Gender and personality in the stress process

This study examines the influence of gender and several personality characteristics in the stress process using a cross-sectional study of 443 university students from a mid-size public New England university, a New England Catholic college, and a mid-size private Florida university. Three models are tested to consider the direct, mediating, and moderating effects of gender and personality on the stress outcomes of drug/alcohol use; non-substance deviant behavior; and depressive symptomatology. Model 1 tests the antecedent effects of gender and personality to determine their influence on stress outcomes. The main effect of gender explained the largest portion of variance for drug/alcohol use and deviance with men reporting higher prevalence in both outcomes. Self esteem is found to be negatively related to drug/alcohol use and sense of coherence and authoritarianism are negatively related to deviance. Gender is significantly related to depressive symptomatology with women suffering more with this outcome. Model 2 uses hierarchical regression to test the mediating effects of personality and stressors in the gender-outcome relationship. For the three outcomes tested, gender emerged as the strongest predictor, and the addition of personality and stress variables failed to explain away the sex differences. Personality and stress explain a portion of the sex difference for depressive symptomatology, however the sex difference remained significant. Self esteem and extraversion are significant personality factors mediating between gender and alcohol/drug use; sense of coherence and extraversion are significant personality factors mediating between gender and deviant behavior; and self esteem, neuroticism, mastery, and sense of coherence are significant personality factors mediating between gender and depressive symptomatology. Life events stress is a significant mediating factor in all three outcomes and ongoing problems is a significant factor in alcohol/drug use and depressive symptomatology. In Model 3 a significant interaction is found between gender and life events stress on alcohol/drug use, with men being effected more at higher levels of stress. The only significant personality-stress interaction is between masculinity and life events on alcohol/drug use with those high in masculinity being affected more at higher levels of stress. Two significant interactions were observed between personality variables and ongoing problems on depressive symptomatology. Those low in masculinity suffer more depressive symptoms as ongoing problems increase. There is a similar finding with the interaction between self esteem and ongoing problems on depressive symptomatology with those low in self esteem more greatly affected. Because of the mostly premarital and preoccupational character of the sample, differences structured into early sex-role socialization and current structures in the world of young college students emerge as the best explanations for the gender differences found in this study

The molecular chaperone (hsp70) and its potential roles during dormancy and germination of Dictyostelium discoideum spores; correlation with action tyrosine phosphorylation.

The heat shock response is an inherent process found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. This response has never been investigated throughout dormancy and germination of Dictyostelium spores. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed hsp70, the main heat shock protein found to be expressed following heat shock at 30°C, to be extremely abundant in dormant spores of mutants aca-[PKA-C], RegA- and SG1. A stage specific dependence for hsp70 was observed throughout development of Ax3, particularly during late aggregation. An overall net decrease of greater than 50% occurred, however, from commencement into development to the end of fruiting. Germination studies revealed the heat shock response to have exhibited the greatest effect from germinating spores of the premature maturation mutant SG2. A 40% overall net increase in hsp70 was evident following heat-induced germination, in comparison to an overall decline of 30% observed from auto-induced germination. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 39-02, page: 0439. Adviser: D. A. Cotter. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2000

Organizing male infertility:Masculinities and fertility treatment

This paper explores how organizations within the fertility treatment sector in the UK discursively construct (cis) male infertility and whether, in so doing, they reinforce or reproduce prevailing institutionalized discourses and practices of masculinity. We seek to address the gender disparity in contemporary understandings of reproductive health in Organization Studies (OS) where women's experience of infertility and its impact is well researched, but only occasionally does this extend to issues of male infertility. Specifically, we build on existing literature in the social sciences and OS on male infertility and expand it by investigating the organizations that treat fertility issues. We examine and discuss how they may inadvertently contribute to this neglect, by reflecting and reproducing the masculine norms that surround male infertility. We employ a thematic analysis to examine texts produced by organizations involved in the fertility sector and find that male infertility is discussed and presented through three intersecting lenses: (a) a hegemonic masculinization of infertility; (b) male infertility as an othering experience; and (c) disembodied masculinity. We highlight how these gendered organizational narratives (re)produce prevailing norms and practices of masculinity, and how an organizational shift within the sector needs to take place if substantial changes toward more caring, relational, and collective approaches to gender and reproductive health are to be achieved

Micronutrients attenuate progression of prostate cancer by elevating the endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, Platelet Factor-4

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Longstanding evidence implicates an inadequate diet as a key factor in the onset and progression of prostate cancer. The purpose herein was to discover, validate and characterize functional biomarkers of dietary supplementation capable of suppressing the course of prostate cancer <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The <it>Lady </it>transgenic mouse model that spontaneously develops prostate cancer received a diet supplemented with a micronutrient cocktail of vitamin E, selenium and lycopene ad libitum. A proteomic analysis was conducted to screen for serum biomarkers of this dietary supplementation. Candidate peptides were validated and identified by sequencing and analyzed for their presence within the prostates of all mice by immunohistochemistry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Dietary supplementation with the combined micronutrients significantly induced the expression of the megakaryocyte-specific inhibitor of angiogenesis, platelet factor-4 (P = 0.0025). This observation was made predominantly in mice lacking tumors and any manifestations associated with progressive disease beyond 37 weeks of life, at which time no survivors remained in the control group (P < 0.0001). While prostates of mice receiving standard chow were enlarged and burdened with poorly differentiated carcinoma, those of mice on the supplemented diet appeared normal. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked amplifications of both platelet binding and platelet factor-4 within the blood vessels of prostates from mice receiving micronutrients only.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We present unprecedented data whereby these combined micronutrients effectively promotes tumor dormancy in early prostate cancer, following initiation mutations that may drive the angiogenesis-dependent response of the tumor, by inducing platelet factor-4 expression and concentrating it at the tumor endothelium through enhanced platelet binding.</p

Programa de intervenção em funções executivas pró-aprendizagem acadêmica para jovens/universitários: Desenvolvimento e evidências de validade de conteúdo

Despite the current emphasis on intervention programs for executive functions (EF), those for children and older adult predominate, with a gap in programs aimed at young people/undergraduate students. The present study presents the process of developing an EF intervention program to support academic learning for young people/undergraduate students. The development followed 5 stages: 1) Internal organization, 2) Construction, 3) Judges’ Analysis, 4) Review and finalization, 5) Pilot Study. Participants were 8 judges (step 3) and 3 classes of students (n = 102) enrolled in Higher Education (step 5). There was high agreement among the judges regarding the demands and the general quality of the activities. Review and integration of the judges’ quantitative and qualitative assessments gave rise to the current version of the πFex-Academics, with 7 activities structured in 3 modules, with a focus on learning and academic demands. The pilot study revealed good applicability. The πFex-Academics is a promising tool for stimulating EF in a university context.A pesar del énfasis actual en los programas de intervención para funciones ejecutivas (FE), predominan los de niños y ancianos, con una brecha en los programas dirigidos a jóvenes/universitarias. El presente estudio presenta el proceso de desarrollo de un programa de intervención en FE a favor del aprendizaje académico para jóvenes/universitarios. El desarrollo siguió 5 etapas: 1) organización interna, 2) construcción, 3) análisis de expertos, 4) revisión y cierre, 5) estudio piloto. Participaron 8 expertos (etapa 3) y 3 clases (n = 102) matriculados en Educación Superior (etapa 5). Hubo un alto acuerdo entre los jueces con respecto a las demandas y la calidad general de las actividades. La revisión e integración de las evaluaciones cuantitativas y cualitativas de los expertos dieron lugar a la versión actual de πFex-Academics, con siete actividades estructuradas en tres módulos, centradas en el aprendizaje y las demandas académicas. El estudio piloto reveló una buena aplicabilidad. πFex-Academics es una herramienta prometedora para estimular la FE en contexto universitario.Apesar de atual destaque para programas de intervenção das funções executivas (FE), predominam aqueles para crianças e idosos, com uma lacuna de programas destinados ao público jovem/universitário. O presente estudo apresenta o processo de desenvolvimento de um programa de intervenção em FE em prol da aprendizagem acadêmica para jovens/universitários. O desenvolvimento seguiu 5 etapas: 1) Interna de organização, 2) Construção, 3) Análise de Juízes, 4) Revisão e fechamento, 5) Estudo Piloto. Participaram 8 juízes (etapa 3) e 3 turmas (n = 102) ingressantes no Ensino Superior (etapa 5). Houve elevada concordância entre juízes em relação às demandas e qualidade geral das atividades. Revisão e integração das avaliações quanti e qualitativas dos juízes originou a versão atual do πFex-Academics, com sete atividades estruturadas em três módulos, com foco na aprendizagem e demandas acadêmicas. Estudo piloto revelou boa aplicabilidade. O πFex-Academics constitui-se como ferramenta promissora para estimulação de FE em contexto universitário

The gastrointestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis down-regulates immune gene expression in migratory cells in afferent lymph

Background: Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections are the predominant cause of economic losses in sheep. Infections are controlled almost exclusively by the use of anthelmintics which has lead to the selection of drug resistant nematode strains. An alternative control approach would be the induction of protective immunity to these parasites. This study exploits an ovine microarray biased towards immune genes, an artificially induced immunity model and the use of pseudo-afferent lymphatic cannulation to sample immune cells draining from the intestine, to investigate possible mechanisms involved in the development of immunity.\ud \ud Results: During the development of immunity to, and a subsequent challenge infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis, the transcript levels of 2603 genes of cells trafficking in afferent intestinal lymph were significantly modulated (P < 0.05). Of these, 188 genes were modulated more than 1.3-fold and involved in immune function. Overall, there was a clear trend for down-regulation of many genes involved in immune functions including antigen presentation, caveolar-mediated endocytosis and protein ubiquitination. The transcript levels of TNF receptor associated factor 5 (TRAF5), hemopexin (HPX), cysteine dioxygenase (CDO1), the major histocompatability complex Class II protein (HLA-DMA), interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), ephrin A1 (EFNA1) and selenoprotein S (SELS) were modulated to the greatest degree.\ud \ud Conclusions: This report describes gene expression profiles of afferent lymph cells in sheep developing immunity to nematode infection. Results presented show a global down-regulation of the expression of immune genes which may be reflective of the natural temporal response to nematode infections in livestock

Plasma membrane proteomes of differentially matured dendritic cells identified by LC-MS/MS combined with iTRAQ labelling

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in polarising Th lymphocyte subsets but it is unclear what molecular events occur when DCs generate Th2-type responses. Here, we analysed plasma membrane-enriched fractions from immature, pro-Th1 and pro-Th2 DCs and used a combination of iTRAQ labelling and LC–MS/MS to quantify changes in the proteomes. Analysis was performed on triplicate biological samples and changes verified by flow cytometry. MHC class II molecules and CD29 were up-regulated in pro-Th1 DCs whilst CD18 and CD44 were up-regulated in pro-Th2 DCs. One of the most down-regulated molecules in pro-Th1 DCs was YM-1 whilst the greatest decrease in pro-Th2 DCs was NAP-22. Other molecules up-regulated in pro-Th2 DC compared to pro-Th1 DCs included some potentially involved in protein folding during antigen processing (clathrin and Rab-7), whilst other non-membrane proteins such as enzymes/transporters related to cell metabolism (malate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, and ATPase Na+/K+) were also recorded. This suggests that pro-Th2 DCs are more metabolically active while pro-Th1 DCs have a mature ‘end state’. Overall, although several molecules were preferentially expressed on pro-Th2 DCs, our proteomics data support the view of a ‘limited maturation’ of pro-Th2 DCs compared to pro-Th1 DCs

Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has emerged as a serious illness in children worldwide. Immunoglobulin or glucocorticoids, or both, are currently recommended treatments. Methods: The Best Available Treatment Study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for MIS-C in an international observational cohort. Analysis of the first 614 patients was previously reported. In this propensity-weighted cohort study, clinical and outcome data from children with suspected or proven MIS-C were collected onto a web-based Research Electronic Data Capture database. After excluding neonates and incomplete or duplicate records, inverse probability weighting was used to compare primary treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, using intravenous immunoglobulin as the reference treatment. Primary outcomes were a composite of inotropic or ventilator support from the second day after treatment initiation, or death, and time to improvement on an ordinal clinical severity scale. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation, clinical deterioration, fever, and coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN69546370. Findings: We enrolled 2101 children (aged 0 months to 19 years) with clinically diagnosed MIS-C from 39 countries between June 14, 2020, and April 25, 2022, and, following exclusions, 2009 patients were included for analysis (median age 8·0 years [IQR 4·2–11·4], 1191 [59·3%] male and 818 [40·7%] female, and 825 [41·1%] White). 680 (33·8%) patients received primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, 698 (34·7%) with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, 487 (24·2%) with glucocorticoids alone; 59 (2·9%) patients received other combinations, including biologicals, and 85 (4·2%) patients received no immunomodulators. There were no significant differences between treatments for primary outcomes for the 1586 patients with complete baseline and outcome data that were considered for primary analysis. Adjusted odds ratios for ventilation, inotropic support, or death were 1·09 (95% CI 0·75–1·58; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids and 0·93 (0·58–1·47; corrected p value=1·00) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Adjusted average hazard ratios for time to improvement were 1·04 (95% CI 0·91–1·20; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, and 0·84 (0·70–1·00; corrected p value=0·22) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Treatment escalation was less frequent for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids (OR 0·15 [95% CI 0·11–0·20]; p<0·0001) and glucocorticoids alone (0·68 [0·50–0·93]; p=0·014) versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Persistent fever (from day 2 onward) was less common with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids compared with either intravenous immunoglobulin alone (OR 0·50 [95% CI 0·38–0·67]; p<0·0001) or glucocorticoids alone (0·63 [0·45–0·88]; p=0·0058). Coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Interpretation: Recovery rates, including occurrence and resolution of coronary artery aneurysms, were similar for primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin when compared to glucocorticoids or intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids appears to be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy, and might be advantageous in view of the cost and limited availability of intravenous immunoglobulin in many countries. Funding: Imperial College London, the European Union's Horizon 2020, Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and National Institutes of Health