American Journal of Men's Health最新文献

This study investigates the multifaceted factors influencing adjustment to prostate cancer among older men in Esfahan, Iran, using the social ecological model (SEM) as a guiding framework. We employed a qualitative approach, conducting semistructured interviews with 19 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, aged 63 to 92 years (mean age = 71), and six key informants, including spouses and health care professionals. We thematically analyzed the data to identify challenges and facilitators in the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental domains of the SEM. The findings revealed a dynamic interplay of factors shaping the adjustment process. Intrapersonal challenges included physical degeneration, psychological distress, stigma, and role reversal, countered by coping strategies such as adopting healthy habits and spirituality. Interpersonal dynamics encompassed family strain and denial, yet the presence of familial support and self-care significantly enhanced adjustment. On an environmental level, financial burdens and health care barriers posed significant challenges. The study furthermore highlighted critical issues like "dysmedication" and "body occupation" which impede effective coping. A complex network of personal, relational, and systemic factors influences the adjustment to prostate cancer among older Iranian men. We urgently need tailored, culturally sensitive interventions to address health care inequities, alleviate economic pressures, and enhance psychosocial support networks, thereby empowering older adults to navigate this challenging journey with greater resilience and dignity.

There is growing consensus for upskilling the health care workforce on gender-responsive strategies to more effectively connect and respond to men during health care encounters. To inform health practitioner education, the primary aim of this study was to gain insights from a diverse sample of men in Australia on their experiences and expectations when engaging with health care practitioners. Thirty-two men (18-70 years, median 33) participated in eight online focus group discussions. A combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to reconcile their expectations with prior published approaches for practitioners to engage men in care and identify new themes. Participants desired a genuine relationship, signaled by upfront and informal communication, active listening, and enquiry. In structuring treatment, participants sought transparency and respect for autonomy. Regarding the therapeutic alliance, avoiding gender stereotyping and empathetic, sensitive, and holistic care were valued by men. These expectations for how practitioners engage with men in care were reflected in their advice for health practitioner student training and aligned with approaches published previously. Participant insights were synthesized into four outcomes, for men, of successful engagement: legitimize the relationship to build trust, create a safe space to facilitate disclosure, empower men, and assess and treat the whole man through a biopsychosocial lens. In conclusion, men seek authentic connection and a caring style that allows them to legitimize and forge an ongoing relationship with their practitioner. These outcomes of successful engagement are key to developing consumer-informed health practitioner education and competencies on gender-responsive health care for men.

The treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) remains a significant challenge. Mendelian randomization (MR) is being increasingly utilized to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we carried out a genome-wide MR analysis on druggable targets with the aim of pinpointing latent therapeutic alternatives for ED. We collected data on the druggable genes and filtered out those associated with blood eQTLs, then performed two-sample MR and colocalization analyses using ED genome-wide association data to screen genes significantly linked to the condition. In addition, we carried out phenome-wide studies, enrichment analysis, protein network modeling, drug prediction, and molecular docking. We screened 3,953 druggable genes from the DGIdb and 4,463 from a review. Following data integration, 74 potential druggable genes were found to potentially regulate corpus cavernosum fibrosis. MR analysis of eQTL data uncovered five drug targets (TGFBR2, ABCC6, ABCB4, EGF, and SMAD3) significantly associated with ED risk. Colocalization analysis suggested a shared causal variant between ED susceptibility and TGFBR2, with a posterior probability (PPH4) exceeding 80%. Drug predictions utilizing DSigDB identified nolone phenylpropionate, sorafenib, and NVP-TAE684 as significantly associated with TGFBR2. Finally, molecular docking indicated strong binding affinities between these candidate drugs and the protein encoded by TGFBR2 (Vina score < -50). Through MR and colocalization analyses, the present study identified five potential drug targets for ED, with TGFBR2 showing remarkable relevance in blood. These findings offer valuable insights and potential leads for the development of more effective ED therapies, which may also contribute to cutting down the expenses involved in drug development.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant global health concern, with its incidence and mortality rates projected to rise due to population aging. In this study, we utilized PCa transcriptome data from public databases and applied bioinformatics methods to identify three prognostic genes (CDC20, RAD51, and TTK) related to centrosome duplication in PCa. CDC20 is involved in cell cycle regulation, RAD51 in deoxyribonucleic acid double-strand break repair, and TTK in spindle assembly checkpoint function and cell proliferation. We constructed a risk model and a nomogram model, both demonstrating moderate to good predictive performance with area under the curve values ranging from 0.611 to 0.765 at different time points. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were enriched in 64 pathways, including the cell cycle pathway, which is dysregulated in cancer. Furthermore, we analyzed the immune microenvironment and identified 13 differential immune cells and 13 differential immune checkpoints between high- and low-risk groups, providing insights into potential immunotherapy targets for PCa. In conclusion, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of PCa pathogenesis and lays important theoretical and experimental foundations for developing new diagnostic markers and treatment strategies. Future research requires more clinical samples and continued monitoring of the mechanism of these genes in PCa.

Fathers can experience psychological distress during the paternal perinatal period. The effects of paternal perinatal psychological distress (PPPD) are multileveled. Little research is available about PPPD in first-time fathers. The purpose of this review is to explore the literature on risk factors contributing to PPPD in first-time fathers. The Arksey & O'Malley framework was used to guide this scoping review. The Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework was used for answering the review question "What evidence is available about factors contributing to PPPD in first-time fathers?" Five databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and PubMed) were used to retrieve relevant, full-text, English references from January 01, 2020, to January 04, 2023. A data extraction tool was developed to identify risk factors assessed in the included studies. The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) was used for analyzing the extracted data according to the four socio-ecological levels, i.e., individual, relationship, community, and societal. A total of 18 references reporting on 16 studies were included in the review. Fifty-six tools were used for assessing the risk factors contributing to PPPD in first-time fathers. Limited understanding was established about risk factors because tools lacked gender sensitivity. Risk factors aligned with 12 domains (e.g., psychological, relationship, social, and physical). Most domains corresponded with the individual level of SEM. Only two domains corresponded with the societal level of SEM. The literature indicates there are few studies about PPPD experienced by first-time fathers. This scoping review adds to the literature on the mental health care gaps for this population. Further research on measuring PPPD may improve individual and family functioning during the perinatal period.

Varicocele is characterized by the abnormal dilation of veins within the testicular pampiniform plexus, contributing to inflammation, pain, and infertility in males. The precise roles of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), and BCL-2-associated X-protein (BAX) in the pathology of varicocele still need to be clarified. This study sought to investigate the protein expression levels of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, BCL-2, and BAX in varicose and healthy vessels from patients diagnosed with varicocele. Tissue samples were collected from 20 varicose veins and 20 healthy vessels from patients diagnosed with varicocele. Western blotting was utilized to quantify VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, BCL-2, and BAX protein levels. Analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in VEGFR3 protein expression within varicose veins compared to healthy vessels (p = .0473), while no significant differences were observed in the levels of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 between the two groups. Concerning apoptotic signaling proteins, no significant differences were noted in the individual expression levels of BAX and BCL-2; however, the BAX/BCL-2 ratio was approximately 1.29 in varicose vessels. This ratio, exceeding 1.0, may suggest a pro-apoptotic shift in varicose veins and indicates a potential involvement of apoptosis in the pathology of varicocele. These findings suggest that VEGFR3 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of varicocele and could contribute to vascular alterations associated with this condition. Furthermore, the elevated BAX/BCL-2 ratio implies a pro-apoptotic environment within varicose veins, thereby implicating apoptosis as a possible mechanism in the development of varicocele. Further exploration of VEGFR3-related signaling pathways and apoptotic markers may yield valuable insights for identifying therapeutic targets in managing varicocele.

This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence against men and its effect on marital satisfaction during the Covid-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the period 2019 to 2020 on 233 men of Estahban city, Iran, who were selected using the convenient sampling method. Data collection instruments were the Demographic Characteristics Checklist, the Domestic Violence Against Men Questionnaire, and the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire. Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. The mean scores of the violence and marital satisfaction were 321.08 ± 25.9 and 235 ± 0.13, respectively, and these two variables were significantly correlated (r = .215; p < .001). In addition, the regression analysis showed that the mean score of violence significantly predicted marital satisfaction (p < .05). The study finding showed that the Iranian men faced with a moderate level of domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic; therefore, the study concludes that various institutions should design and implement effective strategies to prevent the occurrence of domestic violence and reduce its negative effects on the family.

Suicide is a leading cause of death in Canada, with men being three times more likely to die from suicide compared with the rest of the population. Among Canadian men, those who are Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SGBTQ) are disproportionately impacted by suicidality. Drawing on this growing public health crisis, this current scoping review focuses on Canadian-based 2SGBTQ men to address the research question: What is known about Canadian-based Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SGBTQ) men's experiences with suicidality? Keywords related to "2SGBTQ men" and "suicidality" were searched across five bibliographic databases to derive 25 articles for analysis. Three thematic findings were generated: (a) Methodological Approaches, (b) Social Identities and Stigma, and (c) Psychosocial Health Issues. First, we trace how the study designs, data sources, and sampling methods used in research influence how we know about 2SGBTQ men's suicidality. Second, we report on anti-gay, anti-trans, and HIV stigma as characterizing the diverse associations between 2SGBTQ men's multiple social identities and their suicidality risk. Third, we detail how psychosocial health issues, including mental illness, financial precarity, and substance use, exacerbate social stresses and related risks of suicidality for 2SGBTQ men. These findings map understandings about how suicide risk diversely manifests among subgroups of Canadian-based 2SGBTQ men and interconnections between 2SGBTQ men's social identities, stigma, and their psychosocial health issues. We draw on these learnings to recommend future research priorities regarding 2SGBTQ men's suicidality, alongside opportunities to advance knowledge to inform targeted suicide prevention interventions.

Support for abortion is comparable between men and women in the United States; one in five reproductive age men reports abortion involvement. Yet, societal focus on abortion as a uniquely women's issue minimizes men's involvement in abortion. We conducted a secondary analysis of survey (n = 203) and interview data (n = 30) on male partner's experiences accompanying abortion recipients at two family planning clinics in Chicago, Illinois. Respondents identified reasons for abortion from a prepopulated 14-item list. We correlated reasons with respondent's abortion preference and decision satisfaction, characterizing this relationship via thematic analyses of interview transcripts. Nearly all men (97.5%) identified multiple reasons for abortion (median: 6/14), including: mistimed pregnancy (80%), impact on his/his partner's education/career (75%-80%), and finances (71%). Neither individual reasons nor number of reasons was significantly associated with abortion decision preference or decision satisfaction. While 41% would not have chosen abortion, only 10% reported dissatisfaction. Men's perception of decision concordance with their partner was significantly linked to their satisfaction (p < .01). Thematic analysis highlighted complex partner involvement, including shared and deferred decision-making and tension amid demonstrated support. Many abortion-accompanying men preferred to continue the pregnancy, yet very few reported dissatisfaction with the ultimate decision, which may be related to perceived decision concordance with their female partner. Men's decisions for abortion are complex and include varying degrees of male partner involvement and/or decision deferral to female partners.