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Abstract Men develop larger infarct sizes than women after a myocardial infarction (MI), but the mechanism underlying this sex difference is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that blood neutrophil counts post-MI were higher in male than female mice. Castration-induced testosterone deficiency reduced blood neutrophil counts to the level in females and increased survival post-MI. These effects were mimicked by Osterix-directed ablation of the androgen receptor in bone marrow (BM). Mechanistically, androgens downregulated the leukocyte retention factor CXCL12 in BM stromal cells. Post-hoc analysis of clinical trial data showed that neutrophilia was greater in men than women after reperfusion of first-time ST-elevation MI, and tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, reduced blood neutrophil counts and infarct size to a greater extent in men than women. Our work reveals a previously unknown mechanism connecting testosterone with neutrophilia and MI injury via BM and identifies the importance of considering sex when developing anti-inflammatory strategies to treat MI.

In recent years, a growing number of consumers have become aware that they can use their purchasing behaviour to promote environmental sustainability. This trend explains the prominent role of local food purchasing and the academic attention paid to such behaviour. However, academics studying local food have called for deeper analysis of the antecedent factors in decisions to purchase such products. The present study addresses this gap by considering, in an uncertain global context, the explanatory role of elements related to environmental and economic issues. The study applies the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model as its theoretical framework to explain, for the first time in the literature, the possible influence of consumers’ economic and environmental consciousness (stimulus) on their assessment of the price and environmental character of local food (organism), and on their stated local food purchasing behaviour (response). It also assesses the simultaneous relationships that may arise between the representative elements of the organism and the response.The study focuses on consumers who live on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It follows a quantitative methodological approach using structural equation models. The results confirm that environmental factors predominate in decisions to purchase local food. However, consumer economic consciousness and assessment of local food prices were not determinant factors in this behaviour. The findings also uncover new relationships between consumers’ characteristics and their purchase of local food. In conclusion, in a global context of environmental and economic uncertainty, environmental issues appear to be the key factor in explaining local food purchasing behaviour.

Men develop larger infarct sizes than women after a myocardial infarction (MI), but the mechanism underlying this sex difference is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that blood neutrophil counts post-MI were higher in male than female mice. Castration-induced testosterone deficiency reduced blood neutrophil counts to the level in females and increased survival post-MI. These effects were mimicked by Osterix-directed ablation of the androgen receptor in bone marrow (BM). Mechanistically, androgens downregulated the leukocyte retention factor CXCL12 in BM stromal cells. Post-hoc analysis of clinical trial data showed that neutrophilia was greater in men than women after reperfusion of first-time ST-elevation MI, and tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, reduced blood neutrophil counts and infarct size to a greater extent in men than women. Our work reveals a previously unknown mechanism connecting testosterone with neutrophilia and MI injury via BM and identifies the importance of considering sex when developing anti-inflammatory strategies to treat MI. Men develop larger myocardial infarction (MI) sizes than women. Here, the authors show that male sex and testosterone, via bone marrow stroma, exacerbates MI-induced neutrophilia and cardiac injury and that response to anti-inflammatory treatment in MI is greater in men than women [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age of multiple sclerosis (MS) onset coincides with fertile age, and both improved prognosis and treatment may influence birth rates in people with MS (pwMS).To investigate birth rates over time in pwMS compared with controls.This cohort study included pwMS from three hospitals in the southeast of Norway. Clinical data were collected prospectively. Statistics Norway provided year of live births and marital status in pwMS and controls matched for age, sex, and place of residence at age 16.We included 1599 pwMS (1118 women with MS (wMS) and 481 men with MS (mMS)) and 23,855 controls. The mean number of live births was 1.5 (standard deviation (SD) 1.2) for pwMS versus 1.8 (SD 1.2) for controls (p < 0.001). Birth rates in wMS declined significantly starting 3 years before onset, with 4.5% giving birth versus 8.4% of controls 2 years before onset (p = 0.046). Birth rates were also lower 1 year after onset (p = 0.002). mMS showed a dip 2 years before onset (p = 0.002), but otherwise had rates similar to controls. There were no differences in marital status.wMS have reduced rates of childbirth compared with controls. This is significant already in the prodromal phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]