Levels of DNA adducts in the blood and follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment and its correlation with the pregnancy outcome

Engineering a bioprosthetic ovary for fertility and hormone restoration

There has been an increase in childhood cancer survivors over the past few decades, and with this, an increased awareness of the co-morbidities of the treatment or disease that affect the survivor's quality-of-life. The increased rate of infertility among this patient group and the desire to have biological children voiced by childhood cancer survivors underscores the urgent need for fertility preservation and development of techniques to restore fertility and gonadal hormone function for this population. The ovarian tissue contains a finite source of female gametes that can be transplanted to restore ovarian function and has resulted in over one hundred reported live births. However, the success of biological offspring per ovarian tissue transplant, the reduced lifespan of these transplants, and the potential for these tissues to contain cancer cells from patients with metastatic diseases supports the need for improved options. One innovation that could improve ovarian transplantation is the development of a bioprosthetic ovary comprised of a 3D printed scaffold with isolated ovarian follicles. A murine bioprosthetic ovary restored ovarian hormones in ovariectomized mice, which also gave birth to healthy offspring. Research is ongoing to create the next iteration of the scaffold that would support ovarian follicles from large animal models and humans with the hopes of translating this technology for patients.

Perimenarchal air pollution exposure and menstrual disorders

STUDY QUESTION

What is the association between perimenarchal exposure to total suspended particulate (TSP) in air, menstrual irregularity phenotypes and time to menstrual cycle regularity?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Exposures to TSP during high school are associated with slightly increased odds of menstrual irregularity and longer time to regularity in high school and early adulthood.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The menstrual cycle is responsive to hormonal regulation. Particulate matter air pollution has demonstrated hormonal activity. However, it is not known if air pollution is associated with menstrual cycle regularity.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Cross sectional study of 34 832 of the original 116 430 women (29.91%) enrolled in 1989 from the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII). The follow-up rate for this analytic sample was 97.76% at the 1991 survey.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Annual averages of TSP were available for each year of high school attendance. We created three case definitions including high school menstrual irregularity and androgen excess. The time to menstrual cycle regularity was reported by participants as <1 year, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5 years or longer, or never on the baseline questionnaire. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for 45 μg/m3 increases in TSP exposure, adjusted for risk factors for menstrual irregularity.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

In multivariable adjusted models, we observed that for every 45 μg/m3 increase in average high school TSP there was an increased odds (95%CI) of 1.08 (1.03-1.14), 1.08 (1.02-1.15) and 1.10 (0.98-1.25) for moderate, persistent, and persistent with androgen excess irregularity phenotypes, respectively. TSP was also associated with a longer time to cycle regularity, with stronger results among women with older ages at menarche and those living in the Northeast or the West.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The outcomes of menstrual regularity and time to cycle regularity were retrospectively assessed outcomes and may be susceptible to recall bias. There is also the potential for selection bias, as women had to live until 2011 to provide addresses.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Temporal exposure to air pollution in the adolescent and early adulthood window may be especially important, given its association with phenotypes of menstrual irregularity. The data from this study agrees with existing literature regarding air pollution and reproductive tract diseases.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

Shruthi Mahalingaiah: Reproductive Scientist Development Program HD000849, and a research grant from the Boston University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stacey Missmer: R01HD57210 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Environmental Health Sciences Translational Pilot Project Program, R01CA50385 from the National Cancer Institute, Jaime Hart and Francine Laden: 5R01ES017017 from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Jaime Hart: P30 ES00002 from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institute of Health, The Nurses' Health Study II is supported by infrastructure grant UM1CA176726 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Fire Usage and Ancient Hominin Detoxification Genes: Protective Ancestral Variants Dominate While Additional Derived Risk Variants Appear in Modern Humans

Studies of the defence capacity of ancient hominins against toxic substances may contribute importantly to the reconstruction of their niche, including their diets and use of fire. Fire usage implies frequent exposure to hazardous compounds from smoke and heated food, known to affect general health and fertility, probably resulting in genetic selection for improved detoxification. To investigate whether such genetic selection occurred, we investigated the alleles in Neanderthals, Denisovans and modern humans at gene polymorphisms well-known to be relevant from modern human epidemiological studies of habitual tobacco smoke exposure and mechanistic evidence. We compared these with the alleles in chimpanzees and gorillas. Neanderthal and Denisovan hominins predominantly possess gene variants conferring increased resistance to these toxic compounds. Surprisingly, we observed the same in chimpanzees and gorillas, implying that less efficient variants are derived and mainly evolved in modern humans. Less efficient variants are observable from the first early Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers onwards. While not clarifying the deep history of fire use, our results highlight the long-term stability of the genes under consideration despite major changes in the hominin dietary niche. Specifically for detoxification gene variants characterised as deleterious by epidemiological studies, our results confirm the predominantly recent appearance reported for deleterious human gene variants, suggesting substantial impact of recent human population history, including pre-Holocene expansions.

Quantitative analysis of 3-OHB[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE as biomarkers of B[a]P exposure in rats

The aim of this study was to develop an analytical method for the determination the levels of metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene (3-OHB[a]P) and (+)-anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol-epoxide [(+)-anti-BPDE, combined with DNA to form adducts], in rat blood and tissues exposed to B[a]P exposure by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC/FD), and to investigate the usefulness of 3-OHB[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE as markers of intragastrical exposure to B[a]P in rats. The levels of 3-OH-B[a]P and B[a]P-tetrol I-1 released after acid hydrolysis of (+)-anti-BPDE in the samples were measured by HPLC/FD. The calibration curves were linear (r(2) > 0.9904), and the lower limit of quantification ranged from 0.34 to 0.45 ng/mL for 3-OHB[a]P and from 0.43 to 0.58 ng/mL for (+)-anti-BPDE. The intra- and inter-day stability assay data suggested that the method is accurate and precise. The recoveries of 3-OHB[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE were in the ranges of 73.6 ± 5.0 to 116.5 ± 6.3% and 73.3 ± 8.5 to 141.2 ± 13.8%, respectively. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of intragastrical B[a]P and the concentrations of 3-OH-B[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE in the blood and in most of the tissues studied, except for the brain and kidney, which showed no correlation between B[a]P and 3-OHB[a]P and between B[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE, respectively. A sensitive, reliable and rapid HPLC/FD was developed and validated for analysis of 3-OHB[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE in rat blood and tissues. There was a positive correlation between the concentration of 3-OHB[a]P or (+)-anti-BPDE in the blood and the concentration of 3-OHB[a]P or (+)-anti-BPDE in the most other tissues examined. The concentration of 3-OHB[a]P or (+)-anti-BPDE in the blood could be used as an indicator of the concentration of 3-OHB[a]P or (+)-anti-BPDE in the other tissues in response to B[a]P exposure. These results demonstrate that 3-OHB[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE are potential biomarkers of B[a]P exposure, which would also be useful to assess the carcinogenic risks from B[a]P exposure.

DNA damage and health in pregnancy

In healthy pregnancy reactive oxygen species and antioxidants remain in balance and DNA damage is repaired effectively. However, pregnancy is an inflammatory state exhibiting increased susceptibility to oxidative stress such that this balance can be easily disrupted. Increased DNA damage has been shown to be involved in many pathological states including pregnancy complications. Modern lifestyles including exposure to pollutants, poor diet, and lack of exercise cause excess inflammation, oxidative stress, and ultimately DNA damage. There is a growing body of literature providing evidence that these lifestyle changes are increasing our risk of infertility, miscarriage, and late-gestation pregnancy complications. Moreover, baseline DNA damage rises with age and couples in developed societies are delaying childbirth, placing them at further risk. In order to understand the effect of lifestyle and DNA damage on pregnancy health we require large prospective studies, with the collection of samples prior to conception and endpoints of time-to-pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, and late-gestation maternal and fetal health.