Uric acid (UA) is a metabolite of purine degradation and is involved in gout flairs and kidney stones formation. GLUT9 (SLC2A9) was previously shown to be a urate transporter in vitro. In vivo, humans carrying GLUT9 loss-of-function mutations have familial renal hypouricemia type 2, a condition characterized by hypouricemia, UA renal wasting associated with kidney stones, and an increased propensity to acute renal failure during strenuous exercise. Mice carrying a deletion of GLUT9 in the whole body are hyperuricemic and display a severe nephropathy due to intratubular uric acid precipitation. However, the precise role of GLUT9 in the kidney remains poorly characterized. We developed a mouse model in which GLUT9 was deleted specifically along the whole nephron in a tetracycline-inducible manner (subsequently called kidney-inducible KO or kiKO). The urate/creatinine ratio was increased as early as 4 days after induction of the KO and no GLUT9 protein was visible on kidney extracts. kiKO mice are morphologically identical to their wild-type littermates and had no spontaneous kidney stones. Twenty-four-hour urine collection revealed a major increase of urate urinary excretion rate and of the fractional excretion of urate, with no difference in urate concentration in the plasma. Polyuria was observed, but kiKO mice were still able to concentrate urine after water restriction. KiKO mice displayed lower blood pressure accompanied by an increased heart rate. Overall, these results indicate that GLUT9 is a crucial player in renal handling of urate in vivo and a putative target for uricosuric drugs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00424-018-2190-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Anal intercourse (AI) among heterosexuals is an understudied and taboo subject. This 2017 Swiss national study aims to describe the characteristics and motivations of heterosexual young adults practicing AI. Participants with any same-sex experience, same-sex attraction or non-heterosexual identity were excluded. The Federal Statistical Office provided the initial sample and potential participants were recruited through postal mail inviting them to an online survey (response rate 15.1%). According to our research question, the sample used in this paper constituted of 3892 participants (52% males; 54% of the overall sample, mean age 26.3 years). Overall, 55% of women and 56% of men had never experienced AI, respectively 17% and 12% had done it once and 28% and 32% more than once. We found that participants engaging in AI had higher odds of practicing intercourse while intoxicated, being younger at first sexual experience, not using condom at last intercourse and reporting a history of sexual transmitted infections. The main reason reported by both genders for engaging in their first AI was being curious followed by being in love. In conclusion, AI is a widespread practice among heterosexual young adults and health professionals should be especially attentive to it.
Background Studies on virgins remain scarce. This study explores the characteristics of virgin young adults, the reasons for remaining virgin, and its potential social and health implications. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2017 Swiss study on sexual health and behaviour among young adults. A total of 5175 participants (mean age 26 years ± 0.01) were divided into virgins and non-virgins. Virginity was defined as never having had a sexual partner, defined as a person with whom the participant has had sexual contact with or without penetration. Results: A total of 275 (5.3% (95% CI: 4.7–6.0), 58% males) were virgins. Virgins had higher odds of being male (aOR: 2.27 (95% CI: 1.62–3.17)) and reporting poorer health (1.43 (1.07–1.92)). They had lower odds of living on their own (0.24 (0.18–0.32)), being satisfied with their social life (0.78 (0.72–0.85)), having experimented with substances (e.g. drunkenness, 0.27 (0.19–0.67)) and having used online dating (0.52 (0.26–1.12)) or pornography (0.67 (0.42–0.94)). The main reason for remaining virgin was ‘I have not found the right person’ for females, and ‘I have not had the occasion’ for males. Conclusions: Among young adults, 1 in 20 is a virgin. Virgins do not seem to have gone through the usual experimentations of adolescence, are less socially driven and reported more health challenges. The main reason for remaining a virgin reveals gender-stereotyped responses. Sexual inactivity among young adults should be considered by health professionals to ensure the absence of distress and open discussion for potential questions.
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