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Kumar N, Yadav A. Influence of fetal gender on overall perinatal outcome: a prospective observational study. Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2023; 75:795-802. [PMID: 32241105 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5276.20.05650-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal gender is considered as one of significant predictors of pregnancy and perinatal outcome. The aim of this study is to assess impact of fetal gender on perinatal outcome. METHODS Present observational study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology department of rural tertiary center of Northern India over one year (January-December 2018) on all randomly selected antenatal women at gestation ≥28 weeks, delivering by any route (cesarean/vaginal) and fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled. Immediately after delivery, neonatal birth weight was measured using table top beam weighing scale. Apgar scores at 1- and 5-minutes, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission, neonatal complications were assessed by pediatrician. Adverse perinatal outcome including neonatal morbidities (prematurity, neonatal intensive care unit admission, neonatal complications) and perinatal mortality were compared between two genders. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 22 version software. RESULTS Of 3085 delivered neonates, 1450 (47%) were females, 1,633(52.9%) males and two (0.06%) had ambiguous genitalia, hence excluded. Mean values for neonatal birth weight for males was 2.77±0.540 kg and females 2.65±0.506 kg (P=0.0000). One- and 5-minute Apgar scores for male neonate were 6.81±1.565, 8.51±1.841 and for females 6.98±1.184, 8.70±1.383, respectively (P=0.001). NICU admission rate, need for oxygen and intubation, complications were significantly higher for male neonates (P<0.05) whereas females had higher incidence of intra-uterine growth restriction (P=0.000). Intra-uterine deaths were also more common with male gender (P=0.007). No significant difference was observed between two genders in relation to gestation at birth (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Male neonates had higher birth weight, but adverse perinatal outcome as compared to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naina Kumar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalagiri, India -
| | - Ashu Yadav
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Maharishi Markandeshwar, Ambala, India
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Alemu R, Masters WA, Finaret AB. Sibling rivalry between twins in utero and childhood: Evidence from birthweight and survival of 95 919 twin pairs in 72 low- and middle-income countries. Am J Hum Biol 2023. [PMID: 36864771 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study explores the magnitude and timing of sex and gender disparities in child development by describing differences in health outcomes for male and female siblings, comparing twins to control for all aspects of life circumstances other than sex and gender. METHODS We construct a repeat cross-sectional dataset of 191 838 twins among 1.7 million births recorded in 214 nationally representative household surveys for 72 countries between 1990 and 2016. To test for biological or social mechanisms that might favor the health of male or female infants, we describe differences in birthweights, attained heights, weights, and survival to distinguish gestational health from care practices after each child is born. RESULTS We find that male fetuses grow at the expense of their co-twin, significantly reducing their sibling's birthweight and survival probabilities, but only if the other fetus is male. Female fetuses are born significantly heavier when they share the uterus with a male co-twin and have no significant difference in survival probability whether they happen to draw a male or a female co-twin. These findings demonstrate that sex-specific sibling rivalry and male frailty begin in utero, prior to gender bias after birth that typically favors male children. CONCLUSIONS Sex differences in child health may have competing effects with gender bias that occurs during childhood. Worse health outcomes for males with a male co-twin could be linked to hormone levels or male frailty, and could lead to underestimates of the effect sizes of later gender bias against girls. Gender bias favoring surviving male children may explain the lack of differences in height and weight observed for twins with either male or female co-twins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robel Alemu
- Anderson School of Management, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William A Masters
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amelia B Finaret
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Global Health, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, USA
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Talia C, Raja EA, Bhattacharya S, Fowler PA. Testing the twin testosterone transfer hypothesis-intergenerational analysis of 317 dizygotic twins born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Hum Reprod 2021; 35:1702-1710. [PMID: 32558884 PMCID: PMC7368400 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does having a male co-twin influence the female twin's reproductive outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER Women with a male co-twin had the same chances of being pregnant and having children compared to same-sex twin pairs. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY According to the twin testosterone transfer (TTT) hypothesis, in an opposite-sex twin pregnancy, testosterone transfer from the male to the female co-twin occurs. A large body of literature supports the negative impact of prenatal testosterone exposure on female's reproductive health in animal models; however, evidence from human studies remains controversial. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This cohort study included all dizygotic female twins in the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank (Scotland) born before 1 January 1979. The 317 eligible women were followed up for 40 years for any pregnancies and the outcome of those pregnancies recorded in the same database. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Fertility outcomes (number of pregnancies, number of livebirths and age at first pregnancy) were compared between women with a male co-twin (exposed group, n = 151) and those with a female co-twin (unexposed group, n = 166). Population averaged models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI for all outcomes with adjusting for potential confounders. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE There were no differences in chances of having pregnancies (adj. OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.72, 2.45) and livebirths (adj. OR 1.22; 95% CI 0.68, 2.18) between women from same-sex and opposite-sex twin pairs. Women with a male co-twin were more likely to smoke during pregnancy and, in the unadjusted model, were younger at their first pregnancy (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.21, 3.75). After adjusting for confounding variables (year of birth and smoking status) the latter finding was no longer significant (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.90, 3.20). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The dataset was relatively small. For women without a pregnancy recorded in the databank, we assumed that they had not been pregnant. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Despite the evidence from animal studies concerning the adverse effects of prenatal testosterone exposure on female health, our results do not support the TTT hypothesis. The finding that women with a male co-twin are more likely to smoke during pregnancy highlights the importance of considering post-socialisation and social effects in twin studies. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project PROTECTED (grant agreement No. 722634) and FREIA project (grant agreement No. 825100). No competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Talia
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Edwin-Amalraj Raja
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Sohinee Bhattacharya
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Paul A Fowler
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
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Galiano V, Solazzo G, Rabinovici J, Nahid F, Rina H, Baccarelli AA, Machtinger R. Cord blood androgen levels of females from same sex and opposite sex twins - A pilot study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2021; 94:85-89. [PMID: 32810873 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Opposite-sex twins have shown behavioural and reproductive differences between females and males. These differences may be determined by higher intrauterine levels of androgens among females that were exposed to a male co-twin. The aim of this study was to compare cord blood androgen levels in females from same-sex and opposite-sex twins. DESIGN A prospective study. In this pilot study, we compared cord blood androgens (DHEA-S, Δ-4 androstenedione, total testosterone-TT) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in 20 females from same sex and 20 females from opposite-sex dichorionic diamniotic twins. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) modelling to assess differences in cord blood androgens between females from same-sex twin pregnancies and females from opposite-sex twin pregnancies. PATIENTS Twenty opposite-sex twin pairs (female-male twins) and 20 same-sex twin pairs (female-female). MEASUREMENTS Cord blood total testosterone, Δ-4 androstenedione, DHEA-S and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. RESULTS No difference in the levels of androgens as Δ-4 androstenedione, total testosterone and SHBG was identified between females that were exposed to a female co-twin compared with females that were exposed to a male co-twin. DHEA-S levels were significantly lower among females from opposite-sex twins compared with females from same-sex twins. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary data do not support the hypothesis that females exposed to male co-twins are exposed to higher levels of androgens in utero compared with females exposed to female co-twins. Further studies are needed to explain the reported behavioural and reproductive differences among opposite-sex twins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Galiano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Paolo Hospital Medical School, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Solazzo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jaron Rabinovici
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Farzam Nahid
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Hemi Rina
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ronit Machtinger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Gagliardi L, Rusconi F, Reichman B, Adams M, Modi N, Lehtonen L, Kusuda S, Vento M, Darlow BA, Bassler D, Isayama T, Norman M, Håkansson S, Lee SK, Lui K, Yang J, Shah P. Neonatal outcomes of extremely preterm twins by sex pairing: an international cohort study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2021; 106:17-24. [PMID: 32451356 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-318832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Infant boys have worse outcomes than girls. In twins, the 'male disadvantage' has been reported to extend to female co-twins via a 'masculinising' effect. We studied the association between sex pairing and neonatal outcomes in extremely preterm twins. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study SETTING: Eleven countries participating in the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of Neonates. PATIENTS Liveborn twins admitted at 23-29 weeks' gestation in 2007-2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We examined in-hospital mortality, grades 3/4 intraventricular haemorrhage or cystic periventricular leukomalacia (IVH/PVL), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment and a composite outcome (mortality or any of the outcomes above). RESULTS Among 20 924 twins, 38% were from male-male pairs, 32% were from female-female pairs and 30% were sex discordant. We had no information on chorionicity. Girls with a male co-twin had lower odds of mortality, IVH/PVL and the composite outcome than girl-girl pairs (reference group): adjusted OR (aOR) (95% CI) 0.79 (0.68 to 0.92), 0.83 (0.72 to 0.96) and 0.88 (0.79 to 0.98), respectively. Boys with a female co-twin also had lower odds of mortality: aOR 0.86 (0.74 to 0.99). Boys from male-male pairs had highest odds of BPD and composite outcome: aOR 1.38 (1.24 to 1.52) and 1.27 (1.16 to 1.39), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Sex-related disparities in outcomes exist in extremely preterm twins, with girls having lower risks than boys and opposite-sex pairs having lower risks than same-sex pairs. Our results may help clinicians in assessing risk in this large segment of extremely preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Gagliardi
- Division of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Ospedale Versilia, Viareggio, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, Italy
| | - Franca Rusconi
- Unit of Epidemiology, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital and Regional Health Agency, Florence, Italy
| | - Brian Reichman
- Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Mark Adams
- Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Neena Modi
- UK Neonatal Collaborative, Neonatal Data Analysis Unit, Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Liisa Lehtonen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku0, Turku, Finland
| | - Satoshi Kusuda
- Neonatal Research Network Japan, Maternal and Perinatal Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maximo Vento
- Division of Neonatology, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Brian A Darlow
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Dirk Bassler
- Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tetsuya Isayama
- Division of Neonatology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikael Norman
- Department of Neonatal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stellan Håkansson
- Department of Clinical Science/Pediatrics, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
| | - Shoo K Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Maternal-infant Care Research Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kei Lui
- Royal Hospital for Women, National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistic Unit, 0, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Junmin Yang
- Maternal-infant Care Research Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Prakeshkumar Shah
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kong S, Peng Y, Chen W, Ma X, Wei Y, Zhao Y, Li R, Qiao J, Yan L. Epigenetic consequences of hormonal interactions between opposite-sex twin fetuses. Clin Transl Med 2020; 10:e234. [PMID: 33377650 PMCID: PMC7717068 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies reported inconsistent evidence about some phenotypic traits of females in human opposite-sex twins (opposite-sex females [OSF]) being distinct from females in same-sex twins (SSF). Comparatively, less evidence showed significant differences between males in OS twins (opposite-sex males [OSM]) and males in same-sex twins (SSM). The twin testosterone transfer hypothesis suggests that prenatal exposure of testosterone in utero may be a possible explanation for the differential traits in OSF; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we investigated the potential epigenetic effects of hormone interactions and their correlation to the observed phenotypic traits. In the study, DNA methylomic data from 54 newborn twins and histone modification data (H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K27me3, and H3K27ac) from 14 newborn twins, including same-sex females (SSF), OS twins, and same-sex males (SSM) were generated. We found that OSF were clearly distinguishable from SSF by DNA methylome, while OSM were distinguishable from SSM by H3K4me1 and H3K4me3. To be more specific, compared to SSF, OSF showed a stronger correlation to males (OSM and SSM) in genome-wide DNA methylation. Further, the DNA methylomic differences between OSF and SSF were linked to the process involving cognitive functions and nervous system regulation. The differential H3K4me3 between OSM and SSM was linked to immune responses. These findings provide epigenetic evidence for the twin testosterone transfer hypothesis and offer novel insights on how prenatal hormone exposure in utero may be linked to the reported differential traits of OS twins.
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Gender Discrimination and Excess Female Under-5 Mortality in India: A New Perspective Using Mixed-Sex Twins. Demography 2020; 57:2143-2167. [PMID: 32978723 PMCID: PMC7732804 DOI: 10.1007/s13524-020-00909-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Son preference has been linked to excess female under-5 mortality in India, and considerable literature has explored whether parents invest more resources in sons relative to daughters—which we refer to as explicit discrimination—leading to girls’ poorer health status and, consequently, higher mortality. However, this literature has not adequately controlled for the implicit discrimination processes that sort girls into different types of families (e.g., larger) and at earlier parities. To better address the endogeneity associated with implicit discrimination processes, we explore the association between child sex and postneonatal under-5 mortality using a sample of mixed-sex twins from four waves of the Indian National Family Health Survey. Mixed-sex twins provide a natural experiment that exogenously assigns a boy and a girl to families at the same time, thus controlling for selectivity into having an unwanted female child. We document a sizable impact of explicit discrimination on girls’ excess mortality in India, particularly compared with a placebo analysis in sub-Saharan Africa, where girls have a survival advantage. We also show that explicit discrimination weakened for birth cohorts after the mid-1990s, especially in northern India, but further weakening has stalled since the mid-2000s, thus contributing to understandings of how the micro-processes underlying the female mortality disadvantage have changed over time.
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Opposite-sex and same-sex twin studies of physiological, cognitive and behavioral traits. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:322-340. [PMID: 31711815 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
A scientific interest in opposite-sex (OS) twins comes from animal studies showing hormone transfer between fetuses in utero. A parallel effect in humans may occur, especially for OS females who may be exposed to androgens, in particular testosterone, from the male co-twin. Conversely, OS males may be exposed to lower levels of prenatal testosterone than do same-sex (SS) males. In this special issue, we reviewed published studies investigating potential differences between OS and SS twins in physiological, cognitive and behavioral traits focusing on the Twin Testosterone Transfer (TTT) hypothesis. Sixty articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria including 23 studies published since the review by Tapp et al. (2011). In general, studies of cognition are conflicting, but it is the phenotype for which most support for the TTT hypothesis is found. Less consistent evidence has been found regarding physiological and behavioral traits. We hope that this special issue will stimulate a discussion about how an investigation of the TTT hypothesis should continue in future research.
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Barzilay B, Shirman N, Bibi H, Abu-Kishk I. Newborn gender as a predictor of neonatal outcome in mixed gender twins born with very low birth weight. BMC Pediatr 2019; 19:328. [PMID: 31510951 PMCID: PMC6737713 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-019-1713-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Most studies have revealed that the incidence of morbidity and mortality of preterm male infants is greater than that of preterm female infants. Recently, conflicting outcomes have been reported regarding mixed-gender twins. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between gender and outcome in newborn twins of different gender. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of mixed-gender twins weighing < 1500 g that were born at Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) between the years 1995 and 2016 (158 newborns). The incidence of morbidity and mortality until discharge from the hospital were evaluated while looking at gender differences. Results No significant differences were found in neonatal mortality or morbidity between females and males from different-gender twins. Even after considering confounding variables (gestational age, birth weight & birth order) in linear and logistic regression models, no significant differences were found between the genders. Conclusions Our study suggests that there are no significant differences in neonatal mortality or morbidity among different-gender twins. Our results support the need for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Barzilay
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Zerifin, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Nina Shirman
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Zerifin, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Haim Bibi
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Zerifin, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ibrahim Abu-Kishk
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Zerifin, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. .,Pediatric Division, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), 7033001, Zerifin, Israel.
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Hjelmborg J, Larsen P, Kaprio J, McGue M, Scheike T, Hougaard P, Christensen K. Lifespans of Twins: Does Zygosity Matter? Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10020166. [PMID: 30791679 PMCID: PMC6409769 DOI: 10.3390/genes10020166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies with twins provide fundamental insights to lifespans of humans. We aim to clarify if monozygotic and dizygotic twin individuals differ in lifespan, that is, if zygosity matters. We investigate whether a possible difference in mortality after infancy between zygosities is stable in different age cohorts, and whether the difference remains when twins with unknown zygosity are taken into account. Further, we compare the distribution of long-livers, that is, the upper-tail of the lifespan distribution, between monozygotic and same-sex dizygotic twin individuals. The Danish Twin Registry provides a nationwide cohort of 109,303 twins born during 1870 to 1990 with valid vital status. Standard survival analysis is used to compare mortality in monozygotic and dizygotic twin individuals and twin individuals with unknown zygosity. The mortality of monozygotic and dizygotic twin individuals differs slightly after taking into consideration effects of birth- and age-cohorts, gender differences, and that twins are paired. However, no substantial nor systematic differences remain when taking twins with unknown zygosity into account. Further, the distribution of long-livers is very similar by zygosity, suggesting the same mortality process. The population-based and oldest twin cohort ever studied suggests that monozygotic and dizygotic twins have similar lifespans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Hjelmborg
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
- The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Pia Larsen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland, and Institute for Molecular Medicine FIMM, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Matt McGue
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Thomas Scheike
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, DK-1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Philip Hougaard
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
- Biometric Division, Lundbeck, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark.
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
- The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
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Chernenko A, Hollingshaus M, Robson S, Hanson HA, Smith KR. Tykes, Toddlers, Teens, and Twins of Robust Mothers: Do the Offspring of Twinning Mothers Share in Their Mother's Robust Phenotype? BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2018; 64:102-113. [PMID: 30906507 PMCID: PMC6425720 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2018.1486697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Women who bear twins may possess a robust phenotype compared to non-twinning mothers. We examine mortality patterns for the singleton offspring of mothers of twins compared to the offspring of non-twinning mothers to determine whether they share the hypothesized robust phenotype of their mothers. Using data from the Utah Population Database, we show that both male and female singleton offspring of twinning mothers experience a survival disadvantage prior to age 5, no survival benefit or penalty between ages 5 and 49, and - for males only - a statistically significant survival advantage after age 50. We further examine the survival effects on singletons born before and after a twinset. We observe a survival disadvantage in early life for singleton offspring of twinning mothers born after the twinset for both sexes. In addition, we find a significant survival advantage at older ages in certain categories of male singleton offspring - a likely reflection of mortality selection. The findings suggest that while bearing twins may reflect a robust maternal phenotype, the toll of bearing twins may disadvantage subsequent offspring, especially during infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Chernenko
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, 390 South 1530
East, Rm 301, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Michael Hollingshaus
- Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of
Business, University of Utah, 411 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT
84111, USA
| | - Shannen Robson
- Natural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah, 301
Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Heidi A. Hanson
- Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University
of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of
Surgery, 30 N 1900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Ken R. Smith
- Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University
of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of
Utah, 225 South 1400 East Alfred Emery Building 228, Salt Lake City, UT 84112,
USA
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Fishman R, Vortman Y, Shanas U, Koren L. Cortisol advantage of neighbouring the opposite sex in utero. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171636. [PMID: 30839724 PMCID: PMC6170571 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Population sex ratios naturally fluctuate around equality. It is argued that the production of an equal number of male and female offspring by individual parents should be favoured by selection, if all costs and benefits are equal. Theoretically, an even sex ratio should yield the highest probability for a fetus to be adjacent to a fetus of the opposite sex in utero. This may cause developmental costs or benefits that have been overlooked. We examined the physiological and developmental parameters associated with in utero sex ratios in the nutria (Myocastor coypus), an invasive wildlife species with a strong reproductive output. Using hair testing, we found that litters with even sex ratios had the highest average cortisol levels. Fetuses neighbouring the opposite sex exhibited longer trunks than those neighbouring the same sex, which might imply better lung development. Our results are the first, to our knowledge, to link intra-utero sex ratios and fetal cortisol and suggest that fetal cortisol might be a mechanism by which even sex ratios are maintained via developmental advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Fishman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Y. Vortman
- Hula Research Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee 1220800, Israel
| | - U. Shanas
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Haifa—Oranim, Tivon 3600600, Israel
| | - L. Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
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Mao Y, Ahrenfeldt LJ, Christensen K, Wu C, Christensen J, Olsen J, Sun Y. Risk of epilepsy in opposite-sex and same-sex twins: a twin cohort study. Biol Sex Differ 2018; 9:21. [PMID: 29866174 PMCID: PMC5987428 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-018-0179-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is a complex interaction between female and male sex hormones and the risk of epilepsy. Whether prenatal exposure to higher levels of sex hormones affects the development of epilepsy in childhood or later in life is not well known. The sex hormone environment of fetuses may be affected by the sex of the co-twin. We estimated the risk of epilepsy for twins with an opposite-sex (OS) co-twin compared with twins with a same-sex (SS) co-twin. Methods From the Danish Twin Registry, we identified OS female twins (n = 11,078), SS female twins (n = 19,186), OS male twins (n = 11,080), and SS male twins (n = 20,207) born between 1977 and 2009. The SS twins include monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, and twins with unknown zygosity. These children were followed up from day 29 after birth until diagnosis of epilepsy, death, emigration, or end of follow-up (31 December 2011) whichever came first. Information on diagnosis of epilepsy was obtained from the Danish National Patient Registry. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for epilepsy in the OS twins using a Cox proportional hazards regression model compared with the SS twins. To account for the correlation of twins from the same mother when estimating standard errors, we used the cluster option in Stata. Results We identified 152 OS female twins, 282 SS female twins, 162 OS male twins, and 335 SS male twins diagnosed with epilepsy corresponding to an incidence rate of 9.9 and 9.7 per 10,000 person years for the OS and SS female twins, and 10.6 and 10.9 per 10,000 person years for the OS and SS male twins, respectively. We found a similar risk of epilepsy among the OS and SS female twins [HR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.83–1.24] as well as among the OS and SS male twins [HR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.78–1.14] Conclusions In this population-based study of Danish twins, we did not find difference in the risk of epilepsy between twins with an OS co-twin and twins with a SS co-twin. This applied to both female and male twins. The study therefore does not support the hypothesis that subtle hormone difference in fetal life due to co-twin may play a role in the development of epilepsy later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Mao
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linda Juel Ahrenfeldt
- Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Chunsen Wu
- Research Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jakob Christensen
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Olof Palmes Allé 43-45, DK-8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.,Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California, LA, USA
| | - Yuelian Sun
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Olof Palmes Allé 43-45, DK-8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
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Christensen K, Bjerregaard-Andersen M. Twin–singleton early-life survival in sub-Saharan Africa. LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH 2017; 5:e636-e637. [DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(17)30223-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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