Gut colonization by Proteobacteria alters host metabolism and modulates cocaine neurobehavioral responses

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Human environmental crisis and the transnational corporation: The question of culpability

This commentary outlines the conflict of interests inherent in the state-transnational corporation relationship, and briefly discusses the failure of bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to ensure corporate accountability and compliance with basic human rights and international environmental laws.     

霉菌性阴道炎与抗菌素使用关系的病例对照研究

本文对霉菌性阴道炎与抗菌素使用及其它因素的关系进行了分析。病例对照研究结果表明，抗菌素使用与霉菌性阴道炎发病的联系极其明显（ＯＲ＝４２．５７）。应用一种以上抗菌素能显著增加患病危险（ＯＲ＝４２８．８３）。如果使用抗菌素时间不超过一周，患病危险性虽有增加，但未达显著水平，但超过一周使相对危险度达３１１．０。未发现自身和丈夫手足霉菌感染、公共浴池洗澡、避孕措施等与该病有关，但年龄和职业（干部）具有增加发病危险的意义。     

Assessing and Addressing the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism Across the Spectrum of Gender Affirming Care: A Review

ObjectiveAccumulating evidence demonstrates that gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) improves mental health outcomes in transgender persons. Data specific to the risks associated with GAHT for transgender persons continue to emerge, allowing for improvements in understanding, predicting, and mitigating adverse outcomes while informing discussion about desired effects. Of particular concern is the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the context of both longitudinal GAHT and the perioperative setting. Combining what is known about the risk of VTE in cisgender individuals on hormone therapy (HT) with the evidence for transgender persons receiving HT allows for an informed approach to assess underlying risk and improve care in the transgender community.ObservationsHormone formulation, dosing, route, and duration of therapy can impact thromboembolic risk, with transdermal estrogen formulations having the lowest risk. There are no existing risk scores for VTE that consider HT as a possible risk factor. Risk assessment for recurrent VTE and bleeding tendencies using current scores may be helpful when assessing individual risk. Gender affirming surgeries present unique perioperative concerns, and certain procedures include a high likelihood that patients will be on exogenous estrogens at the time of surgery, potentially increasing thromboembolic risk.Conclusions and RelevanceWithholding GAHT due to potential adverse events may cause negative impacts for individual patients. Providers should be knowledgeable about the management of HT in transgender individuals of all ages, as well as in the perioperative setting, to avoid periods in which transgender individuals are off GAHT. Treatment decisions for both anticoagulation and HT should be individualized and tailored to patients’ overall goals and desired outcomes, given that the physical and mental health benefits of gender affirming care may outweigh the risk of VTE.     

Olfactory sexual inhibition and the westermarck effect

The Westermarck effect (sexual inhibition among individuals raised together) is argued to be mediated olfactorily. Various animals, including humans, distinguish among individuals by scent (significantly determined by MHC genotype), and some avoid cosocialized associates on this basis. Possible models of olfactory mechanisms in humans are evaluated. Evidence suggests aversions develop during an early sensitizing period, attach to persons as much as to their scents, and are more powerful among females than among males. Adult to child aversions may develop similarly, but more likely result from stimulus generalization. This hypothesis accords with current evidence and yields testable predictions (e.g., anosmia will prevent inhibition) that, should they be supported, will conclusively ground the Westermarck effect in a biological mechanism. A version of this paper was originally presented at the 92nd annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Toronto, Canada. Mark A. Schneider is a sociologist of science and author of “Sacredness, Status and Bodily Violation” (Body and Society, 1996) as well as Culture and Enchantment (Chicago, 1993). Lewellyn Hendrix has written extensively on families in cross-cultural perspective and is the author of Illegitimacy and Social Structures (Bergin and Garvey, 1996). They recently coauthored “Assumptions on Sex and Society in the Biosocial Theory of Incest” (Cross-Cultural Research, 1999).     

Assessment of Childhood Obesity: National Reference Data or International Approach?

Assessing body mass index in children requires cutoffs that are different from those for adults. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence base, rationale, and practical issues that should inform decisions about the use of national and international reference data for assessing obesity in children. In many countries, decisions are being made without consideration of the existing evidence, and with limited understanding of the practical problems or potential harm that may arise.