Greater rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity with age in endurance-trained than in sedentary men.

To determine the relation between habitual endurance exercise status and the age-associated decline in maximal aerobic capacity [i.e., maximal O(2) consumption (Vo(2 max))] in men, we performed a well-controlled cross-sectional laboratory study on 153 healthy men aged 20-75 yr: 64 sedentary and 89 endurance trained. Vo(2 max) (ml. kg(-1). min(-1)), measured by maximal treadmill exercise, was inversely related to age in the endurance-trained (r = -0.80) and sedentary (r = -0.74) men but was higher in the endurance-trained men at any age. The rate of decline in Vo(2 max) with age (ml. kg(-1). min(-1)) was greater (P < 0.001) in the endurance-trained than in the sedentary men. Whereas the relative rate of decline in Vo(2 max) (percent decrease per decade from baseline levels in young adulthood) was similar in the two groups, the absolute rate of decline in Vo(2 max) was -5.4 and -3.9 ml. kg(-1). min(-). decade(-1) in the endurance-trained and sedentary men, respectively. Vo(2 max) declined linearly across the age range in the sedentary men but was maintained in the endurance-trained men until approximately 50 yr of age. The accelerated decline in Vo(2 max) after 50 yr of age in the endurance-trained men was related to a decline in training volume (r = 0.46, P < 0.0001) and was associated with an increase in 10-km running time (r = -0.84, P < 0.0001). We conclude that the rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity during middle and older age is greater in endurance-trained men than in their sedentary peers and is associated with a marked decline in O(2) pulse.     

Meta-analysis of the age-associated decline in maximal aerobic capacity in men: relation to training status

Based on cross-sectional data, we recently reported that, in contrast to the prevailing view, the rate of decline in maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2 max)) with age is greater in physically active compared with sedentary healthy women. We tested this hypothesis in men using a meta-analytic study of VO(2 max) values in the published literature. A total of 242 studies (538 subject groups and 13,828 subjects) met the inclusion criteria and were arbitrarily separated into sedentary (214 groups, 6,231 subjects), active (159 groups, 5,621 subjects), and endurance-trained (165 groups, 1,976 subjects) populations. Body fat percent increased with age in sedentary and active men (P < 0.001), whereas no change was observed in endurance-trained men. VO(2 max) was inversely and strongly related to age within each population (r = -0.80 to -0.88, all P < 0. 001) and was highest in endurance-trained and lowest in sedentary populations at any age. Absolute rates of decline in VO(2 max) with age were not different (P > 0.05) in sedentary (-4.0 ml. kg(-1). min(-1). decade(-1)), active (-4.0), and endurance-trained (-4.6) populations. Similarly, there were no group differences (P > 0.05) in the relative (%) rates of decline in VO(2 max) with advancing age (-8.7, -7.3, and -6.8%/decade, respectively). Maximal heart rate was inversely related to age within each population (r = -0.88 to -0.93, all P < 0.001), but the rate of age-related reduction was not different among the populations. There was a significant decline in running mileage and speed with advancing age in the endurance-trained men. The present cross-sectional meta-analytic findings do not support the hypothesis that the rate of decline in VO(2 max) with age is related to habitual aerobic exercise status in men.     

Gender differences in the sweat response during spinning exercise

The purpose of this field study was to examine gender differences in the sweat response reported in the literature in trained men and women during indoor cycling. In the present study, 14 men and 12 women took part in a 90-minute spinning class in preparation for a 108-km road race. Delta body mass, corrected for the volume of water consumed, was used to estimate sweat loss during the exercise period. Men had a significantly higher sweat rate (1.12 L.h(-1)) compared to women (0.57 L.h(-1)), despite the fact that there were no significant gender differences in ad libitum fluid intake. Future research should focus on determining whether women may be more efficient in sweat production and evaporation and whether men may have a greater reserve capacity for increased sweating.     

Muscle metabolic profile and oxygen transport capacity as determinants of aerobic and anaerobic thresholds

Aerobic and anaerobic thresholds determined by different methods in repeated exercise tests were correlated with cardiorespiratory variables and variables of muscle metabolic profile in 33 men aged 20-50 years. Aerobic threshold was determined from blood lactate, ventilation, and respiratory gas exchange by two methods (AerT1 and AerT2) and anaerobic threshold from venous lactate (AnTLa), from ventilation and gas exchange (AnTr) and by using the criterion of 4 mmol.1(-1) of venous lactate (AnT4mmol). In addition to ordinary correlative analyses, applications of LISREL models were used. The 8 explanatory variables chosen for the regression analyses were height, relative heart volume, relative diffusing capacity of the lung, muscle fiber composition, citrate synthase (CS) and succinate dehydrogenase activities, the lactate dehydrogenase--CS ratio, and age. They explained 58% of the variation in AerT1, 73.5% that of AerT2, 71% that of AnTr, 74.5% that of AnTLa, and 67.5% that of AnT4mmol.AerT and AnT alone explained 77% of the variation in each other. Both AerT and AnT were determined mainly by a muscle metabolic profile, with the CS activity of vastus lateralis as the strongest determinant. The factor 'submaximal endurance' which was measured with AerT and AnT seemed to be slightly more closely connected to 'muscle metabolic profile' than was 'maximal aerobic power' (= VO2max), but both also correlated strongly with each other (r = 0.92).     

Measuring the quality of later life.

This paper examines quality of life as a scientific construct with a wide range of applications. The assessment of patients'' quality of life is assuming increasing importance in medicine and health care. Illnesses, diseases and their treatments can have significant impacts on such areas of functioning as mobility, mood, life satisfaction, sexuality, cognition and ability to fulfil occupational, social and family roles. The emerging quality of life construct may be viewed as a paradigm shift in outcome measurement since it shifts the focus of attention from symptoms to functioning. This holistic approach more clearly establishes the patient as the centre of attention and subsumes many of the traditional measures of outcome. Quality of life assessment is particularly relevant to ageing populations both for healthy elderly and for those who develop chronic diseases where maintenance of quality of life rather than cure may be the primary goal of treatment. This paper introduces the concept of quality of life and describes the significant difficulties in definition, measurement and interpretation that must be addressed before such measures can be used as reliable and valid indicators of disease impact and treatment outcomes. It is argued that approaches to quality of life assessment in the elderly should incorporate advances in knowledge about the psychological adaptation to ageing. Consequently, the unique perspective of the individual on his or her own quality of life must be incorporated into outcome assessments aimed at improving the quality of health care. Incorporating measures of subjective outcome such as quality of life into policy decisions on resource allocation in health care will prove one of the major challenges for health services over the next decade.     

Gender differences in body build and physiological functions in the adult population of Yucatan, Mexico

This study, conducted in 1994-95, evaluates differences in body build, blood pressure and respiratory functions between sexes and age groups of low socioeconomic strata individuals living in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The cross-sectional sample includes 344 males and 320 females, 20-98 years of age divided into six age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+ years) by sex. Differences between age cohorts in height, weight, fatness, systolic blood pressure, and most respiratory variables (excluding expiratory reserve volume, minute ventilation and respiration rate) are greater among women than in men. The more marked secular trend in stature and bigger biological differences between age cohorts in women might have its beginning in 19th century when living conditions of women were worse than those of men. Only since the last decades of 20th century, migrations and improvements in living conditions might caused more drastic changes in women of low social strata than in men. Results of regression analysis show a greater relationship between studied variables in women than in men what confirms that women are less sensitive to environmental factors. A pattern of changes in minute ventilation (MV) with rising age of the cohorts differs between men and women (smaller differences appear in the women's cohort) Also a different pattern (MV) is seen in European populations. The latter may suggest existence of some adaptational phenomena to the local environment.     

Malignant tumors during the first 2 decades of life in the offspring of atomic bomb survivors.

The risk of cancer (incidence) prior to age 20 years has been determined for children born to atomic bomb survivors and to a suitable comparison group. Tumor ascertainment was through death certificates and the tumor registries maintained in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The rationale for the study stemmed from the evidence that a significant proportion of such childhood tumors as retinoblastoma and Wilms tumor arise on the basis of a mutant gene inherited from one parent plus a second somatic cell mutation involving the allele of this gene. Gonadal radiation doses were calculated by the recently established DS86 system, supplemented by an ad hoc system for those children for one or both of whose parents a DS86 dose could not be computed but for whom an ad hoc dose could be developed on the basis of the available information. The total data set consisted of (1) a cohort of 31,150 live-born children one or both of whose parents received greater than 0.01 Sv of radiation at the time of the atomic bombings (average conjoint gonad exposure 0.43 Sv) and (2) two suitable comparison groups totaling 41,066 children. Altogether, 43 malignant tumors were ascertained in the children of exposed parents, and 49 malignant tumors were ascertained in the two control groups. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed no increase in malignancy in the children of exposed parents. However, examination of the data suggested that only 3.0-5.0% of the tumors of childhood that were observed in the comparison groups are associated with an inherited genetic predisposition that would be expected to exhibit an altered frequency if the parental mutation rate were increased. There is thus far no confirmation of the positive findings that Nomura found in a mouse system.     

Unhealthy lifestyles during the life course: association with physical decline in late life

This study aimed to examine the association between unhealthy lifestyle in young age, midlife and/or old age and physical decline in old age, and to examine the association between chronic exposure to an unhealthy lifestyle throughout life and physical decline in old age. The study sample included 1297 respondents of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Lifestyle in old age (55-85 y) was assessed at baseline, while lifestyle in young age (around 25 y) and midlife (around 40 y) were assessed retrospectively. Lifestyle factors included physical activity, body mass index (BMI), number of alcohol drinks per week and smoking. Physical decline was calculated as change in physical performance score between baseline and six-year follow-up. Of the lifestyle factors present in old age, a BMI of 25-29 vs. BMI <25 kg/m2 (odds ratio (OR) 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.2) and a BMI of > or =30 vs. BMI <25 kg/m2 (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.7) were associated with physical decline in old age. Being physically inactive in old age was not significantly associated with an increased risk of physical decline, however, being physically inactive both in midlife and in old age increased the odds of physical decline in old age to 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.4) as compared to respondents who were physically inactive in midlife and physically active in old age. Being overweight in both age periods was associated with an OR of 1.5 (95% CI 1.1-2.2). These data suggest that overweight in old age, and chronic exposure to physical inactivity or overweight throughout life increases the risk of physical decline in old age. Therefore, physical activity and prevention of overweight at all ages should be stimulated to prevent physical decline in old age.     

Gender differences in glucose kinetics and substrate oxidation during exercise near the lactate threshold.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine plasma glucose kinetics and substrate oxidation in men and women during exercise relative to the lactate threshold (LT). Subjects cycled for 25 min at 70 and 90% of O(2) uptake (VO(2)) at LT (70 and 90% LT, respectively). Plasma glucose appearance (R(a)) and disappearance (R(d)) were determined with a primed constant infusion of [6,6-(2)H]glucose. There were no significant differences in glucose R(a) between men [22.6 +/- 1.9 and 39.9 +/- 3.9 micromol x kg fat-free mass (FFM)(-1) x min(-1) for 70 and 90% LT, respectively] and women (22.3 +/- 2.7 and 33.9 +/- 5.7 micromol x kg FFM(-1) x min(-1) for 70 and 90% LT, respectively). Similarly, there were no significant differences in glucose R(d) between men (21.2 +/- 1.9 and 38.1 +/- 3.7 micromol x kg FFM(-1) x min(-1) for 70 and 90% LT, respectively) and women (21.3 +/- 2.8 and 33.3 +/- 5.6 micromol x kg FFM(-1) x min(-1) for 70 and 90% LT, respectively). Although there were no differences between genders in the relative contribution of carbohydrate (CHO) to total energy expenditure, the relative contribution of muscle glycogen to total CHO oxidation (75.8 +/- 3.2 and 64.2 +/- 8.0% for men and women, respectively, at 70% LT and 75.1 +/- 2.6 and 60.1 +/- 11.2% for men and women, respectively, at 90% LT) was lower in women. Consequently, the relative contribution of blood glucose to total CHO oxidation was significantly higher in women. These results indicate that although plasma glucose R(a) and R(d) are similar in men and women, the relative contribution of muscle glycogen and blood glucose is significantly different in women during moderate-intensity exercise relative to LT.     

Gender differences in hemispheric interaction during distributed and directed attention

Gender differences in the functional hemispheric organization during memorization of dichotically presented verbal information in the situation of focused or non-focused attention were studied. Analysis of EEG coherence reactivity in six frequency bands (4-30 Hz) showed that the focused attention to stimuli presented to one ear as compared to divided attention between both ears was accompanied by an increase in the interhemispheric interaction in the thetal frequency band between the frontal cortical areas in men and between the parietoccipital areas in women. In the betal band, the focused attention was associated with a contralateral increase in the intrahemispheric coherence in men, whereas no significant difference in the intrahemispheric coherence was found in women. On the basis of coherence changes in the thetal and betal bands depending on the attention conditions together with the obtained correlation between coherence reactivity and word-recall scores, it may be suggested that verbal memorization in men is associated, predominantly, with the regulation from the anterior system of attention and from the posterior system in women.     

Genotypic differences in some physiological characteristics during cotton fiber thickening and its influence on fiber strength

Cotton (Gossypium L.) fiber strength is linked with many complex physiological and biochemical processes in the stage of secondary fiber cell wall thickening. With the aim of further exploiting of the relationship between fiber strength and genotypic differences in physiological characteristics, the experiment was implemented in Nanjing, China (in the lower reach of Yangtze River Valley in China) at the stage of cotton fiber thickening stage in 2004–2005. The result showed that the higher strength fiber (genotype Kemian 1) always had higher activities of sucrose synthetase (SuSy) and β-1,3-glucan synthase, and more sucrose and callose existed and transformed for cellulose synthesis than these of the other genotypes during the fiber secondary wall thickening period These resulted in a longer and more gently cellulose accumulation and wider range and longer period of fiber strength enhancing. Interestingly, the opposite effects were observed in lower strength fiber of Dexiamian 1 and intermediary indices were found in NuCOTN 33B with middle strength fiber. Taken together, above results suggested the variations in the transformation of sucrose and callose contents, and the dynamics of sucrose synthase and β-1,3-glucan synthase activities, might be one of the physiological reasons causing the differences in the speed of cellulose accumulation and fiber strength formation. Additionally, other results showed: (1) the occurrence of callose content peak might be an important sign of the onset of the secondary wall thickening in the fiber cell; (2) the duration and the maximum growth rate of cellulose rapid accumulation contribute more to fiber strength development than other indices of cellulose rapid accumulation.     

Validity of Carminatti's test to determine physiological indices of aerobic power and capacity in soccer and futsal players

The aim of this study was to verify the validity of a new progressive distance and fixed time test (Carminatti's test [TCAR]) in estimating the main physiological indices of aerobic fitness in team-sport players. Thirty professional national level team-sport players (n = 12 futsal players and 18 soccer players) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects performed the TCAR and a laboratory incremental treadmill test (ITT). The TCAR required subjects to complete repeated sets of 5 × 12-second shuttle-running bouts at progressive speed until volitional exhaustion. Each 12-second bout and series were separated by a 6- and 90-second recovery periods, respectively. The initial distance was set at 15 m and was progressively increased by 1 m each set. The ITT commenced at a velocity of 9.0 km·h(-1) and was increased by 1.2 km·h(-1) each 3 minutes until volitional exhaustion. Peak TCAR running velocity resulted not significantly (p > 0.05) different from speed at VO2max (vVO2max) during ITT. Peak TCAR running velocity was significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with vVO2max (r = 0.55) and VO2max (r = 0.51). No significant differences were found (p > 0.05) among the mean values of velocity and heart rate at the anaerobic threshold, estimated in the TCAR test and measured in the ITT. In light of this study results, the TCAR can be considered as a viable field test to estimate aerobic power and capacity in team-sports players. The limited devices and space required by TCAR warrant consideration for those strength and conditioning professionals who deal with team sports.     

Sex differences in lactate and glycerol levels during maximal aerobic and anaerobic running

Lactate, glycerol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline in venous blood following 400 m and 3000 m runs were measured in 6 untrained male students, 5 female handball players, 6 female sprinters and 6 female long-distance runners. Physical performance in the two events by the untrained males was the same as for the female handball players, but was less than that by the female sprinters and female long-distance runners. Peak blood lactate levels obtained after 400 m sprinting, and glycerol concentration following the 3000 m run were not significantly different between the untrained males and the female handball players. On the other hand, both peak blood lactate concentrations after 400 m sprinting for female sprinters and peak blood glycerol levels following a 3000 m run for female long-distance runners were significantly higher than those in the untrained male subjects. In both runs there was no significant difference in adrenaline and noradrenaline between the untrained male group and the female handball players. These results suggest that blood lactate in a 400 m run, and glycerol in a 3000 m run might be a reflection of physical performance level but not of sex difference.     

Gender differences in the regulation of amino acid metabolism.

Exercising men, compared with women, have a greater increase in leucine oxidation but not lysine rate of appearance. The cause for this sexual dimorphism is unknown; however, an inhibition of beta-adrenoreceptor activity has previously been shown to mediate amino acid metabolism (Lamont LS, McCullough AJ, and Kalhan SC. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 268: E910-E916, 1995; Lamont LS, Patel DG, and Kalhan SC. J Appl Physiol 67: 221-225, 1989). This study was a gender comparison of leucine and lysine kinetics during a beta-adrenoreceptor blockade (beta1,beta2-blockade) and a placebo control by using a double-blind crossover protocol. Subjects exercised at 50% of their trial-specific maximal O2 consumption (1 h) after 7 days of dietary control. During exercise with beta-blockade, men had an increased nonprotein respiratory exchange ratio (P < 0.001), whereas women had an increased circulation of free fatty acids (P < 0.001). The genders also displayed distinct differences in exercise amino acid kinetics. The men, but not the women, increased leucine oxidation (P < 0.005) and lysine rate of appearance (P < 0.009) when exercising during beta-adrenergic blockade. This study indicates that during beta-blockade, exercising men increase their need for amino acids (and carbohydrate) to fuel energy needs, whereas women increase their mobilization of fat, thereby requiring less alternative fuels such as carbohydrate and amino acids. Gender-specific fuel preferences during exercise are regulated by beta-adrenergic-receptor activity. Substrate availability during exercise appears to modulate the amino acid oxidation differences between genders.     

Biracial study of arterial pressures in the first and second decades of life.

The blood pressures of young Black and White American schoolchildren were measured and compared with those of Nigerian children of similar ages. Both diastolic and systolic pressures were consistently higher in the Nigerian children than in the Americans, both Black and White. The White children had the lowest pressures at each age. The mean weights and heights at each age were not significantly different in the three groups. Although the blood pressure of African children was higher than that of Black Americans, mean adult pressures are known to be similar in both groups. This suggests that the difference in childhood pressures must be due more to environmental factors than to genetic ones.     

Analysis of selected kinematic and physiological performance determinants during incremental testing in elite swimmers

This study examined the relationships between selected kinematic and physiological parameters and their influence on performance during incremental exercise in elite swimmers competing at the international level. Eleven men and ten women (all specialized in 200-m events) performed an incremental 7 x 200-m test in their specialized stroke. Stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL), velocity (V), and blood lactate concentration (BLa) were measured for each 200 m. In addition to the cross-sectional group design, the longitudinal performance of a male swimmer was evaluated by 4 tests during a period of 20 weeks. Stroke rate increased and SL decreased with V, regardless of the age, stroke, or gender of the swimmer. Statistically significant correlations were found between SR and V (p < 0.01; r = 0.66 to 0.99), SR and SL (p < 0.01; r = -0.78 to -0.99), SL and V (except for women's freestyle and breaststroke) (p < 0.01; r = -0.67 to -0.98), and BLa and V (p < 0.01; r = 0.7 to 0.96). Changes in SR and SL were not affected by changes in BLa. Similar velocities were produced with different combinations of SR and SL. The fastest times reached in the test were generally slower than expected, and the performance in the test was not associated with competition performance. The case study revealed similar results to those of the group. The test used in this study was informative with respect to identifying the most economical and effective stroke kinematics combination for slow to submaximal velocities. It is possible that the swimming speeds were not maximal in the final 200-m swim because of cumulative fatigue, which is a major limitation for assessing race pace. An additional test that produces velocities similar to those used in competitions would be more useful for the purpose of providing optimal kinematic information specific to racing speeds, which would facilitate performance improvement through regular monitoring in training.     

Gender differences and the interpretation of genetic instability in Alzheimer's disease.

The neuronal degeneration and death which characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD) may stem from a constitutive genetic instability related to DNA repair deficits. To test this hypothesis, we treated peripheral blood lymphocytes from persons with AD, age-matched controls, and young controls with two drugs that induce chromosome breakage. Bleomycin, a radiomimetic antineoplastic drug, causes single- and double-stranded DNA breaks through the generation of activated oxygen radicals. Methyl methane-sulfonate (MMS) is a monofunctional alkylating agent that binds covalently to DNA. Cells were grown in culture for 72 h, with drug treatments for 4 h (bleomycin) or 24 h (MMS) prior to harvest. Fifty cells per subject per drug were scored for chromosome breakage. Breakage rates for both drugs in AD women were significantly higher than those in age-matched control women. This was not the case in men, due to the very high induced breakage rates seen in the age-matched normal control men. Because the induced breakage rates in AD women and AD men are equivalent, it seems likely that an independent factor may be contributing to genetic instability in the normal control men. Our findings indicate that the interpretation of the response of AD lymphocyte chromosomes to DNA-damaging chemicals can be strongly confounded by the effects of gender ratio in the control population sampled. These findings have important implications for the design of future studies of Alzheimer's disease, as well as for the assessment of health risks in unaffected elderly populations.     

Gender differences in upper airway compliance during NREM sleep: role of neck circumference.

It has been proposed that the gender difference in sleep apnea prevalence is related to gender differences in upper airway structure and function. We hypothesized that men would have smaller retropalatal cross-sectional area and higher compliance during sleep compared with women. Using upper airway imaging, we measured upper airway cross-sectional area and retropalatal compliance in wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in 15 men and 15 women without sleep-disordered breathing. Cross-sectional area at the beginning of inspiration tended to be larger in men compared with women in both wakefulness [194.5 +/- 21.3 vs. 138.8 +/- 12.0 (SE) mm(2)] and NREM sleep (111.1 +/- 17.6 vs. 83.3 +/- 11.9 mm(2); P = 0.058). There was no significant difference, however, after correction for body surface area. Retropalatal compliance also tended to be higher in men during both wakefulness (5.9 +/- 1.4 vs. 3.1 +/- 1.4 mm(2)/cmH(2)O; P = 0.006) and NREM sleep (12.6 +/- 2.7 vs. 4.7 +/- 2.6 mm(2)/cmH(2)O; P = 0.055). However, compliance was similar in men relative to women after correction for neck circumference. We conclude that the gender difference in retropalatal compliance is more accurately attributed to differences in neck circumference between the genders.     

Gender related differences in quality of life and affective status in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

According to the literature, quality of life has been shown to be reduced in females compared with males with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Psychosocial factors are also playing an important role in IBD, especially emotional lability. The aims of study was to investigate the sex differences in general and specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and depression in IBD patients. Hundred and twelve outpatients of the Gastroenterology Division, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, were enrolled in our study and divided in two groups: 50 females (31 with ulcerative colitis, UC and 19 with Crohn disease, CD) and 62 males (30 with UC and 32 with CD), age range 19 to 74 (M = 41.46; SD = 13.06). Most patients have been in long clinical remission or with mild disease according to Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score for CD and Clinical Activity Index (CAI) score for UC. There were significant differences in physical (F = 13.96, p < .0001) and mental (F = 9.44, p < .001) component of the general HRQoL, emotional domain ((F = 9.26, p < .001) and bowel symptoms (F = 7.04, p < .001) of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of life (IBDQoL), as well as, in anxiety (F = 7.03, p < .001) and depression (F = 12.09, p < .0001) between men and women with IBD. Women have expressed significantly lower level of the general HRQoL and more emotional disturbances connected with their disease as well as more frequent bowel symptoms compared with men. Effect sizes of those differences were large. Results of this study confirm that women with IBD are more prone to the negative impact of the disease on their HRQoL than men. Women with higher level of depression and anxiety experienced more emotional disturbances, bowel and systemic symptoms and lower general HRQoL. These results should deserve more considerations in the clinical treatment of IBD patients.     

Gender differences in the response of hepatic fatty acids and cytosolic fatty acid-binding capacity to alcohol consumption in rats

To investigate possible gender differences in the response of hepatic fatty acids and cytosolic fatty acid-binding capacity to ethanol consumption, both female and male rats (41 days of age) were pair fed liquid diets (with a littermate of the same sex) for 28 days. The diets contained 36% of energy either as ethanol or as additional carbohydrate. After ethanol feeding, the hepatic concentration of fatty acids increased 155% in females (P less than 0.01), whereas there was only a trend for an increase (22%) in males. This was associated with a much smaller increase of cytosolic fatty acid-binding capacity in females (58%) than in males (161%). Whereas the ethanol-induced increase in fatty acid-binding capacity provided an ample excess of binding sites for the fatty acids in males, the increase in females was barely sufficient for the binding of the large increase of fatty acids produced by ethanol in the females. The cytosolic protein responsible for this binding, the liver fatty acid-binding protein of the cytosol (L-FABPc), also promotes esterification of the fatty acids. In keeping with the postulated role of this protein, the ethanol-induced increases in hepatic triacylglycerols, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters were smaller in females than in males. The gender difference in cholesterol esters was associated with parallel changes in acyl-CoA transferase activity. A possible implication of the relatively small and most likely inadequate increase in liver fatty acid-binding capacity and fatty acid esterification during alcohol consumption in the females is that under these circumstances the risk for development of a potentially deleterious accumulation of fatty acids in the liver is increased, thereby contributing to the enhanced vulnerability of females to alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.