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Physiological Reviews Jan 2017Major differences between men and women exist in epidemiology, manifestation, pathophysiology, treatment, and outcome of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as coronary... (Review)
Review
Major differences between men and women exist in epidemiology, manifestation, pathophysiology, treatment, and outcome of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as coronary artery disease, pressure overload, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Corresponding sex differences have been studied in a number of animal models, and mechanistic investigations have been undertaken to analyze the observed sex differences. We summarize the biological mechanisms of sex differences in CVD focusing on three main areas, i.e., genetic mechanisms, epigenetic mechanisms, as well as sex hormones and their receptors. We discuss relevant subtypes of sex hormone receptors, as well as genomic and nongenomic, activational and organizational effects of sex hormones. We describe the interaction of sex hormones with intracellular signaling relevant for cardiovascular cells and the cardiovascular system. Sex, sex hormones, and their receptors may affect a number of cellular processes by their synergistic action on multiple targets. We discuss in detail sex differences in organelle function and in biological processes. We conclude that there is a need for a more detailed understanding of sex differences and their underlying mechanisms, which holds the potential to design new drugs that target sex-specific cardiovascular mechanisms and affect phenotypes. The comparison of both sexes may lead to the identification of protective or maladaptive mechanisms in one sex that could serve as a novel therapeutic target in one sex or in both.
Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 27807199
DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00021.2015 -
Neuropsychopharmacology : Official... Jan 2019
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors
PubMed: 30361539
DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0239-x -
ELife Oct 2022A large-scale experiment demonstrates sex differences in cooperation and competition that can explain group size variation in ostriches.
A large-scale experiment demonstrates sex differences in cooperation and competition that can explain group size variation in ostriches.
Topics: Animals; Female; Male; Sex Characteristics; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 36205708
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.83254 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series A,... Jan 2018
Topics: Aging; Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 29136099
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx221 -
Evolutionary Psychology : An... 2016The current study sought to answer three key questions about explaining the emotion of regret in the domain of casual sex: Are sex differences in sexual regret robust or...
The current study sought to answer three key questions about explaining the emotion of regret in the domain of casual sex: Are sex differences in sexual regret robust or attenuated in a highly egalitarian culture? What proximate psychological variables might explain sex differences in sexual regret? And what accounts for within-sex variation in experiences of sexual regret about casual sex. We conducted a study of 263 Norwegian students (ages 19-37) who reported how much they regretted having either engaged in, or passed up, their most recent casual sexual experience. Sex differences in sexual regret are not attenuated in this sexually egalitarian culture. The study revealed sex differences in worries about pregnancy, STIs, and reputation; however, these predictors did not succeed in accounting for the sex differences in regret engaging in casual sex. Sexual gratification and socio-sexual orientation both predicted the sex differences in casual sex regret. In contrast, only socio-sexual orientation attenuated the sex difference in regret passing up casual sex. Predictors of within-sex variation in casual sexual regret included worry about sexual reputation, experienced gratification during the encounter, and socio-sexual orientation. Discussion focuses on implications for the psychological design features of this relatively neglected emotion.
Topics: Adult; Emotions; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Sexual Behavior; Young Adult
PubMed: 28024408
DOI: 10.1177/1474704916682903 -
Journal of the American College of... Apr 2022
Topics: Cardiovascular System; Humans; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors
PubMed: 35393020
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.02.008 -
Molecular Metabolism Sep 2018Epidemiological and clinical studies have largely demonstrated major differences in the prevalence of metabolic disorders in males and females, but the biological cause... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological and clinical studies have largely demonstrated major differences in the prevalence of metabolic disorders in males and females, but the biological cause of these dissimilarities remain to be elucidated. Mammals are characterized by a major change in reproductive strategies and it is conceivable that these changes subjected females to a significant evolutionary pressure that perfected the coupling between energy metabolism and reproduction.
SCOPE OF REVIEW
This review will address the plausibility that female liver functions diverged significantly from males given the role of liver in the control of metabolism. Indeed, it is well known that the liver is sexually dimorphic, and this might be relevant to explain the lower susceptibility to hepatic diseases and liver-derived metabolic disturbances (such as the cardiovascular diseases) characteristic of females during their fertile period. Furthermore, estrogens and the hepatic ERα play a significant role in liver sexual-specific functions and in the control of metabolic functions.
CONCLUSIONS
A better grasp of the role of male and female sex steroids in the liver of the two sexes may therefore represent an important element to conceive novel treatments aimed at preventing metabolic diseases particularly in ageing women or limiting undesired side effect in the treatment of gender dysphoria.
Topics: Animals; Female; Gonadal Hormones; Humans; Liver; Liver Diseases; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 29550349
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.02.012 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022
Topics: Bone and Bones; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Steroids
PubMed: 36176471
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.991989 -
Neurobiology of Disease Dec 2014
Topics: Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 25218572
DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.09.002 -
Biology of Sex Differences Jun 2022The sexual dimorphism represents one of the triggers of the metabolic disparities between the organisms, advising about wild implications in research or diagnostics... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The sexual dimorphism represents one of the triggers of the metabolic disparities between the organisms, advising about wild implications in research or diagnostics contexts. Despite the mounting recognition of the importance of sex consideration in the biomedical fields, the identification of male- and female-specific metabolic signatures has not been achieved.
MAIN BODY
This review pointed the focus on the metabolic differences related to the sex, evidenced by metabolomics studies performed on healthy populations, with the leading aim of understanding how the sex influences the baseline metabolome. The main shared signatures and the apparent dissimilarities between males and females were extracted and highlighted from the metabolome of the most commonly analyzed biological fluids, such as serum, plasma, and urine. Furthermore, the influence of age and the significant interactions between sex and age have been taken into account.
CONCLUSIONS
The recognition of sex patterns in human metabolomics has been defined in diverse biofluids. The detection of sex- and age-related differences in the metabolome of healthy individuals are helpful for translational applications from the bench to the bedside to set targeted diagnostic and prevention approaches in the context of personalized medicine.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 35706042
DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00440-4