Sex Differences Research Articles

The Ubiquitous External Ejaculation: Examining Perceptions of Sexual Images Across Cultures.

The persistent debates over pornography have often focused on differences between males and females, not only in the frequency of consumption or the type of material consumed, but also on the different ways that individuals may perceive sexually explicit images and respond to them. Some of these differences may be due to sex differences in a number of factors including sexual strategies, pathogen or sexual disgust, and own mate value as well as within sex differences in these factors. Previous studies have demonstrated that perceptions of sexually explicit images are influenced by the sex of the target in the image and the target's emotional affect, as well as sex of the respondent, their sexual orientation, short-term mating orientation, and disgust measures. However, these previous studies were conducted with participants from the United States alone. This study compared the findings from these US samples to those from non-Western ones (Philippines and Brazil) in order to examine the replicability across cultures of the US results as well as whether some variables (religiosity, for example) account for more or less of the variance in perceptions in different populations. Results indicated that there were some differences in terms of the amount of variance in perceptions explained by different variables across populations. Participant and stimuli related variables explained more variance in the Philippines while individual difference variables accounted for more variance in Brazil.

Sex-specific differences in NAFLD development: effect of a high-sucrose diet on biochemical, histological, and genetic markers in C57bl/6N mice

ABSTRACT Sucrose intake is a potential risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Individual characteristics such as sex, play arole in the biological variation of the disease, potentially related to genetic regulation. This research evaluated sex differences in biochemical, histopathological, and gene expression responses associated with NAFLD in C57bl/6N mice on a high sucrose diet. Female and male mice were assigned to control or high sucrose diets (50% sucrose solution) for 20 weeks. After sacrifice, blood and hepatic tissue were collected for analysis. Female mice revealed moderate-to-high NAFLD, whereas male mice showed mild-to-moderate NAFLD. Sex-specific variations were observed in Cd36 gene expression, an upregulation in females compared with the male group, and Adipor1 gene expression showed significant downregulation in the female group in response to high sucrose diet compared with the control group. These findings highlight the importance of considering gender disparities in the treatment and management of NAFLD.

Host-specific effects of a generalist parasite of mosquitoes

Microsporidians are obligate parasites of many animals, including mosquitoes. Some microsporidians have been proposed as potential agents for the biological control of mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit due to their detrimental impact on larval survival and adult lifespan. To get a more complete picture of their potential use as agents of biological control, we measured the impact of Vavraia culicis on several life-history traits of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. We measured the infection dynamics and clearance rate for the two species, and we assessed sexual dimorphism in infection dynamics within each species. Our results show differences in infection dynamics, with Ae. aegypti life-history traits being more affected during its aquatic stage and exhibiting higher clearance of the infection as adults. In contrast, An. gambiae was unable to clear the infection. Additionally, we found evidence of sexual dimorphism in parasite infection in An. gambiae, with males having a higher average parasite load. These findings shed light and improve our knowledge of the infection dynamics of V. culicis, a microsporidian parasite previously recognized as a potential control agent of malaria.

Race and Sex Differences in the Association of Bystander CPR for Cardiac Arrest.

Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is associated with higher survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but whether its association with survival differs by patients' sex and race and ethnicity is less clear. Within a large US registry, we identified 623 342 nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrests during 2013 to 2022 for this observational cohort study. Using hierarchical logistic regression, we examined whether there was a differential association between bystander CPR and survival outcomes by patients' sex and race and ethnicity, overall and by neighborhood strata. Mean age was 62.1±17.1 years, and 35.9% were women. Nearly half of patients (49.8%) were non-Hispanic White; 20.6% were non-Hispanic Black; 7.3% were Hispanic; 2.9% were Asian; and 0.4% were Native American. Overall, 58 098 (9.3%) survived to hospital discharge. Although bystander CPR was associated with higher survival in each race and ethnicity group, the association of bystander CPR compared with patients without bystander CPR in each racial and ethnic group was highest in individuals who were White (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.33 [95% CI, 1.30-1.37]) and Native American (adjusted OR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.02-1.90]) and lowest in individuals who were Black (adjusted OR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.04-1.14]; Pinteraction<0.001). The adjusted OR for bystander CPR compared with those without bystander CPR for Hispanic patients was 1.29 (95% CI, 1.20-1.139), for Asian patients, it was 1.27 (95% CI, 1.12-1.42), and for those of unknown race, it was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.25-1.36). Similarly, bystander CPR was associated with higher survival in both sexes, but its association with survival was higher in men (adjusted OR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.31-1.38]) than women (adjusted OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.12-1.19]; Pinteraction<0.001). The weaker association of bystander CPR in Black individuals and women was consistent across neighborhood race and ethnicity and income strata. Similar results were observed for the outcome of survival without severe neurological deficits. Although bystander CPR was associated with higher survival in all patients, its association with survival was weakest for Black individuals and women with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Pulmonary hypertension-related deaths in patients with acute pulmonary embolism in the United States, 2003 to 2020.

Data regarding the mortality trends in pulmonary embolism (PE)-related mortality in patients with concomitant pulmonary hypertension (PH) are lacking. We assessed the trends in PE-related mortality in patients with concomitant PH in the United States (US) over the past 2 decades and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) dataset. Mortality data were retrieved from the publicly available CDC WONDER mortality dataset from 2003 to 2020. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), per 100,000 population, were assessed using Joinpoint regression modelling and expressed as estimated average annual percentage change (AAPC) with relative 95% CIs and stratified by urbanicity, sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Over the study period, the AAMR for PE/PH-related mortality linearly increased (AAPC: +4.3% [95% CI: 3.7 to 4.9], p < 0.001) without sex differences. The AAMR increase was more pronounced in White individuals (AAPC: +4.8% [95% CI: 4.1 to 5.5], p < 0.001) and in subjects living in rural areas (AAPC: +5.1% [95% CI: 3.8 to 6.4], p < 0.001) compared to those living in urban areas. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic there was a significant excess in PE/PH-related mortality among women, older than 65 years and living in rural areas. The rate of PE/PH-related mortality in the US is increasing. Although the early diagnosis of PH in patients with acute PE has become easier with improved diagnostic modalities, the mortality rate of these patients remains high.

Risk of stroke in male and female patients with atrial fibrillation in a nationwide cohort

Female sex has been suggested as a risk modifier for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with comorbid prevalent stroke risk factors. Management has evolved over time towards a holistic approach that may have diminished any sex difference in AF-related stroke. In a nationwide cohort of AF patients free from oral anticoagulant treatment, we examine the time trends in stroke risk overall and in relation to risk differences between male and female patients. Here we show that among 158,982 patients with AF (median age 78 years (IQR: 71 to 85); 52% female) the 1-year thromboembolic risk was highest between 1997–2000 with a risk of 5.6% and lowest between 2013–2016 with a risk of 3.8%, declining over the last two decades. The excess stroke risk for female vs male patients has also been declining, with risk-score adjusted relative risk estimates suggesting limited sex-difference in recent years.

Age-Related Blood Pressure Gradients Are Associated With Blood Pressure Control and Global Population Outcomes.

The strong relationship between blood pressure (BP) and age is well known. Limited evidence suggests that a steeper age-BP slope may be associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. The May Measurement Month campaign enables an investigation of geographic, socioeconomic, and sex differences in age-BP gradients and their association with public-health outcomes. Cross-sectional, annual global BP May Measurement Month screening data were analyzed. Average systolic BP and age-related BP slopes across different age groups were calculated to assess regional, socioeconomic, and sex-stratified variations. The association of BP slopes derived from adjusted linear regression models with country-level health metrics was investigated. Age-related systolic BP gradients differed distinctly across global geographic regions, income levels, and between sexes. The steepest age gradients of BP were observed in populations from Africa and Europe. Women had lower BP levels than men at younger ages (20s and 30s) but subsequently experienced more pronounced age-related BP gradients. Geographically divergent age-related BP gradients were significantly associated with major national public health indicators. Globally, steeper age-related BP slopes were associated with poor BP control, increased disability-adjusted life years, and death rates. A steeper population age-BP slope of 1 mm Hg per 10 years was associated with a decrease in life expectancy of 3.3 years in this population (95% CI, -5.1 to -1.4; P=0.0007). Age-related BP gradients vary considerably across global populations and are associated with variability in BP-related risks and adverse outcomes across regions. Effective public health strategies may require region-specific targeting of adverse BP gradients to improve health outcomes.

Differential growth rate, water use efficiency and climate sensitivity between males and females of Ilex aquifolium in north-western Spain.

Dioecious plant species, i.e., those in which male and female functions are housed in different individuals, are particularly vulnerable to global environmental changes. For long-lived plant species, such as trees, long-term studies are imperative to understand how growth patterns and their sensitivity to climate variability differentially affect the sexes. Here, we explore long-term intersexual differences in wood traits, namely radial growth rates, water use efficiency quantified as stable carbon isotope abundance of wood cellulose, and their climate sensitivity in Ilex aquifolium trees growing in a natural population in NW Spain. We found that sex differences in secondary growth rates were variable over time, with males outperforming females in both radial growth rates and water use efficiency in recent decades. Summer water stress significantly reduced the growth of female trees in the following growing season, while the growth of male trees was primarily favoured by cloudy and rainy conditions the previous fall and winter combined with low cloud cover and warm conditions in summer. Sex-dependent lagged correlations between radial growth and water availability were found, with a strong association between tree growth and cumulative water availability in females at 30 months and in males at 10 months. Overall, our results point to greater vulnerability of female tress to increasing drought, which could lead to sex-ratio biases threatening population viability in the future.

Tranexamic Acid and Pulmonary Complications: A Secondary Analysis of an EAST Multicenter Trial.

Anti-inflammatory effects of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing trauma endotheliopathy may protect from acute lung injury. Clinical data showing this benefit in trauma patients is lacking. We hypothesized that TXA administration mitigates pulmonary complications in penetrating trauma patients. This is a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, prospective, observational study of adults (18+ years) with penetrating torso and/or proximal extremity injury presenting at 25 urban trauma centers. Tranexamic acid administration in the prehospital setting or within three hours of admission was examined. Participants were propensity matched to compare similarly injured patients. The primary outcome was development of pulmonary complication (ARDS and/or pneumonia). A total of 2382 patients were included, and 206 (8.6%) received TXA. Of the 206, 93 (45%) received TXA prehospital and 113 (55%) received it within three hours of hospital admission. Age, sex, and incidence of massive transfusion did not differ. The TXA group was more severely injured, more frequently presented in shock (SBP < 90 mmHg), developed more pulmonary complications, and had lower survival (P < 0.01 for all). After propensity matching, 410 patients remained (205 in each cohort) with no difference in age, sex, or rate of shock. On logistic regression, increased emergency department heart rate was associated with pulmonary complications. Tranexamic acid was not associated with different rate of pulmonary complications or survival on logistic regression. Survival was not different between the groups on logistic regression or propensity score-matched analysis. Tranexamic acid administration is not protective against pulmonary complications in penetrating trauma patients.

Sex differences in human performance.

Sex as a biological variable is an underappreciated aspect of biomedical research, with its importance emerging in more recent years. This review assesses the current understanding of sex differences in human physical performance. Males outperform females in many physical capacities because they are faster, stronger and more powerful, particularly after male puberty. This review highlights key sex differences in physiological and anatomical systems (generally conferred via sex steroids and puberty) that contribute to these sex differences in human physical performance. Specifically, we address the effects of the primary sex steroids that affect human physical development, discuss insight gained from an observational study of 'real-world data' and elite athletes, and highlight the key physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in several aspects of physical performance. Physiological mechanisms discussed include those for the varying magnitude of the sex differences in performance involving: (1) absolute muscular strength and power; (2) fatigability of limb muscles as a measure of relative performance; and (3) maximal aerobic power and endurance. The profound sex-based differences in human performance involving strength, power, speed and endurance, and that are largely attributable to the direct and indirect effects of sex-steroid hormones, sex chromosomes and epigenetics, provide a scientific rationale and framework for policy decisions on sex-based categories in sports during puberty and adulthood. Finally, we highlight the sex bias and problem in human performance research of insufficient studies and information on females across many areas of biology and physiology, creating knowledge gaps and opportunities for high-impact studies.

Investigating the Link between Intermediate Metabolism, Sexual Dimorphism, and Cardiac Autonomic Dysfunction in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Sexual dimorphism influences cardiovascular outcomes in type 1 diabetes (T1D), with women facing a higher relative risk of macrovascular events compared to men, especially after menopause. This study hypothesizes that abnormalities in intermediate metabolism may be associated with cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in T1D. We aim to assess low molecular weight metabolites (LMWM) as markers of CAN in T1D, considering the effects of sexual dimorphism and age. In this cross-sectional study, we included 323 subjects with T1D (147 women and 176 men), with a mean age of 41 ± 13 years. A total of 44 women and 41 men were over 50 years old. CAN was assessed using Ewing’s tests, and serum metabolites were analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). Patients with CAN had lower levels of valine, isoleucine, and threonine, and higher levels of lactate, compared to those without CAN. These differences persisted after adjusting for BMI and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR). In a logistic regression model (R² = 0.178, p &lt; 0.001), the main determinants of CAN included isoleucine [Exp(β) = 0.972 (95% CI 0.952; 0.003)], age [Exp(β) = 1.031 (95% CI 1.010; 1.053)], A1c [Exp(β) = 1.361 (95% CI 1.058; 1.752)], and microangiopathy [Exp(β) = 2.560 (95% CI 1.372; 4.778)]. Sex influenced LMWM profiles, with over half of the metabolites differing between men and women. However, no interactions were found between CAN and sex, or between sex, age, and CAN, on metabolomics profiles. Our findings suggest an association between CAN and LMWM levels in T1D. The sexual dimorphism observed in amino acid metabolites was unaffected by the presence of CAN.

Sex and population differences in the cardiometabolic continuum: a machine learning study using the UK Biobank and ELSA-Brasil cohorts

BackgroundThe temporal relationships across cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) were recently conceptualized as the cardiometabolic continuum (CMC), sequence of cardiovascular events that stem from gene-environmental interactions, unhealthy lifestyle influences, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and hypertension. While the physiological pathways linking metabolic and cardiovascular diseases have been investigated, the study of the sex and population differences in the CMC have still not been described.MethodsWe present a machine learning approach to model the CMC and investigate sex and population differences in two distinct cohorts: the UK Biobank (17,700 participants) and the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) (7162 participants). We consider the following CMDs: hypertension (Hyp), diabetes (DM), heart diseases (HD: angina, myocardial infarction, or heart failure), and stroke (STK). For the identification of the CMC patterns, individual trajectories with the time of disease occurrence were clustered using k-means. Based on clinical, sociodemographic, and lifestyle characteristics, we built multiclass random forest classifiers and used the SHAP methodology to evaluate feature importance.ResultsFive CMC patterns were identified across both sexes and cohorts: EarlyHyp, FirstDM, FirstHD, Healthy, and LateHyp, named according to prevalence and disease occurrence time that depicted around 95%, 78%, 75%, 88% and 99% of individuals, respectively. Within the UK Biobank, more women were classified in the Healthy cluster and more men in all others. In the EarlyHyp and LateHyp clusters, isolated hypertension occurred earlier among women. Smoking habits and education had high importance and clear directionality for both sexes. For ELSA-Brasil, more men were classified in the Healthy cluster and more women in the FirstDM. The diabetes occurrence time when followed by hypertension was lower among women. Education and ethnicity had high importance and clear directionality for women, while for men these features were smoking, alcohol, and coffee consumption.ConclusionsThere are clear sex differences in the CMC that varied across the UK and Brazilian cohorts. In particular, disadvantages regarding incidence and the time to onset of diseases were more pronounced in Brazil, against woman. The results show the need to strengthen public health policies to prevent and control the time course of CMD, with an emphasis on women.

Establishing a Classification System for Predicting Flow-Limiting Dissection After Balloon Angioplasty Using Explainable Machine-Learning Models: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is the primary method for treatment in peripheral arterial disease. However, some patients experience flow-limiting dissection (FLD) after PTA. We utilized machine learning and SHapley Additive exPlanations to identify and optimize a classification system to predict FLD after PTA. This was a multi-center, retrospective, cohort study. The cohort comprised 407 patients who underwent treatment of the femoropopliteal (FP) arteries in 3 institutions between January 2021 and June 2023. Preoperative computed tomography angiography images were evaluated to identify FP artery grading, chronic total occlusion (CTO), and vessel calcification (peripheral artery calcium scoring system [PACSS]). After PTA, FLD was identified by angiography. We trained and validated 6 machine-learning models to estimate FLD occurrence after PTA, and the best model was selected. Then, the sum of the Shapley values for each of CTO, FP, and PACSS was calculated for each patient to produce the CTO-FP-PACSS value. The CTO-FP-PACSS classification system was used to classify the patients into classes 1 to 4. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to validate the effectiveness of the CTO-FP-PACSS classification system for predicting FLD. Overall, 407 patients were analyzed, comprising 189 patients with FLD and 218 patients without FLD. Differences in sex (71% males vs 54% males, p<0.001), CTO (72% vs 43%, p<0.001), FP (3.26±0.94 vs 2.66±1.06, p<0.001), and PACSS (2.39±1.40 vs 1.74±1.35, p<0.001) were observed between patients with and without FLD, respectively. The random forest model demonstrated the best performance (validation set area under the curve: 0.82). SHapley Additive exPlanations revealed CTO, PACSS, and FP as the 3 most influential FLD predictors, and the univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed CTO-FP-PACSS classification as an independent FLD predictor (multivariate hazard ratio 4.13; p<0.001). The CTO-FP-PACSS classification system accurately predicted FLD after PTA. This user-friendly system may guide surgical decision-making, helping choose between PTA and additional devices to reduce FLD in FP artery treatment. We utilised machine-learning techniques in conjunction with SHapley Additive exPlanations to develop a clinical classification system that predicts the probability of flow-limiting dissection (FLD) after plain old balloon angioplasty. This classification system categorises lesions into Classes 1-4 based on three factors: chronic total occlusion, femoropopliteal grading, and peripheral artery calcium scoring. Each class demonstrated a different probability of developing FLD. This classification system may be valuable for surgeons in their clinical practice, as well as serving as a source of inspiration for other researchers.

An ecological population study of lampreys in the Lotka-Volterra tertiary trophic level based on sex differences

This study examines the adaptive changes in sex ratio on animal populations and its effects on ecosystem stability and interactions. The effects of sex ratio dynamics on the ecosystem were analyzed through mathematical modeling using lampreys as the study population. In this study, a two-stage tertiary trophic Lotka-Volterra mathematical model of ecological dynamics was developed, taking into account food preferences, ecological roles, and sex interactions of lampreys. The simulation results showed that a rapid adjustment in sex ratio led to a reduction in environmental loads, which triggered an early rebound increase in lampreys and predator populations. To assess the ability of lampreys populations to adjust sex ratios, this study used a combination of fuzzy integrated evaluation and hierarchical analysis methods. The results of the study revealed the importance of sex-adaptive traits for population development, including increased resource utilization efficiency and population fitness, as well as decreased reproductive success and reduced genetic diversity. Based on the RRT (resistance, resilience and temporal stability) method, this study constructed an ecosystem stability assessment model and investigated the effects of changes in the sex ratio of lampreys on ecosystem stability. The experimental results showed that ecosystem stability was highest when the sex ratio was 0.6 and lowest when the sex ratio was 0.2. Variation in sex ratio may affect the behavior and abundance of lampreys, thereby directly influencing their interactions with other species. Variability in sex ratio provides more resources for predators and parasites of lampreys, promotes their growth, and positively affects ecosystem balance. Simulation results showed that the model was highly stable under different interactions. In summary, this study reveals the important effects of sex ratio on ecosystem stability and interactions, and provides important insights into the understanding of adaptive evolutionary traits of species, ecosystem stability and ecological interactions.

Gene regulatory networks reveal sex difference in lung adenocarcinoma

BackgroundLung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been observed to have significant sex differences in incidence, prognosis, and response to therapy. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these disparities have not been investigated extensively.MethodsSample-specific gene regulatory network methods were used to analyze RNA sequencing data from non-cancerous human lung samples from The Genotype Tissue Expression Project (GTEx) and lung adenocarcinoma primary tumor samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA); results were validated on independent data.ResultsWe found that genes associated with key biological pathways including cell proliferation, immune response and drug metabolism are differentially regulated between males and females in both healthy lung tissue and tumor, and that these regulatory differences are further perturbed by tobacco smoking. We also discovered significant sex bias in transcription factor targeting patterns of clinically actionable oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, including AKT2 and KRAS. Using differentially regulated genes between healthy and tumor samples in conjunction with a drug repurposing tool, we identified several small-molecule drugs that might have sex-biased efficacy as cancer therapeutics and further validated this observation using an independent cell line database.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the importance of including sex as a biological variable and considering gene regulatory processes in developing strategies for disease prevention and management.Graphical

Sex difference in mitral valve prolapse regurgitant volume is resolved by normalization of regurgitant volume to left ventricular end-diastolic volume.

Women with primary mitral insufficiency have a smaller regurgitant volume at the same regurgitant fraction than men. We hypothesized that normalizing regurgitant volume with left ventricular end-diastolic volume or allometric scaling would eliminate the difference in regurgitant volume between women and men. The study cohort consisted of 101 patients with mitral valve prolapse undergoing cardiac MRI. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were performed to assess differences between sexes. Of the 101 patients, 46 (46%) were women. Women had a significantly smaller left and right ventricular end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and stroke volume. While there was no difference in regurgitant fraction between women and men (34 ± 13% vs. 35 ± 14%; p = 0.71), women had a significantly smaller regurgitant volume (36 ± 18ml vs. 49 ± 26ml; p = 0.005). The slope-intercept relationship between regurgitant fraction and regurgitant volume revealed unique slopes and y-intercept values for men and women (p-value < 0.0001). Normalizing regurgitant volume to left ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVol/LVEDV), body surface area1.5 (RVol/BSA1.5) and height2.7 (RVol/height2.7) all had essentially identical slope-intercept relationships with regurgitant fraction for men and women, but RVol/LVEDV had the smallest effect size. In mitral insufficiency secondary to mitral valve prolapse women have a significantly smaller regurgitant volume than men despite no difference in regurgitant fraction. The significant difference in regurgitant volume between women and men is secondary to women having a smaller left ventricular end-diastolic volume.

Women have a higher risk of hospital admission associated with hyponatremia than men while using diuretics

BackgroundHyponatremia is a common electrolyte disturbance and known adverse drug reaction of diuretics. Women tend to be more susceptible for diuretic associated hyponatremia. The aim of this study was to find more evidence whether women have a higher risk of diuretic associated hyponatremia than men measured at hospital admission for specific diuretic groups and whether there is a sex difference in risk of severity of hyponatremia.MethodsAll patients using a diuretic and admitted for any reason to Tergooi MC and Haga Teaching hospital in the Netherlands between the 1st of January 2017 and the 31st of December 2021, with recorded sodium levels at admission were included in this study. Cases were defined as patients with a sodium level &amp;lt;135 mmol/L, while control patients had a sodium level ≥135 mmol/L at admission. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs for women versus men and adjusted for potential confounding covariables (age, body mass index, potassium serum level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, number of diuretics, comedications and comorbidities). Stratified analyses were conducted for specific diuretic groups (thiazides, loop diuretics and aldosterone antagonists), and adjusted for dose. Furthermore, stratified analyses were performed by severity of hyponatremia (severe: &amp;lt;125 mmol/L), mild: 125–134 mmol/L).ResultsA total of 2,506 patients (50.0% women) were included, of which 516 had hyponatremia at admission (20.6%, 56.2% women). Women had a statistically significantly higher risk for hyponatremia at admission than men (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.12–1.66) and after adjustment for potential risk factors (ORadj 1.55; 95% CI 1.22–1.98). Stratified analyses showed increased odds ratios for thiazides (ORadj 1.35; 95% CI 1.00–1.83) and loop diuretics (ORadj 1.62; 95% CI 1.19–2.19) among women. Use of aldosterone antagonists was also increased but not statistically significant (ORadj 1.15; 95% CI 0.73–1.81). Women had a statistically higher risk to develop mild and severe hyponatremia than men (ORadj 1.36; 95% CI 1.10–1.68 and ORadj 1.96; 95%CI 1.04–3.68, respectively).ConclusionWomen have a higher risk of a hospital admission associated with hyponatremia while using diuretics than men. Further research is necessary to provide sex-specific recommendations.

Feeding Habits of Scomber japonicus Inferred by Stable Isotope and Fatty Acid Analyses

Scomber japonicus is widely distributed off the coast of Japan and in the northwestern Pacific. It is an important target for fisheries. To reveal the differences in diet shifts and niche changes of S. japonicus, we collected samples in the high seas of the northwest Pacific (38°59′ N–43°00′ N, 150°30′ E–161°48′ E) from June to August 2021. We utilized stable isotope and fatty acid analyses to study the differences in body length and sex of S. japonicus. The results showed no significant differences in stable isotope values and fatty acid composition between male and female individuals (p &gt; 0.05). Differences in δ13C and δ15N values among different body length groups were also not significant (p &gt; 0.05). Both δ13C and δ15N values showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing across different body length groups. The niche width of S. japonicus in different body length groups first increased and then decreased, with niche overlap among the groups exceeding 60%. Principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that the main fatty acids in S. japonicus were C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C16:1n-7, C18:1n-9, C18:3n-6, C20:5n-3, C20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3. Except for C18:0 and C20:4n-6, the content of the other fatty acids showed significant differences among different body length groups (p &lt; 0.05). The results of the similarity analysis (ANOSIM) indicated that the fatty acid compositions of the 100–130 mm length group were significantly different from those of the 131–160 mm and 161–190 mm length groups (p &lt; 0.05). However, there were no significant differences among the other size groups (p &gt; 0.05). During the growth and development of S. japonicus, the proportion of krill in their diet gradually decreased. Meanwhile, their consumption of zooplankton, diatoms and fish significantly increased. Additionally, S. japonicus also consumed crustaceans, but their intakes of planktonic bacteria and green algae were relatively low. We suggested that there were no significant differences between male and female individuals of S. japonicus. As they grew and developed, the ecological niche and feeding habits of S. japonicus continuously changed.

Sexual dimorphism of colorectal cancer in humans and colorectal tumors in a murine model

IntroductionIn colorectal cancer, men exhibit a higher incidence than women, and there is a disturbance in the levels of sex steroids in serum in patients with this disease. Consistently, in animals, males have greater tumor growth than females in diverse models. Nevertheless, the role of sex steroids is not well established. For that, we analyzed the effect of the principal gonadal sex steroids in both sexes. We determined sex as a statistically risk factor for colorectal cancer with data obtained from GLOBOCAN database.MethodsTo induce colorectal tumors, we used the gold standard chemical method of azoxymethane and dextran sulphate of sodium. To evaluate the role of sex steroids, we gonadectomized independent males and female animals, reconstituting and substituting them with 17β estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. Finally, we determined, in vitro, the proliferation of a human cell line exposed to 17β estradiol, testosterone, or dihydrotestosterone. Sex, as a risk factor for colorectal cancer, showed a statistically significant susceptibility of men over 50 years old.ResultsIn vivo, males develop a greater number of tumors and with a larger size than females. In males, orchiectomy prevents tumor growth, whereas in females, ovariectomy promotes the development of neoplasms. DHT acts as a protumoral agent in both sexes. 17β estradiol reduces tumor growth in females but enhances it in males, showing a dimorphic effect. In vitro studies reveal that estradiol decreases the proliferation of the HCT-116 colon cancer cell line, while testosterone boosts proliferation in these cells. Interestingly, dihydrotestosterone does not influence proliferation.

The impact of energy releasing B-vitamin intake on indices of obesity and cardiac function: a cross-sectional study

Background B vitamins play a crucial role in the balance and metabolism of energy. Energy metabolism mainly benefits from the B-complex vitamins. Specifically, decarboxylation, transamination, acylation, oxidation, and reduction of substrates that are ultimately employed in energy intake require thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6. Vitamin deficiency could lead to chronic disease occurrence. Objectives To assess the impact of energy-releasing B-vitamins intake (B1, B2, B3, and B6) on selected indices of obesity and cardiac function. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed on 491 apparently healthy adults (18-64 years old) between January and May 2019 at Hashemite University, Jordan. Anthropometric measurements were taken, lipid profiles were analyzed, and indices of obesity and cardiac function were calculated. The typical dietary intake of B1, B2, B3, and B6 vitamins was calculated. Results Conicity index (CI) and abdominal volume index (AVI) scores significantly decreased with the increased adjusted vitamin B1 and B6 intake. Also, body roundness index (BRI), weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) scores were decreased with the increase of adjusted B6 intake (p&lt;0.05). The total sample showed a significant inverse weak correlation between energy-adjusted intake of B1 and AVI (r= -0.156, p=0.001) and BRI (r= 0.111, p=0.014). Similar correlations were detected among male participants between energy-adjusted B1 intake and BAI, AVI, and BRI. Female participants had a significant weak inverse correlation between BAI and energy-adjusted B2 (r= -0.180, p=0.029) and B6 intake (r= -0.212, p=0.010). Only B1, the vitamin, significantly explained 2.43 and 1.24% of changes observed in the AVI and BRI scores, respectively (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions Increasing the consumption of B1, B2, and B6 may significantly lower values of indices of obesity and cardiac function regardless of sex differences. Thus reducing the occurrence of obesity and related coronary heart diseases.