Sexual abuse victimisation and perpetration in a cohort of men living with HIV/AIDS who have sex with women from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Sexual abuse leads to physical harm and devastating psychosocial consequences. It increases risk of HIV transmission and is associated with risky behaviour. Little is known about sexual abuse victimisation (SAV) and perpetration (SAP) among HIV-positive men who have sex with women (MSW). We investigated self-reported SAV and SAP among 242 Brazilian MSW selected at HIV care centres. Patients were questioned about sociodemographic data, mode of HIV acquisition, sexual practices, drug use and history of SAV or SAP. Prevalence of outcomes was estimated and risk factors for SAP investigated by logistic regression. Fifty-eight (24.1%) interviewees reported SAV. Of patients abused before 15 years of age, 64.3% reported events before the age of ten. Aggressors included relatives, friends and teachers. Among those victimised after 15 years old, 57.7% described events before 17 and 38.5% had acquainted aggressors. Fourteen (5.8%) interviewees reported SAP and most knew their victims. Sexual abuse perpetration was associated with lower schooling, marital status, illicit drug use and self-reported SAV. Sexual abuse was frequently reported by MSW from this cohort. Identifying predictors of violence and addressing SAV and SAP in comprehensive HIV care may help reduce violent behaviour, psychological distress and contribute to maximise benefits of preventive and care interventions.

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY AND COMPONENTS OF METABOLIC SYNDROME IN ADULTS WITH MOOD DISORDERS: RESULTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MOOD DISORDERS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

Objective: We sought to determine whether a reported history of childhood adversity is associated with components of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP-III)-defined metabolic syndrome in adults with mood disorders. Method: This was a cross-sectional analysis of adult outpatients (N = 373; n = 230 female, n = 143 male; mean age [SD] = 42.86 [14.43]) from the International Mood Disorders Collaborative Project (University of Toronto and Cleveland Clinic) with DSM-IV-defined major depressive disorder and bipolar I/II disorder. Childhood adversity was measured with the Klein Trauma & Abuse-Neglect self-report scale. The groups with and without childhood adversity were compared to determine possible differences in the rates of metabolic syndrome and its components. Logistic and linear regressions adjusted for age, sex, education, employment status, and smoking were used to evaluate the association between childhood adversity and components of metabolic syndrome. Results: For the full sample, 83 subjects (22.25%) met criteria for metabolic syndrome. Individuals reporting a history of any childhood adversity had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (systolic: p = 0.040; diastolic: p = 0.038). Among subjects with a history of sexual abuse, a significant proportion met criteria for obesity (45.28% vs. 32.88%; p = 0.010); a trend toward overweight was found for subjects with a history of physical abuse (76.32% vs. 63.33%; p = 0.074), although this relationship did not remain significant after adjusting for potential confounders. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall rate of dyslipidemia and/or metabolic syndrome between subjects with and without childhood adversity. Conclusion: The results herein provide preliminary evidence suggesting that childhood adversity is associated with metabolic syndrome components in individuals with mood disorders. Int'l. J. Psychiatry in Medicine 2012;43:165-177)

Molecular features of sexual steroids on cartilage and bone

In Brazil, the increase in the reported cases of degenerative diseases of articular cartilage is 20% per year, meaning that 200,000 Brazilians develop degenerative joint diseases every year, which have a negative impact on bone mass. This study shows evidence that hormone production of sexual steroids (estrogens, progestogens, and androgens) have an influence on cartilage quality, as well as on bone mass. Therefore, this review aimed to analyze literature data on the molecular and genic action of sexual steroids on hyaline cartilage and bone physiology, as well as osteoarthritis interference on the quality of these structures.

Median ages at stages of sexual maturity and excess weight in school children

Abstract: Background: We aimed to estimate the median ages at specific stages of sexual maturity stratified by excess weight in boys and girls. Materials and method. This was a cross-sectional study made in 2007 in Florianopolis, Brazil, with 2,339 schoolchildren between 8 to 14 years of age (1,107 boys) selected at random in two steps (by region and type of school). The schoolchildren were divided into: i) those with excess weight and ii) those without excess weight, according to the WHO 2007 cut-off points for gender and age. Sexual maturity was self-evaluated by the subjects according to the Tanner sexual development stages, and utilizing median ages for the genitalia, breasts, and pubic hair stages. Results: In the boys with excess weight, precocity was observed in the stages 4 for genitals and pubic hair and 2 for pubic hair, with the values for excess and normal weight. The median ages at the beginning of puberty (stage 2–sexual development) for boys and girls in Florianopolis were 10.8 and 10.3 years, respectively. Conclusion: Excess weight is associated with lower median ages in the sexual maturity stages in boys and girls and that it should be taken into account when evaluating sexual maturity in children and adolescents.

EVOLUTIONARY AESTHETICS AND SEXUAL SELECTION IN THE EVOLUTION OF ROCK ART AESTHETICS

This theoretical proposal applies evolutionary aesthetic, animal signalling and sexual selection to understand our artistic cognition, especially rock art aesthetics. Iconographic motifs, universally found in rock art, indicate which set of pre-artistic aesthetic psychological bias has been co-opted to catch the viewer`s attention. The co-evolutionary process of sexual selection could have shaped the design features of both rock art images and their aesthetic cognition by conferring mutual benefits on both producers, via manipulation, and receivers, via information extraction. We show some strategic techniques identified in rock art and art that indicate the occurrence of this co-evolution between producers and receivers.

Number of recent sexual partners among blood donors in Brazil: associations with donor demographics, donation characteristics, and infectious disease markers

BACKGROUND: Brazilian blood centers ask candidate blood donors about the number of sexual partners in the past 12 months. Candidates who report a number over the limit are deferred. We studied the implications of this practice on blood safety. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed demographic characteristics, number of heterosexual partners, and disease marker rates among 689,868 donations from three Brazilian centers between July 2007 and December 2009. Donors were grouped based on maximum number of partners allowed in the past 12 months for each center. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were conducted to examine associations between demographic characteristics, number of sex partners, and individual and overall positive markers rates for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus Types 1 and 2, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis. RESULTS: First-time, younger, and more educated donors were associated with a higher number of recent sexual partners, as was male sex in Sao Paulo and Recife (p < 0.001). Serologic markers for HIV and syphilis and overall were associated with multiple partners in Sao Paulo and Recife (p < 0.001), but not in Belo Horizonte (p = 0.05, p = 0.94, and p = 0.75, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, number of recent sexual partners was associated with positive serologic markers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.2-1.5), especially HIV (AOR, 1.9-4.4). CONCLUSIONS: Number of recent heterosexual partners was associated with HIV positivity and overall rates of serologic markers of sexually transmitted infections. The association was not consistent across centers, making it difficult to define the best cutoff value. These findings suggest the use of recent heterosexual contacts as a potentially important deferral criterion to improve blood safety in Brazil.

Burden of maternal bipolar disorder on at-risk offspring: A controlled study on family planning and maternal care

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a highly incapacitating disease typically associated with high rates of familial dysfunction. Despite recent literature suggesting that maternal care is an important environmental factor in the development of behavioral disorders, it is unclear how much maternal care is dysfunctional in BD subjects. Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize maternal care in DSM-IV/SCID diagnosed BD type I subjects compared to healthy controls with (PD) and without (NPD) other psychiatric diagnoses. Materials and methods: Thirty-four BD mothers and 106 controls underwent an interview about family planning and maternal care, obstetrical complications, and mother-child interactions. K-SADS-PL questions about violence exposure were used to ascertain domestic violence and physical/sexual abuse. Results: BD mothers were less likely to have stable unions (45.5%; p < 0.01) or to live with the biological father of their children (33.3%; p < 0.01), but had higher educational level and higher rates of social security use/retirement. They also had fewer children and used less contraceptive methods than controls. Children of BD women had higher rates of neonatal anoxia, and reported more physical abuse (16.1%; p = 0.02) than offspring of NPD mothers. Due to BD mothers' symptoms, 33.3% of offspring suffered physical and/or psychological abuse. Limitations: Post hoc analysis, and the use of questions as a surrogate of symptoms as opposed to validated instruments. Conclusion: This is one of few reports confirming that maternal care given by BD women is dysfunctional. BD psychopathology can lead to poor maternal care and both should be considered important environmental risk factors in BD, suggesting that BD psychoeducation should include maternal care orientation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of neonatal castration and androgenization on sexual dimorphism in bone, leptin and corticosterone secretion

This study investigated the role of neonatal sex steroids in rats on sexual dimorphism in bone, as well as on leptin and corticosterone concentrations throughout the lifespan. Castration of males and androgenization of females were used as models to investigate the role of sex steroids shortly after birth. Newborn Wistar rats were divided into four groups, two male groups and two female groups. Male pups were cryoanesthetized and submitted to castration or sham-operation procedures within 24 h after birth. Female pups received a subcutaneous dose of testosterone propionate (100 mu g) or vehicle. Rats were euthanized at 20, 40, or 120 postnatal days. Body weight was also measured at 20, 40, and 120 days of age, and blood samples and femurs were collected. The length and thickness of the femurs were measured and the areal bone mineral density (areal BMD) was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Biomechanical three-point bending testing was used to evaluate bone breaking strength, energy to fracture, and extrinsic stiffness. Blood samples were submitted to a biochemical assay to estimate calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, leptin, and corticosterone levels. Weight gain, areal BMD and bone biomechanical properties increased rapidly with respect to age in all groups. In control animals, skeletal sexual dimorphism, leptin concentration, and dimorphic corticosterone concentration patterns were evident after puberty. However, androgen treatment induced changes in growth, areal BMD, and bone mass properties in neonatal animals. In addition, neonatally-castrated males had bone development and mechanical properties similar to those of control females. These results suggest that the exposure to neonatal androgens may represent at least one covariate that mediates dimorphic variation in leptin and corticosterone secretions. The study indicates that manipulation of the androgen environment during the critical period of sexual differentiation of the brain causes long-lasting changes in bone development, as well as serum leptin and corticosterone concentrations. In addition, this study provides useful models for the investigation of bone disorders induced by hypothalamic hypogonadism. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Is the Sexual Satisfaction of Postmenopausal Women Enhanced by Physical Exercise and Pelvic Floor Muscle Training?

Introduction. Physical exercise including pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training seems to improve the sexual function of women with urinary incontinence. This effect in postmenopausal women who are continent has not yet been determined. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a 3-month physical exercise protocol (PEP) on the sexual function and mood of postmenopausal women. Methods. Thirty-two sedentary, continent, sexually active women who had undergone menopause no more than 5 years earlier and who had follicle stimulating hormone levels of at least 40 mIU/mL were enrolled into this longitudinal study. All women had the ability to contract their PFMs, as assessed by vaginal bimanual palpation. Muscle strength was graded according to the Oxford Modified Grading Scale (OMGS). A PEP was performed under the guidance of a physiotherapist (M. M. F.) twice weekly for 3 months and at home three times per week. All women completed the Sexual Quotient-Female Version (SQ-F) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and after the PEP. Main Outcome Measures. SQ-F to assess sexual function, HASDS to assess mood, and OMGS to grade pelvic floor muscle strength. Results. Thirty-two women (24 married women, eight women in consensual unions) completed the PEP. Following the PEP, there was a significant increase in OMGS score (2.59 +/- 1.24 vs. 3.40 +/- 1.32, P < 0.0001) and a significant decrease in the number of women suffering from anxiety (P < 0.01), but there was no effect on sexual function. Conclusion. Implementation of our PEP seemed to reduce anxiety and improve pelvic floor muscular strength in sedentary and continent postmenopausal women. However, our PEP did not improve sexual function. Uncontrolled variables, such as participation in a long-term relationship and menopause status, may have affected our results. We suggest that a randomized controlled trial be performed to confirm our results. Lara LAS, Montenegro ML, Franco MM, Abreu DCC, Rosa e Silva ACJS, Ferreira CHJ. Is the sexual satisfaction of postmenopausal women enhanced by physical exercise and pelvic floor muscle training? J Sex Med 2012; 9: 218-223.