Influence of sexual hormones on Chagas disease / Influencia de las hormonas sexuales en la enfermedad de Chagas

Abstract Objective: Analyze sex hormone's influence during Chagas disease. Methods: Male and female BALB/c mice were divided into six groups, four experimental (sham, orchiectomized, orchiectomized and supplemented with estradiol, orchiectomized supplemented with testosterone, oophorectomized, oophorectomized and supplemented with estradiol, and oophorectomized and supplemented with testosterone), and two control (healthy and intraperitoneally with T. cruzi strain NINOA infected). Clinical data were recorded daily, parasitemia was evaluated using a Neubauer chamber during the infection, and heart histopathological analysis was performed using the paraffin embedding technique. To analyze parasitemia curves and the area under the parametric curves, two-way ANOVA test was performed to correlate groups' data. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Higher mortality rates, cardiomegaly, hepatomegaly, ascites, edema, higher parasitemia levels, more amastigote nests, and more severe inflammatory infiltrate were found in higher testosterone concentration mice, whereas in higher estradiol concentration groups, paresia, prostration, edema, and necrosis were found. Conclusions: Our results showed that testosterone increased infection severity, whereas estradiol had the opposite effect. This research improves the understanding of sex hormones´ infuence upon this infection to contribute with the handling of Chagas´ disease.

Resumen Objetivo: Analizar la influencia de las hormonas durante la enfermedad de Chagas. Métodos: Se separaron grupos de ratones macho y hembras BALB/c, todos infectados con T. cruzi (cepa NINOA), 4 grupos experimentales de machos (Sham, orquidectamizados, orquidectimezados y suplementados con estradiol, orquidectamizaos y suplementados con testosterona). 4 grupos experimentales de hembras (oforectomizadas, oforectomizadas y suplementadas con estradiol, oforectomizadas y suplementadas con testosterona y sham), and y dos grupos control para cada sexo (sin infección e infectados intraperitonealmente con T. cruzi (cepa NINOA). Los datos clínicos fueron registrados diariamente, la parasitemia fue evaluada durante toda la infección utilizando una cámara de Neubauer y el análisis histopatológico del corazón fue realizada con la técnica de inclusión en parafina. Para el análisis de las curvas de parasitemia y el área bajo la curva, se realizó una prueba de ANOVA de dos vías, p < 0.05 fueron considerados estadísticamente diferentes. Resultados: Las mayores tasas de mortalidad, cardiomegalia, hepatomegalia y mayor infiltrado inflamatorio, se encontró en los ratones con una mayor concentración de testosterona. En contraste los ratones con mayor concentración de estradiol presentaron paresia, postración edema y necrosis. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados ponen en manifiesto que la testosterona incrementa la severidad del curso de la enfermedad de Chagas, mientras que el estradiol tuvo el efecto opuesto. Este trabajo mejora el entendimiento del rol que juegan las hormonas sexuales en esta infección para contribuir en un mejor manejo de la enfermedad de Chagas.

Sex differences in acute early life stress-enhanced fear learning in adult rats.

Patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) present with a spectrum of debilitating anxiety symptoms resulting from exposure to trauma. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD compared to men; however, the reason for this vulnerability remains unknown. We conducted four experiments where we first demonstrated a female vulnerability to stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) with a moderate, acute early life stress (aELS) exposure (4 footshocks in a single session), compared to a more intense aELS exposure (15 footshocks in a single session) where males and females demonstrated comparable SEFL. Next, we demonstrated that this female vulnerability does not result from differences in footshock reactivity or contextual fear conditioning during the aELS exposure. Finally, using gonadectomy or sham surgeries in adult male and female rats, we showed that circulating levels of gonadal steroid hormones at the time of adult fear conditioning do not explain the female vulnerability to SEFL. Additional research is needed to determine whether this vulnerability can be explained by organizational effects of gonadal steroid hormones or differences in sex chromosome gene expression. Doing so is critical for a better understanding of increased female vulnerability to certain psychiatric diseases.

Gender affirming hormone therapy and transgender women fertility: Histologic predictors of germ cell presence.

Objective: Evaluate histological changes in testicular parameters after hormone treatment in transgender women. Methods: Cross-section study with patients who underwent gonadectomy at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from 2011 to 2019. Hormone treatment type, route of administration, age at initiation and duration were recorded. Atrophy parameters were observed: testicular volume, tubular diameter, basal membrane length, presence of spermatogonia and spermatids (diploid and haploid spermatozoid precursors). Results: Eighty-six patients were included. Duration of hormone treatment is associated with testicular atrophy and spermatogenesis arrest. Other characteristics of hormone treatment such as age of initiation, route of administration and type of treatment were not associated with testicular histological changes. Testicular volume may predict spermatogenesis arrest. Basal membrane length and tubular diameter ratio is an interesting predictor of germ cell presence. Conclusion: Cross-sex hormone treatment affects testicular germ cell presence. Basal membrane length and tubular diameter ratio reduces inter variability of measurements and better exemplify how atrophic seminiferous tubules are. Fertility preservation should be addressed by healthcare providers in order to recognize gender affirming treatment impact on transgender health.

Protective effect of thyroid and restores of ovarian function of Buzhong Yiqi granule on experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in female rats.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Buzhong Yiqi granule on thyroid function and ovarian function in rats with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT). METHODS: EAT model was replicate by using the method of mixing and injecting porcine thyroglobulin with Freund's adjuvant and high iodine. Rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, EAT model (EAT) group, selenium yeast (PC) group, low dose Buzhong Yiqi (BZYQ-L) group, medium dose Buzhong Yiqi (BZYQ-M) group and high dose Buzhong Yiqi (BZYQ-H) group. After two months of drug intervention according to dosage, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) in peripheral blood of rats. The pathological changes of rat thyroid tissues were observed under light microscope with HE staining; ELISA was used to determine estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), and the pathological changes of rat ovarian tissues were observed under light microscope with hematoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, BZYQ granule improved the thyroid and ovarian tissue morphology, and the levels of TPOAb, TGAb and TSH in the model group rats significantly increased (P < 0.05), the thyroid tissue was severely destroyed, the levels of E2, FSH, LH, T, AMH significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the ovary exhibited polycystic changes; Compared with the model group, TSH level in the BZYQ-L group rats decreased (P < 0.05), FSH, T, AMH levels decreased (P < 0.05), in the BZYQ-M group TPOAb, TSH levels decreased (P < 0.05), FSH, LH, T, AMH levels significantly decreased (P < 0.05), BZYQ-H group TPOAb, TGAb, TSH levels significantly decreased (P < 0.05), FSH, LH, T, AMH levels significantly decreased (P < 0.05), with the greatest improvement and significantly better than selenium yeast group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BZYQ granule could regulate the thyroid function of EAT rats, reduce thyroid antibody titers, then act on the ovarian function, regulate hormone disorders, and alleviate the pathological damage of rat's ovarian tissues. The effect of high dose Buzhong Yiqi granule is the best.

Characteristics of bone mineral density in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea and its association with reproductive hormones and body composition.

OBJECTIVE: Bone mineral density (BMD) is typically reduced in patients with female athlete triad (FAT) and anorexia nervosa (AN). However, bone health in most patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA), who may not suffer from severe energy deficiency, has not received adequate attention in clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate BMD and its association with clinical and endocrine features in individuals with FHA and to provide clinical evidence for improving bone loss and preventing osteoporosis in FHA. DESIGN: To assess the bone status of patients with FHA and investigate its association with various clinical and endocrinological characteristics. PATIENTS: We retrospectively analysed 80 patients with FHA who attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January 2022 to March 2023. MEASUREMENTS: The levels of reproductive hormones, including luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, oestradiol (E2 ) and total testosterone (TT), were examined at the time of initial diagnosis, and a body composition analyser was used to measure body fat percentage (BF%), lean body mass (LBM) and segmental muscle/fat. Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure lumbar spine BMD and femoral neck BMD in patients with FHA, and the Z score was calculated. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 80 female patients with FHA. The average age of the patients was 24.64 ± 6.02 years, and their body mass index (BMI) was 19.47 ± 2.86 kg/m2 . The duration of weight loss was 12 (6, 24) months, while the duration of oligo/amenorrhoea was 12 (4.5, 24) months. The mean degree of weight loss was 18.39 ± 9.53%. Low BMD were present in 15% of patients with FHA at the lumbar spine and/or femoral neck; 12.5% and 10% had low bone mass at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, respectively. The low bone mass group experienced a longer period of weight loss than the normal group [24 (16.5, 60) vs. 12 (4.5, 24) months, p = .037]. In addition, the abnormal group had a lower BMR (basal metabolic rate, BMR) [1158 ± 85 vs. 1231 ± 91 kcal/day, p = .011] and lower bone mineral content [2.15 ± 0.26 vs. 2.43 ± 0.31 kg, p = .009] than the normal group. Both LBMD and femoral neck BMD (Fn BMD) were positively correlated with BMI, BF%, LBM, and regional muscle/fat mass (all p < .05). There was also a positive correlation between LBMD and basal LH levels (p = .009) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = .034), whereas Fn BMD was positively correlated with TT levels (p = .029). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that LBM was positively associated with LBMD (ß = .007, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.004-0.009, p < .001), while trunk muscle mass was positively associated with Fn BMD (ß = .046, 95% CI = 0.013-0.080, p = .008). CONCLUSION: Fifteen percent of the patients with FHA exhibited low bone mass, a condition associated with prolonged weight loss. The basal LH and TT levels showed positive correlations with LBMD and Fn BMD, respectively. Meanwhile, BMR levels, BMI, BF%, and muscle mass were all positively correlated with LBMD and Fn BMD. Clinically, we should be attentive to suboptimal bone health in patients with FHA and take early screening, diagnosis and intervention measures, especially appropriate muscle mass gain, to prevent the onset of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in the long term.

Gender affirming hormone therapy and transgender women fertility: Histologic predictors of germ cell presence

Abstract Objective: Evaluate histological changes in testicular parameters after hormone treatment in transgender women. Methods: Cross-section study with patients who underwent gonadectomy at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from 2011 to 2019. Hormone treatment type, route of administration, age at initiation and duration were recorded. Atrophy parameters were observed: testicular volume, tubular diameter, basal membrane length, presence of spermatogonia and spermatids (diploid and haploid spermatozoid precursors). Results: Eighty-six patients were included. Duration of hormone treatment is associated with testicular atrophy and spermatogenesis arrest. Other characteristics of hormone treatment such as age of initiation, route of administration and type of treatment were not associated with testicular histological changes. Testicular volume may predict spermatogenesis arrest. Basal membrane length and tubular diameter ratio is an interesting predictor of germ cell presence. Conclusion: Cross-sex hormone treatment affects testicular germ cell presence. Basal membrane length and tubular diameter ratio reduces inter variability of measurements and better exemplify how atrophic seminiferous tubules are. Fertility preservation should be addressed by healthcare providers in order to recognize gender affirming treatment impact on transgender health.

Comparison of exenatide alone or combined with metformin versus metformin in the treatment of polycystic ovaries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility in women of childbearing age. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported that exenatide and metformin are effective in the treatment of PCOS. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of exenatide alone or in combination with metformin versus metformin in patients suffering from PCOS. METHODS: RCTs of exenatide therapy were identified through a search of electronic databases in November 2022 and updated in October 2023. Eligible studies were identified independently by the reviewers. Outcomes were analysed with Revman 5.4. RESULTS: Nine RCTs among 214 studies on 1059 women with PCOS were included in the analysis, and among the nine RCTs, eight studies compared exenatide with metformin. Our meta-analysis demonstrated that exenatide was more effective than metformin in terms of pregnancy rate (RR 1.85 [95% CI 1.19,2.86] P = 0.006), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (MD 5 [95% CI 3.82,6.18] P < 0.001), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (MD 0.82 [95% 0.41,1.24] P < 0.001). The reductions in total testosterone (TT) (SMD -0.43 [95% CI -0.84, -0.03] P = 0.04) was more significant after treatment with exenatide than after treatment with metformin. In terms of safety, exenatide had a lower diarrhea rate (RR 0.11 [95% CI 0.01, 0.84]) than metformin. In the other three studies, exenatide plus metformin was compared with metformin. Exenatide combined with metformin was more effective in improving SHBG (MD 10.38[95%CI 6.7,14.06] P < 0.001), Matsuda index (MD 0.21[95%CI 0.05,0.37]) and reducing free androgen index (FAI) (MD -3.34 [-4.84, -1.83] P < 0.001), Weight (MD -2.32 [95%CI -3.89, -0.66]) and WC (MD-5.61[95%CI -8.4, -2.82] P < 0.001). The incidence of side effects between exenatide plus metformin and metformin was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Exenatide alone or in combination with metformin is more effective than metformin for women with PCOS. Considering the evidence on effectiveness and safety, exenatide alone or in combination with metformin may be a better treatment approach than metformin for women with PCOS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: INPLASY https://inplasy.com/inplasy-protocols/ ID: 10.37766/inplasy2022.11.0055.

Expression of interleukin-1ß and its receptor in human granulosa cells and their association with steroidogenesis.

This study aimed to investigate whether interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and soluble IL-1 receptor 2 (sIL-1R2) are expressed in human granulosa cells (GCs) and relate to ovarian steroidogenesis. Ninety-six women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were recruited. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry were used to detect mRNAs and proteins of IL-1ß and IL-1R2, respectively. The steroidogenesis of primary cultured GCs was evaluated following treatment with either IL-1ß alone or IL-1ß and FSH in combination. There were positive correlations between serum IL-1ß and serum progesterone (r = 0.220, p = 0.032) and follicular fluid (FF) estradiol (r = 0.242, p = 0.018). Additionally, serum and FF sIL-1R2 were negatively and positively correlated with FF estradiol (r = -0.376, p = 0.005) and FF progesterone (r = 0.434, p = 0.001), respectively. The mRNA and protein expression of IL-1ß and IL-1R2 became evident in GCs. IL-1ß alone significantly increased estradiol secretion from GCs, but in the presence of FSH, it could notably promote progesterone secretion in addition to estradiol. In conclusion, IL-1ß and sIL-1R2 are expressed in human GCs and substantially contribute to ovarian steroidogenesis, suggesting that the IL-1ß system may be a potential target for optimizing ovarian hyperstimulation and steroidogenesis in IVF cycles.

Post-menopausal ovarian fibroma associated with steroid hormone synthesis: A case report.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian fibromas are benign, sex cord-stromal tumors occurring in both peri- and post-menopausal women. Generally, these tumors are non-functional and do not produce hormones. However, this case report proves the first case of steroid hormone synthesis in an ovarian fibroma by immunohistochemistry. CASE REPORT: A 77-year-old post-menopausal woman presented with a left ovarian tumor, abnormal endometrial thickness, and high levels of estradiol (E2). The tumor was found to be a fibroma, which was positive for alpha-inhibin. We examined estrogen-producing enzymes using immunohistochemistry. The tumor was positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD)-1, adrenal 4 binding protein/steroidogenic factor 1, 17ß-HSD-5, steroid sulfatase, and P450c17. CONCLUSION: This case study shows that E2 can be locally produced from circulating inactive steroids, by estrogen-producing enzymes. This is the first report of steroid hormone synthesis in an ovarian fibroma.

Risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer; a nationwide cohort study.

PURPOSE: To assess whether androgens play a role in explaining the sex related differences in the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: A nationwide matched cohort study was conducted employing the Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe) 4.0 during the study period 2006-2016. Prostate cancer (PC) patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were treated as exposed. Prostate cancer-free men from the general population were randomly selected and matched to the index case by birth year and county of residence, forming the unexposed group. All were followed until a diagnosis of CRC, death, emigration, or end of the study period. The risk of CRC among ADT exposed PC patients compared to unexposed cancer-free men was calculated using a flexible parametric survival model and expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: There was an increased risk of CRC among ADT exposed PC patients compared to unexposed cancer-free men (HR 1.27 [95% CI 1.15-1.41]), in particular an increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the colon (HR 1.33 [95% CI 1.17-1.51]) and more specifically an increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the distal colon (HR 1.53 [95% CI 1.26-1.85]). Examination of latency effects yielded significantly decreased HRs over time for CRC (p = 0.049 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study found an increased risk of CRC among PC patients exposed to ADT, specifically adenocarcinoma of the distal colon, which indicates an increased association between ADT (PC + ADT) and CRC but not a positive dose-response trend questioning a true causal effect.

Factors affecting serum PFAS concentrations among US females with surgically and naturally induced menopause: data from NHANES 2003-2018.

Sex hormones influence excretion of the biopersistent per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in rodents, but such influences in human studies are less clear. Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 2003-2018 for US females aged ≥ 20 years who reported having hysterectomy (HYST, N=1064) and who reported being in natural menopause (MENOP, N=1505) were analyzed for associations of ever use of birth control pills, past pregnancies, live births, and other factors with serum concentrations of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). For both HYST and MENOP, PFAS concentrations computed as adjusted geometric means (AGM) were higher among those who took female replacement hormone therapy (HRT) compared to nonusers in multivariable adjusted models, for example PFOS in HRT takers (10.70 ng/mL; 95% C.I. 9.46-12.11) vs. 8.70 ng/mL (95% C.I. 8.07-9.37) in nonusers (p<0.01), and PFOA in HRT users was 2.85 ng/mL (95% C.I. 2.53-3.21) vs. 2.44 ng/mL (95% C.I. 2.32-2.36) in nonusers (p=0.01), with similar findings across race/ethnicity stratifications. HYST participants with retained ovaries sometimes had higher serum PFAS than those without ovaries in post-HYST participants not taking HRT, but results had overlapping confidence intervals in all cases and were inconsistent. PFASs were inversely associated with obesity and directly associated with higher SES as reflected in poverty income ratio (PIR) in most cases, yet HRT results for the entire population are robust to adjustments for obesity and PIR. The results suggest the hypothesis that exogenous hormone use, and specifically estrogen hormones, are associated with higher serum PFAS in postmenopausal women. We discuss potential explanations for the findings, including data from other populations that estrogens may delay the onset of kidney disease, a finding which might paradoxically increase serum PFAS among the HRT population to explain some or all of our findings in a menopausal population.

Use of 5α-reductase inhibitors and survival of oesophageal and gastric cancer in a nationwide Swedish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesised that the use of the anti-androgenic drug 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) improves survival in patients with oesophago-gastric cancer. METHODS: This nationwide Swedish population-based cohort study included men who underwent surgery for oesophageal or gastric cancer between 2006-2015, with follow-up until the end of 2020. Multivariable Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HR) for associations between 5-ARIs use and 5-year all-cause mortality (main outcome) and 5-year disease-specific mortality (secondary outcome). The HR was adjusted for age, comorbidity, education, calendar year, neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy, tumour stage, and resection margin status. RESULTS: Among 1769 patients with oesophago-gastric cancer, 64 (3.6%) were users of 5-ARIs. Compared to non-users, users of 5-ARIs were not at any decreased risk of 5-year all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.79-1.63) or 5-year disease-specific mortality (adjusted HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.79-1.52). Use of 5-ARIs was not associated with any decreased risk of 5-year all-cause mortality in subgroup analyses stratified by categories of age, comorbidity, tumour stage, or tumour subtype (oesophageal or cardia adenocarcinoma, non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma, or oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma). CONCLUSION: This study did not support the hypothesis of improved survival among users of 5-ARIs after curatively intended treatment for oesophago-gastric cancer.

Hormone-dependent sexual responses of female mice in response to manual genital stimulation.

Although copulatory behavior is thought to have a strong innate basis in mice, there is also clear evidence that sexual experience shapes its expression. Reinforcement of behavior through rewarding genital tactile stimulation is a primary candidate mechanism for this modification. In rats, manual tactile clitoral stimulation is rewarding only when it is temporally distributed, which is hypothesized to result from an innate preference for species-typical copulatory patterning. Here we test this hypothesis using mice, which have a temporal copulatory pattern which is distinctly less temporally distributed than that of rats. Female mice received manual clitoral stimulation which was either temporally continuous every second, or stimulation which was temporally distributed, occurring every 5 s, This pattern of stimulation was paired with environmental cues in a conditioned place preference apparatus to assess reward. Neural activation in response to this stimulation was evaluated by measuring FOS immunoreactivity. Results indicated that both temporal patterns of clitoral stimulation were rewarding, but that continuous stimulation better reproduced brain activation associated with sexual reward. Furthermore, continuous, but not distributed stimulation elicited a lordosis response in some females, and this response increased within and across days. Sexual reward, neural activation and lordosis resulting from tactile genital stimulation were eliminated by ovariectomy and restored with combined 17ß-estradiol and progesterone treatment but not 17ß-estradiol treatment alone. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that sexual reward resulting from species-typical genital tactile stimulation has a permissive effect on copulatory behavior of female mice.

Kidney transplantation for a transgender male.

The proportion of transgender people has increased over time, but few cases of transgender people undergoing kidney transplantation have been described. A 41-year-old transgender man (female-to-male) had chronic kidney disease caused by IgA nephropathy. He had received testosterone therapy and sex reassignment surgeries (chest masculinization surgery, metoidioplasty, scrotoplasty, and hysterectomy-ovariectomy) since he was 19 years due to gender incongruence. He underwent a preemptive living-donor kidney transplantation from his wife. His skeletal muscle mass was closer to that of a female than that of a male and suggested that eGFR should be calculated with the equation based on the gender assigned at birth (female) rather than the gender identity (male). Moreover, the recovery of kidney function due to successful kidney transplantation decreased serum gonadotropin levels, but normalization of his sex hormone profile was not achieved. Further accumulation of experience with kidney transplantation for transgender people is needed.

Association between sexual maturation and anterior disc displacement of temporomandibular joint in adolescents aged 13-14 years.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between sexual maturation and anterior disc displacement (ADD) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adolescents aged 13-14 years old, attending the first grade of one private junior school, were recruited. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to confirm ADD, in addition, the serum levels of sex hormones were tested. Secondary sex characteristics, psychological evaluations, oral health-related behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 440 teenagers were included, of which the prevalence of ADD was 17.7%. Subgroup analysis revealed that age at menarche in girls and nocturnal emission, laryngeal prominence, voice change, and facial hair in boys showed significant differences between the ADD group and the normal population (all p < 0.05). The serum levels of prolactin in girls (12.23 and 9.82 ng/ml) and testosterone in boys (3.65 and 2.48 ng/dl) were significantly higher in the ADD group compared to the normal population, respectively (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that sexual maturation has a significant association with ADD both in boys and girls. The increased serum levels of testosterone in boys and prolactin in girls might contribute to the occurrence of TMJ ADD. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides key data to support and inform longitudinal studies as well as to explain why ADD prefers in adolescents. Main findings can also be used to prevent the occurrence of ADD and secondary jaw deformities.

Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 With RAS / ACE2 in the Female Reproductive System.

Objective: The purpose of this review was to investigate current knowledge of COVID-19 by highlighting its effect on female reproductive tract. Materials and methods: In this study, all articles related to the effect of SARS, MERS, and CoV-19 viruses on the female reproductive system from 2003 to 2021 were reviewed. Results: The coronavirus enters the host cell by binding to the enzyme that is most abundant in the host lung. The corona or spike (S) protein of this virus is the main tool for binding to the receptor in the host cell membrane and facility the entrance of CoV into the target cells. This receptor is the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2), but the high expression of this receptor can be a mystery to increase infection in host cells. The overexpression of ACE2 in different tissues has a close connection to the severity of this viral infection. Infection in the female reproductive system requires more attention because it may affect the generation and future progeny by damaged gametes. Conclusion: The existing evidence proposes that ACE2 is widely expressed in the reproductive tract includes: ovary, uterus, vagina, and placenta.

Associations of Sex Steroids and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population-Based Study and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have reported inconsistent results or less well-explored associations between sex hormones and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we aimed to investigate the associations of NAFLD with sex steroids and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the population-based study and conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of all published observational studies. METHODS: Analyses included 755 men and 1109 women with available data on sex steroids, SHBG, and ultrasound-based NAFLD from the Rotterdam Study. Multivariable regression models were used to examine the associations. Additionally, we searched five databases from inception to 1 April 2022 and performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Random-effects (DerSimonian-Laird) method was used for meta-analysis, odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the effect estimate, subgroup and leave-one-out sensitivity analyses were conducted, and meta-regression was performed to explore the pooled statistics with high heterogeneity. RESULTS: In the Rotterdam Study, lower levels of SHBG were associated with NAFLD in both sexes, while lower testosterone was associated with NAFLD only among women. Similarly, the meta-analysis of 16 studies indicated no sex-specific association between SHBG and NAFLD (men: OR = 0.37, 95%CI 0.21-0.53; women: OR = 0.40, 95%CI 0.21-0.60), yet there was a sex-specific association between testosterone and NAFLD (men: OR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.42-0.76; women: OR = 1.06, 95%CI 0.68-1.44). Moreover, men with NAFLD had lower estradiol levels than those without NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: Lower SHBG levels were associated with NAFLD in both sexes, but testosterone levels were associated in a sex-specific manner. In addition, our results showed estradiol with the potential as a protective factor for NAFLD in healthy men.

Aerobic exercise with diet induces hormonal, metabolic, and psychological changes in postmenopausal obese women.

Physical activity and diet are recommended lifestyle strategies to improve human health. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the impact of aerobic exercise combined with dietary restriction on hormonal, metabolic, and psychological variables in postmenopausal women. Eligible 60 women were enrolled and assigned into two equal groups; the experimental group performed aerobic exercise three times per week for 12 weeks with diet restriction, and the control group only received the same diet program. Serum levels of sex hormones, insulin resistance, and depression scores were measured before and after the intervention. Results: All measured variables were significantly changed in the experimental group compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Changes in sex hormones are a biological marker of metabolic complications such as insulin resistance, which can be reduced with exercise and diet. In addition, they are effective therapeutic interventions in the treatment of mild depression. Trial registration: Registration identifier number of this study is: NCT05136742 on https://register.ClinicalTrials.gov.

Genetic, Molecular, and Cellular Determinants of Sex-Specific Cardiovascular Traits.

Despite the well-known sex dimorphism in cardiovascular disease traits, the exact genetic, molecular, and cellular underpinnings of these differences are not well understood. A growing body of evidence currently points at the links between cardiovascular disease traits and the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and metabolome. However, the sex-specific differences in these links remain largely unstudied due to challenges in bioinformatic methods, inadequate statistical power, analytic costs, and paucity of valid experimental models. This review article provides an overview of the literature on sex differences in genetic architecture, heritability, epigenetic changes, transcriptomic signatures, and metabolomic profiles in relation to cardiovascular disease traits. We also review the literature on the associations between sex hormones and cardiovascular disease traits and discuss the potential mechanisms underlying these associations, focusing on human studies.

Toxic Metal Concentrations in Drinking Water and Possible Effect on Sex Hormones among Men in Sabongida-Ora, Edo State, Nigeria.

Drinking water can be a potential source of toxic metals, which are a known leading cause of infertility in men. This study determines the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) in drinking water (borehole, hand-dug well and treated water) and sex hormone levels (serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PROL), estradiol (E2), progesterone (PROG), and testosterone (T) in males who drink water mainly from these sources. The concentrations of Cd, and Pb in hand-dug wells were higher than the permissible limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) while Zn and Cu were within the permissible levels in drinking water. Blood Cd and Pb levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) among subjects who consumed hand-dug and borehole water than treated water, while serum Zn was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in hand-dug well and borehole water consumers than in control subjects. Also, serum FSH (p < 0.001), LH (p < 0.001), E2 (p < 0.002), PROG (p < 0.04) and T (p < 0.001) were significantly lower among hand-dug well and borehole water consumers than controls, while PROL (p < 0.001) was significantly higher in hand-dug well and borehole water consumers than controls. Blood Cd and Pb levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in hand-dug well water consumers than borehole water consumers. The consumption of water from hand-dug wells may have adverse reproductive sequelae among consumers.