Cardiac Radiographic Measurements in Ferrets Using the OsiriX MD Programme

Objectives: To adapt the vertebral heart scale (VHS) for use in ferrets and identify new scales and tools that allow to establish the normal heart size by means of radiography more quickly and effectively.Methods: Forty healthy pet ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) were used in this prospective study. The measurements were made on right lateral, left lateral, ventrodorsal, and dorsoventral projections, using OsiriX MD medical imaging software, to evaluate sex effect and variance within the different heart scales. Cardiac measurements were also correlated to VHS and the cardiac dimension in the same projection.Results: Most of the cardiac measurements were significantly different between males and females. The results for the VHS were: right lateral VHS (RL-VHS): 5.52 ± 0.28 v (vertebrae units); left lateral (LL-VHS): 5.55 ± 0.28 v; and dorsoventral VHS (DV-VHS): 6.22 ± 0.34 v for males and RL-VHS: 5.24 ± 0.2 v; LL-VHS: 5.25 ± 0.20 v; and DV-VHS: 5.97 ± 0.35 v for females. Regarding the sternebral heart scale (SHS), the values were: RL-SHS: 5.10 ± 0.20 s (sternebrae units) and LL-SHS: 5.11 ± 0.20 s for males and RL-SHS: 4.67 ± 0.24 s and LL-SHS: 4.67 ± 0.28 s for females. The new measurements based on determining the cardiac area were also marked by clear sexual dimorphism, as shown for the cardiac area-axis (AREA-AXIS): RL-AREA-AXIS: 3.82 ± 0.45 cm2; LL-AREA-AXIS: 3.87 ± 0.41 cm2; ventrodorsal (VD)-AREA-AXIS: 4.59 ± 0.64 cm2; and DV-AREA-AXIS: 4.80 ± 0.50 cm2 for males and RL-AREA-AXIS: 2.39 ± 0.23 cm2; LL-AREA-AXIS: 2.41 ± 0.26 cm2; VD-AREA-AXIS: 3.08 ± 0.45 cm2; and DV-AREA-AXIS: 3.06 ± 0.47 cm2 for females. The cardiac area open polygon (AREA-POL) values were: RL-AREA-POL: 6.78 ± 0.65 cm2; LL-AREA-POL: 6.88 ± 0.68 cm2; VD-AREA-POL: 7.20 ± 0.91 cm2; and DV-AREA-POL: 7.57 ± 0.88 cm2 for males and RL-AREA-POL: 4.28 ± 0.30 cm2; LL-AREA-POL: 4.35 ± 0.35 cm2; VD-AREA-POL: 4.72 ± 0.65 cm2; and DV-AREA-POL: 4.79 ± 0.66 cm2 for females, with similar differences noted from various radiographic projections. A good correlation was noted between VHS and SHS, and a very strongly positive correlation existed between cardiac area measurements and cardiac dimensions.Conclusion: The VHS adapted to ferrets, the SHS, as well as the cardiac area measurements presented in our study are ideal tools for the assessment of cardiac size in ferrets.

Sex-typical symptoms of depression and the importance of conditioning contexts in Austria

Background: Findings regarding the effect of sex on depression are inconclusive. The aim of this paper is to contribute to clarification concerning this effect by first disentangle the concept of depression and splitting it up into two sub-types. Second, we will address macro-level contexts as conditions of the sex-effect on depression.Methods: This study gives a comparative analysis of sex as a predictor of depression symptoms in various Austrian federal states. It offers a secondary data analysis of data collected from an online survey (CAWI) conducted in Austria as a quota sample of Austrian inhabitants (N=1229). Besides sex as a predictor of depression symptoms (measured by PHQ-9 items) we also consider four dimensions of social support, the retirement status, and the experience of a vocational gratification crisis.Results: By and large, sex is not associated with motivational deficit symptoms, but rather with somatic stress symptoms. Taking into account federal states as conditions, the sex-effect on depression symptoms turn out to be context-dependent.Limitations: Using some items from the PHQ-9 inventory for measuring depression symptoms was arbitrary, findings could be sensitive to operationalization. Furthermore, Austrian federal states are no substantial variables which could condition the sex-effect directly. The actual conditioning variables correlate with the Austrian federal states, but remain unobserved here. Conclusions: Depression symptoms are partly sex-typical, but this association is context-dependent. For diagnostics, therefore, the recommendation arises to take symptomatic sub-types of depression into account, instead of an in itself heterogeneous construct that expresses itself differently under certain conditions.

Association Between Accelerometer and Parental Reported Weekend and Weekday Sleeping Patterns and Adiposity Among Preschool-Aged Children

Sleep is vital for healthy development of young children; however, it is not understood how the quality and quantity vary between the weekends and weekdays (WE–WD). Research focused on older children has demonstrated that there is significant WE–WD variability and that this is associated with adiposity. It is unclear how this is experienced among preschoolers. This study explored: (a) the accuracy of WE–WD sleep as reported in parental logbooks compared with accelerometers; (b) the difference between WE and WD total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and timing, as assessed by accelerometers; and (c) the association between the variability of these metrics and adiposity. Eighty-seven preschoolers (M = 46; 4.48 ± 0.89 years) wore an accelerometer on their right hip for 7 days. Parents were given logbooks to track “lights out” times (sleep onset) and out of bed time (sleep offset). Compared with accelerometers, parental logbook reports indicated earlier sleep onset and later sleep offset times on both WEs and WDs. Accelerometer-derived total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and onset/offset were not significantly different on the WEs and WDs; however, a sex effect was observed, with males going to bed and waking up earlier than females. Correlation analyses revealed that variability of sleep onset times throughout the week was positively correlated with percentage of fat mass in children. Results suggest that variability of sleep onset may be associated with increased adiposity in preschool children. Additional research with larger and more socioeconomically and racially diverse samples is needed to confirm these findings.

Sex and gender differences in testing, hospital admission, clinical presentation, and drivers of severe outcomes from COVID-19

Background Males experience increased severity of illness and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 compared to females but the mechanisms of male susceptibility are unclear. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of SARS-CoV-2 testing and admission data at 5 hospitals in the Maryland/Washington DC area. Using age-stratified logistic regression models we quantified the impact of male sex on the risk of the composite outcome of severe disease or death (WHO score 5-8), and tested the impact of demographics, comorbidities, health behaviors, and laboratory inflammatory markers on the sex effect. Results Among 213,175 SARS-CoV-2 tests, despite similar positivity rates, males in age strata between 18 and 74 years were more frequently hospitalized. For the 2,626 hospitalized individuals, clinical inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, ferritin, absolute lymphocyte count and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio) were more favorable for females than males (p< 0.001). Among 18-49 year-olds, male sex carried a higher risk of severe outcomes; both early (odds ratio (OR) 3.01, 95%CI 1.75,5.18) and at peak illness during hospitalization (OR 2.58, 95%CI 1.78,3.74). Despite multiple differences in demographics, presentation features, comorbidities and health behaviors, these variables did not change the association of male sex with severe disease. Only clinical inflammatory marker values modified the sex effect, reducing the OR for severe outcomes in males ages 18-49 years to 1.81 (95%CI 1.00,3.26) early and 1.39 (95%CI 0.93,2.08) at peak illness. Conclusions Higher inflammatory laboratory test values were associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 for males. A sex-specific inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection may underlie the sex differences in outcomes.

Understanding How Sex Influences the Impact of IL-10 on Bone Microarchitecture and Bone Metabolism Over Time

Objectives Dietary interventions with pre- and probiotics favorably affect the gut-bone axis, mediated in part by the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-10. This study sought to understand how IL-10’s impact on bone metabolism and microarchitecture differs with sex and time. Methods Six-week-old B6.129P2-Il10tm1Cgn/J (KO) and C57BL/6 (WT) mice were assigned in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with strain (WT & KO), sex, and time (3 & 6 m) as factors. Mice were fed AIN-93G diet for 3 m followed by AIN-93 M for the study duration. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to assess bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD). Micro-computed tomography was used to assess femur and lumbar vertebrae trabecular and cortical bone. Serum procollagen 1 intact N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1), bone formation and resorption markers respectively, were assessed by ELISA. Data were analyzed using ANOVA; p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Reductions in BMC and BMD (P < 0.05) in KO vs WT and at 3 vs 6 m were observed; a sex effect was found with reductions in BMC in KO females compared to KO males. Femoral trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) was lower (P < 0.05) in KO vs WT, females vs males, and at 6 vs 3 m. Trabecular thickness (TbTh) decreased (P < 0.05) in KO vs WT and increased from 3 to 6 m, while decreases in trabecular number (TbN) were greater (P < 0.05) in KO mice, females, and at 6 m compared to counterparts. Cortical area and thickness were decreased (P < 0.05) in KO vs WT and in females vs males, which was greater at 6 m, while cortical bone porosity was higher in KO vs WT and increased at 6 mo. Vertebral trabecular BV/TV was lower (P < 0.05) in KO vs WT at 3 and 6 m, with KO females showing reduced BV/TV (P < 0.05) from 3 to 6 m. Reduced TbTh and TbN were observed in KO vs WT, and females had increased (P < 0.05) TbTh and trabecular separation and reduced TbN. P1NP showed a time effect (P < 0.05) with reductions in WT females and males at 6 m compared to 3 m KO females (P < 0.05). CTX-1 shows a sex effect (P < 0.05) and a trending strain effect (P = 0.059), with elevated serum CTX-1 in 3 m KO males compared to WT and KO females at 6 m (P < 0.05). Conclusions While IL-10 plays an important role in maintaining both trabecular and cortical bone, it may have a more protective effect on the cortical bone of female mice over time. Funding Sources Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Propulsive Force of Upper Limbs and its Relationship to Swim Velocity in the Butterfly Stroke

The aims of this study were to: (1) verify the sex effect; (2) assess upper limb asymmetry in anthropometrics and propulsive force variables; and (3) identify the main determinants of butterfly swim velocity based on a set of anthropometrics, kinematics, and propulsive force variables. Twenty swimmers (10 males: 15.40±0.30 years; 10 females: 14.43±0.23 years) at the national level were recruited for analysis. A set of anthropometrics, kinematics, and propulsive force variables were measured. Overall, a significant sex effect was verified (p≤0.05). Non-significant differences between upper-limbs were noted for males and females in all variables, except for the dF in males (t=−2.66, p=0.026, d=0.66). Stroke frequency presented the highest contribution, where a one unit increase in the stroke frequency imposed an increase of 0.375 m·s-1 (95CI: 0.105;0.645, p=0.010) in the swim velocity. The swim velocity was predicted by the mean propulsive force, intra-cyclic variation of the swim velocity, and stroke frequency. Overall, swimmers exhibit non-significant differences in the variables assessed. Swim velocity in the butterfly stroke was determined by an interaction of propulsive force and kinematic variables in young swimmers.