Public Preferences for Surgeon Gender in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gender equity in healthcare ensures equal access to services and resources for all individuals, regardless of gender. Studies show that patients' gender influences their healthcare experiences and decisions, and societal gender preferences impact surgeon selection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to address the surgeons' gender preferences among Saudi Arabia's population. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional research design and survey methodology to gather data from a representative sample of adults aged 18 and older from the general population in Saudi Arabia. This study used SPSS version 26 for statistical data entry and analysis, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, and multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression for variables significantly associated with population gender in univariate analysis. RESULTS: This study involved 2085 participants, with 51.2% aged 18-25, 18.4% aged 26-35, 16.7% aged 36-45, and 13.8% aged 45 and above. The majority were Saudi Arabian, with a majority holding a university degree. The majority worked in the healthcare sector, while the remaining 29.7% were unemployed. This study found that there were significant gender preferences among survey respondents for different types of surgical procedures. Male participants preferred male surgeons for routine non-emergency visits and sensitive obstetric, genital, sexual, and minor procedures (p < 0.001). Female participants, on the other hand, had no preference for emergency surgeries and major surgical procedures (p < 0.001). This study found that participants were more likely to prefer female surgeons for regular non-emergency visits to the surgery clinic (p < 0.001; aOR = 2.344). Additionally, participants had a high preference for female surgeons for sensitive cases (p < 0.001; aOR = 7.064) and minor surgical procedures (p < 0.001; aOR = 2.489). CONCLUSION: This study underscores the significance of cognizance and the incorporation of a patient's gender preferences when selecting surgical procedures, thus fostering an environment that is more accommodating and focused on the patient.

Establishment of Reference Range for Serum Concentration of Vitamin A and Vitamin E in Southern Sichuan Area of China.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the reference range of serum concentration of vitamin A (VA) and vitamin E (VE) in Southern Sichuan area of China. METHODS: From August 1, 2021, to May 31, 2023, 9482 blood tablets were received for the screening of VA and VE. The information was divided into four different age groups: ≤1 year old, 1< to ≤6 years, 6< to ≤17 years, and 17< to ≤59 years. In each age group, the four seasons were further subdivided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter, as well as male and female genders. The serum concentration of VA and VE was detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), and the reference range was established for verification. RESULTS: The concentration of VA and VE in 9482 cases showed skewed distribution. When comparing between different age groups, the serum concentration of VA and VE was statistically significant (p < 0.05). While comparing different seasons, the serum VA levels in different seasons were significantly different (p < 0.05) except in summer and autumn. There was statistical significance in VE level in different seasons (p < 0.05). And while comparing different genders, there was no statistical significance in VA concentration levels (p > 0.05). The VE concentration levels were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The established reference range was established and verified, and the results were in accordance with the standard. CONCLUSION: The reference range of VA and VE should be set according to different ages, different seasons, and different genders.

The psychological distress of gastrointestinal cancer patients and its association with quality of life among different genders.

BACKGROUND: Psychological distress is a prevalent unpleasant experience faced by many cancer patients. However, the psychological distress among gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients is scarcely explored. Moreover, the association between psychological distress and quality of life in different genders has yet to be explored. AIMS: To explore the psychological distress among GI cancer patients and examine its association with quality of life among different genders. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 237 gastrointestinal cancer patients completed the distress thermometer and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General. RESULTS: The mean score of psychological distress of the participants was 3.04 (SD = 2.90). A greater proportion of female gastrointestinal cancer patients (52.8%) had clinically relevant psychological distress compared to males (35.9%). The quality of life was negatively associated with their psychological distress (B = - 1.502, 95%CI: - 2.759 to - 0.245, p = 0.019) among gastrointestinal cancer patients. Such association was stronger among males compared to females in gastrointestinal cancer patients (Interaction term, B = - 1.713, 95%CI: - 3.123 to - 0.303, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that healthcare providers should attach their attention to gastrointestinal cancer patients' psychological distress, especially females. Longitudinal studies could adopted to track the changes in psychological distress and its association with quality of life over time among different genders. In future intervention studies, the focus of psychological interventions needs to be gender-specific.

The Indirect Effect of Sleep Quality on Stress-Related Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescents: An Investigation Across Genders.

Sleep is foundational for adolescent psychosocial outcomes though often compromised by normative developmental changes and external factors. This cross-sectional study examined sleep quality as a mechanism linking stress and psychosocial outcomes and explored gender differences. Adolescents (N = 246; Mage=15.8; 46.3% female) completed self-report measures assessing sleep quality and psychosocial outcomes. Structural equation modeling results indicated sleep quality accounted for 78.4% of the total effect of stress on school functioning (b=-0.45, p < 0.001) and 54.2% of the total effect of stress on pain (b = 0.14, p = 0.002). A larger indirect effect of sleep quality on school functioning (b=-0.26, p = 0.016) emerged for boys than girls, and the effect of sleep quality on pain was significant only for girls (b = 0.18, p < 0.001, 69.6% of total effect). Sleep quality explained a large proportion of the effect of stress on school functioning and pain. Sleep quality represents a modifiable transdiagnostic pathway that may buffer the effects of stress in adolescence.

Conductas autolíticas suicidas y no suicidas en víctimas de violencia sexual infantil / Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Harm Behaviors in Victims of Sexual Violence Against Children

La violencia sexual hacia la infancia y las conductas autolesivas suicidas y no suicidas son dos problemáticas sociales y de salud que han incrementado. Las agresiones sexuales conllevan un impacto, afectando a la tendencia a realizar comportamientos autolíticos. Por ello, se pretendía estudiar la relación existente entre haber sido víctima de VSI y la probabilidad de realizar conductas autolesivas suicidas y no suicidas en adolescencia y adultez temprana. Para ello, se ha realizado una revisión sistemática, a través de las bases de datos Pubmed y PsicInfo de artículos publicados entre 2015 y 2022. Se ha hallado una relación significativa entre ambas problemáticas, observando que los intentos de suicidios de estas víctimas estaban relacionados intrínsecamente con sus experiencias de agresión. Así, se ha encontrado que variables como el género, la rumiación, la desregulación emocional, el apoyo social y las características de la agresión median la relación existente entre la violencia sexual infantil y las conductas autolíticas suicidas y no suicidas. Este tipo de investigaciones nos ayuda a establecer el foco de intervención en los casos de víctimas de agresión sexual infantil, pero debe también ayudar a dar visibilidad a la problemática e impulsar la intervención preventiva protegiendo la infancia. (AU)

Sexual violence against children and suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors are two social and health problems that have increased. Sexual assaults have an impact, affecting the tendency to carry out autolytic behaviors. Therefore, it was intended to study the relationship between having been a victim of sexual violence in their childhood and the probability of engaging in suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in adolescence and early adulthood. For this, a systematic review has been carried out, through the Pubmed and PsycInfo databases of articles published between 2015 and 2022. A significant relationship has been found between both problems, observing that the suicide attempts of these victims were intrinsically related to their experiences of aggression. Thus, it has been found that variables such as gender, rumination, emotional dysregulation, social support, and characteristics of aggression mediate the relationship between sexual violence against children and suicidal and non-suicidal autolytic behaviors. This type of investigation helps us to establish the focus of intervention in the cases of victims of child sexual assault, but it should also help to give visibility to the problem and promote preventive intervention protecting children. (AU)

Conductas autolíticas suicidas y no suicidas en víctimas de violencia sexual infantil / Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Harm Behaviors in Victims of Sexual Violence Against Children

La violencia sexual hacia la infancia y las conductas autolesivas suicidas y no suicidas son dos problemáticas sociales y de salud que han incrementado. Las agresiones sexuales conllevan un impacto, afectando a la tendencia a realizar comportamientos autolíticos. Por ello, se pretendía estudiar la relación existente entre haber sido víctima de VSI y la probabilidad de realizar conductas autolesivas suicidas y no suicidas en adolescencia y adultez temprana. Para ello, se ha realizado una revisión sistemática, a través de las bases de datos Pubmed y PsicInfo de artículos publicados entre 2015 y 2022. Se ha hallado una relación significativa entre ambas problemáticas, observando que los intentos de suicidios de estas víctimas estaban relacionados intrínsecamente con sus experiencias de agresión. Así, se ha encontrado que variables como el género, la rumiación, la desregulación emocional, el apoyo social y las características de la agresión median la relación existente entre la violencia sexual infantil y las conductas autolíticas suicidas y no suicidas. Este tipo de investigaciones nos ayuda a establecer el foco de intervención en los casos de víctimas de agresión sexual infantil, pero debe también ayudar a dar visibilidad a la problemática e impulsar la intervención preventiva protegiendo la infancia. (AU)

Sexual violence against children and suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors are two social and health problems that have increased. Sexual assaults have an impact, affecting the tendency to carry out autolytic behaviors. Therefore, it was intended to study the relationship between having been a victim of sexual violence in their childhood and the probability of engaging in suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in adolescence and early adulthood. For this, a systematic review has been carried out, through the Pubmed and PsycInfo databases of articles published between 2015 and 2022. A significant relationship has been found between both problems, observing that the suicide attempts of these victims were intrinsically related to their experiences of aggression. Thus, it has been found that variables such as gender, rumination, emotional dysregulation, social support, and characteristics of aggression mediate the relationship between sexual violence against children and suicidal and non-suicidal autolytic behaviors. This type of investigation helps us to establish the focus of intervention in the cases of victims of child sexual assault, but it should also help to give visibility to the problem and promote preventive intervention protecting children. (AU)

The V-shaped curve relationship between fasting plasma glucose and human serum albumin in a large health checkup population in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and human serum albumin (HSA) in a large health checkup population in China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional health checkup study, we enrolled a population of 284,635 subjects from Wuhu between 2011 and 2016. All participants completed the physical examination, blood biochemical examination, and blood routine examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes in men and women was 6.11% and 2.98%, respectively. The average level of HSA and FPG was significantly higher in men than in women (48.44 ± 3.25 vs. 47.14 ± 3.22, P < 0.0001; 5.50 ± 1.26 vs. 5.26 ± 0.94, P < 0.0001). There were significant differences in blood biochemistry and blood routine values by gender. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results showed that FPG and HSA were a V-shaped curve, and the threshold value of HSA was 40.7 mmol/L. FPG and HSA still showed a V-shaped curve after stratification by gender and age. In the male group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<42.3 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 42.3 mmol/L. In the female group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<35.7 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 35.7 mmol/L. In the age<65 group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<37.5 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 37.5 mmol/L. In the age ≥ 65 group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<43.2 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 43.2 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: A V-shape relationship exists between fasting plasma glucose and human serum albumin among the Chinese health checkup population studied.

Study of bone marrow microstructure in healthy young adults using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI.

Bone marrow is one of the most important organs in the human body. The evaluation of bone marrow microstructure and gender-related cellular and capillary networks in healthy young adults can help to better understand the process of bone metabolism. Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) provides both diffusion and perfusion quantifications without requiring intravenous contrast agent injection. In this prospective study, 60 healthy young age-matched volunteers (30 men and 30 women) underwent MRI scans at 1.5 T using multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging on sagittal planes covering the lumbar bone marrow. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true ADC (D), pseudo-ADC (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated from the diffusion-weighted images using the mono- and bi-exponential models. Lumbar cancellous bone (L2-L4) was selected as the region of interest. An independent t-test was used to detect significant differences in ADC values and IVIM parameters between men and women. The differences in IVIM parameters among the L2, L3, and L4 groups were compared with analysis of variance. The D and f values in women were significantly higher than that in men (p = 0.001, 0.026). However, D* was significantly lower in women than that in men (p = 0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant gender difference for the conventional ADC value (p = 0.186). Moreover, there were no significant differences in the D, f, and D* values among the L2, L3, and L4 vertebras of women or men. IVIM parameters can show differences in bone marrow between young women and men. As a non-invasive method, it can assess bone marrow microstructure, such as cellularity and perfusion.

Comparison of the Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Male and Female Gender in Patients Diagnosed with Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease: A Case of Sakarya Province, Turkey.

Introduction: The study aims to evaluate the motor, non-motor, cognitive and psychiatric conditions of our patients diagnosed with Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (IPD) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate the effect of the pandemic on male and female genders. Methods: Ninety patients were included in the study. Demographic data such as age, gender, and duration of disease, type of disease of the patients were recorded. Patients were then divided into 2 groups: male and female. Movement disorders of both groups before the pandemic, disease stage determined by H&Y and UPDRS at the admission and after the pandemic, Levodopa equivalent dose used were recorded and all patients were surveyed to evaluate their motor, non-motor, cognitive, and psychiatric conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on male and female genders were investigated. Results: Of the patients, 40 were male and 50 were female. Daytime drowsiness, weakness, impaired walking, constipation, sleep disorders, and inability to turn in the bed worsened compared to the period before the pandemic. Yet, of the psychiatric symptoms, boredom, unhappiness, anhedonia, irritability, and tension were found to increase during the pandemic. There was a statistically significant difference in UPDRS, H&Y and disease stages before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in both groups, especially in the female group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although it was more pronounced in female patients with IPD diagnosis, both motor and non-motor symptoms were found to worsen during the COVID-19 pandemic in both groups.

Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides Better Regulate the Microbiota of Women Than Men.

Dendrobium officinale is widely used as a health supplement, but its specific impact on healthy gut microbiota has not yet been clarified, nor has its impact on different human genders. To overcome the problems mentioned above. DOP was extracted and purified with an 8000-12,000 Da dialysis bag. The molecular weight and monosaccharide composition were determined using HPGPC and GC. Gas chromatography was used to detect the content of SCFA. 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the diversity of human microbiota. The results showed that DOP contained two fractions, with an average molecular weight of 277 kDa and 1318 Da, and mainly composed of mannose and glucose. DOP can increase the relative abundance of benign microbiota and decrease the harmful types. Propionic acid content in women was significantly increased after DOP treatment. Finally, the correlation analysis revealed that DOP was beneficial to the microbiota of both men and women. It can be concluded from the results that DOP is a health supplement suitable for humans, and especially women.

Suicides in Turkey: 25-year trend (1995-2019).

The assessment of national suicide risks is considered critical in many countries for the establishment of suicide prevention initiatives aimed at considerably lowering suicide rates. The aim of this study is to identify at-risk suicide populations by reviewing the suicides in Turkey over a 25-year period. The Turkish Statistical Institute's suicide statistics for 1995-2019 in Turkey was retrospectively reviewed in current article. The data collected in the study was statistically analyzed using the MINITAB vn 14 software. Between 1995 and 2019, the total number of suicides in Turkey was 66,819, and suicide rates, especially in males, showed an increasing trend in this period. Males comprised 68.3% of the total cases, and most (27.2%) were aged 15-24 years. Suicides mostly occurred between May and July (27.7%), of individuals with a primary school level of education (51.7%) and who were married (6.0 per 100,000). Illness was most important risk factor for suicide (36.8%) and hanging (47.5%) was the leading suicide method in all age groups and in both genders. Despite the fact that Turkey's suicide rate is lower than many other countries, the growth in male suicide rates is concerning. Suicides are likely to become a severe problem in Turkey in the near future unless measures like education, psychiatric evaluations, the reactivation of psychological counseling service phone lines, and the establishment of youth counseling centers, as described in this paper, are taken.

Gut Bacterial Composition and Functional Potential of Tibetan Pigs Under Semi-Grazing.

Gut bacterial community plays a key role in maintaining host health. The Tibetan pig (Sus scrofa), an ancient breed in China, has been known for its high adaptability to harsh environments and for its meat quality. To understand the underlying mechanisms facilitating to shape these unique features, in this study, 16S rRNA sequencing using pigs feces and subsequent bacterial functional prediction were performed. Also, the gut bacteria of two other breeds of pigs, Barkshire and Landrace, were examined for comparison. It was revealed that the structure of bacterial community in Tibetan pigs appeared to be more complex; the relative abundances of dominant bacterial families varied inversely with those of the other pigs, and the proportion of Firmicutes in Tibetan pigs was lower, but Bacteroides, Fibrobacterota, Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae were higher. Bacterial functional prediction revealed that the dominant flora in the Tibetan pigs was more correlated with functions regulating the hosts' immune and inflammatory responses, such as NOD-like_receptor_signaling_pathway and vitamin metabolism. In addition, in Tibetan pigs, the taxonomic relationships in the gut bacteria on day 350 were closer than those on earlier stages. Furthermore, gender played a role in the composition and function of bacterial inhabitants in the gut; for boars, they were more correlated to drug resistance and xenobiotics metabolism of the host compared to the sows. In sum, our preliminary study on the gut bacterial composition of the Tibetan pigs provided an insight into the underlying host-microorganism interactions, emphasizing the role of intestinal bacteria in the context of modulating the host's immune system and host development.

Infâncias, gêneros e sexualidades: implicações ético-políticas das parentalidades / Infancias, género y sexualidades: implicaciones ético-políticas de las paternidades / Children, genders and sexualities: ethical-political implications of parentalities

RESUMO. Em diálogo com cenas do contexto brasileiro de políticas sexuais e de gênero e tomando como suporte os estudos feministas e queer, o artigo tem como objetivo problematizar a dimensão hierárquica e das relações de poder parentais na determinação das expressões de gênero de crianças e discutir as contribuições dos estudos feministas e queer para o debate sobre os direitos de crianças e jovens a seus corpos e desejos. Para isso, situa a infância como um dispositivo da biopolítica que se entrelaça com os dispositivos de gêneros e sexualidades nos modelos delineados pelas narrativas psicológicas e educacionais. Em seguida, discute a presença do familismo nas políticas públicas para famílias no Brasil em que discursos antigênero buscam a afirmação de um modelo hegemônico de família, como o lugar que salvaguarda a heteronormatividade e a cisgeneridade. Encerra delineando o campo de tensões sobre as relações entre adultos e crianças, que emergem das seções anteriores, buscando argumentos para posicionamentos epistêmicos e ético-políticos das parentalidades.

RESUMÉN. En diálogo con escenas del contexto brasileño de políticas sexuales y de género y con base en estudios feministas y queer, el artículo pretende esbozar líneas y flujos de pensamiento sobre las tensiones entre las relaciones parentales y el derecho de los niños a sus expresiones de géneros y sexualidades. Para ello, sitúa a la infancia como un dispositivo de biopolítica que se entrelaza con los dispositivos de géneros y sexualidades en los modelos perfilados por narrativas psicológicas y educativas. Luego, se discute la presencia del familismo en las políticas públicas para las familias en Brasil en las que los discursos anti-género afirman un modelo hegemónico de familia, como el lugar que salvaguarda la heteronormatividad y la cisgeneridad. Se termina por delinear el campo de tensiones sobre las relaciones entre adultos y niños, que surgen de los apartados anteriores, buscando argumentos a favor de posiciones epistémicas y ético-políticas de las parentalidades.

ABSTRACT. In dialogue with scenes from the Brazilian context of sexual and gender policies and based on feminist and queer studies, the article aims to outline lines and flows of thought about the tensions between parental relationships and the right of children to their expressions of genders and sexualities. For this, childhood is situated as a device of biopolitics that is intertwined with the devices of genders and sexualities in the models outlined by psychological and educational narratives. Then, the presence of familism in public policies is discussed in the case of families in Brazil, in which anti-gender discourses seek to reassert a hegemonic model of family as the place that safeguards heteronormativity and cisgenerity. The article concludes by outlining the field of tensions over the relationships between adults and children, which emerge from the previous sections, seeking arguments for epistemic and ethical-political positions of parenting.

Drug Transporters in the Kidney: Perspectives on Species Differences, Disease Status, and Molecular Docking.

The kidneys are a pair of important organs that excretes endogenous waste and exogenous biological agents from the body. Numerous transporters are involved in the excretion process. The levels of these transporters could affect the pharmacokinetics of many drugs, such as organic anion drugs, organic cationic drugs, and peptide drugs. Eleven drug transporters in the kidney (OAT1, OAT3, OATP4C1, OCT2, MDR1, BCRP, MATE1, MATE2-K, OAT4, MRP2, and MRP4) have become necessary research items in the development of innovative drugs. However, the levels of these transporters vary between different species, sex-genders, ages, and disease statuses, which may lead to different pharmacokinetics of drugs. Here, we review the differences of the important transports in the mentioned conditions, in order to help clinicians to improve clinical prescriptions for patients. To predict drug-drug interactions (DDIs) caused by renal drug transporters, the molecular docking method is used for rapid screening of substrates or inhibitors of the drug transporters. Here, we review a large number of natural products that represent potential substrates and/or inhibitors of transporters by the molecular docking method.

Rhinonyssus rhinolethrum (Trouessart, 1895) (Mesostigmata: Rhinonyssidae) in Netta peposaca (Vieillot, 1816) (Anseriformes: Anatidae) from Southern Brazil.

Netta peposaca is an anatid endemic to the South American continent and Rhinonyssus rhinolethrum is a rhinonissid mite of wide geographical distribution parasitizing several species of anatids. The association between these organisms has been reported in Argentina; however, the number of birds examined and the parasite indices have not been reported. Thus, the objective of this study was to know the diversity of nasal mites associated with N. peposaca in southern of Brazil and the parasitological indices. The nasal cavities of 30 birds from two locations in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were examined to collect mites. Rhinonyssus rhinolethrum occurred in 16.67% of the birds with an infection intensity of 3-24 mites/host. Infections in male and female hosts showed no significant differences. This study records for the first time R. rhinolethrum and its infection indices in N. peposaca in the southern of Brazil.

Frailty Status Among the Elderly of Different Genders and the Death Risk: A Follow-Up Study.

Background: Frailty in the elderly population is currently a frontier and focus in the field of health and aging. The goal of this study was to explore the frailty status among the elderly of different genders and its influence on the risk of death during 11 years. Methods: Frailty index (FI) was used to evaluate the frailty status in the elderly based on the baseline data conducted in 2009; and death as outcome variables collected in 2020 were analyzed. The difference of the frailty level and mortality of different genders was compared. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curves were applied to evaluate the influence on the risk of death and the 11-year survival of the elderly at different level of frailty, respectively. Results: Totally, 1,246 elderly people were recruited. The mortality in men (43.7%, 227/519) was statistically higher than that in women (34.3%, 249/727) (x 2 = 11.546, P = 0.001). Deficits accumulated exponentially with age, and at all ages, women accumulated more deficits than do men on average (B = 0.030 vs. 0.028, t = 4.137, P = 0.023). For any given level of frailty, the mortality rate is higher in men than in women, and the difference in mortality between genders reached the peak when FI value was 0.26. Cox regression analysis showed that FI value had a greater impact on the risk of death in older men (HR = 1.171, 95%CI: 1.139~1.249)than that in older women (HR = 1.119, 95%CI: 1.039~1.137). Survival analysis showed that the median 11-year survival time in women was longer than that in men (95.26 vs. 89.52 months, Log rank = 9.249, P = 0.002). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the survival rate decreased with the increase of frailty, and at the same level of frailty, survival time in older women was longer than that in older men, except for severe frailty (FI ≥ 0.5). Conclusion: The frailty status and its influence on mortality are different among the older people of different genders; therefore, specific interventions for frailty should be conducted in the elderly population of different genders, as well as of different degrees of frailty.

Implications of gender-based variabilities in bone mineral density and hemoglobin levels.

BACKGROUND: Studies reported that there is a relationship between volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and hemoglobin (HGB) in sickle cell anemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic kidney disease, it is not clear whether this association exists in normal populations or different genders. In order to further clarify the relationship between vBMD and HGB, and provide the basis for the diagnosis of related diseases, this study was conducted in the physical examination population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a health check-up population from Wannan area of China from January to December 2018. The study involved 1238 individuals aged 23 to 85 years. Linear regression analysis and smooth curve were applied to determine the relationship of HGB and vBMD. RESULTS: The average level of vBMD in the population was 130.11 ± 79.51 mg/cm3, after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), glucose (GLU), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). A U-shape relationship was established between vBMD and HGB, the cut off value of HGB was 130 g/L. After gender stratification, the results showed a U-shaped curve relationship between vBMD and HGB in male group, and a linear relationship between vBMD and HGB in female group. The vBMD decreased with HGB when HGB < 120 g/L, and increased when HGB ≥ 120 g/L in male group. CONCLUSION: The relationship between vBMD and HGB in the male physical examination population presents a U-shaped curve.

Development of Creative Intelligence in Physical Education and Sports Science Students through Body Expression.

Body expression can enhance movement creativity and at the same time promote the growth of creative intelligence in college age. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of an intervention in body expression classes on the creative intelligence of university students. The 49 participants aged 19 to 38 years engaged in the body expression course for seven weeks, 3 h per week. The Creative Intelligence test (CREA) was applied as an evaluative method to obtain the initial data and after the intervention the test was reapplied. Pre- and post-test results were analyzed and compared by gender and type of sporting background (team or individual sports). The results indicate an overall improvement in creative intelligence with a significant difference between the two evaluations (p < 0.001). Women started with a higher score than men, and although an improvement in their final mean score could be observed, it was not significant. Men, on the other hand, had noted a significant increase (p < 0.001) of these values in the post-test. Regarding the type of sports, at the beginning of the study, both groups had similar results; however, in the final test, the team sports players obtained better scores. In conclusion, body expression, thanks to its content focused on artistic-creative development, has been shown to be useful in the general progression of creative intelligence in college age.

Artivismo musical e feminismos: arte e política nas disputas visuais e no direito de existir das dissidências sexuais e de gêneros / Musical artivism and feminisms: art and politics in the visual disputes and concerning the right to exist of the sexual and gender dissidence / Artvismo musical y feminismos: arte y política en las disputas visuales y relacionadas con el derecho de existir de las disensiones sexuales y de géneros

Em entrevista à Reciis, a cientista Rose de Melo Rocha compreende seus estudos baseados em um conhecimento encarnado que se espraia por suas atuações como pesquisadora, professora e cidadã. Em sua trajetória intelectual, procura pensar a comunicação como um processo de vinculação com implicações afetuais e subjetivas em temas como culturas urbanas, juvenis e audiovisualidades. Tais temáticas se entrecruzam e se reencontram nos seus estudos recentes sobre corporalidades e dissidências sexuais e de gênero. Rose de Melo Rocha observa o entretenimento e, particularmente, o que denomina de artivismo musical de gênero como um campo de ruptura em relação à arte e a um posicionamento ativista que problematiza a política institucional. As cantoras Pabllo Vittar e Linn da Quebrada são pensadas como entradas protagônicas e dissidentes nas disputas audiovisuais, construindo outras audiovisualidades como projeções de utopias realizáveis. O que importa para a pesquisadora, e para os grupos nos quais se aliança, é ir além do discurso da resistência a fim de fortalecer o direito de existir, o direito à presença. Nesse sentido, defende um feminismo que não se restrinja a um essencialismo identitário. Rose de Melo Rocha é professora titular e pesquisadora do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação e Práticas de Consumo da Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing de São Paulo (ESPM/SP).

In an interview given to Reciis (Revista Eletrônica de Comunicação, Informação & Inovação em Saúde ­ Electronic Journal of Communication, Information & Innovation in Health), Fiocruz, Brazil, the scientist Rose de Melo Rocha reveals how her studies are based on an embodied knowledge that spreads over her acting as reseacher, professor and citizen. In her intellectual trajectory, she searches for a thinking on communication as a bonding process that has 'affective' and subjective implications for themes such as urban and youthful cultures, and audiovisuals. Such thematic approaches intersect as well come together in her recent studies about corporality and sexual and gender dissidence. Rose de Melo Rocha observes the entertainment and particularly what she calls the 'gender musical artivism' and she see them as a field of rupture regarding the art and an activist posture that poses under discussion the institutional politics. The singers Pabllo Vittar and Linn da Quebrada are seen as emblematic protagonists and dissidents in audiovisual disputes, building others audiovisuals as projections of attainable utopias. What is important to the researcher and to groups with she has alliances is go beyond the discourse of resistance so that to strengthen the right to exist, the right to the presence. In this sense, she advocates a feminism that is not restricted to an identity essentialism. Rose de Melo Rocha is a professor and reseacher in the Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação e Práticas de Consumo at Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing de São Paulo (ESPM/SP), Brazil.

En una entrevista concedida a Reciis (Revista Eletrônica de Comunicação, Informação & Inovação em Saúde ­ Revista Electrónica de Comunicación, Información & Innovación en Salud), Fiocruz, Brasil, la científica Rose de Melo Rocha revela cómo sus estudios se basan en un conocimiento encarnado que se extiende en sus actuaciones como investigadora, profesora universitaria y ciudadana. En su trayectoria intelectual busca pensar en la comunicación como un proceso de vinculación que tiene implicaciones 'afectivas' y subjetivas para temas como las culturas urbanas y juvenis y los audiovisuales. Estos enfoques temáticos se entrecruzan y se reencuentran en sus recientes estudios sobre corporalidad y disensiones sexuales y de género. Rose de Melo Rocha observa el entretenimiento y, en particular, el que ella denomina 'artvismo musical de género' y los ve como un campo de ruptura con respecto al arte y un posicionamiento activista que problematiza la política institucional. Las cantoras Pabllo Vittar and Linn da Quebrada son vistas como protagonistas y disidentes emblemáticas en disputas audiovisuales, construyendo otros audiovisuales como proyección de utopias realizables. El que es de importancia para la investigadora y para los grupos con los cuales ella tiene alianza es ir más allá del discurso de resistencia para que se fortalezca el derecho de existir, el derecho a la presencia. En este sentido, ella aboga por un feminismo que no se limite al esencialismo identitario. Rose de Melo Rocha es profesora universitaria y investigadora en el Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação e Práticas de Consumo de la Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing de São Paulo (ESPM/SP), Brasil.

Increased cardiovascular mortality in females with the a/a genotype of the SNPs rs1478604 and rs2228262 of thrombospondin-1.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are still the major cause of death in the Western world, with different outcomes between the two genders. Efforts to identify those at risk are therefore given priority in the handling of health resources. Thrombospondins (TSP) are extracellular matrix proteins associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate variations in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TSP-1 and plasma expression, and associations with mortality from a gender perspective. METHODS: A population of 470 community-living persons were invited to participate. The participants were followed for 7.9 years and underwent a clinical examination and blood sampling. SNP analyses of TSP-1 rs1478604 and rs2228262 using allelic discrimination and plasma measurement of TSP-1 using ELISA were performed, RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 135 (28.7%) all-cause and 83 (17.7%) cardiovascular deaths were registered. In the female population, the A/A genotype of rs2228262 and the T/T genotype of rs1478604 exhibited significantly more cardiovascular deaths compared with the A/G and G/G, or the T/C and C/C genotypes amalgamated (rs2228262: 13.7% vs 2.0%; Χ2:5.29; P = 0.02; rs1478604:17.7% vs 4.7%; Χ2:9.50; P = 0.002). Applied in a risk evaluation, the A/A, or T/T genotypes exhibited an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (rs2228262: HR: 7.1; 95%CI 1.11-45.8; P = 0.04; rs1478604: HR: 3.18; 95%CI 1.35-7.50; p = 0.008). No differences among the three genotypes could be seen in the male group. CONCLUSION: In this study the female group having the A/A genotype of rs2228262, or the T/T genotype of rs1478604 of TSP-1 exhibited higher cardiovascular mortality after a follow-up of almost 8 years. No corresponding genotype differences could be found in the male group. Genotype evaluations should be considered as one of the options to identify individuals at risk. However, this study should be regarded as hypothesis-generating, and more research in the field is needed.