scholarly journals A SOCIAL COMPONENT IN THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF SONS ON MATERNAL LONGEVITY IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL HUMANS

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
BART VAN DE PUTTE ◽  
KOEN MATTHIJS ◽  
ROBERT VLIETINCK
Keyword(s):  
Social Group ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Social Component ◽  
Biological Explanation ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Male Dominated ◽  
Household Resource ◽  
Maternal Testosterone

Due to their effect on maternal testosterone levels, sons are said to have reduced maternal longevity in pre-industrial humans. This analysis, using information from a Flemish agricultural village in the 18th–20th centuries, confirms the presence of a negative effect of sons on maternal longevity. However, the effect is mainly observed for mothers belonging to the least privileged social group and for sons surviving their fifth birthday. Both findings make the above-mentioned biological explanation relative. However, a plausible alternative, social interpretation is male-dominated intra-household resource competition. It is reasonable to assume that only sons above a certain age are able to claim a serious amount of resources and that competition is strongest within the least privileged social group.

scholarly journals Sex-specific associations of maternal prenatal testosterone levels with birth weight and weight gain in infancy

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 280-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Voegtline ◽  
K. A. Costigan ◽  
K. T. Kivlighan ◽  
J. L. Henderson ◽  
J. A. DiPietro
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Testosterone Level ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Salivary Testosterone ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Infant Weight Gain ◽  
Postnatal Weight Gain ◽  
Maternal Testosterone ◽  
Age And Sex

Associations between maternal salivary testosterone at 36 weeks’ gestation with birth weight and infant weight gain through 6 months of age were examined in a group of 49 healthy, pregnant women and their offspring. The diurnal decline of maternal testosterone was conserved in late pregnancy, and levels showed significant day-to-day stability. Elevated maternal morning testosterone level was associated with lower birth weight Z-scores adjusted for gestational age and sex, and greater infant weight gain between birth and 6 months. Although maternal testosterone levels did not differ by fetal sex, relations were sex-specific such that maternal testosterone had a significant impact on weight for male infants; among female infants associations were nonsignificant. Results highlight the opposing influence of maternal androgens during pregnancy on decreased growth in utero and accelerated postnatal weight gain.

scholarly journals Testosterone Decreases Placental Mitochondrial Content and Cellular Bioenergetics

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay S. Mishra ◽  
Chellakkan S. Blesson ◽  
Sathish Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Mitochondrial Copy Number ◽  
Maternal Testosterone

Placental mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Since preeclampsia is a hyperandrogenic state, we hypothesized that elevated maternal testosterone levels induce damage to placental mitochondria and decrease bioenergetic profiles. To test this hypothesis, pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were injected with vehicle or testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg/day) from gestation day (GD) 15 to 19. On GD20, the placentas were isolated to assess mitochondrial structure, copy number, ATP/ADP ratio, and biogenesis (Pgc-1α and Nrf1). In addition, in vitro cultures of human trophoblasts (HTR-8/SVneo) were treated with dihydrotestosterone (0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 nM), and bioenergetic profiles using seahorse analyzer were assessed. Testosterone exposure in pregnant rats led to a 2-fold increase in plasma testosterone levels with an associated decrease in placental and fetal weights compared with controls. Elevated maternal testosterone levels induced structural damage to the placental mitochondria and decreased mitochondrial copy number. The ATP/ADP ratio was reduced with a parallel decrease in the mRNA and protein expression of Pgc-1α and Nrf1 in the placenta of testosterone-treated rats compared with controls. In cultured trophoblasts, dihydrotestosterone decreased the mitochondrial copy number and reduced PGC-1α, NRF1 mRNA, and protein levels without altering the expression of mitochondrial fission/fusion genes. Dihydrotestosterone exposure induced significant mitochondrial energy deficits with a dose-dependent decrease in basal respiration, ATP-linked respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity. In summary, our study suggests that the placental mitochondrial dysfunction induced by elevated maternal testosterone might be a potential mechanism linking preeclampsia to feto-placental growth restriction.

scholarly journals Biomass explains the intensity of facilitative – not competitive – interactions: three intraspecific tests with annuals

Web Ecology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ariza ◽  
K. Tielbörger
Keyword(s):  
Size Dependence ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Competitive Interactions ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Belowground Competition ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Negative Effect

Abstract. Despite efforts to discern the role of plant size in resource competition, the circumstances under which size-dependent plant-plant interactions occur are still unclear. The traditional assumption is that competition intensifies with increasing neighbour size. However, recent studies suggest that the size (biomass) dependence of competitive interactions is strongest at very low biomass levels and becomes negligible after a certain threshold neighbour biomass has been reached. We searched for the generality of such patterns for three common annual plant species in Israel. We monitored target and neighbour biomass along their entire lifecycle using an even-aged, intraspecific and intrapopulation competition screenhouse experiment under water-limited conditions. For all focal species, neighbour presence had a net negative effect on vegetative biomass at harvest. However, this was not explained by increasing neighbour biomass over time, as a consistent pattern of size-dependent facilitative, rather than competitive, interactions was observed at all life stages. We explain these observations in terms of co-occurring aboveground facilitation and dominant belowground competition for water. Since our findings are the first of their kind and contradict theoretical predictions of biomass dependence of net negative interactions, we advocate further experiments addressing size dependence in interactions among plants. In particular, theoretical models addressing size dependence of positive interactions must be developed.

scholarly journals Perceived Effects of Sand Dredging on Livelihood Diversification of Artisanal Fisher Folks in Lagos State, Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Kehinde Adesina ◽  
Ogunnowo Aderonke Adunola
Keyword(s):  
Social Group ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Livelihood Diversification ◽  
Monthly Income ◽  
Artisanal Fisher ◽  
Lagos State ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Perceived Effects

AbstractThe study examined perceived effects of sand dredging activities on livelihood diversification of artisanal fisher folks in Lagos State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Purposively, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe and Ikorodu local Government Areas (LGAs) were selected for intensive dredging activities. Registered artisanal fishermen in these LGAs were 310, 350, 380 and 320, respectively. Twenty percent of the population in each LGAs were selected using simple random sampling technique to arrive at 272 respondents interviewed for the study. An interview schedule guide was used to elicit information on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, knowledge, livelihood diversification and perception of the sand dredging effect on fishing activities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and independent sample t-test. The mean age of fisher folks was 37 ± 8 years, 92.1 % of them were males, 81.4 % were married and had households’ size ranging from 1 to 16 persons. Over 50 % of the respondents had no formal education. Monthly income of fisher folks in the study area ranged from ₦5, 000 to ₦60, 000 with a mean income of ₦22, 892 ± 13,564 and majority (92.9 %)were members of a social group. Respondents diversified most into off-farm activities such as commercial bike riding, security and technician services. Slightly above half (55.7 %) perceived sand dredging as having a negative effect on fishing activities. Results on inferential statistic revealed that a significant relationship existed between knowledge of sand dredging effect on fishing activities (r = 0.35), monthly income (r = −0.181) and social group (χ2= 2.886) and perceived effects of sand dredging on fishing activities. Deliberate policy drive to mitigate sand dredging practices is required to forestall the negative effect on livelihood diversification of the artisanal fisher folks. Consequently, the artisanal fishery contribution to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment generation and total domestic fish production will be enhanced.

scholarly journals Anogenital distance in children born of mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome: the Odense Child Cohort

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 2061-2070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorte Glintborg ◽  
Richard Christian Jensen ◽  
Anne Vibeke Schmedes ◽  
Ivan Brandslund ◽  
Henriette Boye Kyhl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Anogenital Distance ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Maternal Testosterone

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONAre higher testosterone levels during pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) associated with longer offspring anogenital distance (AGD)?SUMMARY ANSWERAGD was similar in 3-month-old children born of mothers with PCOS compared to controls.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYAGD is considered a marker of prenatal androgenization.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONMaternal testosterone levels were measured by mass spectrometry at Gestational Week 28 in 1127 women. Maternal diagnosis of PCOS before pregnancy was defined according to Rotterdam criteria. Offspring measures included AGD from anus to posterior fourchette (AGDaf) and clitoris (AGDac) in girls and to scrotum (AGDas) and penis (AGDap) and penile width in boys and body composition (weight and BMI SD scores) at age 3 months.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSThe study was part of the prospective study, Odense Child Cohort (OCC), and included mothers with PCOS (n = 139) and controls (n = 1422). The control population included women with regular menstrual cycles (<35 days) before conception and no signs of androgen excess (hirsutism and/or acne).MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEAGD measures were comparable in offspring of women with PCOS compared to controls (all P > 0.2) despite significantly higher maternal levels of total testosterone (mean: 2.4 versus 2.0 nmol/l) and free testosterone (mean: 0.005 versus 0.004 nmol/l) in women with PCOS versus controls (both P < 0.001). In women with PCOS, maternal testosterone was an independent positive predictor of offspring AGDas and AGDap in boys. Maternal testosterone levels did not predict AGD in girls born of mothers with PCOS or in boys or girls born of women in the control group.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONThe diagnosis of PCOS was based on retrospective information and questionnaires during pregnancy. Women participating in OCC were more ethnically homogenous, leaner, more educated and less likely to smoke compared to the background population. Our study findings, therefore, need to be reproduced in prospective study cohorts with PCOS, in more obese study populations and in women of other ethnicities.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSOur finding of the same AGD in girls born of mothers with PCOS compared to controls expands previous results of studies reporting longer AGD in adult women with PCOS. Our results suggest that longer AGD in adult women with PCOS could be the result of increased testosterone levels in puberty, perhaps in combination with weight gain.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)Financial grants for the study were provided by the Danish Foundation for Scientific Innovation and Technology (09-067180), Ronald McDonald Children Foundation, Odense University Hospital, the Region of Southern Denmark, the Municipality of Odense, the Mental Health Service of the Region of Southern Denmark, The Danish Council for Strategic Research, Program Commission on Health, Food and Welfare (2101-08-0058), Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Novo Nordisk Foundation (grant no. NNF15OC00017734), the Danish Council for Independent Research and the Foundation for research collaboration between Rigshospitalet and Odense University Hospital and the Health Foundation (Helsefonden). There is no conflict of interest of any author that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

scholarly journals Maternal Testosterone Levels During Pregnancy Are Not associated with Birth Weights of Offspring: A Prospective Cohort Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUFENG XU ◽  
Li-Juan Sun ◽  
Mei-Ling Yang ◽  
Yun Liao ◽  
Yuan Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Premature Rupture Of Membranes ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Conflicting Evidence ◽  
Cholestasis Of Pregnancy ◽  
Maternal Testosterone

Abstract Background Testosterone is an important sex hormone which participates in many physiological processes. However, there is conflicting evidence on effect of testosterone on fetal development. We aim to investigate the associations between maternal testosterone levels and pregnancy outcomes.Design and Methods We conducted a prospective cohort in a university-affiliated hospital. A total of 1,087 singleton pregnant women were included in the study. They were followed-up until delivery. The primary outcome was birth weight. The second outcomes were the prevalence of preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes, and low APGAR score (<7).Results We did not observe any significant association between maternal testosterone level and birth weight after adjustment. Prevalence of medical complications was also not associated with maternal testosterone levels.Conclusions Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy is not associated with birth weights as well as the prevalence of medical complications.

scholarly journals Women Oppression as a Result of Male Dominated Culture as Represented in Shenoy’s Novel ‘The Secret Wish List’

2021 ◽  
Vol 317 ◽  
pp. 03005
Author(s):  
Ratna Dwi Astuti ◽  
Nurdien Harry Kistanto
Keyword(s):  
Social Group ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Indian Woman ◽  
Binary Opposition ◽  
Male Domination ◽  
The Social ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Male Dominated

Oppression is the name of social injustice. It is perpetuated through social institutions, practices, and norms on the social group by social group. Indian society belongs to the man since a long time ago Indian woman has been given a secondary and inferior position in family and society. She has faced injustice, suppression, oppression, subjugation, and exploitation in a male-dominated Indian society. It has been worst because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study describes how male domination and woman’s oppression is experienced by an Indian woman and its explanation to what extent women reject male domination represented in The Secret Wish List novel by Preeti Shenoy. The method used in this study is a descriptive qualitative study and uses Derrida’s theory of deconstruction to support the data. The main theory used in this study is Simone de Beauvoir’s theory of Existentialist Feminism. This study shows that the novel deconstructs its portrayal of male domination towards women. So, by destabilizing the binary opposition in the novel, that are males oppose females, the males-females hierarchy are reversed.

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