Sex-linked Factors Research Articles

Childhood Neglect and Loneliness: The Unique Roles of Parental Figure and Child Sex.

There is a well-supported link between experiences of childhood neglect and levels of loneliness in adulthood, with emotional neglect from caregivers being predictive of loneliness. However, current research has yet to explore additional, sex-linked factors that influence this relationship. This study investigates the impact of different neglect types on loneliness, with a focus on the parental figure involved and the child's sex. It was hypothesized that men who experienced emotional neglect from their fathers would score higher in loneliness compared to other parent-child combinations. The findings showed no significant differences in father-son relationships within the context of emotional neglect. However, there was a significant difference in father-son relationships in the context of supervision neglect and loneliness outcomes, relative to all other parent combinations. Consistent with existing research, emotional neglect emerged as the strongest predictor of loneliness. Additionally, sex differences were observed, with women experiencing greater levels of loneliness stemming from neglect compared to men. These findings help address the knowledge gap present in childhood neglect research, with the goal of understanding the long-term consequences of adverse childhood experiences.

Temporal and Sex-Linked Protein Expression Dynamics in a Familial Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) show progression through stages reflective of human pathology. Proteomics identification of temporal and sex-linked factors driving AD-related pathways can be used to dissect initiating and propagating events of AD stages to develop biomarkers or design interventions. In the present study, we conducted label-free proteome measurements of mouse hippocampus tissue with variables of time (3, 6, and 9 months), genetic background (5XFAD versus WT), and sex (equal males and females). These time points are associated with well-defined phenotypes with respect to the following: Aβ42 plaque deposition, memory deficits, and neuronal loss, allowing correlation of proteome-based molecular signatures with the mouse model stages. Our data show 5XFAD mice exhibit increases in known human AD biomarkers as amyloid-beta peptide, APOE, GFAP, and ITM2B are upregulated across all time points/stages. At the same time, 23 proteins are here newly associated with Alzheimer’s pathology as they are also dysregulated in 5XFAD mice. At a pathways level, the 5XFAD-specific upregulated proteins are significantly enriched for DNA damage and stress-induced senescence at 3-month only, while at 6-month, the AD-specific proteome signature is altered and significantly enriched for membrane trafficking and vesicle-mediated transport protein annotations. By 9-month, AD-specific dysregulation is also characterized by significant neuroinflammation with innate immune system, platelet activation, and hyper-reactive astrocyte–related enrichments. Aside from these temporal changes, analysis of sex-linked differences in proteome signatures uncovered novel sex and AD-associated proteins. Pathway analysis revealed sex-linked differences in the 5XFAD model to be involved in the regulation of well-known human AD-related processes of amyloid fibril formation, wound healing, lysosome biogenesis, and DNA damage. Verification of the discovery results by Western blot and parallel reaction monitoring confirm the fundamental conclusions of the study and poise the 5XFAD model for further use as a molecular tool for understanding AD.

Using Translational Models of Fear Conditioning to Uncover Sex-Linked Factors Related to PTSD Risk

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder that follows exposure to a traumatic event; however, not every person who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than men even when controlling for type and amount of trauma exposure. Circulating levels of gonadal hormones such as estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone may contribute to differential risk for developing PTSD. In this review, we briefly consider the influence of gonadal hormones on fear conditioning processes including fear acquisition, fear inhibition, extinction learning, and extinction recall within translational neuroscience models. We discuss findings from human studies incorporating samples from both community and traumatized clinical populations to further understand how these hormones might interact with exposure to trauma. Additionally, we propose that special attention should be paid to the specific measure used to examine fear conditioning processes as there is evidence that common psychophysiological indices such as skin conductance response and fear-potentiated startle can reveal quite different results and thus necessitate nuanced interpretations. Continued research to understand the influence of gonadal hormones in fear learning and extinction processes will provide further insight into the increased risk women have of developing PTSD and provide new targets for the treatment and prevention of this disorder.

Sex Differences in Asthma: A Key Role of Androgen-Signaling in Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells.

Infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and also allergy differentially affect women and men. In general, women develop strongest immune responses and thus the proportion of infected individuals and the severity of many viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections are increased in men. However, heightened immunity in women makes them more susceptible than men to autoimmunity and allergy. While sex differences in immunity are well documented, little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these immunological differences, particularly in allergic asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways mediated by exacerbated type 2 immune responses. Sex differences have been reported in the incidence, prevalence, and severity of asthma. While during childhood, males are more susceptible to asthma than females, there is a switch at the onset of puberty as for many other allergic diseases. This decrease of asthma incidence around puberty in males suggests that hormonal mediators could play a protective role in the susceptibility to allergic responses in male. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have recently emerged as critical players in the initiation of allergic responses, but also in the resolution of parasitic infection, through their capacity to rapidly and potently produce type 2 cytokines. This review will cover the current understanding of the impact of sex-linked factors in allergic inflammation, with a particular focus on the role of sex hormones on the development and function of tissue-resident ILC2s.

The changing importance of key factors associated with anaemia in 6- to 59-month-old children in a sub-Saharan African setting where malaria is on the decline: analysis of the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2010.

To estimate the relative contribution of malaria and other potential determinants to current anaemia prevalence in Rwanda. The database for this study was the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Haemoglobin and malaria test results, and additional exposures ascertained through mothers' interviews, were analysed for all eligible children age 6-59 months (n = 4068), in addition to diet data available for the youngest under 5-year-old per household. We examined anaemia-exposure associations through forward logistic regression, first for the overall population (n = 3685), and second, for the subpopulation with diet data (n = 1934). In the overall study population, malaria was strongly associated with anaemia (OR = 6.83, 95% CI: 2.90-16.05), but population impact was modest (population-attributable fraction = 2.5%). Factors associated with lower odds of anaemia were recent de-worming medication (six months; OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.49-0.74), female sex (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66-0.87), increasing age, residence in North Province and educated mother. Being underweight and recent fever (two weeks) were associated with higher odds. In the subpopulation with diet data, odds were lower with consumption of vitamin A-rich foods (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.50-0.88); and higher in households with many young children. Malaria remains a strong determinant of anaemia for the individual child: transmission control efforts must be maintained. At population level, to further reduce anaemia prevalence, promoting regular vitamin A intake from natural sources and reducing intestinal helminths burden appear the most promising strategies to explore; exploring potential hitherto unidentified sex-linked factors is warranted.

Abstract A58: KRAS mutations: Variable incidences in a Brazilian cohort of 8,234 metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Abstract Personalised medicine is an evolving field that seeks to target cancer therapies based on unique genetic characteristics of the tumour and/or the patient. One of the most significant advances towards personalised care in the field of oncology was the establishment of KRAS gene mutation as a validated biomarker predicting efficacy in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted therapies in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). KRAS mutations are frequently found in CRC indicating the importance of its genotyping in the study of the molecular mechanisms behind this disease. Although major advances have occurred over the past decade, there are still important gaps in our understanding of CRC carcinogenesis, particularly whether sex-linked factors play any role. Therefore, in this study the profile of KRAS mutations in the Brazilian population was analysed by conducting direct sequencing of KRAS codons 12 and 13 belonging to 8,234 metastatic CRC patient samples from different Brazilian regions. The median age was 59 years and the overall percentage of wild-type and mutated KRAS was 66.4% and 33.6%, respectively. Interestingly, a significant difference in the percentage of mutated KRAS patients was observed between male and female (32.5% versus 34.8%, p=0.03). However, there were no differences in the distribution of any specific KRAS mutation according to gender. This is one of the largest cohorts of KRAS genotyping in CRC patients indicating a higher incidence of KRAS mutations in females compared to males. Citation Format: Veronica Aran, Fernando M. Vieira, Ana Paula Victorino, Jonas H. Salem, Ilana Zalcberg-Renault, Martin H. Bonamino, Mariano Zalis, Carlos Gil Ferreira. KRAS mutations: Variable incidences in a Brazilian cohort of 8,234 metastatic colorectal cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A58. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-A58

KRAS mutations: variable incidences in a Brazilian cohort of 8,234 metastatic colorectal cancer patients

BackgroundKRAS mutations are frequently found in colorectal cancer (CRC) indicating the importance of its genotyping in the study of the molecular mechanisms behind this disease. Although major advances have occurred over the past decade, there are still important gaps in our understanding of CRC carcinogenesis, particularly whether sex-linked factors play any role.MethodsThe profile of KRAS mutations in the Brazilian population was analyzed by conducting direct sequencing of KRAS codons 12 and 13 belonging to 8,234 metastatic CRC patient samples. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue, exon 1 was amplified by PCR and submitted to direct sequencing. The data obtained was analysed comparing different geographical regions, gender and age.ResultsThe median age was 59 years and the overall percentage of wild-type and mutated KRAS was 62.8% and 31.9%, respectively. Interestingly, different percentages of mutated KRAS patients were observed between male and female patients (32.5% versus 34.8%, respectively; p = 0.03). KRAS Gly12Asp mutation was the most prevalent for both genders and for most regions, with the exception of the North where Gly12Val was the most frequent mutation found.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge this is one of the largest cohorts of KRAS genotyping in CRC patients and the largest to indicate a higher incidence of KRAS mutation in females compared to males in Brazil. Nevertheless, further research is required to better address the impact of gender differences in colorectal cancer.

Genetic differences and phenotypic plasticity in body size between high‐ and low‐altitude populations of the ground beetle Carabus tosanus

The body size of a univoltine carabid beetle Carabus tosanus on Shikoku Island, Japan, was clearly smaller in higher-altitude populations (subspecies), which possibly represents incipient speciation. To explore the determinants of altitudinal differences in body size in this species, we studied the degree of phenotypic plasticity by conducting rearing experiments at two constant temperatures and examined genetic differences through interpopulation crosses. At 15°C, C.tosanus had a longer developmental period and a shorter adult body than at 20°C. Nevertheless, variation in body size due to temperature effects (phenotypic plasticity) was small compared to the interpopulation differences, which suggests substantial genetic differences between populations (subspecies) at different altitudes. In F(1) offspring from crosses between a low-altitude (subspecies tosanus) and a high-altitude population (subspecies ishizuchianus), adult body length was affected by the genotypes of both parents, with an interaction effect of parental genotype and offspring sex. Further analyses revealed that adult body length was affected by sex-linked factors in addition to autosomal factors. These genetic differences in body size may have resulted from adaptations to different altitudes and may be important for the process of incipient speciation because body size differences could contribute to premating reproductive isolation.

Frequency of KRAS mutations in female colorectal cancer (CRC) patients: Findings of a Brazilian cohort of 8,234 cases.

e14101 Background: Although major advances in the last decades, there are still important gaps in our understanding of CRC carcinogenesis, particularly whether sex-linked factors play any role. Some groups, including ours, observed that KRAS mutation may be more frequent in female than male (Ferreira C.G. et al. J Clin Oncol 28: 2010 suppl abstr 3614; Uetake H. et al. J Clin Oncol 29: 2011 suppl abstr 3605). Methods: Between July 2008 and July 2011, we analyzed 8,234 consecutive patient samples sent to a reference laboratory for KRAS genotyping as a screening for cetuximab use. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue, exon 1 was amplified by PCR and submitted to direct sequencing. Codons 12 and 13 were analyzed. Results: The median age was 59 years and well balanced according to gender with 51.9% of male and 48.1% female patients. The percentage of wild-type and mutated KRAS was 66.4 and 33.6%, respectively. Corroborating previous findings a significant difference in the percentage of mutated KRAS patients was observed between female and male (34.8% versus 32.5%, p = 0.03). However there were no differences in the distribution of any specific KRAS mutation according to gender. Among the 2,626 mutated cases, 83% were in codon 12 versus 17% in codon 13. Mutation Gly12Asp was the most common being detected in 36% of the mutated cases. Conclusions: This is one of the largest cohorts of KRAS genotyping in CRC patients. In line with previous data our present findings indicate that KRAS-mutations are more frequent in female than male. Further research is required to better address the impact of gender differences and/or hormones as potential drivers of CRC carcinogenesis.

Hand Preference in Developmental Stuttering: A Test of the Geschwind-Galaburda Hypothesis of Hemispheric Specialization (P07.178)

Objective: Our hypothesis was that people who stutter (PWS) are more likely to have atypical hand preference; to test this we measured the association of stuttering with gender and hand and foot preference. Background Geschwind and Galaburda postulated that functional inter-hemispheric differences reflect the extent of anatomical differences. From this idea they postulated that atypical cerebral lateralization underlies stuttering and thus stuttering would be associated with both left-handedness and gender. Design/Methods: Individuals on the Stuttering Foundation of America9s mailing list were asked to complete a mail survey and to distribute it to acquaintances. The survey included questions about gender, demographics and stuttering as well as 42-item hand-preference and 12-item foot-preference inventories (HPI and FPI, respectively). Results were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: Four-hundred-eighty-six subjects currently stuttered out of 863 responders. Handedness and gender were significant predictors of stuttering. Males were more likely to stutter than females [OR=7.7 95%CI(5,10) p Conclusions: Our results confirm our hypothesis that atypical laterality, as reflected on scores from a handedness survey, is a predictor of stuttering. This relationship is complex due to its interaction with sex-linked factors. Handedness and sex-linked factors may influence cortical development in PWS. From our results we postulate that how females respond to higher estrogen or lower testosterone exposure in utero can lead to both atypical language organization and hand preference. The process leading to stuttering in males may be different affecting only language organization. Supported by: Stuttering Foundation of America. Disclosure: Dr. Lovera has received personal compensation for activities with EMD Serono, Teva Neuroscience, and Biogen Idec as a consultant. Dr. Corey has nothing to disclose. Dr. Foundas has nothing to disclose.

Sex-Linked & Handedness Effects: Do Temporal-Parietal Asymmetry Patterns Diverge in Adults Who Stutter? (P02.053)

Objective: To determine whether sex-linked or handedness factors may be associated with divergent temporal-parietal asymmetry patterns in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to matched controls. Background Developmental stuttering is more common in males than females (5:1 in adults) and in non-right handers. There is evidence that these factors mediate anatomical relationships (PT, planum temporale; PAR, posterior ascending ramus). Therefore, we hypothesized that typical configurations (Leftward PT, Rightward PAR) would be found in male controls, whereas female controls and adults who stutter (AWS) would have atypical configurations. We postulated that these relationships would be modified by degree of handedness (defined by Hand Preference Inventory scores, HPI). Design/Methods: Participants included Controls (n=44, ½ men) and AWS (n=19, 3 females) matched on age (Mean = 31.4) and education (Mean = 16.6); 1/3 non-right handers. Volumetric MRI scans were acquired; neuropsychological assessments were completed. The full extent of the PT and PAR were measured and volumes were computed as % of hemisphere volume. Asymmetry (AQ) was computed: (Left-Right)/[(Left + Right)(.5)]. Results: PT-AQ and PAR-AQ were correlated (r2 = -.424). The association did not vary in male and female Controls, nor did the association vary when AWS were compared to Controls. PT-AQ and PAR-AQ did not predict HPI, but left PT volume was predicted by HPI score (p Conclusions: Although we did not find any differences in AWS, our results support the postulate that left PT size may be an important determinant of the relationship of language and manual preference. Hemispheric specialization for language is associated with handedness in right-handers as the crossed-motor pathways for manual dexterity and skill are left lateralized. A major question is how these functional representations diverge in people who are not strongly right-handed. Supported by: NIH DC04957; Malcolm Fraser Foundation. Disclosure: Dr. Foundas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Corey has nothing to disclose.

Maternal effects on ethanol teratogenesis in a cross between A/J and C57BL/6J mice

Genetic factors influence adverse pregnancy outcome in both humans and animal models. Animal research reveals that both the maternal and fetal genetic profiles are important for determining the risk of physical birth defects and prenatal mortality. Using a reciprocal-cross breeding design, we investigated whether the mother’s genes may be more important than fetal genes in determining risk for ethanol teratogenesis. Examination of possible synergistic genetic effects on ethanol teratogenesis was made possible by using two mouse strains known to be susceptible to specific malformations. Inbred A/J (A) and C57BL/6J (B6) mice were mated to produce four fetal genotype groups: the true-bred AċA and B6ċB6 genotypes and the genetically identical AċB6 and B6ċA genotypes (the F 1 genotype). Dams were administered either 5.8 g/kg ethanol or an isocaloric amount of maltose–dextrin on day 9 of pregnancy. Fetuses were removed by laparotomy on gestation day 18, weighed, and assessed for digit, vertebral, and kidney malformations. Digit malformations in the genetically identical F 1 ethanol-exposed litters showed a pattern consistent with a maternal genetic effect (AċB6 [2%] and B6ċA [30%]). In contrast, vertebral malformations were similar in all ethanol-exposed litters (AċA [26%], AċB6 [18%], B6ċA [22%], and B6ċB6 [33%]). The percentage of malformations did not differ between male and female fetuses, indicating sex-linked factors are not responsible for the maternal effect. Ethanol exposure decreased litter weights but did not affect litter mortality compared with maltose-exposed controls. This study supports the idea that genes influence malformation risk following in utero alcohol exposure. Specifically, maternal genes influence risk more than fetal genes for some teratogenic outcomes. No evidence supported synergistic genetic effects on ethanol teratogenesis. This research supports the conclusion that uterine environment contributes to determining risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Association between male gender and cortical Lewy body pathology in large autopsy series

Sex-linked factors may alter risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Definitive diagnoses are not established until autopsy, so neuropathological studies are critical. There have not been reported gender-related differences in neocortical Lewy bodies (LBs) using large multi-center autopsy series. We evaluated the associations between gender and pathologically characterized neurodegenerative diseases. Cases with Alzheimer's disease (AD), neocortical LBs, AD+neocortical LBs, or neither pathology were evaluated as separate groups. Results were corrected for possible confounders including age at death, smoking history, and education. The settings were the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Center and the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Registry autopsy series; 3,830 subjects met inclusion criteria. Patients with neocortical ("diffuse") or intermediate ("limbic") LB pathologies tended to be male (male:female odds ratios ~2.9 with 95% CI 2.02-4.18). The preponderance of males dying with neocortical LB pathology was seen consistently across age groups and was not due to the potential confounders evaluated. By contrast, individuals dying with AD pathology were more likely to be female if dying over 80 (male:female odds ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.88), but that tendency was not seen in individuals dying with AD pathology prior to age 80. Increased understanding of the male predominance in neocortical LB pathology may help guide clinicians, because males are more likely to be "undercalled" for neocortical LBs clinically, and females are more likely to be "overcalled" (P<0.05 for both). Males are far more likely than females to die with neocortical LB pathology. This phenomenon may help guide medical practice including clinical trial study design.

Analysis of KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients by gender in a Brazilian cohort of 3,346 patients.

3614 Background: We previously reported that the profile of KRAS mutation in the Brazilian population is similar to that reported for Caucasian and Asian patients. Further we observed that KRAS mutation was more frequent in female than male. Although major advances in the last decades, there are still important gaps in our understanding of CRC carcinogenesis, particularly whether sex-linked factors play any role. Methods: Between July 2008 and November 2009, we analyzed 3,346 consecutive patient samples sent to a reference laboratory for KRAS genotyping as a screening for cetuximab use. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue, éxon 1 was amplified by PCR and submitted to direct sequencing. Códons 12 and 13 were analyzed. Results: The median age was 59 years and well balanced according to gender with 50.1% of male and 49.9% female patients. The percentage of wild-type and mutated KRAS was 65 and 35%, respectively. Corroborating previous findings from our group a significant difference in the percentage of mutated KRAS patients was observed between female and male (37.7% versus 32.9%, p = 0.005). However there were no differences in the distribution of any specific KRAS mutation according to gender. Among the 1,171 mutated cases, 85% were in codon 12 versus 15% in codon 13. Mutation Gly12Asp was the most common being detected in 37% of the mutated cases. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is one of the largest cohorts of KRAS genotyping in colorectal cancer patients and the first to indicate a higher incidence of KRAS-mutation in female than male. Further research is required to better address the impact of gender differences in colorectal cancer more specifically. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Differential Expression of Biomarkers in Men and Women

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. While historically, more men than women have died from lung cancer as a result of higher numbers of male smokers, the sex mortality ratio is now showing signs of narrowing. Tumors in women with lung cancer may be slightly different to those in men with lung cancer. This review focuses on biomarkers differentially expressed between female and male patients with lung cancer. There is variation in gene expression between men and women in some genes that encode carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes (CYP1A1, GSTM). Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a bombesin-like peptide, is present in two actively transcribed alleles in women compared with men. Higher prevalence of infection with oncogenic variants human papilloma viruses (HPVs) HPV16 and HPV18 has been suggested in women. A higher frequency of G to T transversion was found in the p53 gene in lung tumors of women. KRAS mutation was found to be more frequent in women with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than in men with resected NSCLC. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is more frequently found in lung tumors from women, but the confounding effect of tobacco exposure may explain this difference. Lower levels of ERCC1 and BRCA1 have been reported in women with NSCLC. Lung tumors from women are more likely to express estrogen receptors than those from men. An in silico analysis of transcriptome datasets from lung cancer patients demonstrated that only seven genes (in at least two studies) had significantly different expression patterns in male versus female patients. All of these genes are localized on the sex chromosomes: one on chromosome X and six on chromosome Y. Many areas remain under debate and there are still significant gaps in our understanding, particularly how sex-linked factors relate to lung cancer risk, and to biological and clinical behaviors. Future research into lung cancer needs to address these gender differences more specifically.

M16-01: Role of biology and genetics in lung cancer in women

M16-01: Role of biology and genetics in lung cancer in women

Sperm Motility Defects and Infertility in Male Mice with a Mutation in Nsun7, a Member of the Sun Domain-Containing Family of Putative RNA Methyltransferases1

Poor sperm quality is the major cause of infertility in humans. Other than sex-linked factors, the genetic basis for male infertility is poorly defined, largely due to practical difficulties in studying the inheritance of this trait in humans. As an alternative, we have conducted forward genetic screens in mice to generate relevant models. We report on the identification and characterization of a chemically-induced mutation, Ste5Jcs1, which causes affected male mice to be sterile or subfertile. Mutant sperm exhibited depressed progressive motility associated with a rigid flagellar midpiece (but not principal piece) segment, which could not be rescued by treatment with agents that stimulate cAMP or calcium signaling pathways. Overall mutant sperm ultrastructure appeared normal, including the axoneme, although the midpiece mitochondrial sheath showed abnormal electron density patterns. Positional cloning of Ste5Jcs1 led to the identification of a mutation in a novel gene called Nsun7, which encodes a protein with a Sun domain that is homologous to tRNA and rRNA cytosine methyltransferases. Therefore, Ste5Jcs1 mutation uncovers a previously unrecognized biological process in sperm that underscores the functional compartmentalization of the midpiece and principal piece of the flagellum.

Managing Infidelity: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Anthropologists have not systematically examined extramarital affairs. Our cross-cultural study found that within every culture men and women actively resort to mate-guarding tactics to control their mate's extramarital behavior. A person's level of interest and involvement does not change with a culture's notion of descent, level of social complexity, or the degree to which a culture is normatively permissive or restrictive in sexual matters. In effect, sexual propriety is the presumed right of both sexes. Our findings are consistent with both the sexual jealousy and the pair-bond hypotheses, which hold that every marriage or love relationship is organized around a presumption of sexual propriety. (Extramarital affair, pair bond, sexual jealousy, human universal) ********** Conventional wisdom holds that in many societies women express relative indifference to their spouse's infidelities. Many social-science researchers ascribe this indifference to either male's propensity for psychological violence (Bourdieu 2001; MacKinnon 1988) or women's structural marginality (Freeman 1990; Harris 1993; Leacock 1993; Ressner 1987; Rosaldo and Lamphere 1974). These theories link patriarchy with male superiority to account for institutionalizing a double standard. A constant life lesson for women in these societies is their inability to forestall their spouse's infidelities. Reinforced by folk ideology, social convention, and common practices, men come to believe that it is their right to have extramarital affairs, while women become indifferent to their spouse's infidelity. From this theoretical perspective, it is axiomatic that men believe that they have ownership of women's bodies, whereas women own neither their own bodies nor that of their spouse. The strength of this axiom derives in part from a kind of folklore of professional anthropologists and not from empirical documentation. To date, there is no comparative study that systematically examines how husbands and wives respond to a spouse's infidelity. Thus, the conventional wisdom of ownership and indifference remains untested anthropological assertion. This article examines the similarities and differences in women's and men's responses to a mate's infidelity. It explores the significance of structural factors--degree of social complexity, type of descent ideology, the degree to which sexual practices are restrictive or permissive, etc.--on the way men and women respond to an act of infidelity. It also questions if there are sex-linked factors shaping men's and women's perception of and response to spousal infidelity. SOCIAL-SCIENCE EXPLANATIONS FOR EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIRS Half a century ago, Ford and Beach's (1951) pioneering cross-cultural study of human sexuality found that less than 39 per cent (54 out of 139) of societies approved of some form of infidelity. Although not explored in any depth, the study determined that cultures overwhelmingly prefer to circumscribe [extramarital affairs] in one way or another (Ford and Beach 1951:114). A more recent cross-cultural survey of human sexuality found that extramarital affairs ranked just below incest the most strictly prohibited type of sexual relationships (Frayser 1985:20). This finding was reaffirmed in a study that found no society, not even America during the permissive 1960s, condoning extramarital affairs (Harrell 1997:475). In spite of these holocultural surveys, cultural anthropology has yet to develop a theory accounting for extramarital sex's nearly universal approbation. There are theories that focus on some aspect of the phenomenon. The most prevalent explanation is sociological. This perspective offers a gender-specific explanation for why men's extramarital affairs are tolerated more than women's. Focusing exclusively on stratified societies, Collins (1975) argues that men are the beneficiaries of a patriarchal ideology and a set of social practices that ensure and validate men's perception of women as their sexual property. …

Sex-related influences on the frequency and age of onset of primary dystonia. Epidemiologic Study of Dystonia in Europe (ESDE) Collaborative Group.

We studied 957 cases of primary (idiopathic) dystonia and found a significant excess of female patients for segmental and focal dystonia. A novel observation was a significantly earlier age at onset in males as opposed to females for primary segmental (mean age, 44.6 versus 53.3) and focal dystonia (43.8 versus 47.8). This trend was also apparent in cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, and laryngeal dystonia. For writer's cramp and focal limb dystonia, this trend was reversed with an earlier age at onset in females. These results suggest that focal dystonia should not be treated as an homogenous group, and sex-linked factors may play a role.

Cytoplasmic factors do not contribute to a maternal effect on ethanol teratogenesis.

Both maternal and fetal genetic factors influence variations in response to prenatal ethanol exposure. To assess the effect of maternal genotype on the incidence of ethanol teratogenesis, a reciprocal cross study was conducted in an animal mode using the relatively susceptible C57BL/6J (B6) and the relatively resistant DBA/2J (D2) inbred mice. This mating pattern produced four embryonic genotypes: true-bred B6B6 and D2D2 litters and hybrid B6D2 and D2B6 litters. To examine the role of maternal egg cytoplasm as the source of variation that could account for a maternal effect, B6D2 and D2B6 F1 females were mated back to B6 males, which produced two additional embryonic genotypes: B6D2.B6 and D2B6.B6. Dams were intubated with either 5.8 g/kg of ethanol or an isocaloric amount of maltose-dextrin on day 9 of pregnancy. On day 18 of pregnancy, dams were sacrificed, fetuses were removed, weighed, sexed, and examined for gross morphological malformations. Every other fetus within a litter was prepared for either skeletal or soft tissue analysis. Results showed a higher rate of teratogenesis in the B6D2 group compared to the genetically similar D2B6 group, which indicates an influence of maternal genotype on susceptibility to ethanol teratogenesis. The percentage of affected male and female fetuses did not differ, which suggests that sex-linked factors are not responsible for the maternal effect. The backcross B6D2.B6 and D2B6.B6 litters did not differ significantly for any measure of teratogenesis, suggesting that differences in maternally transmitted cytoplasmic material are not the cause of the maternal effect. Factors that could account for the maternal effect are differences in the maternal uterine environment and genomic imprinting. Separating maternal from fetal-mediated mechanisms responsible for susceptibility to ethanol teratogenesis is needed for identifying mothers and infants at risk.