Group Of Young Females Research Articles

Protection of ovarian function and fertility using a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and GnRH antagonist during cancer treatment in young females

Cytotoxic treatment can cause early loss of ovarian function associated with loss of fertility in younger women. To investigate if co-treatment with a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and GnRH antagonist may be useful in preserving ovarian function and fertility in younger women during chemotherapy, we prospectively observed nine young patients receiving different chemotherapies for various malignant diseases and other severe medical conditions who also received simultaneous GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist. Mean age of the patients was 26.56 ± 8.78 years, all were ≤35 years old. Eight (88.9%) patients regained normal basal hormonal profile within 3 – 6 months after the completion of chemotherapy. Median level of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and estradiol was 6.3 ± 8.8 U/l, 8.2 ± 25.4 U/l and 118.0 ± 130.8 pg/ml, respectively. Eight (88.9%) patients resumed spontaneous menses within 3 – 11 months following discontinuation of chemotherapy. Two (22.2%) patients conceived: one spontaneously, and the second following induction of ovulation by injection of gonadotropins. It seems that combined usage of GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist during chemotherapy may be useful in preserving ovarian function and fertility in a group of young females receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Association of female aging with decreased parthenogenetic activation, raised MPF, and MAPKs activities and reduced levels of glutathione S-transferases activity and thiols in mouse oocytes.

This study aims to determine in the mouse whether oocytes from reproductively old females exhibit a different susceptibility to be parthenogenetically activated when compared to oocytes from young females. At the age of 10-12 (young-female group) or 60-62 (old-female group) weeks, hybrid female mice were superovulated using pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 48 hr later. After removing the cumulus cells, oocytes were exposed to any of two different activating protocols: (a) 6-min exposure to 8% ethanol; and (b) treatment with 200 microM thimerosal for 15 min followed by 8 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) for 30 min. Oocytes from old female mice displayed (1) lower total percentage of parthenogenetic activation and extrusion of the second polar body after treatment with either thimerosal + DTT or ethanol; (2) higher M-phase-promoting factor (MPF) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activities; and (3) lower intracytoplasmic levels of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) activity and thiols than oocytes from young females. These data show that female aging is associated with higher resistance of oocytes to be parthenogenetically activated, higher MPF and MAPKs activities and lower intracytoplasmic levels of GSTs activity and thiols.

Sarcopenia, calf circumference, and physical function of elderly women: a cross-sectional study.

To determine whether calf circumference (CC), related to appendicular skeletal muscle mass, can be used as a measure of sarcopenia and is related to physical function. Retrospective analysis of data from 1992 to 1994 of the European Patient Information and Documentation Systems Study. Community setting in France. One thousand four hundred fifty-eight French women aged 70 and older without previous history of hip fracture were recruited from the electoral lists. Muscular mass was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). CC was measured using a tape measure. Anthropometric measurements (height; weight; and waist, hip, and calf circumference), strength markers (grip strength), and self-reported physical function were also determined. Sarcopenia was defined (using DEXA) as appendicular skeletal muscle mass (weight (kg)/height (m2)) less than two standard deviations below the mean of a young female reference group. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 9.5%. CC was correlated with appendicular skeletal muscle mass (r = 0.63). CC under 31 cm was the best clinical indicator of sarcopenia (sensitivity = 44.3%, specificity = 91.4%). CC under 31 cm was associated with disability and self-reported physical function but not sarcopenia (defined using DEXA), independent of age, comorbidity, obesity, income, health behavior, and visual impairment. CC cannot be used to predict sarcopenia defined using DEXA but provides valuable information on muscle-related disability and physical function.

Evaluating body fat in girls and female adolescents: advantages and disadvantages of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

Within the past 10 y, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has become one of the most widely used methods of measuring human body composition. However, DXA has not been fully evaluated against an independent criterion method of measuring body fatness in young females. Our objective was to determine the bias and agreement between DXA and a 4-compartment model in predicting the percentage of fat mass (%FM) in a multiethnic group of young females. The %FM values measured by DXA of 73 white, 43 African American, 14 Hispanic, and 11 Asian females with a mean (+/- SD) age of 13.0 +/- 1.9 y were compared with the 4-compartment values, which were based on measurements of body density, body water, and bone mineral content. The %FM values measured by the 2 methods were correlated at r = 0.90 with an SEE of 3.3%; Bland-Altman analysis indicated an average bias of 3.9%. After nullification of the average bias, an individual estimate of %FM by DXA could be underestimated or overestimated by 6.7% when compared with the 4-compartment value. DXA is an appropriate method for estimating body composition in a group of young females because its bias and limits of agreement are independent of age, ethnicity, and body fatness. However, the limits of agreement of 6.7% could cause an individual FM value to be underestimated or overestimated by 28% relative to the 4-compartment value. Therefore, DXA may not be the optimal method of measuring the body fatness of young females.

Anthropometrics, Bone Mineral Density, and Dietary Intake in a Group of Young Adult Females

Associations between anthropometric, body composition, and dietary intake and measures of bone mineral density (BMD) in young‐adult females were explored. Positive associations were found between body weight and TB (p < .05), lumbar spine (LS) (L2‐L4, p < .01), and total proximal femur (TPF) BMD (p < .0001); body mass index and LS (p < .05), TPF (p < .0001), and total forearm BMD (p < .01); FFST mass and TB (p < .001), LS (p < .01), and TPF BMD (p <.0001), and fat mass and LS (p < .05) and TPF BMD (p < .01). LS BMD had negative associations with protein, magnesium, and iron intake (all p < .05). Average vitamin D intake had a positive association with ultradistal forearm BMD (p < .01). Findings support the positive influence of body weight and soft‐tissue mass on BMD in young adult females.

Aging and gender affect the response of thyrotropin (TSH) to gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) in rats

We had previously shown that GRP acts directly at the pituitary gland inhibiting basal and TRH-stimulated TSH secretion in adult male rats. In this study we showed a gender dimorphism in this response of old animals pituitaries to GRP. In both female and male young adult animals, GRP-incubated pituitaries showed approximately 50% less basal and TRH-stimulated TSH secretion to the medium, without affecting the pituitary content of TSH. However, GRP did not have any significant effect upon TSH secretion in old male rats, but the old female showed the same degree of response to GRP as the young adult female rat, regarding basal and TRH-stimulated TSH secretion, while the TSH pituitary content after GRP incubation was higher than that of the young female group. Our data suggest a loss of thyrotrope responsiveness to GRP in aged male rats that could contribute to the decrease in TSH pituitary stores leading to lower basal and TRH-stimulated TSH secretion. Meanwhile, the preservation of GRP responsiveness could help in the relative maintenance of these parameters in the old female rat.

Lung cancer in young females

Previous studies suggested that the characteristics of young female lung cancer patients may differ from those of other patients. Using the cancer registry at the Lungenklinik Heckeshorn hospital, all female patients under the age of 46 yrs with primary lung cancer 1986-1995 were identified. The clinical records were reviewed for risk factors, stage, histology, therapy, and survival. The data were compared with those of other patients. Of the 4,939 patients 96 (1.9%) were females aged <46 yrs. The percentage of young females doubled within ten years from 1 to 2% of all patients (p=0.03). The main risk factor in young females was smoking. Adenocarcinoma and carcinoids were overrepresented, whereas squamous cell and small cell carcinoma were significantly rarer in the young female group. Young females and young males were more likely to have advanced disease and underwent surgery and/or combined treatment significantly more often than older patients. The overall survival was only moderately better in younger patients. The clinical features of young female patients differed from those of young males and older females, the prognosis likewise depended on tumour stage and therapy.

Body Mass Index in Young and Old Punjabi Females

BMI comparisons between two groups of young (20-25 years) and old (50-60 years) Punjabi females have been made from a sample of 300 subjects (150 of each group) investigated during 1997. The mean of BMI of young and old females is 20.68 and 26.64, respectively. According to the WHO criteria, practically , no subject is in over weight category in young sample compared to 80% of the old sample being overweight. The waist circumference in the old group of females has grown by a z-score of 5.05 over their young counteparts, followed by waist to hip ratio, triceps skinfold and hip circumference. Health implication of a higher BMI and intervention for weight reduction and avoidance of weight gain have been discussed.

The Influence of a Glucose Drink on a Demanding Working Memory Task

A group of young adult females, who had or had not eaten breakfast, drank either a glucose drink or a placebo. Fasting was associated with poorer performance on the Brown–Petersen task, a test of memory. A glucose drink improved the memory of those who had fasted, although it did not influence those who had eaten breakfast. In those who had fasted, the glucose drink resulted in memory comparable to those who had consumed breakfast. Those with higher levels of blood glucose upon arrival in the laboratory had better memories. In those taking a glucose drink, after an initial rise, rapidly falling levels of blood glucose were associated with better memory.

Open‐Label, Single‐Dose Pharmacokinetic Study of Modafinil Tablets: Influence of Age and Gender in Normal Subjects

An open-label, single-center, single-dose, parallel-group study was performed in healthy young males and females as well as healthy elderly males to examine the influence of age and gender on the pharmacokinetics of modafinil following administration of a single 200 mg oral dose. Twelve subjects were enrolled in each of the following three groups: young males, young females, and elderly males. Each fasted (overnight) subject received 2 x 100 mg modafinil tablets. Blood and urine samples were collected at various times up to 72 hours postdose for the determination of plasma and urine levels of modafinil as well as the acid and sulfone metabolites. The plasma concentrations of the individual isomers, d- and l-modafinil, were also determined. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by noncompartmental methods. Modafinil was well tolerated at a single oral dose of 200 mg. The most commonly reported adverse events were headache, fever, pharyngitis, and asthenia. There were no clinically meaningful differences with respect to the incidence rate of treatment-emergent adverse events among the young female, young male, and old male groups. Modafinil was rapidly absorbed after oral dosing and slowly cleared (t1/2 approximately 11-14 hr) from the body. Modafinil acid was the major urinary metabolite, which accounted for 35% to 60% of the dose. Results from this study indicated that there were age and gender effects on modafinil clearance processes. In this regard, the clearance rate of modafinil in males decreased with age while young females cleared modafinil at a faster rate than young males. Stereospecific pharmacokinetics of modafinil were also demonstrated. The d-modafinil was eliminated three times faster than the l-modafinil.

The nature of the spatial deficit in young females with Fragile-X syndrome: a neuropsychological and molecular perspective

Spatial performance in a group of young Fragile-X syndrome females with FMR-1 full mutation was compared to two control groups of mainstream schoolchildren. Performance was assessed across a wide range of spatial tasks including visuo-spatial, visuo-construction, visuo-motor, visuo-perception and spatial-memory. A spatial deficit emerged only on those tasks which comprised a visuo-constructive component, with the Fragile-X group performing worse overall. All other tasks were performed at a comparable level across the three groups. Molecular analysis of the lymphocyte DNA found minimal evidence for a correlation between expansion size and spatial performance. In addition, there was no evidence for a correlation between the proportion of active to inactive unmethylated FMR-1 genes (activation ratio) and spatial performance. These results conflict with recent reports of a correlation between activation ratio and intellectual functioning.

An outbreak of abscess disease associated with shearing

This note reports an outbreak of abscess disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius occurring in a 250 Assaf sheep flock located in Salamanca (north-central Spain). Thirty-nine of the 55 animals (71%) of the young female group (6–7 months old) selected for breeding were affected by the disease. No abscesses were detected in the adult ewes. Clinical cases were first detected 3 weeks after shearing. In consideration of known data on experimental infections of sheep with S. aureus subsp. anaerobius, it is highly probable that the animals in the present outbreak became infected about shearing time. Therefore, shearing was the risk factor most probably associated with the outbreak.

Oral yeasts isolated from normal subjects in three successive trials.

Frequencies and species of oral yeasts were examined in two groups of normal young females in three trials of isolation at intervals of one to three weeks by using a mouth-swabbing method. One group consisted of 78 students of a dental hygiene school (referred to as DH group) and the other group comprised 31 students of a nurses' training school (NT group) in Niigata. In the DH group, the average percentage of yeast-positive subjects was 29 in the three trials of isolation, and 69 isolates in total were recovered from 30 of the 78 subjects. Sixty-one (88%) of the 69 isolates were identified as Candida albicans. Fifteen (19%) of the 78 subjects were positive for oral yeast in all of the three isolation trials performed. In the 15 subjects, C. albicans was found during the experimental period. In the NT group, the average percentage of yeastpositive subjects was 41 and a total of 38 isolates were recovered from 17 of the 31 subjects. Thirty-two (84%) of the 38 isolates were identified as C. albicans. Oral yeasts were isolated from 9 (29%) of the 31 subjects in all of the three trials of isolation and C. albicans was recovered from 8 of the 9 subjects. These findings indicate that C. albicans is the most dominant species among oral yeasts and is a stable inhabitant in the mouth of normal young females.

Study on orthostatic dysregulation and the Schellong test in healthy young females.

We carried out a questionnaire survey regarding the symptoms of orthostatic dysregulation (OD) and administered the Schellong test to 301 healthy young females ranging in age from 18 to 21 years. OD was identified in 62 (20.6%) of the subjects based on the questionnaire. Although orthostatic dizziness was relatively common in the entire group of young females (171/301, 56.8%), this symptom was much more prevalent in the subjects with OD (58/62, 93.5%). There was also a highly significant difference between the systolic pressure decrease during the Schellong test procedure in 22 subjects with OD with frequent orthostatic dizziness and that in the 239 subjects without OD. Although the clinical value of the Schellong test in the assessment of OD and other related conditions has been brought into question because of its relatively poor specificity, we conclude that this test procedure may be useful in screening for OD or autonomic nerve dysfunction, since it presents the advantage of easy application in clinical practice.

Health status, health perceptions, and health behaviors of young adult women.

A descriptive, exploratory study of 76 young adult women enrolled in a women's health course at a large, midwestern university was undertaken to identify their current health status, health perceptions, and general health behaviors. Two groups of young adult females participated, nursing students (n = 38) and non-nursing students (n = 38). The panel of young adult women in this study reported their health as good or excellent, viewed health as very important and generally used positive health practices. However, data revealed that the lifestyles of many respondents were not conducive to promoting or maintaining health. Negative health practices identified were drinking and driving, non-performance of self breast examinations, ineffective stress management strategies and poor dietary and exercise habits. No significant differences were noted between nursing and non-nursing students.

Gait adaptations of young adult females to hand-held loads determined from ground reaction forces

Abstract Although walking with hand-held loads is a fairly mundane activity performed by all sections of the ambulant population, very few studies have been made of the possible consequences for the gait. In this study we investigated a group of young adult females while walking without load, asymmetrically loaded with 15% body weight either in the left hand or in the right hand, or symmetrically loaded with 15% body weight in each hand. Walking speed over a distance of 3.5 m was measured, together with data from two force plates. The latter were used to determine durations of the walking cycle and its phases. The ground reaction forces were incorporated in simple equations of motion to determine the oscillations of movement of the centre of mass of the body, or body plus load, during the walking cycle. Group mean values of measurements made in the loaded situations were compared with the corresponding values for the unloaded situation. Values obtained for the asymmetric loading were used to investigate the effects upon gait symmetry. Our main findings were that loading tended to decrease the cycle duration, increase double support and decrease single stance phase, but the stance phase was not affected. The amplitudes of the lateral and fore-aft oscillations of the centre of mass were reduced by loading. Consistent asymmetries were seen in the body centre of mass oscillations as a result of asymmetric loading. Where comparisons are possible, our results tend to match those of other authors who performed studies under other sorts of loading conditions. The overall conclusion is that the changes even when significant are quite small, indicating that the gait adapts well to loading, at least for the group of subjects we studied and for the loads we used.

Symmetry of anterior tibial muscle size measured by real-time ultrasound imaging in young females

The between-limb symmetry of anterior tibial muscle size was examined in 40 healthy females, aged 18-35 years (20.7 ± 3.9). Real-time ultrasound imaging was used to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the muscle group. With the subject half-lying, bilateral scans were taken and measurements of CSA were made by tracing the muscle group outline using an onscreen electronic calliper. On each scan, two CSA measurements were made and the mean of the two measurements was used in the analysis. Between-side comparisons were made by expressing the CSA of the smaller muscle as a percentage of that of the larger muscle and the mean, standard deviation and range for the 40 subjects were calculated. The paired t-test was used to compare the raw data between-sides, i.e. larger versus smaller muscle. The smaller muscle was approximately 93% of the size of the larger muscle with a mean difference of 7.2% ± 5% and a range of 0.1-20%. The differences between the raw values for CSA were significantly different ( p &lt; 0.001). The degree of symmetry of anterior tibial muscle size has been documented in a group of normal young females using real-time ultrasound scanning, which could be used to examine wasting in patients with unilateral leg injuries or pathology. The degree of normal symmetry for other subject groups of both sexes and different ages needs to be documented.

Association of DR3 with susceptibility to and severity of primary Sjögren's syndrome in a family study.

A study of HLA and primary Sjögren's syndrome (1 degree SS) was performed in 40 index cases and 180 relatives all of whom were Caucasian. The association of DR3 and 1 degree SS was confirmed. In probands, DR3 associated with extraglandular manifestations of 1 degree SS and homozygosity for DR3 associated with younger onset of disease. Familial clustering of 1 degree SS was evident. Definite or probable 1 degree SS (Fox criteria) occurred with a prevalence of 4.4% in the relatives, exclusively in older female first degree relatives and was associated with DR3. The relative risk was greatest in those who expressed anti-nuclear factor, rheumatoid factor or Ro and DR3. We identified a group of young females expressing some criteria for 1 degree SS and the same immunogenetic markers. They may be at risk of full expression of 1 degree SS as they become older. Milder forms of 1 degree SS were common in older relatives but not DR3 associated. 1 degree SS in males was rare and mild irrespective of immunogenetic status. Symptoms of 1 degree SS in relatives were mild or absent. Such individuals will only be identified through a family study or a community survey.

Eccentric Knee Strength of Elderly Females

This study compared the strength of the knee extension and flexion muscles in groups of young and elderly women under two conditions: eccentric exercise in which the muscles were lengthened while subjects tried to resist an external force, versus concentric contractions in which the muscles shortened. Twenty-six females, aged 20 to 29 (Mean 25 +/- 3 SD), and 26 elderly women, aged 66 to 89 (Mean 73 +/- 6 SD), were tested at two angular velocities of movement, 45 degrees and 90 degrees/s, on a KinCom isokinetic dynamometer. Elderly women had significantly lower peak and average torque values in all comparisons with the young female group (25 to 54% lower, p less than .01). However, differences between the age groups were consistently smaller for the eccentric type of muscle action than the concentric, in both knee extensors and flexors.

RIGIDITY: A COMPARISON BY AGE AND GENDER

This study compared personality rigidity in young adults (ages 17 to 21), older adults (21 to 72), male and female groups. A probability sample of 295 community-college psychology students were administered a 39-item, true false rigidity questionnaire. The following research hypotheses were formulated: Rigidity is related functionally to age and gender, with males being more rigid than females, young being more rigid than old, and young male and young female groups being more rigid than old male and old female groups. Measures of central tendency and dispersion as well as one-tailedttests were used to analyze the data. The following significant differences at the .05 level were found: The male group was more rigid than the female group; and the young male group was more rigid than the young female group. Since no significant differences existed between old males and old females, it was concluded that rigidity differences may diminish with age.