The article focuses on a male-only therapy group that has been functioning for the last nine years in the Middle East, in Iran. The group has a permanent main female therapist and temporary, mostly female trainee cotherapists. We explore culturally specific factors that we believe impact expressions of aggression in the group. These factors include the Iranian gender segregation culture, the ideal of masculinity relating to the concept of \"Gheirat\" (moral vigilance), the legal acceptance of multiple wives in Iran (which often leads to family instability), and the cultural belief about the uncontrollability of sexual desires in men. We also comment on the role of a common dynamic in Iranian families, in which the relationships between mothers and sons are usually overwhelming while the emotional relationships between parents are somehow restrained. We close by discussing future directions for this area of study as well as by proposing interventions therapists may consider when encountering related group dynamics.

Linea nigra is a distinctive presentation of asymptomatic cutaneous hyperpigmentation on the abdomen that usually extends from the umbilicus to the pubic symphysis. It is frequently observed as a physiologic change associated with pregnancy. A primigravida 19-year-old woman began to develop skin darkening during week 24 of gestation. She delivered a healthy infant. Three months postpartum, the hyperpigmentation had not resolved. After the benign characteristics of her cutaneous hyperpigmentation were explained, the patient decided to clinically monitor the dark linear streak. Similar to this patient, clinical studies of pregnant women have observed the incidence of pregnancy-associated linea nigra to range from 32% to 92%; in contrast to this woman, partial or complete spontaneous resolution of the skin darkening commonly occurs after delivery of the newborn. During gestation, the development of linea nigra has been postulated to be caused by elevated estrogen, progesterone, and/or melanocyte-stimulating hormone levels. Linea nigra is not restricted to gestational females; it has also been noted in newborns and children. In addition, it has also been observed in men who had either benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate cancer. In summary, linea nigra is often an acquired longitudinal streak of benign cutaneous hyperpigmentation on the abdomen; when linea nigra is pregnancy-associated, the skin darkening often partially or completely resolves, spontaneously after delivery.

Background: One intriguing aspect of stroke is its higher incidence in men as compared to women. Endogenous sex hormones, testosterone and estradiol, may be responsible for this difference. This research aims to study serum testosterone and estradiol levels in men with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to correlate these levels with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and infarct size in computed tomography (CT). Methods: 100 male patients with AIS and 100 age-matched controls were included in this case-control study. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke, taking hormonal preparations, or suffering from chronic illnesses like tuberculosis (TB), cancer, etc. were excluded. Complete history was obtained including presence of established risk factors and physical examination was done in cases and controls with informed written consent. Severity of stroke in cases was assessed by the NIHSS. CT scan of brain was performed within 72 hours of patient\'s admission to hospital. The infarct size was measured in centimeters as the largest visible diameter of the infarct on CT scan. Fasting blood samples were obtained for routine investigations and estimating estradiol and testosterone levels. Results: Mean total testosterone level in cases (223.30 ± 143.44 ng/dl) was significantly lower than that of controls (515.34 ± 172.11 ng/dl) (P < 0.001), while estradiol levels had no significant statistical difference (P = 0.260). A significant inverse correlation was found between total testosterone levels and stroke severity (r = -0.581, P < 0.001) and also, total testosterone levels and infarct size (r = -0.557, P < 0.001). Estradiol levels in patients had no significant correlation with stroke severity (P = 0.618) or infarct size (P = 0.463). Conclusion: Low testosterone levels are associated with increased stroke severity and infarct size in men. Further studies are required to establish whether low testosterone is a cause or effect of ischemic stroke and also to explore the potential benefits of testosterone supplementation in men with AIS.

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Reducing suicide risk in middle-aged males (40-54 years) is a national priority. People have often presented to their GP within 3 months before suicide thus highlighting an opportunity for early intervention.
To describe the sociodemographic characteristics and identify antecedents in middle-aged males who recently consulted a GP before dying by suicide.
This study was a descriptive examination of suicide in a national consecutive sample of middle-aged males in 2017 in England, Scotland, and Wales.
General population mortality data were obtained from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. Information was collected about antecedents considered relevant to suicide from data sources. Logistic regression examined associations with final recent GP consultation. Males with lived experience were consulted during the study.
In 2017, a quarter (n = 1516) of all suicide deaths were in middle-aged males. Data were attained on 242 males: 43% had their last GP consultation within 3 months of suicide; and a third of these males were unemployed and nearly half were living alone. Males who saw a GP recently before suicide were more likely to have had recent self-harm and work-related problems than males who had not. Having a current major physical illness, recent self-harm, presenting with a mental health problem, and recent work-related issues were associated with having a last GP consultation close to suicide.
Clinical factors were identified that GPs should be alert to when assessing middle-aged males. Personalised holistic management may have a role in preventing suicide in these individuals.

UNASSIGNED: melasma is a common acquired hypermelanosis which occurs mostly in face that caused by many factors. One of the pathogenesis of melasma in men is affected by testosterone. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between testosterone levels and melasma in men and its association with the severity of melasma as measured by the melasma area and severity index (MASI) score.
UNASSIGNED: a case-control study involving 30 subjects with melasma and 30 subjects without melasma who were treated at the outpatient clinic of Dermatovenereology of Ngoerah General Hospital from June to August 2022. Descriptive statistical analysis is to determine frequencies and percentages. Bivariate analysis was used to find any risk factor between testosterone level and melasma. Data obtained from the two groups then analyzed for correlation between the MASI score and testosterone levels.
UNASSIGNED: mean age of the subjects in the melasma group was 43.83±6.30 and in control group was 43.80±6.09. Mean testosterone level in the melasma group (7.55±1.77) was significantly lower than the control group (21.07±6.65; p = 0.001). Subject with testosterone level ≥8.92 nmol/L has 6.9 times risk of melasma compare to control (aOR: 6.986, 95% CI 1.905-25.622; p = 0.003).
UNASSIGNED: low testosterone levels possibly have a role in pathogenesis of melasma in men.

Like other Latin American countries, over the past half-century, Colombia has experienced rapid urbanization, dramatic fertility decline, and massive educational expansion. These socio-demographic changes have transformed gender roles and, with them, the landscape surrounding reproductive decisions, family life, and opportunities in other life \'domains.\' I draw on the \'life course cube\' (LCC) approach, which frames individual actions within a multidimensional behavioral process shaped by interdependencies between time, life domains, and levels to explore Colombian male childlessness.
I seek to answer two questions: How does Colombian non-fatherhood vary across the life course (with respect to overall prevalence and associated factors)? and How do men frame their non-fatherhood, and, especially, how do they envision a future without children?
To address the first question, I used the 2015 Colombian Demographic and Health Survey\'s men\'s dataset (N > 30,000) to explore the overall level of male childlessness across age/generational groups and separate voluntary/involuntary childlessness. Then, using generalized linear models, I analyzed the relationships between different life domains (e.g. education, employment) and non-fatherhood at time points representing early-, mid-, and later-life childlessness (among men in their thirties, forties, and fifties). To address the second question, I used qualitative data from in-depth life history interviews I conducted with male (N = 7) and female (N = 28) parents/non-parents in Bogotá, analyzing connections between different \'levels\' of men\'s experiences: their inner feelings, past and (envisioned) future actions, and societal factors framing childlessness.
The quantitative findings indicate that male childlessness across the adult life course is strongly associated with later start of first union/never entering a union, and with small ideal family size. Later-life, definitive childlessness is also strongly associated with relative economic disadvantage and lower-prestige occupations, though early-life fatherhood postponement is not. Qualitatively, interviewed men expressed more worry and less preparation for the future than childless women. Understanding \'vulnerability\' as \'the dynamics of stress and resources across the life course\', I discuss these findings, paying attention to older non-fathers\' potential psycho-social, relational, and socioeconomic vulnerability. Therefore, this work seeks to contribute to the literature on the determinants and experiences of male childlessness, focusing on a Latin American perspective.

Stolen kisses are often portrayed as resulting from uncontrollable passion and a need to connect intimately with another. This study examined stolen kisses, defined as kissing someone for the first time when the kisser perceived the kiss recipient was not expecting it, and had not provided consent for the kiss. These kisses were examined from the perspective of the individual initiating the kiss. Participants (N = 130; Mage = 32.27; 67% identified as male) completed an anonymous online survey assessing kissing experiences of having stolen a kiss and their open-ended responses were analyzed here. Men were more likely than women to report having stolen a kiss in line with traditional heterosexual scripts. Three scenarios emerged through content analysis: mutual attraction leading to a new relationship; no known mutual attraction but a positive outcome; and no known mutual attraction and a negative outcome. Stealing a kiss from someone for whom there was mutual attraction often led to the onset of an intimate relationship; thus, the kiss constituted a relationship catalyst. When there was no known shared attraction, some interactions ended positively, but others resulted in an end to cordial relations and often strong negative reactions. Findings are discussed in terms of the limited literature on kissing generally and the nonconsensual nature of these events.

BACKGROUND: Delays in the implementation of evidence-based practices are significant and ubiquitous, compromising health outcomes. Resistance to change is a key factor in hindering adoption and integration of new evidence-based interventions. This study seeks to understand the impact of exposure to HIV testing within a research context on provider attitudes towards HIV counselling and testing (HCT) in emergency departments (ED).
METHODS: This is a pre-and-post study design measuring the effect of a new ED-based HCT intervention, conducted by lay counsellors, on provider attitudes in Eastern Cape, South Africa. A validated, anonymized, 7-item survey was self-completed by routine care providers (physicians, nurses, and case managers). Questions were scored on a 5-point Likert scale with 5 consistently reflecting a positive attitude. Mean scores were calculated for each question and compared using a two-sample t-test to assess change in sample means for attitudes among providers surveyed before and after the intervention.
RESULTS: A total of 132 surveys were completed across three EDs. Majority of respondents were female (70.5%), 20-29 years old (37.9%), of African race (81.1%), nurses (39.4%), and practicing medicine for 0-4 years (37.9%). Pre-intervention, providers displayed a positive attitude towards \'the benefit of offering ED-based HCT to patients\' (4.33), \'the ED offering HCT\' (3.53), \'all ED patients receiving HCT\' (3.42), \'concern about patient reaction to HCT\' (3.26), and \'comfort with disclosing HCT results\' (3.21); and a mildly negative attitude towards \'only high-risk ED patients receiving HCT\' (2.68), and \'the burden of offering HCT in a clinical environment\' (2.80). Post-intervention, provider attitudes improved significantly towards \'all ED patients receiving HCT\' (3.86, p < 0.05), \'only high-risk ED patients receiving HCT\' (2.30, p < 0.05), \'the burden of offering HCT in a clinical environment\' (3.21, p < 0.05), and \'comfort with disclosing HCT results\' (3.81, p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Controlled exposure to new practices with a structured implementation period can shift attitudes beginning a process of practice normalization. In our study, we observed improvements in provider attitudes regarding the benefits of HCT and the burden of offering HCT to all patients in the ED. Research activities may have a role in mitigating resistance to change and supporting intervention adoption.