scholarly journals Sexual Dimorphism and Gender in Infectious Diseases

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.

Author(s):  
E. I. Edibamode ◽  
K. Mordi ◽  
L. K. David ◽  
A. M. Eghoi

Background. External ear measurement is of utmost importance in reconstructive surgeries. Objectives. The present study is aimed at ascertaining sexual dimorphism in external ear anthropometry and ear lobe attachments among adults Ijaws in Bayelsa, Nigeria. Methods. A total of 112 adults within the age range of 18-50 yrs, who met the inclusion criteria, were involved in the study. Four linear dimensions of the ear, which are ear length (EL), ear width (EW), lobular length (LL) and lobular width (LW), were measured for both genders. The lobular attachment for both ears for males and females were also examined and results recorded. These data were subjected to Student t-test, Chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation using SPSS version 20.0. Results. The mean values for EL, EW, LL, and LW for the left auricle in the males and females were 58.14±0.60, 27.41±0.37, 14.47±0.27, 13.50±0.34 and 57.90±0.16, 27.45±0.65, 15.41±0.31, 13.43±0.38 respectively. However, for the right auricle in the males and females, the values were 58.40±0.45, 28.21±0.68, 14.32±0.31, 13.04±0.32, and 56.66±1.10, 27.51±0.65, 15.58±0.29, 13.28±0.34 respectively. The left and right lobular length were the only parameters that proved statistical significance (p<0.05) in females compare to males. Pearson’s correlations between right and left sides for each of the parameters were positive and significant. Chi-square analysis revealed no significant relationship (p>0.05) between earlobe attachments and gender. Conclusions. Sexual dimorphism was thus established in the Ijaw population as regards lobular length dimensions. It is believed that the results of this study would be very useful for ear morphology and reconstructive surgeries.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Vanessa K Lim ◽  
Eckart Altenmüller

Musicians’ cramp is a disorder characterized by its task specificity and gender bias; male musicians have a higher prevalence of this disorder than females. Previous epidemiological studies on musicians’ cramp have demonstrated that certain instrumental groups are more prone to develop this disorder than others. These studies, however, have not accounted for the gender distribution in healthy musicians. Therefore, the current study investigated 2,661 healthy musicians collected from eight music conservatories within Germany. These controls were compared with 183 patients (154 males) with musicians’ cramp in an outpatient clinic at the Institute for Music Physiology and Music Medicine (IMMM), Hannover, Germany (1994-2000). Comparisons between groups (musicians’ cramp and controls) were made for gender and instrumental groups (keyboard, strings, woodwind, brass, plucking, and percussion). Results were consistent with earlier studies suggesting that particular instrumental groups were more at risk for developing musicians’ cramp than others. When gender was not a factor, both woodwind and plucking (guitar) instrumentalists were more likely to develop musicians’ cramp, while musicians playing string and percussion instruments were less likely to develop musicians’ cramp. Musicians playing keyboard and brass instruments were not significantly different than expected. When gender was included in the analyses, the following pattern was revealed: the number of male patients with musicians’ cramp was greater than expected, even when the number of healthy male musicians was accounted for; the opposite was found for female patients. Furthermore, when gender was also included in the instrumental analyses, male musicians were more likely to have musicians’ cramp than females in keyboard, string, woodwind, and plucking instruments. The only instrumental group without a gender bias for symptoms were the brass instruments. These results suggest that male musicians are more likely to develop musicians’ cramp within certain instrumental groups, and may reflect a general predisposition for male musicians to develop this disorder. The ages at onset of symptoms were not different between the males and females in this sample. The current study demonstrates a clear association between gender, instrumental groups, and the presentation of dystonic symptoms.


2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (13) ◽  
pp. 1416-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.S. Valerio ◽  
K.L. Kirkwood

Sex is a biological variable that affects immune responses to bacterial and other types of infectious agents. Males and females are known to have differential oral bacterial disease burden in periodontal and endodontic disease. Understanding that there is a contribution from both sex and gender to these oral diseases, we discuss in this review recent sex-based findings that provide a pathobiological basis for differences observed between males and females. Sexual dimorphism of immune responses with respect to neutrophil trafficking and osteoclast differentiation and formation is presented as a plausible mechanism to explain the sexual differences. We also emphasize that sex, as a biological variable, should be considered in these types of oral immunologic studies.


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.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Asgari ◽  
A.A. Parach ◽  
F. Bouzarjomehri ◽  
F. Shirani-Takabi ◽  
A.H. Mehrparvar ◽  
...  

Introduction: Computer Tomography (CT) scans can deliver a relatively high radiation dose to the patient, therefore radiation protection for this modality is paramount. The present study determined the frequency of no abnormality detected (NAD) brain CT scans and probability of cancer induction in different age groups and genders. Methods: In this study, brain CT reports were used to identify any findings as abnormality detected (AD) and others as NAD. Then probability of future leukemia and brain cancer was estimated for different age and gender groups. Results: On average, in 65% of the cases the results were NAD (56% and 76% among males and females, respectively). Among children, 79% of the reports were NAD. The total number of projected brain cancers was 1.8 and 1.3 for males and females, respectively. The number of projected leukemia cases was 0.75 and 0.7 for males and females, respectively. For pediatric patients, brain CT scans can lead to leukemia cases about 4.5 times more often than adults. Conclusion: Brain CT scans can lead to additional cases of brain cancer and leukemia. A significant fraction of brain CTs were NAD (non-pathologic) and could practically be replaced by other radiation-free imaging modalities, especially in pediatric and young patients.


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Felipe Gil ◽  
Antonio Ventriglio ◽  
Julio Torales ◽  
Ligia Florio ◽  
...  

Background: As one of the forms of media and art most consumed in the world, Oscar-nominated movies should have their drug use representation monitored because of possibly influencing but also reflecting society’s behavior. Objective: To investigate drug use representation in scenes from movies nominated for the Academy Awards (Oscar) from 2008-2011, through media content analysis. Methods: 437 scenes from Oscar-nominated movies (best film, best actor and best actress categories) showing drug consumption and/or its effects were assessed. Each drug represented and identified in a given scene (i.e., drug use incident) was counted as a unit for the present study (n = 515). Survey settings were used to control for over- or under-estimation of the prevalence of a variable in a given year or movie. Results: All the Oscar-nominated movies portrayed at least one scene of drug use. There was a massive predominance of alcohol and tobacco in movies, with a high use among men who also use drugs, habitually or occasionally, but related to stress/tension, predominantly at home. However, there was a significant progressive increase in the use of drugs other than alcohol and tobacco, multiple drugs, and by women. Conclusion: These findings echo epidemiological studies on substance use in western countries, an overall trend towards greater home drug use representation and gender convergence since 1970, which increased since 2000. Monitoring drug use representation in Oscar-nominated movies may represent an important public health tool.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xieping Chen ◽  
Qian Xie ◽  
Yuting Yang

Parent–adolescent communication is assumed to be an important factor affecting adolescent smoking behavior. However, the inner mechanism accounting for this association has still not been clarified in research. Our purpose in this study was to examine the relationships between parent–adolescent communication, adolescent smoking behavior, and depression, as well as gender differences in the relationship between depression and adolescent smoking behavior. Participants were 1,134 students at 6 junior high schools in China who completed the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale, the Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Smoking Behavior Test. Results showed that parent-adolescent communication had a significant negative effect on adolescent smoking behavior and depression partially mediated the relationship between parent–adolescent communication and adolescent smoking behavior. In addition, gender moderated the relationship between depression and adolescent smoking behavior. Overall, these findings may help to promote better understanding of the relationship between parent–adolescent communication and adolescent smoking behavior.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e001034
Author(s):  
Kyohei Iio ◽  
Kousaku Matsubara ◽  
Chisato Miyakoshi ◽  
Kunitaka Ota ◽  
Rika Yamaoka ◽  
...  

BackgroundEpidemiological studies in Kawasaki disease (KD) have suggested infectious aetiology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, measures for mitigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission also suppress the circulation of other contagious microorganisms. The primary objective is to compare the number and incidence of KD before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, and the secondary objective is to investigate temporal association between the KD epidemiology and activities of SARS-CoV-2 and other viral and bacterial infections.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2016 and 2020 in Kobe, Japan. We collected information of hospitalised KD children in Kobe. Child population was identified through the resident registry system. Activity of COVID-19 and 11 other infectious diseases was derived from a public health monitoring system. Monthly change of KD incidence was analysed using a difference-in-difference regression model.ResultsThroughout the study period, 1027 KD children were identified. KD had begun to decline in April 2020, coinciding with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of KD cases (n=66) between April and December 2020 was 40% of the average in the same period in 2016–2019 (165/year). Annual KD incidence was 315, 300, 353, 347 and 188/100 000 children aged 0–4 years in 2016–2020, respectively. The difference-in-difference value of KD incidence was significantly reduced in the fourth quarter in 2020 (−15.8, 95% CI −28.0 to −3.5), compared with that in 2016–2019. Sentinel surveillance showed a marked decrease of all infectious diseases except exanthema subitum after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 86 COVID-19 cases aged <10 years and no KD children associated with COVID-19.ConclusionThis study showed that the number and incidence of KD was dramatically reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. This change was temporally associated with decreased activities of various infectious diseases other than COVID-19, supporting the hypothesis of infection-triggered pathogenesis in KD.


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