Gender differences in pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of 3 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in rats

The aim of this study was to confirm and investigate the gender differences in pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics and tissue distribution of 3 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) consisted of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in both male and female rats. For this study, a simultaneous determination method of the 3 PFASs in rat plasma and tissues was developed and validated using a UPLC-MS/MS system. The PK parameters after a single oral or intravenous administration of the 3 PFASs in both rats were calculated using WinNonlin^® software. The mean half-life of the 3 PFASs in female and male rats was in the range of 0.15–0.19 and 1.6–1.8 days for PFOA, 23.5–24.8 and 26.4–28.7 days for PFOS, and 0.9–1.7 and 20.7–26.9 days for PFHxS, respectively. The 3 PFASs were highly distributed in the liver and kidney. These results suggest that there are gender differences in the PKs for PFOA and PFHxS in rats, whereas the PFOS represented no significant gender differences except the Kp value of liver. The validated simultaneous determination method of the 3 PFASs was also within the accepted criteria of the international guidance.     

Birth Order and Sibling Sex Ratio in Androphilic Males and Gynephilic Females Diagnosed With Gender Dysphoria From Iran

BackgroundThis study investigated the effect of older brothers on sexual orientation in male adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria and the effect of older sisters on sexual orientation in female adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria from Iran.AimTo assess for the presence of a fraternal birth order effect in transgender androphilic males and a sororal birth order effect in transgender gynephilic females.MethodsThe subjects were 92 transgender males and 107 transgender females (all of whom met the DSM-5 criteria for gender dysphoria), together with 72 male and 78 female clinical controls. All the transgender males were androphilic, all the transgender females were gynephilic (preferentially attracted to members of their own biological sex), and all of the clinical controls were heterosexual (none were transgender or had a diagnosis of gender dysphoria).OutcomesIn relation to the probands, we analyzed the sibship composition of our groups with regard to birth order and sibling sex ratio (brothers to sisters).ResultsThe results for the transgender males confirmed the findings of 2 recent meta-analyses that older brothers increase the odds of androphilia in later-born males. The results for the transgender females did not clearly confirm one previous finding that older sisters increase the odds of gynephilia in later-born females—a finding obtained in a relatively large study that included gynephilic cisgender girls as well as girls diagnosed with gender dysphoria who will probably be predominantly gynephilic.Clinical ImplicationsThe fraternal (later-born) birth order effect that we found for the transgender androphilic males, similar to that found in gay men, suggests a common underlying causal mechanism.Strengths and LimitationsOur study on Iranian patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria provides further generalizability for the study of birth order and sibling sex ratio that has, more often than not, been restricted to Western samples of adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria. It would be important to study these variables in Iranian gay men and lesbian women (without gender dysphoria) to further examine evidence for cross-cultural similarities when compared to Western samples.ConclusionsIn contrast to the well-established fraternal birth order effect for males, the possible sororal birth order effect for females needs to be examined with additional samples.Khorashad BS, Zucker KJ, Talaei A. Birth Order and Sibling Sex Ratio in Androphilic Males and Gynephilic Females Diagnosed With Gender Dysphoria from Iran. J Sex Med 2020;17:1195–1202.     

静脉穿刺环节疼痛体验与受试者性别血型的关联分析

目的探讨不同性别、血型受试者对静脉穿刺疼痛体验的关联程度。方法收集健康体检者年龄、性别以及血型等基本信息，采用马克盖尔法分类受试者既往和当前疼痛体验。结果静脉穿刺环节，受试者既往和当前疼痛体验分别与性别差异有显著意义（P〈0．0001，P〈0．05），与血型差异无显著意义（P=0．446，P=0．485）。结论静脉穿刺环节中，护理人员应特别关注女性受试者，进行心理疏导，减轻其疼痛体验，发挥护理人员在健康教育中的积极作用。     

Infertility patient-provider communication and (dis)continuity of care: An exploration of illness identity transitions

Objective

To identify how and why infertility patients’ communication with health care providers relates to their continuity of care within infertility treatment.