, no significant differences were observed. When evaluating non-transferable embryos (185), 71% were unbalanced and 29% were balanced ones with aneuploidies. Unbalanced embryos were more frequent in REC-T carriers in all analyzed groups. Limitations, reasons for caution This study is limited by its retrospective nature and its small sample size. Additionally, it is worth noting the difference in sample size between groups when segmenting the data by maternal age. Wider implications of the findings Our results indicate that the type of rearrangement is relevant in obtaining transferable embryos. Carriers of REC-T, especially female carriers, could have a higher risk of having non-transferable embryos compared to carriers of ROB-T. These findings could be significant for genetic counseling of individuals carrying chromosomal translocations. Trial registration number Not applicable

O-323 Sex-dependent discrepancies in automatic scoring: implications for the performance of embryo evaluation and selection methods

Abstract Study question Are artificial intelligence-based embryo evaluation and selection algorithms equally effective for male and female embryos? Summary answer Compared to female embryos, male embryos exhibited higher automatic scores, superior performance in KIDScore D5 v3, and poorer performance in iDAScore v2 in predicting implantation. What is known already It is known that the secondary sex ratio favors males in assisted reproductive techniques. The reason could be an unbalanced selection, as there is evidence that male embryos undergo faster development and have better morphology than female embryos. Based on this premise, artificial intelligence (AI) models currently used for embryo selection may not perform equally well for embryos of both sexes. We aimed to analyze the performance of two models for assessing male and female embryos: KIDScore D5 v3 and iDAScore v2. Study design, size, duration This is a retrospective cohort study involving 481 patients included in the preimplantation genetic testing program over a year and a half. The euploid embryos (n = 1,181) were divided into male (n = 577) and female (n = 604) groups and the automatic scores received by two artificial intelligence-based evaluation models (KIDScore D5 v3 and iDAScore v2) were considered with respect to implantation. Participants/materials, setting, methods All embryos underwent assisted hatching on day 3 of embryo development and trophoectoderm biopsy at the blastocyst stage (day 5 or 6). The embryos’ sex chromosomes were revealed using a highly validated method. Routine embryo assessment and selection were performed using conventional morphology according to ASEBIR criteria. Retrospectively, embryos were automatically scored from 1 to 9.9. Means, standard deviations, odds ratios (OR), and areas under the ROC curve (AUC) were calculated using IBMSPSS Statistics software. Main results and the role of chance In general, male embryos exhibited a significantly higher iDAScore than female embryos (6.9±2.2 vs. 6.4±2.5)**; no differences for KIDScore (6.1±1.7 vs. 5.9±1.8). This indicates that if the selection were based on the iDAScore, more male embryos would be transferred. Male embryos: 323 male embryos were transferred with an implantation rate of 53.8%. Implanted male embryos had higher automatic score compared to non-implanted ones (6.7±1.6 vs. 6±1.7 for KIDScore** and 7.3±2 vs. 6.8±2.1 for iDAScore*). For KIDScore: OR = 1.3, 95% CI [1.1-1.5] and AUC 0.612 (0.545-0.678). For iDAScore: OR = 1.1, 95% CI [1-1.3] and AUC 0.575 (0.511-0.638). This suggests a higher performance of KIDScore in predicting implantation in male embryos. Female embryos: 318 female embryos were transferred with an implantation rate of 47.7%. Implanted female embryos had higher iDAScore compared to non-implanted ones (7±2.3 vs. 6.3±2.5)*; no differences for KIDScore (6.2±1.8 vs. 6±1.8). For KIDScore: OR = 1.1, 95% CI [0.9-1.2] and AUC 0.542 (0.472-0.612). For iDAScore: OR = 1.1 95% CI [1-1.2] and AUC 0.584 (0.520-0.648). This suggests a higher performance of iDAScore in predicting implantation in female embryos. *pvalue<0.05; **pvalue<0.01 Limitations, reasons for caution The primary limitation of our study is the assisted hatching process performed on embryos on day 3 of development, which may impact late-stage development. This could be a possible reason for the considerably lower performance of the models. Wider implications of the findings Our study revealed objective differences between male and female embryos, as well as distinct performance for two AI-based embryo selection models. These findings suggest that the employed embryo selection model may impact the secondary sex ratio. Trial registration number Not applicable

P-094 Genetic variations of antioxidant genes may coordinate with lifestyle to define male fertility: A cross-sectional study with control group

Abstract Study question Are polymorphisms of the oxidative stress-related genes different between infertile men and reproductively healthy men? Does lifestyle contribute to fertility outcomes? Summary answer A strong association between the polymorphisms of two antioxidant genes and sperm quality was identified. The infertile men had higher BMI and alcohol usage. What is known already Antioxidant genes including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) play a critical role in spermatogenesis and sperm functions, especially in stress-response cell signaling pathways. Polymorphisms of antioxidant genes have been reported to be associated with gene function, hence sperm quality, ultimately affecting male fertility in various cohorts. Body mass index (BMI) is universally considered a marker of health reflecting whole health, nutrition, and lifestyle. Smoking and alcohol consumption expose the body to harmful chemicals and oxidative stress. Here, we examined the polymorphisms of antioxidant genes in Vietnamese men and the link with lifestyle to regulate fertility. Study design, size, duration This cross-sectional study with control group recruited from Hanoi Medical University Hospital from 2018-2020. The participants were divided into two groups regarding semen analysis based on WHO 2010 criteria. The participants gave consent, then were clinically examined, interviewed for lifestyle, and genetically analyzed for antioxidant gene variations. An extra inclusion criterion for the control men was having at least one healthy baby. The exclusion criteria were chromosome aberrations and Y chromosome microdeletion. Participants/materials, setting, methods The control group (N = 85) and infertile group (N = 107) were recruited. Semen analysis was carried out by the CASA instrument based on WHO 2010 criteria. Lifestyle characteristics including exercise (per week), smoking (yes/no), alcohol consumption (the threshold for “yes” was five standard drinks/occasion, at least one occasion/month) were recorded. Four variants SOD1:7958G>A, SOD2:c.47T>C, CAT:-262C>T, and NOS3:-786C>T were analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Pearson’s, Chi-squared (χ2), Wilcoxon rank-sum, ANOVA test, and Bonferroni correction were applied where specifically required. Main results and the role of chance The average age of the two groups was not different (31.96 ± 4.87 vs 31.93 ± 6.3 years old, p = 0.92). The body mass index (BMI) of infertile men was significantly higher than the control (24.84 ± 2.31 vs 23.53 ± 2.55 kg/m2, p = 0.00026). No significant difference was identified regarding exercise and smoking. Notably, 96.26% of infertile men consumed alcohol in comparison with 88.23% of the control (p = 0,034). Genetically, SOD1:7958GA genotype and NOS3:-786CT genotype in the infertility group were significantly higher than in the control, OR = 2.191 (95% CI: 1.226–3.915, p = 0.004) and OR = 3.135 (95% CI: 1.591–6.180, p < 0.001), respectively. The frequency of the SOD2:c.47TC genotype was significantly higher in the male infertility group than in the control (OR = 1.941, 95% CI: 1.063–3.595, p = 0.029). Individuals carrying the SOD1:GA+AA, SOD2:TC+CC, and CAT:CT/TT genotype pattern had an increased risk of male infertility (OR = 7.614, p = 0.007), suggesting that gene-gene interaction plays an important role in male reproduction. To our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide on the association between the SOD1:7958G>A polymorphism and male infertility. Together, the data suggest that antioxidant gene polymorphisms and lifestyle, especially alcohol usage, coordinate to regulate male fertility. Limitations, reasons for caution Direct measurement of oxidative stress in the semen of men having different gene variations would be required to ascertain the link between the polymorphisms of antioxidant genes and fertility. The sample size was relatively small, a larger sample size would be required to accurately represent the Vietnamese population. Wider implications of the findings The findings can assist in infertility diagnosis focusing on the group of higher infertile risk genetic variations. Interventions such as antioxidant supplements would be developed and applied, lifestyle advice would be given specifically for a group having high-risk gene variations to accurately target fertility issues. Trial registration number Not applicable

P-443 An association between olfaction and unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss

Abstract Study question Is there a male body-odor associated with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (uRPL)? Summary answer The body-odor of men from uRPL couples may have different chemical composition than control men. What is known already Recurrent pregnancy loss is defined as 2-3 consecutive pregnancy losses, affecting about 1% of all couples, and in about half of them, the reason for the pregnancy losses in unexplained (uRPL). In our previously published study, we found that women who experienced uRPL have altered perceptual and brain responses to men’s body-odors in comparison to control women. This suggests a possible link between uRPL and the olfactory system, resonating with the Bruce effect in mice. In the Bruce effect, the particularities of male body-odor are also a factor in the effect. Study design, size, duration We set out to ask whether the body-odor (BO) of men in uRPL is different from the BO of control men. To test this, we used two main approaches: have women smell BOs from uRPL-men and control-men and rate the perceived odor; and sample the BOs using a machine (electronic nose) and test if the composition of the BOs is objectively different. Participants/materials, setting, methods We collected BOs from spouses of uRPL and control women. We recruited women with uRPL, control women (with no history of pregnancy losses) and nulliparous women to sniff the BOs and rate them for perceived intensity, pleasantness, sexual attraction, and fertility. We then used an electronic nose (eNose, Airsense) to sample the BOs and used a Linear SVM classifier on this data, to try and classify the BOs to the two groups. Main results and the role of chance Twenty-one women with uRPL and 24 control women sniffed and rated 34 BO jars (17 uRPL-men). We found that uRPL-men BO was rated as more pleasant, sexually attractive and fertile than control men (rmANOVAs for each parameter but intensity revealed a significant effect of male group (all F(1,43)>14.24, all p < 0.001), no women-group effect and no interactions). We then recruited 51 nulliparous women, not related to the original study, to do the same task, and the results replicated: nulliparous women rated uRPL-men’s BO significantly more pleasant, sexually attractive and fertile than control men’s BO (all t(50)>2.88, all p < =0.006), while the intensity was not different (t(50)=0.87, p = 0.38). We then used a PEN3 eNose to sample 37 male BOs (18 uRPL). The PEN3 eNose contains 10 different metal oxide sensors, and each sensor is coated in a unique material that makes it sensitive to different sets of chemical compounds. Based on the data from the eNose, a Linear SVM classifier successfully classified the odors to uRPL-men or control-men at 69.9% accuracy in a five-fold cross-validation test (p < 0.001 estimated by repeating the process 1000 times and shuffling the labels). Limitations, reasons for caution This study shows an association between the body-odor of men and uRPL, however it shows a correlative connection (not causative). Therefore, the interpretation for these current results are limited. Wider implications of the findings These initial results suggest that uRPL-men’s and control-men’s BO have different chemical composition. This implies a possible contribution of men to the effect we observed in our previously published study, and combined, further strengthens a link between uRPL and the olfactory system that we continue to investigate. Trial registration number not applicable

Characterization of the microorganisms of human pus samples- a tertiary care hospital based study

The term "pyogenic infection" describes an infectious agent-induced localized inflammation and pus production caused by a buildup of dead leukocytes. 120 patients' specimens were gathered and grown on blood agar and MacCokey agar. Biochemical tests were used to identify colonies grown in these conditions, and subsequently their antibiotic susceptibility was examined. When combined with the patient's medical history, these data showed how common pyogenic infections were in BIHS General hospital, Dhaka. Within 86.67% of the Positive pyogenic infection were due to bacterial agents, with Staphylococcus aureus (23.07%), Escherichia coli (15.39%), Klebsiella (15.39%), Proteus (15.39%), Pseudomonas (7.69%), Enterococci (7.69%), Citrobacter (7.69%), Enterobacter (7.69%) being the major pathogens. Female was predominant than male which was 72 (60%) cases and 48 (40%) cases respectively. The most common age group for both the male and female groups was 40–60 years old, with 16 (13.33%) and 64 (53.33%) instances, respectively. In conclusion, Staphylococcus aureus is the most often isolated bacterium following aerobic culture of pus. Nonetheless, there are fewer gram-positive cocci than gram-negative bacilli.

Mating behaviour in ageing Teratorhabditis palmarum (Nematoda: Rhabditida)

ABSTRACT Teratorhabditis palmarum Gerber and Giblin-Davis, 1990, a free-living nematode, is able to produce hundreds of thousands of offspring in a short time. Reproduction is the main feature that defines life and, therefore, it plays an important role in determining what kinds of selective parameters play a powerful role in the maturity and evolution of mating systems. In the present study, we estimated the features of mating behaviour of Teratorhabditis using long-time microscopic videography and repeated observations. The mating behaviour of Teratorhabditis could be separated into a series of successive behaviours, including pre-mating (searching and contacting), mating (copulating) and post-mating (enduring). Here, we present the mating behaviour of 2- and 10-day-old virgin males and females. The mean time of the four phases – searching, contacting, copulating and enduring – varied significantly, at 24.6 ± 4.6 min, 36 ± 5.7 min, 31 ± 4.1 min and 10 ± 2.3 min in 2-day-old and 38.2 ± 3.3 min, 44.3 ± 5.0 min, 39 ± 4.3 min and 11 ± 3.2 min in 10-day-old individuals, respectively. Attraction between the sexes was observed, indicating the probable involvement of sex pheromone(s) in mating behaviour. In all age groups of males there was a significant increase in the duration of mating as the females aged. As the mobility of ageing individuals was reduced, this may have directly influenced the durations of the various phases of mating behaviour.

Determination of Reference Intervals of Some Biochemistry Tests by the Bhattacharya and Hoffmann Methods.

Clinical laboratory tests are being evaluated with reference intervals (RI). Therefore, it is important that each laboratory determines and classifies its own reliable RI for each test to ensure an accurate and effective interpretation. The proposed method for determining RI is the "direct" approach, but it is a difficult, troublesome, time-consuming, and expensive method. An alternative approach is the "indirect" approach. In this study, we aimed to compare the RI values determined by the indirect method from the Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphate (P), 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D (25(OH)D), and Parathyroid hormone (PTH) test results with the RI provided by the manufacturer. A total of 1,520,314 Ca, Mg, P, 25(OH)D, and PTH test results, which were studied in our laboratory between January and November 2022, were included in the study. Data cleaning was done for individuals between the ages of 18 - 89, and only one record was allowed. The Tukey method was used to determine and exclude extreme values. Ca and Mg tests were divided into age groups (18 - 59 and 60 - 89 years), P, 25(OH)D, and PTH tests were divided into female - male groups. RI was calculated by using the Bhattacharya and Hoffmann methods. CLIA 19 acceptable limits were used to evaluate the compliance with the manufacturer's RI. The RI results obtained by applying the Bhattacharya and Hoffmann methods were found to be significantly consistent and compatible with each other. According to the manufacturer's RI, Ca and Mg were compatible with RI in both methods, P was considered compatible with PTH and 25(OH)D upper reference limit in the Bhattacharya method, P was considered compatible with 25(OH)D lower reference limit and PTH upper reference limit in the Hoffmann method, while 25(OH)D lower reference limit was found to be different in the Bhattacharya method, and 25(OH)D upper reference limit and PTH lower reference limit were found to be different in the P male group in the Hoffmann method. We believe that it is of great importance for each laboratory to determine the RI specific for the population they serve and to choose the analytical method they use according to age and gender while periodically updating them to interpret the test results correctly.

Sonographic comparison of subcutaneous fat layer thickness in the scalp area in patients with androgenetic alopecia compared to healthy individuals: Cross-sectional.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is one of the most common alopecia among men and women worldwide. It is a nonscarring alopecia that has a characterized pattern. In female pattern AGA, the hairline is stable but general thinning occurs most notably in the frontal region. In male-pattern AGA, the hairline is receding and the thinning is most notable in the frontotemporal region. AGA has a complex pathogenesis and relation of subcutaneous fat in the scalp region and the miniaturization of terminal hair follicles is vague. In this study, subcutaneous fat in the frontal scalp an important region for AGA is compared to the occipital scalp that is spared in AGA. Our study is a cross-sectional study that has four groups. Male patient, female patient, male control, female control. Every group has 15 individuals. All of the people in the study are those referred to Rasoul Akram's dermatology clinic. The severity of alopecia is classified by Norwood scaling for male pattern AGA and Ludwig scaling for female pattern AGA. Subcutaneous tissue in the frontal and occipital regions is measured by ultrasonography. For evaluating the effect of aging on subcutaneous fat thickness, we subdivided any group into more than 40 years old and between 20 and 40 years old and compared these two subgroups. The mean age of the three groups of male patient, female patient, and female control is 40 y/o and the mean age of male control is 41 y/o. The mean subcutaneous fat layer thickness in frontal region in male patients group is 6.0mm (more than 40 y/o=6.6mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=5.5mm), in female patients group 5.1mm (more than 40 y/o=5.7mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=4.6mm), in the male control group is 4.4mm (more than 40 y/o=4.7mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=4mm) and in the female control group is 4.1mm (more than 40 y/o=4.5mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=3.6mm). The mean subcutaneous fat layer thickness in the occipital region in the male patient's group is 6.4mm (more than 40 y/o=6.7mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=6mm), in the female patient's group 6.1mm (more than 40 y/o=6.5mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=5.7mm), in the male control group is 6.3mm (more than 40 y/o=6.8mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=5.7mm) and in the female control group is 6.2mm (more than 40 y/o=6.6mm, between 20 and 40 y/o=5.8mm). This study demonstrates that the subcutaneous fat layer in the frontal region in both males and females is thicker in AGA patients than healthy group and the more severe the AGA, the thicker is subcutaneous layer in the frontal region. In the male patients group, the subcutaneous fat layer in the frontal region is thicker than in the female patients group but in the male and female control groups is not so different. The subcutaneous fat layer in the occipital region is thicker in older individuals in both patients and control groups but is not different when compared to AGA patients and control individuals.

Социальные представления о теле: теория, факты и комментарии (Часть 1)

<p style="text-align: justify;">The aim of the presented study was to identify so called “mute” elements of social representations of the body. The sample consisted of representatives of the BDSM subculture at the age of 19 to 54 years (N=77 people, 40% women). The free association technique was used in order to reveal the social representations of the body. The obtained results indicate that the body (in groups of males and females) is represented through the antimony “man-woman” with the resulting attributes of each pole (“strength”- “beauty”), so the social representations of the body are crystallized around the corresponding elements: beauty - in the key element of the female body in the group of women, strength and muscles are the key elements in case of the male body in the group of men. In each case the normative and idealized representations of the body are revealed. In each case we can speak about normative and idealized representation of the body. The mute zone of the social representation (genital area) suits the logic of the male body vision, if we take into account the analysis of the male body through the prism of cultural history.</p>

Health-Promoting Benefits of Exercise Awareness and Exercise Behavior in Older Adults: An Exercise Program Intervention

The purpose of this study was to use the aerobic exercise program as an intervention to understand exercise awareness and exercise behavior in older adults and to predict health promotion. This study recruited 120 healthy older adults (60 males and 60 females) over 65 years old (average male age 72.15 ± 3.53 years, female average age 71.64 ± 3.97 years), males and females were randomly assigned to the experimental group, and the control group (30 males, 30 females). The experimental group underwent an “aerobic fitness exercise program” for 8 week, while the control group underwent 8 weeks of daily life. All participants were first surveyed on background variables. At the beginning and end of the experiment, the experimental group and control group of males and females had to undergo the senior fitness test (SFT), the Elderly Exercise Awareness and Exercise Behavior Scale (EAEBI) and the Elderly Health Promotion Inventory (HPI) survey. The results of the study showed that male Cohen’s d = .326, and female Cohen’s d = .371, both showed small effects; related power analysis male effect size (es) = 0.2, female effect size (es) = 0.1, showed that the participants were homogeneous, the mean ages of males and females of the Q-Q plot showed normality. The SFT analysis of the experimental group and the control group found that Int-2, Int-1, Con-1, and Con-2 were significantly different between males and females. The EAEBI scale analysis found that the male experimental group had the largest difference in awareness effect ( F = 9.47, p < .05), and the female experimental group had the largest difference in exercise cognition ( F = 11.35, p < .05). HPI scale analysis found that the male experimental group had the largest difference in physical activity ( F = 14.83, p < .05), and the female experimental group had the largest difference in social support ( F = 13.19, p < .05). Finally, the intervention measures of aerobic fitness exercise program could positively affect the exercise perceived and exercise behavior of the older adults, and had positive effects on health promotion. This study has practical significance for an aging society. Promoting health through regular exercise can also reduce medical resources, which is the subject of effective preventive medicine.

Sex differences in pelvic size and shape in the striped field mouse from Slovakia

Morphometric analysis and evaluation of 260 striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) were carried out to identify sexual size dimorphism in pelvic bones regarding the age of individuals and the reproductive history of females. Pelvic size was found to differ between subadult and adult individuals of both sexes. A comparison using the Mann–Whitney U test between the right and left parts of the pelvis showed statistically non-significant differences between the pelvis dimensions. In the inter-sexual comparison of both ages (subadult, adult), statistically significant differences were found for only four traits in adults: length of the coxal bone (LP1), width of the ischiopubis (WP1), length of the obturator foramen (LSF) and width of the obturator foramen (WSF). The two indices (WSF/LSF and WP1/LP2) evaluated clearly reflected changes in the pelvic shape, which were most pronounced in adult mice. For the group of subadult males and females, the differences in measured traits and indices were not as pronounced. Several analyses, such as the Mann–Whitney U test, principal component analysis (PCA) as well as discriminant analysis (DFA), showed sex differences in pelvic morphology and shape, although the two sexes overlapped. Similarly, one-way ANCOVA showed that there was a significant difference between the sexes for the adjusted means. Analyses showed that for a given body mass, it appears that females tend to have larger pelvises. Thus, the sexual dimorphism of females was related to pelvic size and shape in A. agrarius. The breeding history showed differences in pelvic dimensions in following direction: the nulliparous < primigravid < primiparous direction.

Decadal Trends in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Economically Developed Regions in China.

To estimate decadal trends in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in economically developed regions in China and its association with city economic levels. Using a comprehensive Chinese healthcare database, repeated cross-sectional studies were conducted on adults who had annual health check-ups from 2012 to 2021 in 4 economically developed cities. MetS was defined by the criteria of the Chinese Diabetes Society in 2013. The crude prevalence of MetS adjusted for sex and age was reported. The association between prevalence, calendar year, and city gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was analyzed by regression model. 158 274 participants aged 18 years and older were included. The unadjusted prevalence of MetS increased from 15.5% (95% CI: 14.2%-16.8%) to 20.0% (95% CI: 19.5%-20.5%) from 2012 to 2021. The adjusted overall prevalence has increased steadily from 12.8% to 20.8% after controlling age and sex (P < .001). Male and older age groups had a higher MetS prevalence. In the regression model of the association between the MetS prevalence, calendar year, and city GDP per capita, calendar year had a positive association with the prevalence (P < .001, 95% CI: 0.648-1.954) and city GDP per capita had a negative association (P = .030, 95% CI: -0.136 to -0.007). The MetS prevalence increased steadily in the economically developed regions in China among the health check-up population during 2012-2021. The MetS prevalence is shown to be negatively associated with GDP per capita in the study population.

Serum Vitamin D and Vaspin Levels Among Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Their Association with Risk Factors.

The current study investigated and compared serum levels of vitamin D (VD) and vaspin in AMI patients and healthy subjects and correlated these biomarkers with other biochemical risk factors for AMI. The research was carried out at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah. Blood samples and additional information were gathered from 110 admitted AMI patients in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU) (ages 40-65 years) and 50 adult, healthy volunteers whose BMI and age were similar to those of the patients. AMI patients had significantly lower vaspin (p < 0.001) and VD levels (p < 0.001) than the control group. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL-C) levels were shown to be significantly different between AMI patients and controls. Among the AMI patients, 15 (13.6%) had deficient serum VD levels (≤20 ng/mL), 60 (54.5%) had insufficient levels (>20 - <30 ng/mL), and 35 (31.8%) had sufficient levels (≥30 ng/mL). In healthy subjects, VD levels were deficient in 4(8%), insufficient in 13 (26%), and sufficient in 33 (66%). VD insufficiency was more prevalent in AMI patients compared to the healthy group (54.5% vs 26%; p < 0.001). In AMI patients, serum vaspin was found to be related to age and HbA1c in the control group. VD did not show a significant correlation with any variable in AMI patients and healthy subjects. Serum vaspin (p = 0.89) and VD levels (p = 0.29) did not differ significantly between female and male control groups. Compared to the healthy group, AMI patients showed significantly lower vaspin and VD levels. Additionally, AMI patients had a higher prevalence of VD deficiency and insufficiency, suggesting its possible role in the occurrence of AMI.

Forensic Analysis of Sexual Dimorphism from Facial Photographs

Abstract Background: Techniques for identifying facial features and proving the individuality of a person’s facial features are used in forensic anthropology. Aims and Objectives: A common method in this area is cranial anthropometry, which has uses in facial reconstruction, locating unidentified remains, and identifying criminal suspects. Materials and Methods: A study analyzed 200 standard full-face photographs of 50 males and 50 females to compare frontal and lateral facial images and identify male and female facial traits. We located landmarks and measured the distances between them. The data were analyzed using statistical tests like t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Result: The results showed that in 100% of the suggested measurements for both males and females, there were no statistically significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) between frontal and lateral views. The ANOVA test, however, showed that all suggested measurements showed differences in the lateral aspect, while only 76.92% of them showed differences between the male and female groups in the frontal aspect. Conclusion: In conclusion, statistically significant differences were found, rejecting the null hypothesis of equal means, when the level of significance (α) was lower than the P value (0.05). On the other hand, the null hypothesis was accepted when statistically insignificant differences were found and the level of significance was higher than the P value. Although there were differences between males and females in different views, the distances between landmarks in frontal and lateral views of the same person were generally similar. Measurements taken in the lateral aspect were more accurate and displayed greater sexual dimorphism variation compared to those taken in the frontal aspect.

Predicting Arterial Stiffness From Single-Channel Photoplethysmography Signal: A Feature Interaction-Based Approach.

Arterial stiffness (AS) serves as a crucial indicator of arterial elasticity and function, typically requiring expensive equipment for detection. Given the strong correlation between AS and various photoplethysmography (PPG) features, PPG emerges as a convenient method for assessing AS. However, the limitations of independent PPG features hinder detection accuracy. This study introduces a feature selection method leveraging the interactive relationships between features to enhance the accuracy of predicting AS from a single-channel PPG signal. Initially, an adaptive signal interception method was employed to capture high-quality signal fragments from PPG sequences. 58 PPG features, deemed to have potential contributions to AS estimation, were extracted and analyzed. Subsequently, the interaction factor (IF) was introduced to redefine the interaction and redundancy between features. A feature selection algorithm (IFFS) based on the IF was then proposed, resulting in a combination of interactive features. Finally, the Xgboost model is utilized to estimate AS from the selected features set. The proposed approach is evaluated on datasets of 268 male and 124 female subjects, respectively. The results of AS estimation indicate that IFFS yields interacting features from numerous sources, rejects redundant ones, and enhances the association. The interaction features combined with the Xgboost model resulted in an MAE of 122.42 and 142.12 cm/sec, an SDE of 88.16 and 102.56 cm/sec, and a PCC of 0.88 and 0.85 for the male and female groups, respectively. The findings of this study suggest that the stated method improves the accuracy of predicting AS from single-channel PPG, which can be used as a non-invasive and cost-effective screening tool for atherosclerosis.

A study on the configuration of factors influencing overweight and obesity in adolescents based on fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis.

Overweight and obesity among adolescents are grave public health issues around the world. Although the conditions that contribute to obesity have been extensively researched, little is known about how multiple conditions interact to cause overweight and obesity. The current study intends to investigate the histomorphic configuration pathways of several conditions of adolescent overweight and obesity by gender. The data came from a social survey conducted in June 2021 in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. The sample collected was 14-year-old adolescents, including 167 boys and 137 girls. The school physicians examined the participants' weight and height, and questionnaires were used to collect risk indicators from adolescents, such as sleep duration, electronic screens times, consumption of sugary drinks and fried foods, and physical activity. Simultaneously, a Fuzzy Qualitative Comparative Analysis will be performed to investigate the combinations of diverse conditions. We found that there is no determining necessary condition that, once present, directly determines that an individual is in a state of overweight and obesity. Simultaneously, this study revealed nine alternative configurational paths of overweight and obesity in teenagers of different genders, with a concordance of 0.805 for six male groupings and 0.916 for three female groupings. The outcomes of overweight obesity in adolescents under different genders are similar but not identical. This study examined the interactions of a number of conditions from the individual, behavioral, learning and living environment that led to the same overweight obese outcome among adolescents of different genders. Our research will be useful to policymakers in that interventions should take into account the combined effects of a number of different aspects rather than focusing on a single factor that causes overweight and obesity.

Attitudes toward ethnic minorities among Thai students in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The increase of cultural diversity in Chiang Mai society has generated the need for introducing intercultural education in the educational system. It is crucial to prepare the young generation to interact with those perceived as “different.” The aim of the current study is to examine the majority attitude of Gen Z school students toward ethnic minority groups in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The study was based on an online survey with 14- to 19-year-old adolescents from the members of the majority group (Khon Muang). Data was collected from 265 students across two schools, a multicultural school (MS) and a predominantly Thai school (PTS). The study gathered demographic information, attitudes toward minorities, and intergroup contact experiences. Our results show generally positive attitudes toward ethnic minorities among the participants, with a significant proportion supporting social inclusion. However, students from the predominantly Thai school (PTS) demonstrated statistically significant, more negative attitudes regarding realistic threat, compared to the students from the multicultural school (MS). Gender differences in attitudes were contrast to our expectation, showing that the acceptance of intergroup marriage was positively higher in male groups. The study showed an expected association between the number of outgroup friendships and more positive outgroup attitudes. Lastly, factors such as gender and maternal education were explored by regression analysis on the perceptions of realistic threat, but these did not significantly predict attitudes toward ethnic minorities among Thai students. The findings point to the importance of supporting cultural diversity in schools and promoting multicultural education in the classroom.

Haematological and Demographic Features of Acute Myeloid Leukemia among Patients attending the National Oncology Center, Sana’a City - Yemen.

Background: The distinctive feature of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the infiltration of abnormal myeloid precursors into the bone marrow and other tissues, frequently accompanied by the appearance of these abnormal cells in the peripheral blood. This study aimed to describe the hematological features and demographic characteristics of patients with AML who attended the National Oncology Center in Sana’a, Yemen. Subjects and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 124 newly diagnosed AML patients of all ages and both genders who attended the National Oncology Center in Sana’a City, Yemen, during the period from November 2022 to November 2023. The complete blood count test was performed by drawing a few milliliters of blood sample, then was analyzed through a hematology analyzer, which performs quantitative analysis of blood elements including white blood cell count, WBC differential count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and platelet count. Results: The median age of the patients was 35 years and a range (0.9-779 years); the majority of cases were older than 18 years (62.9%); and the frequency of AML was higher in males than in females (57.26% and 42.74%), respectively. Of 124 newly diagnosed AML patients, the median (range) of WBC and platelets were 50.47 (1.18-534.32 103/uL) and 45 (343 103/uL), respectively. The mean SD for RBC was 2.85 0.78 106/uL,, Hb was 8.40.94 g/dL, and Blast count was 75.26 16.04%). Leukocytosis was detected in (62.9%), Hyperleucotyosis in (25%), Erythropenia in (87.1%), and Thrombocytopenia in (86.3%). There was a significant positive correlation between age and platelets (r = 0.194, p-value = 0.03), WBC and Blast cells (r = 0.285, p-value = 0.001), and highly significant between RBC and Hb (r = 0.623, p-value = &lt;0xC6&gt;&lt;0xB0&gt;0.001). For the WBC and platelet counts, there were variations between age groups and two genders; the variations were little in other hemological patterns, and there was no significance for all parameters. For WBC count, the median was 62 x 103 uL in the female group, higher than in the male group (46.5 x 103 uL), while there wasn't or little variation in the hematological features among male and female AML patients. Conclusion: Hematological features of bone marrow/peripheral blood are essential diagnostic tools in AML patients. In the present study, approximately 87% of patients present with leucotyosis or hyperleucotyosis, erythropenia, and thrombocytopenia. And the blast cell count was &gt; 20% for all AML patients, which is considered a diagnostic reference.

Effectiveness of ballistic exercises for increasing upper body explosive power in physical education lessons for university students

Background and Study Aim. Explosive power is an important element of fitness levels, with fast muscle contractions being required in most physical activities. Study implements and verifies the effects of ballistic exercises with medicine balls of various weights on upper body explosive strength for non-sporting university students. Material and Methods. The study involved 184 male and 143 female undergraduate students, all 21 years old. These students had no medical contraindications to participating in the activities required by the physical education program. The development of upper body explosive strength was conducted using ballistic exercises, specifically various types of medicine ball throws, over one academic year. The evaluation comprised six tests: Overhand Ball Throw, Overhead Medicine Ball Throw-forward, Overhead Medicine Ball Throw-backward, Medicine Ball Chest Throw, Shot Put - Track and Field, and 30 s Plyometric Push-Ups. These tests were scheduled at three different times during the academic year: October, December, and May. Results. The results of the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements indicate F values associated with statistically significant thresholds (p &lt; 0.05). In contrast, partial eta squared (η²p) values demonstrate a stronger effect of ballistic exercise application for the male group. Significant improvements in results were observed for both genders from one test to another. The differences were notably larger between the test conducted before the winter holiday (December) and the test at the end of the second semester (May) compared to those between the test at the beginning of the academic year (October) and the one before the winter holiday (December). This pattern indicates a clear improvement in muscle strength in the second semester (January-May). The only test where high percentages of men, and especially women, encountered problems was the 30-second Plyometric Push-Ups. In the final tests, 10% of males and 40% of females scored zero. Conclusions. Ballistic exercises based on various medicine ball throws prove to be an attractive and effective solution to improve upper body muscle strength for non-sporting university students. The application of these exercises can significantly enhance physical education programs by providing clear benefits in terms of strength development. This is particularly evident in environments aimed at general student populations rather than athletes. Furthermore, while the exercises are broadly beneficial, they may require modifications to address the challenges some students face.

An updated immunosenescence exploration in healthy Chinese donors: circular elevated PD-1 on T cell and increased Ki67 on CD8+ T cell towards aging.

Immunosenescence is a process of immune dysfunction that occurs along with aging. Many studies have focused on the changes of different lymphocyte subsets in diseases and immune aging. However, the fluctuation in the number and phenotype of lymphocyte subset caused by aging have not been comprehensively analyzed, especially the effects of new indicators such as PD-1 and Ki67 in peripheral blood have been rarely reported. We further investigated the humoral and cellular immune parameters of 150 healthy donors over 18 years old. Age was associated with decreased CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T cells, decreased CD4+CD45RA+CD31+ T cells, and increased memory CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, dominated by male CD8+ T cells. The loss of CD28 expression on T cells and the transverse trend of activated CD38 and HLA-DR were also related to the increased age. In addition, CD8+ T cells in men were more prominent in activation indicators, and the difference between the old and young groups was obvious. CD4+CD25+CD127- T cells percentage tended to decrease with age and did not differ significantly between gender. Interestingly, we found that age was positively associated with PD-1+ T cells and showed significant age-related variability in men. Similarly, the percentage of CD8+ki-67+ also showed an increasing trend, with significant differences between the young group and other elderly groups in males. Our findings can provide immunological clues for future aging research, offering new insights for clinical monitoring and prevention of certain diseases.