Publications by authors named "Laura Gaspari"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates whether artificial shrinkage of blastocysts before fresh transfer increases clinical pregnancy rates in IVF, involving 150 couples in a randomized and controlled pilot study.
- Results showed no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates, live birth rates, or other outcomes between the control group and the group that underwent artificial shrinkage.
- The authors conclude that further extensive randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these initial findings.
Article Synopsis
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like TCDD, may play a role in increasing female-specific cancers in Western countries, particularly affecting reproductive health.
- The study focused on how TCDD exposure alters the expression of small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) in KGN cells, examining both acute (3 hours) and chronic (72 hours) effects, and their implications for subsequent cell generations.
- Results showed that TCDD exposure led to a significant alteration in sncRNA expression, with a downregulation of sncRNAs associated with cell growth and proliferation, and an upregulation of those linked to cancer, suggesting the potential for TCDD to cause long-term cancer-promoting effects across generations.
Article Synopsis
- * Recent decades have seen a rise in the number of transgender people, with potential contributing factors including biological, genetic, environmental, and cultural influences, though the exact cause remains unclear.
- * A study on XY individuals exposed to the chemical diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero found a notable prevalence of transgender identities among them, indicating that fetal exposure to xenoestrogens may impact male gender identity and behavior.
Article Synopsis
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a synthetic estrogen linked to adverse health effects in mothers, their children, and grandchildren due to its ability to cross the placenta and disrupt endocrine function.
- A nationwide observational study analyzed data from 529 families of DES-treated women, focusing on pregnancy outcomes and birth weight variations across multiple generations.
- Results showed that preterm birth rates increased significantly in children exposed to DES, but those born post-DES had a higher average birth weight compared to pre-DES neonates, with some slight increases in low birth weight among grandchildren of DES-exposed women.
Article Synopsis
- - The synthetic hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES) is linked to reproductive anomalies and increased cancer risks in children of treated mothers, but its effects on neurodevelopment and psychiatric disorders, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), have been less studied.
- - Recent studies suggest a connection between exposure to DES and synthetic hormones and the development of psychiatric disorders, with significant findings of depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and suicide risks in exposed children.
- - Molecular research indicates DES may cause long-lasting epigenetic changes that affect neurodevelopment across generations, emphasizing the need for caution regarding synthetic hormone use, especially for women.
Article Synopsis
- * The results showed that the biphasic strategy led to significantly higher rates of total and usable blastocysts and an increased live birth rate.
- * Additionally, gene analysis indicated that the oxygen concentration influenced the expression of genes related to embryo development and implantation, suggesting a biological basis for the improved outcomes with the biphasic method.
Prenatal Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol and Multigenerational Psychiatric Disorders: An Informative Family.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the psychiatric disorders present in children and grandchildren of mothers who were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy, revealing a significant prevalence of such disorders across multiple generations.
- In a family examined, nearly all second-generation children (9 out of 10) exhibited psychiatric issues such as bipolar disorder and eating disorders, while a notable percentage of third-generation grandchildren (10 out of 19) also displayed various psychiatric conditions.
- The findings suggest that in utero exposure to DES may play a role in the development of psychiatric disorders, indicating potential multigenerational and transgenerational impacts on mental health.
[Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on fertility, gametes' quality and Assisted Reproduction Technology].
Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol
February 2022
Article Synopsis
- The pandemic has led to ART centers temporarily halting activities in March 2020, prompting a reevaluation of how COVID-19 impacts reproduction.
- Research continues to explore how the virus affects gametes, fertility, and pregnancy, with mixed findings regarding female gametes and potential neonatal health threats.
- While men may face more severe symptoms and potential impacts on sperm production, the overall effects of COVID-19 on ART practices require further investigation.
Article Synopsis
- Endometriosis affects 10-15% of reproductive-age women and may be driven by environmental factors like exposure to estrogen-like endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
- In a case study, all daughters and granddaughters exposed to the drug DES during pregnancy developed endometriosis, while the unexposed individuals showed no gynecological issues.
- The findings suggest a potential link between fetal exposure to DES and the development of endometriosis across generations, emphasizing the possible transgenerational impact of EDCs.
Previous studies have demonstrated that endocrine disruptors (EDs) can promote the transgenerational inheritance of disease susceptibility. Among the many existing EDs, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) affects reproductive health, including in humans, following direct occupational exposure or environmental disasters, for instance the Agent Orange sprayed during the Vietnam War. Conversely, few studies have focused on TCDD multigenerational and transgenerational effects on human reproductive health, despite the high amount of evidence in animal models of such effects on male and female reproductive health that mimic human reproductive system disorders.
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- This paper examines how environmental factors, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), impact penile development in humans, specifically in relation to conditions like hypospadias and micropenis in male infants.
- It discusses the origins of these concerns, including epidemiological data and animal studies that led to the testis dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) hypothesis, which suggests a link between EDCs and these developmental issues.
- The review highlights various sources of EDC exposure, such as maternal diet, pesticides, and plasticizers, and emphasizes the potential for cumulative and transgenerational effects on public health.
Objectives: The recent lockdown, resulting from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, has had a strong social and psychological impact on the most fragile individuals and family structures. In the present work we investigated the experience of families without specific elements of social or health vulnerability during the quarantine period that occurred in the spring of 2020.
Materials And Methods: Between May and July 2020, 22 primary care pediatricians belonging to AUSL Romagna administered to a number of families a questionnaire to detect changes that occurred, during the lockdown, in family environment, school attendance and personal attitudes.
Article Synopsis
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is becoming increasingly important in diagnosing disorders of sex development (DSD), but its use in patients with hypospadias specifically remains limited.
- A study involving 293 children with varying degrees of hypospadias found that 5.5% had likely pathogenic variants linked to DSD, with more severe cases showing a higher rate of these variants.
- The findings suggest that even less severe cases of hypospadias can benefit from NGS, highlighting the potential for early molecular diagnosis to uncover undiagnosed syndromes or rare gene variants that might contribute to the condition.
Article Synopsis
- - This study explored the effectiveness of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in assessing low bone mass in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients, finding significant reductions in bone parameters compared to healthy controls.
- - A total of 207 young women participated, including 134 AN patients and 73 controls, with bone mass evaluated through both QUS and DXA techniques, revealing strong correlations between QUS measurements and bone mineral density (aBMD).
- - The results indicated that QUS could serve as a valuable non-invasive tool for monitoring bone health in AN patients, as it correlates well with other clinical measures like weight and BMI, while showcasing its potential usability in clinical settings.
Article Synopsis
- Vaginal/cervical clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCAC) has not previously been reported in granddaughters of women treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy.
- An 8-year-old girl diagnosed with cervical CCAC underwent fertility-sparing surgery and radiotherapy, with no recurrence noted after 10 years.
- While a direct causal link hasn't been established, this case suggests potential multigenerational effects of DES and highlights the importance of monitoring granddaughters of DES-treated women.
Objective: To determine which patients should benefit from the interposition of a well-vascularized flap between the neourethra and the penile skin and if it should be performed even in mild hypospadias.
Patients And Methods: A retrospective study on patients with a primary hypospadias repair was performed (2003-2017). Only patients undergoing urethroplasty based on the principle of a tubularization were selected to ensure comparable groups.
Article Synopsis
- A 15-year-old French girl with oligomenorrhea and increasing virilization symptoms was found to have high androgen levels and a left ovarian mass.
- Despite having a history of prenatal pesticide exposure and benign premature thelarche, her severe hirsutism and clitoromegaly raised concerns for a serious condition.
- After laparoscopic surgery revealed a benign luteinized thecoma, her hormone levels and menstrual cycle normalized, highlighting the need for thorough investigations of hyperandrogenism in adolescent girls.
Objective: The threefold aim was to (1) compare areal bone mineral density (aBMD), bone turnover markers, and periostin levels in young women with either anorexia nervosa (AN) or obesity (OB) and controls (CON); (2) model the profiles according to age; and (3) determine the parameters associated with aBMD.
Subjects And Methods: One hundred and fifty-two young women with ages ranging from 16.0 to 27.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to assess if oral contraceptives (OCs) could help prevent bone loss in young women with anorexia nervosa (AN) by comparing bone mineral density (BMD) between AN patients and healthy controls.
- - Researchers found that while AN patients on OCs had lower overall BMD than controls, they had higher BMD than those not using OCs, especially in certain areas like the lumbar spine and hip, with better outcomes linked to longer OC use and a shorter time from disease onset.
- - The findings suggest that while OCs are not a complete solution for bone health, they could be beneficial in reducing bone loss for young women with AN, particularly in those with lower body mass index. *
Article Synopsis
- The study examined 4580 fetuses over a nine-year period to explore the clinical spectrum of genital defects diagnosed before birth and identify factors predicting severe phenotypes at birth.
- A total of 61 cases were analyzed, with a high prenatal diagnosis accuracy of 90.1%, mostly involving undervirilized boys (68.8%) and some virilized girls (11.5%).
- Key findings indicated that early second trimester detection, intra-uterine growth restriction, and penile curvature were linked to more severe cases, highlighting the importance of prenatal imaging for early intervention.
Article Synopsis
- * A study by the Hhorages Association analyzed 46 women who were treated with progestins during pregnancy and their 115 children, revealing three distinct groups for comparison based on prenatal exposure.
- * The findings indicated no psychiatric disorders among the unexposed firstborns, whereas those exposed to synthetic progestins showed a significantly higher incidence of psychiatric disorders, suggesting a strong link between in utero progestin exposure and mental health issues later in life.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers have focused on the genetic aspects of isolated hypospadias and cryptorchidism, both of which are classified as disorders of sex development (DSD).
- Studies have identified new genes related to sex determination and androgen signaling, highlighting that multiple genetic factors contribute to these conditions.
- The variation in symptoms among individuals may be linked to when signaling disruptions occur during development, rather than a single genetic cause.
Article Synopsis
- * A new mutation, W752G, was discovered in a family with CAIS, and its effects, along with another mutation (W752R), were analyzed using in vitro studies and structural analysis.
- * The study suggests that understanding the specific amino acid changes can enhance the correlation between phenotype and genotype, potentially influencing patient management and follow-up care.