scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and dysfunction

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 2379-2391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul F. Smith ◽  
Yuri Agrawal ◽  
Cynthia L. Darlington

It has been recognized for some time that females appear to be overrepresented in the incidence of many vestibular disorders, and recent epidemiological studies further support this idea. While it is possible that this is due to a reporting bias, another possibility is that there are actual differences in the incidence of vestibular dysfunction between males and females. If this is true, it could be due to a sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and therefore dysfunction, possibly related to the hormonal differences between females and males, although the higher incidence of vestibular dysfunction in females appears to last long after menopause. Many other neurochemical differences exist between males and females, however, that could be implicated in sexual dimorphism. This review critically explores the possibility of sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and dysfunction, and the implications it may have for the treatment of vestibular disorders.

2015 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Petri ◽  
Magdalena Chirila ◽  
Sorana Bolboaca ◽  
Marcel Cosgarea

Objective: To asses the management of unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders in the emergency room of the ENT Department of Cluj-Napoca, Romania.Material and method: The study was prospective, non-randomized and included the patients presented for dizziness or balance disorders at the emergency room of the ENT Department between March 2012 and March 2013. Demographic characteristics, specific clinical history, the onset of peripheral vestibular disorders, and co-morbidities were recorded. The patients charts included the type of onset and the treatment (medical, surgical, and rehabilitation) performed in the emergency room or in case of hospital admission, the relieving measures for the vestibular symptoms with or without hearing recovery.Results: One hundred and fifty-two subjects were included in our study, 97 with pure peripheral vestibular dysfunction (VD), 34 with cochlear-vestibular dysfunction (CVD), and 21 with Ménière’s disease (MD). No significant differences were identified when the proportion of patients with a certain onset (acute, subacute or chronic) were compared. Hypertension was the most frequent co-morbidity in all investigated groups. No significant difference was observed when the relief of vertigo or hearing recovery were compared between all groups.Conclusion: This first Romanian report on the management of unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders showed that early corticosteroids treatment associated with electrolytes, antiemetic, and vasodilation drugs led to produces recovery of the vestibular function without any differences between the types of peripheral vestibular dysfunction. In addition, we obtained the complete recovery of the vestibular and acoustic dysfunction in the cases treated with metylprednisolone intratympanic injection.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laetitia Gay ◽  
Cléa Melenotte ◽  
Ines Lakbar ◽  
Soraya Mezouar ◽  
Christian Devaux ◽  
...  

Epidemiological studies and clinical observations show evidence of sexual dimorphism in infectious diseases. Women are at less risk than men when it comes to developing most infectious diseases. However, understanding these observations requires a gender approach that takes into account an analysis of both biological and social factors. The host’s response to infection differs in males and females because sex differences have an impact on hormonal and chromosomal control of immunity. Estradiol appears to confer protective immunity, while progesterone and testosterone suppress anti-infectious responses. In addition, genetic factors, including those associated with sex chromosomes, also affect susceptibility to infections. Finally, differences in occupational activities, lifestyle, and comorbidities play major roles in exposure to pathogens and management of diseases. Hence, considering sexual dimorphism as a critical variable for infectious diseases should be one of the steps taken toward developing personalized therapeutic approaches.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
Jacinta Lalchhanhimi ◽  
Lalremsanga H.T.

The breeding biology of tree frog, Polypedates teraiensis was studied during the breeding season at Mizoram University Campus. It was found that sound production by male during the breeding season was primarily a reproductive function and advertisement calls attract females to the breeding areas and announce other males that a given territory is occupied. The aim of this study was to provide the detailed information on the breeding behaviour and the advertisement calls of Polypedates teraiensis. The morphometric measurements of the amplecting pairs (males and females) for sexual dimorphism along with clutch sizes were also studied.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (05) ◽  
pp. 20469-20472
Author(s):  
Shakya R ◽  
Bhattacharya SC ◽  
Shrestha R

Objectives: To observe the sexual dimorphism among the young adult age group ranging from 18-21 years, of Kathmandu University students by measuring craniofacial circumference and canthal distances. Rationale of the study: These data could be useful for establishing the craniofacial standards and adds an implementation on plastic surgery, crime detection as well as in the industrial field. Method: 300 clinically normal students of Kathmandu University aged between 18-21 years were examined for the study. Fronto-occipital circumference, outer and inner canthal distances were measured. All the parameters were compared between males and females. Result: The cranial circumference as well as the inner and outer canthal distance in males was found to be significantly higher as compared to the females. Conclusion: The results concluded that sexual dimorphism remarkably exists in young adults of Kathmandu University students.


Author(s):  
Juyeong Kim ◽  
Eun-Cheol Park

Background: Given the documented importance of employment for middle-aged and older adults’ mental health, studies of the association between their number of work hours and depressive symptoms are needed. Objectives: To examine the association between the number of work hours and depressive symptoms in Korean aged 45 and over. Methods: We used data from the first wave to fourth wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 9845 individuals. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We performed a longitudinal analysis to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms by work hours. Results: Both unemployed males and females aged 45–65 years were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.59, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Females working ≥ 69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms compared to those working 41–68 h (β = 0.25, p = 0.013). Among those both middle-aged and older adults, both males and females unemployed were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those middle-aged female working ≥69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with unemployed males and females working ≥69 h compared to those working 41–68 h. Although this association was found among middle-aged individuals, a decrease in depressive symptoms in both sexes was associated with working 1–40 h. Depressive symptoms should decrease by implementing employment policies and social services to encourage employers to support middle-aged and older adults in the workforce considering their sex and age differences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Tejedor ◽  
Conchita Martín ◽  
José Antonio Alarcón ◽  
María Dolores Oteo-Calatayud ◽  
Juan Carlos Palma-Fernández

Abstract Background Class III malocclusion is associated with high sexual dimorphism, especially in individuals older than 13 years of age, with significant differences in growth between males and females during the pubertal and postpubertal stages, and in adulthood. The aim of this research was to examine differences between males and females in long-term stability (10 years) of treatment for skeletal Class III malocclusion. Methods Thirty patients (15 males and 15 females) with skeletal Class III malocclusion, who had been treated with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) combined with face mask protraction followed by fixed appliances, were selected sequentially. Thirty patients (15 males and 15 females) with skeletal Class I and mesofacial patterns treated only with fixed appliances for dental problems served as the control group. Differences between groups and sexes were evaluated using lateral cephalograms taken at the start of treatment (T0), immediately after the end of treatment (T1), and after 10 years (T2). The long-term treatment success rate was calculated. Results Ten years after Class III treatment, overjet and overbite relapse occurred similarly in females (− 0.68 ± 0.7 mm; − 0.38 ± 0.75 mm, respectively) and males (− 1.09 ± 1.47 mm; − 0.64 ± 0.9 mm, respectively); the ANB angle and Wits appraisal became significantly more negative in males (− 1.37 ± 1.06°; − 2.7 ± 2.53 mm) than in females (− 0.18 ± 1.26°; − 0.46 ± 1.94 mm). The success rate was 73.3% in males and 80% in females. Conclusions Significant differences in the long-term stability of Class III treatment outcomes have been found between males and females, with a larger skeletal Class III relapse and lower long-term success rates in males.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Hurissi ◽  
Ethar Abu-jabir ◽  
Amnah Mohammed ◽  
Mashael Mahnashi ◽  
Sana Alharbi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Psychological disorders are common among individuals who experienced COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that females report higher depression and anxiety than males. The present study aims to test the differences in depression and anxiety between males and females who have experienced COVID-19. This a descriptive, observational, comparative study, among Saudi Arabian population. A total of 686 participants have been recruited. Participants completed an online questionnaire that contains questions about sociodemographic, COVID-19, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure anxiety and depression, respectively. Results Twenty-six percent of the participants were excluded and our final sample consisted of 507 participants (median age 23; 65% females). Of the final sample, 23% (118) have been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. There is no significant difference in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores between COVID-19- positive and COVID-19-negative populations. However, females who have experienced COVID-19 reported significantly higher GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores compared to males. Conclusion The results of our study show that females are significantly at a higher risk for depression and anxiety as a result of COVID-19 infection compared to males. Further epidemiological studies are required for a better understanding of this correlation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Christian Chabbert ◽  
Anne Charpiot

The GDR Vertige is a federative research group gathering the different components of the French neuro-otology community. The annual meeting of the GDR Vertige is an opportunity for interactive exchanges between scientists, clinicians and industrialists, on basic issues related to vestibular function, as well as translational questions regarding the management of vestibular disorders. For its fifth edition, the annual meeting of the GDR Vertige, which took place in September 2019 in Marseille (France), was devoted to one of the most peculiar phenomena of neuro-otology: endolymphatic hydrops. For two days, international scientists and clinicians presented the most recent advances regarding the biophysical correlates of endolymphatic hydrops, the genetic and endocrine tableaux that favor its manifestation, new methods of clinical imaging, and current and upcoming therapeutic strategies to overcome the associated clinical manifestations. This special issue of the Journal of Vestibular Research aims at providing the proceedings of this meeting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doaa Elmoazen ◽  
Hesham Kozou ◽  
Jaidaa Mekky ◽  
Dalia Ghanem

Abstract Background Patients suffering from vestibular migraine (VM) are known to have various vestibular test abnormalities interictally and ictally. Recently, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) have become accepted as a valid method for otolith function assessment. Many studies have identified various vestibular symptoms and laboratory abnormalities in migraineurs. Since migraineurs with no accompanying vestibular symptoms might exhibit subclinical vestibular dysfunction, we investigated vestibular function using ocular and cervical VEMPs in migraine patients. The aim was to study cervical VEMP and occular VEMP in migraineurs with and without vestibular symptoms interictally. Results Migraine and VM patients showed significantly longer P13 latency of cVEMP compared to controls. A statistically significant cVEMP interaural P13 latency difference was found in VM compared to healthy controls. Cervical VEMP N23 latency, peak-to-peak amplitude, interaural N23 latency, and amplitude asymmetric ratio did not show any significant difference in migraine and VM patients compared to healthy controls as well as no significant difference across the three groups regarding oVEMP parameters. Conclusions Abnormal interictal cVEMP results in migraineurs might indicate subclinical vestibulo-collic pathway dysfunction.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard N. C. Milner ◽  
Michael D. Jennions ◽  
Patricia R. Y. Backwell

In fiddler crabs both males and females defend territories that are essential for survival. Given pronounced sexual dimorphism in weaponry, how do weaponless females defend their territory from well-armed males? Using observational data and two simple experiments, we test whether male Uca annulipes protect their female neighbours from conspecific intruders. We show that males defend their female neighbours against male but not female intruders. We also show that females sometimes mate with their immediate neighbours. Male defence of female neighbours appears to represent both pre-copulatory mate-guarding and a territorial coalition. Males who ensure that their neighbour remains female could benefit through increased opportunity for future reproductive success and lower boundary maintenance costs.


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