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Significant Gender (significant + gender)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences50%

Terms modified by Significant Gender

  • significant gender difference
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    Selected Abstracts

    Metabolic gene switching in the murine female heart parallels enhanced mitochondrial respiratory function in response to oxidative stress

    FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 20 2007
    M. Faadiel Essop
    The mechanisms underlying increased cardioprotection in younger female mice are unclear. We hypothesized that serine-threonine protein kinase (protein kinase B; Akt) triggers a metabolic gene switch (decreased fatty acids, increased glucose) in female hearts to enhance mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity, conferring protection against oxidative stress. Here, we employed male and female control (db/+) and obese (db/db) mice. We found diminished transcript levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha, muscle-type carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 in female control hearts versus male hearts. Moreover, females displayed improved recovery of cardiac mitochondrial respiratory function and higher ATP levels versus males in response to acute oxygen deprivation. All these changes were reversed in female db/db hearts. However, we found no significant gender-based differences in levels of Akt, suggesting that Akt-independent signaling mechanisms are responsible for the resilient mitochondrial phenotype observed in female mouse hearts. As glucose is a more energetically efficient fuel substrate when oxygen is limiting, this gene program may be a crucial component that enhances tolerance to oxygen deprivation in female hearts. [source]

    Psychological treatment may reduce the need for healthcare in patients with Crohn's disease,

    INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 6 2007
    Hans-Christian Deter MD
    Abstract Background: Few published studies examine the influence of psychological treatment on health care utilization in Crohn's disease. Methods: The present substudy of a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial conducted in 69 of 488 consecutive Crohn's disease (CD) patients was designed to investigate the way in which healthcare utilization is influenced by psychotherapy and relaxation in addition to standardized glucocorticoid therapy. Before and after a 1-year period of standardized somatic treatment the psychotherapy and control groups were compared with regard to hospital and sick-leave days. Predictors of healthcare utilization were analyzed. Results: The comparison between groups before and after psychological treatment showed a significantly higher decrease of mean hospital days (P < 0.03) and sick-leave days in the treatment group compared with the controls. When a covariate analysis was applied to compare the data at randomization, the difference in hospital days remained statistically a trend (P < 0.1). Multivariate regression analysis detected a significant gender and depression effect for hospital days (cor r2 = 0.114) and a significant gender and age effect for sick-leave days (cor r2 = 0.112). Conclusion: A significant drop in healthcare utilization after psychological treatment demonstrates a clear benefit of this additional therapy. This is important, since the study failed to demonstrate significant changes in the psychosocial status or somatic course of study patients. Clinical and psychological factors influencing these outcomes are discussed. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2007) [source]

    Poor recognition of the UK minimum driving vision standard by motorists attending optometric practice

    OPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 3 2007
    Jonathan S. Pointer
    Abstract Purpose:, To evaluate the current level of recollection of the vehicle number plate viewing distance in a group of motorists. Knowledge of this distance is required to self-check compliance with the UK legal minimum driving vision standard. Methods:, A cohort of 480 motorists aged ,17 years attending optometric practice for a routine sight test agreed to participate in a short verbal survey. They were asked whether they could state the current UK statutory vehicle number plate viewing distance as specified in the Highway Code. Also recorded were each motorist's high contrast logMAR visual acuity, whether or not an optical prescription was habitually worn when driving, and brief demographic details (age, gender). Results:, No statistically significant gender-based difference was present in age distribution, mean logMAR binocular acuity, or age and number (proportion) of motorists who habitually wore a refractive correction when driving. The level of mean binocular acuity was uniformly good (<0.0 logMAR, or better than 6/6 Snellen). However, the recollection by respondents of the statutory viewing distance was poor: only 5% were able to state correctly the current distance (20 m), and 22% recalled the previous (20.5 m/67 ft) or the original (22.9 m/75 ft) statutory distance. Of the remainder, 28% underestimated and 45% overestimated the distance. A statistically significant gender-based difference (p = 0.01) between the recollections of non-prescription wearers became marked (p = 0.001) for habitual wearers, in which latter case the median value and range of estimates by female motorists was greater than their male counterparts. Conclusions:, The level of recognition by these motorists of the viewing distance necessary to satisfy the legal minimum vision standard required for driving on UK roads was low and comparable to the levels recorded in two similar surveys undertaken by other authors 10 and 20 years ago. An inexpensive and easily implemented publicity innovation is suggested which could help improve driver appreciation of the statutory distance and promote compliance with the legal vision standard. [source]

    Gender differences in behavioral inhibitory control: ERP evidence from a two-choice oddball task

    PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
    Jiajin Yuan
    Abstract The inhibition of inappropriate behaviors is important for adaptive living in changing environments. The present study investigated gender-related behavioral inhibitory control by recording event-related potentials for standard and deviant stimuli while subjects performed a standard/deviant distinction task by accurately pressing different keys within 1000 ms. The results showed faster reaction times (RTs) for deviant stimuli in women than in men, although RTs for standard stimuli were similar across genders. There were significant gender and stimulus interaction effects on mean amplitudes during each of the 170,230-ms, 250,330-ms, and 350,600-ms intervals, and women exhibited shorter latencies and larger amplitudes than men at deviant-related P2, N2, and P3 components. As an accurate, fast response to the rare deviant stimuli involves behavioral inhibitory control on the prepotent response whereas the response to the standard stimuli does not, it is clear that there is a general gender difference in behavioral control for human adults. This may relate to differential inhibitory demands by each gender during evolution. [source]