Association between occupational testicular radiation exposure and lower male sex ratio of offspring among orthopedic surgeons

Background Exposure to occupational radiation can lower the male sex ratio. However, specific radiation exposure to the testes has not been evaluated. Objective This study aimed to examine the association between testicular radiation exposure and lower male sex ratio in children. Methods A comprehensive questionnaire survey was administered to 62 full-time male doctors with children aged < 10 years at 5 hospitals. Based on the possibility of testicular radiation exposure 1 year before the child’s birth, participants were assigned to 3 groups as follows: RT (orthopedic surgery), RNT (cardiology/neurosurgery), and N (others). Intergroup differences in the proportion of female children were ascertained, and the female sex ratio (number of female/total number) of each group was compared against the standard value of 0.486. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with a generalized estimating equation was used to model the effects on the probability of female birth while controlling for the correlation among the same fathers. Results The study population included 62 fathers and 109 children, 49 were female: 19/27, 11/30, and 19/52 in the RT, RNT, and N group, respectively; the RT group had the highest proportion of females (p = 0.009). The p values for comparisons with the standard sex ratio (0.486) were 0.02, 0.19, and 0.08 for the RT, RNT, and N groups, respectively. Based on the N group, the adjusted odds ratios for the child to be female were 4.40 (95% confidence interval 1.60–2.48) and 1.03 (0.40–2.61) for the RT and RNT groups, respectively. Conclusions Our results imply an association between testicular radiation exposure and low male sex ratio of offspring. Confirmatory evidence is needed from larger studies which measure the pre-conceptional doses accumulated in various temporal periods, separating out spermatogonial and spermatid effects.

Marxism as a part of the androcentric tradition: The feminist superstructure and the androcentric base

Androcentrism continues to be the basis for modern thinking, and the comprehension of its manifestations in the philosophical tradition appears to be a necessary step to change this situation. The purpose of this work is to analyze the theory of K. Marx for its androcentrism, to identify its significant provisions based on it. The analysis is built around testing how the “general” statements of Marx reflect women’s experience, how they are woven into the whole of the theory and how much they are substantiated by it. It was revealed that, firstly, Marx could not substantiate the position that the roots of oppression of women lie in the mode of production, since he did not consider the fact of higher pay for male labor to be significant, taking it for granted. Secondly, he did not consider the exploitation of “free” female labor in the family significant, and considered the primary division of labor within its framework to be natural. Thirdly, Marx was unable to detect the transformation of female bodies into a resource for men as a condition of capitalism because he did not see a problem in male control over female birth ability. The theory of Karl Marx, thus, is a part of the androcentric tradition and should be considered in science as such.

Levels and trends in sex ratio at birth in provinces of Pakistan from 1980 to 2020 with scenario-based missing female birth projections to 2050: a Bayesian modeling approach

BACKGROUND: Pakistan has a strong preference for boys over girls; previous evidence on sex preference is primarily reported at the postnatal stage in which the child mortality rate is higher for females than males. Prenatal sex discrimination in Pakistan, reflected in the inflated sex ratio at birth (SRB; ratio of male to female births) has been barely mentioned before this study.OBJECTIVE: We estimate the SRB and missing female births in Pakistan provinces from 1980 to 2020 and identify provinces with imbalanced SRB. We provide scenario-based projections of missing female births in provinces without the existing SRB inflation.METHODS: An extensive SRB database of 832,091 birth records was compiled from all available surveys and censuses. To synthesize different data sources and provide annual estimates and their associated uncertainties of SRBs across provinces, we adopted a Bayesian hierarchical time series model.RESULTS: As per our model, Balochistan has had SRB imbalance since 1980. The maximum SRB was estimated as 1.121 (95% credible interval [1.066; 1.142]) in 1997. Assuming different start year of SRB inflation process in provinces without existing imbalance, the largest female birth deficit is projected to be 76.2 thousand in Punjab in 2033 when the SRB inflation starts in 2021.CONTRIBUTION: This is the first study on estimating the SRB from 1980 to 2020 and providing scenario-based projections of missing female births up to 2050 by Pakistan province. We identified the Balochistan province with imbalanced SRB and demonstrated important disparities in the occurrence and quantity of female birth deficits before 2050.

Impact of CRISPR-Cas9-Based Genome Engineering in Farm Animals

Humans are sorely over-dependent on livestock for their daily basic need of food in the form of meat, milk, and eggs. Therefore, genetic engineering and transgenesis provide the opportunity for more significant gains and production in a short span of time. One of the best strategies is the genetic alteration of livestock to enhance the efficiency of food production (e.g., meat and milk), animal health, and welfare (animal population and disease). Moreover, genome engineering in the bovine is majorly focused on subjects such as disease resistance (e.g., tuberculosis), eradicate allergens (e.g., beta-lactoglobulin knock-out), products generation (e.g., meat from male and milk from female), male or female birth specifically (animal sexing), the introduction of valuable traits (e.g., stress tolerance and disease resistance) and their wellbeing (e.g., hornlessness). This review addressed the impressive genome engineering method CRISPR, its fundamental principle for generating highly efficient target-specific guide RNA, and the accompanying web-based tools. However, we have covered the remarkable roadmap of the CRISPR method from its conception to its use in cattle. Additionally, we have updated the comprehensive information on CRISPR-based gene editing in cattle.

Reference Charts for Neonatal Cranial Volume Based on 3D Laser Scanning to Monitor Head Growth

Background: Postnatal brain growth is an important predictor of neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. A new reliable proxy for brain volume is cranial volume, which can be measured routinely by 3-D laser scanning. The aim of this study was to develop reference charts for normal cranial volume in newborn infants at different gestational ages starting from late preterm for both sexes.Methods: Cross-sectional cohort study in a German university hospital, including singleton, clinically stable, neonates born after 34 weeks of gestation. Cranial volume was measured in the first week of life by a validated 3-D laser scanner. Cranial volume data was modeled to calculate percentile values by gestational age and birth weight and to develop cranial volume reference charts for girls and boys separately.Results: Of the 1,703 included infants, 846 (50%) were female. Birth weights ranged from 1,370 to 4,830 grams (median 3,370). Median cranial volume ranged from 320 [interquartile range (IQR) 294–347] ml at 34 weeks to 469 [IQR 442–496] ml at 42 weeks and was higher in boys than in girls.Conclusions: This study presents the first reference charts of cranial volume which can be used in clinical practice to monitor brain growth between 34 and 42 weeks gestation in infants.

Patterns of Genital Sexual Arousal in Transgender Men

Most men show genital sexual arousal to one preferred gender. Most women show genital arousal to both genders, regardless of their sexual preferences. There is limited knowledge of whether this difference is driven by biological sex or gender identity. Transgender individuals, whose birth sex and gender identity are incongruent, provide a unique opportunity to address this question. We tested whether the genital responses of 25 (female-to-male) transgender men followed their female birth sex or male gender identity. Depending on their surgical status, arousal was assessed with penile gauges or vaginal plethysmographs. Transgender men’s sexual arousal showed both male-typical and female-typical patterns. Across measures, they responded more strongly to their preferred gender than to the other gender, similar to (but not entirely like) 145 cisgender (nontransgender) men. However, they still responded to both genders, similar to 178 cisgender women. In birth-assigned women, both gender identity and biological sex may influence sexual-arousal patterns.

Factors associated with the quality of antenatal care (ANC) services use in Bahawalpur

A cross sectional study was conducted from October 2016 to February 2017 with the aim to examine the factors affecting the quality of antenatal care (ANC) services being used in Bahawalpur district. Data was collected using the Stratified cluster sampling technique from 1,650 married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who had given birth to at least one child in four preceding years. Information regarding socioeconomic aspects and the ANC services used during pregnancy were recorded through interviews. The quality of ANC services being used was measured through constructing an index. The results from multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis revealed that longer birth interval, gender of the eldest child (female), birth order of the child (as first or second child), number of living sons, the woman’s knowledge about complications of pregnancy, her prior history of neonatal mortality, her socioeconomic empowerment, and Continuous...