Comparing the medication costs of treating patients with schizophrenia who use cannabis with those who do not.

Background: Cannabis use is more prevalent among people with schizophrenia than in the general population. This usage detrimentally impacts disease prognosis, contributing to escalated admissions, heightened severity of psychotic symptoms, and reduced medication response. The recent decriminalisation of cannabis in South Africa may lead to an upsurge in usage, consequently intensifying the strain on mental healthcare services. Aim: This study aimed to compare the medication costs of patients with schizophrenia depending on cannabis use. Setting: Weskoppies Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa, 2018-2019. Methods: Data pertaining to medication expenses during the 2018-2019 period were acquired from the hospital pharmacy. Data were collected from 114 patient records to form two equal cohorts: one exposed to cannabis and the other non-exposed, as indicated by urine drug screens or admission of cannabis use. Medications prescribed from admission to time of being ready for discharge were recorded and corresponding costs were calculated. Results: Patients who were exposed to cannabis had higher medication costs (R 516.47) than patients who were non-exposed (R 328.69) (p = 0.0519), over the whole admission period. Conclusion: Cannabis exposure escalates the financial burden of treating schizophrenia at Weskoppies Hospital. This might be attributed to failure of cost-effective, first-line medications prompting the prescription of costlier, second-line alternatives or higher prescribed dosages. Contribution: This study contributes to findings that it is more expensive to treat patients with schizophrenia who have relapsed, if they are using cannabis. This finding has future cost implications when budgeting for pharmacotherapeutic treatment.

Substance Abuse Treatment, Critical Race Theory, and Counter-Storytelling, for the Black Emerging Adult Male.

Black-emerging adult males face many barriers to the effective engagement in substance abuse treatment including stigma, lack of access to resources, and engagement with the criminal justice system. This case study introduces a group therapy and counter-storytelling intervention to understand and effectively mitigate some of these barriers. Counter-storytelling, derived from critical race theory (CRT) framework, focuses on marginalized individuals sharing how various aspects of society impact them, which is often different from the majority narrative. Through this intervention, Black-emerging adult males discussed the challenges they face when engaging in treatment, coping skills for barriers they face, and overcoming stigma of substance abuse recovery. Using a group therapy and counter-storytelling intervention, clinicians can begin to suspend how they traditionally think about treatment for Black-emerging adult males and engage in more effective practices to support this population.

Comparison of Cardiovascular Response to Lower Body and Whole Body Exercise Among Sedentary Young Adults.

Background Cardiovascular responses to exercise are essential indicators of cardiovascular health and fitness. Understanding how different types of exercise, such as lower-body and whole-body exercises, impact these responses is crucial for designing effective fitness programs and assessing cardiovascular function. Aim This study aimed to compare the cardiovascular response of young adults during lower-body exercise using a bicycle ergometer and whole-body exercise on a treadmill. Methods Thirty-two healthy young adults participated in this study. Each participant completed two exercise sessions on separate days: lower-body exercise on a bicycle ergometer with a fixed cadence of 60 rpm with a breaking resistance of 1.75 kg and whole-body exercise on a treadmill with a speed of 1.7 mph and a 10% grade. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (BP), and diastolic BP were measured at rest and immediately after a three-minute exercise. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests to compare the cardiovascular responses between the two exercise modalities. Results A total of 17 male and 15 female young adults with a mean age of 20.87±1.43 years participated in the study. The male and female participants had similar ages (p =0.56) and body mass indexes (p = 0.1). There was a higher HR (129.16±2.67 versus 150.87±3.23, p<0.0001) and systolic BP (127.29±2.34 versus 144.9±4.16, p<0.0001) and lower diastolic BP (68.97±2.41 versus 62.97±2.31, p<0.0001) in whole body exercise on treadmill compared to lower body exercise in bicycle ergometer. The effect size was large enough as Cohen's d was 7.33, 5.13, and 2.54 for HR, systolic BP, and diastolic BP, respectively. Conclusion In sedentary young adults, treadmill exercise led to higher HR, systolic BP, and lower diastolic BP than bicycle ergometer exercise. Increased muscle recruitment might result in higher energy expenditure, increasing the HR and systolic BP to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and long-term implications for precise exercise recommendations and better cardiovascular health management.

Association between the initial dose urate-lowering drugs and gout flares in adult males with gout.

OBJECTIVES: Frequent gout attacks in the initial introduction of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) are significant causes of poor drug adherence and ULT discontinuation. Initial low-dose urate-lowering drugs may be effective in reducing gout flares, however, robust evidence is sparse. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the association of initial dose urate-lowering drugs with gout flares in adult males with gout during the initial introduction of ULT. METHODS: This cohort study obtained data on consecutive gout patients from a single-center gout cohort study from August 2017 to October 2020. A standard questionnaire was applied to collect demographic and clinical information, and biochemical parameters were tested on the same day. The primary end point was to estimate the association of initial dose febuxostat with gout flares, using cox hazard models with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). RESULTS: A total of 582 gout patients were included in this study. During 6-week follow-up, 71 (12.2%) patients suffered gout flares. In the main analysis using cox hazard models with IPTW, compared with colchicine prophylaxis, initial low-dose febuxostat alone had no statistical significance with the increased risk of gout flares [hazard ratio (HR), 1.26; 95% CI, 0.58-2.72], while initial high-dose febuxostat was associated with an increased risk of gout flares (HR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.34-7.07). CONCLUSIONS: This observational study demonstrated that initial low-dose febuxostat was equally effective in preventing gout flares as colchicine prophylaxis, while initial high-dose febuxostat alone was associated with an increased risk of gout flares.

Young men of color lower on adult attachment anxiety have higher carotid-intima media thickness compared to white young men: The exploration of an unexpected finding.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one cause of death among men in the United States. Emerging research demonstrates that socioemotional mechanisms such as adult attachment, or the ways in which individuals are able to form and maintain socioemotional bonds, may impact physical health via alterations in physiological stress functioning. However, there may be key differences in the relation between attachment and physical health by race and sexual orientation. Thus, this study sought to examine the potential moderating effect of race and sexual orientation on the association between adult attachment and carotid-intima media thickness (cIMT), a measure of subclinical cardiovascular disease, among young men. The sample consisted of 72 young men (mean [SD] age = 22.92 [3.23]: 30.6 % identified as White, 30.6 % as Black, and 38.8 % as Other), each of which were surveyed and underwent an ultrasound to measure cIMT. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used in order to examine our study hypotheses. We first ran a main effects model to examine adult attachment's (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) association with mean cIMT. We then ran two interaction models with an interaction between race/ethnicity and adult-related attachment and sexual orientation and adult attachment. We found that race significantly moderated the association between attachment-related anxiety and mean cIMT in our study sample. However, we did not find evidence to suggest that race moderated the association between attachment-related avoidance and mean cIMT in our study sample. In comparison to White individuals, Black individuals and those who identified as "Other" race with lower scores on attachment-related anxiety had higher mean cIMT. Additionally, higher scores on attachment-related anxiety were associated with lower mean cIMT among Black and "Other" respondents, but not among White respondents. We did not find evidence to suggest that sexual orientation moderated the association between adult attachment and mean cIMT in our study sample. Our findings suggest that adult attachment anxiety may be protective for young men of color but not for White young men. Future research should utilize longitudinal study designs in order to better understand how adult attachment influences CVD risk among racially/ethnically diverse young men.

Association Between Low Muscle Mass and Gastric Hyperplastic and Inflammatory Polyps in Chinese Asymptomatic Adult Males.

Background: Gastric polyp is an abnormally proliferative or neoplastic growth of the gastric mucosa, with a degree of tendency to transform into gastric cancer. Lack of physical activity that is significantly related to low muscle mass (LMM) and muscle strength has been identified to be associated with gastric polyps. In this study, we examine the association of LMM and different histological types of gastric polyps among Chinese asymptomatic adult males. Methods: In total, 1,742 male adults undergoing bioelectrical impedance analysis and upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the effect of LMM on the risk of gastric polyps and different histological types. Results: By univariate and multivariate analyses, LMM (OR: 1.689, 95%CI: 1.046-2.726, p = 0.032) kept independent effect on risk of gastric polyps. When ratio of appendicular skeletal muscle mass to body mass index(ASM/BMI) was brought into the analyses, it was identified to be negatively correlated with occurrence of gastric polyps (OR: 0.744, 95%CI: 0.566-0.977, p = 0.033). For different pathological types, LMM showed different effect on occurrence of gastric polyps. LMM was an independent indicator for hyperplastic and inflammatory polyps (OR: 2.378, 95%CI: 1.288-4.389, p = 0.006), rather than fundic gland polyps (OR: 1.013, 95%CI: 0.473-2.173, p = 0.973). Conclusion: In general, LMM was an independent indicator for hyperplastic and inflammatory polyps occurrence in Chinese asymptomatic adult males.

Social-Ecological Correlates of Social Isolation as a Structural Indicator of Social Connectedness Among Young Adult U.S. Males.

PURPOSE: We examined the intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and societal correlates of a structural indicator of social connectedness (ie, social isolation) among a sample of young adult U.S. males. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. Setting: Online survey. SUBJECTS: Males (n = 495) aged 18-25 years residing in the U.S. MEASURES: Social isolation was assessed as an index measure of social integration (inverse scored). The correlates consisted of the following variables: 1) intrapersonal (eg, social-demographic characteristics), 2) interpersonal (eg, adverse childhood experiences; marital status), 3) community (eg, county-level mental distress rates), and 4) societal (eg, how powerful is society's image of the 'masculine man'). ANALYSIS: Four-block hierarchical regression. RESULTS: The intra- and interpersonal variables significantly shared 17% and an incremental 5%, respectively, of the explained variance in social isolation. Several intra- (eg, financial vulnerability ß = -2.76, [95% CI: -4.40, -1.13]) and inter-personal (ie, childhood household dysfunction ß = -.66, [95% CI: -1.18, -.14]) factors were significantly associated with greater social isolation. Four intrapersonal factors (eg, gay or bisexual ß = 2.31, [95% CI: .29, 4.33]) were significantly associated with lower social isolation. CONCLUSIONS: The current study's findings have important implications for understanding and shaping social connectedness in young adult U.S. males, with micro-level influences potentially being most important in predicting social isolation in this population.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of men in a South African rural community in relation to exclusive breastfeeding.

BACKGROUND: Several lifelong maternal, child and societal health benefits have been associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). However, despite all the potential advantages, EBF rates have been consistently low in developing countries, including South Africa. It has been suggested that the knowledge, attitudes and practices of male partners in relation to EBF are amongst the important factors that contribute to the success of EBF practices. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of men in Botshabelo, Free State province, South Africa, regarding EBF. METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional analytical study that utilised a structured questionnaire administered to 200 adult men attending the outpatient department of a district hospital, in the Free State province, South Africa. RESULTS: The majority (n = 83; 41.5%) of participants had poor knowledge of EBF but reported positive attitudes (n = 153, 76.5%) and good practices (n = 151, 75.5%) towards EBF, respectively. Age, levels of education, employment status, marital status and whether the participant accompanied his partner to the antenatal clinic were associated with adequate knowledge, positive attitudes and good practices in relation to EBF (p  0.05). CONCLUSION: The study revealed a suboptimal level of knowledge on EBF in men in Botshabelo. Most men had positive attitudes and reported good practices in relation to EBF. Our findings highlight the need for targeted community-based intervention programmes directed to educating and promoting positive social and cultural change in relation to EBF amongst men in Botshabelo.

Classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) in adult males: Clinical presentation, hormone function and the detection of adrenal and testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs).

INTRODUCTION: 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is the most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In adulthood, most studies are reported in females. By contrast, data on adult males are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To describe a series of adult males with classic 21-OHD and to assess the presence of adrenal masses and testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight males (21-42 years) were included. We evaluated clinical presentation, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), Testosterone (T), Δ4Androstenedione (Δ4A) ACTH, LH, FSH and plasma renin activitiy (PRA) levels at consultation. Molecular studies of the CYP21A2 gene, testicular ultrasound (US), semen analysis and adrenal computed tomography (CT) scan were performed. Treatment and compliance were assessed. RESULTS: Basal 17-OHP levels were >20ng/ml in all patients. At consultation, median 17OH-P was 11.5 (2.3-81) ng/ml, FSH: 3 (0.3-4) mUI/ml, LH: 1.1 (0.1-6) mUI/ml, T: 4.3 (1.7-8) ng/ml, Δ4A: 5.7 (1.4-16) ng/ml, ACTH: 86.4 (76-334) pg/ml, PRA: 9.5 (1.3-23.6) ng/ml/h. Semen analysis was performed in 5/8 patients, showing azoospermia in two. Molecular genetic analysis was performed in 4/8 patients. TARTs were found in 5/6, being bilateral in four. Adrenal masses were found in 4/6. In the 7 patients diagnosed in childhood, their follow-up was referred to as irregular, both in their attendance at consultations and in compliance with the indicated treatment. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first series on adult males with classic 21-OHD which concomitantly assesses clinical presentation, molecular biology, adrenal and testicular imaging studies, semen analysis and compliance to treatment. A high prevalence of adrenal masses and TARTs was observed, possibly associated with poor treatment compliance leading to elevated ACTH and increased proliferation. Our findings on TARTs agree with reports in international publications of CAH in males, with adrenal imaging being added in our group. Although we are aware that further studies with a larger sample size and more data are needed, we consider that our findings contribute to the clinical management of classical 21-OHD in the male population.

KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF INFERTILITY AMONG ADULT MALES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA.

Background: Infertility is a public health problem with significant social and psychological distress of the affected men due to the inability to achieve the desired social role of fatherhood. Men with infertility may experience lower life satisfaction, heightened distress and anxiety. This study assessed the knowledge, perception and factors influencing knowledge and perception of infertility among adult males in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 388 adult males between April and November 2019 in the selected communities. Respondents were interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data was analysed with SPSS version 22. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted. Level of significance was set at p≤5%. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 45.74±10.76 years. Majority were married 310(80%) and had tertiary education 234(60%). Less than half (48.7%) understood the correct meaning of infertility, 170(44%) agreed that witchcraft could cause infertility while 230(59%) disagreed that infertility could be prevented. Two hundred and sixty (67%) and 283 (73%) of the respondents had good knowledge and perception towards infertility respectively. Religion, education and income were statistically significant with knowledge of infertility (p<0.05). In addition, knowledge and perception of infertility showed statistically significant association (p<0.001). Conclusion: Knowledge and perception of respondents towards infertility was suboptimal in this study. Some cultural beliefs persist despite the high level of education of respondents. Community-based education on infertility to increase the knowledge and perception of men towards infertility is recommended.

Classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) in adult males: Clinical presentation, hormone function and the detection of adrenal and testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs).

INTRODUCTION: 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is the most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In adulthood, most studies are reported in females. By contrast, data on adult males are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To describe a series of adult males with classic 21-OHD and to assess the presence of adrenal masses and testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight males (21-42 years) were included. We evaluated clinical presentation, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), Testosterone (T), Δ4Androstenedione (Δ4A) ACTH, LH, FSH and plasma renin activitiy (PRA) levels at consultation. Molecular studies of the CYP21A2 gene, testicular ultrasound (US), semen analysis and adrenal computed tomography (CT) scan were performed. Treatment and compliance were assessed. RESULTS: Basal 17-OHP levels were >20ng/ml in all patients. At consultation, median 17OH-P was 11.5 (2.3-81) ng/ml, FSH: 3 (0.3-4) mUI/ml, LH: 1.1 (0.1-6) mUI/ml, T: 4.3 (1.7-8) ng/ml, Δ4A: 5.7 (1.4-16) ng/ml, ACTH: 86.4 (76-334) pg/ml, PRA: 9.5 (1.3-23.6) ng/ml/h. Semen analysis was performed in 5/8 patients, showing azoospermia in two. Molecular genetic analysis was performed in 4/8 patients. TARTs were found in 5/6, being bilateral in four. Adrenal masses were found in 4/6. In the 7 patients diagnosed in childhood, their follow-up was referred to as irregular, both in their attendance at consultations and in compliance with the indicated treatment. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first series on adult males with classic 21-OHD which concomitantly assesses clinical presentation, molecular biology, adrenal and testicular imaging studies, semen analysis and compliance to treatment. A high prevalence of adrenal masses and TARTs was observed, possibly associated with poor treatment compliance leading to elevated ACTH and increased proliferation. Our findings on TARTs agree with reports in international publications of CAH in males, with adrenal imaging being added in our group. Although we are aware that further studies with a larger sample size and more data are needed, we consider that our findings contribute to the clinical management of classical 21-OHD in the male population.

Glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) is hypermethylated in adult males with aggressive behaviour.

Aggressive behaviour is a serious threat to the personal safety and property of others due to the potential that the assailant may hurt people, himself/herself or objects, and aggression has always been one of the focuses of research and concern. Accumulating evidence suggests that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a major role in the development, elicitation, enhancement and genetic susceptibility of aggressive behaviour in humans and animals. GR (NR3C1) plays a crucial role in controlling HPA activity, which directly affects aggressive behaviour. Here, we investigated the methylation state of the NR3C1 gene promoter region and its role in aggressive behaviour in adult males for the first time by applying a case-control approach (N = 106 controls, N = 104 patients). Methylation of NR3C1 was measured in peripheral blood samples at exons 1D, 1B and 1F via sodium bisulfite treatment combined with the MethylTarget method. Methylation of the NR3C1 gene was significantly correlated with aggressive behaviour, and the methylation levels of 1D, 1B and 1F were upregulated in the aggressive behaviour group, intentional injury subgroup and robbery subgroup, and the significance varied. In addition, multiple CpG sites were found to be significantly associated with aggressive behaviour. These results suggest that epigenetic aberrations of NR3C1 are associated with aggressive behaviour, and epigenetic processes might mediate aggressive behaviour by affecting the activity of the HPA axis. This correlative study between DNA methylation of the NR3C1 gene and aggressive behaviour in patients may be helpful for forensic assessments.

Association of alcohol drinking with the incident risk of type 2 diabetes among rural adult males in Deqing County， Zhejiang Province： a prospective cohort study / 上海预防医学

Objective:To investigate the association of alcohol drinking and the incident risk of type 2 diabetes in men and to provide evidences for early prevention of diabetes. Methods:Rural adult males without diabetes in Deqing County， Zhejiang Province were enrolled. A dynamic prospective cohort study was conducted. Data were collected through questionnaires， physical examination， experimental measurements and a electronic follow-up database. Cox multivariate regression was performed to assess the association of alcohol drinking and the incident risk of type 2 diabetes in men. Results:During the follow-up period （7.15±2.90 years）， 354 men developed diabetes， and the incidence rate was 4.15/1 000 person-years. After adjusting for confounding factors， the incident risk of type 2 diabetes among the men with high alcohol drinking frequency （≥7 times/week） and low single alcohol intake （0.1-19.9 g/occasion） was lower than that among non-alcohol drinkers， and the value of HR （95%CI） was 0.72 （0.56-0.94） and 0.54 （0.30-0.99）， respectively. Consumption of ≥40.0 g alcohol per occasion 3-6 times a week increased the incidence of type 2 diabetes， and consumption of <40.0 g alcohol per occasion over 7 times a week decreased the incidence of type 2 diabetes， with the value of HR （95%CI） of 1.53 （1.02-2.30） and 0.52 （0.28-0.99） respectively. Conclusion:Different alcohol drinking patterns affect the incident risk of type 2 diabetes among rural adult males in Deqing County. Further study on alcohol drinking and diabetes may have ethical and practical significance for the prevention and control of diabetes in rural China.

A Population-Based Study of Peyronie's Disease in Turkey: Prevalence and Related Comorbidities.

INTRODUCTION: Peyronie's disease (PD) prevalence varies between 0.39% and 20% and studies on PD prevalence are limited. AIM: This study aims to determine the prevalence of PD in males aged ≥30 years in Turkey and to evaluate etiological factors associated with it. METHODS: The study was conducted in 12 regions of Turkey according to the Eurostat Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 1 classification and included 1,208 patients. Survey questionnaires including questions about demographic features and basic health status as well as about diagnosis and etiology of PD were put forth to the volunteers who agreed to participate in the study. Diagnosis of probable PD was established by evaluating the questionnaires. Patients with a diagnosis of congenital penile curvature were excluded from the group with PD. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome analyzed in this article was the prevalence rate of PD in Turkey and the associated comorbidities. RESULTS: The prevalence of PD was determined as 5.3%. The rates of participants with PD were found to be the highest in the 50-59 years group (27%) and in the North-East Region (20%). Compared with participants without PD, participants with PD were older (median: 52 interquartile range [41-64] vs 45 [37-55]; P < .001) and the rates of smokers (73% vs 60.9%; P = .036) and those having diabetes mellitus (17.5% vs 9.2%; P = .045), hypertension (14.3% vs 6.9%; P = .041), and heart failure were higher (7.9% vs 2.5%; P = .027). Male with PD symptoms preferred their partners on top during sexual intercourse (15.2% vs 34.1%; P < .001). This is the first study to evaluate premature ejaculation prevalence and related comorbidities with face-to-face interviews. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PD was 5.3% in Turkey. Besides advanced age, smoking, position of sexual intercourse, and presence of comorbidities especially diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart failure were the factors associated with PD prevalence. Kadioglu A, Dincer M, Salabas E, et al. A Population-Based Study of Peyronie's Disease in Turkey: Prevalence and Related Comorbidities. Sex Med 2020;8:679-685.

Comparison of bioimpedance body composition in young adults in the Russian Children's Study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Body mass index is a simple anthropometric measure (kg/m2) used as an indirect estimate of body fat in individuals, and in assessments of population health and comparisons between populations. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is often used to provide additional information on body fat and fat-free mass, and has been used to generate body composition reference data in national health surveys. However, BIA measurements are known to be device-specific and there are few published studies comparing results from different BIA instruments. Therefore, we compared the performance of two BIA instruments in the Russian Children's Study (RCS) of male growth, pubertal development and maturation. METHODS: Paired BIA measurements were obtained using the Tanita BC-418MA (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and ABC-01 'Medas' (Medas Ltd, Moscow, Russia) BIA instruments. Cross-sectional data on 236 RCS subjects aged 18-22 years were used for the BIA comparison and the development of a conversion formula between measured resistances; follow-up data (n = 96) were used for validation of the conversion formula. RESULTS: Whole-body resistances were highly correlated (Spearman rho = 0.95), but fat mass (FM) estimates were significantly higher with the Medas than the Tanita device (median difference 3.3 kg, 95% CI: 2.9, 3.6 kg) with large limits of agreement (LoA) for the FM difference (-2.0, 8.6 kg). A conversion formula between the resistances (Res) was obtained: Medas Res = 0.882 × Tanita Res+26.2 (r2 = 0.91, SEE = 17.6 Ohm). After applying the conversion formula to Tanita data and application of the Medas assessment algorithm, the 'converted' Tanita FM estimates closely matched the Medas original estimates (median difference -0.1 kg, 95% CI: -0.3, 0.2 kg), with relatively small LoA for the FM difference (-2.3 to 2.1 kg), suggesting potential interchangeability of the ABC-01 'Medas' and Tanita BC-418MA data at the group level. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the importance of cross-calibration of BIA instruments for population comparisons and proper data interpretation in clinical and epidemiological studies.

Perceptions of participating in family-centered fertility research among adolescent and young adult males newly diagnosed with cancer: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Over half of male childhood cancer survivors experience infertility after treatment, which is known to cause distress and impact future quality of life. Sperm banking rates remain low, and little is known about how adolescent and young adult (AYA) males and their families make fertility preservation (FP) decisions. This study examined AYA and parent perceptions of participating in a research study focused on testing a new FP decision tool at the time of cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Forty-four participants (19 mothers, 11 fathers, 14 male AYAs 12-25 years old) from 20 families completed brief assessments at diagnosis and approximately one month later, including a qualitative interview exploring the impact of study participation. Verbatim transcripts were coded through thematic content analysis using the constant comparison method. RESULTS: Two major themes emerged: (1) a positive effect of participating in the study and (2) a neutral effect (no positive/negative effect of participation). Subthemes that emerged for participants who noted a positive effect included (a) participation prompted deeper thinking, (b) participation influenced family conversations, and (c) participation resulted in altruism/helping others. No participant reported a negative effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that participation in family-centered research focused on FP among AYA males, before treatment begins, is perceived as beneficial or neutral at the time of a new cancer diagnosis. These findings provide support for future family-centered FP interventions for this population.

Impact of obesity on central processing time rather than overall reaction time in young adult men.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association between weight status with simple cognitive tasks such as reaction time (RT) may not be observed in young people as cognitive functioning development has reached its peak. In the present study, we aimed to examine the association between overall and central adiposity with overall and central processing of RT in a sample of young adult men with different weight status from Ardabil, Iran. METHODS: Eighty-six young males between June-July 2018 completed RT tests as well as premotor time (PMT) using surface electromyography changes in isometric contraction response to an audio stimulus. RESULTS: No significant associations were observed between RT and PMT and different body mass index categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese), as well as fat mass and fat to skeletal muscle mass ratio quartiles (Q). However, participants with greater waist to height ratio (WHtR) had longer PMT (but not RT) than their peers with lower WHtR (Q3 than Q2 and Q1 groups; p < 0.05, d = 1.23). Participants in the skeletal muscle mass quartile Q2 tended to have longer RT than participants in Q3 in an adjusted comparison model (p = 0.05, d = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Although the association between weight status and RT might be elusive in young adults, our results show that higher central adiposity is negatively associated with PMT in young adults. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore the changes in obesity indexes and process speed in longer terms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, experimental study.

Correlations of Self-Reported Androgen Deficiency in Ageing Males (ADAM) with Stress and Sleep among Young Adult Males.

Androgen deficiency in males has traditionally been predominantly limited to older men aged 50+ years. However, little is known of the correlation between hormonal disruption, stress, and sleep in college-aged males. This cross-sectional study investigates lifestyle behavior patterns in young men and a screening for potential androgen deficiency. A survey of 409 male students, as part of a larger USDA-funded GetFruved study, was analyzed for this subproject. Survey instruments used include the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male Questionnaire (ADAM) to assess for inadequate ADAM scores, the Perceived Stress Scale to measure stress levels and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate sleep quality. In total, 144 male participants (35%) met criteria for potential androgen deficiency defined by the ADAM questionnaire. Correlation was found between having a positive ADAM score and both increased stress levels (p < 0.001) and poor sleep quality (p < 0.001), with stress displaying the strongest effect (p < 0.001 vs p = 0.124). An increased prevalence of having a positive ADAM score versus established norms for this age group was also noted. These findings highlight the need for investigation of endocrine disruptions in young men.

Determinants of cigarette smoking and smoking intensity among adult males in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the adverse health and financial implications of smoking, it still remains one of the leading causes of preventable diseases and deaths in the world. Key to discouraging the habit of smoking is knowledge of the drivers of smoking. In Ghana, though smoking behaviours are relatively more associated with adult males than youth and adolescents, studies on smoking behaviours of adult males are scant. This study, therefore, investigates the determinants of cigarette smoking and smoking intensity among adult males in Ghana. METHODS: Data were obtained from the most recent Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2014. Based on the 2014 GDHS, a negative binomial-logit hurdle model was estimated to explore the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics associated with cigarette consumption and smoking intensity among adult males in Ghana. To ensure robustness, separate estimations were performed for the respective logit and negative binomial models used in the two-part model. RESULTS: We find that men in lower socioeconomic category (poor and low education) have a higher likelihood to smoke. Also, age proved significant in explaining smoking behaviors in Ghana. Moreover, religion and region of residence are reported to affect cigarette consumption decision. Furthermore, we find that among the men who smoke, those between the ages of 44 and 60 years and have attained approximately primary education have a higher likelihood to smoke greater quantities of cigarette daily. Also, the smokers who reside in the Upper East and Upper West regions are reported to smoke more intensely than their counterparts in the Greater Accra region. CONCLUSION: Since smoking remains one of the major causes of diseases and deaths the world over, the current study provides recent empirical evidence based on a nationally representative sample for public health policies geared towards smoking reduction and ultimately cessation. This study suggests that public policies that promote higher educational attainment and improved incomes (wealth) are crucial in smoking reduction and cessation in Ghana.

Relationships Among Chewing Tobacco, Cigarette Smoking, and Chronic Health Conditions in Males 18-44 Years of Age.

As more public places are designated "non-smoking," chewing tobacco could be an alternative choice for tobacco use; however, controversy exists over the long-term health effects associated with it. This study assessed the relationship between chewing tobacco, cigarette smoking, and chronic health conditions in a representative sample of males 18-44 years of age, while controlling for other variables known to be related to tobacco use. This cross sectional analysis used 2013 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The results indicated that about 41% of males reported one or more chronic health conditions, and that about 15% used chewing tobacco only, 21% smoked cigarettes only, and 6% did both. From adjusted analyses, those who chewed tobacco only were 49% more likely to report one or more health conditions; those who smoked cigarettes only were 34% more likely to report one or more health conditions; and those who did both were 95% more likely to report at least one health condition. Overall, any combination of tobacco use was significantly and similarly related to the increased prevalence of chronic health conditions in males aged 18-44 years. Although chewing tobacco use may not be as prevalent in the general population as cigarette smoking, clinicians should be aware of the similar health risks associated with all tobacco use at ages younger than may be expected, and encourage cessation of any tobacco use.