How marital dissolution affects children: Variations by age and sex.

This study estimated the effects of a marital dissolution on several measures of children's well-being at two points in time using a nationally representative sample of 1,197 children. On the basis of reports from parents, teachers, and the children themselves, the outcome measures tap aspects of problem behavior, psychological distress, and academic performance. Regression estimates suggest that marital dissolution has pervasive and long-lasting effects in all three areas. In magnitude, the effects are slightly smaller than sex differences but larger than those for many other demographic variables. There is no evidence that dissolution effects are larger for boys than for girls. In fact, those differences that are significant show larger effects for girls. There is, however, evidence that effects are larger for children who are very young at the time of the dissolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of age, sex, and family on Type A and hostile attitudes and behaviors.

Studied the influence of age, sex, and family on Type A and hostility indices that have been related to rates of coronary heart disease (CHD). Ss were 119 girls and 95 boys (aged 6–18 yrs) and 141 women and 120 men (aged 31–62 yrs) from 142 families. Results showed little familial aggregation of Type A behavior and hostility. Adults had higher Structured Interview (SI) potential-for-hostility ratings than did children, whereas children had higher MMPI-derived hostility scores and SI anger-in ratings than did adults. Male adults and male children had higher SI potential-for-hostility ratings and MMPI-derived hostility scores than did their female counterparts. The heightened hostility of males may account, in part, for their heightened risk of CHD relative to females. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of sex and age on serum total immunoglobulin E concentration in Beagles

Previous studies have shown that the intestinal peristaltic reflex initiated by mucosal stimulation is mediated by release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT) from enterochromaffin cells; 5-HT acts via 5-HT4 receptors in rat and human, and via both 5-HT4 and 5-HT3 receptors in guinea pig to activate intramural sensory neurons that release calcitonin gene-related peptide. In this study, selective agonists and antagonists were used to examine the involvement of 5-HT4 and 5-HT3 receptors in colonic propulsion. The velocity of propulsion was measured with artificial fecal pellets introduced into the orad end of an isolated guinea pig colonic segment. Control velocity ranged from 0.5 to 3.3 mm/s; mean +/- S.E.M., 1.3 +/- 0.1 mm/s. The 5-HT4 antagonist, GR 113808A, and the 5-HT3 antagonist, LY 278584, decreased the velocity of pellet propulsion in a concentration-dependent fashion (39 +/- 2% and 47 +/- 1% decrease at 10 microM, respectively). A combination of both antagonists (10 microM each) was additive, decreasing the velocity by 82 +/- 3% to 84 +/- 4%. The selective 5-HT4 agonists, HTF 919 and R093877, as well as 5-HT in the presence of the 5-HT2a antagonist, ketanserin, increased the velocity of propulsion in a concentration-dependent fashion with EC50s of 6.9 +/- 0.1 nM, 37.4 +/- 1.0 nM, and 3.9 +/- 0. 1 nM, respectively. Compared with HTF 919, R093877 was less potent and appeared to be a partial agonist. All three agonists were effective at submicromolar concentrations; at concentrations above 1 microM, there was no increase in the velocity of propulsion. We conclude that the presence of fecal pellets triggers the release of 5-HT, which acts via both 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors to regulate propulsive activity in guinea pig colon.     

Influence of the age and sex on respiratory burst of human monocytes

The usefulness of peripheral human lymphocytes as a bioindicator for ionizing radiation effect was tested in a survey of Malaysian workers in two industries producing technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM). Workers in amang processing plants who have been with the plant for an average of 12.9 years and who were exposed to radioactive dust showed significantly higher frequencies of chromosomal aberration compared to control and even ilmenite-processing workers. Such frequency was not significantly different between workers in ilmenite-processing plant and control. The differences in duration of employment, occupational hygiene, together with the difference in the percentage of 'old' and 'new' aberrations among the groups sampled were used to explain the high chromosomal aberration frequency among amang workers. The presence of significantly high chromosome damage (dicentrics and fragments) in workers who were chronically exposed to doses below 50 mSv per year or 20 mSv per year averaged over 5 years (ICRP, 1991) provided additional experimental data on the dose-effect relationship at these low-dose ranges. The results confirm the usefulness of using human lymphocytes as a bioindicator for chronic exposure to ionizing radiation and in cases where physical radiation detectors are not available.     

Influence of counselors' marital status, sex, and age on college and noncollege women's counselor preferences.

Examined women's preferences for counselors differing in marital status, sex, and age in 2 studies. Ss in Study 1 were 32 female undergraduates, and Ss in Study 2 were 32 noncollege women. The experimental design for both studies was a 2.24 split-plot analysis of variance with 2 levels of marital status, 2 levels of counselor sex, and 4 age groupings. Results of Studies 1 and 2 indicate that college women and noncollege women preferred female counselors older than themselves to male counselors on a number of hypothetical process measures. Changing trends in women's counselor preferences are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation of race, age, and sex hormone differences to serum leptin concentrations in children and adolescents

We explored the effects of race, age, and sex hormones on the serum leptin concentrations in 203 white and 88 black children and adolescents (ages 9.3-20.5 years). A significant sex by race interaction on serum leptin levels (p = 0.0301) was observed with lower serum leptin concentrations, adjusted for subscapular thickness and age, in black boys than in white boys. Girls had serum leptin levels that were on average 2.15 times those of boys (p < 0.0001). There was an age by sex interaction (p < 0.0001) with serum leptin concentrations decreasing in boys but not in girls with age. A strongly inverse relationship of serum testosterone levels with serum leptin levels in boys (p = 0.0067) appeared to explain this effect of age. In conclusion, the serum leptin concentration is slightly lower in black boys. A higher testosterone level in boys appears to account for an age-related decline in serum leptin in boys and the overall lower levels in boys than in girls.     

Influence of sex, age and smoking status on patient comfort during gastroscopy with pharyngeal anesthesia by a new benzocaine-tetracaine preparation

Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in this open, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover study to investigate the effects of cimetidine on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of oral trovafloxacin. Volunteers were randomized to receive either 400 mg cimetidine twice daily or placebo for 5 days. From day 3-5, volunteers received 200 mg trovafloxacin once daily in addition to either cimetidine or placebo. After a minimum 7-day washout period, the study was repeated: those volunteers who received placebo during the first study period were administered cimetidine, and vice versa. The maximum observed serum trovafloxacin concentration, the area under the concentration-time curve of trovafloxacin within the dosing interval of 24 h and the earliest time to the maximum serum concentration for trovafloxacin in volunteers receiving concomitant cimetidine were 2.4 microg/ml. 27.8 microg x h/ml and 1.4 h, respectively, compared with 2.5 microg/ml, 27.1 microg x h/ml and 1.5 h, respectively, in volunteers receiving concomitant placebo. Thus. multiple dosing with cimetidine had no significant effect on the absorption or disposition of trovafloxacin at steady state. Co-administration of cimetidine and trovafloxacin was also well tolerated and without serious adverse effects.     

Influence of sex, estrous cycle, and drug-onset age on cocaine self-administration in rats (Rattus norvegicus).

The influence of sex, phase of the estrous cycle, and age of drug onset on cocaine self-administration was examined. Adult male, adult female, and adolescent male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were evaluated using low fixed-ratio (FR) schedules of drug delivery with a single fixed cocaine unit dose or a range of cocaine unit doses with a single FR schedule. Sex differences in adults were observed for mg/kg consumption of the 3.0-mg/kg unit dose, with consumption being significantly less in estrus females than in males. Over the estrous cycle, mg/kg consumption of this unit dose was significantly less during estrus than during metestrus-diestrus. Differences due to age of drug onset were also observed, with mg/kg consumption of the 3.0-mg/kg unit dose being significantly less in adolescent males than adult males or adult females during metestrus-diestrus. In contrast, these various groups did not have significantly different mg/kg intakes of cocaine unit doses     

Specific 3H-imipramine binding in human platelets. Influence of age and sex

Human platelets have been shown to possess high-affinity binding sites for 3H-imipramine. These binding sites have a similar affinity and drug specificity to those already described in rat brain. The platelets from healthy volunteers show no difference in 3H-imipramine binding between the sexes but there is a decrease in maximal 3H-imipramine binding with increasing age of the donor.     

Relationship of age, age at onset, and sex to depression in older adults

The authors investigated the relationships among factors of age, age at onset, and sex in depressed older adults. A group of 96 outpatients (mean age, 60) diagnosed with late-(LOD) and early-onset (EOD) major depression were assessed for severity of depression and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI scans were rated for severity of white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) and ventricle-to-brain ratio (VBR). LOD was associated with increased amounts of WMH, larger VBR, and history of hypertension. Men were more severely depressed than women, with higher rates of neurovegetative signs and history of smoking. Age correlated with increased VBR and WMH, history of hypertension, history of percipitants for the current episode, and lack of social support. Results suggest that a subgroup of men may be more at risk for LOD associated with WMH and that sex and age at onset need to be considered in future studies.     

Locus of control: differences by sex and age

Fast x-ray computed tomography can be used to generate indicator dilution curves in perfused tissues following intravascular injection of roentgen contrast agent. These curves can be used to estimate regional parenchymal perfusion, intravascular blood volume, heterogeneity of these two parameters, and vascular bed transfer function.     

Evaluation of sport injuries in children and adolescents

Dengue type 2 virus (DV)-induced cytotoxic factor (CF) is capable of reproducing various pathological lesions in mice that are seen in human dengue. The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of active immunization of mice with CF. Mice were immunized with 5 microgram of CF and prevention of CF-induced increase in capillary permeability and damage to the blood-brain barrier were studied at weekly intervals, up to 48 weeks, by challenging with 3 microgram of CF. Maximum protection against increase in capillary permeability and damage to the blood-brain barrier was observed in week 4 after immunization. A breakthrough in the protection occurred with higher doses of CF in a dose-dependent manner. Challenge with a lethal intracerebral (i.c.) dose of DV showed significantly prolonged mean survival time and delayed onset of symptoms of sickness in the immunized mice compared with the normal mice, but the titre of the virus in the brain was similar in the two groups. On i.p. challenge with the virus the protection against damage to the blood-brain barrier was 86 +/- 7% at week 4 and 17 +/- 4% at week 26 after immunization. Sera obtained from the immunized mice showed the presence of CF-specific antibodies by ELISA, Western blot, and by neutralization of the cytotoxic activity of CF in vitro. The present study describes successful prevention of a cytokine-induced pathology by specific active immunization.     

Influence of sex steroids on development of cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones

The effects of 17 beta-estradiol (E), dihydrotestosterone (D, a non aromatisable androgen), and progesterone (P) on osteogenesis were studied on fetal rat cartilaginous anlagues cultivated in vitro. The three medial metatarsal rudiments were harvested at day 19 of gestation and grown in 1% BSA MEM medium (MO 643, Sigma) without serum nor antibiotics. After a 18h preincubation period, hormones were added for 8 days. Paired controls were incubated in the same volume of medium. The length, the metacarpal thickness and the size of the mineralized zone were measured every day, using a calibrated eyepiece (magnification X 40). DNA and protein synthesis, cartilage metabolism and mineralization were evaluated by monitoring the incorporation of 3H-Thymidine, 3H-Proline, 35S and 45Ca into anlagues for the last three hours of incubation, respectively. The dose/response effect of each steroid was studied at the concentrations of 10(-4) M, 10(-6) M, 10(-7) M and 10(-9) M. No difference was observed between male and female fetuses. A significant positive effect on total length (% of length measured at harvesting day) was observed with the 10(-7) M dose of E (163% +/- 2 vs 148% +/- 4 in controls) or D (158% +/- 3). Endochondral growth was not modified by P treatment. The effect of the three steroids (given at a dose of 10(-7) M) alone or as combinations (E, D, P, EP, ED, PD, EPD) confirmed the positive effect of E on endochondral growth and, to a lesser extend, of D and the association ED. Nevertheless, D had a better effect than E on endomembranous growth. On the contrary, P did not affect growth neither administrated alone nor in combination with E or D, while a positive effect of P on mineralization was demonstrated. The treatment associating the three steroids slowed down all the parameters concerning growth but strongly stimulated calcification.     

Verbal response styles of children and adolescents in a counseling analog setting: Effects of age, sex, and labeling.

Boys and girls of 3 grade levels (5th–6th, 7th–8th, and 10th) responded in writing to videotaped, role-played problem vignettes as though they were in actual contact with the speakers. The videotaped stimuli were problem disclosures made by 5 males and 5 females, ages 7–15 yrs. Groups of respondents were led to believe that the target stimuli were either normal or troubled youngsters. The written responses were categorized using an age-appropriate framework of help-intended verbal modes. Compared to younger respondents, the oldest ones made more negative statements, more advisements in general, fewer advisements to seek help from a 3rd person, and fewer disclosures. Female Ss gave more advisements, particularly those aimed at solving problems verbally; female Ss also gave fewer interpretations than did male Ss. Female stimuli elicited fewer advisements in general, more advisements to change their own thoughts and feelings, and more interpretations than male stimuli. Compared to "normal"" stimuli, "troubled"" stimuli received fewer negatives, more advisements to seek third-person help, and more disclosures. Cultural sex role stereotypes and age-related changes in actual and self-perceived competence are discussed. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sleep in relation to age, sex, and chronotype in Japanese workers

The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and Life Habits Inventory were administered to 622 Japanese workers matched for sex and age. We investigated the distributions of the scores on the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and sleep-wake habits by age and sex. Subjects were classified into five age groups and three chronotypes. The distributions and mean scores on the questionnaire advanced slightly toward the Morning type from the young to the aged group. The habitual bedtimes and waking times were significantly earlier in all the chronotypes from the young to the aged group, and the preferred bedtimes and waking times were also clearly earlier from the young to the aged group. The length of sleep was shorter for the Evening than the Morning types, especially in the group below 24 yr. The differences in habitual and preferred sleep length were greater than 1 hour for all age groups, especially the two groups under 34 yr. The number of awakenings during night sleep increased from the young to the aged group for all chronotypes. The older Evening type tended more toward frequent napping and longer naptime. The variabilities of bedtime and sleep length were larger for the young and Evening type than for the old group and Morning types. Further, the mood upon waking and satisfaction with sleep length were better in the aged Evening type than the young Morning type. The women under 44 yr. woke up earlier than the men of the same age, and the women of the 35-54 yr. groups had a shorter length of sleep than others. These may be related to childcare and housework. These results indicated that the phase of circadian rhythms had moved forward from the young to the aged group, and the individual's rhythm, of those that were aged Morning types, showed better agreement with sleep-wake rhythms than did others.     

Influence of culture, language, and sex on conversational distance.

Assessed interpersonal distance between seated conversants from 3 cultures varying in purported contact norms. 19 male and 23 female Japanese, 18 male and 16 female Venezuelan, and 16 male and 15 female American undergraduates had a 5-min conversation on a common topic with a same-sex, same-nationality confederate. Three hypotheses were tested: (a) When speaking their native languages, Japanese will sit farther apart than Venezuelans, with Americans at an intermediate distance; (b) females will sit closer than males; and (c) foreign Ss, when speaking English, will more closely approximate American conversational distance than when speaking their native languages. The hypotheses were generally confirmed and support E. T. Hall's (1966) distinction between cultures in terms of their proxemic manifestations of social contact norms. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A meta-analytic review of sex differences in facial expression processing and their development in infants, children, and adolescents.

Quantitative and qualitative reviews of the literature on sex differences in facial expression processing (FEP) have yielded conflicting findings regarding children. This study was designed to review quantitatively the literature on sex differences in FEP from infancy through adolescence and to evaluate consistency between the course of FEP development and predictions derived from preliminary theoretical models. Results, which indicate a female advantage at FEP, are consistent with predictions derived from an integrated neurobehavioral/social constructivist model. These findings suggest a need for research examining both neurological maturation and socialization as important factors in the development of sex differences in FEP and related skills. Possible directions for future study are discussed, with emphasis on the need to integrate the infant literature with research focused on older children and adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Normal morphology of sacroiliac joints in children: magnetic resonance studies related to age and sex

OBJECTIVE: To determine in a prospective study the normal MRI morphology of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) in relation to age and sex during adolescence. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A total of 98 children (63 boys, mean age 12.7 +/- 2.8 years; 35 girls, mean age 13.7 +/- 2.3 years), ranging in age from 8 to 17 years, with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) but without signs of sacroiliitis fulfilled the study prerequisites (no back pain and no pathologic changes of the SIJs on physical examination before MRI in a 1.5-year follow-up). An additional eight HLA-B27-negative boys and eight HLA-B27-negative girls without arthritis served as controls. The MRI protocol comprised a T1-weighted SE sequence, an opposed-phase T2*-weighted GE sequence, and a dynamic contrast-enhanced study in single-section technique. RESULTS: Noncontrast MRI permitted differentiation of "open" from ossified segmental and lateral apophyses of the sacral wings, with a significant difference in age (P < 0.05) between children with open and ossified apophyses. Ossification of the apophyses of the sacral wings was seen significantly earlier (P < 0.05) in girls than in boys. Girls also had a significantly higher incidence of transitional lumbosacral vertebrae, pelvic asymmetries, and accessory joints. In the contrast-enhanced opposed-phase MRI study, normal cartilage of the SIJs showed no contrast enhancement whereas the joint capsule showed a moderate enhancement. CONCLUSION: There are significant age- and sex-related differences in the normal MRI morphology of juvenile SIJs. Our findings might serve as a standard of comparison for the evaluation of pathologic changes--in particular for the early identification of juvenile sacroiliitis.     

Streets, drugs, and the economy of sex in the age of AIDS

Drug addicted women whose economic and social base is urban streets face limited options for income generation and multiple dangers of predation, assault, arrest, and illness. Exchanging sex for money or drugs offers one important source of income in this context. Yet the legal, social, and safety risks associated with these exchanges reduce the likelihood of regular safer sex practices during these encounters, thereby increasing the risk of HIV infection. Such conditions lead women engaged in sexual exchanges for money to varied and complex responses influenced by multiple and often contradictory pressures, both personal and contextual. Street-recruited women drug users in an AIDS prevention program in Hart-ford, Connecticut reported a range of condom use when engaging in sex for money exchanges. This paper explores their differences by ethnicity, economic resources, and drug use, and analyzes these and other factors that impact on street risks through sexual income generation. Surveys and in-depth interviews with drug-addicted women sex workers describe their various approaches to addressing multiple risks on the streets and suggest significant effort by women in these contexts to avoid the many risks, including HIV infection.