BACKGROUND & AIMS: INTRODUCTION:STDs are a significant cause of illness throughout the world. Female sex workers (FSWs) are commonly perceived as belonging to a social group which may engage in high-risk behaviour for acquiring or transmitting HIV and other STDs. The number of immigrant women engaged in sex work has increased in Catania, Sicily, over the last 10 years. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis among Colombian and Dominican FSWs. METHODS:In total 118 (63.78%) of the FSWs contacted in the course of the project agreed to participate in the study. All women enrolled were counselled on STDs/HIV, safer sex practices and the use of condoms. Blood samples were taken and tested for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis. RESULTS:Of the 118 FSWs enrolled, all were negative for both HIV and HCV infection. Two women (1.6%) were positive for hepatitis B (HbsAg). Syphilis testing by VDRL showed three positive results (2.5%), which was confirmed by TPHA. DISCUSSION:This study showed that HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis seroprevalence among Colombian and Dominican FSWs remains low or very rare. It also indicates that these women were healthy when they arrived in Italy and that condom use with clients is high.

背景与目标： 简介：性病是世界范围内引起疾病的重要原因。女性性工作者（FSWs）通常被认为属于一个社会群体，该群体可能会为获取或传播艾滋病毒和其他性传播疾病而从事高风险行为。在过去的十年中，西西里岛卡塔尼亚从事性工作的移民妇女人数有所增加。这项研究的目的是估计哥伦比亚和多米尼加的FS​​W中HIV，HBV，HCV和梅毒的患病率。
方法：在该项目过程中，总共有118名（63.78％）的FSW同意参与研究。为所有入选妇女提供性传播疾病/艾滋病毒，更安全的性行为和使用安全套方面的咨询。抽取血样并测试HIV，HBV，HCV和梅毒。
结果：在118个FSW中，所有的HIV和HCV感染均为阴性。两名女性（1.6％）的乙型肝炎（HbsAg）阳性。 VDRL进行的梅毒测试显示三项阳性结果（2.5％），这已被TPHA证实。
讨论：这项研究表明，哥伦比亚和多米尼加地区FSW中的HIV，HBV，HCV和梅毒血清阳性率仍然很低或非常罕见。这也表明，这些妇女抵达意大利后就很健康，而且与客人一起使用避孕套的比例很高。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The nature of the primary genetic defects in ob/ob and db/db mice are unknown. Both the obese (ob) and diabetes (db) mutations produce similar, multicomponent obese-hyperinsulinemic syndromes when maintained in the same strain of mouse. In an attempt to find differences between these mutations in neuroendocrine function affecting the islets of Langerhans or the pituitary, tissue content of four neuropeptides that are known to be capable of influencing the rate of insulin secretion was examined in obese (ob/ob) and diabetes (db/db) mice. In the first study, C57BL/6Job/ob and control males were studied at 3, 4, and 11 weeks of age. In the second study, db/db mice of both sexes and two inbred strains (C57BL/6J and C57BL/KsJ), which differ markedly in the severity of expression of the diabetes phenotype, were studied at 3 weeks of age, before the development of hyperglycemia and secondary consequences thereof. Immunoreactive peptides were measured in acetic acid extracts of pancreas and pituitary. No differences between male ob/ob and db/db mice of the C57BL/6J strain were found. Marked sex differences in lean control mice were found at 3 weeks of age in pancreatic Met-enkephalin-LI and galanin-LI (with two- to threefold higher content in males). Low pancreatic content (50% to 70% lower than in control mice) of galanin-LI, Met-enkephalin-LI and Leu-enkephalin-LI was associated with hyperinsulinemia in male B6 ob/ob and db/db mice at 3 weeks of age, though not in B6 db/db females and not in BKs db/db mice of either sex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

背景与目标： ：ob / ob和db / db小鼠的主要遗传缺陷的性质尚不清楚。肥胖（ob）和糖尿病（db）突变在同一小鼠品系中均会产生相似的多成分肥胖-高胰岛素血症综合征。为了发现影响兰格罕氏岛或垂体的胰岛的神经内分泌功能的这些突变之间的差异，在肥胖（ob / ob）和糖尿病患者中检查了四种已知能够影响胰岛素分泌速率的神经肽的组织含量（db / db）小鼠。在第一个研究中，研究了C57BL / 6Job / ob和对照男性在3、4和11周的年龄。在第二项研究中，在发育前的3周龄研究了具有性别和两种近交系（C57BL / 6J和C57BL / KsJ）的db / db小鼠，它们在糖尿病表型的表达严重程度上有显着差异。高血糖及其继发后果。在胰腺和垂体的乙酸提取物中测量了免疫反应性肽。在C57BL / 6J株的雄性ob / ob和db / db小鼠之间未发现差异。在瘦瘦对照小鼠中，在3周龄的胰腺Met-脑啡肽-LI和甘丙肽-LI中发现明显的性别差异（雄性含量高2至3倍）。在3周龄的雄性B6 ob / ob和db / db小鼠中，甘丙肽-LI，Met-脑啡肽-LI和亮-脑啡肽-LI的胰腺含量低（比对照小鼠低50％至70％）与高胰岛素血症相关。年龄，但不是在B6 db / db雌性中，也不是在BK s db / db两种性别的小鼠中。（摘要以250字截断）

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVES:This study assessed social and behavioural predictors for sexual risk taking and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV among adolescent female sex workers (FSWs) from Kunming, China. Additionally, health services needs and use were assessed. METHODS:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2010. Using snowball and convenience sampling, self-identified FSWs were recruited from four urban areas in Kunming. Women consenting to participate were administered a semi-structured questionnaire by trained interviewers identified from local peer-support organisations. Following interview, a gynaecological examination and biological sampling to identify potential STIs were undertaken. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS:Adolescent FSWs had a mean age of 18.2 years and reported numerous non-paying sexual partners with very low rate of consistent condom use (22.2%). Half (50.3%) the respondents had sex while feeling drunk at least once in the past week, of whom 56.4% did not use condom protection. STI prevalence was high overall (30.4%) among this group. Younger age, early sexual debut, being isolated from schools and family, short duration in sex work, and use of illicit drugs were found to be strong predictors for unprotected sex and presence of an STI. Conversely, having access to condom promotion, free HIV counselling and testing, and peer education were associated with less unprotected sex. The majority reported a need for health knowledge, free condoms and low-cost STI diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSIONS:There is an urgent need to improve coverage, accessibility and efficiency of existing interventions targeting adolescent FSWs.

背景与目标： 目的：本研究评估了来自中国昆明市的青春期女性性工作者（FSW）的性行为冒险和性传播感染（STI）（包括HIV）的社会和行为预测因素。此外，还评估了卫生服务的需求和使用。
方法：2010年进行了横断面调查。通过滚雪球和便利抽样，从昆明的四个市区招募了自我识别的FSW。从当地同支持组织确定的训练有素的访调员对同意参加的妇女进行半结构化问卷调查。采访之后，进行了妇科检查和生物采样以识别潜在的性传播感染。进行了描述性和多变量logistic回归分析。
结果：青少年FSW的平均年龄为18.2岁，并报告了许多无偿性伴侣，一致使用避孕套的比例很低（22.2％）。在过去的一周中，有一半（50.3％）的被调查者曾发生过至少一次醉酒的性行为，其中56.4％的人未使用安全套保护措施。在这一组中，性传播感染的患病率总体较高（30.4％）。人们发现，年龄较小，性行为初次出现，与学校和家庭隔离，性工作时间短以及使用非法药物是无保护性行为和性传播感染存在的强烈预测因素。相反，获得安全套宣传，免费的艾滋病毒咨询和检测以及同伴教育的机会与较少受到保护的性行为有关。大多数人报告需要健康知识，免费避孕套和低成本的STI诊断和治疗。
结论：迫切需要提高针对青少年FSW的现有干预措施的覆盖面，可及性和效率。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, has shown experimental and clinical efficacy in a range of neuromodulatory models, even when delivered at low intensity (i.e. subthreshold for action potential generation). After central nervous system (CNS) injury, studies suggest that reactive astrocytes and microglia can have detrimental but also beneficial effects; thus modulating glial activity, for example through application of rTMS, could potentially be a useful therapeutic tool following neurotrauma. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the effect of low intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) on GFAP (astrocyte), IBA1 (microglial), and CS56 (proteoglycan) expression in a unilateral penetrating cortical stab injury model of glial scarring in young adult and aged male and female C57BL6/J mice. Mice received contralateral low frequency, ipsilateral low frequency, ipsilateral high frequency or sham LI-rTMS (4-5mT intensity), for two weeks following injury. There was no significant difference in the overall volume of tissue containing GFAP positive (+) astrocytes, IBA1+ microglia, or proteoglycan expression, between sham and LI-rTMS-treated mice of all ages and sex. Importantly however, the density of GFAP+ astrocytes and IBA1+ microglia immediately adjacent to the injury was significantly reduced following ipsilateral low and high frequency stimulation in adult and aged females (p≤0.05), but was significantly increased in adult and aged males (p≤0.05). LI-rTMS effects were generally of greater magnitude in aged mice compared to young adult mice. These results suggest that sex differences need to be factored into therapeutic rTMS protocols. In particular, more work analyzing frequency and intensity specific effects, especially in relation to age and sex, is required to determine how rTMS can best be used to modify glial reactivity and phenotype following neurotrauma.

背景与目标： ：反复经颅磁刺激（rTMS）是一种非侵入性的脑刺激形式，即使在低强度下（即产生动作电位的阈值下），也已在一系列神经调节模型中显示出实验和临床功效。中枢神经系统（CNS）损伤后，研究表明反应性星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞可能具有有害作用，但也有有益作用。因此，例如通过应用rTMS调节神经胶质活动可能是神经创伤后的一种有用的治疗工具。免疫组织化学方法用于测量低强度rTMS（LI-rTMS）对单侧穿透性胶质瘢痕形成的成年男性和老年男性的单侧穿透性皮质刺伤模型中GFAP（星形胶质细胞），IBA1（小胶质细胞）和CS56（蛋白聚糖）表达的影响。和雌性C57BL6 / J小鼠。小鼠在受伤后两周接受对侧低频，同侧低频，同侧高频或假LI-rTMS（4-5mT强度）。在假手术和LI-rTMS处理的所有年龄和性别的小鼠之间，含有GFAP阳性（）星形胶质细胞，IBA1小胶质细胞或蛋白聚糖表达的组织总体积均无显着差异。然而重要的是，成年和老年女性在同侧低频和高频刺激后，紧邻损伤的GFAP星形胶质细胞和IBA1小胶质细胞的密度显着降低（p≤0.05），而成年和老年男性显着增加（p≤0.05） ）。与成年小鼠相比，老年小鼠的LI-rTMS效应通常更大。这些结果表明，性别差异需要纳入治疗性rTMS方案中。特别是，需要做更多的工作来分析频率和强度的具体影响，尤其是与年龄和性别相关的影响，以确定rTMS如何最好地用于改变神经外伤后的神经胶质反应性和表型。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Gender-specific associations between prenatal smoking and birthweight, and neonate intensive health care were studied. Cross-sectional data from 11,583 newborns in the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2008 early childhood data sets were used. Change in infant birthweight and likelihood of receiving neonatal intensive care by prenatal smoking exposure were assessed. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the influence of prenatal smoking on birthweight and likelihood of receiving intensive neonatal health care. Compared with infants from nonsmoking mothers, prenatal smoking associated with significant decrease in infant birthweight, -203.0 g ± 32.5, P < 0.001. The change in birthweight differed between infant boys, -220.2 g ± 44.5, and girls, -184.1 g ± 38.8. Newborns exposed to prenatal smoking were more likely to have low birthweight, odds ratio 1.46, P < 0.03, and to receive neonatal intensive health care, odds ratio 1.20; P < 0.04. It is imperative that prenatal counseling emphasizes prenatal maternal smoking.

背景与目标： ：研究了产前吸烟与出生体重之间的性别特异性关联以及新生儿重症监护。在连续的2003-2008年全国健康和营养检查调查（NHANES）中，使用了来自11,583名新生儿的横断面数据。评估了婴儿出生体重的变化以及通过产前吸烟暴露获得新生儿重症监护的可能性。多变量回归模型用于评估产前吸烟对出生体重的影响以及接受强化新生儿保健的可能性。与非吸烟母亲的婴儿相比，产前吸烟与婴儿出生体重显着降低相关，为-203.0 g±32.5，P <0.001。出生体重的变化在男婴为-220.2 g±44.5和女婴为-184.1 g±38.8之间。暴露于产前吸烟的新生儿更可能具有较低的出生体重，比值比为1.46，P <0.03，并且接受新生儿重症监护，比值比为1.20； P ＜0.04。产前咨询必须强调产前孕妇吸烟。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The possibility that endocrine factors may influence the clinical course of malignant melanoma is suggested by the superior survival data of women. In preclinical models we observed a higher rate of colony formation by human melanoma cells in male compared to female SCID mice, but only in the case of the liver and not in other organs. The gender difference could be seen at an early phase of colony formation. On the other hand, in our human melanoma cell lines we failed to detect steroid receptor protein expression, and treatment with sex hormones did not considerably influence their in vitro behavior. Investigating the possible contribution of host cells to the observed gender difference, we performed in vivo blocking experiments applying pretreatment of the animals with Kupffer cell inhibitor gadolinium chloride and the NK cell inhibitor anti-asialo GM1 antibody. While Kupffer cell blockade enhanced melanoma liver colonization equally in the two sexes, a more prominent increase was observed in female than in male mice in the case of NK cell inhibition. Further supporting the importance of NK cells in the lower liver colonization efficiency of melanoma cells in females, gender difference in colony formation was lost in NSG mice lacking NK activity. Although in humans no organ selectivity of gender difference in melanoma progression has been observed according to data in the literature, our results possibly indicate a contribution of natural host defense mechanisms to gender difference in survival of patients with melanoma or other tumor types as well.

背景与目标： 女性优越的生存率数据提示内分泌因素可能影响恶性黑色素瘤的临床进程。在临床前模型中，我们观察到，与雌性SCID小鼠相比，雄性人黑素瘤细胞在雄性中的集落形成率更高，但仅在肝脏而不是在其他器官中。可以在菌落形成的早期阶段看到性别差异。另一方面，在我们的人类黑素瘤细胞系中，我们未能检测到类固醇受体蛋白的表达，而性激素的治疗​​并未显着影响其体外行为。为了研究宿主细胞对观察到的性别差异的可能贡献，我们进行了体内阻断实验，该实验应用了用Kupffer细胞抑制剂氯化chloride和NK细胞抑制剂抗亚洲GM1抗体对动物进行预处理的实验。虽然库普弗细胞阻断剂在两个性别中均能平等地增强黑色素瘤的肝脏定植，但在抑制NK细胞的情况下，雌性小鼠比雄性小鼠观察到更明显的增加。进一步证实了NK细胞在降低雌性黑素瘤细胞肝脏定植效率中的重要性，在缺乏NK活性的NSG小鼠中，丧失了克隆形成的性别差异。尽管在人类中，根据文献中的数据，没有观察到器官对黑素瘤进展中性别差异的选择性，但我们的结果可能表明，天然宿主防御机制对黑素瘤或其他肿瘤类型患者的生存中的性别差异也有贡献。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The Criminal Sentiments Scale (CSS) purports to measure attitudes and values pertaining to and in support of criminal conduct (Andrews & Bonta, 2003). A sample of 72 sex offenders treated in a high intensity sex offender program completed the CSS pre- and post-treatment and was followed up for approximately 3 years. The CSS demonstrated high internal consistency. Correlational and ROC analyses indicated that the CSS is a robust predictor of non-sexual violent and non-violent recidivism. The CSS also correlated significantly with the General Statistical Information on Recidivism Scale which assesses non-sexual recidivism risk. Similar analyses showed that the CSS did not predict sexual recidivism nor did it correlate with a tool that assesses sexual recidivism risk-the Static 99. The CSS scores changed significantly in the predicted direction following treatment. The present results suggest that the CSS is an internally consistent tool for the assessment of criminal sentiments among sex offenders and that it predicts non-sexual but not sexual recidivism.

背景与目标： ：犯罪情感量表（CSS）旨在衡量与犯罪行为有关并支持犯罪行为的态度和价值观（Andrews＆Bonta，2003年）。在高强度性罪犯计划中接受治疗的72名性罪犯的样本完成了CSS的前后治疗，并进行了大约3年的随访。 CSS表现出很高的内部一致性。相关性和ROC分析表明，CSS是非性暴力和非暴力累犯的有力预测指标。 CSS还与“累犯综合统计量表”（该统计量表评估了非性累犯风险）有显着相关性。相似的分析表明，CSS不能预测性累犯，也不能与评估性累犯风险的工具-静态99相关。治疗后，CSS得分在预测的方向上发生了显着变化。目前的结果表明，CSS是一种内部一致的工具，可用于评估性犯罪者中的犯罪情绪，并且它可以预测非性但非性累犯。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Growth hormone (GH) is a major regulator of growth, somatic development and body composition. Sex steroids can act centrally by regulating GH secretion and peripherally modulating GH responsiveness. This review addresses data of potential clinical relevance on how sex steroids modulate GH secretion and action, aiming to increase the understanding of sex steroid/GH interactions and leading to improved management of patients. Sex steroids regulate GH secretion directly as well as indirectly through IGF-I modulation. Testosterone stimulates GH secretion centrally, an effect dependent on prior aromatization to oestrogen. Oestrogen stimulates GH secretion indirectly by reducing IGF-I feedback inhibition. Whether oestrogen stimulates GH secretion centrally in females is unresolved. Gonadal steroids modify the metabolic effects of GH. Testosterone amplifies GH stimulation of IGF-I, sodium retention, substrate metabolism and protein anabolism while exhibiting similar but independent actions of its own. Oestrogen attenuates GH action by inhibiting GH-regulated endocrine function of the liver. This is a concentration-dependent phenomenon that arises invariably from oral administration of therapeutic doses of oestrogen, an effect that can be avoided by using a parenteral route. This strong modulatory effect of gonadal steroids on GH responsiveness provides insights into the biological basis of sexual dimorphism in growth, development and body composition and practical information for the clinical endocrinologist. It calls for an appraisal of the diagnostic criteria for GH deficiency of GH stimulation tests, which currently are based on arbitrary cut-offs that do not take into account the shifting baseline from the changing gonadal steroid milieu. In the management of GH deficiency in the hypopituitary female, oestrogen should be administered by a nonoral route. In hypopituitary men, androgens should be replaced concurrently to maximize the benefits of GH. In the general population, the metabolic consequences of long-term treatment of women with oral oestrogen compounds, including selective oestrogen receptor modulators, are largely unknown and warrant study.

背景与目标： ：生长激素（GH）是生长，体细胞发育和身体成分的主要调节剂。性类固醇可以通过调节GH分泌并在外围调节GH反应性来发挥中心作用。这篇综述探讨了有关性类固醇如何调节GH分泌和作用的潜在临床相关性数据，旨在增进对性类固醇/ GH相互作用的了解并改善患者的管理。性类固醇直接或通过IGF-I调节间接调节GH的分泌。睾丸激素可集中刺激GH分泌，其作用取决于先前对雌激素的芳香化作用。雌激素通过减少IGF-1反馈抑制作用间接刺激GH分泌。雌激素是否能集中刺激女性的GH分泌尚无定论。性腺类固醇会改变GH的代谢作用。睾丸激素可放大IGF-1的GH刺激，钠保留，底物代谢和蛋白质合成代谢，同时表现出类似但独立的作用。雌激素通过抑制GH调节的肝脏内分泌功能来减弱GH的作用。这是一种浓度依赖性现象，总是由口服治疗剂量的雌激素引起，这种现象可以通过肠胃外途径避免。性腺类固醇对GH反应性的这种强大调节作用为临床内分泌学家提供了有关生长，发育和身体组成方面性二态性的生物学基础的见解，并为临床内分泌学家提供了实用信息。它要求评估GH刺激试验中GH缺乏的诊断标准，该诊断标准目前基于任意临界值，该临界值未考虑来自不断变化的性腺类固醇环境的基线变化。在垂体下垂体GH缺乏症的治疗中，应通过非口服途径给予雌激素。在垂体下垂的男性中，应同时更换雄激素以最大程度地增加GH的益处。在一般人群中，口服雌激素化合物（包括选择性雌激素受体调节剂）对妇女进行长期治疗的代谢后果在很大程度上尚不清楚，值得研究。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The cytogenetic characteristics of Eigenmannia aff. trilineata were analyzed by basic and molecular cytogenetics, applying fluorescent in situ hybridization, with 18S and 5S rDNA and U2 snRNA probes. The species revealed a kind of polymorphism associated to ZZ/Z0 type sex chromosomes, with 2n = 32 (8m+2sm+22a, NF = 42) in all males under analysis, whereas females evidenced 2n = 31 (8m+1sm+22a, NF = 40). C-banding showed constitutive heterochromatin restricted to the pericentromeric region of all chromosomes and single-nucleolus organized regions on pair 11. A site for rDNA 5S was synthetic with a cluster of rDNA 18S near the centromere on the long arm of only one homologue of pair 11. Other clusters for 5S rDNA were sited on pairs 7, 10, 12, 13, and 16. Further, 5S rDNA was co-located with U2 cluster in the pericentromeric region of pair 12. Joint analysis of DNA barcoding from cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences, generated from the karyotyped samples of E. aff. trilineata, and sequences of other Gymnotiforms recognized E. aff. trilineata as an Operational Taxonomic Unit. Results foreground the hypothesis that cytotypes are independent evolution units as cryptic species with a low morphological differentiation level, although with high genetic/karyotype differentiation rates.

背景与目标： ：本征曼氏体的细胞遗传学特征。用基本的和分子的细胞遗传学方法对三线虫进行了分析，并使用荧光原位杂交技术与18S和5S rDNA和U2 snRNA探针进行了杂交。该物种显示出一种与ZZ / Z0型性染色体相关的多态性，在分析中，所有雄性均为2n = 32（8m 2sm 22a，NF = 42），而雌性则显示为2n = 31（8m 1sm 22a，NF = 40）。 。 C谱带显示组成性异染色质仅限于对11上所有染色体的着丝粒区域和单核仁组织区域。一个rDNA 5S的位点是合成的，在着丝点附近长着丝粒的rDNA 18S簇只有一对同源。 11. 5S rDNA的其他簇位于对7、10、12、13和16。此外，5S rDNA与U2簇共位于对12的着丝粒区域中。联合分析来自细胞色素c氧化酶的DNA条形码亚型I（COI）序列，从aff。aff。的核型样​​本中产生。 trilineata，和其他裸Gym科动物的序列公认的大肠杆菌。 trilineata作为业务分类单位。结果提出了这样的假说，即细胞类型是作为隐性物种的独立进化单位，具有较低的形态分化水平，尽管具有较高的遗传/核型分化率。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Sexual dimorphisms are prevalent in development, physiology and diseases in humans. Currently, the contributions of the genes on the male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY) in these processes are uncertain. Using a transgene activation system, the human sex-determining gene hSRY is activated in the single-cell embryos of the mouse. Pups with hSRY activated (hSRYON) are born of similar sizes as those of non-activated controls. However, they retard significantly in postnatal growth and development and all die of multi-organ failure before two weeks of age. Pathological and molecular analyses indicate that hSRYON pups lack innate suckling activities, and develop fatty liver disease, arrested alveologenesis in the lung, impaired neurogenesis in the brain and occasional myocardial fibrosis and minimized thymus development. Transcriptome analysis shows that, in addition to those unique to the respective organs, various cell growth and survival pathways and functions are differentially affected in the transgenic mice. These observations suggest that ectopic activation of a Y-located SRY gene could exert male-specific effects in development and physiology of multiple organs, thereby contributing to sexual dimorphisms in normal biological functions and disease processes in affected individuals.

背景与目标： 性双态性在人类的发育，生理和疾病中普遍存在。目前，这些过程中Y染色体（MSY）的男性特定区域上的基因贡献尚不确定。使用转基因激活系统，人类性别决定基因hSRY在小鼠的单细胞胚胎中被激活。激活了hSRY的幼犬（hSRYON）的大小与未激活的对照相似。然而，它们在出生后的生长和发育中显着地延迟，并且在两周龄之前都死于多器官衰竭。病理和分子分析表明，hSRYON幼崽缺乏先天的哺乳活动，并发展为脂肪肝疾病，阻止了肺中的肺泡形成，大脑中的神经发生受损以及偶发的心肌纤维化，并使胸腺的发育减至最小。转录组分析表明，除了各个器官特有的那些外，转基因小鼠中各种细胞的生长，存活途径和功能也受到不同的影响。这些观察结果表明，异位激活Y-定位的SRY基因可以在多个器官的发育和生理中发挥雄性特异性作用，从而在受影响个体的正常生物学功能和疾病过程中促成性二态性。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:There have been a number of studies of treatment for men with intellectual disabilities and sexually abusive behaviour but few follow-up studies. Our aim was to follow up men with intellectual disabilities who had attended group cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) for sexually abusive behaviour. METHOD:Thirty-four men (from seven treatment sites) were followed up. All had attended SOTSEC-ID groups. The mean length of follow-up, since the end of the treatment group, was 44 months (SD 28.7, range 15-106 months). RESULTS:The statistically significant improvements in sexual knowledge, empathy and cognitive distortions that occurred during treatment were maintained at follow-up. In all, 11 of the 34 (32%) men showed further sexually abusive behaviour, but only two of these men received convictions. Analyses of the variables associated with further sexually abusive behaviour indicated that a diagnosis of autism was associated with a higher likelihood of further sexually abusive behaviour. CONCLUSIONS:This study provides some evidence of the longer-term effectiveness of group CBT for men with intellectual disabilities and sexually abusive behaviour.

背景与目标： 背景：已有许多针对智障和性虐待行为的男性的治疗研究，但随访研究很少。我们的目的是跟进曾参加过针对性虐待行为的集体认知行为治疗（CBT）的智障男性。
方法：对34名男性（来自7个治疗部位）进行了随访。所有人都参加了SOTSEC-ID组。自治疗组结束以来，平均随访时间为44个月（SD 28.7，范围15-106个月）。
结果：随访期间，在治疗过程中发生的性知识，同理心和认知失真方面的统计学显着改善得以维持。在这34名男性中，有11名（32％）表现出进一步的性虐待行为，但其中只有2名被定罪。对与进一步的性虐待行为有关的变量的分析表明，自闭症的诊断与更高的进一步性虐待行为的可能性有关。
结论：这项研究提供了一些证据，表明集体CBT对智力残疾和性虐待行为的长期效果。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Male excess mortality is widespread among mammals and frequently interpreted as a cost of sexually selected traits that enhance male reproductive success. Sex differences in the propensity to engage in risky behaviours are often invoked to explain the sex gap in survival. Here, we aim to isolate and quantify the survival consequences of two potentially risky male behavioural strategies in a small sexually monomorphic primate, the grey mouse lemur Microcebus murinus: (i) most females hibernate during a large part of the austral winter, whereas most males remain active and (ii) during the brief annual mating season males roam widely in search of receptive females. Using a 10-year capture-mark-recapture dataset from a population of M. murinus in Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar, we statistically modelled sex-specific seasonal survival probabilities. Surprisingly, we did not find any evidence for direct survival benefits of hibernation-winter survival did not differ between males and females. By contrast, during the breeding season males survived less well than females (sex gap: 16%). Consistent with the 'risky male behaviour' hypothesis, the period for lowered male survival was restricted to the short mating season. Thus, sex differences in survival in a promiscuous mammal can be substantial even in the absence of sexual dimorphism.

背景与目标： ：男性过高的死亡率在哺乳动物中广泛存在，通常被解释为增强男性生殖成功的性选择性状的代价。经常会采用性别差异来冒险行为，以解释生存中的性别差距。在这里，我们的目的是隔离和量化在一个小的有性单态灵长类动物（灰色老鼠狐猴Microcebus murinus）中两种潜在危险的男性行为策略的生存后果：保持活跃；（ii）在短暂的年度交配季节，雄性广泛漫游以寻找雌性。我们使用了马达加斯加西部Kirindy Forest的M. murinus种群的10年捕获标记捕获数据集，对统计学上的性别特异性季节性生存概率进行了建模。出人意料的是，我们没有发现任何证据表明冬眠的直接生存益处，男性和女性之间没有差异。相比之下，在繁殖季节，雄性的存活率不及雌性（性别差距：16％）。与“危险的男性行为”假说相一致，降低男性生存期的时间仅限于短交配季节。因此，即使在没有性二态性的情况下，在混杂哺乳动物中，生存中的性别差异也可能很大。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Recent field studies on the reproductive ecology of western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) from populations in southern Arizona showed significant differences in the concentration of plasma sex steroids (testosterone, T; 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, DHT; and 17beta-estradiol, E2) throughout the active season (March-October), and peak levels were coincident with the two mating periods (late summer and early spring). There is, however, no information on levels of sex steroids during winter. Similar to most snakes, hibernating individuals of C. atrox are typically inaccessible, but in southern Arizona, where environmental conditions are typically mild during winter, adult males frequently bask at or near the entrances of communal dens. Basking activity, therefore, offers a unique logistical opportunity to assess the complete annual profile of plasma sex steroid levels in males of a temperate reptile in nature. From November to February, we measured levels of plasma T, DHT, and E2 in adult male C. atrox that were located basking at communal dens. Additionally, cloacal, core body, and ambient air temperatures were obtained to investigate potential relationships between body temperatures and levels of sex steroids. Mean levels of T, DHT, and E2 were relatively high, and the concentration hierarchy was T>DHT>E2. Mean levels of T, DHT, and E2 showed no significant variation across the four months of sampling; however, E2 levels decreased progressively. In the annul cycle, sex steroid levels during winter were not basal when compared to values obtained during the active season. Mean cloacal temperatures of basking males were significantly higher than core body temperatures of non-basking males (inside dens) from November-December, and in February, which suggests that one function of winter basking is to elevate body temperatures. Steroid levels, nonetheless, were not significantly correlated with cloacal temperatures. We suggest that future field studies of male C. atrox should: (a) investigate sex steroid levels in non-basking individuals and (b) test whether elevated levels of sex steroids during winter facilitate the large increases that occur in early spring, which are coincident with the second mating season. Our findings on the reproductive biology of C. atrox and other viperids are discussed in the context of the associated-dissociated model of reproduction.

背景与目标： ：来自亚利桑那州南部人群的西方菱形响尾蛇（Crotalus atrox）生殖生态学的最新田野研究表明，血浆性类固醇（睾丸激素T，5α-二氢睾丸激素DHT和17beta-雌二醇E2）的浓度存在显着差异）在整个活动季节（3月至10月），高峰水平与两个交配期（夏末和初春）重合。但是，没有关于冬季性类固醇水平的信息。与大多数蛇类似，冬眠的C. atrox个体通常难以接近，但在亚利桑那州南部，冬季的环境条件通常较为温和，成年雄性经常在公共巢穴的入口或附近晒太阳。因此，晒日光浴活动提供了独特的后勤机会，可以评估自然界温带爬行动物男性血浆类固醇水平的完整年度概况。从11月到2月，我们测量了位于公共巢穴的成年雄性C. atrox血浆T，DHT和E2的水平。此外，还获得了泄殖腔，核心身体和周围的空气温度，以研究体温与性类固醇水平之间的潜在关系。 T，DHT和E2的平均水平较高，浓度等级为T> DHT> E2。在四个月的采样中，T，DHT和E2的平均水平没有显着变化。然而，E2水平逐渐降低。与活动季节获得的值相比，在无生命周期中，冬季的性类固醇水平不是基础。从11月到12月以及2月，鸟雄性的平均泄殖腔温度显着高于非-鸟雄性的核心体温（在巢穴内），这表明冬季取暖的一种功能是升高体温。尽管如此，类固醇水平与泄殖腔温度没有显着相关。我们建议，将来对雄性梭菌的田间研究应：（a）研究非晒太阳个体中的性类固醇水平，以及（b）测试冬天期间性类固醇水平的升高是否促进了早春时发生的大量增加。与第二个交配季节相吻合。我们在关联解离的繁殖模型的背景下讨论了我们对C. atrox和其他类病毒的生殖生物学的发现。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach) is a dioecious species with both male and female plants having 2n = 2x = 12 chromosomes, consisting of two large metacentrics, two long subtelocentrics, two short subtelocentrics, two acrocentrics, and four submetacentrics. The location of 45S rDNA was investigated on metaphase chromosomes using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The numbers of 45S rDNA foci in diploid sets of chromosomes from females was six and from males was five. All the fluorescent foci lay in secondary constrictions and the satellites. Our results indicate that an XY-type sex chromosome system could be present in spinach where the Y chromosome lacks a 45S RNA focus.

背景与目标： ：菠菜（Spinacia oleracea L.）（菠菜）是雌雄异体的物种，其雄性和雌性植物均具有2n = 2x = 12条染色体，包括两个大的亚中心，两个长的亚中心，两个短的亚中心，两个顶心和四个亚中心。使用荧光原位杂交（FISH）研究了45S rDNA在中期染色体上的位置。来自雌性的二倍体染色体组中的45S rDNA焦点数目为六个，来自雄性的数目为45个。所有的荧光灶都位于次要收缩区和人造卫星中。我们的结果表明，XY染色体缺乏45S RNA焦点的菠菜中可能存在XY型性染色体系统。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: INTRODUCTION:Basal leptin level has been demonstrated to correlate positively with many indices of obesity, as well as insulin resistance. However, to date, little is known about regulation of leptin in obese children with incipient glucose metabolic disorders. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to define the precise influence of the glucose tolerance status on plasma leptin in obese boys and girls separately. MATERIAL AND METHODS:70 obese children with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and well-matched 70 normal glucose-tolerant (NGT) subjects were examined. Fasting and 2-h post glucose load plasma glucose and insulin levels as well as fasting leptin levels were determined, apart from anthropometric measurements. RESULTS:Leptin levels were significantly lower in girls with IGT compared to NGT girl (17.7+/-6.5 microg/L vs. 23.1+/-7.7 microg/L; p<.001). No such difference was observed in boys. In a multiple regression analysis adjusting for age and adiposity, in the female group plasma glucose and insulin levels 2-h after glucose load were the best predictors of fasting plasma leptin (r=-0.49, p<.005 and r=0.34, p<.05; respectively). In boys, plasma insulin level 2-h after glucose load was the independent determinant of leptin (r=0.36, p<.05). CONCLUSION:The differences between regulation of leptin synthesis in girls and boys with simple obesity were found. The stimulatory effect of insulin on leptin synthesis was greater in girls with normoglycemia than in girls with impaired glucose tolerance.

背景与目标： 简介：基础瘦素水平已被证明与许多肥胖指数以及胰岛素抵抗呈正相关。然而，迄今为止，关于肥胖儿童早期糖代谢紊乱中瘦素的调控知之甚少。
目的：本研究的目的是明确定义葡萄糖耐量状态对肥胖男孩和女孩血浆瘦素的精确影响。
材料与方法：检查了70名糖耐量受损（IGT）肥胖儿童和70名正常糖耐量（NGT）受试者的匹配性。除了人体测量之外，还测定了空腹和葡萄糖负荷后2小时的血浆葡萄糖，胰岛素水平以及空腹瘦素水平。
结果：IGT女孩的瘦素水平明显低于NGT女孩（17.7 /-6.5 microg / L vs. 23.1 /-7.7 microg / L； p <.001）。在男孩中没有观察到这种差异。在校正年龄和肥胖的多元回归分析中，在女性组中，葡萄糖负荷后2小时的血浆葡萄糖和胰岛素水平是空腹血浆瘦素的最佳预测指标（r = -0.49，p <.005，r = 0.34，p <.05;分别）。在男孩中，葡萄糖负荷后2小时的血浆胰岛素水平是瘦素的独立决定因素（r = 0.36，p <.05）。
结论：发现单纯性肥胖的男孩和女孩的瘦素合成调控存在差异。血糖正常的女孩胰岛素对瘦素合成的刺激作用大于葡萄糖耐量受损的女孩。