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Espinosa Reyes TM, Cordero Martín D, Ángel Álvarez M, Falhammar H. Memory in female adolescents with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Endocrine 2024; 85:1379-1386. [PMID: 38727867 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03806-3] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), the influence of hyperandrogenism and glucocorticoid supplementation on neurocognition is controversial. OBJECTIVES To identify possible differences in visual working memory and verbal memory in adolescent girls with CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency and matched controls. Moreover, to study if any relationship between variables associated with CAH and the scores of the selected memory tests was present. MATERIAL AND METHODS In total 39 individuals were studied, female adolescents with CAH and age and pubertal stage matched healthy male and female controls (13 in each group). Sociodemographic, clinical, hormonal, and neurocognitive variables were explored. In female adolescents with CAH, variables related to the disease (age at diagnosis, clinical form, time since diagnosis, and glucocorticoid doses) were correlated with the scores obtained for neurocognitive variables. RESULTS The mean age was 13.9 ± 3.3 years. In female adolescents with CAH the results were worse compared to controls in Free Recall (p = 0.039) and in Visual Memory Span score (p = 0.016). Age at diagnosis was negatively correlated to number of hits (p = 0.04), number recalled backward (p = 0.03), Visual Memory Span test score (p = 0.04) and Total Free Recall (p = 0.04), i.e., memory was worse with later diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Female adolescents with CAH had worse visual working memory compared to matched controls, but not in verbal memory. Age at diagnosis was negatively associated with the memory tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania M Espinosa Reyes
- National Institute of Endocrinology, Havana, Cuba.
- University of Medical Sciences of Havana, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Dainy Cordero Martín
- National Institute of Endocrinology, Havana, Cuba
- University of Medical Sciences of Havana, Havana, Cuba
| | - Miguel Ángel Álvarez
- University of Medical Sciences of Havana, Havana, Cuba
- Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Havana, Cuba
| | - Henrik Falhammar
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Matsubara K, Ohgami Y, Okamura K, Aoto S, Fukami M, Shimada Y. Machine learning trial to detect sex differences in simple sticker arts of 1606 preschool children. Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2024; 76:343-349. [PMID: 38842380 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5276.21.06067-5] [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: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies suggested that drawings made by preschool boys and girls show distinguishable differences. However, children's drawings on their own are too complexly determined and inherently ambiguous to be a reliable indicator. In the present study, we attempted to develop a machine learning algorithm for classification of sex of the subjects using children's artworks. METHODS We studied three types of simple sticker artworks from 1606 Japanese preschool children aged 51-83 months (803 boys and 803 girls). Those artworks were processed into digitalized data. Simulated data based on the original data were also generated. Logistic regression approach was applied to each dataset to make a classifier, and run on each dataset in a stratified ten-fold cross-validation with hyperparameter tuning. A probability score was calculated in each sample and utilized for sex classification. Prediction performance was evaluated using accuracy, recall, and precision scores, as well as learning curves. RESULTS Two models created from the original and simulated data showed comparably low metrics. The distributions of probability scores in the samples from boys and girls mostly overlapped and were indistinguishable. Learning curves of the models showed an extremely under-fitted pattern. CONCLUSIONS Our machine learning algorithm was unable to distinguish simple sticker arts created by boys and girls. More complex tasks will enable to develop an accurate classifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Matsubara
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Ohgami
- Department of Child Development and Education, Faculty of Humanities, Wayo Women's University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Koji Okamura
- Department of Systems BioMedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saki Aoto
- Medical Genome Center, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maki Fukami
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan -
| | - Yukiko Shimada
- Department of Child Studies, Faculty of Human Development, Kokugakuin University, Kanagawa, Japan
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Sadr-Bazzaz M, Talaei A, Sadeghi MJ, Moradi M, Ahmadisoleymani Z, Vasey PL. Occupational Preferences, Childhood Behavior, and Openness: The Role of Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity in Iran. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024:10.1007/s10508-024-02865-x. [PMID: 38710965 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-02865-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Previous research suggests that both same-sex attraction and the personality trait "openness" are associated with sex-atypical preferences and behaviors. Here, we examined the links between adulthood occupational preferences, childhood play behavior, and openness among Iranian cisgender gynephilic males (n = 228), cisgender ambiphilic males (n = 48), cisgender androphilic males (n = 178), transgender androphilic males (n = 58), cisgender androphilic females (n = 226), cisgender ambiphilic females (n = 94), cisgender gynephilic females (n = 31), and transgender gynephilic females (n = 121) from Iran. Cisgender and transgender same-sex attracted males and females exhibited sex-atypical occupational preferences with the latter group showing even more sex-atypicality than the former. The personality trait openness did not differ between cisgender groups. Transgender androphilic males had a significantly higher mean score for openness compared to cisgender androphilic females and transgender gynephilic females, whereas transgender gynephilic females had a significantly lower mean score compared to cisgender androphilic males. In both males and females, childhood sex-atypicality, same-sex attraction, and openness were associated with sex-atypical occupational preferences. Our findings from Iran provides cross-cultural support for interconnectedness of childhood and adulthood sex-atypicality, openness, and same-sex attraction in males and females who are cisgender and transgender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Sadr-Bazzaz
- Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - Ali Talaei
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Marjan Moradi
- Department of Psychology, Toos Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Paul L Vasey
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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Sadr-Bazzaz M, Talaei A, Sadeghi MJ, Moradi M, Ahmadisoleymani Z, Vasey PL. Association of Recalled Childhood Sex-Typed Behavior with Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iranian Adult Males and Females. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38691343 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2024.2346926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Same-sex sexual attraction in both males and females has been associated with childhood sex-atypical behavior. Gynephilic females recall behaving in a manner that is less female-typical and more male-typical compared to cisgender androphilic females, whereas androphilic males recall behaving in a manner that is less male-typical and more female-typical compared to cisgender gynephilic males. In addition, male and female ambiphilic individuals exhibit intermediate levels of childhood sex-atypicality. In this study, we examined recalled childhood sex-typed behavior among Iranian cisgender gynephilic males (n = 236), cisgender ambiphilic males (n = 51), cisgender androphilic males (n = 191), transgender androphilic males (n = 60), cisgender androphilic females (n = 243), cisgender ambiphilic females (n = 96), cisgender gynephilic females (n = 32), and transgender gynephilic females (n = 122). Both cisgender androphilic males and cisgender gynephilic females recalled elevated childhood sex-atypicality, scoring intermediate between cisgender gynephilic males and cisgender androphilic females. Male and female ambiphilic participants scored intermediate between their other- and same-sex attracted cisgender counterparts. Transgender androphilic males exhibited hyper-feminized childhood behavior, scoring even more female-typical than cisgender androphilic females. Transgender gynephilic females recalled behaving as male-typical as cisgender gynephilic males. Consistent with previous research, our findings from Iran - a non-Western, Middle Eastern culture - provide cross-cultural support for the universality of childhood sex-atypicality as a normative developmental precursor of monosexual or ambisexual same-sex attraction in both males and females who are cisgender and transgender.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Talaei
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
| | | | - Marjan Moradi
- Department of Psychology, Toos Institute of Higher Education
| | | | - Paul L Vasey
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
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Liu J, Zhang Y, Jia F, Zhang H, Luo L, Liao Y, Ouyang M, Yi X, Zhu R, Bai W, Ning G, Li X, Qu H. Sex differences in fetal brain functional network topology. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae111. [PMID: 38517172 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The fetal period is a critical stage in brain development, and understanding the characteristics of the fetal brain is crucial. Although some studies have explored aspects of fetal brain functional networks, few have specifically focused on sex differences in brain network characteristics. We adopted the graph theory method to calculate brain network functional connectivity and topology properties (including global and nodal properties), and further compared the differences in these parameters between male and female fetuses. We found that male fetuses showed an increased clustering coefficient and local efficiency than female fetuses, but no significant group differences concerning other graph parameters and the functional connectivity matrix. Our study suggests the existence of sex-related distinctions in the topological properties of the brain network at the fetal stage of development and demonstrates an increase in brain network separation in male fetuses compared with female fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Yujin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Fenglin Jia
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Hongding Zhang
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Lekai Luo
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Yi Liao
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Minglei Ouyang
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxue Yi
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Ruixi Zhu
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Wanjing Bai
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Gang Ning
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Xuesheng Li
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Haibo Qu
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
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Alamri A, Singh VP, Alshyarba MH, Abdullah A, Ogran M, Alsuayri A, Al-Amri A, Ashraf TH, Alyami F, Alshahrani MS. Prevalence of nocturnal enuresis among children of Aseer region in Saudi Arabia. Urol Ann 2024; 16:81-86. [PMID: 38415232 PMCID: PMC10896321 DOI: 10.4103/ua.ua_90_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nocturnal enuresis (NE) in children is a very common problem managed in pediatric urology. In this study, we present the prevalence of NE in children in Aseer region in Saudi Arabia. Methodology This study was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of NE among 555 Saudi children aged 5-15 years in Aseer region in Saudi Arabia. Data collection was done through a questionnaire, which included questions on sociodemographic data, personal knowledge, enuresis-related characteristics, risk factors, and management modalities. Results This study identified a prevalence of enuresis of 24% of the study population, most of whom were boys. The majority of the parents had a high educational level. Clinical characteristics of the study population showed: 9% have a family history of NE, 2.2% have a history of neurological disorder, 10.0% have a history of urinary tract infections, 66.8% have associated daytime urgency, 67% have urine-holding behavior, and 19.5% have associated daytime enuresis of the study population. Conclusion Our study found that 24% of children in the Aseer region in Saudi Arabia have NE. Our study finding helps us to understand the prevalence of NE in Aseer region in Saudi Arabia, and this can be applied to other regions in the kingdom. Furthermore, this finding helps us to understand the need to raise awareness in the community about NE and the need to educate the nonpediatric urologist health-care provider about the best management practice for NE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Meshal Ogran
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Amal Al-Amri
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Fahad Alyami
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia
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7
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Vedor JE. Revisiting Carl Jung's archetype theory a psychobiological approach. Biosystems 2023; 234:105059. [PMID: 37832929 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper delves into the concept of archetypes, universal patterns of behavior and cognition, and proposes a novel tripartite model distinguishing between structural, regulatory, and representational archetypes. Drawing on insights from code biology, neuroscience, genetics, and epigenetics, the model provides a nuanced framework for understanding archetypes and their role in shaping cognition and behavior. The paper also explores the interplay between these elements to express representational archetypes. Furthermore, it addresses the informational capacity of the genome and its influence on post-natal development and the psyche. The paper concludes by discussing the future trajectory of psychology, emphasizing the need for an integrative approach that combines our understanding of social constructs with insights into our inherent organizational propensities or archetypes. This exploration holds the potential to advance our understanding of the human condition.
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Çarkaxhiu Bulut G, Yorguner N. Unveiling Gender Dysphoria Experiences in Turkish Young Adults: Challenges, Perspectives, and Implications in Health Care Settings. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:4315-4327. [PMID: 37905166 PMCID: PMC10613445 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s437197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Gender dysphoria (GD) emerged as a focal area in child and adolescent development research. While the intricacies of diagnosis and interventions for GD intertwine with diverse socio-cultural challenges, a notable dearth of knowledge exists about the experiences of transgender (TG) individuals during their formative years in Turkey. This study aims to unveil these experiences, shedding light on the challenges, perspectives, and implications in health care settings. Patients and Methods Our study encompassed 125 participants: 62 TGs under clinical follow-up, and a control group of 63 cisgender individuals. Surveys tailored to TG participants addressed early GD experiences, gender-typed activity participation, and psychosocial challenges from childhood through adolescence. Additionally, both cohorts contributed to a survey on attitudes towards community-based interventions, allowing for a comparative analysis of their perspectives. Results TGs identified their GD around age 10.77. Female-to-male TGs showed more involvement in traditionally male-associated activities, whereas male-to-female engaged more in female-associated domestic role-plays (p<0.001). Over a third (37.09%) faced ostracization or bullying due to GD, 45.16% encountered verbal abuse, and 12.90% reported physical violence. Additionally, 40.32% had undergone treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. Most participants supported awareness initiatives, advocating for open gender expression, and normalizing the experiences of TG youth. Furthermore, 88.71% of TGs emphasized the importance of enhancing the expertise of professional groups, such as medical and mental health practitioners, in GD matters, a sentiment echoed by 68.25% of cisgender participants (p=0.030). While medical interventions were the least favored strategy at 32.80% overall, 46.78% of TGs supported it, compared to 19.05% of controls (p=0.010). Conclusion Our study underscores the challenges faced by TG individuals during development. Early recognition, societal awareness, enhanced training in professional healthcare environments, and comprehensive support are crucial for fostering acceptance and reducing adversity among children and adolescents navigating GD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nese Yorguner
- Department of Psychiatry, Marmara University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
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Balthazart J, Roselli CE. Hormonal, Genetic, Immunological: An Array of Mechanisms but How Do They Interact, If at All? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:2963-2971. [PMID: 36376746 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02469-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles E Roselli
- Department of Chemical, Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Oyaga MR, Serra I, Kurup D, Koekkoek SKE, Badura A. Delay eyeblink conditioning performance and brain-wide c-Fos expression in male and female mice. Open Biol 2023; 13:220121. [PMID: 37161289 PMCID: PMC10170203 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Delay eyeblink conditioning has been extensively used to study associative learning and the cerebellar circuits underlying this task have been largely identified. However, there is a little knowledge on how factors such as strain, sex and innate behaviour influence performance during this type of learning. In this study, we used male and female mice of C57BL/6J (B6) and B6CBAF1 strains to investigate the effect of sex, strain and locomotion in delay eyeblink conditioning. We performed a short and a long delay eyeblink conditioning paradigm and used a c-Fos immunostaining approach to explore the involvement of different brain areas in this task. We found that both B6 and B6CBAF1 females reach higher learning scores compared to males in the initial stages of learning. This sex-dependent difference was no longer present as the learning progressed. Moreover, we found a strong positive correlation between learning scores and voluntary locomotion irrespective of the training duration. c-Fos immunostainings after the short paradigm showed positive correlations between c-Fos expression and learning scores in the cerebellar cortex and brainstem, as well as previously unreported areas. By contrast, after the long paradigm, c-Fos expression was only significantly elevated in the brainstem. Taken together, we show that differences in voluntary locomotion and activity across brain areas correlate with performance in delay eyeblink conditioning across strains and sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Roa Oyaga
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ines Serra
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Devika Kurup
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Aleksandra Badura
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam 1105 BA, the Netherlands
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Zhao D, Luo J, Li J, Gao T, Fu P, Wang Y, Zhou C. Tooth loss, body mass index and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults in China: Does gender matter? J Affect Disord 2023; 333:517-523. [PMID: 37086810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown a longitudinal association between tooth loss and cognitive function. Body mass index (BMI) is an essential applicable indicator of health status screening. However, the underlying mechanism among these factors remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the mediating role of BMI in the tooth loss-cognition relationship by gender among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. METHODS This is a prospective and cohort study. We used three waves of follow-up data (2011, 2013, and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, including 10,013 participants aged 45 years or above. Cognitive function was evaluated by Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status, words recall, and figure drawing. The cross-lagged panel model was applied to test the hypothesized model. RESULTS Tooth loss is associated with higher BMI and lower level of cognitive function. We found significant total effects (B = -0.017, P = 0.008), direct effect (B = -0.015, P = 0.022) and indirect effects (B = -0.002, P = 0.010) of tooth loss on cognition mediated through BMI only among middle-aged and older men. For middle-aged and older women, the total effect (B = -0.010, P = 0.125) and direct effect (B = -0.007, P = 0.249) were no more significant. CONCLUSIONS The longitudinal association between tooth loss and cognition was primarily indirect through BMI among middle-aged Chinese males but not women. Public health authorities should remind middle-aged and older males with tooth loss and high BMI to participate in timely medical checkups for improving cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhao
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jingjing Luo
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jie Li
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Tingting Gao
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Peipei Fu
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Chengchao Zhou
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research (Shandong University), Jinan 250012, China; Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
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Kumpulainen V, Merisaari H, Silver E, Copeland A, Pulli EP, Lewis JD, Saukko E, Shulist SJ, Saunavaara J, Parkkola R, Lähdesmäki T, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Tuulari JJ. Sex differences, asymmetry, and age-related white matter development in infants and 5-year-olds as assessed with tract-based spatial statistics. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:2712-2725. [PMID: 36946076 PMCID: PMC10089102 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid white matter (WM) maturation of first years of life is followed by slower yet long-lasting development, accompanied by learning of more elaborate skills. By the age of 5 years, behavioural and cognitive differences between females and males, and functions associated with brain lateralization such as language skills are appearing. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to quantify fractional anisotropy (FA) within the WM and increasing values correspond to advancing brain development. To investigate the normal features of WM development during early childhood, we gathered a DTI data set of 166 healthy infants (mean 3.8 wk, range 2-5 wk; 89 males; born on gestational week 36 or later) and 144 healthy children (mean 5.4 years, range 5.1-5.8 years; 76 males). The sex differences, lateralization patterns and age-dependent changes were examined using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). In 5-year-olds, females showed higher FA in wide-spread regions in the posterior and the temporal WM and more so in the right hemisphere, while sex differences were not detected in infants. Gestational age showed stronger association with FA values compared to age after birth in infants. Additionally, child age at scan associated positively with FA around the age of 5 years in the body of corpus callosum, the connections of which are important especially for sensory and motor functions. Lastly, asymmetry of WM microstructure was detected already in infants, yet significant changes in lateralization pattern seem to occur during early childhood, and in 5-year-olds the pattern already resembles adult-like WM asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venla Kumpulainen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Harri Merisaari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Eero Silver
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Anni Copeland
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Elmo P Pulli
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - John D Lewis
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ekaterina Saukko
- Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Satu J Shulist
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jani Saunavaara
- Department of Medical Physics, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Riitta Parkkola
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Tuire Lähdesmäki
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital & University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital & University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital & University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Collegium for Science, Medicine and Technology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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13
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Mascaro L, Drummond SPA, Leota J, Boardman JM, Hoffman D, Rajaratnam SMW, Aidman E, Facer-Childs ER. Cognitive fitness modulates gender differences in sleep and mental health among competitive athletes under chronic stress. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1118822. [PMID: 36969596 PMCID: PMC10031072 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1118822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Mental fitness is increasingly considered a key component of an athlete’s competitive arsenal. Active domains of mental fitness include cognitive fitness, sleep, and mental health; and these domains can differ between men and women athletes. Our study investigated the associations of cognitive fitness and gender to sleep and mental health, and the interaction between cognitive fitness and gender on sleep and mental health, in competitive athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: 82 athletes competing at levels from regional/state to international (49% women, M-age = 23.3 years) completed measures of self-control, intolerance of uncertainty, and impulsivity (together representing constructs of cognitive fitness), items about sleep (total sleep time, sleep latency, and mid-sleep time on free days) and a measure of mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress).Results: Women athletes reported lower self-control, higher intolerance of uncertainty, and higher positive urgency impulsivity compared with men athletes. Women reported sleeping later, but this gender difference disappeared after controlling for cognitive fitness. Women athletes—after controlling for cognitive fitness—reported higher depression, anxiety, and stress. Across genders, higher self-control was associated with lower depression, and lower intolerance of uncertainty was associated with lower anxiety. Higher sensation seeking was associated with lower depression and stress, and higher premeditation was associated with greater total sleep time and anxiety. Higher perseverance was associated with higher depression for men—but not women—athletes.Conclusion: Women athletes in our sample reported poorer cognitive fitness and mental health compared to men athletes. Most cognitive fitness factors protected competitive athletes under chronic stress, but some exposed them to poorer mental health. Future work should examine the sources of gender differences. Our findings suggest a need to develop tailored interventions aimed at improving athlete wellbeing, with a particular focus on women athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Mascaro
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sean P. A. Drummond
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Josh Leota
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Johanna M. Boardman
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel Hoffman
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- St Kilda Football Club, Australian Football League, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Shantha M. W. Rajaratnam
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eugene Aidman
- Defence Science & Technology Group, Edinburgh, SA, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Elise R. Facer-Childs
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- St Kilda Football Club, Australian Football League, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Elise R. Facer-Childs,
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14
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Malik N, Bzdok D. From YouTube to the brain: Transfer learning can improve brain-imaging predictions with deep learning. Neural Netw 2022; 153:325-338. [PMID: 35777174 DOI: 10.1016/j.neunet.2022.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Deep learning has recently achieved best-in-class performance in several fields, including biomedical domains such as X-ray images. Yet, data scarcity poses a strict limit on training successful deep learning systems in many, if not most, biomedical applications, including those involving brain images. In this study, we translate state-of-the-art transfer learning techniques for single-subject prediction of simpler (sex and age) and more complex phenotypes (number of people in household, household income, fluid intelligence and smoking behavior). We fine-tuned 2D and 3D ResNet-18 convolutional neural networks for target phenotype predictions from brain images of ∼40,000 UK Biobank participants, after pretraining on YouTube videos from the Kinetics dataset and natural images from the ImageNet dataset. Transfer learning was effective on several phenotypes, especially sex and age classification. Additionally, transfer learning in particular outperformed deep learning models trained from scratch especially on smaller sample sizes. The out-of-sample performance using transfer learning from previously learned knowledge based on real-world images and videos could unlock the potential in many areas of imaging neuroscience where deep learning solutions are currently infeasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahiyan Malik
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada; McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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15
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Firestein MR, Romeo RD, Winstead H, Goldman DA, Grobman WA, Haas D, Mercer B, Parker C, Parry S, Reddy U, Silver R, Simhan H, Wapner RJ, Champagne FA. Elevated prenatal maternal sex hormones, but not placental aromatase, are associated with child neurodevelopment. Horm Behav 2022; 140:105125. [PMID: 35131524 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Fetal exposure to testosterone may contribute to vulnerability for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is hypothesized that placental aromatase prevents fetal exposure to maternal testosterone, however, this pathway and the implications for child neurodevelopment have not been fully explored. We examined the relationships between prenatal maternal testosterone and estradiol at 19.2 ± 1.3 weeks, cord blood testosterone and estradiol at birth, placental aromatase mRNA expression, and neurodevelopment using the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, 3rd Edition (BASC-3), and the Empathizing Quotient for Children (EQ-C) at 4.5-6.5 years of age in a sample of 270 Nulliparous-Mothers-to-be (nuMoM2b) study participants. Maternal testosterone levels were positively associated with SCQ scores, but the association was not significant after adjusting for maternal age at delivery, nor was there a significant interaction with sex. Maternal estradiol levels were negatively associated with BASC-3 Clinical Probability scores among males (n = 139). We report a significant interaction effect of cord blood testosterone and fetal sex on both total SCQ scores and t-scores on the Developmental Social Disorders subscale. Placental aromatase was not associated with any neurodevelopmental or hormone measure, but under conditions of low placental aromatase expression, high maternal testosterone was positively associated with SCQ scores in males (n = 46). No other associations between hormone levels and neurodevelopment were significant. Our findings provide a foundation for further investigation of the mechanisms through which maternal sex hormones and placental steroidogenesis may affect fetal hormone production and neurobehavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan R Firestein
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Russell D Romeo
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Danielle A Goldman
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - William A Grobman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David Haas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Brian Mercer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Samuel Parry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Uma Reddy
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert Silver
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Hyagriv Simhan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ronald J Wapner
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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16
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Richards G, Browne WV. Prenatal testosterone and sexually differentiated childhood play preferences: a meta-analysis of amniotic fluid studies. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02386-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSexually differentiated behaviour appears to emerge from a complex interaction of biological and socio-cultural factors, with prenatal exposure to steroid hormones such as testosterone thought to play a key role. Due to large sex differences being present from a very early age, much research has focussed on the influence these hormones may have on play preferences during childhood. We present an overview of the literature and a random-effects meta-analysis linking amniotic testosterone with sexually differentiated play preferences (k = 9, n = 493). The overall effect size estimate was in the theory-consistent direction (i.e., with higher levels of testosterone associated with more male-typical play preferences), though not statistically significant (r = 0.082, p = 0.274). However, after three hypothesised missing studies were imputed via the trim and fill procedure, a significant correlation emerged (r = 0.166, p = 0.014). Nevertheless, one sample was observed to exert a particularly large influence on the outcome of the analysis. Notably this was the second biggest sample and related to the largest effect size estimate. Though far from conclusive, the overall findings are consistent with the idea that individual differences in prenatal testosterone within the typical range predict sexually differentiated play preferences in early life. However, these effects may be small in magnitude and appear to vary considerably across studies.
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17
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Li Q, Xiang G, Song S, Li Y, Du X, Liu X, Chen H. Sex difference in neural substrates underlying the association between trait self-control and overeating in the COVID-19 pandemic. Neuropsychologia 2021; 163:108083. [PMID: 34742746 PMCID: PMC8571566 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are at risk of developing disordered eating behaviors. The present study utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine how trait self-control and its neural mechanisms predict overeating tendencies in young adults during the pandemic. Data on trait self-control, the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) were collected before COVID-19 (September 2019, T1), and data on overeating were collected during COVID-19 (February 2020, T2). Whole-brain regression analyses (N = 538) revealed that higher trait self-control was associated with higher ALFF in the right dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, VLPFC) and the left anterior insula, and lower ALFF in the left fusiform gyrus and precuneus. With the DLPFC, fusiform gyrus and precuneus as seed regions, trait selfcontrol was associated with decreased connectivity of the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, temporal pole, and insula, and increased connectivity between the right VLPFC and anterior cerebellum. Longitudinal mediation models showed that trait self-control (T1) negatively predicted overeating (T2), and the mediating effects of the fusiform gyrus, DLPFC, and VLPFC were moderated by sex. The present study reveals that the brain networks for trait self-control are mainly involved in cognitive and executive control and incentive and emotional processing, demonstrating the longitudinal benefits of trait self-control in alleviating disordered eating behaviors during the pandemic. Sex differences in the neural substrates underlie this association. These finding may have implications of the interventions for behavioral maladjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Guangcan Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Shiqing Song
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yuhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Xiaoli Du
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Xinyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Hong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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18
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Al-Shatanawi TN, Sakka SA, Kheirallah KA, Al-Mistarehi AH, Al-Tamimi S, Alrabadi N, Alsulaiman J, Al Khader A, Abdallah F, Tawalbeh LI, Saleh T, Hijazi W, Alnsour AR, Younes NA. Self-Reported Obsession Toward COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among Undergraduate Medical Students During the Early Phase of Pandemic in Jordan. Front Public Health 2021; 9:719668. [PMID: 34820347 PMCID: PMC8606560 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.719668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated precautionary measures have substantial impacts not only on the medical, economic, and social context but also on psychological health. This study aimed to assess the obsession toward COVID-19 preventive measures among undergraduate medical students during the early phase of the pandemic in Jordan. Methods: Online questionnaires were distributed between March 16, 2020 and March 19, 2020. Socio-demographic characteristics were collected, and self-reported obsession toward COVID-19 preventive measures was assessed using a single question.COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and precautionary measures were evaluated using scales. Using the chi-square test, Student t-test, and one-way ANOVA, we assessed the differences in the obsession of students with socio-demographic characteristics and scores of the scales. Results: A total of 1,404 participants (60% were female participants) completed the survey with a participation rate of 15.6%. Obsession with preventive measures was reported by 6.8%. Obsession was significantly more common among women (9.2%) than men (3.3%) and students who attended COVID-19 lectures (9.5%) than those who did not attend such lectures (5.8%) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.015, respectively). Obsessed participants reported significantly higher levels of COVID-19 knowledge (p = 0.012) and precautionary measures (p < 0.001). COVID-19 risk perception had a mild effect size difference but with no statistical significance (p = 0.075). There were no significant differences in the academic levels of participants (p = 0.791) and universities (p = 0.807) between students who were obsessed and those who were not. Conclusions: Obsession is one of the significant but unspoken psychological effects of COVID-19 precautionary measures among undergraduate medical students. Medical schools should be equipped with means to handle pandemic psychological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq N Al-Shatanawi
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
| | - Samir A Sakka
- Department of Special Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
| | - Khalid A Kheirallah
- Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Abdel-Hameed Al-Mistarehi
- Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Shawkat Al-Tamimi
- Department of Special Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
| | - Nasr Alrabadi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Jomana Alsulaiman
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Ali Al Khader
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
| | - Farah Abdallah
- Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | | | - Tareq Saleh
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Waleed Hijazi
- Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Ayham R Alnsour
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
| | - Nidal A Younes
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
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19
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Ochi M, Fujiwara T. Paternal childcare in early childhood and problematic behavior in children: a population-based prospective study in Japan. BMC Pediatr 2021; 21:397. [PMID: 34507526 PMCID: PMC8431892 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-02838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been numerous reports on the effects of paternal childcare on children's behavioral development. However, little is known about these effects in Asian countries such as Japan, where fathers do not have sufficient time for childcare due to long working hours. This study explored the association between paternal childcare during toddlerhood in terms of childcare hours and the type of caregiving behavior and subsequent behavioral problems in children aged 5.5 years, stratified by sex. METHODS We analyzed data from the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the twenty-first Century (2001-2006), a population-based cohort survey in Japan (N = 27,870). Paternal childcare was assessed at 18 months in terms of paternal childcare hours on weekdays or weekends and the frequency of each type of childcare (feeding, changing diapers, bathing, putting the child to sleep, playing with the child at home, and taking the child outside). Based on the frequency or lack of paternal involvement, six categories of child behavioral problems were assessed when the children were 5.5 years old. Logistic regression analysis was applied to account for the known confounding variables. RESULTS Longer paternal childcare hours, on both weekdays and weekends in toddlerhood, had a protective effect on behavioral problems at 5.5 years of age. The dose-effect relationships were found between the frequency of fathers taking their children outside and behavioral problems in boys, and the frequency of fathers playing with their children at home and behavioral problems in both boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS Paternal childcare during toddlerhood could prevent subsequent behavioral problems in children. Several specific paternal caregiving behaviors, such as taking their children outside and playing with them at home, may play an important role in preventing subsequent behavioral problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manami Ochi
- Department of Health and Welfare Services, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako City, Saitama, Japan.
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Takeo Fujiwara
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Peng Y, Lu H, Johnson SP. Infant perception of causal motion produced by humans and inanimate objects. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 64:101615. [PMID: 34333261 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Both the movements of people and inanimate objects are intimately bound up with physical causality. Furthermore, in contrast to object movements, causal relationships between limb movements controlled by humans and their body displacements uniquely reflect agency and goal-directed actions in support of social causality. To investigate the development of sensitivity to causal movements, we examined the looking behavior of infants between 9 and 18 months of age when viewing movements of humans and objects. We also investigated whether individual differences in gender and gross motor functions may impact the development of the visual preferences for causal movements. In Experiment 1, infants were presented with walking stimuli showing either normal body translation or a "moonwalk" that reversed the horizontal motion of body translations. In Experiment 2, infants were presented with unperformable actions beyond infants' gross motor functions (i.e., long jump) either with or without ecologically valid body displacement. In Experiment 3, infants were presented with rolling movements of inanimate objects that either complied with or violated physical causality. We found that female infants showed longer looking times to normal walking stimuli than to moonwalk stimuli, but did not differ in their looking time to movements of inanimate objects and unperformable actions. In contrast, male infants did not show sensitivity to causal movement for either category. Additionally, female infants looked longer at social stimuli of human actions than male infants. Under the tested circumstances, our findings indicate that female infants have developed a sensitivity to causal consistency between limb movements and body translations of biological motion, only for actions with previous visual and motor exposures, and demonstrate a preference toward social information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Peng
- University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
| | - Hongjing Lu
- University of California, Los Angeles, United States
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21
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Kurth F, Gaser C, Luders E. Development of sex differences in the human brain. Cogn Neurosci 2021; 12:155-162. [PMID: 32902364 PMCID: PMC8510853 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2020.1800617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in brain anatomy have been described from early childhood through late adulthood, but without any clear consensus among studies. Here, we applied a machine learning approach to estimate 'Brain Sex' using a continuous (rather than binary) classifier in 162 boys and 185 girls aged between 5 and 18 years. Changes in the estimated sex differences over time at different age groups were subsequently calculated using a sliding window approach. We hypothesized that males and females would differ in brain structure already during childhood, but that these differences will become even more pronounced with increasing age, particularly during adolescence. Overall, the classifier achieved a good performance, with an accuracy of 80.4% and an AUC of 0.897 across all age groups. Assessing changes in the estimated sex with age revealed a growing difference between the sexes with increasing age. That is, the very large effect size of d = 1.2 which was already evident during childhood increased even further from age 11 onward, and eventually reached an effect size of d = 1.6 at age 17. Altogether these findings suggest a systematic sex difference in brain structure already during childhood, and a subsequent increase of this difference during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Kurth
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christian Gaser
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Eileen Luders
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
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Davis JTM, Robertson E, Lew‐Levy S, Neldner K, Kapitany R, Nielsen M, Hines M. Cultural Components of Sex Differences in Color Preference. Child Dev 2021; 92:1574-1589. [PMID: 33476046 PMCID: PMC8451877 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Preferences for pink and blue were tested in children aged 4-11 years in three small-scale societies: Shipibo villages in the Peruvian Amazon, kastom villages in the highlands of Tanna Island, Vanuatu, and BaYaka foragers in the northern Republic of Congo; and compared to children from an Australian global city (total N = 232). No sex differences were found in preference for pink in any of the three societies not influenced by global culture (ds - 0.31-0.23), in contrast to a female preference for pink in the global city (d = 1.24). Results suggest that the pairing of female and pink is a cultural phenomenon and is not driven by an essential preference for pink in girls.
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Monastra G, Vazquez-Levin M, Bezerra Espinola MS, Bilotta G, Laganà AS, Unfer V. D-chiro-inositol, an aromatase down-modulator, increases androgens and reduces estrogens in male volunteers: a pilot study. Basic Clin Androl 2021; 31:13. [PMID: 34078260 PMCID: PMC8173878 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-021-00131-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgen deficiency affects men in the adulthood, causing several harmful effects at the reproductive and behavioural levels. Since aromatase is an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of androgens to estrogens, and it is responsible for an adequate balance of both sex hormones in males and females, the administration of molecules acting as down modulators may contribute to restore an abnormal enzymatic activity. A prospective pilot study was carried out to investigate the effect of D-chiro-inositol, a putative aromatase down-modulator, on serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone and epiandrosterone from a group of adult male volunteers. Glucose, insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, inhibin B, D-chiro-inositol and myo-inositol serum levels were also measured. RESULTS Male volunteers were selected according to age and body mass index. Subjects with altered glycemia and/or hormonal status, due to advanced age or abnormal weight, were enrolled in the study. Each of the 10 volunteers enrolled took oral D-chiro-inositol (1 g/day) for 1 month. Serum assays of selected markers were performed at baseline (control) and after treatment. D-chiro-inositol administration was associated to reduced serum levels of estrone (- 85.0%) and estradiol (- 14.4%), and increased serum levels of testosterone (+ 23.4%) and dehydroepiandrosterone (+ 13.8%). In addition, epiandrosterone levels were higher (+39%) after treatment. On the other hand, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and inhibin B did not change. A trend toward a decrease of glycemia, insulinemia and Homeostatic Model Assessment index was observed after D-chiro-inositol treatment, although differences did not reach statistical significance. D-chiro-inositol treatment did not cause any noticeable adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS Increased androgens and decreased estrogens seem to confirm that D-chiro-inositol acts as an aromatase down-modulator, but with a still unknown mechanism of action. This pilot study opens up new perspectives of research and therapeutic applications for D-chiro-inositol at different dosages and length of treatment. Authorization number 005/2020 released by the Local Ethics Committee of Alma Res Fertility Center, Rome. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04615767 (registry: ClinicalTrials.gov) Date of registration: November 3, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Monastra
- Systems Biology Group Lab, Rome, Italy
- Experts Group on Inositols in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), Rome, Italy
| | - Mónica Vazquez-Levin
- Experts Group on Inositols in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), Rome, Italy
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME, CONICET-FIBYME). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Salome Bezerra Espinola
- Systems Biology Group Lab, Rome, Italy
- Experts Group on Inositols in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), Rome, Italy
- Alma Res Fertility Center, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Simone Laganà
- Experts Group on Inositols in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), Rome, Italy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Filippo Del Ponte" Hospital, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Vittorio Unfer
- Systems Biology Group Lab, Rome, Italy.
- Experts Group on Inositols in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), Rome, Italy.
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24
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Ambhore NS, Kalidhindi RSR, Sathish V. Sex-Steroid Signaling in Lung Diseases and Inflammation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1303:243-273. [PMID: 33788197 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-63046-1_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Sex/gender difference exists in the physiology of multiple organs. Recent epidemiological reports suggest the influence of sex-steroids in modulating a wide variety of disease conditions. Sex-based discrepancies have been reported in pulmonary physiology and various chronic inflammatory responses associated with lung diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and rare lung diseases. Notably, emerging clinical evidence suggests that several respiratory diseases affect women to a greater degree, with increased severity and prevalence than men. Although sex-specific differences in various lung diseases are evident, such differences are inherent to sex-steroids, which are major biological variables in men and women who play a central role to control these differences. The focus of this chapter is to comprehend the sex-steroid biology in inflammatory lung diseases and to understand the mechanistic role of sex-steroids signaling in regulating these diseases. Exploring the roles of sex-steroid signaling in the regulation of lung diseases and inflammation is crucial for the development of novel and effective therapy. Overall, we will illustrate the importance of differential sex-steroid signaling in lung diseases and their possible clinical implications for the development of complementary and alternative medicine to treat lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilesh Sudhakar Ambhore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | | | - Venkatachalem Sathish
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA.
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25
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Hajovsky DB, Caemmerer JM, Mason BA. Gender differences in children’s social skills growth trajectories. APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/10888691.2021.1890592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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26
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Bogdan MS, Slavic DO, Babovic SS, Zvezdin BS, Kolarov VP, Kljajic VL. Olfactory Perception and Different Decongestive Response of the Nasal Mucosa During Menstrual Cycle. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2021; 35:693-699. [PMID: 33496600 DOI: 10.1177/1945892421990308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex hormones are known to have some influence on nasal functions, but their effect on the decongestive response of the nasal mucosa during menstrual cycle is still undetermined. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the nasal physiology, the interconnectedness of olfactory and respiratory nasal function and the decongestive response of the nasal mucosa during menstrual cycle. METHODS This study included 101 healthy women aged 23.26 ± 4.81 years with a regular menstrual cycle. The nasal respiratory function and the decongestive response of the nasal mucosa were examined by rhinomanometry. Subjective sense of nasal obstruction and the subjective odor intensity were assessed by standardized questionnaires. The odor identification ability was assessed by Sniffin' Sticks test. RESULTS Statistically significant higher values of nasal resistance (0.311 ± 0.107 Pa/cm3/s) and NOSE score (11.893 ± 13.83) were observed in the ovulatory phase compared to the luteal (0.281 ± 0.084 Pa/cm3/s and 9.029 ± 11.12). An odor identification test score was significantly higher in luteal phase (12.476 ± 1.48) compared to the ovulatory phase (11.971 ± 1.51), opposite of odor intensity. The difference of nasal resistance before and after decongestion was significantly higher in ovulatory phase (0.105 ± 0.097 Pa/cm3/s) compared to the luteal (0.084 ± 0.079 Pa/cm3/s). Correlation between subjective and objective parameters of the examinated nasal functions was not statistically significant in any menstrual phase. CONCLUSION In the population of women studied, total nasal resistance and NOSE score were significantly lower in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Odor identification was significantly higher in the luteal phase but odor intensity significantly higher in the ovulatory phase. The decongestive response of nasal mucosa was better in the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja S Bogdan
- The Clinic for Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases and Acute Pneumopathies, Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
| | | | | | - Biljana S Zvezdin
- The Clinic for Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases and Acute Pneumopathies, Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Violeta P Kolarov
- The Clinic for Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases and Acute Pneumopathies, Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Vladimir L Kljajic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Novi Sad, Serbia
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27
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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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Mu SH, Yuan BK, Tan LH. Effect of Gender on Development of Hippocampal Subregions From Childhood to Adulthood. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:611057. [PMID: 33343321 PMCID: PMC7744655 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.611057] [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: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is known to be comprised of several subfields, but the developmental trajectories of these subfields are under debate. In this study, we analyzed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from a cross-sectional sample (198 healthy Chinese) using an automated segmentation tool to delineate the development of the hippocampal subregions from 6 to 26 years of age. We also examined whether gender and hemispheric differences influence the development of these subregions. For the whole hippocampus, the trajectory of development was observed to be an inverse-u. A significant increase in volume with age was found for most of the subregions, except for the L/R-parasubiculum, L/R-fimbria, and L-HATA. Gender-related differences were also found in the development of most subregions, especially for the hippocampal tail, CA1, molecular layer HP, GC-DG, CA3, and CA4, which showed a consistent increase in females and an early increase followed by a decrease in males. A comparison of the average volumes showed that the right whole hippocampus was significantly larger, along with the R-presubiculum, R-hippocampal-fissure, L/R-CA1, and L/R-molecular layer HP in males in comparison to females. Additionally, the average volume of the right hemisphere was shown to be significantly larger for the hippocampal tail, CA1, molecular layer HP, GC-DG, CA3, and CA4. However, for the presubiculum, parasubiculum, and fimbria, the left side was shown to be larger. In conclusion, the hippocampal subregions appear to develop in various ways from childhood to adulthood, with both gender and hemispheric differences affecting their development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Hua Mu
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Ke Yuan
- Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Hai Tan
- Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
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29
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Tan GCY, Chu C, Lee YT, Tan CCK, Ashburner J, Wood NW, Frackowiak RS. The influence of microsatellite polymorphisms in sex steroid receptor genes ESR1, ESR2 and AR on sex differences in brain structure. Neuroimage 2020; 221:117087. [PMID: 32593802 PMCID: PMC8960998 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR), oestrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and oestrogen receptor beta (ESR2) play essential roles in mediating the effect of sex hormones on sex differences in the brain. Using Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and gene sizing in two independent samples (discovery n = 173, replication = 61), we determine the common and unique influences on brain sex differences in grey (GM) and white matter (WM) volume between repeat lengths (n) of microsatellite polymorphisms AR(CAG)n, ESR1(TA)n and ESR2(CA)n. In the hypothalamus, temporal lobes, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior insula and prefrontal cortex, we find increased GM volume with increasing AR(CAG)n across sexes, decreasing ESR1(TA)n across sexes and decreasing ESR2(CA)n in females. Uniquely, AR(CAG)n was positively associated with dorsolateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal GM volume and the anterior corona radiata, left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, thalamus and internal capsule WM volume. ESR1(TA)n was negatively associated with the left superior corona radiata, left cingulum and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus WM volume uniquely. ESR2(CA)n was negatively associated with right fusiform and posterior cingulate cortex uniquely. We thus describe the neuroanatomical correlates of three microsatellite polymorphisms of steroid hormone receptors and their relationship to sex differences. Microsatellite polymorphisms in sex hormone receptor genes influence volume in regions of brain sex difference AR(CAG)n repeat length is positively associated with grey and white matter volume across males and females ESR1(TA)n repeat length is negatively associated with grey and white matter volume across males and females ESR2(CA)n repeat length is negatively associated with grey matter volume in females but not in males Repeat length was associated with volume in the hypothalamus, insula, temporal cortices, prefrontal cortices, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi in the three genes. These regions were largely replicated in an independent cohort acquired on a separate scanner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Chern-Yee Tan
- Institute of Mental Health, National Healthcare Group, Singapore; Clinical Imaging Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A(∗)STAR), Singapore.
| | - Carlton Chu
- DeepMind Technologies Limited, United Kingdom, UK
| | - Yu Teng Lee
- University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - John Ashburner
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London (UCL), United Kingdom, UK
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30
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Rostovtseva VV, Mezentseva AA, Windhager S, Butovskaya ML. Second-to-fourth digit ratio and facial shape in Buryats of Southern Siberia. Early Hum Dev 2020; 149:105138. [PMID: 32750625 PMCID: PMC7374133 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2nd-to-4th digit ratio (2D:4D) is a putative predictor of a prenatal exposure to sex hormones. 2D:4D is sexually dimorphic (males < females). Studies, linking digit ratio and full facial shapes among Europeans, show that a low 2D:4D is associated with a set of male-specific facial features. Buryats - Mongolian people from Southern Siberia - demonstrate a different pattern of facial sexual dimorphism than Europeans (narrower and more vertically elongated faces in men as opposed to women). AIM The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between facial shape and the 2D:4D in comparison to the pattern of facial sexual dimorphism in Buryats. SUBJECTS Buryats: 88 men and 80 women aged 20 ± 2 years. OUTCOME MEASURES To assess relationship between facial shape and 2D:4D we used a geometric morphometric approach based on standardized full-face frontal photographs and direct measurements of the digit lengths among right-handed individuals. RESULTS The results revealed that 2D:4D was associated with facial morphology in Buryat men, and to a lesser extent in women. Narrower faces, elongated in the vertical direction, and a narrower lower facial outline, were characteristic of Buryat men with low 2D:4D ratios, which corresponded to the male-like facial shapes in Buryats. CONCLUSIONS In Europeans, such facial features were reported for men with a high 2D:4D, which corresponded more to female-like European facial shapes. Hence, our results show that sex-specific morphogenesis in humans is multidirectional, and that digit ratio is capable of predicting sex-specific facial traits even in populations with differing sexually-dimorphic morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria V. Rostovtseva
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy pr-t 32a, Moscow 119334, Russia,Corresponding author
| | - Anna A. Mezentseva
- Department of Ethnology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lomonosovskiy pr-t 27/4, Moscow 119192, Russia
| | - Sonja Windhager
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Marina L. Butovskaya
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy pr-t 32a, Moscow 119334, Russia,National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya str. 20, Moscow 101000, Russia
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31
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Körner LM, Schaper ML, Pause BM, Heil M. Parent-Reports of Sex-Typed Play Preference in Preschool Children: Relationships to 2D:4D Digit Ratio and Older Siblings' Sex. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2020; 49:2715-2724. [PMID: 32222854 PMCID: PMC7497428 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01662-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Sex-typed play behavior shows large sex differences and seems to be affected by prenatal sex hormones. For example, a smaller, more male-typical ratio between the second and fourth digit length (2D:4D), a proposed marker for prenatal testosterone exposure, has been shown to be related to sex-typed play preference in childhood. Nevertheless, it is still being debated whether 2D:4D displays a stable sex difference throughout childhood, as there are few longitudinal studies. In the present study, children's 2D:4D was measured on both hands on four occasions from early infancy to early childhood (T1: 5 months, T2: 9 months, T3: 20 months, and T4: 40 months) providing the rare possibility to test the temporal stability of the sex difference. Parents completed the Preschool Activities Inventory at T4 and reported on the number of older brothers and sisters as a measure for socialization influences. Parents described boys as playing more masculine and less feminine than girls. Boys had smaller 2D:4D than girls at all measurements (T1-T4) and on both hands (right/left). Nevertheless, 2D:4D increased significantly from T3 to T4 in both sexes. Girls, but not boys, who were described as playing more masculine and less feminine had more masculine 2D:4D ratios at T1-T4 on both hands (except for right 2D:4D at T2 and T3) and had more older brothers and fewer older sisters. These data underline the stability of the sex difference in 2D:4D and show the importance of both biological and social influences on sex-typed play behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Körner
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Marie Luisa Schaper
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bettina M Pause
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Martin Heil
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Lucisano RV, Pfeifer LI, Santos JLF, Stagnitti K. Construct validity of the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment-For 3-year-old Brazilian children. Aust Occup Ther J 2020; 68:43-53. [PMID: 32949035 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Play is an indication of children's development and how they function. In occupational therapy it is regarded as an important occupation of childhood. Assessment of a child's play should be included in the test batteries of occupational therapists, who understand the construct validity of the assessment they have chosen. Our aim was to provide evidence of reliability, internal consistency and hypotheses testing of the construct validity of the cross-culturally adapted version of the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment. METHODS Two hundred typically developing Brazilian children aged 3 years were evaluated individually using the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment. RESULTS The internal consistency showed a Cronbach's alpha coefficient to Percentage of Pretend Play Actions (PEPA) of 0.86 and NOS of 0.81. There were significant differences between the younger children (aged 36-41 months) and the older children (aged 42-47 months) for elaborate play across both conventional-imaginative play (p = .002), symbolic play (p = .012), and the combined score (p = .005). There were significant differences between younger and older girls for elaborate play with symbolic play materials (p = .009) and elaborate play overall (p = .039). There were significant differences between young and older boys for elaborate play with conventional toys (p = .006) and elaborate play overall (p = .025). There were no significant differences for object substitution or imitated actions. CONCLUSION The measurement properties of the cross-culturally adapted version of the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment for 3-year-old Brazilian children identified evidence for response processes, internal structure, with discussion of consequences of testing for 3-year-old Brazilian children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luzia Iara Pfeifer
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Jair Lício Ferreira Santos
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Karen Stagnitti
- Occupational Science and Therapy School of Health and Social Development, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia
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Frohard-Dourlent H, Saewyc E, Peter T, MacAulay M. Conceptualizing Gender: Lessons from the Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey. SIGNS 2020. [DOI: 10.1086/709302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Liu L, Escudero P, Quattropani C, Robbins RA. Factors affecting infant toy preferences: Age, gender, experience, motor development, and parental attitude. INFANCY 2020; 25:593-617. [PMID: 32857444 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In contrast to the anecdotal claim that "male infants like cars and female infants like dolls," previous studies have reported mixed findings for gender-related toy preferences in infancy. In Experiment 1, we explored the emergence of gender-related preferences using face-car pairs (Experiment 1a, n = 51, 6-20 months) or face-stove pairs (Experiment 1b, n = 54, 6-20 months). In Experiment 2 (n = 42, 14-16 months), we explore the effect of toy properties, infants' past toy exposure, activity levels, and parental attitudes on such preferences using a wider range of toys. For both studies, infants demonstrated a general preference for faced stimuli over other objects, except for male infants who showed no preference between dolls and cars at around 15 months. Infants' prior experience participating in motor-intensive activities, with wheeled toys and parental attitudes appeared to relate to female infants' preferences for dynamic toys. These results indicate a range of factors influence gendered toy preferences and suggest that nurture plays an important role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liquan Liu
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language, Australian Research Council, Canberra, ACT, Australia.,Center of Multilingualism across the Lifespan, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Paola Escudero
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language, Australian Research Council, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christina Quattropani
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rachel A Robbins
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Research School of Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Exclusive Breastfeeding Predicts Higher Hearing-Language Development in Girls of Preschool Age. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12082320. [PMID: 32748851 PMCID: PMC7468998 DOI: 10.3390/nu12082320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive disorders are increasing in prevalence. Nutritional or metabolic stressors during early life, and female sex, are predisposing conditions towards the development of cognitive diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Though there is evidence that breastfeeding may play a beneficial role in children’s neurocognitive development, the literature remains controversial. In this study we aimed at assessing the association between exclusive breastfeeding and children’s cognitive development from six months to five years of age, addressing sex differences. In 80 mother-child pairs from the Pisa birth cohort (PISAC), we measured cognitive development in groups of children of 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 60 months by Griffiths Mental Development Scales, parents’ intelligence quotient (IQ) by Raven’s progressive matrices, and maternal and infants’ anthropometric parameters. We found that exclusive breastfeeding was associated with higher hearing-language development in five years old girls, independent of maternal IQ, age and BMI (body mass index). Exclusive breastfeeding in the first three months of life seemed sufficient to establish this positive relationship. In conclusion, our data indicate that exclusive breastfeeding is a positive predictor of cognitive development in preschool-age girls, paving the way for the implementation of sex-specific cognitive disease risk detection and prevention strategies from early life. Further studies are warranted to explore causality and longer term effects.
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Morphofunctional Alterations of the Hypothalamus and Social Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10070435. [PMID: 32650534 PMCID: PMC7408098 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10070435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
An accumulating body of evidence indicates a tight relationship between the endocrine system and abnormal social behavior. Two evolutionarily conserved hypothalamic peptides, oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin, because of their extensively documented function in supporting and regulating affiliative and socio-emotional responses, have attracted great interest for their critical implications for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A large number of controlled trials demonstrated that exogenous oxytocin or arginine-vasopressin administration can mitigate social behavior impairment in ASD. Furthermore, there exists long-standing evidence of severe socioemotional dysfunctions after hypothalamic lesions in animals and humans. However, despite the major role of the hypothalamus for the synthesis and release of oxytocin and vasopressin, and the evident hypothalamic implication in affiliative behavior in animals and humans, a rather small number of neuroimaging studies showed an association between this region and socioemotional responses in ASD. This review aims to provide a critical synthesis of evidences linking alterations of the hypothalamus with impaired social cognition and behavior in ASD by integrating results of both anatomical and functional studies in individuals with ASD as well as in healthy carriers of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genetic risk variant for ASD. Current findings, although limited, indicate that morphofunctional anomalies are implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD and call for further investigations aiming to elucidate anatomical and functional properties of hypothalamic nuclei underlying atypical socioemotional behavior in ASD.
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Trejo-Sánchez I, Pérez-Monter C, Huerta-Pacheco S, Gutiérrez-Ospina G. Male Ejaculatory Endophenotypes: Revealing Internal Inconsistencies of the Concept in Heterosexual Copulating Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:90. [PMID: 32670030 PMCID: PMC7332778 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Distinct manifestations of sexual behavior are conceived as separate phenotypes. Each sexual phenotype is assumed to be associated with a characteristic brain. These notions have justified the phenotyping of heterosexual copulator males based upon their ejaculation's latencies (EL) or frequencies (i.e., cumulative ejaculation number; EN). For instance, men and male rats showing premature, normal or retarded ejaculation are assumed to be distinctive endophenotypes. This concept, nonetheless, contradicts past and recent evidence that supports that sexual behavior is highly variable within each sex, and that the brain sexual functional morphology represents an intricate sexual phenotypic mosaic. Hence, for ejaculatory male endophenotypes to be considered as a valid biological concept, it must show internal consistency at various levels of organization (including genetic architectures), after being challenged by intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors. We then judged the internal consistency of the presumed ejaculatory endophenotypes by assessing whether copulatory behavior and the expression of copulation relevant genes and brain limbic structures are specific to each of the presumed EL- or EN-ejaculatory endophenotypes. To do this, copulating male rats were first phenotyped in groups consistently displaying short, average or long ejaculation latencies or very high, high, average, low or very low EN, based in their copulatory performance. Then, the internal consistency of the presumed EL- or EN-endophenotypes was tested by introducing as covariates of phenotyping other copulatory parameters (e.g., number of intromissions) in addition to EL or EN, or by analyzing the expression levels of genes encoding for estrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptor, androgen receptor, aromatase, DNA methyl-transferase 3a and DNA methyl-transferase 1 in the amygdala, medial preoptic area, ventromedial hypothalamus and olfactory bulb. We found that even though there were group-level differences in all the variables that were studied, these differences did not add-up to create the presumed EL- or EN-ejaculatory endophenotypes. In fact, the extensive overlapping of copulatory parameters and expression levels of copulation relevant genes in limbic structures across EL- or EN-phenotyped copulating male rats, is not consistent with the hypothesis that distinct ejaculatory endophenotypes exist and that they are associated with specific brain characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itztli Trejo-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Biología de Sistemas, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Pérez-Monter
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición “Salvador Zubirán”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sofía Huerta-Pacheco
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Ciencia Forense, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gabriel Gutiérrez-Ospina
- Laboratorio de Biología de Sistemas, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Coordinación de Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Blazhenkova O, Booth RW. Individual differences in visualization and childhood play preferences. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03953. [PMID: 32551373 PMCID: PMC7292923 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Our research explored the structure of childhood visual play preferences, and examined different types of visual play in relation to individual differences in visualization and aptitudes in academic specializations requiring visualization skills. Principal component analysis dissociated visual-object play (e.g., exploring drawing media or decorative crafts) from visual-spatial play (e.g., assembling and disassembling mechanisms or playing with construction toys) preferences. Moreover, visual play preferences were dissociated from verbal play preferences (e.g., vocabulary games or making up stories). The structure of visual play preferences was consistent with object and spatial dimensions of individual differences in visualization. Visual-object and visual-spatial dimensions of play preferences were differentially related to measures of object visualization (processing pictorial appearances in terms of shape, texture, and color) versus spatial visualization (processing spatial relationships and spatial manipulations), as well as to aptitudes in artistic versus scientific domains. Furthermore, our research sheds new light on sex differences in play behavior: Previous studies commonly associated gender-specific play with visual versus verbal-social processing; our research demonstrated sex differences in play preferences across the two dimensions of visual play, where females preferred visual-object and males preferred visual-spatial play. Moreover, we found the object vs. spatial structure of visual play preferences was largely the same in both sexes, suggesting that differences in visual play preferences cannot be reduced to sex differences. Also, our questionnaire assessing visual-object, visual-spatial and verbal play preferences, developed for research purposes, demonstrated good reliability. Its two scales, assessing visual-object and visual-spatial play preferences, discriminatively correlated with assessments of individual differences in object and spatial visualization, respectively. This research creates a basis for further creation of comprehensive measures of visual play preferences, and should stimulate future studies examining visual play preferences and how they may create developmental opportunities for skills and preferences lasting into adulthood.
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Bergqvist-Norén L, Johansson E, Xiu L, Hagman E, Marcus C, Hagströmer M. Patterns and correlates of objectively measured physical activity in 3-year-old children. BMC Pediatr 2020; 20:209. [PMID: 32398012 PMCID: PMC7216420 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02100-1] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To increase the knowledge about physical activity (PA) patterns and correlates among children under the age of 4, there is a need for study’s using objective measurements. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate if objectively measured PA among 3-year-old children differed between day of week and time of day and whether it correlated to child weight status and sex as well as parental weight status and education. Methods Totally 61 children (51% girls) aged 3, participating in Early Stockholm Obesity Prevention Project were included. PA was measured with a tri-axial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+) worn on the non-dominant wrist for one week. The main outcome was average PA expressed as counts per minute from the vector magnitude. PA and demographics/family-related factors were collected at baseline and at age 3. To analyze the results simple linear regression, ANOVA and paired t-tests were performed. Results The mean number of valid days was 6.7 per child. The children were more active on weekdays than weekends (p < 0.01) and the hourly pattern differed over the day with children being most active midmorning and midafternoon (p = 0.0001). Children to parents with low education were more active (p = 0.01) than those with highly educated parents. No differences in PA by child weight status, sex nor parental weight status were found. Conclusions PA in 3-year-old children was lower during weekends than weekdays and varied over the day. Boys and girls had similar PA patterns, these patterns were independent of child or parental weight status. Children to parents with low education were more active than their counterparts. The fact that PA differed between weekdays and weekends indicates that PA might be affectable in 3-year-old children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Bergqvist-Norén
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 6A, S-141 57, Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - Elin Johansson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, S-141 83, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lijuan Xiu
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 6A, S-141 57, Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Emilia Hagman
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 6A, S-141 57, Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Claude Marcus
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 6A, S-141 57, Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Maria Hagströmer
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, S-141 83, Stockholm, Sweden.,Allied Health Professional Function, Karolinska University Hospital, S-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Health Promoting Science, Sophiahemmet University, S-114 86, Stockholm, Sweden
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40
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Shirazi TN, Self H, Cantor J, Dawood K, Cárdenas R, Rosenfield K, Ortiz T, Carré J, McDaniel MA, Blanchard R, Balasubramanian R, Delaney A, Crowley W, Breedlove SM, Puts D. Timing of peripubertal steroid exposure predicts visuospatial cognition in men: Evidence from three samples. Horm Behav 2020; 121:104712. [PMID: 32059854 PMCID: PMC8817672 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Experiments in male rodents demonstrate that sensitivity to the organizational effects of steroid hormones decreases across the pubertal window, with earlier androgen exposure leading to greater masculinization of the brain and behavior. Similarly, some research suggests the timing of peripubertal exposure to sex steroids influences aspects of human psychology, including visuospatial cognition. However, prior studies have been limited by small samples and/or imprecise measures of pubertal timing. We conducted 4 studies to clarify whether the timing of peripubertal hormone exposure predicts performance on male-typed tests of spatial cognition in adulthood. In Studies 1 (n = 1095) and 2 (n = 173), we investigated associations between recalled pubertal age and spatial cognition in typically developing men, controlling for current testosterone levels in Study 2. In Study 3 (n = 51), we examined the relationship between spatial performance and the age at which peripubertal hormone replacement therapy was initiated in a sample of men with Isolated GnRH Deficiency. Across Studies 1-3, effect size estimates for the relationship between spatial performance and pubertal timing ranged from. -0.04 and -0.27, and spatial performance was unrelated to salivary testosterone in Study 2. In Study 4, we conducted two meta-analyses of Studies 1-3 and four previously published studies. The first meta-analysis was conducted on correlations between spatial performance and measures of the absolute age of pubertal timing, and the second replaced those correlations with correlations between spatial performance and measures of relative pubertal timing where available. Point estimates for correlations between pubertal timing and spatial cognition were -0.15 and -0.12 (both p < 0.001) in the first and second meta-analyses, respectively. These associations were robust to the exclusion of any individual study. Our results suggest that, for some aspects of neural development, sensitivity to gonadal hormones declines across puberty, with earlier pubertal hormone exposure predicting greater sex-typicality in psychological phenotypes in adulthood. These results shed light on the processes of behavioral and brain organization and have implications for the treatment of IGD and other conditions wherein pubertal timing is pharmacologically manipulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia N Shirazi
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Heather Self
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - James Cantor
- Centre for Addition and Mental Health, 2 Carlton Street, suite 1820, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3, Canada
| | - Khytam Dawood
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rodrigo Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Kevin Rosenfield
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Triana Ortiz
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8L7, Canada
| | - Justin Carré
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8L7, Canada
| | - Michael A McDaniel
- Department of Management, Virginia Commonwealth University, Arlington, VA 22209, USA
| | - Ray Blanchard
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1L8, Canada
| | | | - Angela Delaney
- Reproductive Physiology and Pathophysiology Group, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - William Crowley
- Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Department of Neuroscience, Michigan State University. 240 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - David Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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41
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Moore DS, Johnson SP. The development of mental rotation ability across the first year after birth. ADVANCES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 58:1-33. [PMID: 32169193 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acdb.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Mental rotation (MR) is the ability to imagine the appearance of an object from a different perspective. This ability is involved in many human cognitive and behavioral activities. We discuss studies that have examined MR in infants and its development across the first year after birth. Despite some conflicting findings across these studies, several conclusions can be reached. First, MR may be available to human infants as young as 3 months of age. Second, MR processes in infancy may be similar or identical to MR processes later in life. Third, there may be sex differences in MR performance, in general favoring males. Fourth, there appear to be multiple influences on infants' MR performance, including infants' motor activity, stimulus complexity, hormones, and parental attitudes. We conclude by calling for additional research to examine more carefully the causes and consequences of MR abilities early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Moore
- Pitzer College and Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, United States.
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Johnson SP, Moore DS. Spatial Thinking in Infancy: Origins and Development of Mental Rotation Between 3 and 10 Months of Age. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2020; 5:10. [PMID: 32124099 PMCID: PMC7052106 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-020-00212-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental rotation (MR) is the ability to transform a mental representation of an object so as to accurately predict how the object would look from a different angle (Sci 171:701-703, 1971), and it is involved in a number of important cognitive and behavioral activities. In this review we discuss recent studies that have examined MR in infants and the development of MR across the first year after birth. These studies have produced many conflicting results, yet several tentative conclusions can be reached. First, MR may be operational in infants as young as 3 months of age. Second, there may be sex differences in MR performance in infancy, in general favoring males, as there are in children and in adults. Third, there appear to be multiple influences on infants' MR performance, including infants' motor activity, stimulus or task complexity, hormones, and parental attitudes. We conclude by calling for additional research to examine more carefully the causes and consequences of MR abilities early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David S. Moore
- Pitzer College and Claremont Graduate University, 1050 N. Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711 USA
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Shirazi TN, Rosenfield KA, Cárdenas RA, Breedlove SM, Puts DA. No evidence that hormonal contraceptive use or circulating sex steroids predict complex emotion recognition. Horm Behav 2020; 119:104647. [PMID: 31778719 PMCID: PMC8496674 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Relatively little is known about the effects of endogenous and exogenous steroid hormones on ecologically relevant behavioral and cognitive phenotypes in women, such as emotion recognition, despite the widespread use of steroid hormone-altering hormonal contraceptives (HCs). Though some previous studies have examined the effect of HC use, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone on emotion recognition in women, they have been limited by cross-sectional designs, small sample sizes (total n < 100), and compromised statistical power to detect significant effects. Using data from two test sessions in a large sample of naturally cycling women (NC; n = 192) and women on HCs (n = 203), we found no group differences in emotion recognition; further, the lack of group differences in emotion recognition was not modulated by item difficulty or emotional valence. Among NC women who provided saliva samples across two sessions that were assayed for estradiol and progesterone concentrations, we found no compelling evidence across models that between-subject differences and within-subject fluctuations in these ovarian hormones predicted emotion recognition accuracy, with the exception that between-subjects estradiol negatively predicted emotion recognition for emotions of neutral valence (p = .042). Among HC women who provided saliva samples across two sessions that were assayed for testosterone, we found no compelling evidence that between-subjects differences and within-subject fluctuations in testosterone predicted emotion recognition accuracy. Overall, our analyses provide little support for the idea that circulating endogenous or exogenous ovarian hormones influence emotion recognition in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia N Shirazi
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States of America
| | - Kevin A Rosenfield
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States of America
| | - Rodrigo A Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States of America
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Department of Neuroscience, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States of America.
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44
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Sadr M, Khorashad BS, Talaei A, Fazeli N, Hönekopp J. 2D:4D Suggests a Role of Prenatal Testosterone in Gender Dysphoria. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2020; 49:421-432. [PMID: 31975034 PMCID: PMC7031197 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01630-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Gender dysphoria (GD) reflects distress caused by incongruence between one's experienced gender identity and one's natal (assigned) gender. Previous studies suggest that high levels of prenatal testosterone (T) in natal females and low levels in natal males might contribute to GD. Here, we investigated if the 2D:4D digit ratio, a biomarker of prenatal T effects, is related to GD. We first report results from a large Iranian sample, comparing 2D:4D in 104 transwomen and 89 transmen against controls of the same natal sex. We found significantly lower (less masculine) 2D:4D in transwomen compared to control men. We then conducted random-effects meta-analyses of relevant studies including our own (k = 6, N = 925 for transwomen and k = 6, N = 757 for transmen). In line with the hypothesized prenatal T effects, transwomen showed significantly feminized 2D:4D (d ≈ 0.24). Conversely, transmen showed masculinized 2D:4D (d ≈ - 0.28); however, large unaccounted heterogeneity across studies emerged, which makes this effect less meaningful. These findings support the idea that high levels of prenatal T in natal females and low levels in natal males play a part in the etiology of GD. As we discuss, this adds to the evidence demonstrating the convergent validity of 2D:4D as a marker of prenatal T effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Sadr
- Transgender Studies Centre, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Behzad S Khorashad
- Transgender Studies Centre, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Talaei
- Transgender Studies Centre, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Nasrin Fazeli
- Transgender Studies Centre, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Johannes Hönekopp
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
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Chen F, Bertelsen AB, Holm IE, Nyengaard JR, Rosenberg R, Dorph-Petersen KA. Hippocampal volume and cell number in depression, schizophrenia, and suicide subjects. Brain Res 2020; 1727:146546. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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46
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Pompili A, Iorio C, Gasbarri A. Effects of sex steroid hormones on memory. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2020. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2020-012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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47
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Gegenhuber B, Tollkuhn J. Signatures of sex: Sex differences in gene expression in the vertebrate brain. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2020; 9:e348. [PMID: 31106965 PMCID: PMC6864223 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Women and men differ in disease prevalence, symptoms, and progression rates for many psychiatric and neurological disorders. As more preclinical studies include both sexes in experimental design, an increasing number of sex differences in physiology and behavior have been reported. In the brain, sex-typical behaviors are thought to result from sex-specific patterns of neural activity in response to the same sensory stimulus or context. These differential firing patterns likely arise as a consequence of underlying anatomic or molecular sex differences. Accordingly, gene expression in the brains of females and males has been extensively investigated, with the goal of identifying biological pathways that specify or modulate sex differences in brain function. However, there is surprisingly little consensus on sex-biased genes across studies and only a handful of robust candidates have been pursued in the follow-up experiments. Furthermore, it is not known how or when sex-biased gene expression originates, as few studies have been performed in the developing brain. Here we integrate molecular genetic and neural circuit perspectives to provide a conceptual framework of how sex differences in gene expression can arise in the brain. We detail mechanisms of gene regulation by steroid hormones, highlight landmark studies in rodents and humans, identify emerging themes, and offer recommendations for future research. This article is categorized under: Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: General Principles Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Regulatory Mechanisms Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Sex Determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Gegenhuber
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
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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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Wu Y, Liao J, Zilioli S, Wu Y, Deng H, Li H, Tobler PN. Testosterone administration increases social discounting in healthy males. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 108:127-134. [PMID: 31260872 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Although testosterone is thought to induce antisocial and aggressive behavior, research on social economic interactions has associated it with prosocial and affiliative behavior. Here, we investigated the effects of testosterone on social distance-dependent generosity in an economic discounting task where participants chose between selfish and generous alternatives. We administered testosterone gel or placebo to men in a double-blind, randomized design and measured how willing they were to share rewards with close and distant others. Across two studies (total n = 174), testosterone administration consistently increased social discounting, that is participants became more selfish, particularly with regard to distant others (vs. close others). This effect was not explained by testosterone-induced increases in social distance perception. Our findings provide causal evidence that-testosterone reduces generosity in human economic decision-making. Moreover, they suggest that the valuation and the perception of social distance are independently affected by testosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; College of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Jiajun Liao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; College of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Ministry of Education), Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huihua Deng
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Ministry of Education), Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; College of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Philippe N Tobler
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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Sacolo-Gwebu H, Kabuyaya M, Chimbari M. Knowledge, attitudes and practices on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths among caregivers in Ingwavuma area in uMkhanyakude district, South Africa. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:734. [PMID: 31438865 PMCID: PMC6704662 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4253-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections are among the most chronic infections worldwide. Based on their demonstrable impact on human health, the WHO recently recommended the implementation of robust strategies aimed at controlling or eliminating schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths by 2020. The implementation of this strategy, however, warrants a clear understanding of the community's knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to these infections. This study sought to identify sociocultural gaps that should be addressed to ensure the success of cost-effective community-based schistosomiasis-soil-transmitted helminths control and elimination programs. METHODS This was a cross-sectional mixed methodology study. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 442 caregivers of preschool aged children. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted among caregivers, preschool teachers, traditional authorities and community caregivers. All interviews were captured using an audio recorder to maximize accuracy. Quantitative data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate techniques while qualitative data were analysed thematically. RESULTS Findings reflected inadequate knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths while awareness of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths was high (87.1 and 79.2% respectively). Correct knowledge on transmission, prevention, signs and symptoms and life cycle was low (below 50%) for both infections among those who had heard of the disease. From multivariate analysis, being aged at least 35 years increased the odds of reporting good practices on schistosomiasis by 65% (COR 1.652, 95% CI: 1.073-2.543) while receiving health information through community meetings (COR 0.072, 95% CI: 0.010-0.548) significantly reduced the odds of having good knowledge on schistosomiasis. CONCLUSIONS These findings are valuable in designing behavioural change approaches towards enhancing health outcomes through community-based interventions to ensure effective control and elimination of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths. There is a critical need for channelling efforts towards making health education the core of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths programs aimed at achieving intensified control or elimination of these infections by 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hlengiwe Sacolo-Gwebu
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Muhubiri Kabuyaya
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Moses Chimbari
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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