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Krzyżewska A, Kurakula K. Sex Dimorphism in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated With Autoimmune Diseases. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:2169-2190. [PMID: 39145392 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.320886] [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] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, incurable, and progressive disease. Although there is increasing evidence that immune disorders, particularly those associated with connective tissue diseases, are a strong predisposing factor in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), there is currently a lack of knowledge about the detailed molecular mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. Exploring this topic is crucial because patients with an immune disorder combined with PAH have a worse prognosis and higher mortality compared with patients with other PAH subtypes. Moreover, data recorded worldwide show that the prevalence of PAH in women is 2× to even 4× higher than in men, and the ratio of PAH associated with autoimmune diseases is even higher (9:1). Sexual dimorphism in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease was explained for many years by the action of female sex hormones. However, there are increasing reports of interactions between sex hormones and sex chromosomes, and differences in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease may be controlled not only by sex hormones but also by sex chromosome pathways that are not dependent on the gonads. This review discusses the role of estrogen and genetic factors including the role of genes located on the X chromosome, as well as the potential protective role of the Y chromosome in sexual dimorphism, which is prominent in the occurrence of PAH associated with autoimmune diseases. Moreover, an overview of animal models that could potentially play a role in further investigating the aforementioned link was also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Krzyżewska
- Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Białystok, Poland (A.K.)
| | - Kondababu Kurakula
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Free University Medical Center, the Netherlands (K.K.)
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De Prisco M, Manente R, Santella B, Serretiello E, Dell'Annunziata F, Santoro E, Bernardi FF, D'Amore C, Perrella A, Pagliano P, Boccia G, Franci G, Folliero V. Impact of ESKAPE Pathogens on Bacteremia: A Three-Year Surveillance Study at a Major Hospital in Southern Italy. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:901. [PMID: 39335074 PMCID: PMC11429134 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090901] [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: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pose a serious public health threat as they are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by ESKAPE bacteria have high mortality rates due to the limited availability of effective antimicrobials. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and susceptibility of ESKAPE pathogens causing BSIs over three years in a large tertiary hospital in Salerno. METHODS Conducted at the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of San Giovanni di Dio e ''Ruggi D'Aragona'' Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022, blood culture samples from different departments were incubated in the BD BACTEC™ system for 5 days. Species identification was performed using MALDI-TOF MS, and antimicrobial resistance patterns were determined by the VITEK2 system. RESULTS Out of 3197 species isolated from positive blood cultures, 38.7% were ESKAPE bacteria. Of these, 59.9% were found in blood culture samples taken from men, and the most affected age group was those aged >60 years. (70.6%). Staphylococcus aureus was the main BSI pathogen (26.3%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.8%). Significant resistance rates were found, including 35% of Staphylococcus aureus being resistant to oxacillin and over 90% of Acinetobacter baumannii being resistant to carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship programs to prevent incurable infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariagrazia De Prisco
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona University Hospital, 84131 Salerno, Italy
- U.O.C. of Virology and Microbiology, University Hospital "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Manente
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona University Hospital, 84131 Salerno, Italy
- U.O.C. of Virology and Microbiology, University Hospital "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Biagio Santella
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ''Scuola Medica Salernitana'', University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Enrica Serretiello
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona University Hospital, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Federica Dell'Annunziata
- U.O.C. of Virology and Microbiology, University Hospital "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ''Scuola Medica Salernitana'', University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Emanuela Santoro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ''Scuola Medica Salernitana'', University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Francesca F Bernardi
- U.O.D. Tutela della Salute e il Coordinamento del Sistema Sanitario Regionale-Regione Campania, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara D'Amore
- U.O.C Clinica Malattie Infettive, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona University Hospital, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Perrella
- Unit Emerging Infectious Disease, Ospedali dei Colli, P.O. D. Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Pagliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ''Scuola Medica Salernitana'', University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Giovanni Boccia
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona University Hospital, 84131 Salerno, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ''Scuola Medica Salernitana'', University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
- U.O.C Hospital and Epidemiological Hygiene, San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona University Hospital, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Franci
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona University Hospital, 84131 Salerno, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ''Scuola Medica Salernitana'', University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Veronica Folliero
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ''Scuola Medica Salernitana'', University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
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Arróspide Elgarresta M, Gerovska D, Soto-Gordoa M, Jauregui García ML, Merino Hernández ML, Araúzo-Bravo MJ. Chronic disease incidence explained by stepwise models and co-occurrence among them. iScience 2024; 27:110816. [PMID: 39290836 PMCID: PMC11407032 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110816] [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: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Multimorbidity (MM) is the co-occurrence of two or more chronic diseases. We provided a dynamic approach revealing the MM complexity constructing a multistep incidence-age model for all patients with MM between 2014 and 2021 in the Basque Health System, Spain. The multistep model, with eight steps for males and nine for females, is a very well-fitting representation of MM. To gain insight into the MM components, we modeled the 19 diseases used to calculate the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). We observed that the CCI diseases formed a complex interaction network. Hierarchical clustering of the incidence-age profiles clustered the CCI diseases into low- and high-risk of dying pathologies. Diseases with a higher number of steps are better represented by a multistep model. Anatomically, diseases associated with the central nervous system have the highest number of steps, followed by those associated with the kidney, heart, peripheral vasulature, pancreas, joints, cerebral vasculature, lung, stomach, and liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikel Arróspide Elgarresta
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Calle Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Daniela Gerovska
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Calle Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Myrian Soto-Gordoa
- Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain
- Mondragon University, Faculty of Engineering, Mondragon, Spain
| | - María L Jauregui García
- Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain
- Tolosaldea Integrated Health Care Organization, Tolosa, Spain
| | - Marisa L Merino Hernández
- Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain
- Bidasoa Integrated Health Care Organization, Hondarribia, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Prevention and Health Promotion (RICAAPS), Kronikgune Group, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Marcos J Araúzo-Bravo
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Calle Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, IKERBASQUE, Calle María Díaz Harokoa 3, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
- CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERfes), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Röntgenstr. 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
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Faro DC, Di Pino FL, Monte IP. Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Endothelial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Damage: Unraveling Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Fabry Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8273. [PMID: 39125842 PMCID: PMC11312754 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158273] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD), a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the α-galactosidase-A (GLA) gene, disrupts lysosomal function, leading to vascular complications. The accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in arterial walls triggers upregulation of adhesion molecules, decreases endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, and induces reactive oxygen species production. This cascade results in fibrotic thickening, endothelial dysfunction, hypercontractility, vasospasm, and a pro-thrombotic phenotype. AFD patients display increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and reduced flow-mediated dilation (FMD), indicating heightened cardiovascular risk. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) shows promise in diagnosing and monitoring microcirculatory disorders in AFD, though it remains underexplored. Morphological evidence of AFD as a storage disorder can be demonstrated through electron microscopy and immunodetection of Gb3. Secondary pathophysiological disturbances at cellular, tissue, and organ levels contribute to the clinical manifestations, with prominent lysosomal inclusions observed in vascular, cardiac, renal, and neuronal cells. Chronic accumulation of Gb3 represents a state of ongoing toxicity, leading to increased cell turnover, particularly in vascular endothelial cells. AFD-related vascular pathology includes increased renin-angiotensin system activation, endothelial dysfunction, and smooth muscle cell proliferation, resulting in IMT increase. Furthermore, microvascular alterations, such as atypical capillaries observed through NFC, suggest early microvascular involvement. This review aims to unravel the complex interplay between inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction in AFD, highlighting the potential connections between metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in vascular and cardiac complications. By exploring novel cardiovascular risk factors and potential diagnostic tools, we can advance our understanding of these mechanisms, which extend beyond sphingolipid accumulation to include other significant contributors to disease pathogenesis. This comprehensive approach can pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ines Paola Monte
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties (CHIRMED), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, 95100 Catania, Italy; (D.C.F.); (F.L.D.P.)
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Shri N, Singh S, Singh SK. Latent class analysis of chronic disease co-occurrence, clustering and their determinants in India using Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) India Wave-2. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04079. [PMID: 38940270 PMCID: PMC11212113 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04079] [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: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding chronic disease prevalence, patterns, and co-occurrence is pivotal for effective health care planning and disease prevention strategies. In this paper, we aimed to identify the clustering of major non-communicable diseases among Indian adults aged ≥50 years based on their self-reported diagnosed non-communicable disease status and to find the risk factors that heighten the risk of developing the identified disease clusters. Methods We utilised data from the nationally representative survey Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE Wave-2). The eligible sample size was 6298 adults aged ≥50 years. We conducted the latent class analysis to uncover latent subgroups of multimorbidity and the multinomial logistic regression to identify the factors linked to observed latent class membership. Results The latent class analysis grouped our sample of men and women >49 years old into three groups - mild multimorbidity risk (41%), moderate multimorbidity risk (30%), and severe multimorbidity risk (29%). In the mild multimorbidity risk group, the most prevalent diseases were asthma and arthritis, and the major prevalent disease in the moderate multimorbidity risk group was low near/distance vision, followed by depression, asthma, and lung disease. Angina, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke were the major diseases in the severe multimorbidity risk category. Individuals with higher ages had an 18% and 15% higher risk of having moderate multimorbidity and severe multimorbidity compared to those in the mild multimorbidity category. Females were more likely to have a moderate risk (3.36 times) and 2.82 times more likely to have severe multimorbidity risk. Conclusions The clustering of diseases highlights the importance of integrated disease management in primary care settings and improving the health care system to accommodate the individual's needs. Implementing preventive measures and tailored interventions, strengthening the health and wellness centres, and delivering comprehensive primary health care services for secondary and tertiary level hospitalisation may cater to the needs of multimorbid patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shri Kant Singh
- Department of Survey Research and Data Analytics, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
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Soares AR, Garcia-Rivas V, Fai C, Thomas MA, Zheng X, Picciotto MR, Mineur YS. Role of microglia in stress-induced alcohol intake in female and male mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.05.597614. [PMID: 38895217 PMCID: PMC11185719 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.05.597614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) have escalated in recent years, with a particular increase among women. Women are more susceptible to stress-induced alcohol drinking, and preclinical data suggest that stress can increase alcohol intake in female rodents; however, a comprehensive understanding of sex-specific neurobiological substrates underlying this phenomenon is still emerging. Microglia, the resident macrophages of the brain, are essential for reshaping neuronal processes, and microglial activity contributes to overall neuronal plasticity. We investigated microglial dynamics and morphology in limbic brain structures of male and female mice following exposure to stress, alcohol or both challenges. In a modified paradigm of intermittent binge drinking (repeated "drinking in the dark"), we determined that female, but not male, mice increased their alcohol consumption after exposure to a physical stressor and re-exposure trials in the stress-paired context. Ethanol (EtOH) drinking and stress altered a number of microglial parameters, including overall number, in subregions of the amygdala and hippocampus, with effects that were somewhat more pronounced in female mice. We used the CSF1R antagonist PLX3397 to deplete microglia in female mice to determine whether microglia contribute to stress-induced escalation of EtOH intake. We observed that microglial depletion attenuated stress-induced alcohol intake with no effect in the unstressed group. These findings suggest that microglial activity can contribute to alcohol intake under stressful conditions, and highlight the importance of evaluating sex-specific mechanisms that could result in tailored interventions for AUD in women.
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Liao QX, Feng Z, Zhuo HC, Zhou Y, Huang P, Lin HR. Risk stratification and survival time of patients with gram-negative bacillary pneumonia in the intensive care unit. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1382755. [PMID: 38836058 PMCID: PMC11148320 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1382755] [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: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pneumonia is a common infection in the intensive care unit (ICU), and gram-negative bacilli are the most common bacterial cause. The purpose of the study was to investigate the risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients with gram-negative bacillary pneumonia in the ICU, construct a predictive model, and stratify patients based on risk to assess their short-term survival. Methods Patients admitted to the ICU with gram-negative bacillary pneumonia at Fujian Medical University Affiliated First Hospital between January 2018 and September 2020 were selected. Patients were divided into deceased and survivor groups based on whether death occurred within 30 days. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in these patients, and a predictive nomogram model was constructed based on these factors. Patients were categorized into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups according to the model's predicted probability, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to assess short-term survival. Results The study included 305 patients. Lactic acid (odds ratio [OR], 1.524, 95% CI: 1.057-2.197), tracheal intubation (OR: 4.202, 95% CI: 1.092-16.169), and acute kidney injury (OR:4.776, 95% CI: 1.632-13.978) were identified as independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. A nomogram prediction model was established based on these three factors. Internal validation of the model showed a Hosmer-Lemeshow test result of X2=5.770, P=0.834, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.791 (95% CI: 0.688-0.893). Bootstrap resampling of the original data 1000 times yielded a C-index of 0.791, and a decision curve analysis indicated a high net benefit when the threshold probability was between 15%-90%. The survival time for low-, medium-, and high-risk patients was 30 (30, 30), 30 (16.5, 30), and 17 (11, 27) days, respectively, which were significantly different. Conclusion Lactic acid, tracheal intubation, and acute kidney injury were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients in the ICU with gram-negative bacillary pneumonia. The predictive model constructed based on these factors showed good predictive performance and helped assess short-term survival, facilitating early intervention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Xia Liao
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Zhi Feng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Hui-Chang Zhuo
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ye Zhou
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Hai-Rong Lin
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Burton TM, Madsen TE, Karb R, Furie KL. Importance of sex and gender differences in enrollment and interpretation of stroke clinical trials. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2024; 33:107735. [PMID: 38679215 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107735] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This review aims to reinforce the importance of improving sex balance in preclinical trials and sex and gender diversity and proportional balance in clinical trials enrollment and how this influences interpretation of stroke clinical trials. It also aims to identify strategies for improvement in data collection. MATERIALS AND METHODS A PubMed search was conducted of publications in English, using MeSH terms sex, sex characteristics, gender identity, transgender, gender-nonconforming persons, clinical trials as topic, stroke. Of 249 search results, 217 were human or animal studies related to stroke, the majority of which were reviews, secondary analyses of stroke clinical trials, meta analyses, or retrospective studies, subject to the methods of sex and gender acquisition per the primary data source. Articles were reviewed, noting inclusion or absence of sex and gender definitions and trial design. Selected articles were supplemented with United States Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, and National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine publications. RESULTS The majority of preclinical studies continue to report sex as a binary variable, and the majority of stroke clinical trials report sex and gender as interchangeable and binary. Mindful trial design and statistical analysis can improve accuracy in the interpretation of sex and gender differences. Guidance exists to improve reporting on currently accepted sex and gender definitions, recommended data collection instruments, and appropriate statistical analyses. CONCLUSIONS Despite acknowledgement of having failed to achieve diverse and proportionally balanced enrollment, sex and gender imbalance across the research continuum remains prevalent. Responsible incorporation of sex and gender in stroke clinical trials can be achieved through thoughtful study design, use of contemporary sex and gender definitions, inclusive prospective data collection, balanced enrollment with prespecified goals, and appropriate statistical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina M Burton
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Neurology, USA.
| | - Tracy E Madsen
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Emergency Medicine, USA; Brown University School of Public Health, USA
| | - Rebecca Karb
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Emergency Medicine, USA
| | - Karen L Furie
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Neurology, USA
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Song QH, Zhao KX, Huang S, Chen T, He L. Escape from X-chromosome inactivation and sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:341-354. [PMID: 38157427 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences exist in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Globally, women have a higher prevalence, while men with Alzheimer's disease experience earlier mortality and more pronounced cognitive decline than women. The cause of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests the potential role of X-linked genetic factors in the sex difference of Alzheimer's disease (AD). During embryogenesis, a remarkable process known as X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) occurs in females, leading to one of the X chromosomes undergoing transcriptional inactivation, which balances the effects of two X chromosomes in females. Nevertheless, certain genes exceptionally escape from XCI, which provides a basis for dual expression dosage of specific genes in females. Based on recent research findings, we explore key escape genes and their potential therapeutic use associated with Alzheimer's disease. Also, we discuss their possible role in driving the sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. This will provide new perspectives for precision medicine and gender-specific treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hua Song
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ke-Xuan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shuai Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ling He
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
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Migné CV, Heckmann A, Monsion B, Mohd Jaafar F, Galon C, Rakotobe S, Bell-Sakyi L, Moutailler S, Attoui H. Age- and Sex-Associated Pathogenesis of Cell Culture-Passaged Kemerovo Virus in IFNAR (-/-) Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3177. [PMID: 38542150 PMCID: PMC10970428 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Kemerovo virus (KEMV) is a tick-borne orbivirus transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes. Previous animal experimentation studies with orbiviruses, in particular the interferon receptor double knock-out (IFNAR(-/-)) mouse model, did not indicate bias that is related to age or sex. We endeavoured to assess the effect of serial and alternated passages of KEMV in mammalian or Ixodes cells on virus replication and potential virulence in male or female IFNAR(-/-) mice, with important age differences: younger males (4-5 months old), older males (14-15 months old), and old females (14-15 months old). After 30 serial passages in mammalian or tick cells, or alternated passages in the two cell types, older female mice which were inoculated with the resulting virus strains were the first to show clinical signs and die. Younger males behaved differently from older males whether they were inoculated with the parental strain of KEMV or with any of the cell culture-passaged strains. The groups of male and female mice inoculated with the mammalian cell culture-adapted KEMV showed the lowest viraemia. While older female and younger male mice died by day 6 post-inoculation, surprisingly, the older males survived until the end of the experiment, which lasted 10 days. RNA extracted from blood and organs of the various mice was tested by probe-based KEMV real-time RT-PCR. Ct values of the RNA extracts were comparable between older females and younger males, while the values for older males were >5 Ct units higher for the various organs, indicating lower levels of replication. It is noteworthy that the hearts of the old males were the only organs that were negative for KEMV RNA. These results suggest, for the first time, an intriguing age- and sex-related bias for an orbivirus in this animal model. Changes in the amino acid sequence of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Kemerovo virus, derived from the first serial passage in Ixodes cells (KEMV Ps.IRE1), were identified in the vicinity of the active polymerase site. This finding suggests that selection of a subpopulation of KEMV with better replication fitness in tick cells occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Victoire Migné
- UMR1161 VIROLOGIE, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (C.V.M.); (B.M.); (F.M.J.)
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.H.); (C.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Aurélie Heckmann
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.H.); (C.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Baptiste Monsion
- UMR1161 VIROLOGIE, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (C.V.M.); (B.M.); (F.M.J.)
| | - Fauziah Mohd Jaafar
- UMR1161 VIROLOGIE, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (C.V.M.); (B.M.); (F.M.J.)
| | - Clémence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.H.); (C.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Sabine Rakotobe
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.H.); (C.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK;
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.H.); (C.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Houssam Attoui
- UMR1161 VIROLOGIE, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (C.V.M.); (B.M.); (F.M.J.)
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11
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Rumšaitė G, Gedvilaitė G, Balnytė R, Kriaučiūnienė L, Liutkevičienė R. The Influence of TEP1 and TERC Genetic Variants on the Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5863. [PMID: 37762804 PMCID: PMC10531829 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12185863] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. According to recent studies, cellular senescence caused by telomere shortening may contribute to the development of MS. AIM OF THE STUDY Our aim was to determine the associations of TEP1 rs1760904, rs1713418, TERC rs12696304, rs35073794 gene polymorphisms with the occurrence of MS. METHODS The study included 200 patients with MS and 230 healthy controls. Genotyping of TEP1 rs1760904, rs1713418 and TERC rs12696304, rs35073794 was performed using RT-PCR. The obtained data were analysed using the program "IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0". Haplotype analysis was performed using the online program "SNPStats". RESULTS The TERC rs12696304 G allele of this SNP is associated with 1.4-fold lower odds of developing MS (p = 0.035). TERC rs35073794 is associated with approximately 2.4-fold reduced odds of MS occurrence in the codominant, dominant, overdominant, and additive models (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). Haplotype analysis shows that the rs1760904-G-rs1713418-A haplotype is statistically significantly associated with 1.75-fold increased odds of developing MS (p = 0.006). The rs12696304-C-rs35073794-A haplotype is statistically significantly associated with twofold decreased odds of developing MS (p = 0.008). In addition, the rs12696304-G-rs35073794-A haplotype was found to be statistically significantly associated with 5.3-fold decreased odds of developing MS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The current evidence may suggest a protective role of TERC SNP in the occurrence of MS, while TEP1 has the opposite effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gintarė Rumšaitė
- Medical Faculty, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Greta Gedvilaitė
- Medical Faculty, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania;
- Neurosciences Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (L.K.); (R.L.)
| | - Renata Balnytė
- Department of Neurology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Loresa Kriaučiūnienė
- Neurosciences Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (L.K.); (R.L.)
| | - Rasa Liutkevičienė
- Neurosciences Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (L.K.); (R.L.)
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12
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Ibarra AJ, Roman K, Nguyen E, Yates ME, Nicholas A, Lim G. Translational research updates in female health anesthesiology: a narrative review. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2023; 11:357. [PMID: 37675293 PMCID: PMC10477624 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-3547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objective Females represent 49.6% of the global population and constitute a significant proportion of surgical patients and hospital admissions. Little is known about the bi-directional effects of sex and anesthetics or the impact of anesthetic interventions on long-term female health outcomes. Sex differences in pain pathways can influence pain experience and treatment effectiveness. The impact of anesthetic management on the recurrence of breast cancer is poorly understood, as are the long-term consequences of cardiovascular disease and safe and effective treatments in pregnancy. This review aims to outline recent advances in translational science in female health anesthesiology research and highlight critical research opportunities in pain, cancer outcomes, and cardiovascular disorders. Methods We searched PubMed and summarized relevant articles published in English between December 2021 and June 2022. Key Content and Findings Studies reveal sex differences in pain pathways and highlight the importance of sex as a biological variable in experimental designs and translational medicine. Sex differences have also been observed in side effects attributed to opioid analgesics. We summarize some of the neural circuits that might underlie these differences. In the perioperative setting, specific anesthetics are implicated in metastatic seeding potential and acute and chronic pain outcomes, suggesting the importance of anesthetic selection in comprehensive care during oncologic surgery. In the peridelivery setting, preeclampsia, a cardiovascular disorder of pregnancy, affects maternal outcomes; however, biomarkers can risk-stratify females at risk for preeclampsia and hold promise for identifying the risk of adverse neurological and other health outcomes. Conclusions Research that builds diagnostic and predictive tools in pain and cardiovascular disease will help anesthesiologists minimize sex-related risks and side effects associated with anesthetics and peri-hospital treatments. Sex-specific anesthesia care will improve outcomes, as will the provision of practical information to patients and clinicians about the effectiveness of therapies and behavioral interventions. However, more research studies and specific analytic plans are needed to continue addressing sex-based outcomes in anesthesiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J. Ibarra
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Obstetric & Women’s Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kenny Roman
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Obstetric & Women’s Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Eileen Nguyen
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Megan E. Yates
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alexandra Nicholas
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Obstetric & Women’s Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Grace Lim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Obstetric & Women’s Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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13
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Chen D, Cao L, Li W. Etiological and clinical characteristics of severe pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:362. [PMID: 37454044 PMCID: PMC10349420 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04175-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the etiological distribution characteristics of pediatric patients with severe pneumonia admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), in order to provide a reference for the rational use of clinical antimicrobial drugs. METHODS A retrospective analysis of pediatric patients admitted to PICU with a diagnosis of severe pneumonia from January 2018 to December 2021 was performed and statistical analysis of pathogenic characteristics was performed. RESULTS A total of 649 pathogens were detected in 515 children, with a positive detection rate of 77.48%. Bacteria were detected at the highest rate (40.52%), followed by viruses (34.35%), atypical pathogens (19.72%) and fungal (4.31%). Gram-positive infections were dominated by Staphylococcus aureus (39.56%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (32.97%), and Gram-negative infections were dominated by Acinetobacter Bahmani (16.28%) and Haemophilus influenzae (15.12%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.95%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.21%). Viral infections were dominated by respiratory syncytial virus (25.65%) and EB virus (20.43%), fungal infections were dominated by Candida albicans (50.0%). The proportion of children infected with single pathogen (49.62%) was comparable to that of those with mixed infections (50.38%). There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of children with single pathogen infection by gender (P < 0.05). The age distribution of children with single bacterial, single viral and single fungal infections was statistically different (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the distribution of onset season in children with single pathogen infections (P > 0.05), but the number of children with single viral infections was significantly higher in winter and spring than that in summer and autumn, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). A mixture of 2 pathogens (77.61%) accounted for the majority of mixed infections, there were statistical differences in the distribution of bacterial + viral infection in terms of gender, age, and onset season (P < 0.05), children with viral + mycoplasma infection in terms of gender and age (P < 0.05), and children with viral + fungal infection in terms of gender (P < 0.05), and children with bacterial + mycoplasma infection in terms of age and onset season (P < 0.05). Among the children infected with 3 pathogens, there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of bacterial + viral + fungal and viral + mycoplasma + fungal infections in terms of gender (P < 0.05), and children with bacterial + viral + mycoplasma infection in terms of age (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the distribution of onset season (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the distribution of children infected with 4 pathogens in terms of gender, age and onset season (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The pathogens of pediatric patients with severe pneumonia in PICU commonly involves bacteria and viruses. As the age of children grows, the detection rate of bacteria shows a decreasing trend, and the pathogenic spectrum gradually changes from bacteria to mycoplasma and viruses, and the number of mixed infections gradually increase. Rational selection of antimicrobial drugs needs to consider pathogenic characteristics of different age, gender, and onset season in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Chen
- Department of Emergency, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenjing Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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14
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Di Prata C, Renouf B, Tzanis D, Bouhadiba T, Watson S, Zein SE, Helfre S, Nicolas N, Perlbarg-Samson J, Brenet O, Bonvalot S. Significant Predictors of Postoperative Morbidity After Radical Resection of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma in a Tertiary Center. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:4515-4526. [PMID: 37160805 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-13459-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The safety of multivisceral resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma is an issue. Previous reports have investigated its associations with the pattern of resection and factors recognized mostly per operatively. METHODS All consecutive RPS resections from May 2015 to April 2022 were studied retrospectively with respect to adverse events. Two univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between severe adverse events and factors recognized pre- and per operatively. Associations of adverse events with overall survival (OS) and local recurrence (LR) were investigated. RESULTS A total of 265 surgical interventions corresponding to 251 patients were recorded (38 RPS surgeries/year). Severe postoperative adverse events (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3) occurred in 50 patients (18.9%), 15 (5.6%) patients underwent an iterative laparotomy, and 6 patients (2.3%) died within 90 days. On multivariate analysis including all parameters known preoperatively, male sex, performance status, dedifferentiated liposarcoma histology, and low serum albumin level were found to be significant predictors of major complications, whereas the timing of surgery and preoperative treatment were not. On univariate analysis including all per operative parameters, transfusion requirement, operative time, number of digestive anastomoses, and pancreas and/or major arterial resection were found to entail higher operative risk. On multivariate analysis, only transfusion requirement was significant. There was no impact of postoperative adverse events on OS or LR. CONCLUSIONS The recognition of preoperative parameters that impact safety could mitigate the extent of the surgery, specifically the resection of adherent organs not overtly invaded. For the best decision, this surgery should be performed in referral centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Di Prata
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute Curie, Paris, France
- Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Benjamin Renouf
- Department of Hospital Research Direction, Institute Curie, Paris, France
| | - Dimitri Tzanis
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute Curie, Paris, France
| | | | - Sarah Watson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institute Curie, Paris, France
| | - Sophie El Zein
- Department of Biopathology, Institute Curie, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Helfre
- Department of Radiotherapy, Institute Curie, Paris, France
| | - Nayla Nicolas
- Department of Radiology, Institute Curie, Paris, France
| | | | - Olivier Brenet
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute Curie, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Bonvalot
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute Curie, Paris, France.
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15
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Stoccoro A, Conti E, Scaffei E, Calderoni S, Coppedè F, Migliore L, Battini R. DNA Methylation Biomarkers for Young Children with Idiopathic Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9138. [PMID: 37298088 PMCID: PMC10252672 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119138] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition, the underlying pathological mechanisms of which are not yet completely understood. Although several genetic and genomic alterations have been linked to ASD, for the majority of ASD patients, the cause remains unknown, and the condition likely arises due to complex interactions between low-risk genes and environmental factors. There is increasing evidence that epigenetic mechanisms that are highly sensitive to environmental factors and influence gene function without altering the DNA sequence, particularly aberrant DNA methylation, are involved in ASD pathogenesis. This systematic review aimed to update the clinical application of DNA methylation investigations in children with idiopathic ASD, investigating its potential application in clinical settings. To this end, a literature search was performed on different scientific databases using a combination of terms related to the association between peripheral DNA methylation and young children with idiopathic ASD; this search led to the identification of 18 articles. In the selected studies, DNA methylation is investigated in peripheral blood or saliva samples, at both gene-specific and genome-wide levels. The results obtained suggest that peripheral DNA methylation could represent a promising methodology in ASD biomarker research, although further studies are needed to develop DNA-methylation-based clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Eugenia Conti
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Scaffei
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Calderoni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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16
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Ahmed I, Elmugabil A, Adam I, Almohaimeed A. The association between female newborn and placental malaria infection: A case-control study. Placenta 2023; 138:55-59. [PMID: 37196581 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.05.006] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There are few published data on the influence of the sex of the fetus or the newborn on the rate of malaria infection. Moreover, the results of these studies are not conclusive. This study was conducted to investigate the association between sex of the newborn and placental malaria infection. METHODS A case-control study was conducted at Al Jabalian maternity hospital in central Sudan during the rainy and post rainy seasons from May to December 2020. The cases were women who had placental malaria, while the controls were subsequent women who had no placental malaria. A questionnaire was filled out by each woman in the case and control groups in order to gather demographic data as well as medical and obstetric history. Malaria was diagnosed using blood films. Logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS There were 678 women in each arm of the study. Compared with the women without placental malaria (controls), women with placental malaria had a significantly lower age and parity. A significantly higher number of the cases had delivered female newborns, 453 (66.8%) vs. 208 (30.7%), P < 0.001. In logistic regression, women with placental malaria: lived in rural areas, had low antenatal attendance, did not use bed nets, and had more female newborns (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 2.90, 95% CI = 2.08-4.04). DISCUSSION Women who delivered female were more likely to have placental malaria. Further research into the immunologic and biochemical parameters is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itedal Ahmed
- Department of Anatomy, Najran University, Saudi Arabia; Faculty of Medicine, Gezira University, Sudan.
| | | | - Ishag Adam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Amani Almohaimeed
- Department of Statistic and Operation Research, College of Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
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17
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Conte C, Antonelli G, Melica ME, Tarocchi M, Romagnani P, Peired AJ. Role of Sex Hormones in Prevalent Kidney Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098244. [PMID: 37175947 PMCID: PMC10179191 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098244] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a constantly growing global health burden, with more than 840 million people affected worldwide. CKD presents sex disparities in the pathophysiology of the disease, as well as in the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and disease progression. Overall, while CKD is more frequent in females, males have a higher risk to progress to end-stage kidney disease. In recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the role of sex hormones in the health and diseases of several organs, including the kidney. In this review, we present a clinical overview of the sex-differences in CKD and a selection of prominent kidney diseases causing CKD: lupus nephritis, diabetic kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. We report clinical and experimental findings on the role of sex hormones in the development of the disease and its progression to end-stage kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Conte
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Antonelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Melica
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Mirko Tarocchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Romagnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Julie Peired
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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18
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Schneidewind L, Kiss B, Zengerling F, Borkowetz A, Graf S, Kranz J, Dräger DL, Graser A, Bellut L, Uhlig A. Gender-specific outcomes in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023:10.1007/s00432-023-04788-x. [PMID: 37079051 PMCID: PMC10374671 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04788-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze gender-specific differences in survival parameters in advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibition. METHODS The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate gender-specific differences in disease-free (DFS), progression-free (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR). The sources MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from January 2010 to June 2022. No restrictions were made concerning language, study region or publication type. A comparison of gender-specific differences in survival parameters was performed using a random-effects meta-analysis. A risk of bias assessment was done using the ROBINS-I tool. RESULTS Five studies were included. In a random-effect meta-analysis of the studies, PCD4989g and IMvigor 211 with both using atezolizumab, females were more likely to have better objective response rate (ORR) than men (OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.20-4.16; p = 0.0110). In addition, females had a comparable median OS to men (MD 1.16; 95% CI - 3.15-5.46; p = 0.598). In summary, comparing all results, a tendency was seen toward better response rates and survival parameters in female patients. The risk of bias assessment yielded an overall low risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS There is a tendency toward better outcomes in women for immunotherapy in advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, but only for the antibody atezolizumab women have a significantly better ORR. Unfortunately, many studies fail to report gender-specific outcomes. Therefore, further research is essential when aiming for individualized medicine. This research should address immunological confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Schneidewind
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18055, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Bernhard Kiss
- Department of Urology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Sebastian Graf
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Kepler University Hospital Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Jennifer Kranz
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Urology and Kidney Transplantation, Martin Luther University, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Desiree L Dräger
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Annabel Graser
- Department of Urology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Bellut
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Annemarie Uhlig
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Bucher ML, Anderson FL, Lai Y, Dicent J, Miller GW, Zota AR. Exposomics as a tool to investigate differences in health and disease by sex and gender. EXPOSOME 2023; 3:osad003. [PMID: 37122372 PMCID: PMC10125831 DOI: 10.1093/exposome/osad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The health and disease of an individual is mediated by their genetics, a lifetime of environmental exposures, and interactions between the two. Genetic or biological sex, including chromosome composition and hormone expression, may influence both the types and frequency of environmental exposures an individual experiences, as well as the biological responses an individual has to those exposures. Gender identity, which can be associated with social behaviors such as expressions of self, may also mediate the types and frequency of exposures an individual experiences. Recent advances in exposome-level analysis have progressed our understanding of how environmental factors affect health outcomes; however, the relationship between environmental exposures and sex- and gender-specific health remains underexplored. The comprehensive, non-targeted, and unbiased nature of exposomic research provides a unique opportunity to systematically evaluate how environmental exposures interact with biological sex and gender identity to influence health. In this forward-looking narrative review, we provide examples of how biological sex and gender identity influence environmental exposures, discuss how environmental factors may interact with biological processes, and highlight how an intersectional approach to exposomics can provide critical insights for sex- and gender-specific health sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan L Bucher
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Faith L Anderson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yunjia Lai
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jocelyn Dicent
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gary W Miller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ami R Zota
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Microbiota alters the metabolome in an age- and sex- dependent manner in mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1348. [PMID: 36906623 PMCID: PMC10008592 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37055-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Commensal bacteria are major contributors to mammalian metabolism. We used liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to study the metabolomes of germ-free, gnotobiotic, and specific-pathogen-free mice, while also evaluating the influence of age and sex on metabolite profiles. Microbiota modified the metabolome of all body sites and accounted for the highest proportion of variation within the gastrointestinal tract. Microbiota and age explained similar amounts of variation the metabolome of urine, serum, and peritoneal fluid, while age was the primary driver of variation in the liver and spleen. Although sex explained the least amount of variation at all sites, it had a significant impact on all sites except the ileum. Collectively, these data illustrate the interplay between microbiota, age, and sex in the metabolic phenotypes of diverse body sites. This provides a framework for interpreting complex metabolic phenotypes and will help guide future studies into the role that the microbiome plays in disease.
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21
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Abdel-Gawad M, Nour M, El-Raey F, Nagdy H, Almansoury Y, El-Kassas M. Gender differences in prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Egypt: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2499. [PMID: 36781919 PMCID: PMC9925441 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29262-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Egypt is the country with the highest known hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence worldwide. The origin of gender differences in HCV prevalence is not usually well understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review and evaluate the gender differences in HCV infection rates amongst Egyptians. Such data would be important to support prevention and control programs aiming to minimize HCV-related morbidity and mortality. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) were searched for relevant articles published from 1st January 2011 to 13th December 2021, using the search terms (HCV OR "hepatitis C" OR hepacivirus) AND (prevalence OR seroprevalence OR epidemiology OR incidence OR magnitude). At first, retrieved articles were screened, and then relevant data were extracted and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Out of 616 studies from databases, only 30 were included after the full-text screening, with 193,621 included participants: 97,597 male and 96,024 female. The overall seroprevalence of HCV antibodies in all included studies was 0.02 (CI - 0.23 to 0.28), with no significant difference between males and females. However, HCV RNA positivity was significantly more prevalent in males than females in adults and the general population (after excluding high-risk groups). In children, no statistically significant differences between males and females were found in the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies nor in the prevalence of PCR positivity. HCV RNA positivity is significantly higher in males than females in adults, while there are no gender differences in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Abdel-Gawad
- Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Infectious Diseases Department, Assiut Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Nour
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt
- Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fathiya El-Raey
- Hepatogastroenterology and Infectious Diseases Department, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt
| | - Hanaa Nagdy
- Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Yahya Almansoury
- Internal Medicine Department, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El-Kassas
- Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Ain Helwan, Cairo, 11795, Egypt.
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22
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Ivan S, Daniela O, Jaroslava BD. Sex differences matter: Males and females are equal but not the same. Physiol Behav 2023; 259:114038. [PMID: 36423797 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences between males and females can be detected early in life. They are present also later even to a much greater extent affecting our life in adulthood and a wide spectrum of physical, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics. Moreover, sex differences matter also in individual's health and disease. In this article, we reviewed at first the sex differences in brain organization and function with respect to the underlying biological mechanisms. Since the individual functional differences in the brain, in turn, shape the behavior, sex-specific psychological/behavioral differences that can be observed in infants but also adults are consequently addressed. Finally, we briefly mention sex-dependent variations in susceptibility to selected disorders as well as their pathophysiology, diagnosis, and response to therapy. The understanding of biologically determined variability between males and females can have important implications, especially in gender-specific health care. We have the impression that it is very important to emphasize that sex matters. Males and females are differently programmed by nature, and it must be respected. Even though we as males and females are not the same, we would like to emphasize that we are still equal and together form a worthy colorful continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szadvári Ivan
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ostatníková Daniela
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
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23
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Shirokova O, Zaborskaya O, Pchelin P, Kozliaeva E, Pershin V, Mukhina I. Genetic and Epigenetic Sexual Dimorphism of Brain Cells during Aging. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020195. [PMID: 36831738 PMCID: PMC9954625 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, much of the attention paid to theoretical and applied biomedicine, as well as neurobiology, has been drawn to various aspects of sexual dimorphism due to the differences that male and female brain cells demonstrate during aging: (a) a dimorphic pattern of response to therapy for neurodegenerative disorders, (b) different age of onset and different degrees of the prevalence of such disorders, and (c) differences in their symptomatic manifestations in men and women. The purpose of this review is to outline the genetic and epigenetic differences in brain cells during aging in males and females. As a result, we hereby show that the presence of brain aging patterns in males and females is due to a complex of factors associated with the effects of sex chromosomes, which subsequently entails a change in signal cascades in somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Shirokova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Olga Zaborskaya
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - Pavel Pchelin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603002, Russia
| | - Elizaveta Kozliaeva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - Vladimir Pershin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603002, Russia
| | - Irina Mukhina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603002, Russia
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24
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Iannuzzi V, Bacalini MG, Franceschi C, Giuliani C. The role of genetics and epigenetics in sex differences in human survival. GENUS 2023. [DOI: 10.1186/s41118-023-00181-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractSex differences in human survival have been extensively investigated in many studies that have in part uncovered the biological determinants that promote a longer life in females with respect to males. Moreover, researches performed in the past years have prompted increased awareness about the biological effects of environmental factors that can modulate the magnitude of the sex gap in survival. Besides the genetic background, epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation, that can modulate cell function, have been particularly studied in this framework. In this review, we aim to summarize the role of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in promoting female advantage from the early in life (“INNATE” features), and in influencing the magnitude of the gap in sex differences in survival and ageing (“VARIABLE” features). After briefly discussing the biological bases of sex determination in humans, we will provide much evidence showing that (i) “innate” mechanisms common to all males and to all females (both genetic and epigenetic) play a major role in sex differences in lifespan; (ii) “variable” genetic and epigenetic patterns, that vary according to context, populations and exposures to different environments, can affect the magnitude of the gap in sex differences in survival. Then we will describe recent findings in the use of epigenetic clocks to uncover sex differences in biological age and thus potentially in mortality. In conclusion, we will discuss how environmental factors cannot be kept apart from the biological factors providing evidence from the field of human ecology.
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25
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Tomeva E, Krammer UDB, Switzeny OJ, Haslberger AG, Hippe B. Sex-Specific miRNA Differences in Liquid Biopsies from Subjects with Solid Tumors and Healthy Controls. EPIGENOMES 2023; 7:epigenomes7010002. [PMID: 36648863 PMCID: PMC9844450 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms has been recognized to play a crucial role in cancer development, but these mechanisms vary between sexes. Therefore, we focused on sex-specific differences in the context of cancer-based data from a recent study. A total of 12 cell-free DNA methylation targets in CpG-rich promoter regions and 48 miRNAs were analyzed by qPCR in plasma samples from 8 female and 7 male healthy controls as well as 48 female and 80 male subjects with solid tumors of the bladder, brain, colorectal region (CRC), lung, stomach, pancreas, and liver. Due to the small sample size in some groups and/or the non-balanced distribution of men and women, sex-specific differences were evaluated statistically only in healthy subjects, CRC, stomach or pancreas cancer patients, and all cancer subjects combined (n female/male-8/7, 14/14, 8/15, 6/6, 48/80, respectively). Several miRNAs with opposing expressions between the sexes were observed for healthy subjects (miR-17-5p, miR-26b-5p); CRC patients (miR-186-5p, miR-22-3p, miR-22-5p, miR-25-3p, miR-92a-3p, miR-16-5p); stomach cancer patients (miR-133a-3p, miR-22-5p); and all cancer patients combined (miR-126-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-183-5p). Moreover, sex-specific correlations that were dependent on cancer stage were observed in women (miR-27a-3p) and men (miR-17-5p, miR-20a-5p). Our results indicate the complex and distinct role of epigenetic regulation, particularly miRNAs, depending not only on the health status but also on the sex of the patient. The same miRNAs could have diverse effects in different tissues and opposing effects between the biological sexes, which should be considered in biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ulrike D. B. Krammer
- HealthBioCare GmbH, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Berit Hippe
- HealthBioCare GmbH, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
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26
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CALIMERI SEBASTIANO, LO GIUDICE DANIELA, BUDA AGATA, LAGANÀ ANTONIO, FACCIOLÀ ALESSIO, DI PIETRO ANGELA, VISALLI GIUSEPPA. Role of the 1 st booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the protection against the infection: A fundamental public health tool. JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND HYGIENE 2022; 63:E520-E526. [PMID: 36891000 PMCID: PMC9986990 DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.4.2742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on human health with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Healthcare Workers (HCWs) are one of the most at risk categories to contract the infection. Effective anti-COVID-19 vaccines were approved in a very short time. Making the 1st booster dose is essential to induce a good protection against the infection. Methods We conducted a retrospective sero-epidemiological survey of already existing data concerning the antibody response of a HCWs sample vaccinated with the primary cycle and the 1st booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and, specifically, after three weeks from the third dose of vaccination. Results In our analysis, after the primary cycle, a 95.15% efficacy was detected. Among the non-responders, women were significantly more frequent (69.56%). Moreover, we found a significant reverse correlation between the immune response and the age of the sample, especially in women. However, the 1st booster dose completely cancelled these differences. Conclusions Our data are perfectly in line with what has been declared by the conducted studies in terms of efficacy. However, it is important to highlight that people with only the primary cycle are at high risk to contract the COVID-19 infection. Therefore, it is necessary to not consider people vaccinated with the primary cycle completely risk-free and to stress the importance to perform the 1st booster dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- SEBASTIANO CALIMERI
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - DANIELA LO GIUDICE
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - AGATA BUDA
- Virology Operative Unit, University Hospital “G. Martino”, Messina
| | - ANTONIO LAGANÀ
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Istituto Clinico Polispecialistico C.O.T. Cure Ortopediche Traumatologiche S.p.A, Messina, Italy
| | - ALESSIO FACCIOLÀ
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: Alessio Facciolà, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. E-mail:
| | - ANGELA DI PIETRO
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - GIUSEPPA VISALLI
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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27
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Stoccoro A, Gallo R, Calderoni S, Cagiano R, Muratori F, Migliore L, Grossi E, Coppedè F. Artificial neural networks reveal sex differences in gene methylation, and connections between maternal risk factors and symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder. Epigenomics 2022; 14:1181-1195. [PMID: 36325841 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim and methods: Artificial neural networks were used to unravel connections among blood gene methylation levels, sex, maternal risk factors and symptom severity evaluated using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2 (ADOS-2) score in 58 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Results: Methylation levels of MECP2, HTR1A and OXTR genes were connected to females, and those of EN2, BCL2 and RELN genes to males. High gestational weight gain, lack of folic acid supplements, advanced maternal age, preterm birth, low birthweight and living in rural context were the best predictors of a high ADOS-2 score. Conclusion: Artificial neural networks revealed links among ASD maternal risk factors, symptom severity, gene methylation levels and sex differences in methylation that warrant further investigation in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Roberta Gallo
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Sara Calderoni
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone, Pisa, 56128, Italy
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Romina Cagiano
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone, Pisa, 56128, Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone, Pisa, 56128, Italy
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Enzo Grossi
- Villa Santa Maria Foundation, Tavernerio, Como, 22038, Italy
| | - Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
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28
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Arefinia N, Ramezani A, Farokhnia M, Arab Zadeh AM, Yaghobi R, Sarvari J. Association between expression of ZBP1, AIM2, and MDA5 genes and severity of COVID-19. EXCLI JOURNAL 2022; 21:1171-1183. [PMID: 36320810 PMCID: PMC9618740 DOI: 10.17179/excli2022-5141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Antiviral and inflammatory responses following the detection of the virus genome by nucleic acid sensors play a vital role in the pathogenesis and outcome of diseases. In this study, we investigated the ZBP1, AIM2, and MDA5 expression levels in COVID-19 patients with different intensities of the disease. 75 quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 patients were included consecutively and divided into 3 groups of mild, severe, and critical based on the severity of the disease. Also, 25 healthy volunteer subjects were included. PBMCs were collected from the whole blood, and RNA was extracted using commercial kit. The expression of ZBP1, AIM2, and MDA5 genes was investigated using qRT-PCR technique. The mean age of the patients and healthy volunteers was 52.73±13.78 and 49.120±12.490, respectively. In each group, 13 out of 25 participants were male. The expression levels of ZBP1 (P=0.001), AIM2 (P=0.001), and MDA5 (P= 0.003) transcript were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than the control group. The results also revealed that the expression levels of ZBP1, AIM2, and MDA5 were significantly higher in the critical and severe COVID-19 patients compared to those with mild disease (P<0.05). Moreover, regarding the gender, the expression levels of AIM2 and MDA5 were significantly elevated in male severe (P=0.04 and P=0.003, respectively) and critical (P=0.005 and P=0.0004, respectively) patients than the female ones. The results indicated that ZBP1, AIM2, and MDA5 genes might have an important role in the severity of COVID-19 disease. Moreover, the severity of COVID-19 disease in male and female patients might be related to AIM2, and MDA5 expression levels. More studies are recommended to be conducted to clarify this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Arefinia
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amin Ramezani
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Farokhnia
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Arab Zadeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ramin Yaghobi
- Transplant Research Center, Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Jamal Sarvari
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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29
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Gupta M, Srikrishna G, Klein SL, Bishai WR. Genetic and hormonal mechanisms underlying sex-specific immune responses in tuberculosis. Trends Immunol 2022; 43:640-656. [PMID: 35842266 PMCID: PMC9344469 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), the world's deadliest bacterial infection, afflicts more human males than females, with a male/female (M/F) ratio of 1.7. Sex disparities in TB prevalence, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations are widely reported, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain largely undefined. This review assesses epidemiological data on sex disparity in TB, as well as possible underlying hormonal and genetic mechanisms that might differentially modulate innate and adaptive immune responses in males and females, leading to sex differences in disease susceptibility. We consider whether this sex disparity can be extended to the efficacy of vaccines and discuss novel animal models which may offer mechanistic insights. A better understanding of the biological factors underpinning sex-related immune responses in TB may enable sex-specific personalized therapies for TB.
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Preferential X Chromosome Inactivation as a Mechanism to Explain Female Preponderance in Myasthenia Gravis. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13040696. [PMID: 35456502 PMCID: PMC9031138 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease characterized by prevalence in young women (3:1). Several mechanisms proposed as explanations for gender bias, including skewed X chromosome inactivation (XCI) and dosage or sex hormones, are often involved in the development of autoimmunity. The skewed XCI pattern can lead to an unbalanced expression of some X-linked genes, as observed in several autoimmune disorders characterized by female predominance. No data are yet available regarding XCI and MG. We hypothesize that the preferential XCI pattern may contribute to the female bias observed in the onset of MG, especially among younger women. XCI analysis was performed on blood samples of 284 women between the ages of 20 and 82. XCI was tested using the Human Androgen Receptor Assay (HUMARA). XCI patterns were classified as random (XCI < 75%) and preferential (XCI ≥ 75%). In 121 informative patients, the frequency of skewed XCI patterns was 47%, significantly higher than in healthy controls (17%; p ≤ 0.00001). Interestingly, the phenomenon was observed mainly in younger patients (<45 years; p ≤ 0.00001). Furthermore, considering the XCI pattern and the other clinical characteristics of patients, no significant differences were found. In conclusion, we observed preferential XCI in MG female patients, suggesting its potential role in the aetiology of MG, as observed in other autoimmune diseases in women.
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31
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Hart DA. Sex Differences in Biological Systems and the Conundrum of Menopause: Potential Commonalities in Post-Menopausal Disease Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4119. [PMID: 35456937 PMCID: PMC9026302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific differences in biology and physiology likely start at the time of conception and progress and mature during the pre-puberty time frame and then during the transitions accompanying puberty. These sex differences are impacted by both genetics and epigenetic alterations during the maturation process, likely for the purpose of preparing for successful reproduction. For females, later in life (~45-50) they undergo another transition leading to a loss of ovarian hormone production at menopause. The reasons for menopause are not clear, but for a subset of females, menopause is accompanied by an increased risk of a number of diseases or conditions that impact a variety of tissues. Most research has mainly focused on the target cells in each of the affected tissues rather than pursue the alternative option that there may be commonalities in the development of these post-menopausal conditions in addition to influences on specific target cells. This review will address some of the potential commonalities presented by an integration of the literature regarding tissue-specific aspects of these post-menopausal conditions and data presented by space flight/microgravity (a condition not anticipated by evolution) that could implicate a loss of a regulatory function of the microvasculature in the risk attached to the affected tissues. Thus, the loss of the integration of the paracrine relationships between endothelial cells of the microvasculature of the tissues affected in the post-menopausal environment could contribute to the risk for post-menopausal diseases/conditions. The validation of this concept could lead to new approaches for interventions to treat post-menopausal conditions, as well as provide new understanding regarding sex-specific biological regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Hart
- Department of Surgery and Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; ; Tel.: +1-403-220-4571
- Bone & Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
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32
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Goebel H, Koeditz B, Huerta M, Kameri E, Nestler T, Kamphausen T, Friemann J, Hamdorf M, Ohrmann T, Koehler P, Cornely OA, Montesinos-Rongen M, Nicol D, Schorle H, Boor P, Quaas A, Pallasch C, Heidenreich A, von Brandenstein M. COVID-19 Infection Induce miR-371a-3p Upregulation Resulting in Influence on Male Fertility. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040858. [PMID: 35453608 PMCID: PMC9033010 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In December 2019, the first case of COVID-19 was reported and since then several groups have already published that the virus can be present in the testis. To study the influence of SARS-CoV-2 which cause a dysregulation of the androgen receptor (AR) level, thereby leading to fertility problems and inducing germ cell testicular changes in patients after the infection. Formalin-Fixed-Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) testicular samples from patients who died with or as a result of COVID-19 (n = 32) with controls (n = 6), inflammatory changes (n = 9), seminoma with/without metastasis (n = 11) compared with healthy biopsy samples (n = 3) were analyzed and compared via qRT-PCR for the expression of miR-371a-3p. An immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) and ELISA were performed in order to highlight the miR-371a-3p targeting the AR. Serum samples of patients with mild or severe COVID-19 symptoms (n = 34) were analyzed for miR-371a-3p expression. In 70% of the analyzed postmortem testicular tissue samples, a significant upregulation of the miR-371a-3p was detected, and 75% of the samples showed a reduced spermatogenesis. In serum samples, the upregulation of the miR-371a-3p was also detectable. The upregulation of the miR-371a-3p is responsible for the downregulation of the AR in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, resulting in decreased spermatogenesis. Since the dysregulation of the AR is associated with infertility, further studies have to confirm if the identified dysregulation is regressive after a declining infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Goebel
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (H.G.); (A.Q.)
| | - Barbara Koeditz
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (B.K.); (M.H.); (E.K.); (T.N.); (T.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Manuel Huerta
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (B.K.); (M.H.); (E.K.); (T.N.); (T.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Ersen Kameri
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (B.K.); (M.H.); (E.K.); (T.N.); (T.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Tim Nestler
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (B.K.); (M.H.); (E.K.); (T.N.); (T.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Thomas Kamphausen
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Melatengürtel 60/62, 50823 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Johannes Friemann
- Klinikum Lüdenscheid, Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Paulmannshöher Straße 14, 58515 Lüdenscheid, Germany;
| | - Matthias Hamdorf
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany;
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Timo Ohrmann
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (B.K.); (M.H.); (E.K.); (T.N.); (T.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Philipp Koehler
- Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (P.K.); (O.A.C.); (C.P.)
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Chair Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Oliver A. Cornely
- Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (P.K.); (O.A.C.); (C.P.)
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Chair Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50935 Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Manuel Montesinos-Rongen
- Department of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany;
| | - David Nicol
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK;
| | - Hubert Schorle
- Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University Bonn Clinics, University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Peter Boor
- Department of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Alexander Quaas
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (H.G.); (A.Q.)
| | - Christian Pallasch
- Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (P.K.); (O.A.C.); (C.P.)
| | - Axel Heidenreich
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (B.K.); (M.H.); (E.K.); (T.N.); (T.O.); (A.H.)
- Department of Urology, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Melanie von Brandenstein
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (B.K.); (M.H.); (E.K.); (T.N.); (T.O.); (A.H.)
- Correspondence:
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Immunochromatographic and microscopic detection of Plasmodium falciparum in recipients of P. falciparum-infected donor blood. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1455-1465. [PMID: 35230548 PMCID: PMC8885390 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07476-w] [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: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Blood transfusion practice is an essential medical intervention; however, it poses problems of transmissibility of infectious diseases including malaria. This study was designed to determine the potential of transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) by detecting malaria antigens and parasites in recipients of infected donor blood. After successful blood transfusion, remnants of transfused blood were screened for Plasmodium falciparum HRP2 antigen and parasitemia using CareStart malaria RDT and 10% Giemsa stain microscopy respectively according to established protocols. Recipients of microscopy detectable P. falciparum in infected blood who tested negative for malaria by both microscopy and mRDT prior to receiving infected donor blood were followed up weekly for 35 days. Donor P. falciparum antigenemia and parasitemia were 12.1% and 8.4%, respectively, while the prevalence of blood recipient parasitemia was 3.2%. Blood stored for 2–5 days recorded mean parasitemia higher than those stored for a day and after 5 days. Additionally, parasitemia was observed in all follow-up days with marginally high frequencies in days 7, 14, and 35. There was no association between the attributes (storage days, blood group, and parasite count range) of the infected donor blood units and the characteristics of blood recipients with post-transfusion parasitemia. This study provides baseline data on TTM in Ghana. However, further studies should establish the genetic relatedness of the implicated parasites since new infections and/or recrudescence of previous infections could account for this observation.
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Sex, Allergic Diseases and Omalizumab. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020328. [PMID: 35203537 PMCID: PMC8869622 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gender differences are increasingly emerging in every area of medicine including drug therapy; however, specific gender-targeted studies are infrequent. Sex is a fundamental variable, which cannot be neglected. When optimizing therapies, gender pharmacology must always be considered in order to improve the effectiveness and safety of the use of drugs. Knowledge of gender differences promotes appropriate use of therapies and greater health protection for both genders. Further development of gender research would make it possible to report on differences in the assimilation and response of the female organism as compared to the male, in order to identify potential risks and benefits that can be found between genders. Furthermore, a better understanding of sex/gender-related influences, with regard to pharmacological activity, would allow the development of personalized “tailor-made” medicines. Here, we summarize the state of knowledge on the role of sex in several allergic diseases and their treatment with omalizumab, the first biologic drug authorized for use in the field of allergology.
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Gallo R, Stoccoro A, Cagiano R, Nicolì V, Ricciardi R, Tancredi R, Trovato R, Santorelli FM, Calderoni S, Muratori F, Migliore L, Coppedè F. Correlation among maternal risk factors, gene methylation and disease severity in females with autism spectrum disorder. Epigenomics 2022; 14:175-185. [PMID: 35081728 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To detect early-life environmental factors leading to DNA methylation changes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related genes in young ASD females and reveal epigenetic biomarkers of disease severity. Materials & methods: We investigated blood methylation levels of MECP2, OXTR, BDNF, RELN, BCL2, EN2 and HTR1A genes in 42 ASD females. Results: Maternal gestational weight gain correlated with BDNF methylation levels (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.034), and lack of folic acid supplementation at periconception resulted in higher disease severity in the ASD children (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.048). RELN methylation levels were inversely correlated with disease severity (Bonferroni corrected p = 0.042). Conclusion: The present study revealed gene-environment interactions and potential epigenetic biomarkers of disease severity in ASD females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Gallo
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Romina Cagiano
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone, Pisa, 56128, Italy
| | - Vanessa Nicolì
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Rosanna Ricciardi
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | | | - Rosanna Trovato
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone, Pisa, 56128, Italy
| | | | - Sara Calderoni
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone, Pisa, 56128, Italy.,Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone, Pisa, 56128, Italy.,Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
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Parra-Montes de Oca MA, Sotelo-Rivera I, Gutiérrez-Mata A, Charli JL, Joseph-Bravo P. Sex Dimorphic Responses of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis to Energy Demands and Stress. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:746924. [PMID: 34745011 PMCID: PMC8565401 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.746924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid-axis (HPT) is one of the main neuroendocrine axes that control energy expenditure. The activity of hypophysiotropic thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) neurons is modulated by nutritional status, energy demands and stress, all of which are sex dependent. Sex dimorphism has been associated with sex steroids whose concentration vary along the life-span, but also to sex chromosomes that define not only sexual characteristics but the expression of relevant genes. In this review we describe sex differences in basal HPT axis activity and in its response to stress and to metabolic challenges in experimental animals at different stages of development, as well as some of the limited information available on humans. Literature review was accomplished by searching in Pubmed under the following words: "sex dimorphic" or "sex differences" or "female" or "women" and "thyrotropin" or "thyroid hormones" or "deiodinases" and "energy homeostasis" or "stress". The most representative articles were discussed, and to reduce the number of references, selected reviews were cited.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Patricia Joseph-Bravo
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Mexico
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37
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Sarovic D. A Unifying Theory for Autism: The Pathogenetic Triad as a Theoretical Framework. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:767075. [PMID: 34867553 PMCID: PMC8637925 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a unifying theory for autism by applying the framework of a pathogenetic triad to the scientific literature. It proposes a deconstruction of autism into three contributing features (an autistic personality dimension, cognitive compensation, and neuropathological risk factors), and delineates how they interact to cause a maladaptive behavioral phenotype that may require a clinical diagnosis. The autistic personality represents a common core condition, which induces a set of behavioral issues when pronounced. These issues are compensated for by cognitive mechanisms, allowing the individual to remain adaptive and functional. Risk factors, both exogenous and endogenous ones, show pathophysiological convergence through their negative effects on neurodevelopment. This secondarily affects cognitive compensation, which disinhibits a maladaptive behavioral phenotype. The triad is operationalized and methods for quantification are presented. With respect to the breadth of findings in the literature that it can incorporate, it is the most comprehensive model yet for autism. Its main implications are that (1) it presents the broader autism phenotype as a non-pathological core personality domain, which is shared across the population and uncoupled from associated features such as low cognitive ability and immune dysfunction, (2) it proposes that common genetic variants underly the personality domain, and that rare variants act as risk factors through negative effects on neurodevelopment, (3) it outlines a common pathophysiological mechanism, through inhibition of neurodevelopment and cognitive dysfunction, by which a wide range of endogenous and exogenous risk factors lead to autism, and (4) it suggests that contributing risk factors, and findings of immune and autonomic dysfunction are clinically ascertained rather than part of the core autism construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Sarovic
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,MedTech West, Gothenburg, Sweden
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