Perceived stress in relation to testicular function markers among men attending a fertility center.

Objective: To study whether self-reported psychological stress was associated with impaired semen parameters and reproductive hormones.

Design: An observational study including men aged 18-55 years who attended the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Clinic.

Subjects: A total of 718 men who attended the clinic provided semen and serum blood samples and completed the short version of the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4).

Antioxidant Intake and Ovarian Reserve in Women Attending a Fertility Center.

Background/objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between antioxidant intake and antral follicle count (AFC), a marker of ovarian reserve, in women attending a fertility clinic.

Methods: We conducted an observational study with 567 women undergoing infertility evaluation at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, who were enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study. Participants filled out the lifestyle and health questionnaires and a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing habitual dietary intake and underwent a transvaginal ultrasound to measure AFC.

Connections After Cancer: Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors' Perspectives on Forming New Friendships After Cancer.

Objective: The psychological and social challenges of an adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer diagnosis often transcend physical health, impacting one's social network during a time when peer connections may be most crucial for support. The current study examines adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors' perspectives on how cancer impacts their thoughts and behaviors toward forming new peer relationships.

Methods: Thirty-five YA survivors (Mean age = 33 ± 5.

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.

Urinary concentrations of phthalate and phthalate alternative metabolites and sperm DNA methylation: A multi-cohort and meta-analysis of men in preconception studies.

Phthalates are ubiquitous pollutants in the environment; however, the mechanisms of phthalate-associated reproductive disorders in men are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate associations between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and sperm DNA methylation. The study was conducted on 697 men from three prospective pregnancy cohorts: Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study, Sperm Environmental Epigenetics and Development Study (SEEDS), and Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study.

Mixtures of Urinary Phenol and Phthalate Metabolite Concentrations in Relation to Serum Lipid Levels among Pregnant Women: Results from the EARTH Study.

We examined whether mixtures of urinary concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA), parabens and phthalate metabolites were associated with serum lipid levels among 175 pregnant women who enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study (2005-2017), including triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). We applied Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation while adjusting for confounders. In the BKMR models, we found no associations between chemical mixture and lipid levels, e.

Effective Interventions for Idiopathic Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review.

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is a debilitating condition with symptoms that affect both medical and psychological systems, yet for those with idiopathic CPP (i.e., those without a known physiologic cause), no consensus for intervention exists.

Cancer and Fertility: Exploring Uncertainty Management Strategies of Young Adult Female Survivors.

This study describes young adult female (YA-F) cancer survivors' uncertainty management strategies related to fertility/family building. Cross-sectional data were analyzed ( = 98). Participants reported higher rates of seeking information to reduce fertility-related uncertainty (M = 5.

Epigenetic age acceleration in follicular fluid and markers of ovarian response among women undergoing IVF.

Study Question: Are markers of epigenetic age acceleration in follicular fluid associated with outcomes of ovarian stimulation?

Summary Answer: Increased epigenetic age acceleration of follicular fluid using the Horvath clock, but not other epigenetic clocks (GrimAge and Granulosa Cell), was associated with lower peak estradiol levels and decreased number of total and mature oocytes.

What Is Known Already: In granulosa cells, there are inconsistent findings between epigenetic age acceleration and ovarian response outcomes.

Study Design, Size, Duration: Our study included 61 women undergoing IVF at an academic fertility clinic in the New England area who were part of the Environment and Reproductive Health Study (2006-2016).

Bioequivalence and the food effect of macitentan/tadalafil 10/20 fixed-dose combination tablets versus the use of single-component tablets in healthy subjects.

The primary aim was to demonstrate bioequivalence between the 10/20 mg fixed-dose combination (FDC) of macitentan/tadalafil in a single tablet and the free combination of both drugs, and to evaluate the food effect on the 10/20 mg FDC in healthy participants. In this single-center, randomized, open-label, 3-way crossover, single-dose Phase 1 study in healthy adult participants, macitentan/tadalafil was administered as a 10/20 mg FDC formulation and compared with the free combination of macitentan and tadalafil. The food effect on the FDC was also evaluated.

The associations between pre-conception urinary phthalate concentrations, the serum metabolome, and live birth among women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Background: Phthalates are ubiquitous endocrine disruptors. Past studies have shown an association between higher preconception urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and lower fertility in women; however, the biological mechanisms remain unclear. Our exploratory study aimed to understand the metabolites and pathways associated with maternal preconception phthalate exposure and examine if any may underline the association between phthalate exposure and live birth using untargeted metabolomics.

Urinary benzophenone-3 concentrations and ovarian reserve in a cohort of subfertile women.

Objective: To evaluate the association between the urinary benzophenone-3 concentrations and measures of ovarian reserve (OR) among women in the Environment and Reproductive Health study seeking fertility treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, Massachusetts.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: MGH infertility clinic in Boston, Massachusetts.

Exercise and QUality Diet after Leukemia: A Randomized Weight Loss Trial among Adult Survivors of Childhood Leukemia in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

Background: Obesity is prevalent in childhood cancer survivors and interacts with cancer treatments to potentiate risk for cardiovascular (CV) death. We tested a remote weight-loss intervention trial that was effective among adults with CV risk factors in a cohort of adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with overweight/obesity.

Methods: In this phase III efficacy trial, survivors of ALL enrolled in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 were randomized to a remotely delivered weight-loss intervention versus self-directed weight loss, stratified by history of cranial radiotherapy.

Preliminary testing of "roadmap to parenthood" decision aid and planning tool for family building after cancer: Results of a single-arm pilot study.

Objective: Many young adult female cancer survivors need to use reproductive medicine, surrogacy, or adoption to have a child. This study pilot tested Roadmap to Parenthood, a web-based, self-guided decision aid and planning tool for family building after cancer (disease agnostic).

Methods: A single-arm pilot study tested feasibility, acceptability, and obtained effect size estimates of the Roadmap tool.

Perceptions of Infertility and Reproductive Concerns in Adolescent and Young Adult Female Cancer Survivors.

This cross-sectional survey study explores the fertility perceptions of adolescent and young adult female cancer survivors ( = 111) and relationships to fertility counseling and reproductive distress. Satisfaction with post-treatment fertility counseling ( = -0.20,  = 0.

Clinical Pharmacology Perspective on Development of Adeno-Associated Virus Vector-Based Retina Gene Therapy.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-based gene therapy is an innovative modality being increasingly investigated to treat diseases by modifying or replacing defective genes or expressing therapeutic entities. With its unique anatomic and physiological characteristics, the eye constitutes a very attractive target for gene therapy. Specifically, the ocular space is easily accessible and is generally considered "immune-privileged" with a low risk of systemic side effects following local drug administration.

Former smoking associated with epigenetic modifications in human granulosa cells among women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Smoking exposure during adulthood can disrupt oocyte development in women, contributing to infertility and possibly adverse birth outcomes. Some of these effects may be reflected in epigenome profiles in granulosa cells (GCs) in human follicular fluid. We compared the epigenetic modifications throughout the genome in GCs from women who were former (N = 15) versus never smokers (N = 44) undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Women's preconception psychological stress and birth outcomes in a fertility clinic: the EARTH study.

Background: The epidemiologic literature on women's perceived stress in relation to perinatal outcomes has been inconclusive and does not consider the preconception window of exposure.

Objective: To evaluate whether women's preconception perceived stress is related to live birth, gestational age, and birthweight in a cohort receiving fertility treatment.

Methods: This observational study included women seeking fertility care at the Massachusetts General Hospital (2004-2019).

Associations of parental preconception and maternal pregnancy urinary phthalate biomarker and bisphenol-a concentrations with child eating behaviors.

Background: Eating behaviors are controlled by the neuroendocrine system. Whether endocrine disrupting chemicals have the potential to affect eating behaviors has not been widely studied in humans. We investigated whether maternal and paternal preconception and maternal pregnancy urinary phthalate biomarker and bisphenol-A (BPA) concentrations were associated with children's eating behaviors.

Preconception Stress and Pregnancy Serum Glucose Levels Among Women Attending a Fertility Center.

Context: The association between women's stress and pregnancy glucose levels remain unclear, specifically when considering the preconception period as a sensitive window of exposure.

Objective: We investigated whether preconception perceived stress was associated with glucose levels during pregnancy among women attending a fertility center (2004-2019).

Methods: Before conception, women completed a psychological stress survey using the short version of the validated Perceived Stress Scale 4 (PSS-4), and blood glucose was measured using a 50-gram glucose load test during late pregnancy as a part of screening for gestational diabetes.

Paternal and maternal preconception and maternal pregnancy urinary concentrations of parabens in relation to child behavior.

Background: Epidemiologic studies of the effects of parental preconception paraben exposures on child behavior are limited despite emerging evidence suggesting that such exposures may affect offspring neurodevelopment.

Objective: We investigated whether maternal and paternal preconception and maternal pregnancy urinary concentrations of parabens were associated with child behavior.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Preconception Environmental exposure And Childhood health Effects Study, an ongoing prospective cohort of children aged 6-13 years and their parents.

Paternal and maternal preconception and maternal pregnancy urinary phthalate metabolite and BPA concentrations in relation to child behavior.

Background: Epidemiologic studies on health effects of parental preconception exposures are limited despite emerging evidence from toxicological studies suggesting that such exposures, including to environmental chemicals, may affect offspring health.

Objective: We investigated whether maternal and paternal preconception and maternal pregnancy urinary phthalate metabolite and bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations were associated with child behavior.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Preconception Environmental exposure And Childhood health Effects (PEACE) Study, an ongoing prospective cohort study of children aged 6-11 years whose parent(s) previously enrolled in the prospective preconception Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study.

Serum and follicular fluid metabolome and markers of ovarian stimulation.

Study Question: What metabolic pathways and metabolites in the serum and follicular fluid are associated with peak estradiol levels and the number of mature oocytes?

Summary Answer: In the serum metabolome, mostly fatty acid and amino acid pathways were associated with estradiol levels and mature oocytes while in the follicular fluid metabolome, mostly lipid, vitamin, and hormone pathways were associated with peak estradiol levels and mature oocytes.

What Is Known Already: Metabolomics has identified several metabolic pathways and metabolites associated with infertility but limited data are available for ovarian stimulation outcomes.

Study Design, Size, Duration: A prospective cohort study of women undergoing IVF from 2009 to 2015.

Greater fertility distress and avoidance relate to poorer decision making about family building after cancer among adolescent and young adult female survivors.

Background: Many adolescent and young adult female (AYA-F) cancer survivors face decisions about family building using reproductive medicine or adoption to achieve parenthood. This study evaluated associations among reproductive distress, avoidance, and family-building decision making and identified sociodemographic and clinical characteristics related to high distress and avoidance.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey assessed AYA-F survivors' oncofertility experiences.