Genome study reveals 30 years of Darwin’s finch evolution

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UPPSALA UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: 

A LARGE GROUND-FINCH (GEOSPIZA MAGNIROSTRIS) ON DAPHNE MAJOR, GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR. PHOTO: ERIK ENBODY.

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CREDIT: ERIK ENBODY

An international team of researchers has released a landmark study on contemporary evolutionary change in natural populations. Their study uses one of the largest genomic datasets ever produced for animals in their natural environment, comprising nearly 4,000 Darwin’s finches. The study has revealed the genetic basis of adaptation in this iconic group. The results are published in the journal Science.

Ever since Darwin wrote about the finches of the Galápagos Islands, biologists have studied these small songbirds to understand the mechanisms of evolution. One ancestral species has evolved into 18 different species in the last million years. The strength of Darwin’s finches as a study organism lies in what they can show about the early stages of speciation. Peter and Rosemary Grant (Princeton University) tracked nearly every individual on Daphne Major starting in the 1970s. Their work demonstrates that the finches of Daphne Major evolved in response to changes in the environment and interactions among species. An international team has sequenced the genomes of nearly every finch studied on Daphne and revealed the genetic architecture of adaptive change. 

“I think it’s a really exciting opportunity to tie together our understanding of evolutionary change in the deep past with observations in current time,” says Erik Enbody, the lead author of the study and former post-doctoral fellow at Uppsala University. “Genomic data is a powerful tool to take our observations of birds in the field and learn about the factors that have shaped their evolution,” adding that this kind of study at this scale couldn’t be possible without the decades of research on Galápagos. 

“One of the remarkable things we found is that only a few genetic loci explain a great deal of the variation in the beak of the finch,” says Leif Andersson (Uppsala University and Texas A&M University), senior author of the study. “It seems that one of the ways these genetic changes evolve is by bundling together multiple genes, which are then subject to natural selection as the environment changes.” 

These results may surprise human geneticists, where many genetic variants each are only responsible for a small amount of variation in human height, for instance. 

Over the three decades studied, the beak of the Medium Ground-Finch has become smaller. Using the genomes of all the finches on Daphne, the researchers show that this results from genes transferring from the Small Ground-Finch through hybridisation and periods of drought where individuals with smaller beaks survived better. 

“This study highlights the value of long-term studies to understand the mechanism of evolutionary change,” says Peter Grant. 

The researchers collected a drop of blood from the wing vein and banded each bird. This allowed them to track them and determine how long they survived, who they mated with, and their offspring.

 “By collecting blood samples throughout the study, we had the samples available for genomic study when the technology became available,” adds Rosemary Grant. 

The researchers studied not only the Medium Ground-Finch, but the entire community of four species of finches present on the island. The Common Cactus-Finch experienced a gradual change towards blunter beaks as conditions on the island changed and hybridisation with the Medium Ground-Finch increased. This study paints a dynamic picture of how species adapt to changing environments through a combination of genetic changes of large phenotypic effects that are sometimes transferred between species. As the global environment continues to change, the finches of the Galápagos island will provide a valuable window into understanding how birds, their genetic constitution, and their environment interact to shape the future of wild populations. 

Daphne Major from the sea, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.

The crater on Daphne Major from above, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.

CREDIT

Erik Enbody

JOURNAL

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adf6218 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Community-wide genome sequencing reveals 30 years of Darwin’s finch evolution

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

29-Sep-2023

 

Allergy study on 'wild' mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis

Peer-Reviewed Publication

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

The notion that some level of microbial exposure might reduce our risk of developing allergies has arisen over the last few decades and has been termed the hygiene hypothesis. Now, an article published in Science Immunology by researchers from Karolinska Institutet challenges this hypothesis by showing that mice with high infectious exposures from birth have the same, if not an even greater ability to develop allergic immune responses than 'clean' laboratory mice.

How microbes may prevent allergy has been a topic of great interest in recent times. Studies have suggested that certain infections might reduce the production of inflammatory antibodies to allergens and alter the behaviour of T cells involved in allergies. It has also been suggested that good bacteria in our intestines may be able to switch off inflammation in other parts of our body.

Robust allergic responses

Researchers have now compared the allergic immune response in ‘dirty’ wildling mice to those of typical clean laboratory mice. They found very little evidence that the antibody response was altered or that the function of T cells changed in a meaningful way. Nor did anti-inflammatory responses evoked by good gut bacteria appear to be capable of switching off the allergic immune response. On the contrary, wildling mice developed robust signs of pathological inflammation and allergic responses when exposed to allergens.

“This was a little unexpected but suggests that it’s not as simple as saying, ‘dirty lifestyles will stop allergies while clean lifestyles may set them off’. There are probably very specific contexts where this is true, but it is perhaps not a general rule”, says Jonathan Coquet, co-author of the study and Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

More like the human immune system

The wildling mice are genetically identical to clean laboratory mice but are housed under seminatural conditions and have rich microbial exposures from birth.

"The immune systems of wildling mice better represent the human immune system and so we hope that they can bring us closer to the truth of how microbes act upon the body," says Jonathan Coquet.

The findings contribute to our general understanding of how allergies may arise and may also have clinical implications. In clinical trial settings, researchers and clinicians have recently made attempts to treat patients suffering from inflammatory diseases with experimental infections. For example, infecting people with worms or performing faecal transplantations has been proposed as a tool to combat inflammatory diseases. Newborns delivered through C-section, have had maternal faecal transplantation and bacterial supplementation with the aim of promoting good bacteria in the baby’s gut and the child’s future health.

Can provide important insights

“This field of research can provide important insights into how infections and microbes can be used to facilitate health, but it is still in its infancy. Our study is a reminder that general and broad exposures to microbes may not have the clear beneficial effects that we wish them to have”, says Susanne Nylén, co-author of the study and Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet.
 
The work was led by Junjie Ma and Egon Urgard, researchers in Jonathan Coquet's group, and done in close collaboration with Professor Stephan Rosshart at University Medical Center Freiburg in Germany and Susanne Nylén (MTC). Several other research groups at Karolinska Institutet and elsewhere also contributed to this work, including the teams of Assistant professors Itziar Martinez Gonzalez and Juan Du (both at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, MTC).

The study was financed by several bodies, including the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Foundation, KI intramural funds, and the Wenner-Gren Foundation.

Publication: "Laboratory mice with a wild microbiota generate strong allergic immune responses”, Junjie Ma, Egon Urgard, Solveig Runge, Cajsa H. Classon, Laura Mathä, Julian M. Stark, Liqin Cheng, Javiera Alvarez, Silvia von Zedtwitz, Austeja Baleviciute, Sergio Martinez Hoyer, Muzhen Li, Anne Marleen Gernand, Lisa Osbelt, Agata Anna Bielecka, Till R. Lesker, Huey-Jy Huang, Susanne Vrtala, Louis Boon, Rudi Beyaert, Mikael Adner, Itziar Martinez Gonzalez, Till Strowig, Juan Du, Susanne Nylén, Stephan P. Rosshart, Jonathan M. Coquet, Science Immunology, online 29 September 2023, doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adf7702.

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JOURNAL

Science Immunology

DOI

10.1126/sciimmunol.adf7702 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Laboratory mice with a wild microbiota generate strong allergic immune responses

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

29-Sep-2023

 

Swimming lessons often discourage kids from just having fun in the pool

Deficiencies in typical swimming lessons could be solved by following self-determination theory

Peer-Reviewed Publication

FRONTIERS

Learning to swim is not just potentially life-saving: it also provides a full-body workout that promotes cardiovascular and lung health. While in high-income countries most children learn to swim, few join a swimming club afterwards.

Here, authors from the Netherlands showed that the way that swimming lessons are taught in the Netherlands can be improved. This could stimulate more children to keep up the activity. The results are published in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.

Lead author Carola Minkels, a doctoral student at the Department of Human Movement Sciences of the Free University Amsterdam, said: “Here we show that swimming lessons in the Netherlands poorly support the intrinsic motivation of children: their need for autonomy is thwarted, while their needs for competence, and relatedness are only weakly supported.”

“Fortunately, we also show that teachers can be taught to better support these needs if they adopt a swim teaching program explicitly designed for this.”

68% of Dutch children between six and seven, and 97% of those between 11 and 16, have at least the basic (A) swimming diploma, while 78% and 32% of children between 11 and 16 also have the advanced B and C diplomas. A poll among Dutch swimming teachers showed that 70% are concerned that their ex-pupils swim too rarely after obtaining their diplomas, so that their skills may deteriorate.

Self-determination theory

Minkels and colleagues observed how swimming is typically taught, and evaluated the lessons in the light of ‘self-determination theory’ of human motivation and personality. According to this theory, we enjoy activities best and persist in them when we are self-determined – that is, becoming and keeping motivated without prodding or supervision.

“Motivation is a prerequisite for all forms of learning, including motor learning. A more motivating teaching style is therefore more likely to improve the swimming capability of children,” said Minkels.

Self-determination theory posits that autonomy, competence, and relatedness jointly shape self-determination. Autonomy refers to our need to feel in control of our own choices, behaviors, and goals, without external control. Competence means our need to feel effective in our behavior, while relatedness is our need to feel connected and belong to a social group.

Rating teaching styles

The researchers studied 128 swimming lessons at 42 swimming schools, each taught by a different teacher. 25% of these teachers had been educated in the teaching course program, EasySwim, explicitly informed by self-determination theory. Meanwhile, 75% had been trained at one of three other courses that weren’t informed by self-determination theory. Each lesson lasted between 30 and 120 minutes, and included between two and 21 children between four and ten years old, all novice swimmers.

Two independent observers observed and recorded every instruction, demonstration, verbalization, and action by the teacher. At the end of the class, they gave each teacher a score on a seven-point Likert scale – developed and validated in a previous study on teaching styles – separately for how strongly she or he had thwarted or supported autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The higher the score, the more a behavior supported the need.

The median scores for autonomy, competence, and relatedness were 3.50, 4.33, and 5.5 points.

Scope for improvement

“Instructors scored significantly lower on the employment of autonomy in swimming lessons than on the employment of competence and relatedness,” wrote the authors.

The authors concluded that there is scope to improve the teaching style of swimming teachers in the Netherlands, especially in terms of nurturing autonomy in children.

Importantly, teachers trained in the EasySwim program were found to have significantly better scores for autonomy, which means that nurturing the three basic needs can be taught.

“We recommend that swimming instructors employ a teaching style that supports autonomy, competence, and relatedness. We expect that such a teaching style will not only stimulate children to improve their swimming skills, but also to enjoy it and to continue swimming once they have learned, for example by joining a club,” said Minkels.

 

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JOURNAL

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

DOI

10.3389/fspor.2023.1236256 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

How intrinsically motivating are swimming instructors/lessons in the Netherlands? An observational study through the lens of self-determination theory

 

ETRI confirms possibility of wireless communication 40m underground in mine

World's First Development of 40m Subterranean Magnetic Field Communication Technology. Enhances Safety Management of Underground Infrastructure and Pioneers Communication Solutions for Subterranean and Aquatic Environments.

Reports and Proceedings

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

 

IMAGE: SUBTERRANEAN MAGNETIC FIELD COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY view more 

CREDIT: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE(ETRI)

South Korean researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery that enables wireless communication below the Earth's surface, a significant departure from their traditional focus on terrestrial communication systems. This development opens new avenues for confirming the survival of individuals trapped due to accidents such as mine collapses during rescue operations.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute(ETRI) announced that they have successfully developed the world's first “Subterranean Magnetic Field Communication Core Technology.” Utilizing a transmitting antenna with a diameter of 1 meter and a receiving antenna of several centimeters, the institute managed to send and receive voice signal-level capacity up to 40 meters below the Earth's surface in a mine.

Conventional wisdom held that wireless communication in the complex underground environments of mines was virtually impossible due to signal attenuation. However, ETRI overcame these obstacles by developing a new communication system that leverages the unique boundary conditions of magnetic fields within the medium. The result is a successful transmission of voice data-level capacity in a mine where stable communication was previously unfeasible.

The research team miniaturized the size of their transmitting antenna to 1 meter, contrasting with the tens-of-meters scale antennas used in previous international research. The system also features small receiving sensors based on magnetic induction, with dimensions in the order of centimeters.

According to the researchers, the newly developed transmitting and receiving antennas function akin to an Access Point(AP), essentially serving as a base station linking the surface and the underground. Therefore, it is expected that once transmitting devices on the surface and receiving devices underground are installed, individuals awaiting rescue could communicate through personal devices like mobile phones, connected to these antennas.

The successful communication test was conducted over a distance of 40 meters inside a mine composed of limestone bedrock. The team explained that they used a very narrow low-frequency band of 20kHz, rather than the MHz or GHz range commonly used in general wireless communication. This frequency band was chosen to minimize material loss in the subterranean or underwater environment, and to suit the size of the antennas. The data transmission rate for voice signals was maintained at around 4kbps, sufficient for basic two-way communication.

In the labyrinthine darkness of underground mines, which bear a resemblance to the complexity of an ant colony, researchers have demonstrated the ability to transmit data directly over a distance of 40 meters between various levels.

This successful application of magnetic field communication promises to bring substantial changes to the underground mining industry. Notably, this technology is expected to offer a reliable mode of communication during emergencies such as mine collapses, underground fires, and other disaster scenarios that typically disrupt conventional communication systems.

ETRI emphasized that magnetic field communication systems would maintain connections between miners and rescue teams during accidents, thereby facilitating better-coordinated rescue efforts. The technology is also seen as a means to reduce response time in emergencies and to enhance safety measures.

Additionally, Last year, they successfully executed underwater communications up to a depth of 40 meters in freshwater regions such as rivers and streams.

Moreover, the institute has completed patent applications for key technologies, including transceivers, related antennas, modems, bandwidth extension transmission technology, and miniaturized magnetic field sensors.

ETRI's In-kui Cho, Director of EM Wave Basic Technology Research Section, elaborated, “We have conducted successful communication trials between the first and second layers of underground mines using magnetic field communication systems. This greatly reduces the likelihood of communication network disruptions caused by mine collapses.”

Seung-keun Park Assistane Vice President of Radio Research Division at ETRI, also expressed that beyond mining, magnetic field communication is expected to have a broad impact across various sectors. “This technology is anticipated to be a groundbreaking mode of reliable communication in complex and unpredictable environments like underground construction, tunneling, and ocean excavation,” he said.

The research team has secured a solid track record, including ten papers published in SCI-indexed journals and twelve international patent applications. Their work is set to be presented at the esteemed international academic conference in the field of communication, the 20th Annual IEEE International Conference on Sensing, Communication, and Networking(SECON 2023), scheduled for September 12, 2023.

ETRI is concentrating its research on overcoming the limitations of propagating material in extreme conditions like underwater and subterranean environments. Collaborating with industry partners, they aim to further develop this technology for long-distance and miniaturized systems exceeding 100 meters.

Researchers anticipate that this breakthrough will offer effective communication solutions not only in mine collapses but also in other underground structures like gas and oil pipelines, contributing to increased safety measures during various emergencies.

 

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The research results are part of the “10pT-class Micro-magnetic Field-based Medium and Long Distance Magnetic Field Communication Technology” project, supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT’s ETRI Research and Development Program. The developmental trials were conducted in collaboration with Admotech Co., Ltd. and Do-It Co., Ltd.

 

About Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

ETRI is a non-profit government-funded research institute. Since its foundation in 1976, ETRI, a global ICT research institute, has been making its immense effort to provide Korea a remarkable growth in the field of ICT industry. ETRI delivers Korea as one of the top ICT nations in the World, by unceasingly developing world’s first and best technologies.

This technology was developed with the assistance of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

 

New study examines pros, cons of advanced maternal age

Emily Mann has been awarded more than $140K from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences to study the biomedicalization of advanced maternal age.

Grant and Award Announcement

ARNOLD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

 

IMAGE: EMILY MANN IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROMOTION, EDUCATION, AND BEHAVIOR. view more 

CREDIT: ANNA WIPPOLD

Emily Mann has been awarded more than $140K from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences to study the biomedicalization of advanced maternal age. An associate professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior and with College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, Mann uses her sociology and women’s and gender studies background to research reproductive health in the context of medicine, public health and social inequities. For this project, she will use her expertise to investigate how advanced maternal age may paradoxically lead to both increased risks and better outcomes for mothers and their infants.

“Medical experts regard pregnancies at older ages as high-risk for genetic anomalies, pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes,” Mann says. “However, older first-time mothers are also more likely to be socially and economically advantaged, which can improve outcomes associated with high-risk pregnancies.”

Pushing back parenthood

Since the 1970s, the average age of women giving birth for the first time has steadily increased. The number of women giving birth after age 35 – an age classified as “advanced maternal age” and “high risk” – has gone up by 900 percent over the past five decades. First birth rates for women ages 40 and older have doubled in the past 30 years. Though scientific studies have not shown a clear relationship between maternal age and certain adverse outcomes, many suggest that first-time pregnancies at age 35 and older pose higher risks for both mothers (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, mortality) and infants (e.g., chromosomal anomalies, stillbirths, neonatal deaths). 

Despite the potential drawbacks of advanced maternal age, these same women have significant advantages compared to their younger counterparts. With numerous social determinants of health in their favor, many are members of racially privileged groups and are not vulnerable to the health inequities faced by minorities. They are also more likely to be highly educated and have had more time to establish stable parenting partnerships, build careers and improve their financial circumstances.   

Untangling the truth

To better understand this complex interplay, Mann and her team will examine the production and dissemination of biomedical knowledge about advanced maternal age. She will conduct interviews and text analysis to understand how biomedical researchers, clinicians and women interpret and negotiate the risks associated with advanced maternal age.

“Given both the rising fertility rate among women of advanced maternal age in the United States and the ongoing techno-scientific, cultural and political changes associated with pregnancy and birth, this project has the capacity to generate important scientific knowledge about the biomedicalization of advanced maternal age and its social significance,” Mann says. “Findings from this study can be used to better inform women and their health care providers with biomedical knowledge related to first-time births at age 35 or older.”

Mann’s path to public health

As a psychology (B.S. from Boston College) and women’s studies (M.A. from University College Dublin) student, Mann found her focus returning to reproductive rights. After completing her master’s degree, she spent a few years working at a Federally Qualified Health Center that primarily served Latino immigrants in the D.C. area.

“This experience led me to connect the dots between health care and reproductive health issues,” says Mann, who went on to complete a Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Maryland – collaborating with the clinic on research during her doctoral program.

A postdoctoral research fellowship with Cynthia Gómez at San Francisco University’s Health Equity Institute cemented Mann’s path. As the project manager for a large study about Latino youth, Mann studied this population’s decision making about sex, pregnancy, and parenthood in the context of the inequalities they face as members of a marginalized groups. She has continued this line of research since joining the Arnold School in 2014 and broadened it to include advanced maternal age after a chance conversation in 2018.

Perceptions of pregnancy

That conversation took place with sociology colleague Dana Berkowitz (Louisiana State University) about the experiences (e.g., receiving an interventionist approach to pregnancy/birth) of women in their peer group (i.e., racially privileged, highly educated, economically advantaged) who often delay childbearing. They decided to explore the topic further in the context of biomedicalization – a term used by medical sociologists to capture the intensifying way that social experiences like pregnancy and childbirth are transformed into health problems that must be handled using medical solutions.

With support from an ASPIRE I grant from USC’s Office of the Vice President for Research, they interviewed 55 women of advanced maternal age about their experiences. They found that although these women – whose advantages yielded them significant influence over many other aspects of their lives – expected to have more control over the birth process, most did not.

“Despite inconsistent scientific evidence, the perception that a pregnancy is inherently high-risk due to advanced maternal age is deeply entrenched in obstetric medicine,” they wrote in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. “Obstetric health care providers attempt to mitigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes perceived to be associated with advanced maternal age using … a constellation of interventions (that have) significant implications for the obstetric care experiences of pregnant women of advanced maternal age.”

Mann’s new project builds on this research by expanding the group of women interviewed while ensuring a racially diverse representation. By including the perspectives of clinicians, Mann will also increase our understanding of how the pros and cons of advanced maternal age are communicated and understood between patients and their health care providers. 

 U$A FOR PROFIT MEDICINE

Childbirth associated with significant medical debt

Postpartum individuals from the lowest-income neighborhoods were most likely to have unpaid medical bills, study suggests

Peer-Reviewed Publication

MICHIGAN MEDICINE - UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – For some families, the year after childbirth may not only mean loads of diapers but stacks of unpaid medical bills as well.

Postpartum individuals are more likely to have medical debt than those who are pregnant, suggests a new Michigan Medicine led study that evaluated collections among a statewide commercially insured cohort of 14,560 pregnant people and 12,157 people in the postpartum period.

“Our findings suggest that current out-of-pocket costs before and after childbirth are objectively more than many commercially insured families can afford, leading to medical debt,” said lead author Michelle Moniz, M.D., M.Sc., an obstetrician gynecologist at University of Michigan Health Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital and researcher at the Michigan Medicine.

“Our study highlights the need to consider policies to reduce maternal–infant health care spending in order to ease financial hardship and distress and improve birth equity.”

Postpartum individuals, or those seven to 12 months past childbirth, in lowest-income neighborhoods had the highest likelihood of having medical debt, followed by pregnant individuals in lowest-income neighborhoods and then all other postpartum and pregnant people, suggests the research in Obstetrics & Gynecology known as “The Green Journal.”

“Having unpaid medical bills was not only significantly more common among postpartum individuals but more common among the most socioeconomically vulnerable people,” Moniz said.

“These results suggest that all postpartum individuals are at risk of economic strain related to out-of-pocket spending for medical care before and after childbirth and that medical debt is most prevalent among postpartum individuals living in neighborhoods with the lowest median income.”

Moniz points to many factors that may explain why postpartum individuals may be at higher risk of medical debt, including health care costs for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn care as well as caregiving expenses and potential reductions in earnings after childbirth.

Authors say policymakers may consider efforts that reduce or eliminate maternal–infant out-of-pocket health care spending, such as allowing lower deductibles for those with lower household income or pre-deductible coverage that prohibits out-of-pocket spending for essential peripartum services such as prenatal visits, ultrasounds, the childbirth hospitalization for both parent and infant, and postpartum services.

“We know that financial hardship can negatively impact health – it is associated with delayed or deferred health care, mood disorders, and mortality among adults. No one wants these outcomes for new parents and infants,” Moniz said.

“We need to pursue initiatives that help us identify and assist individuals with the lowest capacity to buffer against high health care bills or other expenses around the time of childbirth so that families can bring home a baby without a bundle of unpaid bills and financial distress.”

 

JOURNAL

Obstetrics and Gynecology

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Association of Childbirth With Medical Debt

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

28-Sep-2023

 

Metaphors for human fertilization are evolving, study shows

Peer-Reviewed Publication

YALE UNIVERSITY

New Haven, Conn. — In a common metaphor used to describe human fertilization, sperm cells are competitors racing to penetrate a passive egg. But as critics have noted, the description is also a “fairy tale,” rooted in cultural beliefs about masculinity and femininity.

A new study by Yale sociologist Rene Almeling provides evidence that this metaphor remains widely used despite the profound shift in recent decades in social and scientific views about gender, sex, and sexuality. But her findings, based on interviews with a diverse sample of 47 individuals, also reveal that a more gender-egalitarian metaphor is circulating that describes sperm and egg as two halves of a whole. 

“The metaphors we use in discussing biological processes like fertilization are powerful: They both reflect and produce collective understandings of our bodies, ourselves, and our society,” said Almeling, a professor of sociology in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “By studying biological metaphors, we can learn how they undergird our beliefs and actions.”

The study, published Oct. 1 in the journal Gender & Society, was inspired by a landmark 1991 paper by the anthropologist Emily Martin, in which she made the case that scientists had relied on prevailing cultural beliefs of masculinity and femininity to construct “a scientific fairy tale” of active sperm penetrating a passive egg. Writing then, Martin demonstrated that the metaphor influenced the questions scientists studied and how they reported their findings in peer-reviewed journals or described fertilization in medical textbooks.

In the three decades since Martin’s study, Almeling said, scholars and advocates have increasingly challenged the presumption of heterosexuality and the categorization of bodies as either male or female. Additionally, she said, scientists over this period have started to move away from depictions of active sperm and passive eggs, providing descriptions that include sperm moving aimlessly in circles and eggs issuing chemical signals to draw in sperm.  

While Martin’s study focused on scientists creating knowledge, Almeling surveyed members of the general public living in the same city in the northeastern United States to gauge whether the changing beliefs about gender and sexuality are associated with different metaphors about fertilization. The individuals interviewed for the study represented a broad range of education levels, occupations, sexualities, and racial and ethnic backgrounds. Thirty-three respondents were men and 14 were women.

When discussing reproduction, nearly all the men (30 of 33) and about two-thirds of the women (9 of 14) used some version of the traditional metaphor of active sperm and passive egg. Drawing on language associated with racing, swimming, or fighting, they offered colorful descriptions of large numbers of sperm competing before a winner triumphantly entered the awaiting egg.

About one-third of the men (12 of 33) and two-thirds of the women (10 of 14) voiced a different metaphor in which the sperm and the egg are equal parts that meet and form a combined whole. (Several respondents incorporated both metaphors into their answers.) Unlike in the traditional metaphor, the more egalitarian version includes no mention of competition or penetration, Almeling said. As portrayed in second metaphor, both cells are necessary, and neither is sufficient on its own.

None of the respondents described the egg as the active agent of conception, Almeling noted.

“Identifying the patterns in how people use these metaphors provides insight into how social beliefs shape our perceptions of biological processes,” said Almeling, whose 2020 book, “GUYnecology: The Missing Science of Men’s Reproductive Health,” examined the lack of knowledge-making about male reproductive health and its consequences. “Whether it is scientists conducting research, clinicians talking with their patients, journalists writing about reproductive technologies, legislators creating policy, or everyday people leading their lives, the biological metaphors we use shape our thinking and profoundly affect society.”

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JOURNAL

Gender & Society

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

1-Oct-2023

 

Sexual activity and vaginal dilation associated with fewer side effects after cervical cancer treatment

Study points to options to improve quality of life for patients whose cancer is cured with chemoradiation

Peer-Reviewed Publication

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR RADIATION ONCOLOGY

SAN DIEGO, October 1, 2023 — People who engage in sexual activity or vaginal dilation after chemoradiation treatment for cervical cancer are at lower risk for long-term side effects, according to a new study from researchers in Austria. Findings of the EMBRACE study will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting. 

“Curing cancer is always our first priority,” said lead study author Kathrin Kirchheiner, MSc, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the department of radiation oncology at the Medical University of Vienna. “But with a growing number of relatively young cervical cancer survivors, the prevention and management of side effects becomes increasingly important to ensure a better quality of life.”

“I hope this research helps to reduce the taboo around sexual health and makes it easier for clinicians to discuss these issues with their patients.”

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Patients are diagnosed most often around age 50. Standard non-surgical treatment for patients whose cancer has spread to the surrounding tissue or organs involves a combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and brachytherapy – inserting radioactive implants directly into the tumor.

Advances in brachytherapy, such as the use of MRI imaging to pinpoint tumor size and location, along with the ability to deliver precise doses of radiation, have greatly improved tumor control and cure rates in recent years. The five-year survival rate for people with locally advanced cervical cancer is 74%.

Delivering high doses of radiation to tumors near the vagina, however, can lead to vaginal stenosis – a shortening or narrowing of the vagina – and long-term changes in vaginal tissue that can complicate gynecological examinations or cause pain during intercourse. Physicians often recommend regular and ongoing vaginal dilation to mitigate these side effects and prevent scar tissue from forming, but few studies have quantified its impact.

EMBRACE is a multi-institutional, prospective, observational study that measured physician-reported vaginal side effects and patient-reported outcomes among 1,416 people with locally advanced cervical cancer. In this sub-cohort of 882 patients, Dr. Kirchheiner and her colleagues compared side effects for people who were sexually active or used vaginal dilators on a regular basis in the years after treatment to those who did not follow this routine.

In the five years following treatment, patients were seen for a median of 11 follow-up visits with gynecological exams to assess vaginal side effects. They also filled out questionnaires on quality of life, sexual activity and vaginal dilation. Questionnaires were completed at baseline, every three months in the first year, every six months in the second and third years and annually thereafter. The median age of patients was 49 years old.

Regular vaginal dilation and/or sexual activity – defined as the patient reporting the practice during half or more of their follow-ups – was reported by 64% of patients and was significantly associated with lower risk for moderate grade 2 or higher vaginal shortening and narrowing five years after treatment (p≤0.001).  

Patients who reported both dilation and intercourse had the lowest risk of grade ≥2 vaginal stenosis (18%), followed by those who were sexually active but did not use vaginal dilators (23%) and those who used dilators but were not sexually active (28%). Patients who did not engage in regular dilation or intercourse were most likely to experience moderate stenosis (37%).

Analyses also showed that regular sexual activity and/or vaginal dilation was associated with an increased risk for other – but mild – vaginal symptoms, such as grade ≥1 dryness and bleeding.

This is not surprising, said Dr. Kirchheiner, as vaginal dryness is more likely to be noticed as a lack of lubrication in patients engaging in some form of penetrative activity, and that minor bleeding during or after dilation or intercourse can often be caused by irritation of the vaginal lining.

“Minor vaginal dryness and bleeding can be managed with lubricants, moisturizer and/or hormone replacement therapy,” she said. “The risk of having these minor side effects should not stop patients from dilating or having sexual intercourse, as these activities may help prevent a more serious, and irreversible, condition.”

Among people who reported regular sexual activity and/or vaginal dilation, 72% experienced grade ≥1 vaginal dryness, compared to 67% of those who reported none or infrequent dilation/intercourse (p=0.028). Grade ≥1 vaginal bleeding occurred in 61% of patients who reported frequent sexual activity and/or vaginal dilation, compared to 34% of those who did not (p≤0.001).

While the study’s findings point to a promising option for patients to maintain sexual health following cervical cancer treatment, Dr. Kirchheiner emphasized that this study was observational and therefore can only report correlations. Questions remain regarding the degree to which vaginal dilation and/or sexual intercourse effectively prevent shortening and narrowing, or if the development of vaginal symptoms interferes with the likelihood that patients are able to engage in these activities.

“In clinical reality, both causal pathways likely will contribute and interact in a vicious circle. However, as we cannot and should not randomize patients in a clinical trial into groups with and without regular dilation, our findings support both clinical experience and the standard of care.”

Next steps for this area of research, said Dr. Kirchheiner, include considering the role of sexual arousal, such as increased blood flow in the pelvic area, on tissue healing and vaginal health, given the slight advantage of intercourse over dilators in their observational study.

Yet studies on sexual health following cancer treatment can be difficult to complete, she noted. “Sexual health is a highly individual and sensitive topic to address, both in research and in survivorship care, and it deserves a respectful and comprehensive approach.”

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See this study presented:

• News Briefing: Monday, October 2, 11:00 a.m. Pacific time. Details here. Register here.
• Scientific Presentation: Sunday, October 1, 9:40 a.m. Pacific time, San Diego Convention Center. Email press@astro.org for access to the live stream or recording.
• Abstract Title: Association between regular vaginal dilation and/or sexual activity and long-term vaginal morbidity in cervical cancer survivors (Abstract 4)

Attribution to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting is requested in all coverage. View our meeting press kit at www.astro.org/annualmeetingpress.

ABOUT ASTRO

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with nearly 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. Radiation therapy contributes to 40% of global cancer cures, and more than a million Americans receive radiation treatments for cancer each year. For information on radiation therapy, visit RTAnswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit our website and media center and follow us on social media.

 

Post-traumatic stress symptoms can cause problems in the bedroom for midlife women

New study suggests association between PTSD and poor sexual functioning

Meeting Announcement

THE MENOPAUSE SOCIETY

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Sept 27, 2023)—Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with a number of adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Little is known, however, regarding its impact on sexual functioning among midlife women. A new study is shedding light on the topic, suggesting that greater PTSD symptoms lead to worse sexual functioning. Study results will be presented during the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia, September 27-30.

PTSD is more common among women than many people may believe, with approximately 10% of women reporting symptoms. The most common events leading to the development of PTSD include combat exposure, childhood physical abuse, and sexual violence. Despite the high prevalence of PTSD in women, there has been little research done regarding the association between PTSD symptoms and sexual functioning among midlife women.

A new study involving more than 100 postmenopausal women 45-66 years of age sought to determine if PTSD symptoms were associated with worse sexual functioning among midlife women after accounting for potentially confounding factors, such as age, race/ethnicity, education, vaginal estrogen use, alcohol use, and depressive symptoms. To qualify, study participants had to have experienced PTSD symptoms and had sexual activity within the month prior to evaluation.

On average, women who reported moderate and severe PTSD symptoms also reported lower sexual functioning. When specific aspects of PTSD symptoms were considered, greater avoidance/numbing symptoms were related to poorer sexual functioning, causing the researchers to conclude that greater past-month PTSD symptomology was related to worse sexual functioning. Results suggest the importance of assessing and addressing PTSD symptoms among midlife women to improve their sexual health and functioning as they age.

Study results will be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society as part of the presentation entitled “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Sexual Functioning Among Midlife Women.”

“Many midlife women experience profound changes in their mood, physical health, and social relationships, in part related to the menopause transition,” says Dr. Karen Jakubowski, lead author from the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. “Currently, there is little research on the long-term health effects of PTSD symptoms, specifically among midlife women. Our results highlight the need to better understand women’s trauma histories and PTSD symptoms in order to provide optimal clinical care for women during midlife.”

“As women age, there are many reasons why sexual functioning may become an issue for them,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society. “This study highlights the need for healthcare professionals to ask about any history of trauma and open-up the dialogue with their patients on this sensitive issue.”

Drs. Jakubowski and Faubion are available for interviews before and after the presentation at the Annual Meeting.

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org

New study suggests growing use of cannabis to help manage menopause symptoms

Women and adults aged 50+ are now the fastest growing group of cannabis users

Meeting Announcement

THE MENOPAUSE SOCIETY

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Sept 27, 2023)—Not so long ago, young adults were the primary users of cannabis. The reality today, however, is that women and adults aged 50+ represent the fastest growing group of users. A new study additionally confirms the frequent use of cannabis by midlife women to manage an array of menopause symptoms. Study results will be presented during the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia September 27-30.

With rapidly expanding legalization and normalization, recreational and medical cannabis use is increasing across all age groups. Past research largely focused on usage habits by men and younger adults. However, until now, little was known about the prevalence or characteristics of cannabis use among women in and after the menopause transition.

A new study based on data from more than 5,000 midlife women has sought to address this information gap by analyzing the frequency, forms, and motives of cannabis use by primarily postmenopausal women.

Based on the results, the researchers concluded that cannabis use is relatively common in midlife women. Over 40% reported ever using cannabis for recreational or therapeutic purposes, most often to treat chronic pain (28%), anxiety (24%), sleep problems (22%), and stress (22%). Women who reported using cannabis specifically for menopause symptoms (6%) primarily reported targeting menopause-related mood and sleep difficulties.

More than 10% of study participants had used cannabis in the past 30 days, most often smoking (56%), ingesting edible products (52%), or using cannabis in more than one form (39%). Among those with past 30-day use, 31% reported smoking cannabis on a daily or near-daily basis, while 19% reported daily or near-daily use of edible cannabis products.

Study results will be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society as an abstract presentation titled “Medical and Recreational Cannabis Use in the Menopause Transition: Evaluation of Trends from a Large, Nationally Representative Sample of Midlife Women.”

“We know that cannabis products are being marketed to women to manage menopause symptoms, and these findings suggest that midlife women are turning to cannabis for menopause symptoms and other common issues in the menopause transition. But we still do not know if use is actually helping for those symptoms, or if it may be contributing to other challenges.” says Dr. Carolyn Gibson, lead author and health services researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.

“These findings highlight the need for recognizing and discussing cannabis use in the healthcare setting” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society. “Additional research is needed to evaluate the potential harms and/or benefits of use.”

Drs. Gibson and Faubion are available for interviews before and after the presentation at the Annual Meeting.

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.

The Menopause Society (formerly The North American Menopause Society) is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond. As the leading authority on menopause since 1989, the nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization serves as the independent, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, the media, and the public and leads the conversation about improving women’s health and healthcare experiences. To learn more, visit menopause.org.