Fracture risk assessment in an Italian group of transgender women after gender-confirming surgery.

Introduction: Bone health is a critical issue in transgender women (TW) health care. Conflicting results have been reported on bone status after gender-confirming surgery (GCS). No recent data in Italian TW are available.

Does Testosterone Treatment Increase Anger Expression in a Population of Transgender Men?

Background: The acquisition of phenotypic male features in transmen with gender dysphoria requires testosterone treatment. The suppression of menses is 1 of the most desired effects. The relation between testosterone levels and human aggressive behavior has been described.

IRIS: methodological assessment of psychopathological disease in a cohort of hirsute women.

Background: Hirsutism in females can be a source of considerable psychological distress and a threat to female identity. The aim of our study was to evaluate a possible relationship between facial, total body hair involvement and physical, mental and social well-being during 12 months of follow-up and treatment. Both objective and subjective methods of evaluating hirsutism were used: the Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) scoring method and the questionnaires General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) and SF-12.

Cross-sex hormonal treatment and body uneasiness in individuals with gender dysphoria.

Introduction: Cross-sex hormonal treatment (CHT) used for gender dysphoria (GD) could by itself affect well-being without the use of genital surgery; however, to date, there is a paucity of studies investigating the effects of CHT alone.

Aims: This study aimed to assess differences in body uneasiness and psychiatric symptoms between GD clients taking CHT and those not taking hormones (no CHT). A second aim was to assess whether length of CHT treatment and daily dose provided an explanation for levels of body uneasiness and psychiatric symptoms.

Effects of oncological treatments on semen quality in patients with testicular neoplasia or lymphoproliferative disorders.

Pretherapy sperm cryopreservation in young men is currently included in good clinical practice guidelines for cancer patients. The aim of this paper is to outline the effects of different oncological treatments on semen quality in patients with testicular neoplasia or lymphoproliferative disorders, based on an 8-year experience of the Cryopreservation Centre of a large public hospital. Two hundred and sixty-one patients with testicular neoplasia and 219 patients with lymphoproliferative disorders who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and pretherapy semen cryopreservation were evaluated.

Sociodemographic and clinical features of gender identity disorder: an Italian multicentric evaluation.

Introduction: Male to female (MtFs) and female to male (FtMs) subjects with gender identity disorder (GID) seem to differ with regard to some sociodemographic and clinical features. Currently, no descriptive studies focusing on MtFs and FtMs attending an Italian clinic are available.

Aim: To describe the sociodemographic characteristics of a GID population seeking assistance for gender transition and to assess possible differences in those features between MtFs and FtMs.

Ovarian sensitivity index is strongly related to circulating AMH and may be used to predict ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropins in IVF.

Background: Serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is currently considered the best marker of ovarian reserve and of ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins in in-vitro fertilization (IVF). AMH assay, however, is not available in all IVF Units and is quite expensive, a reason that limits its use in developing countries. The aim of this study is to assess whether the "ovarian sensitivity index" precisely reflects AMH so that this index may be used as a surrogate for AMH in prediction of ovarian response during an IVF cycle.

Endocrine late effects after total body irradiation in patients who received hematopoietic cell transplantation during childhood: a retrospective study from a single institution.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of total body irradiation (TBI) on the endocrine system in adults treated with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) during childhood.

Methods: We studied 40 patients who underwent HCT between 1988 and 2004, mainly for childhood cancer. In 23 patients, the conditioning regimen consisted of high-dose chemotherapy and TBI (TBI+).

Metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes in a group of adult patients with Turner's syndrome under hormonal replacement therapy.

Objective: Turner's syndrome (TS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy in a phenotypic female, and it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular diseases, impaired glucose tolerance, and dyslipidemia.

Subjects And Methods: In 30 adult TS patients under chronic hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), 17β-estradiol (E(2)), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting glucose and insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index, serum lipids, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and intima-media thickness (IMT) were evaluated and compared with those in 30 age- and sex-matched controls (CS).

Results: No difference was found between TS and CS in E(2) and BMI, whereas waist circumference was higher (P<0.

Dimensional profiles of male to female gender identity disorder: an exploratory research.

Introduction: Male-to-Female Gender Identity Disorder (MtF GID) is a complex phenomenon that could be better evaluated by using a dimensional approach.

Aim: To explore the aggregation of clinical manifestations of MtF GID in order to identify meaningful variables describing the heterogeneity of the disorder.

Methods: A consecutive series of 80 MtF GID subjects (mean age 37 +/- 10.

Estrogens regulate humans and rabbit epididymal contractility through the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.

Introduction: We have previously demonstrated that oxytocin (OT) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) peripherally regulate epididymal motility in an estrogen-dependent way. Because RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK) pathway is a contractile effector downstream to both OT and ET-1 receptors, we hypothesized an estrogenic modulation of OT- and ET-1-induced contraction through the up-regulation of RhoA/ROCK signaling.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of changing endocrine milieu on RhoA/ROCK pathway in the epididymis.

Varicocele sclerotherapy improves serum inhibin B levels and seminal parameters.

The usefulness of treating varicocele in order to improve fertility is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate variations in seminal parameters and inhibin B concentrations in a group of males affected by varicocele and treated by percutaneous retrograde sclerotherapy in comparison with a group of patients who did not undergo varicocele treatment. Thirty-eight patients with left varicocele underwent spermatic vein phlebography and percutaneous retrograde sclerotherapy with hydroxy-polyaethoxy-dodecanol.

Alterations of seminal and hormonal parameters: An extrahepatic manifestation of HCV infection?

Aim: To evaluate the possible influences of HCV infection and relative antiviral treatment on seminal parameters and reproductive hormonal serum levels.

Methods: Ten male patients with HCV-related chronic hepatitis and 16 healthy male volunteers were studied. In all subjects seminal parameters (nemaspermic concentration, progressive motility, morphology) and hormonal levels were determined.