Objectives The effects of the comprehensiveness of sex education on sexual health measures have not been well-studied. We compared trends in comprehensive sex education and its relation to contraceptive use at first intercourse and current contraceptive use for women ages 15–24 in the United States between 2011 and 2017. Study design Analyses included females ages 15–24 from the 2011–2017 National Survey of Family Growth. We defined comprehensive sex education as including 6 topics queried in the NSFG (how to say no to sex, birth control methods, where to get birth control, how to use condoms, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS), and non-comprehensive sex education as including less than 6 topics. Multivariable regression models investigated associations with contraceptive indicators. Results Among 5445 respondents, percentages of women receiving comprehensive sex education in 2011–2013, 2013–2015, and 2015–2017 were 35%, 40%, and 34%. Across all periods, respondents reporting comprehensive sex education before first sex were less likely to report first sexual intercourse before age 15 (aOR 0.55; 95% CI: 0.40–0.74) and non-volitional first intercourse (aOR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26–0.72) compared to those with non-comprehensive sex education. At first intercourse, those with comprehensive sex education were more likely to have used any (aOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.18–2.25) and very effective (aOR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.04–1.75) contraception. Comprehensive sex education was unrelated to current contraceptive use (aOR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.63–1.21). Conclusions Comprehensive sex education was associated with increased odds of contraceptive use at first intercourse, but not current contraceptive use. Implications Programs that promote comprehensive sex education may have a positive impact on preventive behaviors at sexual debut.
The neuropeptide VGF (non-acronymic) is induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as synaptic activity. However, morphological changes induced by VGF have not been elucidated. Developing hippocampal neurons were exposed to VGF through bath application or virus-mediated expression in vitro. VGF-derived peptide, TLQP-62, enhanced dendritic branching, and outgrowth. Furthermore, VGF increased dendritic spine density and the proportion of immature spines. Spine formation was associated with increased synaptic protein expression and co-localization of pre- and postsynaptic markers. Three non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected in human VGF gene. Transfection of N2a cells with plasmids containing these SNPs revealed no relative change in protein expression levels and normal protein size, except for a truncated protein from the premature stop codon, E525X. All three SNPs resulted in a lower proportion of N2a cells bearing neurites relative to wild-type VGF. Furthermore, all three mutations reduced the total length of dendrites in developing hippocampal neurons. Taken together, our results suggest VGF enhances dendritic maturation and that these effects can be altered by common mutations in the VGF gene. The findings may have implications for people suffering from psychiatric disease or other conditions who may have altered VGF levels.
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