The association between toenail metals and extracellular MicroRNAs (ex-miRNAs) among the participants of the Normative Aging study (NAS).

Background: Mechanistic studies of the effects of environmental risk factors have been exploring the potential role of microRNA(miRNAs) as a possible pathway to clinical disease. In this study we examine whether levels of toenail metals are associated with changes in extracellular miRNA(ex-miRNA) expression.

Methods: We used data derived from the Normative Aging Study from 1996 to 2014 to conduct our analyses.

Intermediate and long-term exposure to air pollution and temperature and the extracellular microRNA profile of participants in the normative aging study (NAS).

Background: The molecular effects of intermediate and long-term exposure to air pollution and temperature, such as those on extracellular microRNA (ex-miRNA) are not well understood but may have clinical consequences.

Objectives: To assess the association between exposure to ambient air pollution and temperature and ex-miRNA profiles.

Methods: Our study population consisted of 734 participants in the Normative Aging Study (NAS) between 1999 and 2015.

Phthalates impact on the epigenetic factors contributed specifically by the father at fertilization.

Background: Preconception exposure to phthalates such as the anti-androgenic dibutyl-phthalate (DBP) impacts both male and female reproduction, yet how this occurs largely remains unknown. Previously we defined a series of RNAs expressly provided by sperm at fertilization and separately, and in parallel, those that responded to high DBP exposure. Utilizing both populations of RNAs, we now begin to unravel the impact of high-DBP exposure on those RNAs specifically delivered by the father.

Short-term air pollution and temperature exposure and changes in the extracellular microRNA profile of Normative Aging Study (NAS) participants.

Background: While the health effects of air pollution and temperature are widely studied, the molecular effects are poorly understood. Extracellular microRNAs (ex-miRNAs) have the potential to serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and/or to act as intercellular signaling molecules that mediate the effects of environmental exposures on health outcomes.

Methods: We examined the relationship between short-term exposure to air pollution and ambient temperature and the ex-miRNA profiles of participants in the Normative Aging Study (NAS) from 1999 to 2015.

Prevalence of ten LRRK2 variants in Parkinson's disease: A comprehensive review.

Introduction: Variants in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 gene (LRRK2) are risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD), but their prevalence varies geographically, reflecting the locations of founder events and dispersion of founders' descendants.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify studies providing prevalence estimates for any of ten variants in LRRK2 (G2019S, R1441C, R1441G, R1441H, I2020T, N1437H, Y1699C, S1761R, G2385R, R1628P) among individuals with PD globally. We calculated crude country-specific variant prevalence estimates and, when possible, adjusted estimates for ethno-racial composition.

Association between intake of soft drinks and testicular function in young men.

Study Question: Is intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) or artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) associated with testicular function in young men?

Summary Answer: Among young men unaware of their semen quality and reproductive hormone levels, intake of SSBs was associated with lower sperm concentration, lower total sperm count, and a lower ratio of serum inhibin-B/FSH.

What Is Known Already: SSBs may adversely impact testicular function, but results are not consistent across studies. Moreover, the associations of ASB, energy-drinks or fruit juices with testicular function are unclear.

Metabolomic signatures of the short-term exposure to air pollution and temperature.

Background: Short-term exposures to air pollution and temperature have been reported to be associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. However, mechanistic understanding of the affected metabolic pathways is still lacking and literature on the short-term exposure of air-pollution on the metabolome is limited.

Objectives: We aimed to determine changes in the plasma metabolome and associated metabolic pathways related to short-term exposure to outdoor air pollution and temperature.

Ambient PM species and ultrafine particle exposure and their differential metabolomic signatures.

Background: The metabolomic signatures of short- and long-term exposure to PM have been reported and linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. However, little is known about the relative contribution of the specific PM species (hence sources) that drive these metabolomic signatures.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the relative contribution of the different species of PM exposure to the perturbed metabolic pathways related to changes in the plasma metabolome.

Prepregnancy handling of antineoplastic drugs and risk of miscarriage in female nurses.

Purpose: To examine the association betweenantineoplastic drug (AD) handling and risk of miscarriage.

Methods: Nurses' Health Study-3 participants self-reported AD administration and engineering controls (ECs) and personal protective equipment (PPE) use at baseline. We estimated the hazard ratio (HR) of miscarriage in relation to baseline AD handling using multivariable Cox proportional regression.

Metabolomic signatures of lead exposure in the VA Normative Aging Study.

Background: Lead (Pb) is widespread and exposure to this non-essential heavy metal can cause multiple negative health effects; however the mechanisms underlying these effects remain incompletely understood.

Objectives: To identify plasma metabolomic signatures of Pb exposure, as measured in blood and toenails.

Methods: In a subset of men from the VA Normative Aging Study, mass-spectrometry based plasma metabolomic profiling was performed.

Association of urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites with quinolinic acid among women: A potential link to neurological disorders.

Background: Quinolinic acid (QA), a neuroactive metabolite produced during tryptophan degradation, is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders. Phthalates are structurally similar to QA, and exposure to phthalates has demonstrated increased QA production and excretion in rodent studies. We recently showed that very high exposure to dibutyl phthalate was associated with higher concentrations of urinary QA in men.

Association of Dietary Patterns With Testicular Function in Young Danish Men.

Importance: Diet may play a role in testicular function, but data on how adherence to different diet patterns influences human testicular function are scarce.

Objective: To determine whether adherence to specific dietary patterns is associated with testicular function in young men.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study included 2935 young Danish men unselected regarding fertility status who were enrolled from April 1, 2008, through May 31, 2017.

Associations of Fish Oil Supplement Use With Testicular Function in Young Men.

Importance: Many young men have poor semen quality, and the causes are often unknown. Supplement intake of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid has been found to improve semen quality among men with infertility, but the association with semen quality among healthy men is unknown.

Objective: To determine if intake of ω-3 fatty acid supplements is associated with testicular function as measured by semen quality and reproductive hormone levels among healthy men.

Paternal preconception folate intake in relation to gestational age at delivery and birthweight of newborns conceived through assisted reproduction.

Research Question: Studies in rodents have shown that paternal folate intake prior to conception is associated with pregnancy and offspring outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess whether those associations might apply to humans as well.

Design: Between 2007 and 2017, the study prospectively analysed data from 108 couples participating in a preconception cohort of couples undergoing fertility treatment using their own gametes, whose treatment resulted in 113 pregnancies during the course of the study.

Marijuana smoking and outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies.

Study Question: What is the association of female and male partner marijuana smoking with infertility treatment outcomes with ART?

Summary Answer: Women who were marijuana smokers at enrollment had a significantly higher adjusted probability of pregnancy loss during infertility treatment with ART whereas, unexpectedly, there was a suggestion of more favorable treatment outcomes in couples where the man was a marijuana smoker at enrollment.

What Is Known Already: Data on the relation of female and male partner marijuana use with outcomes of infertility treatment is scarce despite increased use and legalization worldwide.

Study Design, Size, Duration: We followed 421 women who underwent 730 ART cycles while participating in a prospective cohort (the Environment and Reproductive Health Study) at a fertility center between 2004 and 2017.

The effects of di-butyl phthalate exposure from medications on human sperm RNA among men.

Endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates, are suspected of affecting reproductive function. The Mesalamine and Reproductive Health Study (MARS) was designed to address the physiological effect of in vivo phthalate exposure on male reproduction in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). As part of this effort, the effect on sperm RNAs to DBP exposure were longitudinally assessed using a cross-over cross-back binary design of high or background, exposures to DBP.

Urinary triclosan concentrations and semen quality among men from a fertility clinic.

Background: Triclosan, a widely-used antimicrobial in personal care products, has shown endocrine disrupting activity in experimental studies. However, there is limited evidence from epidemiologic studies on health effects.

Objective: To examine the association between urinary triclosan concentrations and semen quality.

Men's Intake of Vitamin C and β-Carotene Is Positively Related to Fertilization Rate but Not to Live Birth Rate in Couples Undergoing Infertility Treatment.

Background: Randomized clinical trials show that men's use of antioxidant supplements during infertility treatment may improve clinical outcomes. However, important limitations in the design of most trials make it difficult to draw firm conclusions on their findings.

Objective: We examined whether men's intake of antioxidants and biologically related compounds without direct antioxidant capacity is associated with outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).

Administration of antineoplastic drugs and fecundity in female nurses.

Background: We examined the association between the administration of antineoplastic drugs (AD) and fecundity among female nurses.

Methods: AD administration and use of exposure controls (EC) such as gloves, gowns, and needleless systems were self-reported at baseline among 2649 participants of the Nurses' Health Study 3, who were actively attempting pregnancy. Every 6 months thereafter, the nurses reported the current duration of their pregnancy attempt.

Urinary concentrations of benzophenone-3 and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies.

Benzophenone-3 is used in a variety of cosmetic products as a sunscreen, and has shown weak estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity in animal and in vitro studies. Few studies have evaluated whether benzophenone-3 is associated with reproductive outcomes among women. We studied 304 women undergoing infertility treatment (2007-2017) in the prospective Environment and Reproductive Health cohort study and who underwent 449 treatment cycles (n = 788 urines).

High phthalate exposure increased urinary concentrations of quinolinic acid, implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders: Is this a potential missing link?

Background: Quinolinic acid (QA), a neuroactive metabolite of the Kynurenine Pathway (KP), is an excitotoxin that is implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders. KP is the main tryptophan degradation pathway. Phthalates can structurally mimic tryptophan metabolites and diets containing phthalates in rats enhanced the production and excretion of QA.

Intake of Antioxidants in Relation to Infertility Treatment Outcomes with Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

Background: Randomized trials of supplementation with antioxidant mixtures during infertility treatment show no benefit on pregnancy or live birth rate. However, the roles of individual antioxidants are poorly understood. We examined the association of baseline intake of vitamins A, C, E, and carotenoids with outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).

Dietary patterns and outcomes of assisted reproduction.

Background: There is growing acceptance that nutrition may be related to fertility and specifically to assisted reproductive technologies success in women; however, there is still no specific dietary guidance.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between pretreatment adherence to various dietary patterns and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies.

Study Design: We followed up 357 women enrolled in the prospective Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study, who underwent 608 assisted reproductive technologies cycles (2007-2017).