American Journal of Men's Health最新文献

Musculoskeletal injuries during the "Initial Training Phase" (ITP) are a major medical problem faced by law enforcement agencies worldwide. Aiming to develop an injury prevention strategy, we examined the incidence, type, associated factors, and severity of injuries and secondarily tracked their evolution over time by batches in a police academy. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using prospectively collected injury data on 979 newly recruited male police cadets enrolled in eight batches between 2015 and 2023. Among the 376 injured participants (age: 18.1 ± 0.3 years, body-mass: 75.8 ± 12.5 kg, body-height: 173.7 ± 4.0 cm, body mass index [BMI]: 25.1 ± 4.1 kg·m^-2, body-fat percentage: 18.1% ± 5.1%), 405 injuries were recorded during the ITP. Musculoskeletal injury data were analyzed according to type, associated-factors, severity, and evolution across batches. Almost half of the recruits (41.4%) sustained at least one musculoskeletal injury. Based on injury frequency (39-69 case) and exposure time (20,944.5-43,006.5 hours per participant) indices, and with an implication of scientific training tips, the long-term follow-up over-batches showed that the injury incidence was decreased 2.5-fold from Batch 1 to Batch 8 (p < .0001). Most injuries occurred between Weeks 2 and 5 (80% cumulative). The most common injury type was medial tibial stress syndrome (36.0%), followed by iliotibial band syndrome (12.6%), and ankle sprain (10.4%). This injury profile aligns with previous studies on law enforcement recruits, although comparisons should be made cautiously due to variations in training programs and recruit characteristics between agencies. The most frequently reported perceived potential contributors of injuries were vitamin and mineral deficiencies (20.7%), overweight/obesity (19.1%), and harsh physical activities (13.0%). During ITP, almost half of the recruits sustained at least one musculoskeletal injury, most of them in the fourth week. Some of the major associated factors of injury could be controlled resulting in a potential reduction of the injury incidence by up to 2.5 times. Implementing tailored fitness programs, incorporating subjective and objective training load assessments, and enhancing monitoring could significantly decrease injury rates, improve recruit readiness, and reduce resource and time waste on injury treatment.

This scoping review explores what is currently understood about how masculinity norms interplay with loneliness and social connectedness among men in a Western context. Human beings inherently need social connections, and this review particularly addresses how traditional masculinity norms-emphasizing independence, emotional stoicism, and pain endurance-can increase vulnerability to loneliness and insufficient social connections. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and systematically assessed the literature published between September 2013 and September 2023. Initial literature searches were conducted using multiple databases, including EBSCO and PubMed. Of the 1,730 articles identified, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were quality assessed. Results show that men often formed social connections through productive activities. Still, these connections were restricted by conflicting masculine ideals such as self-reliance, which could be prioritized over social and emotional support. Masculine bonds were often formed and strengthened through collectively rejecting diversity. Nevertheless, there were some narratives where participants attempted to redefine masculinity to access permission to care and connect. This review highlights the urgent need for cultural and societal reevaluation of gender norms to support men's social connectedness. This shift could reduce stigma around emotional vulnerability and in turn men's opportunities for health and well-being.

Antioxidants act by preventing excessive oxidative stress within the developing sperm cells. Hookah smoking has been implicated in inducing oxidative stress which may be a risk factor for male infertility. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by evaluating the effect of hookah smoking on sperm quality and the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and Cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 (CYP24A1) genes which are involved in antioxidant response. Young fertile men in reproductive age were categorized into hookah smokers (n = 32) and non-smokers (n=52). Sperm parameters (concentration, volume, motility, morphology) as well as gene expression of NRF2 and CYP24A1 were evaluated in each sperm sample. There was no meaningful change in sperm parameters in the case group compared with the controls. The mRNA levels of NRF2 was significantly higher in the case group compared with the controls (p = 0.01), while CYP24A1 expression did not significantly change between the study groups. A remarkable increase in NRF2 expression in hookah smokers might be a cellular defense mechanism, indicating activation of antioxidant response in sperm to counteract potential oxidative stress caused by hookah use. However, further research is needed to understand the functional consequences of this upregulation.

Low testosterone levels in men contribute to altered sexual health, including low libido, erectile dysfunction, impaired sleep, and changes in mood and energy. Nearly half of all infertility cases are implicated by male factors, such as low testosterone levels and altered semen and sperm health. The purpose of this case series is to share the experience of two men taking a concentrated, highly bioavailable gelatinized form of specific phenotypes (sometimes referred to as colors) of Lepidium peruvianum (Maca-OG™) to improve reproductive health. One man experienced an increase in total testosterone levels and fertility parameters, including sperm concentration, sperm motility, and total sperm count. The second experienced an increase in total testosterone levels, energy, mood, and sleep. This case series highlights a natural alternative for male health to support the body's production of testosterone, especially when hormone therapy is not medically indicated or desired by the patient, or there are concerns about hormone therapy reducing the body's production of testosterone.

Considering that men today face social and cultural pressures to behave in certain ways, the objective of this study was to analyze the construction of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) from the perspective of university students who identify themselves as male in a developing country. This is a qualitative study carried out through semi-structured interviews, with 15 students from the state of São Paulo, Brazil, from May to July 2021. The data were analyzed thematically and anchored in the ecological framework of understanding violence. Two final themes were identified: "'A man has to show that he is a man from a young age'-Social construction of violence" and "'At first it is hard to notice'-The subtlety of violence." It was identified that this phenomenon is configured as a historical, social, and cultural construction, mainly sustained by what is attributed to "being a man" in society and, consequently, the actions expected by this attribution. These perceptions are transversal in relationships within society and go beyond generations-and they are a layer in addition to memories of violence experienced or witnessed taking place in determining IPV experiences. Living in communities that legitimize gender inequities, generally in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, is a prominent factor influencing IPV among the studied population. In this context, psychological violence emerges as preponderant and triggers other forms of violence, which are difficult to notice and veiled behind prejudices. Educational practices for healthy relationships are proposed and emphasized from basic to higher education as well as peer and professional support.

Bladder cancer (BLCA) remains a significant health risk despite advancements in medical science that have led to reduced incidence and death rates. While the molecular regulatory mechanisms of BLCA are not yet fully understood, HSPE1, a member of the heat shock protein family, is regarded as a reliable prognostic target for BLCA. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the differential expression levels of HSPE1 and its relationship to GPX4 were examined. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was used to carry out HSPE1 pathway enrichment analysis. HSPE1 and GPX4 expressions in cells were assessed using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Cell cycle alternations and apoptosis were evaluated using flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was assessed using EdU and colony formation assays. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test, glutathione (GSH) measurement, and Liperfluo assay were utilized to evaluate the presence of ferroptosis in cells. BLCA tissues and cells had significantly elevated levels of HSPE1. In BLCA, high expression of HSPE1 inhibited apoptosis while promoting cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Significant enrichment of HSPE1 was found in the GSH metabolism and ferroptosis pathways, according to pathway enrichment analysis. In cancer cells, HSPE1 promoted GSH accumulation, decreased lipid peroxidation, and inhibited cell ferroptosis, as demonstrated in a rescue experiment with the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1. Pearson correlation analysis unveiled a substantial positive correlation between HSPE1 and the ferroptosis regulator GPX4. According to the results of rescue experiments, HSPE1 regulated GPX4 to affect cell lipid peroxidation levels and GSH accumulation. HSPE1 plays a crucial role in regulating GPX4 to prevent BLCA cells from undergoing ferroptosis, with this control mechanism dependent on GSH.