Attitudes of pregnant women toward vaccination against COVID-19 - a study conducted in Poland in the first quarter of 2022.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the attitudes of pregnant women toward vaccination against COVID-19.

Methods: The research was conducted using a diagnostic survey with our original questionnaire among 283 pregnant women. The survey was carried out in Poland in the first quarter of 2022.

Overview of Pancreatic Cancer Epidemiology in Europe and Recommendations for Screening in High-Risk Populations.

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh most common cause of death in the group of oncological diseases. Due to the asymptomatic course, early diagnosis is difficult. Currently, early detection methods are only used in high-risk groups.

Emission of formic and acetic acids from two Colorado soils.

A 'missing source' of atmospheric formic acid is consistently observed during model-measurement comparisons, and evidence from multiple environments suggests a near-surface source. Soil emissions are considered to be a small formic acid source, but estimates are based on a single study from a tropical site. Here, we investigate soil emissions of organic acids from two soils - a ponderosa pine forest (Manitou Experimental Forest Observatory), and a managed lawn (Colorado State University) using a laboratory chamber.

The production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor by human sertoli cells is substantially reduced in sertoli cell-only testes.

Study Question: Do human Sertoli cells in testes that exhibit the Sertoli cell-only (SCO) phenotype produce substantially less glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) than Sertoli cells in normal testes?

Summary Answer: In human SCO testes, both the amounts of GDNF mRNA per testis and the concentration of GDNF protein per Sertoli cell are markedly reduced as compared to normal testes.

What Is Known Already: In vivo, GDNF is required to sustain the numbers and function of mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and their immediate progeny, transit-amplifying progenitor spermatogonia. GDNF is expressed in the human testis, and the ligand-binding domain of the GDNF receptor, GFRA1, has been detected on human SSCs.

Possible germ cell-Sertoli cell interactions are critical for establishing appropriate expression levels for the Sertoli cell-specific MicroRNA, miR-202-5p, in human testis.

Background: To examine human microRNA expression in fertile men and subsequently to compare expression patterns of miRNAs in fertile and infertile men, specifically men with Sertoli Cell Only (SCO) histopathology.

Methods: Testicular tissues from men with azoospermia and SCO, as well as those of men with normal spermatogenesis, were analyzed. MicroRNA was isolated using the miRCURY™ RNA Purification Kit.

Novel methylation specific real-time PCR test for the diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome.

The aim of this study was to design a molecular assay for the diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome (KS), based on the detection of supernumerary X-chromosomes (X-chs). DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of twenty-six 47,XXY males; two 46,XY/47,XXY males; twenty-two 46,XY males; and 15 females; and deaminated. Methylation-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MS-qPCR) was performed using primers for unmethylated and methylated copies of the X-ch inactive-specific transcript (XIST-U and XIST-M) gene.

Ubiquitin Specific Protease 26 (USP26) expression analysis in human testicular and extragonadal tissues indicates diverse action of USP26 in cell differentiation and tumorigenesis.

Ubiquitin specific protease 26 (USP26), a deubiquitinating enzyme, is highly expressed early during murine spermatogenesis, in round spermatids, and at the blood-testis barrier. USP26 has also been recognized as a regulator of androgen receptor (AR) hormone-induced action involved in spermatogenesis and steroid production in in vitro studies. Prior mutation screening of USP26 demonstrated an association with human male infertility and low testosterone production, but protein localization and expression in the human testis has not been characterized previously.

Activation of GPER-1 estradiol receptor downregulates production of testosterone in isolated rat Leydig cells and adult human testis.

Purpose: Estradiol (E2) modulates testicular functions including steroidogenesis, but the mechanisms of E2 signaling in human testis are poorly understood. GPER-1 (GPR30), a G protein-coupled membrane receptor, mediates rapid genomic and non-genomic response to estrogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate GPER-1 expression in the testis, and its role in estradiol dependent regulation of steroidogenesis in isolated rat Leydig cells and human testis.

Bulbocavernosus muscle area measurement: a novel method to assess androgenic activity.

Serum testosterone does not correlate with androgen tissue activity, and it is critical to optimize tools to evaluate such activity in males. Ultrasound measurement of bulbocavernosus muscle (BCM) was used to assess the relationship between the number of CAG repeats (CAGn) in the androgen receptor (AR) and the BCM size; the changes in the number of CAGn over age were also evaluated. Transperineal ultrasound measurement of the BCM was also performed.

Deletion or underexpression of the Y-chromosome genes CDY2 and HSFY is associated with maturation arrest in American men with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Maturation arrest (MA) refers to failure of germ cell development leading to clinical nonobstructive azoospermia. Although the azoospermic factor (AZF) region of the human Y chromosome is clearly implicated in some cases, thus far very little is known about which individual Y-chromosome genes are important for complete male germ cell development. We sought to identify single genes on the Y chromosome that may be implicated in the pathogenesis of nonobstructive azoospermia associated with MA in the American population.

Methylation-specific PCR allows for fast diagnosis of X chromosome disomy and reveals skewed inactivation of the X chromosome in men with Klinefelter syndrome.

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) remains the most common, yet often undiagnosed, chromosomal aberration in men. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the health of patients with KS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inactivation pattern of supernumerary X chromosomes.

Heat shock factor Y chromosome (HSFY) mRNA level predicts the presence of retrievable testicular sperm in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Objective: To evaluate heat shock factor Y chromosome (HSFY) mRNA as a biomarker for the presence of retrievable testicular sperm.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Aberrations in pseudoautosomal regions (PARs) found in infertile men with Y-chromosome microdeletions.

Context: The pseudoautosomal regions (PARs) of the Y-chromosome undergo meiotic recombination with the X-chromosome. PAR mutations are associated with infertility and mental and stature disorders.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether men with Y-chromosome microdeletions have structural defects in PARs.

Diagnosis of the gr/gr Y chromosome microdeletion does not help in the treatment of infertile American men.

Purpose: The phenotypic effects of the gr/gr partial azoospermia factor c deletion vary geographically and to our knowledge have not been reported in the American population. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of infertile American men with the gr/gr deletion.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data on 1,410 infertile men tested for the gr/gr deletion.

A decade of experience emphasizes that testing for Y microdeletions is essential in American men with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia.

Objective: To evaluate the benefit of Y microdeletion testing.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: University-based male fertility clinic and genetics laboratory.

Normal female phenotype and ovarian development despite the ovarian expression of the sex-determining region of Y chromosome (SRY) in a 46,XX/69,XXY diploid/triploid mosaic child conceived after in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Context: Diploid/triploid mosaicism (mixoploidy) is a rare chromosomal abnormality characterized by mental and growth retardation, hypotonia, and dysmorphic features such as facial asymmetry, low-set ears, and syndactyly. All 46,XX/69,XXY cases fall into three phenotypic groups: male with testicular development, ovotestis disorder of sex development (DSD), or undervirilized male DSD. All phenotypic females with diploid/triploid mosaic reported so far had 46,XX/69,XXX karyotype.

Identification of polymorphisms and balancing selection in the male infertility candidate gene, ornithine decarboxylase antizyme 3.

Background: The antizyme family is a group of small proteins that play a role in cell growth and division by regulating the biosynthesis of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine). Antizymes regulate polyamine levels primarily through binding ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), an enzyme key to polyamine production, and targeting ODC for destruction by the 26S proteosome. Ornithine decarboxylase antizyme 3 (OAZ3) is a testis-specific antizyme paralog and the only antizyme expressed in the mid to late stages of spermatogenesis.

Screening the SPO11 and EIF5A2 genes in a population of infertile men.

Populations of infertile and fertile men were screened for mutations in SPO11 and EIF5A2, two infertility candidate genes. Three heterozygous amino acid changes that might contribute to infertility were identified in the infertile group.

Novel mutations in testis-specific ubiquitin protease 26 gene may cause male infertility and hypogonadism.

Patients (n = 188) with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), and 17 fertile controls were screened for sequence changes in the ubiquitin specific protease (USP) 26 gene. Semen analysis, hormonal evaluation, and testicular biopsies were performed. DNA was extracted from whole blood.

Detection of sperm in men with Y chromosome microdeletions of the AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions.

Background: Y chromosome microdeletions are associated with severe male factor infertility. In this study, the success rate of testicular sperm retrieval was determined for men with deletions of AZF regions a, b or c.

Methods: AZF deletions were detected by PCR of 30 sequence-tagged sites within Yq emphasizing the AZFa, b and c regions.

High deletion frequency of the complete AZFa sequence in men with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome.

We have developed a rapid screening protocol for deletion analysis of the complete AZFa sequence (i.e. 792 kb) on the Y chromosome of patients with idiopathic Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) syndrome.

Fertilization and pregnancy outcome with intracytoplasmic sperm injection for azoospermic men.

The evident ability of the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure to achieve high fertilization and pregnancy rates regardless of semen characteristics has induced its application with spermatozoa surgically retrieved from azoospermic men. Here, ICSI outcome was analysed in 308 cases according to the cause of azoospermia; four additional cycles were with cases of necrozoospermia. All couples were genetically counselled and appropriately screened.