Soluble luteinizing hormone receptor in follicular fluid and the association with reproductive function during IVF and ICSI.

The need for assisted reproductive technology (ART) has increased worldwide, leaving a negative impact on both physical and emotional health of the individual as well as on society depending on child births, thus biomarkers that can increase the success of ART are warranted. The luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) is released into blood and follicular fluid, and the level of soluble LHCGR (sLHCGR) in serum has previously been suggested to predict chances of pregnancy and live birth rate after ART. We aimed to investigate whether sLHCGR originates from the ovary and if serum or follicular fluid sLHCGR can predict the likelihood of pregnancy or live birth.

Influence of cholecalciferol supplementation on changes in total 25OHD, free 25OHD, and free 25OHD % in relation to calcium, bone, and glucose homeostasis in young, infertile men.

Background And Objective: While all types of vitamin D metabolites are bound to vitamin D binding protein and albumin leaving only a small fraction in its free active form, only serum concentrations of total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) are used to determine vitamin D status in clinical practice. This study aimed to describe the association of total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD), calculated free 25OHD, and free 25OHD% (free 25OHD × 100 %/total 25OHD) with mineral, bone, and metabolic variables and assess the impact of cholecalciferol supplementation.

Research Design And Methods: Secondary data from a single-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (NCT01304927) in 307 infertile men.

Testicular histopathology and its association with germ cell numbers, serum concentrations of reproductive hormones, and semen quality.

Background: It is well-established that spermatogenesis, semen quality, and reproductive hormones are interlinked. It is, however, less well-described how various specific testicular histopathologies are linked to reproductive hormones and semen quality.

Objectives: To describe the detailed relationship between specific testicular histopathologies and the serum concentrations of reproductive hormones and semen quality.

Genotype-phenotype correlation and feminizing surgery in Danish children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is characterized by a broad spectrum of symptoms. This study aims to describe genotype-phenotype correlations, clinical manifestations at diagnosis, and the frequency of feminizing surgery in childhood.

Methods: A nationwide retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with CAH, aged ≤18, between 1943 and 2018.

Weight Loss Induces Changes in Vitamin D Status in Women with Obesity but not in Men: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Context: Obesity is associated with low vitamin D and recent studies have suggested a difference in vitamin D metabolism between females and males.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of weight loss on vitamin D status in individuals with obesity, and secondarily, whether vitamin D metabolism differs between women and men.

Methods: Secondary analysis from a randomized placebo-controlled trial, designed to investigate the efficacy of 52 weeks of treatment with either liraglutide, exercise or combined, compared with placebo on weight loss maintenance after an 8-week low-calorie diet-induced weight loss in 195 individuals with obesity (BMI 32-43 kg/m2).

Utility of First-Morning-Voided Urinary Total Luteinizing Hormone in Detecting the Onset of Central Puberty.

Introduction: Early morning basal serum luteinizing hormone (S-LH) ≥0.3 IU/L is a specific marker for the onset of central puberty. In this study, we aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of the first-morning-voided (FMV) total urinary LH (U-LH) to replace this marker.

Associations of maternal and paternal preconception and maternal pregnancy urinary phthalate biomarker and bisphenol A concentrations with offspring autistic behaviors: The PEACE study.

Background: Environmental chemical exposures in utero may play a role in autism development. While preconception risk factors for autism are increasingly being investigated, little is known about the influence of chemical exposures during the preconception period, particularly for paternal exposures.

Methods: In 195 children from the Preconception Environmental exposures And Childhood health Effects (PEACE) cohort born to parents recruited from a fertility clinic in Boston, Massachusetts between 2004 and 2017, we quantified concentrations of 11 phthalate metabolites and bisphenol A (BPA) in urine samples collected from mothers and fathers before conception and mothers throughout pregnancy.

Ovarian and Uterine Morphology in Minipuberty: Associations with Reproductive Hormones. A COPANA Study of 302 girls.

Background: Female minipuberty is characterized by complex dynamics of circulating reproductive hormones, while the relationship between ovarian and uterine morphology and reproductive hormones remains to be elucidated.

Aim: To investigate the association between reproductive hormones and ovarian as well as uterine morphology by transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) at minipuberty.

Methods: Secondary analysis from The Copenhagen Analgesic Study (COPANA) (ClinicalTrials.

Higher peak height velocity in early maturing girls depends on insulin rather than fat mass or IGF-I.

Objective: Age at pubertal onset has decreased over the recent decades. Early maturing girls have longer puberty duration, and higher peak height velocity (PHV) than late maturing girls. To what extent this is generated by increased insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), fat mass, or fasting insulin levels is currently unknown.

Upregulation of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in Response to Chemotherapy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

The treatment of childhood cancer is challenged by toxic side effects mainly due to chemotherapy-induced organ damage and infections, which are accompanied by severe systemic inflammation. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a key regulating factor in tissue repair. This study investigated associations between the circulating IGF-I levels and chemotherapy-related toxicity in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Debulking surgery after muscular paraffin oil injections: Effects on calcium homeostasis and patient satisfaction.

Objective: Cosmetic paraffin oil injections can lead to granuloma formation causing hypercalcemia and kidney failure. This study explores whether debulking surgery is an effective treatment for improving calcium homeostasis, inflammation and clinical symptoms.

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective study, we reviewed 33 patients undergoing debulking surgery.

Gynecomastia and Its Management In Boys With Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome.

Introduction: Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) is a rare condition that is reported to be commonly associated with gynecomastia in males.

Objectives: To assess the management of gynecomastia in male PAIS.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of males with PAIS over the age of 10 years in the I-DSD registry.

Serum INSL3 measured by LC-MS/MS in pubertal girls and in girls with precocious puberty during GnRH agonist treatment.

Introduction: The peptide hormone Insulin-like Factor 3 (INSL3) is a biomarker of testicular Leydig cells in the male but is also expressed by the theca cells of the ovaries. With the advent of sensitive assays INSL3 can be quantified in female circulation, and we suggest that circulating INSL3 is a novel biomarker for pubertal development in girls. The aim of the study is to quantify INSL3 by LC-MS/MS in sera from normal girls during pubertal transition, and during gonadal suppression by GnRH agonist therapy in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP).

Sex- and age-specific reference intervals of 16 steroid metabolites quantified simultaneously by LC-MS/MS in sera from 2458 healthy subjects aged 0 to 77 years.

Background: Reference intervals covering the whole life span for all the metabolites in the steroid hormone biosynthesis quantified by sensitive and robust analytical methods are sparse or not existing.

Objective: To develop a state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of multiple steroid metabolites and to establish detailed sex- and age-specific reference intervals for 16 steroid metabolites.

Materials And Method: An isotope diluted LC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous quantitation of 16 steroid hormones.

Loss-of-Function Thr347Ala Variant in the G Protein Subunit-α11 Causes Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia 2 (FHH2).

Context And Objectives: To date, only four loss-of-function variants in the GNA11 gene encoding the G protein subunit α11 (Gα11) leading to familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia 2 (FHH2) have been characterized. Gα11 is involved in calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) signaling, and loss-of-function variants in GNA11 lead to reduced agonist potency at CaSR and an FHH phenotype.

Design And Participants: We have identified a family with a heterozygous GNA11 Thr347Ala variant and characterized its impact on calcium homeostasis in FHH2 patients and the signaling properties of CaSR through the Gα11-Thr347Ala variant in vitro.