Longitudinal association of prepubertal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations with pubertal progression among a cohort of boys.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have reported associations of anti-androgenic phthalate metabolite concentrations with later onset of male puberty, but few have assessed associations with progression. OBJECTIVES: We examined the association of prepubertal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations with trajectories of pubertal progression among Russian boys. METHODS: At enrollment (ages 8-9 years), medical history, dietary, and demographic information were collected. At entry and annually to age 19 years, physical examinations including testicular volume (TV) were performed and spot urines collected. Each boy's prepubertal urine samples were pooled, and 15 phthalate metabolites were quantified by isotope dilution LC-MS/MS at Moscow State University. Metabolites of anti-androgenic parent phthalates were included: butylbenzyl (BBzP), di-n-butyl (DnBP), diisobutyl (DiBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP) and diisononyl (DiNP) phthalates. We calculated the molar sums of DEHP, DiNP, and all AAP metabolites. We used group-based trajectory models (GBTMs) to identify subgroups of boys who followed similar pubertal trajectories from ages 8-19 years based on annual TV. We used multinomial and ordinal regression models to evaluate whether prepubertal log-transformed phthalate metabolite concentrations were associated with slower or faster pubertal progression trajectories, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: 304 boys contributed a total of 752 prepubertal urine samples (median 2, range: 1-6) for creation of individual pools. The median length of follow-up was 10.0 years; 79% of boys were followed beyond age 15. We identified three pubertal progression groups: slower (34%), moderate (43%), and faster (23%) progression. A standard deviation increase in urinary log-monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) concentrations was associated with higher adjusted odds of being in the slow versus faster pubertal progression trajectory (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.06-2.04). None of the other phthalate metabolites were associated with pubertal progression. CONCLUSIONS: On average, boys with higher concentrations of prepubertal urinary MBzP had a slower tempo of pubertal progression, perhaps attributable to the disruption of androgen-dependent biological pathways.

Urinary oxidative stress biomarker levels and reproductive outcomes among couples undergoing fertility treatments.

STUDY QUESTION: Are urinary levels of oxidative stress biomarkers associated with reproductive outcome success following fertility treatments? SUMMARY ANSWER: Levels of oxidative stress in the middle tertile for women are associated with the highest levels of reproductive success while no associations were noted for men. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Oxidative stress may contribute to adverse fertility outcomes in the general population, but findings from couples undergoing fertility treatments are sparse. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This prospective cohort study included 481 women and 249 of their male partners undergoing fertility treatments from 2007 to 2015, from the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study in Boston, MA. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: One urine sample per participant was collected at each cycle and analysed for two oxidative stress markers: 8-isoprostane-PGF2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and 8-isoprostane-PGF2α metabolite (F2-isoP-M). Reproductive outcomes were abstracted from medical records and included the fertilization rate, for IVF (oocytes fertilized/mature oocytes retrieved), and rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth, for both IVF and IUI. Cluster-weighted generalized estimating equations were used to analyse adjusted associations between exposure tertiles and outcomes. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Levels of F2-isoP-M in the middle tertile were associated with the most success among women. Women in the upper tertile of F2-isoP-M had an adjusted mean live birth rate after IVF and IUI of 23% (95% CI: 17, 29) compared to 38% (95% CI: 31, 45) for women in the middle tertile and 27% (95% CI: 21, 34) in the lower tertile. The fertilization rate during IVF was higher for women with 8-iso-PGF2α in the middle tertile (0.77 [95% CI: 0.73, 0.80]) compared to women in the lower (0.69 [95% CI: 0.64, 0.73]) or upper tertiles (0.66 [95% CI: 0.61, 0.71]). No significant associations were found for other measured outcomes with 8-iso-PGF2α, or between any oxidative stress biomarker in men and reproductive outcomes in their partners. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Isoprostanes are short-lived biomarkers and this study may not have captured the most relevant window of susceptibility for oxidative stress on the outcomes of interest. Findings from this study may not be generalizable to couples attempting conception without fertility assistance. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study suggests that a non-linear association may exist between oxidative stress and reproductive outcomes in a population undergoing fertility treatment, a finding not previously identified in the literature. Oxidative stress may represent the mechanism through which environmental chemicals are associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (ZIA ES103314) and by NIEHS grants R01ES022955, R01ES009718 and R01ES00002. There are no competing interests to report. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Serum omega-3 fatty acids and treatment outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproduction.

STUDY QUESTION: Are serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations, including omega-3 (ω3-PUFA) and omega-6 (ω6-PUFA), related to ART outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER: Serum levels of long-chain ω3-PUFA were positively associated with probability of live birth among women undergoing ART. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Intake of ω3-PUFA improves oocyte and embryo quality in animal and human studies. However, a recent cohort study found no relation between circulating ω3-PUFA levels and pregnancy rates after ART. STUDY DESIGN SIZE, AND DURATION: This analysis included a random sample of 100 women from a prospective cohort study (EARTH) at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center who underwent 136 ART cycles within one year of blood collection. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Serum fatty acids (expressed as percentage of total fatty acids) were measured by gas chromatography in samples taken between Days 3 and 9 of a stimulated cycle. Primary outcomes included the probability of implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth per initiated cycle. Cluster-weighted generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to analyze the association of total and specific PUFAs with ART outcomes adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, use of multivitamins and history of live birth. MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF CHANCE: The median [25th, 75th percentile] serum level of ω3-PUFA was 4.7% [3.8%, 5.8%] of total fatty acids. Higher levels of serum long-chain ω3-PUFA were associated with higher probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth. Specifically, after multivariable adjustment, the probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth increased by 8% (4%, 11%) and 8% (95% CI: 1%, 16%), respectively, for every 1% increase in serum long-chain ω3-PUFA levels. Intake of long-chain ω3-PUFA was also associated with a higher probability of life birth in these women, with RR of 2.37 (95% CI: 1.02, 5.51) when replacing 1% energy of long-chain ω3-PUFA for 1% energy of saturated fatty acids. Serum ω6-PUFA, ratios of ω6 and ω3-PUFA, and total PUFA were not associated with ART outcomes. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: The generalizability of the findings to populations not undergoing infertility treatment may be limited. The use of a single measurement of serum fatty acids to characterize exposure may lead to potential misclassification during follow up. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Serum ω3-PUFA are considered biomarkers of dietary intake. The association of higher serum long chain ω3-PUFA levels with improved ART outcomes suggests that increased intake of these fats be may be beneficial for women undergoing infertility treatment with ART. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: NIH grants R01-ES009718 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P30-DK046200 and T32-DK007703-16 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and L50-HD085359 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Early Life Nutrition Fund from Danone Nutricia US. Dr Rueda is involved in a patent 9,295,662, methods for enhancing, improving, or increasing fertility or reproductive function (http://patents.com/us-9295662.html). This patent, however, does not lead to financial gain for Dr Rueda, or for Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr Rueda does not own any part of the company nor does he have any equity in any fertility related company. As Dr Rueda is not a physician, he does not evaluate patients or prescribe medications. All other coauthors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

The association between pre-treatment maternal alcohol and caffeine intake and outcomes of assisted reproduction in a prospectively followed cohort.

STUDY QUESTION: Is pre-treatment alcohol and caffeine intake associated with infertility treatment outcomes among women undergoing ART? SUMMARY ANSWER: Low to moderate alcohol and caffeine intakes in the year prior to infertility treatment were not related to ART outcomes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Alcohol and caffeine intake have been found to be associated with infertility in some studies. Nevertheless, data on their relation with outcomes of infertility treatments are scarce and inconsistent. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We included 300 women (493 ART cycles) from the Environment and Reproductive Health Study, an ongoing cohort study (2006-2016). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Pre-treatment intakes of alcohol and caffeine were assessed retrospectively using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Intermediate and clinical endpoints of ART were abstracted from electronic medical records. Generalized linear mixed models with random intercepts to account for multiple ART cycles per woman were used to evaluate the association with ART outcomes adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, infertility diagnosis, protocol type, race, dietary patterns, and calories, vitamin B12 and folate intake. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Median (range) pre-treatment alcohol and caffeine intakes were 5.6 (0.0-85.8) g/day and 124.9 (0.3-642.2) mg/day, respectively. The adjusted percentage of initiated cycles resulting in live birth (95% CI) for women in increasing categories of pre-treatment alcohol intake was 34% (20, 52%) for non-consumers, 46% (36, 57%) for 0.1-6 g/day, 41% (29, 53%) for 6.1-12 g/day, 42% (31, 55%) for 12.1-24 g/day, and 41% (22, 63%) for >24 g/day (P, trend = 0.87). The adjusted percentage of cycles resulting in live birth (95% CI) for women in increasing categories of caffeine intake was 46% (36-57%) for <50 mg/day, 44% (29, 60%) for 50.1-100 mg/day, 42% (31, 53%) for 100.1-200 mg/day, 40% (28, 53%) for 200.1-300 mg/day and 40% (21, 63%) for >300 mg/day (P, trend = 0.34). When specific types of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages were evaluated, no relations with ART treatment outcomes were observed. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Residual confounding by other diet and lifestyle factors cannot be ruled out owing to the observational nature of this study. It is also unclear how generalizable these results are to women who are conceiving without the assistance of ART. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our results provide reassurance that low to moderate intakes of alcohol (e.g. ≤12 g/day) and caffeine (e.g. <200 mg/day) in the year prior to infertility treatment initiation do not have an adverse effect on intermediate or clinical outcomes of ART. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): The authors are supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants ES022955, R01ES009718, R01ES000002, P30DK46200 and L50-HD085359. No conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00011713.

The association of protein intake (amount and type) with ovarian antral follicle counts among infertile women: results from the EARTH prospective study cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between protein intake (amount and type) and antral follicle count (AFC). DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Academic fertility centre. POPULATION: Two hundred and sixty-five women undergoing fertility treatments at an academic fertility centre and participating in an ongoing study on environment and reproductive health. METHODS: We measured AFC in ultrasonographic evaluation among women undergoing infertility treatments. Women completed a previously validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We used Poisson regression to evaluate the relation between protein intake and AFC while adjusting for age, body mass index, race, smoking status, and total energy intake. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antral follicle count. RESULTS: Among 265 women (mean age: 35.0 ± 3.9 years, 85% Caucasian), total protein intake (% energy) was unrelated to AFC. When protein from different food sources was considered separately, we found a negative association between dairy protein intake and AFC. The mean AFC was 14.4% (3.9-23.7%) lower for women in the highest quintile of dairy protein intake than for women in the bottom quintile after adjusting for potential confounders (P-trend = 0.04). This association was stronger among women who had never smoked (P-trend = 0.002) but was not observed among previous smokers (P-trend = 0.36). There were no associations between protein intake from either non-dairy animal or vegetable sources and AFC. CONCLUSION: Higher dairy protein intake (≥5.24% of energy) was associated with lower antral follicle counts among women presenting for infertility treatment. These findings should be further investigated in prospective studies also designed to clarify the biology underlying the observed associations. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Higher dairy protein intake was associated with lower antral follicle counts in an infertile population.

Dairy intake in relation to in vitro fertilization outcomes among women from a fertility clinic.

STUDY QUESTION: Is dairy food consumption associated with live birth among women undergoing infertility treatment? SUMMARY ANSWER: There was a positive association between total dairy food consumption and live birth among women ≥35 years of age. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Dairy food intake has been previously related to infertility risk and measures of fertility potential but its relation to infertility treatment outcomes are unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Our study population comprised a total of 232 women undergoing 353 in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycles between February 2007 and May 2013, from the Environment and Reproductive Health study, an ongoing prospective cohort. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Diet was assessed before assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Study outcomes included ovarian stimulation outcomes (endometrial thickness, estradiol levels and oocyte yield), fertilization rates, embryo quality measures and clinical outcomes (implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates). We used generalized linear mixed models with random intercepts to account for multiple ART cycles per woman while simultaneously adjusting for age, caloric intake, BMI, race, smoking status, infertility diagnosis, protocol type, alcohol intake and dietary patterns. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The age- and calorie-adjusted difference in live birth between women in the highest (>3.0 servings/day) and lowest (<1.34 servings/day) quartile of dairy intake was 21% (P = 0.02). However, after adjusting for additional covariates, this association was observed only among women ≥35 years (P, interaction = 0.04). The multivariable-adjusted live birth (95% CI) in increasing quartiles of total dairy intake was 23% (11, 42%), 39% (24, 56%), 29% (17, 47%) and 55% (39, 69%) (P, trend = 0.02) among women ≥35 years old, and ranged from 46 to 54% among women <35 years old (P, trend = 0.69). There was no association between dairy intake and any of the intermediate outcomes. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The lack of a known biological mechanism linking dairy intake to infertility treatment outcomes calls for caution when interpreting these results and for additional work to corroborate or refute them. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Dairy intake does not appear to harm IVF outcomes and, if anything, is associated with higher chances of live birth. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by NIH grants R01-ES009718 and R01ES000002 from NIEHS, P30 DK046200 from NIDDK and T32HD060454 from NICHD. M.C.A. was supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32 DK 007703-16 from NIDDK. She is currently employed at the Nestlé Research Center, Switzerland and completed this work while at the Harvard School of Public Health. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Fruit and vegetable intake and their pesticide residues in relation to semen quality among men from a fertility clinic.

STUDY QUESTION: Is consumption of fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticide residues associated with lower semen quality? SUMMARY ANSWER: Consumption of fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticide residues was associated with a lower total sperm count and a lower percentage of morphologically normal sperm among men presenting to a fertility clinic. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides is associated with lower semen quality. Whether the same is true for exposure through diet is unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Men enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study, an ongoing prospective cohort at an academic medical fertility center. Male partners (n = 155) in subfertile couples provided 338 semen samples during 2007-2012. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Semen samples were collected over an 18-month period following diet assessment. Sperm concentration and motility were evaluated by computer-aided semen analysis (CASA). Fruits and vegetables were categorized as containing high or low-to-moderate pesticide residues based on data from the annual United States Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the association of fruit and vegetable intake with sperm parameters accounting for within-person correlations across repeat samples while adjusting for potential confounders. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Total fruit and vegetable intake was unrelated to semen quality parameters. High pesticide residue fruit and vegetable intake, however, was associated with poorer semen quality. On average, men in highest quartile of high pesticide residue fruit and vegetable intake (≥1.5 servings/day) had 49% (95% confidence interval (CI): 31%, 63%) lower total sperm count and 32% (95% CI: 7%, 58%) lower percentage of morphologically normal sperm than men in the lowest quartile of intake (<0.5 servings/day) (P, trend = 0.003 and 0.02, respectively). Low-to-moderate pesticide residue fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a higher percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P, trend = 0.04). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Surveillance data, rather than individual pesticide assessment, was used to assess the pesticide residue status of fruits and vegetables. CASA is a useful method for clinical evaluation but may be considered less favorable for accurate semen analysis in the research setting. Owing to the observational nature of the study, confirmation is required by interventional studies as well. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the consumption of fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticide residue in relation to semen quality. Further confirmation of these findings is warranted. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: Supported by National Institutes of Health grants ES009718, ES022955, ES000002, P30 DK046200 and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32 DK007703-16. None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in relation to semen quality and reproductive hormone levels in young men.

STUDY QUESTION: Is consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) associated with semen quality? SUMMARY ANSWER: Higher consumption of SSB was associated with lower sperm motility among healthy, young men. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The existing literature on the potential role of SSBs on male reproductive function is scarce and primarily focused on the relation between caffeinated beverages and semen quality. However, a rodent model suggests that SSBs may hamper male fertility. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The Rochester Young Men's Study; a cross-sectional study of 189 healthy young men carried out at the University of Rochester during 2009-2010. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Men aged 18-22 years provided semen and blood samples, underwent a physical examination and completed a previously validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Linear regression was used to analyze the association of SSBs with sperm parameters and reproductive hormone levels while adjusting for potential confounders. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: SSB intake was inversely related to progressive sperm motility. Men in the highest quartile of SSB intake (≥1.3 serving/day) had 9.8 (95% CI: 1.9,17.8) percentage units lower progressive sperm motility than men in the lowest quartile of intake (<0.2 serving/day) (P, trend = 0.03). This association was stronger among lean men (P, trend = 0.005) but absent among overweight or obese men (P, trend = 0.98). SSB intake was unrelated to other semen quality parameters or reproductive hormones levels. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: As in all cross-sectional studies, causal inference is limited. An additional problem is that only single semen sample was obtained from each subject. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the relation between SSB intake and low semen quality beyond the contribution of caffeinated beverages. While our findings are in agreement with recent experimental data in rodents, more studies are required to draw conclusions on the relation of SSB with semen quality or male infertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): Supported by the European Union Seventh Framework Program (Environment), 'Developmental Effects of Environment on Reproductive Health' (DEER) grant 212844. Grant P30 DK046200 and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32 DK007703-16 and T32HD060454 from the National Institutes of Health. None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.

Human sperm sex chromosome disomy and sperm DNA damage assessed by the neutral comet assay.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there an association between human sperm sex chromosome disomy and sperm DNA damage? SUMMARY ANSWER: An increase in human sperm XY disomy was associated with higher comet extent; however, there was no other consistent association of sex chromosome disomies with DNA damage. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: There is limited published research on the association between sex chromosome disomy and sperm DNA damage and the findings are not consistent across studies. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, AND DURATION: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 190 men (25% ever smoker, 75% never smoker) from subfertile couples presenting at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Clinic from January 2000 to May 2003. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosomes X, Y and 18 was used to determine XX, YY, XY and total sex chromosome disomy in sperm nuclei using an automated scoring method. The neutral comet assay was used to measure sperm DNA damage, as reflected by comet extent, percentage DNA in the comet tail, and tail distributed moment. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were constructed with sex chromosome disomy (separate models for each of the four disomic conditions) as the independent variable, and DNA damage parameters (separate models for each measure of DNA damage) as the dependent variable. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Men with current or past smoking history had significantly greater comet extent (µm: regression coefficients with 95% CI) [XX18: 15.17 (1.98, 28.36); YY18: 14.68 (1.50, 27.86); XY18: 15.41 (2.37, 28.45); Total Sex Chromosome Disomy: 15.23 (2.09, 28.38)], and tail distributed moment [XX18: 3.01 (0.30, 5.72); YY18: 2.95 (0.24, 5.67); XY18: 3.04 (0.36, 5.72); Total Sex Chromosome Disomy: 3.10 (0.31, 5.71)] than men who had never smoked. In regression models adjusted for age and smoking, there was a positive association between XY disomy and comet extent. For an increase in XY disomy from 0.56 to 1.47% (representing the 25th to 75th percentile), there was a mean increase of 5.08 µm in comet extent. No other statistically significant findings were observed. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: A potential limitation of this study is that it is cross-sectional. Cross-sectional analyses by nature do not lend themselves to inference about directionality for any observed associations; therefore we cannot determine which variable is the cause and which one is the effect. A small sample size may be a further limitation. Comparison of these findings to other studies is limited due to methodological differences. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Although consistent associations across sex chromosome disomies or DNA damage measures were not observed, this study highlights the need to explore etiologies of sperm DNA damage and sex chromosome disomy to better understand the potential mechanistic overlaps between the two. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by NIOSH Grant T42 OH008416, and NIH/NIEHS Grants ES 009718, ES 000002, and R01 ES017457. During the study M.E.M. was affiliated with the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Paternal physical and sedentary activities in relation to semen quality and reproductive outcomes among couples from a fertility center.

STUDY QUESTION: Is paternal physical activity associated with semen quality parameters and with outcomes of infertility treatment? SUMMARY ANSWER: Among men presenting for infertility treatment, weightlifting and outdoor activities were associated with higher sperm concentrations but not with greater reproductive success. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN: Higher physical activity is related to better semen quality but no studies to date have investigated whether it predicts greater reproductive success. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study is an on-going prospective cohort study which enrolls subfertile couples presenting at Massachusetts General Hospital (2005-2013). In total, 231 men provided 433 semen samples and 163 couples underwent 421 IVF or intrauterine insemination cycles. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Leisure time spent in physical and sedentary activities over the past year was self-reported using a validated questionnaire. We used mixed models to analyze the association of physical and sedentary activities with semen quality and with clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Men in this cohort engaged in a median of 3.2 h/week of moderate-to-vigorous activities. Men in the highest quartile of moderate-to-vigorous activity had 43% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9, 87%) higher sperm concentrations than men in the lowest quartile (P-trend = 0.04). Men in the highest category of outdoor activity (≥1.5 h/week) and weightlifting (≥2 h/week) had 42% (95% CI 10, 84%) and 25% (95% CI -10, 74%) higher sperm concentrations, respectively, compared with men in the lowest category (0 h/week) (P-trend = 0.04 and 0.02). Conversely, men who reported bicycling ≥1.5 h/week had 34% (95% CI 4, 55%) lower sperm concentrations compared with men who reported no bicycling (P-trend = 0.05). Paternal physical and sedentary activities were not related to clinical pregnancy or live birth rates following infertility treatment. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The generalizability of the findings on live birth rates to populations not undergoing infertility treatment is limited. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Certain types of physical activity, specifically weightlifting and outdoor activities, may improve semen quality but may not lead to improved success of infertility treatments. Further research is needed in other non-clinical populations. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors are supported by NIH grants R01-ES009718, ES000002, P30-DK046200, T32-DK007703-16 and ES022955 T32-HD060454. None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.

Dairy food intake in relation to semen quality and reproductive hormone levels among physically active young men.

STUDY QUESTION: Is increased consumption of dairy foods associated with lower semen quality? SUMMARY ANSWER: We found that intake of full-fat dairy was inversely related to sperm motility and morphology. These associations were driven primarily by intake of cheese and were independent of overall dietary patterns. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: It has been suggested that environmental estrogens could be responsible for the putative secular decline in sperm counts. Dairy foods contain large amounts of estrogens. While some studies have suggested dairy as a possible contributing factor for decreased semen quality, this finding has not been consistent across studies. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The Rochester Young Men's Study (n = 189) was a cross-sectional study conducted between 2009 and 2010 at the University of Rochester. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Men aged 18-22 years were included in this analysis. Diet was assessed via food frequency questionnaire. Linear regression was used to analyze the relation between dairy intake and conventional semen quality parameters (total sperm count, sperm concentration, progressive motility, morphology and ejaculate volume) adjusting for age, abstinence time, race, smoking status, body mass index, recruitment period, moderate-to-intense exercise, TV watching and total calorie intake. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Total dairy food intake was inversely related to sperm morphology (P-trend = 0.004). This association was mostly driven by intake of full-fat dairy foods. The adjusted difference (95% confidence interval) in normal sperm morphology percent was -3.2% (-4.5 to -1.8) between men in the upper half and those in the lower half of full-fat dairy intake (P < 0.0001), while the equivalent contrast for low-fat dairy intake was less pronounced [-1.3% (-2.7 to -0.07; P= 0.06)]. Full-fat dairy intake was also associated with significantly lower percent progressively motile sperm (P= 0.05). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: As it was a cross-sectional study, causal inference is limited. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Further research is needed to prove a causal link between a high consumption of full-fat dairy foods and detrimental effects on semen quality. If verified our findings would mean that intake of full-fat dairy foods should be considered in attempts to explain secular trends in semen quality and that men trying to have children should restrict their intake. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): European Union Seventh Framework Program (Environment), 'Developmental Effects of Environment on Reproductive Health' (DEER) grant 212844. Grant P30 DK046200 and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32 DK007703-16 from the National Institutes of Health. None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.

Adverse outcome analyses of observational data: assessing cardiovascular risk in HIV disease.

Clinical decisions are ideally based on randomized trials but must often rely on observational data analyses, which are less straightforward and more influenced by methodology. The authors, from a series of expert roundtables convened by the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research on the use of observational studies to assess cardiovascular disease risk in human immunodeficiency virus infection, recommend that clinicians who review or interpret epidemiological publications consider 7 key statistical issues: (1) clear explanation of confounding and adjustment; (2) handling and impact of missing data; (3) consistency and clinical relevance of outcome measurements and covariate risk factors; (4) multivariate modeling techniques including time-dependent variables; (5) how multiple testing is addressed; (6) distinction between statistical and clinical significance; and (7) need for confirmation from independent databases. Recommendations to permit better understanding of potential methodological limitations include both responsible public access to de-identified source data, where permitted, and exploration of novel statistical methods.

The association between sperm sex chromosome disomy and semen concentration, motility and morphology.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there an association between sex chromosome disomy and semen concentration, motility and morphology? SUMMARY ANSWER: Higher rates of XY disomy were associated with a significant increase in abnormal semen parameters, particularly low semen concentration. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Although some prior studies have shown associations between sperm chromosomal abnormalities and reduced semen quality, results of others are inconsistent. Definitive findings have been limited by small sample sizes and lack of adjustment for potential confounders. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION: Cross-sectional study of men from subfertile couples presenting at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Clinic from January 2000 to May 2003. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: With a sample of 192 men, multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosomes X, Y and 18 was used to determine XX, YY, XY and total sex chromosome disomy in sperm nuclei. Sperm concentration and motility were measured using computer-assisted sperm analysis; morphology was scored using strict criteria. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the odds of abnormal semen parameters [as defined by World Health Organization (WHO)] as a function of sperm sex chromosome disomy. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The median percentage disomy was 0.3 for XX and YY, 0.9 for XY and 1.6 for total sex chromosome disomy. Men who had abnormalities in all three semen parameters had significantly higher median rates of XX, XY and total sex chromosome disomy than controls with normal semen parameters (0.43 versus 0.25%, 1.36 versus 0.87% and 2.37 versus 1.52%, respectively, all P< 0.05). In logistic regression models, each 0.1% increase in XY disomy was associated with a 7% increase (odds ratio: 1.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.13) in the odds of having below normal semen concentration (<20 million/ml) after adjustment for age, smoking status and abstinence time. Increases in XX, YY and total sex chromosome disomy were not associated with an increase in the odds of a man having abnormal semen parameters. In addition, autosomal chromosome disomy (1818) was not associated with abnormal semen parameters. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: A potential limitation of this study, as well as those currently in the published literature, is that it is cross-sectional. Cross-sectional analyses by nature do not lend themselves to inference about directionality for any observed associations; therefore, we cannot determine which variable is the cause and which one is the effect. Additionally, the use of WHO cutoff criteria for dichotomizing semen parameters may not fully define fertility status; however, in this study, fertility status was not an outcome we were attempting to assess. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This is the largest study to date seeking to understand the association between sperm sex chromosome disomy and semen parameters, and the first to use multivariate modeling to understand this relationship. The findings are similar to those in the published literature and highlight the need for mechanistic studies to better characterize the interrelationships between sex chromosome disomy and standard indices of sperm health. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by grants from NIOSH (T42 OH008416) and NIEHS (R01 ES009718, P30 ES000002 and R01 ES017457). The authors declare no competing interests. At the time this work was conducted and the initial manuscript written, MEM was affiliated with the Environmental Health Department at the Harvard School of Public Health. Currently, MEM is employed by Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Decontamination of transvaginal ultrasound probes: review of national practice and need for national guidelines.

AIM: To determine the national practice of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) probe decontamination in English hospitals and to develop recommendations for guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was undertaken to clarify best practice and evaluate methods of decontamination of TVUS probes. A questionnaire was developed to ascertain TVUS probe decontamination programmes in current use within English hospitals. This was sent to ultrasound leads of 100 English hospitals; 68 hospitals responded. RESULTS: There is a wide variation in TVUS probe decontamination across English hospitals. Although the majority of respondents (87%, 59/68) reported having clear and practical written guidelines for TVUS decontamination, the frequency, methods, and types of decontamination solutions utilized were widely variable and none meet the standards required to achieve high-level disinfection. CONCLUSION: While the decontamination of other endoluminal medical devices (e.g., flexible endoscopes) is well defined and regulated, the decontamination of TVUS probes has no such guidance. There appears to be incomplete understanding of the level of risk posed by TVUS probes, and in some cases, this has resulted in highly questionable practices regarding TVUS hygiene. There is an urgent need to develop evidence-based national guidance for TVUS probe decontamination.

Urinary bisphenol A concentrations and ovarian response among women undergoing IVF.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical used in the manufacture of materials present in many common consumer products. In experimental animals, BPA caused oocyte aneuploidy and reduced production of oestradiol. In a prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between urinary BPA concentrations and ovarian response among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Fertility Center. The geometric mean of two specific-gravity (SG) adjusted urinary BPA concentrations collected during each IVF cycle was used as the cycle-specific BPA exposure level. BPA concentrations were measured using online solid phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Peak serum oestradiol was measured using the Elecsys Estradiol II immunoassay kit. Multivariable mixed effect models and Poisson regression models adjusting for correlation between multiple IVF cycles in the same woman were used to evaluate the association between urinary BPA concentrations and ovarian response, adjusting for age, BMI and day 3 follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, a clinical measure of ovarian reserve. Urinary BPA concentrations were measured in 84 women (mean age 35.6 years) undergoing 112 IVF cycles; 23 women (27%) contributed more than one IVF cycle. BPA concentrations ranged from <0.4 to 25.5 microg/L (geometric mean 2.52 +/- SD 3.2); 15% of urine samples had concentrations <0.4 microg/L. Peak serum oestradiol levels correlated with the total number of oocytes retrieved per cycle (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). For each log unit increase in SG-BPA, there was an average decrease of 12% (95% CI: 4, 23%; p = 0.007) in the number of oocytes retrieved and an average decrease of 213 pg/ml (95% CI: -407, -20; p = 0.03) in peak oestradiol. BPA was detected in the urine of the majority of women undergoing IVF, and was inversely associated with number of oocytes retrieved and peak oestradiol levels.

Tree ring correlation between prehistoric landslides and abrupt tectonic events in Seattle, washington.

Radiocarbon ages of submerged trees on landslide deposits in Lake Washington, Seattle, indicate that the most recent slides in three separate areas may have occurred simultaneously about 1000 years ago. Tree ring crossdating shows that seven bark-bearing trees from one of these recent slides and a tree 23 kilometers to the northwest in a probable tsunami deposit on the shore of Puget Sound died in the same season of the same year. The close coincidence among the most recent lake landslides, a probable tsunami, abrupt subsidence, and other possible seismic events gives evidence for a strong prehistoric earthquake in the Seattle region.

Newborn Hearing Screenings in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Exposed Uninfected Infants.

Perinatal HIV infection and congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may increase the risk for hearing loss. We examined 1,435 infants enrolled in the Surveillance Monitoring of ART Toxicities (SMARTT) study of the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS) network, a prospective study of the safety of in utero antiretroviral (ARV) exposures. We determined the proportion of perinatally HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) newborns who were referred for additional hearing testing, and evaluated the association between in utero ARV exposures and newborn hearing screening results. Using a nested case-control design, we also examined congenital CMV infection in infants with and without screening referral. Congenital CMV infection was determined based on CMV DNA detection using a nested PCR assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained within 14 days of birth. Among the 1,435 infants (70% black, 31% Hispanic, 51% male), 45 (3.1%) did not pass the hearing screen and were referred for further hearing testing. Based on exact logistic regression models controlling for maternal use of tobacco and ototoxic medications, first trimester exposure to Tenofovir was associated with lower odds of a newborn hearing screening referral [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-1.00]. Exposure to Atazanavir was linked to higher odds of newborn screening referral, although not attaining significance [aOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 0.92-3.56]. Maternal ARV use may have varying effects on newborn hearing screenings. These results highlight the importance for audiologists to be knowledgeable of in utero ARV exposures in HEU children because of the possibility of higher referrals in these children.

Association of heart rate variability with occupational and environmental exposure to particulate air pollution.

BACKGROUND: Airborne particulate matter has been linked to excess morbidity and mortality. Recent attention has focused on the effects of particulate exposure on cardiac autonomic control. Inhaled particulates may affect the autonomic nervous system either directly, by eliciting a sympathetic stress response, or indirectly, through inflammatory cytokines produced in the lungs and released into the circulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: This longitudinal study examined the association of particulates