Search Results (177)

Background/Objectives: Prader–Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disease associated with multiple behavioral features, including a prevalence for psychosis. The genetic causes of PWS are well characterized and involve the silencing or deletion of the paternal copy of a region of chromosome 15q11–13. One gene within this region, Snord116, a non-coding RNA, has been determined to have a determinant role in the manifestation of PWS. However, it remains unclear as to how the deletion of this allele can affect activity in the brain and influence psychosis-like behaviors. Methods: In this study, we assessed the effects of the microdeletion of the paternal copy of Snord116 on regional neural activity in psychosis-associated brain regions and psychosis-like behaviors in mice. Results: The results suggest that Snord116 deletion causes increased c-Fos expression in the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex. Snord116 deletion also results in behavioral phenotypes consistent with psychosis, most notably in stressful paradigms, with deficits in sensorimotor gating and augmented contextual as well as cued fear conditioning. Conclusions: These results implicate the targets of Snord116 in the presentation of a psychosis-like state with regional specificity. Full article

Background: Male infertility can arise from various causes, accounting for 30–50% of infertility cases. The aim of this systematic review is to establish paternity outcomes in men treated for cryptorchidism during childhood, and to evaluate the optimal age for surgical intervention in relation to fertility. Methods: This systematic review is conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251010710). The electronic databases Medline, Embase, and PubMed were searched for eligible studies from 1990 to February 2025. All types of original published human studies examining paternity outcomes in men treated for cryptorchidism during childhood were included. This review focused on comparing paternity rates between men treated for unilateral versus bilateral cryptorchidism. Additionally, studies were required to assess the influence of age at the time of treatment on the likelihood of achieving paternity later in life. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Six studies were included. Results: Five out of six studies found higher paternity rates in men treated for unilateral cryptorchidism compared to bilateral cryptorchidism. Early intervention is preferable, although delayed treatment in early childhood may still preserve fertility. One large study showed a 5% increase in the need for assisted reproductive treatment (ART) for every six-month delay in surgery, with a significantly higher use of ART observed when surgery was performed after 18 months. Conclusions: Bilateral cryptorchidism and delayed orchiopexy are linked to lower fertility and the increased use of ART. Future studies should focus on high-quality research to define the optimal age for orchiopexy in relation to paternity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Family assistance by adolescents (e.g., cooking, cleaning, listening to family members) is a common phenomenon. However, the impact of such assistance on adolescent development remains a topic of debate. Increasingly, the importance of adolescents’ own perceptions and interpretations is being emphasized in understanding how family assistance influences their development. Adolescents in marriage immigrant families may face unique psychosocial challenges as they support their immigrant parents. This study explores the family assistance experiences of adolescents in marriage immigrant families. Methods: Data were collected through one-on-one in-depth interviews with 10 adolescents aged 13–18 years from currently married marriage immigrant families, all of whom were born in Korea. The interviews were conducted between October and November 2022. The data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The family assistance experiences were categorized into three main themes, namely, “Old enough to help—naturally, and rightly so”, “Foreign mother whom I naturally come to help”, and “Unavoidable family assistance, even under pressure”, and 10 subordinate themes. The adolescents provided support naturally, grounded in familial obligation and empathy toward their immigrant mothers. When the native Korean father shared the responsibilities, the assistance was not perceived as burdensome. However, diminished paternal involvement, traditional gender role expectations, and unmet emotional or academic needs led to more negative perceptions and psychological stress. Conclusions: Support systems are needed to ensure that adolescents do not assume sole responsibility for both the native father’s and the immigrant mother’s roles within marriage immigrant families. Full article

Background: Breastfeeding is the ideal source of nutrition for babies. Despite its benefits, breastfeeding practices and attitudes vary across cultures, influenced by societal norms, education, and personal experiences. This article shows the attitude differences among female students in Syria and Hungary and how sociocultural aspects impact their attitude towards breastfeeding. Methods: The questionnaire was a part of a multi-section questionnaire presented to 317 Syrian students and 303 Hungarian students. It assessed students’ attitudes towards breastfeeding through the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS). In addition to cross-tabulations, an exploratory data categorisation method, i.e., cluster analysis, was used in analysing the data. Results: Participants in both countries demonstrated strong agreement with statements highlighting the emotional and nutritional advantages of breastfeeding. In total, 67.2% of the participants disagreed with the idea that formula feeding is more convenient; similarly, 66.3% of them disagreed that breastfeeding causes fathers to feel emotionally excluded. Attitudes toward breastfeeding in public were more divided, reflecting the sensitivity of the topic and varying degrees of acceptance, with 48.7% of respondents disagreeing. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that nationality or age were significant predictors of belonging to various attitude clusters (SBM, SFF, FT): Syrian respondents and younger participants aged 21–30 years were more likely to belong to the Supporters of Breast Milk (SBM) cluster. In addition, paternal education level and urban residence also influenced feeding attitudes. Conclusions: This study shows the differences in attitude among Syrian and Hungarian female students, which is rooted in cultural diversity and its effect on individuals’ decisions. Full article

Artificial insemination (AI) is essential in intensive pig production, which significantly depends on semen quality from boars selected for health, genetics, and fertility. While AI aims to improve productivity, larger litters often result in smaller and less resistant piglets. Beyond fertility and genetic traits, boars also influence offspring health. This study investigated the relationship between sperm parameters of highly fertile boars and both reproductive outcomes and piglet physiological indicators. Multivariate analysis revealed significant paternal effects on blood markers reflecting organ function, including those of the pancreas, liver, and kidneys, as well as on glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, muscle contraction, and neural signaling. Notably, sperm velocity was correlated with mitochondrial function, which is crucial for sperm motility, capacitation, DNA integrity, and embryo development—factors likely linked to healthier, more resilient offspring. Boars transmitting superior sperm velocity, erythropoiesis efficiency, and oxygen transport capacities produced piglets with better glucose regulation, growth, and resistance to neonatal hypoglycemia. These findings underscore the broader impact of sperm quality on offspring vitality and suggest that advanced sperm analysis could improve boar selection and enable more effective, health-oriented breeding strategies. Full article

Male fertility is strongly influenced by environmental exposures, lifestyle, and advancing age. While advanced paternal age (APA) has been linked with a progressive decline in male fertility, poor reproductive outcomes, and decreased offspring health, the molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unclear. In this work, we investigated the impact of men’s age on human sperm protein expression and phosphorylation to identify molecular alterations possibly responsible for the age-associated decline in male fertility. Semen samples from volunteers attending fertility consultations at the Hospital of Aveiro were collected, analyzed according to WHO’s guidelines, and processed by the density gradient technique. The proteome and phosphoproteome of 19 normozoospermic human sperm samples divided into four age groups were evaluated by mass spectrometry: ≤30 years old; 31–35 years old; 36–40 years old; and >40 years old. Proteomic analysis revealed 46 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between groups, some of them associated with infertility-related phenotypes. Gene ontology (GO) analysis, performed using the DAVID database, revealed that DEPs in older men were enriched in pathways related to stress response, metabolism, and embryo implantation. Additionally, 94 differentially phosphorylated sites corresponding to 76 differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins between the groups were identified, related to key reproductive processes such as sperm motility, spermatogenesis, and sperm binding to zona pellucida, and involved in metabolic and stress response pathways, like HSF1 activation. The set of proteins and phosphorylated residues altered in the sperm fraction usually used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) highlights the need to consider the age of the male partner during fertility assessment and treatment planning. These markers can also be used to explain cases of idiopathic infertility, failure in ART, or repeated abortion associated with APA, overcoming the subjectivity of the conventional semen analysis. Full article

Students’ perceptions of their likelihood to graduate are important determinants of their academic engagement, yet these perceptions remain understudied. This study, which is based on the 2021 Monitoring the Future survey of 8th- and 10th-grade students in the United States, uses machine learning algorithms to identify the most important factors that influence these perceptions. Among the tested models, random forest provided the best classification performance. Using permutation-based feature importance, we identified frequent participation in schoolwork, maternal education, paternal education, and homework completion as the most important predictors of students’ graduation perceptions. These results highlight the importance of targeted and well-coordinated intervention measures and policy reforms that can boost students’ engagement in learning and parental education support, especially for students from underrepresented populations or low-income families. As such, this study provides evidence-based insights to guide educational strategies aimed at improving academic outcomes and reducing disparities by identifying key contributors to students’ views on graduating. Full article

Previous research has demonstrated that parental psychological control increases the likelihood of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among college students. However, the underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear. This study aims to investigate whether relative deprivation and depression serve as chain mediators in the relationship between paternal/maternal psychological control and NSSI, while also examining the moderating role of peer relationships. A total of 1158 college students (48.3% female; Mage = 19.26 years) completed assessments measuring parental psychological control, relative deprivation, depression, peer relationships, and NSSI. The results revealed that both paternal and maternal psychological control influence college students’ NSSI through two distinct pathways: the mediating role of depression, and a chain-mediating pathway involving relative deprivation followed by depression. Peer relationships moderated multiple associations, including those between paternal psychological control and NSSI, paternal psychological control and depression, relative deprivation and NSSI, and depression and NSSI. Notably, positive peer relationships helped mitigate the adverse effects stemming from paternal psychological control. However, peer relationships failed to buffer the negative impacts induced by maternal psychological control. These findings provide nuanced insights into the differential mechanisms through which paternal versus maternal psychological control influences college students’ NSSI. The results emphasize the necessity for distinct prevention and intervention strategies tailored to address the unique effects of paternal and maternal psychological control, thereby assisting practitioners in developing targeted approaches to reduce NSSI among college students. Full article

Background/Objectives: Identifying the factors influencing compliance is essential to improve the effectiveness of interventions. However, no study has examined factors that influence the longitudinal patterns of obesity intervention compliance. We aim to identify the longitudinal trajectories of parental and child compliance using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) and assess the influencing factors. Methods: The Diet, ExerCIse, and CarDiovascular hEalth Children (DECIDE-Children) was a 9-month app-assisted obesity prevention intervention targeted 8–10-year-old children. Altogether, 684 child–parent pairs from the intervention group were included. Parents were required to use the mobile app to learn health knowledge, monitor children’s diet and exercise behaviors, manage children’s weight, and received the assessment results. Parental compliance was assessed as the monthly usage times and duration of the mobile app. For child compliance, we used data recorded by parents in the “behavior monitoring” module. We employed group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify distinct trajectories of parental and child compliance and examined their associations with childhood obesity outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify the influencing factors associated with the identified compliance groups. Results: Distinct trajectory groups of parental and child compliance were identified. The compliance trajectories of parents and children are related to the extent of changes in the child’s obesity-related outcomes (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage. p < 0.05). A majority of parents were classified into the “relatively low compliance” group. Parents in this group was associated with having a daughter (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.17, 3.31) and the father having a higher education level (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.60). For children, 20.2% were assigned to the “decreasing compliance” group. Children in this group were more likely to have a younger mother (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) and parents with poorer compliance (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.16, 5.47). Conclusions: Both student and parental compliance were shown to influence the effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions, highlighting the need to prioritize the assessment and promotion of compliance in such interventions. Child sex, paternal educational level, and maternal age were identified as significant factors associated with compliance, while the level of family involvement was found to play a pivotal role in fostering healthy behaviors in children. These findings suggest that future intervention strategies should place greater emphasis on engaging families and providing targeted supervision and support for populations at risk of lower compliance in order to enhance intervention outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects maternal well-being and infant development, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating mental health challenges for new mothers. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of PPD among Korean mothers in the early postpartum period. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in South Korea from 10 September 2021. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling method recruited 3127 mothers who gave birth between January and December 2020. Data collection included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and assessments of sociodemographic, pregnancy-related, infant health, and paternal involvement factors. Results: The prevalence of PPD (EPDS score ≥ 13) was 26.5%. Risk factors included a history of depression during pregnancy (OR = 8.65, p < 0.001), multiparity (OR = 1.03, p = 0.012), and frequent infant medical treatments (OR = 1.04, p < 0.001). Protective factors included better maternal health (OR = 0.36, p < 0.001), longer postpartum care (OR = 0.99, p < 0.001), enhanced postpartum education (OR = 0.97, p < 0.001), positive infant health perception (OR = 0.44, p < 0.001), and greater paternal involvement (OR = 0.97, p < 0.001). Conclusions: PPD is influenced by multiple factors, including maternal health, infant well-being, and paternal support. Routine screening and tailored interventions are essential to improve maternal mental health. Policies promoting holistic postpartum care and paternal involvement should be prioritized, especially during global crises like COVID-19. Full article

Male-factor infertility accounts for nearly half of all infertility cases, and mounting evidence points to oxidative stress as a pivotal driver of sperm dysfunction, genetic instability, and epigenetic dysregulation. In particular, the oxidative DNA lesion 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) has emerged as a central mediator at the interface of DNA damage and epigenetic regulation. We discuss how this lesion can disrupt key epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small non-coding RNAs, thereby influencing fertilization outcomes, embryo development, and offspring health. We propose that the interplay between oxidative DNA damage and epigenetic reprogramming is further exacerbated by aging in both the paternal and maternal germlines, creating a “perfect storm” that increases the risk of heritable (epi)mutations. The consequences of unresolved oxidative lesions can thus persist beyond fertilization, contributing to transgenerational health risks. Finally, we explore the promise and potential pitfalls of antioxidant therapy as a strategy to mitigate sperm oxidative damage. While antioxidant supplementation may hold significant therapeutic value for men with subfertility experiencing elevated oxidative stress, a careful, personalized approach is essential to avoid reductive stress and unintended epigenetic disruptions. Recognizing the dual role of oxidative stress in shaping both the genome and the epigenome underscores the need for integrating redox biology into reproductive medicine, with the aim of improving fertility treatments and safeguarding the health of future generations. Full article

Agroforestry systems are essential in sustainable land use in the face of the growing global food demand and climate change. The southern region of Bahia, Brazil, is one of the places in the world where the tree species is particularly in abundance, primarily in cocoa agroforestry systems, contributing to biodiversity conservation. Understanding their reproductive patterns is crucial for the survival and sustainability of these trees. This study dealt with Lecythis pisonis (Sapucaia) trees by applying microsatellite markers for mixed-mating mode and paternity analyses for pollen dispersal. In particular, it was found that Lecythis pisonis offspring are produced through outcrossing, as the case may be, while random crossings and no nearby tree fertilization are the remaining factors that play a crucial role in myriad genetic diversity inversions. This phenomenon was indicated by paternity in nine offspring, with full siblings being from the same parents. The average distance of pollen flow was 6 km, which is why the pollinator, the bee Xylocopa frontalis, has a flight range aligning with distance. These data show the influence of habitat fragmentation, the function of Cabruca, and the conservation strategy. Full article

Breast cancer is the predominant cause of cancer in developing nations, and screening through breast self-examinations and mammograms is crucial in mitigating morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, geographic disparities in screening methods persist, attributable to sociodemographic variation and healthcare accessibility. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the influence of women’s screening practices for breast cancer and other risks, stratified by urban and rural areas in Indonesia. Methods: A case–control design was adopted, including all women who had breast cancer in 2014 as the study subjects. The Indonesian Family Life Survey data from 2007, with subjects aged at least 15 years, and from 2014 were used. Unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of breast cancer. Results: After controlling for confounders, the odds of breast cancer diagnosis were higher in women who performed breast self-examination (BSE) (aOR 10.22; 95% CI 1.04–50.81 and aOR 11.10; 95% CI 3.32–37.08) and those married before the age of 19 (aOR 4.81; 95% CI 1.93–6.05 and aOR 5.35; 95% CI 1.49–19.7), in urban and rural areas, respectively. In addition, women who had undergone mammography (aOR 48.04; 95% CI 10.33–83.45) had significantly higher odds of being diagnosed with breast cancer in urban areas. In rural areas, a paternal history of cancer-related death had higher odds of breast cancer (aOR 30.63; 95% CI 6.04–60.41) than those without a parental history of cancer. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of intensifying national breast cancer screening, including BSE campaigns and expanding mammography infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, for improving breast cancer prevention and early diagnosis. Full article

Objective: Parental responsibilities for childcare remain unequally distributed between mothers and fathers. This study investigates whether such gender disparity also applies to night-time care, particularly when children experience sleep disorders. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study including 882 clinical files from sleep consultations for children aged 0 to 5 years, completed by one parent (98% mothers). To assess inter-rater reliability, 112 father–mother dyads outside the clinical setting were also surveyed. Additionally, 1409 mothers from the general population formed a control group. Results: In the clinical group, 60% of children were cared for exclusively by their mother at night, versus 9% by the father. In the control group, the figures were 64% and 6%, respectively. Gender disparities persisted even when both parents worked full-time or when the child was no longer breastfed. Inter-rater reliability was strong (r > 0.70). Factors such as number of night awakenings, child’s age, and maternal education influenced caregiving distribution. Greater maternal involvement was associated with increased psychological distress and lower relationship satisfaction. Conclusions: Mothers remain the primary caregivers at night, even in dual-earner families. This unequal distribution can affect maternal well-being and couple dynamics. Promoting paternal involvement may reduce maternal overload and improve child sleep outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Uric acid is a key metabolic byproduct of purine degradation and plays a dual role in human health. At physiological levels, it acts as an antioxidant, protecting against oxidative stress. However, excessive uric acid can lead to hyperuricemia, contributing to conditions like gout, kidney stones, and cardiovascular diseases. Emerging evidence also links elevated uric acid levels with metabolic disorders, including hypertension and insulin resistance. Understanding its regulation is crucial for preventing associated health complications. Methods: This study, part of the Tlalpan 2020 project, aimed to predict uric acid levels using advanced machine learning algorithms. The dataset included clinical, anthropometric, lifestyle, and nutritional characteristics from a cohort in Mexico City. We applied Boosted Decision Trees (Boosted DTR), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Categorical Boosting (CatBoost), and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) to identify the most relevant variables associated with hyperuricemia. Feature engineering techniques improved model performance, evaluated using Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE), and the coefficient of determination (R²). Results: Our study showed that XGBoost had the highest accuracy for anthropometric and clinical predictors, while CatBoost was the most effective at identifying nutritional risk factors. Distinct predictive profiles were observed between men and women. In men, uric acid levels were primarily influenced by renal function markers, lipid profiles, and hereditary predisposition to hyperuricemia, particularly paternal gout and diabetes. Diets rich in processed meats, high-fructose foods, and sugary drinks showed stronger associations with elevated uric acid levels. In women, metabolic and cardiovascular markers, family history of metabolic disorders, and lifestyle factors such as passive smoking and sleep quality were the main contributors. Additionally, while carbohydrate intake was more strongly associated with uric acid levels in women, fructose and sugary beverages had a greater impact in men. To enhance model robustness, a cross-feature selection approach was applied, integrating top features from multiple models, which further improved predictive accuracy, particularly in gender-specific analyses. Conclusions: These findings provide insights into the metabolic, nutritional characteristics, and lifestyle determinants of uric acid levels, supporting targeted public health strategies for hyperuricemia prevention. Full article