Variables In Men Research Articles

Postprandial glycemic response to isocaloric protein load in men with different types of fat distribution

Aim of the study was to quantify postprandial glucose levels in response to isocaloric protein load at main meals in men with different types of fat distribution. Material and methods. The study enrolled men aged 25 to 65 years. Group 1 (n = 17) consisted of obese men with subcutaneous fat distribution (SFD) type while group 2 (n = 16) was represented by obese men with abdominal type of fat distribution (AFD). Group 3 (comparators) consisted of 10 men with normal body weight (NBW). Glycemic response to standard isocaloric protein load was assessed by the results of glucose levels within 3 hours starting 5 minutes after end of food consumption on different days and mealtime. Standard protein lunch was introduced during the second day while standard protein dinner and breakfast were performed at the third and fourth days respectively. Results. It was found that protein intake leads to neither pronounced postprandial glycemic fluctuations nor decrease in glucose levels by the end of the 3rd hour of the test. Accordingly, it also doesn’t provoke hunger, unlike carbohydrate intake does. In men with NBW a more pronounced increase in glucose level after protein meal was found, both relative to the baseline levels and comparing with men from SFD and AFD groups. In NBW group at lunchtime and especially in the evening a double-humped glycemic curve was noted. Glycemic variability in men with different types of fat distribution was characterized by the fact that glycemic increment was more pronounced in men with AFD than in men with SFD whose glycemic curve was almost flat after all meals. Conclusions. Protein intake in men with NBW and different types of fat distribution does not lead to significant changes in postprandial glucose levels. Glycemic fluctuations don’t exceed 1 mmol/L within a 3-hour period after consuming of isocaloric breakfast, lunch or dinner. Protein intake results in greater postprandial glucose levels in men with AFD than in SFD men.

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.

Sex differences in resting sympathetic activity and systemic inflammation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Background: The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is higher in older women than in older men, with worse clinical outcomes for older women. The underlying mechanisms are unclear, but aberrant sympathetic neural control may in part contribute. Notably, >80% of patients with HFpEF, particularly women, are overweight or obese. This observation is important because obesity can augment chronic inflammation, which may lead to sympathetic overactivity. Therefore, we hypothesized that older women with HFpEF would have augmented sympathetic activity at rest compared to older men with HFpEF and similarly aged non-HFpEF controls, which would be associated with chronic inflammation. Methods: We studied 24 women with HFpEF [mean±SD; 70±7 yrs, body mass index (BMI) 39±7 kg/m2], 17 men with HFpEF (71±8 yrs, 35±6 kg/m2), 41 control women (70±7 yrs, 27±5 kg/m2), and 26 control men (71±6 yrs, 27±3 kg/m2). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, peroneal nerve microneurography) were measured during 10 minutes of supine rest. Blood samples were drawn for the measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: BMI was greater in patients with HFpEF compared with controls (p<0.001). There were no differences in resting MAP between groups and sexes (87±12 and 91±16 mmHg in men and women with HFpEF vs. 94±9 and 91±10 mmHg in control men and women, Pinteraction=0.130). Patients had higher HR compared to controls (p<0.001), but there were no differences between sexes (Pinteraction=0.108). Women with HFpEF had greater resting MSNA burst frequency (BF) compared to men with HFpEF (41±15 vs. 31±11 bursts/min, P=0.047) and control women (28±13 bursts/min, P=0.001); however, MSNA BF was not different between men with HFpEF and control men (31±13 bursts/min, P=0.940). All results were similar for MSNA burst incidence (Pinteraction=0.012). CRP was higher in patients than controls (P=0.002), but there were no differences between sexes (Pinteraction=0.148). However, a mediation analysis indicated that resting MSNA BF was associated with BMI rather than CRP in women. On the other hand, we did not observe any relationships between these variables in men. Conclusions: Women, but not men, with HFpEF have augmented sympathetic activity at rest, which seems to be linked to obesity rather than systemic inflammation. This sustained sympathetic overactivity may contribute to the poor clinical outcomes in women with HFpEF. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (P01HL137630) and Harry S Moss Heart Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

(389) Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism and Hematoma Following Placement of Inflatable Penile Prosthetic: Safety of Perioperative Subcutaneous Heparin

Abstract Introduction Patients undergoing inflatable penile prosthetic (IPP) surgery are generally at a higher risk for cardiovascular (CV) complications such as venous thromboembolism (VTE) following surgery, due to pre-existing comorbidities, such as age, obesity, smoking status, and vascular disease, which are associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). The use of perioperative subcutaneous heparin (SqH) along with a surgical drain was shown to be effective in preventing VTE in IPP patients, without increasing hematoma formation. Not all prosthetic surgeons utilize surgical drains postoperatively and this is an unaddressed area of perioperative IPP surgical management. The American Urologic Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology (EAU) perioperative VTE guidelines do not address VTE risk with IPP surgery. Objective In this study we aim to assess the safety and efficacy of perioperative SqH in preventing VTE in IPP patients without the use of a surgical drain. Methods This was a retrospective review from January 2021-July 2023 of patients who underwent IPP placement or revision and replacement at a single institution. Patient demographics, comorbidities, Caprini risk factor scores, VTE risk factors, hematoma incidence, and 90-day post-operative complications were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed comparing these variables in men who received SqH and those who did not. Results We reviewed data for 240 patients. Of the 240, 53% (n=127) received perioperative SqH. The incidence of VTE was 0.9% (1/113) in the non-SqH group, no VTE was recorded in the group receiving heparin. There was no statistical difference in hematoma formation between groups (SqH 5.5% vs. non-SqH 6.2% p=.898). Hypertension prevalence was found to be higher in the SqH group (p=.045). There was no statistical significance between other comorbidities including diabetes (p=.343), average BMI (p=.078), vascular disease (p=.155), immunosuppressed status (p=.604), smoker status (p=.530), history of malignancy (p=.513), COPD (p=.084), MI (p=.820), CVA/TIA (p=.158), hyperlipidemia (p=.157), and heart failure (p=.244). Average operative time was found to be slightly higher in the non-SqH group (SqH 78.1 minutes vs. non-SqH 85.9 minutes p=.032). Caprini risk factor scores were similar (SqH 6.79 vs. non-SqH 6.82 p=.474) between groups. 94% of the patients in this study were considered high risk for VTE (≥5 Caprini Risk factor score). Conclusions Perioperative SqH use without placement of a surgical drain was found to be safe and effective in preventing VTE in patients undergoing IPP surgery. There was no increased risk of hematoma formation or post-operative complications between the groups. Perioperative SqH should be considered in all patients undergoing IPP surgery. Disclosure No.

Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism and Hematoma Following Placement of Inflatable Penile Prosthetic: Safety of Perioperative Subcutaneous Heparin

Background/Objective: Patients undergoing inflatable penile prosthetic (IPP) surgery are at an increased risk for cardiovascular complications such as venous thromboembolism (VTE) following surgery due to pre-existing comorbidities associated with erectile dysfunction. The use of perioperative subcutaneous heparin (SqH) along with a surgical drain has been shown to be effective in preventing VTE in IPP patients, without increasing hematoma formation. Not all prosthetic surgeons utilize surgical drains postoperatively. In this study we aim to assess the safety and efficacy of perioperative SqH in preventing VTE in IPP patients without the use of a surgical drain.
 Methods: This was a retrospective review from January 2021-July 2023 of patients who underwent IPP placement or explant and replacement at a single institution. Patient demographics, comorbidities, Caprini risk factor scores, VTE risk factors, and 90-day postoperative complications, including hematoma formation, were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed comparing these variables in men who received SqH and those who did not.
 Results: We reviewed data for 240 patients; 53% (n=127) received perioperative SqH. The incidence of VTE was 0.9% (1/113) in the non-SqH group, and no VTE was recorded in the group receiving SqH. There was no statistical significance in hematoma formation betweengroups (SqH 5.5% vs. non-SqH 6.2% p=.898). Beyond hypertension prevalence (SqH 74.8% vs. non-SqH 62.8% p=.045), there was no difference between comorbidities or Caprini risk factor scores (SqH 6.79 vs. non-SqH 6.82 p=.474) between groups (Table 1). 94% of thepatients in this study were considered high risk for VTE.
 Conclusions: Perioperative SqH use without placement of a surgical drain was found to be safe and effective in preventing VTE in patients undergoing IPP surgery. There was no increased risk of hematoma formation or post-operative complications between the groups. Perioperative SqH should be considered in all patients undergoing IPP surgery.

Body composition and testosterone in men: a Mendelian randomization study.

Testosterone is an essential sex hormone that plays a vital role in the overall health and development of males. It is well known that obesity decreases testosterone levels, but it is difficult to determine the causal relationship between body composition and testosterone. To investigate potential causal associations between body composition and testosterone levels by a first time application of Mendelian randomization methods. Exposure variables in men included body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass, and body mass index). In addition to whole body fat and fat-free mass, we examined fat and fat-free mass for each body part (e.g., trunk, left arm, right arm, left leg and right leg) as exposures. Instrumental variables were defined using genome-wide association study data from the UK Biobank. Outcome variables in men included testosterone levels (total testosterone [TT], bioavailable testosterone [BT], and sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG]). A one-sample Mendelian randomization analysis of inverse-variance weighted and weighted median was performed. The number of genetic instruments for the 13 exposure traits related to body composition ranged from 156 to 540. Genetically predicted whole body fat mass was negatively associated with TT (β=-0.24, P=5.2×10-33), BT (β=-0.18, P=5.8×10-20) and SHBG (β=-0.06, P=8.0×10-9). Genetically predicted whole body fat-free mass was negatively associated with BT (β=-0.04, P=2.1×10-4), but not with TT and SHBG, after multiple testing corrections. When comparing the causal effect on testosterone levels, there was a consistent trend that the effect of fat mass was more potent than that of fat-free mass. There were no differences between body parts. These results show that reducing fat mass may increase testosterone levels.

‘A Different Voice’ in Peer Feedback: Gender Specificity in Students’ Willingness to Provide Peer Feedback

In the context of the efforts to reach equity in the classroom, peer feedback (PFB) is used, among other participative learning methods, as it is considered to minimize gender differences. Yet, recent studies have reported gender discrepancies in students’ willingness to provide feedback to their peers. Building on Gilligan’s theory of moral development, we tried to refine the source of this difference. We conducted a semi-experimental study during which education students of both genders performing a PFB activity in a face-to-face course were asked to fill out a questionnaire. This allowed us to estimate the link between, on the one hand, the comfort in providing PFB and the willingness to provide PFB, and on the other hand, personal characteristics like self-esteem, self-efficacy, and empathic concern, and intellectual characteristics like self-efficacy in the learned discipline and the proficiency to write and understand feedback. The linear regression analysis of 57 students’ answers to the questionnaire did not reveal gender differences in comfort in providing PFB and willingness to do so, but showed that the comfort in providing PFB was linked to cognitive proficiency in students of both genders, whereas the willingness to provide PFB was independent of any other variables in men and linked to self-esteem, empathic concern, and comfort in providing feedback in women. This result indicates a differential sensitivity to social factors in male and female students, aligning with Gilligan’s model of women’s ‘ethics of care’. Possible applications in education would be the use of PFB to train women in self-esteem or, inversely, the improvement of psychological safety in PFB exercises in groups including female students.

Basal forebrain functional connectivity as a mediator of associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition in healthy older women.

Age-related cholinergic dysfunction within the basal forebrain (BF) is one of the key hallmarks for age-related cognitive decline. Given that higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) induces neuroprotective effects that may differ by sex, we investigated the moderating effects of sex on the associations between CRF, BF cholinergic function, and cognitive function in older adults. 176 older adults (68.5years) were included from the Nathan Kline Institute Rockland Sample. Functional connectivity (rsFC) of the BF subregions including the medial septal nucleus/diagonal band of Broca (MS/DB) and nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) were computed from resting-sate functional MRI. Modified Astrand-Ryhming submaximal cycle ergometer protocol was used to estimate CRF. Trail making task and inhibition performance during the color word interference test from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test were used to examine cognitive function. Linear regression models were used to assess the associations between CRF, BF rsFC, and cognitive performance after controlling for age, sex, and years of education. Subsequently, we measured the associations between the variables in men and women separately to investigate the sex differences. There was an association between higher CRF and greater rsFC between the NBM and right middle frontal gyrus in older men and women. There were significant associations between CRF, NBM rsFC, and trail making task number-letter switching performance only in women. In women, greater NBM rsFC mediated the association between higher CRF and better trail making task number-letter switching performance. These findings provide evidence that greater NBM rsFC, particularly in older women, may be an underlying neural mechanism for the relationship between higher CRF and better executive function.

FKBP5 genetic variants are associated with respiratory- and sleep-related parameters in Chinese patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with psychiatric disorders, especially depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). FKBP5 genetic variants have been previously reported to confer the risk of depression and PTSD. This study aimed to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FKBP5 gene with OSA and OSA-related quantitative traits. Four SNPs within the FKBP5 gene (rs1360780, rs3800373, rs9296158, rs9470080) were genotyped in 5773 participants with anthropometric and polysomnography data. Linear regression and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between FKBP5 SNPs and OSA-related traits. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the effect of SNPs on OSA susceptibility. Interacting genes of SNPs were assessed based on the 3DSNP database, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis for SNPs was adopted to examine the correlation of SNPs with gene expression. Gene expression analyses in human brains were performed with the aid of Brain Atlas. In moderate-to-severe OSA patients, all four SNPs were positively associated with AHIREM, and rs9296158 showed the strongest association (ß = 1.724, p = 0.001). Further stratified analyses showed that in men with moderate OSA, rs1360780, rs3800373 and rs9470080 were positively associated with wake time (p = 0.0267, p = 0.0254 and p = 0.0043, respectively). Rs1360780 and rs3800373 were 28 and 29.4%more likely to rate a higher ordered MAI category (OR (95% CI) = 1.280 (1.042 - 1.575), p = 0.019; OR (95% CI) = 1.294 (1.052 - 1.592), p = 0.015, respectively). Rs9296158 and rs9470080 increased the risk of low sleep efficiency by 25.7 and 28.1% (OR (95% CI) = 1.257 (1.003 - 1.575), p = 0.047; OR (95% CI) = 1.281 (1.026-1.6), p = 0.029, respectively). Integrated analysis of eQTL and gene expression patterns revealed that four SNPs may exert their effects by regulating FKBP5, TULP1, and ARMC12. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FKBP5 gene were associated with sleep respiratory events in moderate-to-severe OSA patients during REM sleep and associated with sleep architecture variables in men with moderate OSA. FKBP5 variants may be a potential predisposing factor for sleep disorders, especially in REM sleep.

Resistance and empowerment against racism: A preregistered study of associations with body appreciation and body acceptance by others in racialised minority adults in the United Kingdom

Research on body image and racism has largely focused on how individual experiences of racism are associated with detrimental body image outcomes. However, research has not yet examined how resistance and empowerment against racism (REAR) – a repertoire of proactive strategies aimed at preventing or challenging racism both at the individual and collective levels – shape positive body image outcomes. Here, 236 women and 233 men who identified as belonging to racialised minority groups in the United Kingdom completed the REAR Scale – which measures REAR along four dimensions – as well as measures of body appreciation and body acceptance by others. Correlational analyses indicated significant inter-correlations between nearly all REAR domains and body image-related variables in men, whereas relationships in women were largely non-significant. Linear model analyses indicated that greater leadership for resistance against racism was significantly associated with higher body appreciation in women and men. Greater interpersonal confrontation of racism was significantly associated with both body appreciation and body acceptance by others in men, but not in women. These results suggest that REAR may play a role in shaping body image-related outcomes in people of colour, but that these effects are also be shaped by the intersection of gender and race.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with male breast cancer: A single tertiary center experience.

The goal of this study was to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic variables in men with breast cancer (BC). Clinical features, pathological characteristics, stage at diagnosis, and therapy data were noted. Survival analysis was performed using the log-rank technique and Cox regression model. Eighty patients were included in the study. In 31% of the individuals, BRCA (BReast CAncer genes 1 and 2) mutations were identified. The estrogen receptor (ER) positivity ratio was 93.6%, whereas the progesterone receptor (PR) positivity ratio was 74.4%. In 16.9% of the cases, HER2 overexpression was found. The median survival time was 120.9 months (70.3-171.5), and the five-year overall survival (OS) ratio was 74.9%. In univariate analysis, BRCA mutation status had no effect on OS (P = 0.50). CA15-3 levels (P = 0.03) at diagnosis and history of smoking (P = 0.03) were significantly linked with OS. However, the multivariate analysis could not confirm these results. We found that BRCA mutation, body mass index, a history of smoking, and alcohol consumption did not affect the OS in this research.

Sex differences and sex steroids influence on the presentation and severity of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy of patients with type 1 diabetes

BackgroundSex differences characterize cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 1 diabetes. Cardioautonomic neuropathy is a common complication of type 1 diabetes that associates increased morbi-mortality. Data regarding the interplay between sex and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy are scarce and controversial in these patients. We aimed to address sex-related differences in the prevalence of seemingly asymptomatic cardioautonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes, and their associations with sex steroids.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study including 322 consecutively recruited patients with type 1 diabetes. Cardioautonomic neuropathy was diagnosed using Ewing's score and power spectral heart rate data. We assessed sex hormones by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.ResultsWhen considering all subjects as a whole, asymptomatic cardioautonomic neuropathy prevalence was not significantly different between women and men. When age was taken into account, the prevalence of cardioautonomic neuropathy was similar among young men and those > 50 years. However, in women > 50 years, the prevalence of cardioautonomic neuropathy doubled that of young women [45.8% (32.6; 59.7) vs. 20.4% (13.7; 29.2), respectively]. The OR of having cardioautonomic neuropathy was 3.3 higher in women > 50 years than in their younger counterparts. Furthermore, women presented more severe cardioautonomic neuropathy than men. These differences were even more marked when women were classified according their menopausal status instead of age. Peri- and menopausal women had an OR 3.5 (1.7; 7.2) of having CAN compared with their reproductive-aged counterparts [CAN prevalence: 51% (37; 65) vs. 23% (16; 32), respectively]. A binary logistic regression model (R2: 0.161; P = 0.001) displayed age > 50 years as a significant determinant of cardioautonomic neuropathy only in women. Androgens were positively associated with heart rate variability in men, and negatively in women. Accordingly, cardioautonomic neuropathy was associated with increased testosterone/estradiol ratio in women but to decreased testosterone concentrations in men.ConclusionsMenopause in women with type 1 diabetes is accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of asymptomatic cardioautonomic neuropathy. This age-related excess risk of cardioautonomic neuropathy is not observed in men. Men and women with type 1 diabetes have opposite associations between circulating androgens and indexes of cardioautonomic function.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04950634.

Physiological and Cognitive Determinants of Gait Variability of Asian Population: The Yishun Study

Introduction: Gait variability is associated with frailty, dementia, and falls. Studies on the association of physiological and cognitive factors with gait variability have seldom included middle-aged adults, even though these adults already experienced loss of muscular strength and postural stability. This study aimed a) to examine and compare the trend of gait variability in men and women, across the adult age spectrum, and b) to identify and compare the contributions of physiological and cognitive factors to gait variability. Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study at a single center. A random sample of 507 community-dwelling, well-functioning adults aged 21–90 years were studied. Cognition was measured using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Physiological factors examined included visual contrast sensitivity (VCS), postural sway, hand reaction time, handgrip strength (HGS), knee extensor strength, and gait variability (coefficient of variation [CoV]). Multivariable regression models were used to examine the association between physiological and cognitive performance with gait CoV. Results: Women walked with greater stride width CoV (p < 0.01) and double support time (DST) CoV (p < 0.01) than men. The stride width (p = 0.01) and DST variability (p = 0.03) were significantly higher in older men as compared to men in younger age-groups. Gait speed accounted for most of the gait CoV variances and attenuated the effects of physiological performance and/or attention cognition on most gait variability, except for CoV of DST and stride width. Adults with better VCS (β = −0.19), faster hand reaction (β = 0.12), and greater HGS (β = −0.15) had lower variability in step length. Conclusion: The trends of stride width CoV and DST CoV across adult age spectrum were different between men and women. Greater stride width variability was partly attributed to greater HGS, possibly to better control lateral stability during walking. Physiological factors outweigh cognition in regulating most of the gait CoV in this study. They are modifiable and potential targets for healthy aging program.

Toenail zinc as a biomarker: Relationship with sources of environmental exposure and with genetic variability in MCC-Spain study

BackgroundToenails are commonly used as biomarkers of exposure to zinc (Zn), but there is scarce information about their relationship with sources of exposure to Zn. ObjectivesTo investigate the main determinants of toenail Zn, including selected sources of environmental exposure to Zn and individual genetic variability in Zn metabolism. MethodsWe determined toenail Zn by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 3,448 general population controls from the MultiCase-Control study MCC-Spain. We assessed dietary and supplement Zn intake using food frequency questionnaires, residential proximity to Zn-emitting industries and residential topsoil Zn levels through interpolation methods. We constructed a polygenic score of genetic variability based on 81 single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in Zn metabolism. Geometric mean ratios of toenail Zn across categories of each determinant were estimated from multivariate linear regression models on log-transformed toenail Zn. ResultsGeometric mean toenail Zn was 104.1 µg/g in men and 100.3 µg/g in women. Geometric mean toenail Zn levels were 7 % lower (95 % confidence interval 1–13 %) in men older than 69 years and those in the upper tertile of fibre intake, and 9 % higher (3–16 %) in smoking men. Women residing within 3 km from Zn-emitting industries had 4 % higher geometric mean toenail Zn levels (0–9 %). Dietary Zn intake and polygenic score were unrelated to toenail Zn. Overall, the available determinants only explained 9.3 % of toenail Zn variability in men and 4.8 % in women. DiscussionSociodemographic factors, lifestyle, diet, and environmental exposure explained little of the individual variability of toenail Zn in the study population. The available genetic variants related to Zn metabolism were not associated with toenail Zn.

Association of myocardial infarction and angina pectoris with obesity and biochemical indices in the South Korean population

The best obesity index for myocardial infarction or angina pectoris (MIAP) risk assessment remains controversial. Furthermore, the association between biochemical indices and these diseases is unclear. This study examined associations of obesity and biochemical indices with MIAP in the Korean population. This large-scale cross-sectional study was based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey dataset from 2010 to 2019. A total of 22,509 subjects (9452 men and 13,057 women) aged ≥ 50 years were included. Participants consisted of 21,426 individuals without MIAP (men = 8869, women = 12,557) and 1083 with MIAP (men = 583, women = 500). Binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association of MIAP with obesity and biochemical indices. The prevalence of MIAP in Korean adults aged ≥ 50 years was 4.81% (6.57% among men, 3.98% among women). MIAP was more strongly associated with total cholesterol than other variables in men (adjusted OR = 0.436 [0.384–0.495], adjusted p < 0.001) and women (adjusted OR = 0.541 [0.475–0.618], adjusted p < 0.001). The waist-to-height ratio (adjusted OR = 1.325 [1.082–1.623], adjusted p = 0.007) and waist circumference (adjusted OR = 1.290 [1.072–1.553], adjusted p = 0.007) showed a significant association with MIAP in men, with no association between obesity indices and MIAP in women after adjustment. The association between biochemical indices and MIAP differed slightly according to sex. Only total cholesterol, creatinine, and platelets were associated with MIAP in both men and women.

Association of Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Stress-Coping Strategies with Somatization and Number of Diseases According to Sex in the Mexican General Population

Somatization and number of diseases are interrelated variables, whose association with stress-coping strategies, according to sex, has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate such association in a sample of the Mexican general population. The general population was invited to answer an electronic questionnaire via the social networks—e-mail, WhatsApp and Facebook—by the research team. A sample of 1008 adults was obtained, of which 62.2% were women, in whom we detected higher levels of negative psychological variables, somatization and number of diseases and lower levels of sleep quality. Positive moderate correlations were found between depresion, anxiety and stress with somatization, on one hand, and with the number of diseases, on the other, and negative moderate correlations were found between sleep quality and the two dependent variables. As for the coping strategies, self-blame, behavioral disengagement, denial, self-distraction and substance use were positively correlated with somatization. Of these, self-blame, substance use, and self-distraction also showed a positive correlation with number of diseases in both sexes. Negative correlations were detected for active coping and the two dependent variables in men and for religion and planning with somatization in women. In conclusion, the coping strategies showed significant correlations with somatization and number of diseases in both sexes.

THE EFFECT OF DIETERY CHANGES ON WEIGHT AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN MIDDLE AGE PATIENTS WITH OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY AND HIGH NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE

Objective: To evaluate the effects of dietary weight loss intervention in middle age with high normal blood pressure and overweight/obesity. Design and method: Men and women aged 25–54 was from working population were observed within the prospective epidemiological study: in subjects with BMI more than 25 kg/m2and BP 130–139/85–89 mm Hg. Was found a strong correlation of systolic BP and BMI was revealed: p = 0.0001 in women and p = 0.0045 in men. The same was true for diastolic BP: p = 0.0001 in women and p = 0.0001 in men. Two groups were formed and followed for 3 years: Intervention and Control groups consisted of 455 subjects (203 and 252 respectively). Dietician’s consultations were used in intervention group. Results: An increase of BMI by 1 kg/m2was associated with increase of systolic BP in women and men (by 1.3 and 0.7 mmHg respectively), (p &lt; 0.05). For diastolic BP increase of BMI by 1 kg/m2was associated with increase in men and women (by 0.7 and 0.9 mm Hg respectively). In stepwise regression analysis body mass explains 27% of systolic BP variability and 11% of diastolic BP variability in men. In women it was 19% and 17% respectively. Last follow up visit attended more than 76% of the participants. After 3 years of intervention a weight loss was noted in the intervention group on an average at 1.17 kg in women (p &lt; 0.05) and 0.63 kg (p &lt; 0.05) in men. In controls body weight increased in women and in men (at 3.08 and 2.89 kg respectively) (all p &lt; 0.05). BP decreased in the intervention group - 3.27 for systolic BP and – 2.09 mm Hg for diastolic BP in women; - 1.92 and – 1.91 mm Hg in men respectively. In control group BP increased: 2.97 mm Hg systolic BP and 1.29 mm Hg for diastolic Bp in women and 2.56 mm Hg and 2.39 mm Hg in men respectively (all p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Dietary approach to weight loss is effective tool in middle age men and women with high normal BP and overweight/obesity for prevention of hypertension.

Heart rate variability in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a case-control study.

Measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) allows evaluation of autonomic nervous system activity. Decreased HRV is associated with autonomic disbalance, poor health and higher mortality. Our objective is to evaluate the HRV in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) through a case-control study. LUTS were considered as the outcome and HRV variables were considered as exposure. The protocol included anamnesis, LUTS assessment, anthropometry, blood pressure and HRV measurement by analyzing the variation in the time interval between consecutive heartbeats or RR intervals. The mathematical study of HRV indicators allowed the assessment of the cardiac autonomic modulation of the volunteers. Eighty nine patients were included in the study, with 34 allocated to the case group (with LUTS) and 55 to the control group (without LUTS). The patients were similar in terms of age and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Among the HRV variables, the mean VLF index for the very low frequency of the spectrum associated with the frequency domain was significantly higher in volunteers without LUTS. Control group patients presented a mean of 113.18 ± 166.74 ms2, while patients with LUTS presented a mean of 69.21 ± 61.98 ms2 (p = 0.032). Men 50-59years of age without chronic diseases and with LUTS have an unfavorable cardiac autonomic profile indicated by significantly lower levels of the VLF component of HRV compared to men without LUTS.

Associations of self-repression with disordered eating and symptoms of other psychopathologies for men and women

BackgroundDisordered eating has been found to be associated with constructs involving self-repression, such as selflessness (the tendency to relinquish one’s needs for others’), and concern for appropriateness (an alertness to information about social comparison and tendency to vary one’s behavior in different social situations). This study aimed to examine associations between these self-repression variables and symptoms of general psychopathology for women and men in a community sample.MethodsTwo hundred and thirty-six participants (92 men) aged 18–76 (M = 29.11 ± 10.10) volunteered to complete online measures of disordered eating, concern for appropriateness (cross-situational variability and attention to social comparison information), selflessness, and symptoms of depression, anxiety and somatization. Structural equation models were built to assess pathways between the study variables for men and women separately.ResultsA MANOVA 2*7 design showed that women scored significantly higher than men on measures of selflessness, disordered eating and depression. For men, selflessness scores were positively and significantly associated only with depression scores. Cross-situational variability scores were positively associated with depression, somatization and anxiety scores. For women, selflessness scores were positively and significantly associated with depression, disordered eating, somatization and anxiety scores. Cross-situational variability scores were positively and significantly associated with depression, anxiety and somatization scores but not with disordered eating scores. Attention to Social Comparison Information scores were positively and significantly associated only with disordered eating scores.ConclusionsSelf-repression is more closely linked to psychopathology in women than in men. For men, self-suppression seems to be associated with symptoms of internalizing disorders, but not disordered eating. Even for women, it appears that self-repression is not connected exclusively with disordered eating, but with symptoms of psychopathology in general. Future research should explore why self-suppression plays such a central role in women’s psychopathology.

Differential Effects of Exercise Programs on Neuregulin 4, Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Men With Obesity.

BackgroundNeuregulin 4 (Nrg4) is an adipokine that is sensitive to energy expenditure and with a potential role in metabolic homeostasis and obesity. This study examined the effects of 12 weeks of three different exercise training protocols on Nrg4 levels, cardiometabolic risk factors, and body composition parameters in men with obesity.MethodsSixty adult men with obesity (Mean ± SD; age: 27.60 ± 8.4 yrs.; height: 168.4 ± 2.6 cm; weight: 96.7 ± 7.2 kg) were randomly allocated into four equal (n = 15) groups: High- Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Circuit Resistance Training (CRT), Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) or a control group. The HIIT protocol involved six bouts of 3-min high-intensity exercise (90% VO2peak) followed by 3-min low-intensity exercise (50% VO2peak). The CRT group performed three circuits of resistance training, where each circuit included 11 exercises at 20% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) and 70% of VO2peak, and with a work-to-rest ratio of 2:1 (40-s exercise and 20-s rest) and 60-s recovery between circuits. The MICT group performed 36 min of exercise at 70% of VO2peak. All measurements were taken 72 h before and after the first and last training sessions.ResultsThere were significant differences between the groups in fat-free mass (FFM), (effect size (ES): 0.78), fat mass (ES: 0.86), VO2peak (ES: 0.59), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (ES: 0.83), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) (ES: 0.79), total cholesterol (TC) (ES: 0.90), triglyceride (TG) (ES: 0.52) glucose (ES: 0.39), insulin (ES: 0.61), HOM-IR (ES: 0.91) and Nrg4 (ES: 0.98) (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) (ES: 0.13) levels, or body weights (ES: 0.51) (p > 0.05). Levels of Nrg4 were negatively correlated with LDL-C, TC, TG, VLDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR (p < 0.05) and positively with HDL-C (p < 0.05).ConclusionOur results suggest that HIIT and CRT protocols have greater effects than MICT protocol on Nrg4 levels, metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, and body composition variables in men with obesity.