Search Results (165)

Background/Objectives: Low HPV vaccine uptake persists in Saudi Arabia despite improving awareness. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, knowledge, and uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among female medical students in Saudi Arabia, and to identify key demographic, academic, and informational factors that predict vaccination behavior. It also sought to explore perceived barriers influencing vaccine acceptance within this population. Methods: A multi-center cross-sectional survey recruited 246 female medical students from five Saudi universities using convenience sampling. An anonymous, structured, and validated questionnaire assessed HPV/vaccine knowledge, attitudes, uptake, and perceived barriers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and logistic regression. Results: Overall, 82.9% of participants had heard of HPV and 78.9% knew of the vaccine, but only 10.3% demonstrated high vaccine-specific knowledge. While 69.5% expressed willingness to be vaccinated, only 22.8% had received at least one dose. The most reported barriers were perceived lack of necessity (45.3%), abstinence from sexual activity (41.3%), and safety concerns (34.7%). Logistic regression indicated that higher academic year and higher vaccine-specific knowledge significantly predicted vaccine uptake (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite high general awareness, low vaccine-specific knowledge and cultural framing constrain HPV vaccine uptake among future prescribers. Universities should integrate cancer-prevention framing into curricula, strengthen female-to-female counseling, and provide on-campus vaccination opportunities. Addressing knowledge gaps and sociocultural barriers is critical to improving HPV vaccine coverage in Saudi Arabia. Full article

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common globally, posing significant public health challenges and financial strain, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for 40% of global STI prevalence, with South Africa having the highest rates of curable STIs and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), both of which are closely linked to increasing HIV transmission risk and other STIs. Genital ulcer disease (GUD), primarily caused by HSV-1, HSV-2, and Treponema pallidum, and less frequently by Haemophilus ducreyi, Klebsiella granulomatis, and Chlamydia trachomatis, exemplifies the complex interplay of STIs. Methods: This study analyzed GUD and co-infection with HIV, testing patterns, and co-occurrence trends among public clinic attendees in Mthatha, South Africa, to identify demographic, behavioral, and occupational disparities. Results: Sex-specific analysis revealed higher HIV prevalence among female attendees (47.00%) compared to male attendees (22.00%), alongside notable testing gaps and disparities in diseases such as syphilis, genital herpes, and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Age-specific trends indicated the highest HIV prevalence in individuals aged 30–49, with peaks at 66.67% (30–39) and 76.47% (40–49). Treponema pallidum and HSV-2 prevalence were most pronounced in younger age groups (<20 and 20–29), while older demographics (50+) exhibited significant diagnostic gaps. Occupation-based analysis highlighted elevated HIV (65.91%) and HSV-2 (19.61%) prevalence among unemployed individuals, reflecting socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Co-occurrence analysis revealed notable overlaps, such as HIV and HSV-2 (6.67%) and Chlamydia trachomatis with HSV-1 (5.71%) and HSV-2 (4.76%), driven by shared risk factors. Correlation analysis identified strong links between HSV-1 and Haemophilus ducreyi (0.64) and between Chlamydia trachomatis and HSV-1 (0.56), underscoring the potential for integrated diagnostic strategies. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions addressing sex, age, and occupational disparities while improving diagnostic coverage and prevention efforts for co-occurring infections. Full article

Some studies have shown that the identities of asexual individuals can be devalued and invalidated through processes of dehumanization. However, research examining dehumanization and attitudes toward asexual parents remains scarce. Drawing on the dual model of dehumanization, this experimental study aimed to investigate the denial of traits associated with human nature (HN; denial of basic human emotions) and human uniqueness (HU; denial of a rational mind), as well as perceptions of parenting competence and warmth attributed to different maternal targets. It was hypothesized that asexual mothers would be judged more negatively on the HN dimension, but not on the HU dimension, compared to allosexual mothers. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that perceived behavior toward children, assessed in terms of warmth, would be associated with the denial of HN (but not HU) for asexual mothers. The study involved 298 participants (M_age = 35.97, SD = 15.04), who read one of three scenarios that were identical except for the sexual orientation of the mother: (1) heterosexual allosexual mother; (2) lesbian allosexual mother; and (3) asexual mother. Participants were then asked to evaluate the target with dehumanization measures and perceived parenting behaviors. Results showed that the asexual mother was perceived more negatively than all other targets across all variables. Moreover, parallel mediation analyses revealed that the perception of a lack of warmth in the asexual mother (compared to the other targets) was mediated by the denial of HN, but not HU. In contrast, both HN and HU were found to mediate judgments of parental competence. These findings provide initial evidence of stigma faced by asexual parents, highlighting the need for further research into the attitudes directed toward them. Full article

Healthcare abuse is a critical human rights and public health issue, particularly impacting medical interns and trainees who are vulnerable to mistreatment during their formative professional years. This cross-sectional study, conducted from February to June 2024, evaluated the prevalence and psychological impact of harassment and discrimination among 463 healthcare interns in Saudi Arabia from various specialties, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry. Using a self-administered online questionnaire, we found that mistreatment was widely reported, with female interns experiencing significantly higher rates of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination. Common perpetrators included residents, lecturers, professors, nurses, and patients, with incidents most frequently occurring in surgical and internal medicine departments. Despite high prevalence, only 9% of interns reported the abuse due to mistrust in reporting systems or failure to recognize the behavior as abuse. These experiences were associated with significant psychological distress, including frustration, reduced motivation to learn, and higher DASS scores, particularly among female interns. The study underscores the need for institutional reforms, including policy development, cultural change, and effective reporting systems to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for future healthcare professionals. Addressing abuse in medical training is essential for individual well-being and the sustainability and integrity of healthcare systems. Full article

Background: Sexuality is a central aspect of being human, even if people experience it in different ways in various stages of life. Sexuality in older people may be expressed, as well as affection, companionship, touch, and physical contact. However, older peoples’ sexual needs are not properly considered by themselves, caregivers, or healthcare professionals. Reviews on barriers related to identification and satisfaction of sexual needs of people living in nursing home are scarce. In this scenario we intended to summarize the state of evidence regarding sexual need identification and satisfaction among older people living in nursing homes and possible barriers that could limit sexual need identification and satisfaction. Methods: We carried out a narrative review. The included studies responded to the research question, using the following key words: nursing homes, sexuality or sexual need, or sexual behavior, older people. Searched databases included PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Scopus. Results: After searching and screening we included 22 studies, finding three main topics: 1. identification of sexual needs by residents and healthcare personnel attitude and practice; 2. barriers and reasons hindering the identification of sexual needs; and 3. manifestation and satisfaction of sexual needs. Conclusions: The findings showed that nursing homes’ residents have different sexual needs, but there are many organizational, educational, and cultural barriers and negative attitudes of healthcare personnel. Supporting nursing home residents to express their sexual needs is a challenge for the healthcare professionals and managers of nursing homes. Full article

Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine generates high antibody titers against targeted HPV types. This study investigated vaccine-induced anti-HPV18 immunoglobulin (IgG) antibody titers and subsequent HPV18/45 infections. Methods: We performed a nested matched case-control study leveraging a prospective longitudinal cohort of adolescent and young adult women (AYW) vaccinated with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV) attending the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center (MSAHC) in Manhattan, NY. The case individuals included AYW who had an incident detection of cervical HPV18 (n = 3) or HPV45 (n = 34) DNA after vaccination and were compared to two vaccinated control individuals (HPV18/45-negative); one random control (RC, n = 37) and one high-risk control (HRC, n = 37) selected from the upper quartile of a sexual risk behavior score. Serological titers against HPV18 were measured by end-point dilution and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum collected before the incident detection of HPV. Matching was performed based on age at first dose, follow-up time, and sexual risk behavior score. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the association between case-control status and anti-HPV antibody titers, consistent with the matched-pair design. Results: Antibody titers for HPV18 were most different between AYW who developed an HPV18/45 infection compared to high-risk controls OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 0.96–2.85 (p = 0.1629). Analyses of pooled data from vaccinated recipients including who developed HPV16/31 or HPV18/45 infections demonstrated that the odds of a one-log unit increase in anti-HPV16 or 18 antibody titers, respectively, were 40% higher in the combined control groups (RC + HRC, n = 160) (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.09–1.79, p = 0.0135) and 73% higher in the HRC (n = 80) (OR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.34, 2.52, p = 0.0117) compared to HPV16/18/31/45 cases (n = 80). Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that higher IgG antibodies to HPV16/18 after vaccination represent an increased likelihood of protection from homologous and cross-reactive HPV types (HPV16/18/31/45). These results show that differences in antibody titers are associated with breakthrough infection after vaccination, suggesting that further study of long-term antibody titers and infection should be pursued. Full article

Kisspeptin (Kiss1) and kisspeptin 1 receptor (Kiss1R) are vital in regulating various functions across many species, primarily those relating to reproduction. The kisspeptin system has recently attracted clinical interest as a potential therapeutic treatment for patients with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. This study maps the distribution of Kiss1 and Kiss1R mRNA in the Syrian hamster forebrain using dual-labeled RNAscope. In our study, the distributions of kisspeptin and its receptor were mapped across adult males and females on day 1 or day 2 of their estrous cycle. Conditioned place preference was used to observe the potential effect of kisspeptin on sexual reward in female hamsters. The expression of kisspeptin was greater in females than males, with the estrous cycle having no effect on expression. A comparison of these findings to those in other species revealed that the expression in Syrian hamsters was similar to that reported for other species, demonstrating the conservation of expression. Kisspeptin did not influence sexual reward in females, nor did it affect measures of their primary sexual behavior. These findings provide additional insights into the expression and function of kisspeptin across novel species and add to ongoing research in understanding how kisspeptin may influence sexual desire in animals, including humans. Full article

There has been an extensive search for efficient pharmacological treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder and other sexual dysfunctions. However, available treatments have met limited success, except for the drugs used for treating erectile deficiency. A possible reason for this may be that both the preclinical and clinical evaluation of treatment effects have been inadequate. The present literature review shows that the intensity of sexual approach behaviors in non-human animals appears to be predictive of clinical effect whereas the traditional studies of copulatory behaviors and associated motor patterns have questionable predictive power regarding effects on human sexual desire. In clinical studies, it is essential to include the unconscious components of sexual motivation in any approach to its quantification. This basic fact is incompatible with the use of self-reports for evaluating treatment effects on motivation. Genital responses to sexual incentives are automatic and therefore outside of volitional control and can, therefore, provide unbiased estimates of the intensity of sexual motivation. These responses may be objectively quantified. Tests for implicit sexual motivation must also be used for capturing unconscious mental components. Including the unconscious components of sexual motivation as well as of objective measures of genital responses in clinical studies may improve evaluations of the effectiveness of drug treatment of low sexual interest/arousal disorder. In preclinical studies, predictive validity can be improved by quantifying sexual approach behaviors rather than copulatory behavior. The paradigm shift suggested here may finally allow for the discovery of efficient treatments for some sexual dysfunctions. Full article

Background: Behavioral, social, and physical characteristics are posited to distinguish the sexes, yet research on transcription-level sexual differences in the brain is limited. Here, we investigated sexually divergent brain transcriptomics in pre-pubertal cynomolgus macaques, a commonly used surrogate species to humans. Methods: A transcriptomic profile using RNA sequencing was generated for the temporal lobe, ventral midbrain, and cerebellum of three female and three male cynomolgus macaques previously treated with an adeno-associated virus vector mix. Statistical analyses to determine differentially expressed protein-coding genes in all three lobes were conducted using DeSeq2 with a false-discovery-rate-corrected p-value of 0.05. Results: We identified target genes in the temporal lobe, ventral midbrain, and cerebellum with functions in translation, immunity, behavior, and neurological disorders that exhibited statistically significant sexually divergent expression. Conclusions: We provide potential mechanistic insights into the epidemiological differences observed between the sexes with regard to mental health and infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Our results provide pre-pubertal information on sexual differences in non-human primate brain transcriptomics and may provide insight into health disparities between the biological sexes in humans. Full article

The social and behavioral sciences have contributed enormously to our understanding of societies and the relationships between individuals within them. Sexual harassment is a universal social problem that is reproduced in different contexts and societies. However, institutions such as universities have made it invisible, contributing to the impunity of harassers and the vulnerability of victims. This has been the case for decades in countries such as Spain. Today, universities are implementing training measures to prevent such behavior. This article analyzes, from a dialogic sociological perspective, one of these interventions in terms of its success and impact on the academic community: the “Training for the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence at the University”, implemented by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) between 2021 and 2024. The article defines and analyzes its main characteristics: (1) the contents based on scientific evidence; (2) the human commitment of the trainers; and (3) the dialogue with the solidarity network World MeToo Universities. The article concludes that the positive impact of this pioneering intervention in the academic community constitutes a universal and transferable successful action to overcome gender-based violence in universities. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Men who engage in anal fisting may experience full rectal and colon thickness injury resulting in an endoscopic emergency. The endoscopist does not routinely question patients about their sexual habits, nor are patients compliant with counseling during the endoscopy procedure as indicated by the infectious disease clinician. Case Presentation: A 47-years-old HIV- and monkeypox virus (MPXV)-negative Caucasian gay man underwent colonoscopy because of changes in bowel habits with anal discomfort and rectal bleeding. The first colonoscopy showed a vegetative annular neoformation of the anal canal. There was a concentric stenosis of the lumen. The endoscopist suspected the diagnosis of anal squamous cell carcinoma and a histopathology investigation was requested. Biopsy histology excluded a frank neoplasm or anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN). Then, the patient was referred to a multidisciplinary team. With adequate counseling, the patient disclosed his habitual anal fisting. Laboratory identification of L1–L3 Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) genovars was positive for CT L1, L2, real-time PCR for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Mycoplasma hominis. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA detection identified HPV type 70, 68, and 61. We illustrate this case with plenty of histology and immunohistochemistry. We also review the differential diagnosis of AIN according to the 5th edition (2019) WHO Classification of Digestive System Tumours. Conclusions: Our patient emphasizes two important aspects of endoscopy and pathology: first, the significance of understanding patients’ sexual behaviors in diagnosing rectal and colon injuries, as well as the need for sexually transmitted infections (STI) screening especially for CT; and second, the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary communication model that encourages private discussions to alleviate patients’ fears and improve prevention efforts. Full article

The rising incidence of oropharyngeal cancer caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and HPV18 in the U.S and other developed countries is an important public health issue. This has been attributed to changes in sexual behavior, including the practice of oral sex, which may expose individuals to increased risk of acquiring oral HPV infection. The incidence of oral HPV infections highlights the role of the oral cavity as an important anatomical site in the acquisition and transmission of high-risk HPVs. Generally, the use of mouthwash/oral rinses have focused on targeting the oral bacteriome, and could additionally be formulated for managing the oral virome. Here, we examined virucidal properties of common over-the-counter antibacterial mouthwash products against native HPV16 and HPV18 virion in vitro, and downstream modification of virus infectivity. We tested oral rinses containing essential oils/alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and cetylpyridinium chloride. Our results demonstrated greater than 90% efficacy against HPV16 inactivation, but comparatively with less efficacy against HPV18. Overall, hydrogen peroxide containing oral rinses demonstrated the best efficacy against both high-risk types, albeit with lower efficacy against HPV18. Prophylactic virucidal oral rinses targeted towards high-risk HPVs could be beneficial in reducing incidental oral HPV load, prevalence, and persistent infections. Full article

Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) hydroxylates L-tryptophan to L-5-hydroxy tryptophan—the key step of 5-HT synthesis in the mammalian brain. Some mutations in the human hTPH2 gene are associated with psychopathologies and resistance to antidepressant therapy. The C1473G polymorphism in the mouse Tph2 gene decreases the TPH2 activity in the mouse brain. In the present paper, B6-1473C and B6-1473G congenic mice that were different only in the C > G substitution were used. The molecular mechanism of decrease in the mutant enzyme activity and some physiological and behavioral traits affected by this mutation were revealed for the first time. Analysis of thermal denaturation curves in vitro revealed that the C > G substitution reduces the free energy of denaturation, stability and lifetime of mutant TPH2. Later, we evaluated the effect of the 1473G allele on the hierarchical state, competition for a sexual partner in adult mice, mouse embryos, hind legs dystonia and the response to LPS treatment in young mice. No effect of this mutation on the hierarchical state and competition for a female was observed in adult males. The C > G substitution does not affect survival, body mass or the TPH activity in the brain of 19-day-old mouse embryos. At the same time, we found that the 1473G allele causes hind legs dystonia in juvenile (3 weeks old) mice, which can affect their escape capability in threatening situations. Moreover, a significant increase in the vulnerability to LPS in juvenile B6-1473G males was shown: a single ip LPS administration killed about 40% of young mutant mice, but not wild-type ones. The body mass of mutant males was lower compared to wild-type ones, which also can indirectly decrease their concurrent and reproductive success. Full article

The Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella marica) is a native and highly adaptable species of the Arabian Peninsula. Due to drastic population declines, the species is listed as globally vulnerable. Very little is known about the behavioral ecology of this species in captivity; therefore, this study was designed to investigate the seasonal variations in the activity patterns of Arabian sand gazelles at Al Reem Biosphere Reserve, Qatar. Data were collected in two phases, i.e., summer (September–October 2021) and winter (December 2021–January 2022), for a total of 16 days. Results revealed that feeding and walking (p = 0.001) were the dominant activities in both seasons, yet these were higher in summer compared to winter. Likewise, standing, lying down and other activities (social interactions, defecating, maintenance, sexual behaviors) were also higher in summer compared to winter. All these findings suggest that Arabian sand gazelles are adaptable to harsh environments. However, we strongly recommend a year-round investigation on the impacts of humans, feed types and Arabian Oryx on the behavioral activities of Arabian sand gazelles. In addition, we suggest studying the behavior ecology of the wild scattered populations of Arabian sand gazelles for better management of captive breeding stocks. Full article

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is an invasive species and a vector for several significant human pathogens. Gaining a deeper understanding of its reproductive biology offers valuable insights into its evolutionary success and may inform the development of sustainable strategies to control its spread. This study presents a comprehensive structural and functional characterization of the fruitless gene in Ae. albopictus (Aalfru), a pivotal regulator of sexual behavior in insects. Through in silico analysis combined with molecular and functional genetics approaches, we identified a high degree of conservation in the fru gene structure and its regulation via sex-specific alternative splicing. Differently from Drosophila, Aedes aegypti, and other dipteran fruitless orthologs, Aalfru sex-specific regulation starts in 1-day-old embryos, rather than the late larval stage. Functional analysis using embryonic RNA interference (RNAi) demonstrated that, Ae. albopictus males with transiently disrupted fru expression at the embryonic stage showed significant deficits in adult mating behavior and failed to produce viable progeny. Our findings elucidate the Aalfru gene’s molecular organization, developmental regulation, and critical role in courtship behavior, highlighting its importance in male sexual behavior and reproductive success in Ae. albopictus. Full article