American Journal of Men's Health最新文献

About 1 in 10 men experiences sexual assault, resulting in various difficulties most frequently associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies (TF-CBT) seem less effective for men who experienced sexual assault compared to women. Efficacy of TF-CBT could be improved by adapting interventions according to the empirical data detailing men's preferences regarding psychological services. This scoping review aimed to document preferences of men who experienced sexual assault regarding psychological services, and to explore barriers and motivators to help-seeking for this population. A systematic approach was used to gather literature describing preferences regarding psychological services, and barriers and motivators to help-seeking. Thirty-five peer-reviewed studies and two non-peer reviewed reports met inclusion criteria. Data from included articles were extracted using a systematic extraction grid. A thematic content analysis was conducted to synthesize and present the results from the 37 studies. The number of empirical studies on preferences regarding psychological services was limited as only five documented preferences, all related to the clinician's characteristics (e.g., clinician's gender) and the type of intervention (e.g., action-oriented). Most studies reviewed barriers to help-seeking. The barriers most frequently identified were adherence to masculine norms and to myths about male sexual assault. Injury or substance abuse following sexual assault often act as motivators to help-seeking for men. To adapt TF-CBT to men who experienced sexual assault, researchers and clinicians should accommodate and further study these men's preferences, consider their motivators regarding help-seeking and alleviate barriers to help-seeking, notably by deconstructing masculine norms.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a global health challenge, especially due to its genetic diversity and capacity to infect 71 million people worldwide. This infection is prevalent in Pakistan, with 15% of the population affected, with varying rates across provinces. HCV primarily targets liver cells but can also impact other bodily systems, including the reproductive system. Liver infection, oxidative stress, and inflammation may directly or indirectly affect the production, transport, and functions of reproductive hormones and sperm. This study hypothesized that HCV infection may reduce male fertility in the patients. In this case-control study, 74 HCV-infected men and 12 healthy controls from Rawalpindi and Islamabad were compared for semen quality. Participants provided semen samples following strict guidelines, ensuring the reliability of results. The semen analysis, conducted using manual and computer-assisted techniques, revealed significant (p < .05) reductions in volume, concentration, motility, and morphology among HCV-infected men compared to the control group. In addition, a weak negative correlation between virus load and semen parameters was observed. These findings reveal broader health implications of HCV beyond liver damage, highlighting the need for targeted reproductive health interventions for affected men. Improved fertility preservation options and informed reproductive guidance for HCV-infected men could significantly benefit those undergoing treatment.

High allostatic load (AL), a measure of physiological dysregulation, has been linked with premature morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of research assessing AL among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) American men of various age groups. This study investigated racial differences in AL among NHB and NHW adult men and assessed whether racial differences in AL varied by age. Data were drawn from NHB (n = 232) and NHW (n = 246) men in the Nashville Stress and Health Study. AL was based on the sum of 10 biomarkers that was dichotomized as high AL (four or more high-risk biomarkers) or low AL (fewer than four high-risk biomarkers). Modified Poisson regression models were estimated to assess race differences in AL, adjusting for age, socioeconomic status (SES), and health behaviors. Interactions assessed whether racial differences in AL varied between young (22-49 years) and older (50-69) men. NHB men had a higher prevalence of being in the high AL group (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.54, confidence interval [CI] = [1.09, 2.18]), relative to NHW men in the total sample. Among young men ages 22 to 49 years, NHB men had a higher prevalence of being in the high AL group (PR = 2.09, CI = [1.25, 3.49]), relative to NHW men. Among older men ages 50 to 69 years, there were no racial differences in AL. Findings underscore the importance of identifying factors that are associated with high AL, which is critical to mitigate premature morbidity and mortality, among NHB men.

Variations in the estrogen receptor genes, particularly the Xba1 (rs9340799) SNP in the ESR1 gene, may influence the effects of estrogen on male fertility. Results from previous studies on this SNP for male infertility have been inconclusive. This review aimed to determine the association of ESR1 Xba1 (rs9340799) with male infertility. Relevant case-control studies published in English were searched from Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PubMed using keywords of ESR, polymorphism, and male infertility. Studies on animals, reviews, and abstracts were excluded. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for four genetic models, with heterogeneity assessed by I². A fixed or random effect model was applied based on I², and trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted with 5% significance for type I error and 95% power. ESR1 expression levels were examined in testes, hypothalamus, prostate, and pituitary using GTEx Analysis. Nine studies (four Asian, four Caucasian, one African) met the criteria. The G allele was protective against infertility overall (OR: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.70, 0.92]) and in Caucasian men (OR: 0.71; 95% CI = [0.54, 0.92]). Lower infertility risk was observed in Asian (AA vs. GG OR: 0.65; 95% CI = [0.43, 0.98]) and Caucasian men (OR: 0.49; 95% CI = [0.28, 0.83]). TSA indicated no further studies are likely to change these results. No significant change in expression of ESR1 was observed due to this SNP. The present meta-analysis suggests that the SNP Xba1 (rs9340799) in ESR1 is protective against male infertility, with current data sufficient to confirm these findings.

Mental health service research has insufficiently examined young Black men's (YBM; ages 18-25) mental health care consumption patterns, obscuring their unmet mental health needs. Concurrently, the literature indicates YBM face unmet service needs that impede their ability to address numerous negative social determinants of health (e.g., high adverse childhood experiences, low socioeconomic status, etc.). Because preventing or treating mental health issues at or near onset can dramatically improve outcomes, this study utilizes thematic analysis to elucidate the factors most consequential to YBM's experiences as mental health service consumers. Eight YBM (M_age = 21.1 years) were purposively recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews to discuss attitudes regarding mental health care and cultural attitudes, gender-based attitudes, structural racism, and transition to adulthood. Of the eight participants, five had active health insurance, six had received mental health services before age 18 years, and three were currently receiving mental health services. Participants were attuned to their mental health needs and rejected stigmatizing attitudes about mental illness. Most participants reported hesitation about taking psychiatric medications. Participants had limited resources and encountered structural barriers to accessing mental health services. Most participants did not perceive racism as a source of mental distress. Culturally informed, consumer-oriented research is critical to tailoring and strengthening YBM's mental health care. Future research should employ a population health approach to promote YBM's mental health service uptake in adulthood.

Military operations subject soldiers to intense stress, which can adversely affect both their emotional regulation and physical balance. This study examines the effectiveness of Reich's vegetotherapy (VGT), an alternative non-pharmacological intervention, in improving these critical areas among military personnel. A total of 29 soldiers, with an average age of 30, were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG; 15 soldiers) or a control group (CG; 14 soldiers). Over a period of 6 weeks, the EG participated in twice-weekly VGT sessions, while the CG received no intervention. The intervention group showed a significant reduction in anxiety levels, with scores improving from the beginning to the end of the test (p = .001) and a significant time × group interaction (p = .003). The EG experienced a greater improvement (-68%) compared to the CG (-9%) (p = .036). In the open-eyes postural balance test, the EG showed a significant improvement (p = .029), with a time × group interaction effect (p = .04), although no significant difference was found between the groups (p > .05). The EG improved more (-36%) compared to the CG (24%). In addition, anger levels significantly improved post-intervention (p = .001), with a significant time × group interaction (p = .001). These findings suggest that Reich's VGT may serve as an effective method for mitigating stress-related impairments in military personnel. Further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to validate these results and explore its broader applications.

Guijiajiao-Lujiaojiao (GL) is a combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that can be used to treat oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS). However, its mechanistic role in OAS needs to be better understood and necessitates more studies. This study was planned to investigate GL's therapeutic effects and its mechanistic role in the tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (GTW)-induced OAS rat model. In total, 60 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 8 weeks of age were assigned to six groups: blank (NC), model (GTW), GL low-dose (GL-L, 0.3 g/kg/day), GL medium-dose (GL-M, 0.6 g/kg/day), GL high-dose (GL-H, 1.2 g/kg/day), and GL high-dose + PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (GL-H 1.2 g/kg/day + LY 1.2 mg/kg/day) groups. The model was characterized after 8 weeks to examine sperm concentration and viability, serum hormone levels, testes histopathology, and specific protein markers. The treatment efficacy was evaluated by mRNA and protein expression levels, among other parameters. Compared with the GTW group, the viability and concentration of rat spermatozoa were significantly increased after GL intervention (p < .01). Meanwhile, the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and T hormones in rats in the GL-M and GL-H groups were significantly higher than those in the GTW group (p < .05). Furthermore, GL enhanced the proliferation of spermatogenic cells by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, increasing and decreasing the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, respectively. It is concluded that the mechanism by which GL effectively enhanced the spermatogenic function of the GTW-induced OAS model may be attributed to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activation and the elevation of serum LH, FSH, and T hormone levels.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) rarely occurs in men of any age. Late-onset SLE (typically after the age of 50) presents special challenges. We report a case of SLE with renal involvement in a very old man. The patient, who was 82 years old, presented with acute kidney injury and a family history of SLE. He was diagnosed with lupus nephritis based on clinical criteria, although no renal biopsy was performed. After starting corticosteroid therapy, his condition improved markedly, with recovery of renal function and resolution of proteinuria and hematuria. The patient's case is notable for its advanced age and familial context, with a milder form of lupus compared with his relatives. Despite the absence of severe kidney damage, the patient's treatment with corticosteroids was effective, reflecting the unique and rare nature of this case.

Yoga is a holistic form of physical activity taken up for various reasons, including physical and mental health, and sometimes spirituality. Despite the growing popularity of yoga as a form of health-enhancing physical activity, data show the uptake among men to be consistently low compared to women. To gain an understanding of barriers and facilitators for yoga uptake and adherence among men, four focus group discussions (three male groups, one female group) and three individual interviews were undertaken. Using thematic analysis, three themes were developed: (a) encouragement, advice, and support from trusted others, (b) confronting gender-related perceptions and issues, and (c) getting to the benefits. The findings suggest that men are more likely to take up yoga when encouraged by trusted others and male role models. Men face gender-related challenges that can be overcome by educating them about yoga, focusing on its physical benefits, and experiencing the benefits of yoga firsthand. To encourage more men into yoga, yoga teachers need to create an inclusive environment that welcomes men and caters to their needs. These findings provide valuable insight into the unique challenges experienced by men in pursuing and practicing yoga regularly. They may be used to develop targeted recruitment and marketing strategies to draw more men into yoga and encourage them to stay, which is essential for experiencing the many long-term health benefits of yoga.

Stigma surrounding mental health, particularly among men, remains a significant barrier to men engaging with support services for their mental health. Despite increasing evidence of interventions targeting different aspects of stigma reduction, there is a notable gap in the literature concerning male-specific mental health stigma reduction interventions and on the underlying behavior change techniques (BCTs) used to reduce stigma. The purpose of this review is to synthesize the evidence relating to the impact of mental health stigma reduction interventions among men and to explore the underlying BCTs associated with each intervention. The review was restricted to empirical research reporting on interventions targeting mental health stigma in male-dominated populations. The quality appraisal was conducted using the Mixed Methods Analysis Tool and a narrative synthesis was conducted. Fourteen articles reporting on 11 interventions were included for review, while 20 outcome measures were used. Perceived public stigma attracted the largest number of interventions with a lesser focus on self or personal stigma. Nineteen BCTs were identified across the interventions with information about health consequences and self-monitoring of behavior being the most common followed by credible source, social contact, and behavior practice/rehearsal. This is discussed in relation to the wider literature. The methodological issues highlighted in the articles limit the conclusions and recommendations that can be drawn from the review. Recommendations for further research include standardizing the scales used in stigma measurement, in-depth reporting of intervention descriptions, and greater use of theory to guide intervention development.