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.

Fiber-based biomaterial scaffolds for cell support towards the production of cultivated meat.

The in vitro production of animal-derived foods via cellular agriculture is emerging as a key solution to global food security challenges. Here, the potential for fiber-based scaffolds, including silk and cotton, in the cultivation of muscle cells for tissue formation was pursued. Mechanical properties and cytocompatibility with the mouse myoblast cell line C2C12 and immortalized bovine muscle satellite cells (iBSCs) were assessed, as well as pre-digestion options for the materials due to their resilience within the human digestive track.

Large-scale meta-genome-wide association study reveals common genetic factors linked to radiation-induced acute toxicities across cancer types.

Background: This study was designed to identify common genetic susceptibility and shared genetic variants associated with acute radiation-induced toxicity across 4 cancer types (prostate, head and neck, breast, and lung).

Methods: A genome-wide association study meta-analysis was performed using 19 cohorts totaling 12 042 patients. Acute standardized total average toxicity (STATacute) was modelled using a generalized linear regression model for additive effect of genetic variants, adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates (rSTATacute).

Low serum anti-Müllerian hormone is associated with semen quality in infertile men and not influenced by vitamin D supplementation.

Background: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is released by testicular Sertoli cells and of great importance during fetal male sexual development, but less is known about the role of circulating AMH during adulthood. In vitro studies have shown that vitamin D may induce AMH transcription, but a controlled trial investigating the possible effect of vitamin D on serum AMH has not been conducted in men.

Methods: A single-center, double-blinded, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial (NCT01304927) conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Tisotumab vedotin in Japanese patients with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer: Results from the innovaTV 206 study.

New treatments, particularly second-line options, are needed to improve outcomes for patients with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer (r/mCC). Tisotumab vedotin (TV) is an antibody-drug conjugate directed to tissue factor, a transmembrane protein commonly expressed in cancer cells, to deliver cytotoxic monomethyl auristatin E. This single-arm, open-label phase 1/2 trial evaluated the consistency of safety and efficacy outcomes of TV in Japanese patients with r/mCC to bridge the current findings with those reported in previous trials in non-Japanese patients in the United States and Europe.

RANKL regulates testicular cancer growth and Denosumab treatment has suppressive effects on GCNIS and advanced seminoma.

Background: Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) have a high sensitivity to chemotherapy and a high cure rate, although with serious adverse effects. In the search for tumour suppressive drugs, the RANKL inhibitor Denosumab, used to treat osteoporosis, came up as a candidate since RANKL signalling was recently identified in the testis.

Methods: Expression of RANKL, RANK and OPG, and the effects of RANKL inhibition were investigated in human TGCTs, TGCT-derived cell-lines, and TGCT-xenograft models.

A genome-wide association study of radiotherapy induced toxicity in head and neck cancer patients identifies a susceptibility locus associated with mucositis.

Purpose: A two-stage genome-wide association study was carried out in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients aiming to identify genetic variants associated with either specific radiotherapy-induced (RT) toxicity endpoints or a general proneness to develop toxicity after RT.

Materials And Methods: The analysis included 1780 HNC patients treated with primary RT for laryngeal or oro/hypopharyngeal cancers. In a non-hypothesis-driven explorative discovery study, associations were tested in 1183 patients treated within The Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group.

Treatment options for hypercalcemia after cosmetic oil injections: Lessons from human tissue cultures and a pilot intervention study.

Objective: Granuloma formation following self-administered cosmetic oil injections can lead to severe hypercalcemia and renal calcifications due to extra-renal vitamin D activation. This translational study aims to identify Prednisolone sparing therapeutics for hypercalcemia after development of granulomatous disease secondary to paraffin oil injections.

Materials And Methods: Granuloma tissue isolated from five men were cultured ex vivo and treated with selected drugs to block generation of activated vitamin D (1,25(OH)D).

Calcium transport in male reproduction is possibly influenced by vitamin D and CaSR.

Vitamin D is important for gonadal function in rodents, and improvement of vitamin D status in men with low sperm counts increases live birth rate. Vitamin D is a regulator of transcellular calcium transport in the intestine and kidney and may influence the dramatic changes in the luminal calcium concentration in epididymis. Here, we show spatial expression in the male reproductive tract of vitamin D receptor (VDR)-regulated factors involved in calcium transport: transient receptor potential vanilloid 5/6 , sodium/calcium exchanger 1, plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1, calbindin D9k, calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in mouse and human testis and epididymis.

RANKL regulates male reproductive function.

Infertile men have few treatment options. Here, we demonstrate that the transmembrane receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) signaling system is active in mouse and human testis. RANKL is highly expressed in Sertoli cells and signals through RANK, expressed in most germ cells, whereas the RANKL-inhibitor osteoprotegerin (OPG) is expressed in germ and peritubular cells.

Hypercalcemia After Cosmetic Oil Injections: Unraveling Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Severity.

Intramuscular injections of paraffin oil can cause foreign body granuloma formation and hypercalcemia. Macrophages with the ability to produce high levels of 1,25(OH) D may induce the mineral disturbance, but no major series of patients have been published to date. Here, medical history, physical evaluation, biochemical, and urinary analysis for calcium homeostasis were obtained from 88 males, who 6 years previously had injected paraffin or synthol oil into skeletal muscle.

Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Is Expressed in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: Possible Implications for Tumor Growth and Prognosis.

Luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) regulates gonadal testosterone production and recent studies have suggested a growth-regulatory role in somatic cancers. Here, we established that LHCGR is expressed in a fraction of seminoma cells and germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS), and the seminoma-derived cell line TCam2 released LHCGR into the medium. LH treatment induced proliferation of TCam2 cells in vitro, while hCG treatment induced a non-significant 51% increase in volume of tumors formed in a TCam2 xenograft model.

The associations between low-level gaming, high-level gaming and problematic alcohol use.

The current study aimed to investigate associations between gaming and different patterns of problematic alcohol use, controlling for important demographics, personality and mental health covariates. Data was collected by an online survey during fall 2016 ( = 5217). Students who had participated in a survey among students in Bergen, Norway, one year earlier were invited to participate.

Myths about "The myths about work addiction".

The present paper encompasses a response to the debate paper by Griffiths et al. about work addiction myths. Generally, we found weak empirical basis for the statement that there exist major myths and controversies regarding work addiction.

Comparison of Coding Transcriptomes in Fibroblasts Irradiated With Low and High LET Proton Beams and Cobalt-60 Photons.

Purpose: To identify differential cellular responses after proton and photon irradiation by comparing transcriptomes of primary fibroblasts irradiated with either radiation type.

Methods And Materials: A panel of primary dermal fibroblast cultures was irradiated with low and higher linear energy transfer (LET) proton beams. Cobalt-60 photon irradiation was used as reference.

IMRT - Biomarkers for dose escalation, dose de-escalation and personalized medicine in radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral component in the management of head and neck cancer. Despite progress in several respects, a noteworthy proportion of the treated patients do not achieve complete response after RT. Regardless of novel dose delivery technologies, RT for head and neck cancer is still associated with acute as well as late toxicity.

Radiation Therapy Outcomes Models in the Era of Radiomics and Radiogenomics: Uncertainties and Validation.

Recent advances in imaging and biotechnology have tremendously improved the availability of quantitative imaging (radiomics) and molecular data (radiogenomics) for radiotherapy patients. This big data development with its comprehensive nature promises to transform outcome modeling in radiotherapy from few dose-volume metrics into utilizing more data-driven analytics. However, it also presents new profound challenges and creates new tasks for alleviating uncertainties arising from dealing with heterogeneous data and complex big data analytics.

Disentangling the role of users' preferences and impulsivity traits in problematic Facebook use.

The use of social network sites (SNSs) has grown dramatically. Numerous studies have shown that SNS users may suffer from excessive use, associated with addictive-like symptoms. With a focus on the popular SNS Facebook (FB), our aims in the current study were twofold: First, to explore the heterogeneity of FB usage and determine which kind of FB activity predicts problematic usage; second, to test whether specific impulsivity facets predict problematic use of FB.

Smartphone Restriction and Its Effect on Subjective Withdrawal Related Scores.

Excessive smartphone use has been associated with a number of negative consequences for the individual and the environment. Some similarities can be observed between excessive smartphone usage and several behavioural addictions, and continual usage constitutes one of several characteristics included in addiction. In the extreme high end of the distribution of smartphone usage, smartphone restriction might be expected to elicit negative effects for individuals.

Optimal reference genes for normalization of qPCR gene expression data from proton and photon irradiated dermal fibroblasts.

The transcriptional response of cells exposed to proton radiation is not equivalent to the response induced by traditional photon beams. Changes in cellular signalling is most commonly studied using the method Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Stable reference genes must be used to accurately quantify target transcript expression.

"Freshman's week": characteristics associated with participation and experiencing adverse effects.

Background: "Freshman's week" (FW) is a Norwegian initiation ritual to higher education. Previous research has suggested that FW-participation is associated with better social adjustment to the student setting, as well as heavy alcohol use both during and after the event. In this study, we aimed to identify characteristics associated with participation in FW and characteristics associated with experiencing adverse effects of alcohol use during FW.

Workaholism and negative work-related incidents among nurses.

The present study comprised 1,781 nurses who participated in an investigation about working conditions, sleep, and health. They answered a questionnaire about age, sex, marital status, children living at home, work hours per week, number of night shifts last year, and total sleep duration and that also included a validated instrument assessing workaholism. In addition, they were asked to report on eight items concerning negative work-related incidents (dozed off at work, dozed while driving, harmed or nearly harmed self, harmed or nearly harmed patients/others, and harmed or nearly harmed equipment).

The Development and Validation of the Bergen-Yale Sex Addiction Scale With a Large National Sample.

The view that problematic excessive sexual behavior ("sex addiction") is a form of behavioral addiction has gained more credence in recent years, but there is still considerable controversy regarding operationalization of the concept. Furthermore, most previous studies have relied on small clinical samples. The present study presents a new method for assessing sex addiction-the Bergen-Yale Sex Addiction Scale (BYSAS)-based on established addiction components (i.